scholarly journals Profiling bone and joint problems and health service use in an Australian regional population: The Port Lincoln Health Study

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarabelle Pham ◽  
Tiffany K. Gill ◽  
Elizabeth Hoon ◽  
Muhammad Aziz Rahman ◽  
Deirdre Whitford ◽  
...  

Objectives To describe the burden of bone and joint problems (BJP) in a defined regional population, and to identify characteristics and service-usage patterns. Methods In 2010, a health census of adults aged ≥15 years was conducted in Port Lincoln, South Australia. A follow-up computer-assisted telephone interview provided more specific information about those with BJP. Results Overall, 3350 people (42%) reported current BJP. General practitioners (GP) were the most commonly used provider (85%). People with BJP were also 85% more likely to visit chiropractors, twice as likely to visit physiotherapists and 34% more likely to visit Accident and Emergency or GP out of hours (compared with the rest of the population). Among the phenotypes, those with BJP with co-morbidities were more likely to visit GP, had a significantly higher mean pain score and higher levels of depression or anxiety compared with those with BJP only. Those with BJP only were more likely to visit physiotherapists. Conclusions GP were significant providers for those with co-morbidities, the group who also reported higher levels of pain and mental distress. GP have a central role in effectively managing this phenotype within the BJP population including linking allied health professionals with general practice to manage BJP more efficiently. What is known about the topic? As a highly prevalent group of conditions that are likely to impact on health-related quality of life and are a common cause of severe long-term disability, musculoskeletal conditions place a significant burden on individuals and the health system. However, far less is known about access and usage of musculoskeletal-related health services and programs in Australia. What does this paper add? As a result of analysing the characteristics of the overall BJP population, as well as phenotypes within it, a greater understanding of patterns of health service interactions, care pathways and opportunities for targeted improvements in delivery of care may be identified. The results emphasise that participants with BJP utilised the services of a narrow range of providers, which may have workforce implications for these sectors. The funding models for physiotherapists and chiropractors in Australia involve a mix of private and fees for service, which limits access to those who have private health insurance or can pay directly for these services. What are the implications for practitioners? These analyses indicate the importance of linking allied health professionals with general practice to manage BJP more efficiently. Alternative and appropriate care pathways need to be more strongly developed and identified for effective management of these conditions rather than relying on a traditional range of practitioners. Alternatively, greater ease of access to allied health practitioners may enable more effective treatment and improved quality of life for those with BJP. There is an urgent need to develop an effective population-based model of integrated care for BJP within regional Australia.

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priya Martin ◽  
Katherine Baldock ◽  
Saravana Kumar ◽  
Lucylynn Lizarondo

Objective The aim of this study was to identify the factors contributing to high-quality clinical supervision of the allied health workforce in rural and remote settings. Methods This quantitative study was part of a broader project that used a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. Participants were 159 allied health professionals from two Australian states. Quantitative data were collected using an online customised survey and the Manchester Clinical Supervision Scale (MCSS-26). Data were analysed using regression analyses. Results Supervisee’s work setting and choice of supervisor were found to have a positive and significant influence on clinical supervision quality. Supervisee profession and time in work role were found to have a negative and significant influence on the quality of clinical supervision. Conclusions High-quality clinical supervision is essential to achieve quality and safety of health care, as well as to support the health workforce. Information on high-quality clinical supervision identified in this study can be applied to clinical supervision practices in rural and remote settings, and to professional support policies and training to enhance the quality of supervision. What is known about the topic? There is mounting evidence on the benefits of clinical supervision to health professionals, organisations and patients. Clinical supervision enhances recruitment and retention of the health workforce. However, there are still gaps regarding the factors that contribute to high-quality clinical supervision, especially for rural and remote health professionals. What does this paper add? This study, the first of its kind, recruited rural and remote health professionals from seven allied health disciplines across two Australian states. It investigated the factors that influence high-quality clinical supervision in this under-resourced group. This paper outlines specific factors that contribute to clinical supervision quality for rural and remote allied health professionals. What are the implications for practitioners? Effective and high-quality clinical supervision of the rural and remote allied health workforce can enhance recruitment and retention in those areas. Healthcare organisations can facilitate effective clinical supervision delivery by using the evidence gathered in this study in clinical supervision policy, training and practice.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (8_suppl) ◽  
pp. 173-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia Francisca Jacoba van Overveld ◽  
Robert P. Takes ◽  
Jozé C.C. Braspenning ◽  
Matthias A.W. Merkx ◽  
Ludi E Smeele ◽  
...  

173 Background: Oncologic care is very complex, and delivery of integrated care with optimal alignment and collaboration of several disciplines is crucial. To monitor and effectively improve high-quality integrated oncologic care, a dashboard of valid and reliable quality indicators (QIs) is indispensable. A set of QIs is developed specifically for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients from three perspectives: patients (development of indicators from patient perspective, including the first results, are described in the abstract "PROMs and PREMs in Dutch integrated head and neck cancer care: Measurements and evaluation"), medical specialist and allied health professionals. This presentation concerns the first results from medical and allied health professional perspective. Methods: QIs on process, structure and outcome of care, were developed using an evidence based method: the Rand modified Delphi method. Data was collected in nine Dutch hospitals nearly 1,500 patients (November 2014 - December 2016). Indicators were calculated on national and hospital level and corrected for case-mix using SPSS. Results: The final set contained 5 outcome indicators from both perspectives, 13 and 18 process indicators from the perspective of medical specialists and allied health professionals respectively, and three structure indicators from the perspective of allied health professionals. Besides, 10 case-mix factors were selected. Current practice assessment, in 1263 patients, produced high scores on integrated care indicators, e.g., the percentage of patients discussed in multidisciplinary team meeting before start of the treatment (93%) and availability of a treatment plan (99%). However, involvement of dental teams (range 57 – 100%) and malnutrition screening (range 8-35%) could be improved in most hospitals. In addition, most hospitals did not meet the standard of 80% on patients starting with treatment within 30 days. Conclusions: The quality of integrated multidisciplinary care for patients with head and neck cancer in the Netherlands is already high on some aspects, but varied between hospitals and shows room for improvement. This study can be an example for other oncologic diseases where integrated care is necessary.


2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (11) ◽  
pp. 2260-2269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime Guzman ◽  
Oralia Gómez-Ramírez ◽  
Roman Jurencak ◽  
Natalie J. Shiff ◽  
Roberta A. Berard ◽  
...  

Objective.To assess which clinical features are most important for patients, parents, and clinicians in the course of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).Methods.Forty-nine people participated in 6 audience-specific focus group discussions and 112 reciprocal interviews in 3 Canadian cities. Participants included youth with JIA, experienced English- and French-speaking parents, novice parents (< 6 mos since diagnosis), pediatric rheumatologists, and allied health professionals. Participants discussed the importance of 34 JIA clinical features extracted from medical literature. Transcripts and interview reports underwent qualitative analysis to establish relative priorities for each group.Results.Most study participants considered medication requirements, medication side effects, pain, participant-defined quality of life, and active joints as high priority clinical features of JIA. Active joint count was the only American College of Rheumatology core variable accorded high or medium priority by all groups. Rheumatologists and allied health professionals considered physician global assessment as high priority, but it had very low priority for patients and parents. The parent global assessment was considered high priority by clinicians, medium to high by parents, and low by patients. Child Health Assessment Questionnaire scores were considered low priority by patients and parents, and moderate or high by clinicians. The number of joints with limited motion was given low to very low priority by all groups. Parents gave high priority to arthritis flares.Conclusion.If our findings are confirmed, medication requirements, medication side effects, pain, participant-defined quality of life, and active joint counts should figure prominently in describing the course of JIA.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Carey ◽  
Judith Edwards ◽  
Simon Otter ◽  
Heather Gage ◽  
Peter Williams ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundIncreasing numbers of nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals across the world have prescribing rights: over 90,000 of the eligible United Kingdom workforce are qualified as non-doctor prescribers. In order to inform future developments, it is important to understand the benefits and impact of prescribing by allied health professionals including physiotherapists and podiatrists.Aim: to compare outcomes of Physiotherapist and Podiatrist Independent Prescriber (PP- IP) patients with those of Physiotherapist and Podiatrist non-prescribers (PP-NPs). Outcome measures included patient satisfaction, ease of access to services, quality of life and cost implications.Design: a mixed method comparative case studyMethods: Using mixed methods of data collection, outcomes were compared between 7 sites where care was provided from a PP-IP (3 podiatrist and 4 physiotherapist IPs) and 7 sites from a PP-NP (3 podiatrist and 4 physiotherapist NPs). Patients were followed up for 2 months (2015-2016).Results: 488 patients were recruited: n=243 IP sites, and n=245 NP sites. Independent prescribing was found to be highly acceptable, and equivalent in terms of quality of life (p>0.05) and patient satisfaction (p≤0.05) compared to care provided by NPs. PP-IP care delivery was found to be more resource intensive than NP-PP, with longer consultation duration for IPs (around 6.5 mins), and a higher proportion of physiotherapy patients discussed with medical colleagues (around 9.5 minutes). ConclusionThis study provides new knowledge that PP-IPs provide high levels of care. PP-IP care delivery was found to be more resource intensive. Further research is required to explore cost effectiveness. A more focussed exploration within each profession using targeted outcome measures would enable a more robust comparison, inform future developments around the world and help ensure non-doctor prescribing is recognised as an effective way to alleviate shortfalls in the global workforce.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Carey ◽  
Judith Edwards ◽  
Simon Otter ◽  
Heather Gage ◽  
Peter Williams ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundIncreasing numbers of nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals across the world have prescribing rights for medicines: over 90,000 of the eligible United Kingdom workforce are qualified as non-doctor prescribers. In order to inform future developments, it is important to understand the benefits and impact of prescribing by allied health professionals including physiotherapists and podiatrists.Aim: to compare outcomes of physiotherapist and podiatrist Independent Prescriber (PP- IP) patients with those of physiotherapist and podiatrist non-prescribers (PP-NPs). Outcome measures included patient satisfaction, ease of access to services, quality of life and cost implications.Design: a mixed method comparative case study Methods: Using mixed methods of data collection, outcomes were compared between 7 sites where care was provided from a PP-IP (3 podiatrist and 4 physiotherapist IPs) and 7 sites from a PP-NP (3 podiatrist and 4 physiotherapist NPs). Patients were followed up for 2 months (2015-2016). Results: 489 patients were recruited: n=243 IP sites, and n=246 NP sites. Independent prescribing was found to be highly acceptable, and equivalent in terms of quality of life (p>0.05) and patient satisfaction (p≤0.05) compared to care provided by NPs. PP-IP care delivery was found to be more resource intensive than PP-NP, with longer consultation duration for IPs (around 6.5 mins), and a higher proportion of physiotherapy patients discussed with medical colleagues (around 9.5 minutes). ConclusionThis study provides new knowledge that PP-IPs provide high levels of care. PP-IP care delivery was found to be more resource intensive. Further research is required to explore cost effectiveness. A more focussed exploration within each profession using targeted outcome measures would enable a more robust comparison, inform future developments around the world and help ensure non-doctor prescribing is recognised as an effective way to alleviate shortfalls in the global workforce.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Carey ◽  
Judith Edwards ◽  
Simon Otter ◽  
Heather Gage ◽  
Peter Williams ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Increasing numbers of nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals across the world have prescribing rights for medicines: over 90,000 of the eligible United Kingdom workforce are qualified as non-doctor prescribers. In order to inform future developments, it is important to understand the benefits and impact of prescribing by allied health professionals including physiotherapists and podiatrists.Aim: to compare outcomes of physiotherapist and podiatrist Independent Prescriber (PP- IP) patients with those of physiotherapist and podiatrist non-prescribers (PP-NPs). Outcome measures included patient satisfaction, ease of access to services, quality of life and cost implications.Design: a mixed method comparative case study Methods: Using mixed methods of data collection, outcomes were compared between 7 sites where care was provided from a PP-IP (3 podiatrist and 4 physiotherapist IPs) and 7 sites from a PP-NP (3 podiatrist and 4 physiotherapist NPs). Patients were followed up for 2 months (2015-2016). Results: 489 patients were recruited: n=243 IP sites, and n=246 NP sites. Independent prescribing was found to be highly acceptable, and equivalent in terms of quality of life (p>0.05) and patient satisfaction (p≤0.05) compared to care provided by NPs. PP-IP care delivery was found to be more resource intensive than NP-PP, with longer consultation duration for IPs (around 6.5 mins), and a higher proportion of physiotherapy patients discussed with medical colleagues (around 9.5 minutes). ConclusionThis study provides new knowledge that PP-IPs provide high levels of care. PP-IP care delivery was found to be more resource intensive. Further research is required to explore cost effectiveness. A more focussed exploration within each profession using targeted outcome measures would enable a more robust comparison, inform future developments around the world and help ensure non-doctor prescribing is recognised as an effective way to alleviate shortfalls in the global workforce.


2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bibiana Chan ◽  
Judy Proudfoot ◽  
Nick Zwar ◽  
Gawaine Powell Davies ◽  
Mark F. Harris

Chronic diseases require a multidisciplinary approach to provide patients with optimal care in general practice. This often involves general practitioners (GPs) referring their patients to allied health professionals (AHPs). The Team-link study explored the impact of an intervention to enhance working relationships between GPs and AHPs in general practice regarding the management of two chronic diseases: diabetes and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) or hypertension. The Measure of Multidisciplinary Linkages (MoML) questionnaire was developed to assess professional interactions and satisfaction with various aspects of the multidisciplinary relationship. Questionnaires were completed at baseline and 6 months by GPs (n = 29) participating in the Team-link project and by AHPs (n = 39) who had a current working relationship with these GPs. The Chronic Care Team Profile (CCTP) and Clinical Linkages Questionnaire (CLQ) were also completed by GPs. There were significant changes from baseline to 6 months after the intervention measures for individual items and overall MoML scores for GPs, especially items assessing ‘contact’, ‘shared care’ and ‘satisfaction with communication’. The comparable item in the CLQ, ‘Shared Care’, also showed significant improvement. However, there were no statistically significant correlations between the change in overall ‘Referral Satisfaction’ scores in the GP MoML and the CLQ. The CCTP also improved and was a weak negative correlation between the GP MoML and two of the subscores of this instrument. There were no changes in AHP measure. This study demonstrates that the instrument is sensitive to differences between providers and conditions and is sensitive to change over time following an intervention. There were few associations with the other measures suggesting that the MoML might assess other aspects of teamwork involving practitioners who are not collocated or in the same organisation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gretchen Young ◽  
Julie Hulcombe ◽  
Andrea Hurwood ◽  
Susan Nancarrow

Objective Queensland Health established a Ministerial Taskforce to consult on and make recommendations for the expansion of the scope of practice of allied health roles. This paper describes the findings from the stakeholder consultation. Methods The Ministerial Taskforce was chaired by the Assistant Minister for Health and included high-level representation from allied health, nursing, medicine, unions, consumers and universities. Widespread engagement was undertaken with stakeholders representing staff from a wide cross-section of health service provision, training and unions. Participants also tendered evidence of models incorporating full-scope and extended scope tasks undertaken by allied health professionals. Results The consultation incorporated 444 written submissions and verbal feedback from over 200 participants. The findings suggest that full scope of practice is often restricted within the Queensland public health system, resulting in underuse of allied health capacity and workforce inefficiencies. However, numerous opportunities exist to enhance patient care by extending current roles, including prescribing and administering medications, requesting investigations, conducting procedures and reporting results. The support needed to realise these opportunities includes: designing patient-centred models of service delivery (including better hours of operation and delegation to support staff); leadership and culture change; funding incentives; appropriate education and training; and clarifying responsibility, accountability and liability for outcomes. The taskforce developed a series of recommendations and an implementation strategy to operationalise the changes. Conclusions The Ministerial Taskforce was an effective and efficient process for capturing broad-based engagement for workforce change while ensuring high-level support and involving potential adversaries in the decision-making processes. What is known about the topic? Anecdotal evidence exists to suggest that allied health professionals do not work to their full scope of practice and there is potential to enhance health service efficiencies by ensuring practitioners are supported to work to their full scope of practice. What does this paper add? This paper presents the findings from a large-scale consultation, endorsed by the highest level of state government, that reinforces the perceptions that allied health professionals do not work to full scope of practice, identifies several barriers to working to full scope and extended scope of practice, and opportunities for workforce efficiencies arising from expanding scope of practice. The top-down engagement process should expedite the implementation of workforce change. What are the implications for practitioners? High-level engagement and support is an effective and efficient way to broker change and overcome intraprofessional barriers to workforce change policies. However, practitioners are often prevented from expanding their roles through an implied need to ‘ask for permission’, when, in fact, the only barriers to extending their role are culture and historical practice.


2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Fitzpatrick ◽  
Megan Smith ◽  
Clare Wilding

Clinical supervision is presented as a complex set of skills that may broadly apply to any and all allied health professions. However, it is also noted that a clear understanding of clinical supervision and how to implement it in allied health is currently lacking. It is argued that there is a need to reflect upon current approaches to clinical supervision amongst allied health professionals and to gain a shared understanding about what supervision involves, what effective supervision is, and what effective implementation of clinical supervision might look like. By gaining an understanding of what high quality clinical supervision is and how it is best put into practice, it is anticipated that this will form the first step in developing an understandable and useful universal supervision policy for all allied health professionals. What is known about the topic? Clinical supervision is important because it improves quality of care for clients and it may also improve staff satisfaction and retention rates and clinical governance for organisations. There is a clear need for a well-articulated supervision policy in allied health as there is currently no comprehensive and universally accepted supervision policy for this group of health professionals. What does this paper add? This literature review argues that if there is no clear supervision policy that is endorsed at a whole of health level there is a risk that disparate, haphazard, and poorly coordinated approaches to supervision may result in poor quality of supervision provision. Much of the recent literature is profession-specific; however, this paper contends that there are many possible reasons for collaboration in establishing clinical supervision in allied health. The possible barriers to implementing a universal policy are also examined. What are the implications for practitioners? This literature review will help practitioners understand the complex issues that inform the clinical supervision process and particularly those factors that affect the delivery of an excellent quality of supervision. This knowledge will help them to assess the quality of supervision they receive and provide, and may also contribute to motivation to work with colleagues to develop meritorious supervision skill.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Carey ◽  
Judith Edwards ◽  
Simon Otter ◽  
Heather Gage ◽  
Peter Williams ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Increasing numbers of nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals across the world have prescribing rights for medicines: over 90,000 of the eligible United Kingdom workforce are qualified as non-doctor prescribers. In order to inform future developments, it is important to understand the benefits and impact of prescribing by allied health professionals including physiotherapists and podiatrists.Aim: to compare outcomes of physiotherapist and podiatrist Independent Prescriber (PP- IP) patients with those of physiotherapist and podiatrist non-prescribers (PP-NPs). Outcome measures included patient satisfaction, ease of access to services, quality of life and cost implications.Design: a mixed method comparative case study Methods: Using mixed methods of data collection, outcomes were compared between 7 sites where care was provided from a PP-IP (3 podiatrist and 4 physiotherapist IPs) and 7 sites from a PP-NP (3 podiatrist and 4 physiotherapist NPs). Patients were followed up for 2 months (2015-2016). Results: 489 patients were recruited: n=243 IP sites, and n=246 NP sites. Independent prescribing was found to be highly acceptable, and equivalent in terms of quality of life (p>0.05) and patient satisfaction (p≤0.05) compared to care provided by NPs. PP-IP care delivery was found to be more resource intensive than PP-NP, with longer consultation duration for IPs (around 6.5 mins), and a higher proportion of physiotherapy patients discussed with medical colleagues (around 9.5 minutes). Conclusion: This study provides new knowledge that PP-IPs provide high levels of care. PP-IP care delivery was found to be more resource intensive. Further research is required to explore cost effectiveness. A more focussed exploration within each profession using targeted outcome measures would enable a more robust comparison, inform future developments around the world and help ensure non-doctor prescribing is recognised as an effective way to alleviate shortfalls in the global workforce.


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