scholarly journals A study to improve the quality of writing clinic letters to patients attending the outpatient clinic

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S211-S211
Author(s):  
Irangani Mudiyanselage ◽  
Madhvi Belgamwar
Keyword(s):  
Outpatient Clinic ◽  
Standards Of Care ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Second Person ◽  
County Mental Health ◽  
Hospital Doctors ◽  
The Uk ◽  
To Receive

AimsIn many countries (including the UK and Australia) it is still common practice for hospital doctors to write letters to patients’ general practitioners (GPs) following outpatient consultations, and for patients to receive copies of these letters. However, experience suggests that hospital doctors who have changed their practice to include writing letters directly to patients have more patient centred consultations and experience smoother handovers with other members of their multidisciplinary teams. (Rayner et al, BMJ 2020)The aim of the study was to obtain patient's views to improve the quality of clinical letters sent to them, hence the level of communication and standards of care.MethodAn anonymous questionnaire was designed and posted to collect information from patients attending one of the South County Mental Health outpatient clinic in Derbyshire. 50 random patients were selected between March to November 2020. Patients were asked to provide suggestions to improve the quality of their clinic letters written directly to them and copies sent to their GPs.ResultOut of 50 patients 48% (n = 24) responded. Majority of patients (92%) expressed their wish to receive their clinic letters written directly to them and 79% preferred to be addressed as a second person in the letters. More than half (54%, N = 13) of them would like to have letter by post. Majority of them (92%, N = 22) wished to have their letter within a week of their consultations.Patients attending clinics felt that the communication could be better improved through writing clearly: a) reflection of what was discussed during the consultation b) updated diagnosis c) a clear follow-up plan d) current level of support e) medication change f) emergency contact numbers g) actions to be carried out by their GP and further referrals should there be any.ConclusionPatients in community prefer to have their clinic letters directly addressing them in second person. It was noted that the letters needed to reflect accurately on what was discussed during the consultation in order to have patient centered consultations. This in turn would improve communication and thus rapport, trust and overall therapeutic relationship.

OP127 Analysis Of The Competencies To Be Acquired In Health Technology Assessment

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 59-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Chiumente ◽  
Iñaki Gutiérrez-Ibarluzea ◽  
Jani Mueller
Keyword(s):  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Core Competencies ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Health Technologies ◽  
Program Description ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Masters Degree

INTRODUCTION:Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a multidisciplinary activity that systematically examines different dimensions related to the direct and indirect consequences of health technologies when implemented in healthcare systems. HTA is developed by multidisciplinary teams in order to cover all the mentioned dimensions. However, the quality of the processes produced by HTA teams will depend upon the competencies that those teams will acquire and incorporate including knowledge, skills and attitudes (1). The aim of this research was to determine how well these dimensions and competencies are covered in HTA academic Masters degree courses and manuals.METHODS:We analyzed what had been done in terms of competencies definition in HTA: how it has been reflected; theoretically and according to the authors, and how competencies can be structured; know-how and values. We explored HTA manuals and HTA academic Masters degree courses. We searched in Google with specific terms: building capacities, HTA, programs, Masters, diplomas. We used the HTAi vortal and the information related to courses (for example Masters degrees) and HTA agencies and network webpages for programs. The inclusion criteria were formal programs that describe HTA capacity building and not partial teaching of certain aspects of HTA and we excluded non-recognized institutions, or where there was no description of the programs or lack of detail regarding objectives and competencies to be achieved.RESULTS:We found 105 courses or programs and analyzed 8 reports and 3 manuals. The main challenges that we faced were: that information was difficult to retrieve, not similarly structured, difficulties to find key information in webpages, no program description at all in some cases and the need to contact institutions staff or register as a student to receive the information and finally, it was difficult to obtain contact details of key people. We structured the information on competencies in knowledge, skills and attitudes.CONCLUSIONS:The analyzed Masters degree courses and manuals did not cover all of the dimensions of HTA analysis in an equal and standardized way. The ethical, legal, social and organizational aspects were lacking in some of the programs, while, on the contrary, clinical and economic aspects were substantially included. On the basis of the information retrieved it would be good to define core competencies for HTA.

Improving care for patients with stage III/IV NSCLC: Learnings for multidisciplinary teams from the ACCC national quality survey.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e19195-e19195
Author(s):  
Ravi Salgia ◽  
Leigh Boehmer ◽  
Catherine Celestin ◽  
Judy Yu ◽  
David R. Spigel
Keyword(s):  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Steering Committee ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Tumor Board ◽  
Standards Of Care ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Optimal Care ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
National Quality

e19195 Background: Refinement of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach continues to offer significant potential for improving the quality of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) care and adherence to guideline-recommended protocols. This opportunity arises, in part, from insufficient characterization of MDT practice patterns and barriers to optimal care provision within U.S. cancer programs. The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), therefore, conducted a national survey to improve understanding on how patients with stage III/IV NSCLC were diagnosed and managed across different practice settings, with the aim of informing the design and execution of process-improvement plans to address identified barriers. Methods: ACCC convened an expert steering committee of multidisciplinary specialists, including oncologists, thoracic surgeons, pathologists, pulmonologists, and representation from patient advocacy, for a comprehensive, double-blind, web-based survey (January–April 2019), to obtain insights on cancer patient care in a diverse set of U.S. community cancer programs. Results: Of 1211 questionnaires, 639 responses affiliated to 160 unique cancer programs across 44 U.S. states were suitable for analysis. In total, 41% (n = 261) of respondents indicated that their cancer program did not have a thoracic multidisciplinary clinic. The average time to first therapeutic intervention in newly diagnosed patients was 4 weeks (range = 1–10 weeks; n = 298). A significant negative correlation between frequency of tumor board meetings and time to complete disease staging (r = −0.13, P = 0.03) was observed. Nurse navigators ( P = 0.03) and radiation oncologists (P = 0.04) were significantly more likely to engage in shared decision-making practices than other disciplines. The most challenging barriers to delivering high-quality NSCLC care are listed (Table). Conclusions: Multiple opportunities exist to improve the delivery and quality of care for patients with stage III/IV NSCLC, including lowering barriers to effective screening, diagnosis, and care coordination and adhering to evolving standards of care. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals Effectiveness of UK provider financial incentives on quality of care: a systematic review

2017 ◽  
Vol 67 (664) ◽  
pp. e800-e815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rishi Mandavia ◽  
Nishchay Mehta ◽  
Anne Schilder ◽  
Elias Mossialos
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Quality Of Health Care ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Healthcare Quality ◽  
Standards Of Care ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Uk

BackgroundProvider financial incentives are being increasingly adopted to help improve standards of care while promoting efficiency.AimTo review the UK evidence on whether provider financial incentives are an effective way of improving the quality of health care.Design and settingSystematic review of UK evidence, undertaken in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations.MethodMEDLINE and Embase databases were searched in August 2016. Original articles that assessed the relationship between UK provider financial incentives and a quantitative measure of quality of health care were included. Studies showing improvement for all measures of quality of care were defined as ‘positive’, those that were ‘intermediate’ showed improvement in some measures, and those classified as ‘negative’ showed a worsening of measures. Studies showing no effect were documented as such. Quality was assessed using the Downs and Black quality checklist.ResultsOf the 232 published articles identified by the systematic search, 28 were included. Of these, nine reported positive effects of incentives on quality of care, 16 reported intermediate effects, two reported no effect, and one reported a negative effect. Quality assessment scores for included articles ranged from 15 to 19, out of a maximum of 22 points.ConclusionThe effects of UK provider financial incentives on healthcare quality are unclear. Owing to this uncertainty and their significant costs, use of them may be counterproductive to their goal of improving healthcare quality and efficiency. UK policymakers should be cautious when implementing these incentives — if used, they should be subject to careful long-term monitoring and evaluation. Further research is needed to assess whether provider financial incentives represent a cost-effective intervention to improve the quality of care delivered in the UK.

The need for a National Service Framework for leg ulcers

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 68-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
R A Bulbulia ◽  
K R Poskitt
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Standards Of Care ◽  
Ulcer Recurrence ◽  
Leg Ulcers ◽  
National Service ◽  
National Service Framework ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Service Framework

Leg ulcers are common and costly to treat, and the quality of care provided to patients with this condition varies widely across the UK. The introduction of specialized community-based leg ulcer clinics in Gloucestershire has been associated with increased ulcer healing rates and decreased rates of ulcer recurrence, but this model of care has not been widely replicated. One way of ending this ‘postcode lottery’ is to produce a National Service Framework for leg ulcers, with the aim of delivering high-quality evidence-based care via such clinics under the supervision of local consultant vascular surgeons. Existing National Service Frameworks cover a range of common conditions that are, like leg ulceration, associated with significant morbidity, disability and resource use. These documents aim to raise quality and decrease regional variations in health care across the National Health Service, and leg ulceration fulfils all the necessary criteria for inclusion in a National Service Framework. Centrally defined standards of care for patients with leg ulceration, and the reorganization and restructuring of local services to allow the accurate assessment and treatment of such patients are required. Without a National Service Framework to drive up the quality of care across the country, the treatment of patients with leg ulcers will remain suboptimal for the majority of those who suffer from this common and debilitating condition.

Improving care for patients with stage III/IV NSCLC: Learnings for multidisciplinary teams from the ACCC National Quality Survey.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (29_suppl) ◽  
pp. 228-228
Author(s):  
Ravi Salgia ◽  
Leigh Boehmer ◽  
Catherine Celestin ◽  
Judy Yu ◽  
David R. Spigel
Keyword(s):  
Care Delivery ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Tumor Board ◽  
Standards Of Care ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Optimal Care ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
National Quality

228 Background: Refinement of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach continues to offer significant potential for improving the quality of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) care and adherence to guideline-recommended protocols. This opportunity arises, in part, from insufficient characterization of MDT practice patterns and barriers to optimal care provision within U.S. cancer programs. The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), therefore, conducted a national survey to improve understanding on how patients with stage III/IV NSCLC were diagnosed and managed across different practice settings, with the aim of informing the design and execution of process-improvement plans to address identified barriers. Methods: ACCC convened an expert steering committee of multidisciplinary specialists, including oncologists, thoracic surgeons, pathologists, pulmonologists, and representation from patient advocacy, for a comprehensive, double-blind, web-based survey (January–April 2019) to obtain insights on cancer care delivery for patients with NSCLC in a diverse set of U.S. community cancer programs. Results: Of 1211 questionnaires, 639 responses affiliated to 160 unique cancer programs across 44 U.S. states were suitable for analysis. In total, 41% (n = 261) of respondents indicated that their cancer program did not have a thoracic multidisciplinary clinic. Nurse navigators (P = 0.03) and radiation oncologists (P = 0.04) were significantly more likely to engage in shared decision-making practices than other disciplines. The average time to first therapeutic intervention in newly diagnosed patients was 4 weeks (range = 1–10 weeks; n = 298). A significant negative correlation between frequency of tumor board meetings and time to complete disease staging (P = 0.03) was observed. The most challenging barriers to delivering high-quality NSCLC care are listed (Table). Conclusions: Multiple opportunities exist to improve the delivery and quality of care for patients with stage III/IV NSCLC, including reducing barriers to effective care coordination and patient education, screening, diagnosis and biomarker testing, and adherence to evolving standards of care. [Table: see text]

Wound healing: what is the NICE guidance from the UK?

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-182
Author(s):  
Katharine Powell ◽  
Ojas Jyoti Singh Pujji ◽  
Steven Jeffery
Keyword(s):  
Wound Healing ◽  
Wound Care ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Productivity Loss ◽  
Standards Of Care ◽  
Index Measurement ◽  
Nice Guidance ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Uk

Alteration of wound healing increases the risk of a patient's morbidity and mortality. This can lead to scarring, infection, malignant transformation and a reduction in quality of life. Management of wounds costs the UK an estimated £5.3 billion annually which is paid for by the state, with further financial burden due to health related productivity loss. Wound care is managed by a broad spectrum of different health professionals leading to different standards of care. For example, only 16% of lower leg wounds have either an ankle-brachial pressure index measurement or Doppler scan. Due to this variation in wound care, we have summarised all available NICE guidelines and guidance up to February 2021 on the topic of wound healing listed in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) archives. The goal is to provide an easy to access summary of wound care interventions. Our search provided us with 18 technology appraisals related to wound healing which have been summarised.

scholarly journals A pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial comparing stapled haemorrhoidopexy with traditional excisional surgery for haemorrhoidal disease: the eTHoS study

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (70) ◽  
pp. 1-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angus JM Watson ◽  
Jonathan Cook ◽  
Jemma Hudson ◽  
Mary Kilonzo ◽  
Jessica Wood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Stapled Haemorrhoidopexy ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Haemorrhoidal Disease ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
The Uk ◽  
To Receive

BackgroundHaemorrhoids are a benign anorectal condition and are highly prevalent in the UK population. Treatments involve clinic-based procedures and surgery. The surgical procedures available include stapled haemorrhoidopexy (SH) and traditional haemorrhoidectomy (TH), and over 25,000 operations are performed for haemorrhoids annually in the UK. The disease is therefore important both to patients and to health service commissioners. Debate remains as to which of these surgical procedures is the most clinically effective and cost-effective.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to compare the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of SH with that of TH.DesignA large, open two-arm parallel-group pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial involving 32 UK hospitals and a within-trial cost–benefit analysis. A discrete choice experiment was conducted to estimate benefits (willingness to pay).ParticipantsPatients with grades II–IV haemorrhoids who had not previously undergone SH or TH were included in the study.InterventionsParticipants were randomised to receive either SH or TH. Randomisation was minimised at 1 : 1, in accordance with baseline EuroQol-5 Dimensions, three-level version (EQ-5D-3L) score, haemorrhoid grade, sex and centre, via an automated system.Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was area under the quality-of-life curve measured using the EQ-5D-3L descriptive system over 24 months, and the primary economic outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Secondary outcomes included disease-specific quality of life, recurrence, complications, further interventions and costs.ResultsBetween January 2011 and August 2014, 777 patients were randomised (389 to receive SH and 388 to receive TH). There were 774 participants included in the analysis as a result of one post-randomisation exclusion in the SH arm and two in the TH arm. SH was less painful than TH in the short term. Surgical complications were similar in both arms. EQ-5D-3L score was higher for the SH arm in the first 6 weeks after surgery, but over 24 months the TH group had significantly better EQ-5D-3L scores (–0.073, 95% confidence interval –0.140 to –0.006;p = 0.0342). Symptoms and further interventions were significantly fewer in the TH arm at 24 months. Continence was better in the TH arm and tenesmus occurred less frequently. The number of serious adverse events reported was 24 out of 337 (7.1%) for participants who received SH and 33 out of 352 (9.4%) for those who received TH. There were two deaths in the SH arm, both unrelated to the eTHoS (either Traditional Haemorrhoidectomy or Stapled haemorrhoidopexy for haemorrhoidal disease) study. Patient preference did not seem to influence the treatment difference. SH was dominated by TH as it cost more and was less effective. The net benefit for the TH arm was higher than that for the SH arm.LimitationsNeither the participants nor the assessors were masked to treatment assignment and final recruitment was slightly short of the total target of 800. There were also substantial missing follow-up data.ConclusionsWhile patients who received SH had less short-term pain, after 6 weeks, recurrence rates, symptoms, re-interventions and quality-of-life measures all favoured TH. In addition, TH is cheaper. As part of a tailored management plan for haemorrhoids, TH should be considered over SH as the surgical treatment of choice for haemorrhoids refractory to clinic-based interventions.Future workPerform an updated meta-analysis incorporating recently conducted European trials [eTHoS, HubBLe (haemorrhoidal artery ligation versus rubber band ligation for the management of symptomatic second-degree and third-degree haemorrhoids) and LingaLongo (Cost-effectiveness of New Surgical Treatments for Haemorrhoidal Disease)].Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN80061723.FundingThis project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full inHealth Technology Assessment; Vol. 21, No. 70. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Quality of Life for Patients Detained in Hospital

1993 ◽  
Vol 162 (5) ◽  
pp. 611-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy W. Coid
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Standards Of Care ◽  
Future Research ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Legal Principles ◽  
The Uk

The quality of life of detained patients has not received adequate attention despite the responsibilities placed on hospital staff and the special problems faced by these patients. Legal principles to ensure quality of life have not been formalised, and the acceptable standards that a patient can expect have not been tested in the UK courts. Contemporary models of ensuring quality are being imposed with increasing pressure on health care professionals, but high-quality management has sometimes lagged behind. This has led to a poor quality of life for certain patients. It is important for future research to overcome difficulties in developing objective measurements and set the appropriate standards of quality of life that detained patients should expect. This would provide a basis against which both appropriate standards of care and the necessary resource allocation could be measured.

scholarly journals ‘Australia as the Coming Greatest Foster-Father of Children the World Has Ever Known’: The Post-war Resumption of Child Migration to Australia, 1945–1947

2021 ◽  
pp. 131-189
Author(s):  
Gordon Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Standards Of Care ◽  
Home Office ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Child Migration ◽  
Commonwealth Government ◽  
Post War ◽  
Foster Father ◽  
The Uk ◽  
To Receive

AbstractThis chapter examines the policy context and administrative systems associated with the resumption of assisted child migration from the United Kingdom to Australia in 1947. During the Second World War, the Australian Commonwealth Government came to see child migration as an increasingly important element in its wider plans for post-war population growth. Whilst initially developing a plan to receive up to 50,000 ‘war orphans’ shortly after the war in new government-run cottage homes, the Commonwealth Government subsequently abandoned this, partly for financial reasons. A more cost-effective strategy of working with voluntary societies, and their residential institutions, was adopted instead. Monitoring systems of these initial migration parties by the UK Government were weak. Whilst the Home Office began to formulate policies about appropriate standards of care for child migrants overseas, this work was hampered by tensions between the Home Office and the Commonwealth Relations Office about the extent to control over organisations in Australia was possible.

scholarly journals How do the UK public interpret COVID-19 test results? Comparing the impact of official information about results and reliability used in the UK, USA and New Zealand: a randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e047731
Author(s):  
Gabriel Recchia ◽  
Claudia R Schneider ◽  
Alexandra LJ Freeman
Keyword(s):  
Control Group ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
The Uk ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Official Information ◽  
Test Result ◽  
Pcr Test

ObjectivesTo assess the effects of different official information on public interpretation of a personal COVID-19 PCR test result.DesignA 5×2 factorial, randomised, between-subjects experiment, comparing four wordings of information about the test result and a control arm of no additional information; for both positive and negative test results.SettingOnline experiment using recruitment platform Respondi.ParticipantsUK participants (n=1744, after a pilot of n=1657) quota-sampled to be proportional to the UK national population on age and sex.InterventionsParticipants were given a hypothetical COVID-19 PCR test result for ‘John’ who was presented as having a 50% chance of having COVID-19 based on symptoms alone. Participants were randomised to receive either a positive or negative result for ‘John’, then randomised again to receive either no more information, or text information on the interpretation of COVID-19 test results copied in September 2020 from the public websites of the UK’s National Health Service, the USA’s Centers for Disease Control, New Zealand’s Ministry of Health or a modified version of the UK’s wording. Information identifying the source of the wording was removed.Main outcome measuresParticipants were asked ‘What is your best guess as to the percent chance that John actually had COVID-19 at the time of his test, given his result?’; questions about their feelings of trustworthiness in the result, their perceptions of the quality of the underlying evidence and what action they felt ‘John’ should take in the light of his result.ResultsOf those presented with a positive COVID-19 test result for ‘John’, the mean estimate of the probability that he had the virus was 73% (71.5%–74.5%); for those presented with a negative result, 38% (36.7%–40.0%). There was no main effect of information (wording) on these means. However, those participants given the official information from the UK website, which did not mention the possibility of false negatives or false positives, were more likely to give a categorical (100% or 0%) answer (UK: 68/343, 19.8% (15.9%–24.4%); control group: 42/356, 11.8% (8.8%–15.6%)); the reverse was true for those viewing the New Zealand (NZ) wording, which highlighted the uncertainties most explicitly (20/345: 5.8% (3.7%–8.8%)). Aggregated across test result (positive/negative), there was a main effect of wording (p<0.001) on beliefs about how ‘John’ should behave, with those seeing the NZ wording marginally more likely to agree that ‘John’ should continue to self-isolate than those viewing the control or the UK wording. The proportion of participants who felt that a symptomatic individual who tests negative definitely should not self-isolate was highest among those viewing the UK wording (31/178, 17.4% (12.5%–23.7%)), and lowest among those viewing the NZ wording (6/159, 3.8% (1.6%–8.2%)). Although the NZ wording was rated harder to understand, participants reacted to the uncertainties given in the text in the expected direction: there was a small main effect of wording on trust in the result (p=0.048), with people perceiving the test result as marginally less trustworthy after having read the NZ wording compared with the UK wording. Positive results were generally viewed as more trustworthy and as having higher quality of evidence than negative results (both p<0.001).ConclusionsThe public’s default assessment of the face value of both the positive and negative test results (control group) indicate an awareness that test results are not perfectly accurate. Compared with other messaging tested, participants shown the UK’s 2020 wording about the interpretation of the test results appeared to interpret the results as more definitive than is warranted. Wording that acknowledges uncertainty can help people to have a more nuanced and realistic understanding of what a COVID-19 test result means, which supports decision making and behavioural response.Preregistration and data repositoryPreregistration of pilot at osf.io/8n62f, preregistration of main experiment at osf.io/7rcj4, data and code available online (osf.io/pvhba).

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