scholarly journals Using Information Technology to Assess Patient Risk Factors in Primary Care Clinics: A Pragmatic Evaluation (Preprint)

10.2196/24382 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leanne Kosowan ◽  
Alan Katz ◽  
Gayle Halas ◽  
Lisa LaBine ◽  
Alexander Singer
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Information Technology ◽  
Patient Risk ◽  
Primary Care Clinics

Using Information Technology to Assess Patient Risk Factors in Primary Care Clinics: A Pragmatic Evaluation (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leanne Kosowan ◽  
Alan Katz ◽  
Gayle Halas ◽  
Lisa LaBine ◽  
Alexander Singer
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Information Technology ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Primary Prevention ◽  
Patient Risk ◽  
Primary Care Clinics ◽  
Clinic Staff ◽  
Prevention Counseling ◽  
Risk Factor Information

BACKGROUND Tobacco use, physical inactivity and poor diet are associated with morbidity and premature death. Health promotion and primary prevention counseling, advice and support by a primary care provider leads to behaviour change attempts among patients. However, although physicians consider preventative health important the focus on presentation, acute care and medication review often overshadows primary prevention counseling. OBJECTIVE This study evaluates feasibility, adoption and integration of the tablet-based Risk Factor Identification Tool (RFIT) that uses algorithmic information technology to support obtainment of patient risk factor information in primary care clinics. METHODS This is a pragmatic developmental evaluation. Each clinic developed a site-specific implementation plan adapted to their workflow. RFIT was implemented in two primary care clinics located in Manitoba. Perceptions of 10 clinic staff and 8 primary care clinicians informed this evaluation. RESULTS Clinicians reported a smooth and fast transfer of RFIT responses to an EMR encounter note. There were 207 patients that used the RFIT with a completion rate of 86%. Clinic staff reported that very few patients declined the use of RFIT or required assistance to use the tablet. Among the patients that used RFIT 12.1% smoked, 21.2% felt their diet could be improved, 9.3% reported high alcohol consumption, 56.4% reported less than 150 minutes of PA a week, and 8.2% lived in poverty. Clinicians suggested that although a wide variety of patients were able to use the tablet-based RFIT, implemented surveys should be tailored to patient subgroups. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians and clinic staff positively reviewed the use of information technology in primary care. RFIT is a user-friendly tool that provides an effective method for obtaining risk factor information from patients. It is particularly useful for subsets of patients lacking continuity in the care they receive. When implemented within a context that can support practical interventions to address identified risk factors, RFIT can inform brief interventions within primary care.

scholarly journals Patient perspectives on tablet-based technology to collect risk factor information in primary care

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leanne Kosowan ◽  
Alan Katz ◽  
Gayle Halas ◽  
Alexander Singer
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Information Technology ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Risk Behaviours ◽  
Patient Risk ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Primary Care Clinics ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Risk Factor Information

Abstract Background Primary care provides an opportunity to introduce prevention strategies and identify risk behaviours. Algorithmic information technology such as the Risk Factor Identification Tool (RFIT) can support primary care counseling. This study explores the integration of the tablet-based RFIT in primary care clinics to support exploration of patient risk factor information. Methods Qualitative study to explore patients’ perspectives of RFIT. RFIT was implemented in two primary care clinics in Manitoba, Canada. There were 207 patients who completed RFIT, offered to them by eight family physicians. We conducted one-on-one patient interviews with 86 patients to capture the patient’s perspective. Responses were coded and categorized into five common themes. Results RFIT had a completion rate of 86%. Clinic staff reported that very few patients declined the use of RFIT or required assistance to use the tablet. Patients reported that the tablet-based RFIT provided a user-friendly interface that enabled self-reflection while in the waiting room. Patients discussed the impact of RFIT on the patient-provider interaction, utility for the clinician, their concerns and suggested improvements for RFIT. Among the patients who used RFIT 12.1% smoked, 21.2% felt their diet could be improved, 9.3% reported high alcohol consumption, 56.4% reported less than 150 min of PA a week, and 8.2% lived in poverty. Conclusion RFIT is a user-friendly tool for the collection of patient risk behaviour information. RFIT is particularly useful for patients lacking continuity in the care they receive. Information technology can promote self-reflection while providing useful information to the primary care clinician. When combined with practical tools and resources RFIT can assist in the reduction of risk behaviours.

scholarly journals Using Information Technology to Assess Patient Risk Factors in Primary Care Clinics: A Pragmatic Evaluation (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leanne Kosowan ◽  
Alan Katz ◽  
Gayle Halas ◽  
Lisa LaBine ◽  
Alexander Singer
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Information Technology ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Primary Prevention ◽  
Primary Care Clinics ◽  
Clinic Staff ◽  
Algorithmic Information ◽  
Prevention Counseling ◽  
Risk Factor Information

BACKGROUND Tobacco use, physical inactivity and poor diet are associated with morbidity and premature death. Health promotion and primary prevention counseling, advice and support by a primary care provider leads to behaviour change attempts among patients. However, although physicians consider preventative health important the focus on symptoms presentation, acute care and medication review often overshadows primary prevention counseling. OBJECTIVE This study evaluates feasibility, adoption and integration of the tablet-based Risk Factor Identification Tool (RFIT) that uses algorithmic information technology to support obtainment of patient risk factor information in primary care clinics. METHODS This is a pragmatic developmental evaluation. Each clinic developed a site-specific implementation plan adapted to their workflow. RFIT was implemented in two primary care clinics located in Manitoba. Perceptions of 10 clinic staff and 8 primary care clinicians informed this evaluation. RESULTS Clinicians reported a smooth and fast transfer of RFIT responses to an EMR encounter note. Two hundred seven patients used the RFIT with a completion rate of 86%. Clinic staff reported that very few patients declined the use of RFIT or required assistance to use the tablet. Among the patients that used RFIT 12.1% smoked, 21.2% felt their diet could be improved, 9.3% reported high alcohol consumption, 56.4% reported less than 150 minutes of PA a week, and 8.2% lived in poverty. Clinicians suggested that although a wide variety of patients were able to use the tablet-based RFIT, implemented surveys should be tailored to patient subgroups. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians and clinic staff positively reviewed the use of information technology in primary care. Algorithmic information technology can collect, organize and synthesize individual health information to inform and tailor primary care counseling to the patients’ context and readiness to change. RFIT is a user-friendly tool that provides an effective method for obtaining risk factor information from patients. It is particularly useful for subsets of patients lacking continuity in the care they receive. When implemented within a context that can support practical interventions to address identified risk factors, RFIT can inform brief interventions within primary care.

scholarly journals 1649. Characterizing Factors Associated with Pediatric Latent Tuberculosis Infection in an Urban Health System to Improve Screening Practices

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S812-S812
Author(s):  
Nadia E Hoekstra ◽  
Mark Anderson ◽  
James Gaensbauer
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Health System ◽  
Urban Health ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis Infection ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Spanish Language ◽  
Tuberculosis Infection ◽  
Primary Care Clinics

Abstract Background The epidemiology and risk factors informing current American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines on screening for pediatric latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) have evolved over the past decade. To improve pediatric LTBI screening efficiency, we sought to reevaluate characteristics associated with positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) at Denver Health (DH), an urban health system that includes a network of primary care clinics, a refugee clinic and a tuberculosis clinic. Methods We retrospectively analyzed all QFT-Plus tests performed on children aged 2-18 years from 1/2019 to 9/2019. To obtain additional variables we conducted chart review on all positive and indeterminate results, and a random 10% sample of negatives. Characteristics (age range, sex, region of birth, clinic setting, primary language) of patients with positive and negative QFT-Plus were compared using Chi2 or Fisher’s exact tests (Table 1). Using the 10% negative controls, we calculated odds ratios for each variable and included important or significant variables in a multivariable logistic regression model. Results Of 1063 QFT-Plus tests performed, 29 (2.7%) were positive. 76% of all positive tests and 83% of positive tests in primary care clinics occurred in patients age ≥10. 51.7% of all positive patients were born in the US. Among factors analyzed by logistic regression including birth region, reason for screening, sex, age, ordering location, insurance status, and language, only Spanish language (OR 5.0, CI 1.6-15.8) and non-English, non-Spanish language (OR 6.4, CI 1.4-28.5) were significant risk factors for positive testing. Characteristics of Denver Health Patients with Positive and Negative QFT-Plus, January-September 2019. Conclusion Language was the only predictor of LTBI in this study, and may be a proxy for high risk travel and family exposure. Region of birth was not predictive, as half of positive tests occurred in US-born children. The majority of positive tests occurred in older children, suggesting they should be prioritized in screening programs, though occasional detection among younger children reinforces the importance of LTBI detection in ages where risk of progression to active TB is higher. Further studies are needed to better elucidate the details behind positive testing, including more detailed characterization of travel and potential family exposures. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

scholarly journals Patients’ perception of safety climate in Irish general practice: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caoimhe Madden ◽  
Sinéad Lydon ◽  
Andrew W. Murphy ◽  
Paul O’Connor
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Safety Climate ◽  
Patient Perceptions ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Patient Report ◽  
Patient Risk ◽  
Perceptions Of Safety

Abstract Background Although patients have the potential to provide important information on patient safety, considerably fewer patient-report measures of safety climate (SC) have been applied in the primary care setting as compared to secondary care. Our aim was to examine the application of a patient-report measure of safety climate in an Irish population to understand patient perceptions of safety in general practice and identify potential areas for improvement. Specifically, our research questions were: 1. What are patients’ perceptions of SC in Irish general practice? 2. Do patient risk factors impact perceptions of SC? 3. Do patient responses to an open-ended question about safety enhance our understanding of patient safety beyond that obtained from a quantitative measure of SC? Methods The Patient Perspective of Safety in General Practice (PPS-GP) survey was distributed to primary care patients in Ireland. The survey consisted of both Likert-response items, and free-text entry questions in relation to the safety of care. A series of five separate hierarchical regressions were used to examine the relationship between a range of patient-related variables and each of the survey subscales. A deductive content analysis approach was used to code the free-text responses. Results A total of 584 completed online and paper surveys were received. Respondents generally had positive perceptions of safety across all five SC subscales of the PPS-GP. Regarding patient risk factors, younger age and being of non-Irish nationality were consistently associated with more negative SC perceptions. Analysis of the free-text responses revealed considerably poorer patient perceptions (n = 85, 65.4%) of the safety experience in primary care. Conclusion Our findings indicate that despite being under-utilised, patients’ perceptions are a valuable source of information for measuring SC, with promising implications for safety improvement in general practice. Further consideration should be given to how best to utilise this data in order to improve safety in primary care.

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