Refinement of indicators and criteria in a quality tool for assessing quality in primary care in Canada: a Delphi panel study.

PURPOSE: Primary care is the cornerstone of the health care system and increasingly countries are developing indicators for assessing quality in primary care practices. The 'Quality Tool', developed in Ontario, Canada, provides a framework for assessing practices and consists of indicators and criteria. The purpose of this study was to validate the indicators and simplify the Quality Tool. METHODS: This study involved a systematic comparison of indicators in the Quality Tool with those in other local and international tools to determine common indicators to include as valid in the Quality Tool. A Delphi process was used to help reach consensus for inclusion of any indicators that were not included in the comparison exercise. SETTING: Primary care in Ontario, Canada. SUBJECTS: Key informants were those with known expertise and experience in quality assessment in primary care. MAIN OUTCOME: Validated set of indicators for inclusion in an updated Quality Tool. RESULTS: Twenty-three stakeholders participated in the Delphi panel. Forty-four indicators were included as valid after the systematic comparison of similar indicators in other assessment tools. Of the 63 indicators brought to the Delphi panel, 37 were included as valid, 15 were excluded and 11 became criteria for other included indicators. CONCLUSIONS: The study resulted in a set of 81 validated primary care indicators. The validation of the indicators provided a strong foundation for the next version of the Quality Tool and may be used for quality assessment in primary care.

ColonCancerCheck primary care invitation pilot project: patient perceptions.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the perceptions of those who received invitations to the ColonCancerCheck Primary Care Invitation Pilot (the Pilot) about the mailed invitation, colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in general, and their specific screening experiences. DESIGN: Qualitative study with 6 focus group sessions, each 1.5 hours in length. SETTING: Hamilton, Ont; Ottawa, Ont; and Thunder Bay, Ont. PARTICIPANTS: Screening-eligible adults, aged 50 years and older, who received a Pilot invitation for CRC screening. METHODS: The focus groups were conducted by a trained moderator and were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were analyzed using grounded-theory techniques facilitated by the use of electronic software. MAIN FINDINGS: Key themes related to the invitation letter, the role of the family physician, direct mailing of the fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) kit, and alternate CRC screening promotion strategies were identified. Specifically, participants suggested the letter content should use stronger, more powerful language to capture the reader's attention. The importance of the family physician was endorsed, although participants favoured clarification of the physician and program roles in the actual mailed invitation. Participants expressed support for directly mailing FOBT kits to individuals, particularly those with successful previous test completion, and for communication of both negative and positive screening results. CONCLUSION: This study yielded a number of important findings including strategies to optimize letter content, support for directly mailed FOBT kits, and strategies to report results that might be highly relevant to other health programs where population-based CRC screening is being considered.

Provincial primary care and cancer engagement strategy.

PROBLEM ADDRESSED: To improve integration of cancer care, Cancer Care Ontario-a provincial agency responsible for planning, advising on, implementing, and monitoring initiatives to improve cancer outcomes-proposed a primary care and cancer engagement strategy in its Ontario Cancer Plan 2008-2011. OBJECTIVE OF PROGRAM: The strategy was designed to focus initially on improving screening for colorectal cancer in primary care settings and would expand to improving primary care integration, early detection, decreased mortality, and better patient experiences throughout the whole cancer journey. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Following a symposium on integrating family practice and cancer care, leaders from Cancer Care Ontario and the Ontario College of Family Physicians developed an action plan. A Provincial Primary Care Lead and 13 Regional Primary Care Leads (RPCLs) were identified. Broad provincial, national, and international consultations and environmental scanning resulted in the development of a strategic conceptual framework guiding the integration initiatives of the primary care and cancer strategy. It includes 3 key domains of interest (vertical, clinical, and functional integration) surrounded by 2 broad and encompassing activities (knowledge transfer and exchange; measurement and monitoring). The RPCLs are the local contacts for primary care providers and regional cancer programs in Ontario. CONCLUSION: It is early days, but the RPCLs are already busy participating in key organizational governance structures as decision makers; acting as key contacts for primary care providers who need information about the cancer system; and helping to organize educational events. Together they are developing a strategic plan with long- and short-term goals and are advocating for the resources required to improve integration and engagement of the primary care and cancer system.

Improving cardiovascular health at population level: 39 community cluster randomised trial of Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the community based Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP) on morbidity from cardiovascular disease. DESIGN: Community cluster randomised trial. SETTING: 39 mid-sized communities in Ontario, Canada, stratified by location and population size. PARTICIPANTS: Community dwelling residents aged 65 years or over, family physicians, pharmacists, volunteers, community nurses, and local lead organisations. INTERVENTION: Communities were randomised to receive CHAP (n = 20) or no intervention (n = 19). In CHAP communities, residents aged 65 or over were invited to attend volunteer run cardiovascular risk assessment and education sessions held in community based pharmacies over a 10 week period; automated blood pressure readings and self reported risk factor data were collected and shared with participants and their family physicians and pharmacists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Composite of hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and congestive heart failure among all community residents aged 65 and over in the year before compared with the year after implementation of CHAP. RESULTS: All 20 intervention communities successfully implemented CHAP. A total of 1265 three hour long sessions were held in 129/145 (89%) pharmacies during the 10 week programme. 15,889 unique participants had a total of 27,358 cardiovascular assessments with the assistance of 577 peer volunteers. After adjustment for hospital admission rates in the year before the intervention, CHAP was associated with a 9% relative reduction in the composite end point (rate ratio 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.86 to 0.97; P = 0.002) or 3.02 fewer annual hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease per 1000 people aged 65 and over. Statistically significant reductions favouring the intervention communities were seen in hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction (rate ratio 0.87, 0.79 to 0.97; P = 0.008) and congestive heart failure (0.90, 0.81 to 0.99; P = 0.029) but not for stroke (0.99, 0.88 to 1.12; P = 0.89). CONCLUSIONS: A collaborative, multi-pronged, community based health promotion and prevention programme targeted at older adults can reduce cardiovascular morbidity at the population level. Trial registration Current controlled trials ISRCTN50550004.