ABSTRACT
Documentation is essential for communicating care between credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners and other health care providers. A validated tool that can evaluate quality documentation of the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) encounter, including progress on outcomes is lacking. The aim of the NCP Quality Evaluation and Standardization Tool (QUEST) validation study is to revise an existing NCP audit tool and evaluate it when used within US Veterans Affairs in all clinical care settings. Six registered dietitian nutritionists revised an existing NCP audit tool. The revised tool (NCP-QUEST) was analyzed for clarity, relevance, and reliability. Eighty-five documentation notes (44 initial, 41 reassessment) were received from eight volunteer Veterans Affairs sites. Five of six registered dietitian nutritionists participated in the interrater reliability testing blinded to each other's ratings; and two registered dietitian nutritionists participated in intrarater reliability reviewing the same notes 6 weeks later blinded to the original ratings. Results showed moderate levels of agreement in interrater reliability (Krippendorff's α = .62 for all items, .66 for total score, and .52 for quality category rating). Intrarater reliability was excellent for all items (α = .86 to .87 for all items; .91 to .94 for total score and.74 to .89 for quality category rating). The NCP-QUEST has high content validity (Content Validity Index = 0.78 for item level, and 0.9 for scale level) after two cycles of content validity review. The tool can facilitate critical thinking, improved linking of NCP chains, and is a necessary foundation for quality data collection and outcomes management. The NCP-QUEST tool can improve accuracy and confidence in charting.
Subject(s)
Documentation/standards , Nutrition Therapy/standards , Process Assessment, Health Care/standards , Humans , Nutritionists/standards , Quality of Health Care , Reference Standards , Reproducibility of Results , United States , United States Department of Veterans AffairsABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Clinical utility and client utility are important desirable properties when developing and evaluating a new classification system for mental disorders. This study reports on four focus groups followed up by a Delphi study among clinicians working with clients with personality disorders (PD) and clients with PD themselves to harness both user groups' perspectives on the utility of PD diagnosis. Our findings show that the client and clinician views of the concept of utility were closely aligned and include aspects of transparency of communication and the ability of an assessment to enhance hope, curiosity, motivation, and insight into a client's personality patterns. Unique to clinicians' appraisal was the ability of an assessment to capture both vulnerabilities and resilience of clients and to give information about the prognosis in treatment. Unique to clients' appraisal was the ability of an assessment to be destigmatizing and collaborative. These findings may serve to expand our definition and measurement of clinical utility, in that collaborative and nonstigmatizing procedures likely promote client acceptability. To capture both aspects, we offer two preliminary questionnaires (i.e., item sets open to further empirical testing) based on the data derived from the Delphi procedure.
Subject(s)
Personality Assessment/standards , Personality Disorders/diagnosis , Process Assessment, Health Care/standards , Psychometrics/standards , Adult , Delphi Technique , Female , Focus Groups , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Background and Purpose: We determined the association between hospital factors, performance on transient ischemic attack (TIA) process measures, and 90-day ischemic stroke incidence. Methods: Longitudinal analysis of retrospectively obtained data on 9168 veterans ≥18 years with TIA presenting to the emergency department or inpatient unit at 69 Veterans Affairs hospitals with ≥10 eligible patients per year in fiscal years 2015 to 2018. Process measures were high/moderate potency statin within 7 days of discharge, antithrombotic by day 2, and hypertension control (<140/90 mm Hg) at 90 days. The outcome was 90-day stroke incidence. Results: During the 4-year study period, hospitals significantly increased statin use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] per 1-year increase, 1.24 [95% CI, 1.171.32]; P<0.001), whereas neither hypertension control (P=0.44) nor antithrombotic use (P=0.82) improved over time. Hospitals that admitted a higher proportion of TIA patients versus emergency department discharge had significantly greater use of statins (aOR per 10-percentage point increase in the proportion of TIA patients admitted, 1.09 [1.031.16]; P=0.003) and antithrombotics (aOR per 10-percentage point increase in TIA patients admitted, 1.14 [1.061.23]; P<0.001). Hospitals with higher emergency physician staffing and lower TIA patient volume had greater use of antithrombotics (aOR per 1 full-time physician increase, 1.05 [1.011.08]; P=0.008 and aOR per 10-patient decrease in volume, 1.09 [1.011.16]; P=0.02). Higher emergency physician staffing was associated with lower 90-day stroke incidence (aOR per 1 full-time physician increase, 0.96 [0.920.99]; P=0.02) but other hospital factors were not. Conclusions: Hospitals admitting higher percentages of TIA patients and having higher emergency physician staffing have greater performance on select guideline-concordant process measures for TIA. Higher emergency physician staffing was associated with improved outcomes 90 days after TIA.
Subject(s)
Hospitalization , Ischemic Attack, Transient/epidemiology , Ischemic Stroke/epidemiology , Process Assessment, Health Care/standards , Veterans Health Services/standards , Veterans , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cohort Studies , Emergency Service, Hospital/standards , Emergency Service, Hospital/trends , Female , Hospital Bed Capacity/standards , Hospitalization/trends , Humans , Ischemic Attack, Transient/diagnosis , Ischemic Attack, Transient/therapy , Ischemic Stroke/diagnosis , Ischemic Stroke/therapy , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Process Assessment, Health Care/trends , Retrospective Studies , Time FactorsABSTRACT
AIM: To describe the development of an intervention-specific fidelity measure and its utilization and to determine whether the newly developed Sitting Together and Reaching to Play (START-Play) intervention was implemented as intended. Also, to quantify differences between START-Play and usual early intervention (uEI) services. METHOD: A fidelity measure for the START-Play intervention was developed for children with neuromotor disorders by: (1) identifying key intervention components, (2) establishing a measurement coding system, and (3) testing the reliability of instrument scores. After establishing acceptable interrater reliability, 103 intervention videos from the START-Play randomized controlled trial were coded and compared between the START-Play and uEI groups to measure five dimensions of START-Play fidelity, including adherence, dosage, quality of intervention, participant responsiveness, and program differentiation. RESULTS: Fifteen fidelity variables out of 17 had good to excellent interrater reliability evidence with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) ranging from 0.77 to 0.95. The START-Play therapists met the criteria for acceptable fidelity of the intervention (rates of START-Play key component use ≥0.8; quality ratings ≥3 [on a scale of 1-4]). The START-Play and uEI groups differed significantly in rates of START-Play key component use and quality ratings. INTERPRETATION: The START-Play fidelity measure successfully quantified key components of the START-Play intervention, serving to differentiate START-Play from uEI.
Subject(s)
Early Intervention, Educational/standards , Early Medical Intervention/standards , Motor Skills Disorders/rehabilitation , Neurological Rehabilitation/standards , Process Assessment, Health Care/standards , Program Development , Psychometrics/standards , Child , Humans , Neurological Rehabilitation/methods , Psychometrics/methods , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
The success of transition for children and youth with neurological disorders depends on leadership from the pediatric neurology team to encourage and support the patient's firm knowledge base of the medical condition, gradual acceptance of self-management skills and confident self-advocacy. While the foundations of effective medical transition have been effectively outlined, the challenge remains to translate from principles to practice. The Child Neurology Foundation has published open source, practical guides which are designed to facilitate the ability to structure and monitor the process through adolescence as well as to insure an effective transfer of care to adult providers. In addition, this article provides one hospital;'s efforts to integrate the transition process into the electronic medical record.
Subject(s)
Guidelines as Topic , Nervous System Diseases/therapy , Patient Advocacy , Process Assessment, Health Care , Self-Management , Transition to Adult Care , Adolescent , Adult , Humans , Process Assessment, Health Care/methods , Process Assessment, Health Care/standards , Transition to Adult Care/standards , Young AdultABSTRACT
The implementation of evidence-based psychological treatments (EBPTs) may be particularly challenging to accomplish in community mental health settings for individuals with severe mental illness (SMI). Transdiagnostic treatments, or treatments that target a mechanism that underpins multiple mental health problems, may be particularly well-suited to community mental health settings. This study examines community stakeholder perspectives (N = 22) of the Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention (TranS-C) implemented in a community mental health setting in the context of a randomized controlled trial of TranS-C for SMI. The present study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to the implementation of TranS-C for SMI in a community mental health setting using (1) a deductive theory-based process based on the Framework for Dissemination in Health Services Intervention Research and (2) an inductive thematic analysis process. All deductive themes were identified as both barriers and facilitators to the implementation of EBPTs and TranS-C in this community mental health setting. Seven additional themes were identified through the inductive thematic analysis. A discussion of how the findings are related to prior research, other EBPT implementation, and future TranS-C implementation are included.
Subject(s)
Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Community Mental Health Services/standards , Health Personnel/standards , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Qualitative Research , Sleep/physiology , Stakeholder Participation , Adult , Community Mental Health Services/methods , Female , Health Personnel/psychology , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/psychology , Mental Disorders/therapy , Middle Aged , Process Assessment, Health Care/methods , Process Assessment, Health Care/standards , Stakeholder Participation/psychologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the potential for improving amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) clinical trials by having patients or caregivers perform frequent self-assessments at home. METHODS AND PARTICIPANTS: We enrolled ALS patients into a nonblinded, longitudinal 9-month study in which patients and caregivers obtained daily data using several different instruments, including a slow-vital capacity device, a hand grip dynamometer, an electrical impedance myography-based fitness device, an activity tracker, a speech app, and the ALS functional rating scale-revised. Questions as to acceptability were asked at two time points. RESULTS: A total of 113 individuals enrolled, with 61 (43 men, 18 women, mean age 60.1 ± 9.9 years) collecting a minimum of 7 days data and being included in the analysis. Daily measurements resulted in more accurate assessments of the slope of progression of the disease, resulting in smaller sample size estimates for a hypothetical clinical trial. For example, by performing daily slow-vital capacity measurements, calculated sample size was reduced to 182 subjects/study arm from 882/arm for monthly measurements. Similarly, performing the ALS functional rating scale weekly rather than monthly led to a calculated sample size of 73/arm as compared to 274/arm. Participants generally found the procedures acceptable and, for many, improved their sense of control of their disease. INTERPRETATION: Frequent at-home measurements using standard tools holds the prospect of tracking progression and reducing sample size requirements for clinical trials in ALS while also being acceptable to the patients. Future studies in this and other neurological disorders should consider adopting this approach to data collection.
Subject(s)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/diagnosis , Clinical Trials as Topic/standards , Disease Progression , Process Assessment, Health Care/standards , Aged , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/physiopathology , Caregivers , Diagnostic Self Evaluation , Female , Hand Strength/physiology , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Myography , Proof of Concept Study , Sample Size , Vital Capacity/physiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The first-line use of specialized metabolic screening laboratories in the investigation of hypotonia and/or developmental delay remains a standard practice despite lack of supporting evidence. Our study aimed to address the utility of such testing by determining the proportion of patients whose diagnosis was directly supported by metabolic screening. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review study of 164 patients under age one who had screening metabolic laboratory testing done within the time period of one calendar year. RESULTS: Of patients screened, 9/164 (5.5%) had diagnoses supported by metabolic testing (two with nonketotic hyperglycinemia, three with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, one with propionic acidemia, one with a congenital disorder of glycosylation, one with D-bifunctional protein deficiency, and one with GM1 Gangliosidosis). Of patients specifically evaluated for hypotonia and/or developmental delay, 5/79 (6.3%) were diagnosed with the aid of metabolic testing. All patients with positive screens presented with acute decompensation. Outside of this subgroup of high-risk patients, no patients were diagnosed using metabolic testing. Screening laboratories were also ineffective in an outpatient setting, identifying only one of the seven outpatients who was ultimately diagnosed with an inborn error of metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that the yield of specialized metabolic screening testing is extremely low in infants with hypotonia and/or developmental delay, approaching zero outside of the specific setting of clinical decompensation or multi-system involvement. Furthermore, many outpatient cases of IEM are not identified by screening studies. This information will help guide the diagnostic evaluation of hypotonia and/or global developmental delay.
Subject(s)
Developmental Disabilities/diagnosis , Metabolism, Inborn Errors/diagnosis , Muscle Hypotonia/diagnosis , Process Assessment, Health Care/standards , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
INTRODUCCIÓN: El ictus es causa importante de morbimortalidad en adultos y supone un elevado coste sociosanitario por las secuelas que provoca. Para minimizarlas es importante aplicar guías de buenas prácticas que aseguren cuidados basados en la evidencia y reduzcan la variabilidad clínica. El objetivo del estudio es evaluar los resultados de implantación de una Guía de buenas prácticas para la atención de pacientes con ictus hospitalizados. MÉTODO: Estudio cuasi-experimental pre/post-intervención. Mayores de 18 años ingresados en el Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete (CHUA) y Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra (CHN) con diagnóstico de ictus. Variables de proceso: valoración neurológica (Escala canadiense y la National Institute of Health Stroke Scale), valoración de la disfagia (Test del agua y el método de exploración clínica volumen-viscosidad), riesgo de caídas (Escala Downton), detección de dolor (Escala numérica), riesgo de lesiones por presión (Escala Braden) y educación sanitaria. Variables de resultado: neumonía por aspiración, caídas, independencia para las actividades de la vida diaria (índice de Barthel y Rankin modificada), lesiones por presión e intensidad del dolor. RESULTADOS: Se evaluaron 1.270 pacientes en el CHUA y 627 en el CHN, mayoritariamente hombres mayores de 69 años y con alta incidencia de ictus isquémicos. En el CHUA se registraron 16 lesiones por presión, 17 caídas y 20 casos de neumonías por aspiración. En CHN se identificaron 15 casos de lesiones por presión. El aumento de casos podría atribuirse al incremento de pacientes evaluados y a una mayor concienciación para registrar estos eventos. CONCLUSIONES: La aplicación de las recomendaciones de la GBP ha mejorado de manera estadísticamente significativa a lo largo del tiempo, existiendo posibilidades de mejora tanto en la calidad de los cuidados prestados como en los resultados en salud de los pacientes
INTRODUCTION: Stroke is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in adults and implies high social and healthcare costs due to the consequences it causes. To minimize these, it is important to apply best practice guidelines that ensure evidence-based care and reduce clinical variability. The objective of the study is to evaluate the results of implantation of the Ictus Best Practice Guideline for attending in-hospital stroke patients. METHOD: Quasi-experimental pre-post intervention study. Over 18 years of age admitted to the University Hospital Complex of Albacete and Hospital Complex of Navarra with a diagnosis of stroke. Process variables: Neurological assessment (Canadian Scale and the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale), dysphagia assessment (Water Test and the Volume-Viscosity Clinical Exploration Method), risk falls (Downton Scale), pain detection (Numerical Scale), pressure injury risk (Braden Scale), health education. Outcome variables: Aspiration pneumonia, falls, independence of daily life activities (modified Barthel and Rankin index), pressure injuries and pain intensity. RESULTS: 1270 patients were evaluated in CHUA and 627 in CHN, most were men and the average age was over 69 years, with a higher incidence of ischaemic strokes. In CHUA 16 pressure sores, 17 falls and 20 cases of aspiration pneumonia were recorded and 15 cases of pressure sores were identified in CHN. An increase of cases could be attributed to the greater number of patients evaluated and the increased nursing awareness about recording adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Application of guideline recommendations improved statistically significantly throughout the implementation time. Some possibilities for improvement are detected, so it is necessary to continue working on both the quality of care provided and the health outcomes of patients
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Aged , Health Plan Implementation/standards , Patient Safety/standards , Practice Guidelines as Topic/standards , Stroke/epidemiology , Nursing Care/standards , Guideline Adherence/standards , Stroke/nursing , Nursing Assessment , Process Assessment, Health Care/standards , Quality Assurance, Health Care/standards , HospitalizationABSTRACT
Background: Suicide is a severe public health problem, in 2008 the Italian ministerial recommendation n° 4 on the management of suicide defined key areas for the identification of suicidal risk in hospital wards. The guidelines are important in defining professional liability issues, in line with Law 24 of 8/3/2017 'Gelli-Bianco'. Our study aimed to investigate the appropriateness of the official documents on suicide prevention delivered by Italian hospitals and their compliance with the ministerial recommendation.Methods: The Italian hospitals' public procedures on suicide prevention issued between 2008 and 2019 (n = 33) were retrieved thorough web search and further evaluated according to their compliance with the 2008 Italian ministerial recommendations.Results: The guidelines documents were generally in line with the ministerial recommendation. However, we found a lack of implementation in the specific training of health professionals. Most guidelines provided no risk stratification, nor specific procedures for different risk degrees or diagnoses. More than half of the documents did not report standardised tools for the assessment of suicidal risk.Conclusions: The public procedures on suicide prevention in Italian hospitals present general indications, leaving room for interpretation. Public procedures should be implemented with greater attention to the elements of judgement in the assessment of suicidal risk.KEY POINTSProcedures for suicide prevention are of uttermost importance for psychiatrist working in hospital.Standards in suicide risk evaluations are needed.Comparison between procedures can improve risk assessment and evaluation.
Subject(s)
Forensic Psychiatry/standards , Hospitals/standards , Practice Guidelines as Topic/standards , Process Assessment, Health Care/standards , Risk Management/standards , Suicide Prevention , Humans , Italy , Medical Staff, Hospital , Process Assessment, Health Care/legislation & jurisprudence , Risk Assessment/standardsABSTRACT
This editorial describes an effort by 9 consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatry service leaders in the United States to incorporate routine performance measurement into their service workflows. Although C-L psychiatry is an essential clinical service in general hospitals, performance metrics for this service have not been broadly accepted or implemented. Meanwhile, the performance metrics that have been developed rely on an investment in resources and/or new workflows that C-L psychiatry services may not be prepared to make on a widespread level. Our group sought to determine the feasibility of incorporating routine performance measurement into the workflows of a diverse sample of C-L psychiatry services using only existing resources via three collection methods: timestamp review, chart auditing, and survey administration. No methods were broadly successful across the 9 services. We argue that for routine performance measurement to gain wider traction in the field of C-L psychiatry, the ready availability-or automatability-of performance data must be taken into account.
Subject(s)
Hospitals, General , Process Assessment, Health Care/methods , Psychiatry/methods , Psychometrics/instrumentation , Referral and Consultation , Humans , Process Assessment, Health Care/standards , Psychiatry/standards , United StatesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Our organization was experiencing a delay in treatment of large vessel occlusions. With a goal of door-to-groin puncture in less than 90 minutes, our organization was averaging a door-to-groin puncture time of greater than 100 minutes and identified the need for a process change. METHODS: A multidisciplinary group was formed to process map current state and define future state. Lean methodology was used to implement rapid cycle change and create standard work. Because this was an improvement on a current process, institutional review board approval was not needed. RESULTS: The result was achieving door-to-groin puncture times less than 90 minutes and a subsequent decrease in door-to-groin puncture goal to less than 80 minutes. In addition, improved communication was seen between multiple departments responsible for the care of large vessel occlusion patients. CONCLUSION: Using Lean methodology with a multidisciplinary team is effective for implementing and sustaining process change.
Subject(s)
Groin , Interdisciplinary Communication , Process Assessment, Health Care/standards , Punctures , Stroke/therapy , Time-to-Treatment/standards , Endovascular Procedures , Humans , Quality Improvement , Thrombectomy/standards , Thrombolytic Therapy/standards , Total Quality Management , WorkflowABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Accelerating advances in health behavior change requires releasing the brake, as well as applying the throttle. This paper discusses six challenges or "brakes" that have slowed progress. PURPOSE/METHODS/RESULTS: We engage with six issues that limit investigators' ability to delineate and test the strategy-target and target-behavior relations that underlie effective interventions according to the experimental medicine approach. We discuss the need for guidance on how to identify the relevant mechanism of action (target) in an intervention and whether a periodic table of health behavior constructs might aid investigators. Experimental and correlational analyses (prospective surveys and behavior change techniques) have been used to test the validity of targets, and we present evidence that there is little agreement among the findings from different research designs. Whereas target engagement is typically analyzed in terms of increasing scores on constructs that impel behavior change, we discuss the role of impeding targets and the benefits of adopting a broader construal of potential targets and approaches to engagement. There is presently a paucity of competitive tests regarding which strategies best engage targets and we discuss empirical criteria and conceptual developments that could enhance the evidence base. Finally, we highlight the need to take "context" or conditional intervention effects more seriously by leveraging the interplay between questions about why interventions work and questions about when and for whom they work. CONCLUSION: Candid appraisal of the challenges facing research on health behavior change can generate new opportunities for theoretical development and offer direction and cumulative impetus for empirical work.
Subject(s)
Behavior Therapy , Behavioral Medicine , Health Behavior , Process Assessment, Health Care , Behavior Therapy/methods , Behavior Therapy/standards , Behavioral Medicine/methods , Behavioral Medicine/standards , Humans , Process Assessment, Health Care/methods , Process Assessment, Health Care/standardsABSTRACT
Neurodevelopmental (ND) impairment is common in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). While routine ND surveillance and evaluation of high-risk patients has become the standard-of-care, capture rate, barriers to referral, and potential patient benefits remain incompletely understood. Electronic data warehouse records from a single center were reviewed to identify all eligible and evaluated patients between July 2015 and December 2017 based on current guidelines for ND screening in CHD. Diagnoses, referring provider, and payor were considered. Potential benefit of the evaluation was defined as receipt of new diagnosis, referral for additional evaluation, or referral for a new service. Contingencies were assessed with Fisher's exact test. In this retrospective, cohort study, of 3434 children identified as eligible for ND evaluation, 135 were evaluated (4%). Appropriate evaluation was affected by diagnostic bias against coarctation of the aorta (CoArc) and favoring hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) (1.8 vs. 11.9%, p<0.01). Referrals were disproportionally made by a select group of cardiologists, and the rate of ND appointment non-compliance was higher in self-pay compared to insured patients (78% vs 27%, p<0.01). Potential benefit rate was 70-80% amongst individuals with the three most common diagnoses requiring neonatal surgery (CoArc, transposition of the great arteries, and HLHS). Appropriate ND evaluation in CHD is impacted by diagnosis, provider, and insurance status. Potential benefit of ND evaluation is high regardless of diagnosis. Strategies to improve access to ND evaluations and provider understanding of the at-risk population will likely improve longitudinal ND surveillance and clinical benefit.
Subject(s)
Developmental Disabilities/diagnosis , Heart Defects, Congenital/complications , Adolescent , Bias , Child , Child, Preschool , Cohort Studies , Developmental Disabilities/etiology , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Process Assessment, Health Care/standards , Referral and Consultation/statistics & numerical data , Retrospective Studies , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Dementias are chronic, degenerative neurological disorders with a complex management that require the cooperation of different healthcare professionals. The Italian Ministry of Health produced the document "Guidance on Integrated Care pathway for People with Dementia" (GICPD) with the specific objective of providing a standardized framework for the definition, development, and implementation of integrated care pathways (ICP) dedicated to people with dementia. We searched all available Italian territorial ICPs. Two raters assessed the retrieved ICPs with a 2-point scale on a 43-item checklist based on the GICPD. Only 5 out of 21 regions and 5 out of 101 local health authorities had an ICP, with most ICPs having a moderate compliance to the GICPD, in particular for the items referring to the development and implementation of the care pathways. A low to moderate inter-rater agreement was observed, mainly due to a lack of standardized models to describe ICPs for dementias. Results suggest that policy- and decision-makers should pay more attention to the GICPD when producing ICPs. The direct communication with clinicians, and the implementation of more precise and appropriate clinical outcomes, could increase the involvement of clinicians, whose participation is crucial to guarantee that ICPs meet needs of patients and their carers.
Subject(s)
Critical Pathways/standards , Delivery of Health Care, Integrated/standards , Dementia/therapy , Guideline Adherence/standards , Guidelines as Topic/standards , Process Assessment, Health Care/standards , Checklist/statistics & numerical data , Critical Pathways/statistics & numerical data , Delivery of Health Care, Integrated/statistics & numerical data , Guideline Adherence/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Italy , Process Assessment, Health Care/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
Consumers of psychotherapy outcome literature consider meta-analysis the gold standard for assessing the efficacy of interventions across disparate studies. Many assume that findings are valid, especially when published in journals with research credentials. Uncritical acceptance, however, can result in real-world consequences, including whether interventions attain evidence-based status or become marginalized or are considered for implementation in public service arenas. This article examines one meta-analysis, "The Effect of Using the Partners for Change Outcome Management System as Feedback Tool in Psychotherapy-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" (Østergård, Randa, & Hougaard, 2018). The findings are at odds with both the empirical record of routine outcome management as well as professional taskforce recommendations and thus provide an ideal exemplar of the risks of uncritically accepting the conclusions of a meta-analysis. Using guidelines from the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (Higgins & Green, 2011) and a qualitative case study methodology, this article examines Østergård et al.'s (2018) study selection, quality of evidence, and appropriateness of interpretation, emphasizing the link between flawed method and the ultimate validity of its conclusions. The method illustrated in this case study can be used to assess the legitimacy of meta-analytic findings to inform practice, funding, and policy decisions as well as how rhetoric minimizes flaws and bolsters believability. Our analysis revealed that half of the selected studies of the meta-analysis contained significant limitations, including inadequate dose of treatment and/or adherence problems, thereby calling into question its conclusions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Subject(s)
Biomedical Research/standards , Feedback, Psychological , Meta-Analysis as Topic , Patient Reported Outcome Measures , Process Assessment, Health Care/standards , Psychotherapy/standards , HumansABSTRACT
Background: As process measures can be means to change practices, this article presents process measures that impact on outcome measures for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) within value-based healthcare. Methods: Desk research and observations of patient trajectories were performed to map the processes involved in TAVR and SAVR. Semistructured interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals (n=8) and patients (n=2) to explore which processes were most important in relation to a standard set of outcome measures that was already monitored. Additionally, open interviews (n=2) were held to prioritise results. A focus group was performed for validation of the formulated process measures. Numerical data for these measures was not collected. Results: Process maps of the full cycle of care of TAVR and SAVR treatments in theory and in practice were developed. 28 processes were found important by interview participants due to their expected impact on patient-relevant outcomes. Seven processes were prioritised to be most important and were formulated into 12 process measures for both TAVR and SAVR: 'Number of times that deficient information provision to SAVR patients causes negative outcomes', 'Type of TAVR/SAVR prosthesis', 'Brand of TAVR prosthesis', 'Number of times the frailty score of a TAVR/SAVR patient >75 years is measured', 'Time between TAVR/SAVR surgery indication and surgery', 'Number of times that anticoagulants are stopped within 3 days before surgery', 'Time in hours between TAVR/SAVR surgery and permanent pacemaker implantation' and 'Percentage of standardised pain measurements'. Conclusion: This study proposes an addition of select process measures to standard sets of outcome measures to improve healthcare quality. It illustrates a clear method for identifying process measures with impact on health outcomes in the future.
Subject(s)
Aortic Valve/surgery , Process Assessment, Health Care/standards , Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement/statistics & numerical data , Focus Groups , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Patient Care TeamABSTRACT
Despite the knowledge that quality early childhood development programs, including those that target parental knowledge and behaviors, are essential for ameliorating the negative effects of early-life adversity, robust analyses of their implementation and impact in highly vulnerable settings are scarce. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a pilot wait-list randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the impact and the process of implementing and evaluating the Mother-Child Education Program (MOCEP) among refugee families and one low-income community in Beirut, Lebanon. This paper focuses on the analysis of MOCEP's implementation (i.e., key enablers of and barriers to the application and evaluation of the program). Our analysis suggests that, despite multiple challenges, implementation and robust evaluations of early childhood parenting programs in fragile contexts are feasible and urgently needed. This study illustrates how implementation evaluations are a key component of RCTs and crucial to identifying strategies to optimize program uptake and maximize impact.