scholarly journals Exploring health care professionals views on alternative approaches to cancer follow-up and barriers and facilitators to implementation of a recovery package

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 101759
Author(s):  
Susan Williamson ◽  
Kinta Beaver ◽  
Stephen Langton
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Alternative Approaches

scholarly journals The Uptake and Use of Telemonitoring in Chronic Care Between 2014 and 2019: Nationwide Survey Among Patients and Health Care Professionals in the Netherlands (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martine W J Huygens ◽  
Helene R Voogdt-Pruis ◽  
Myrah Wouters ◽  
Maaike M Meurs ◽  
Britt van Lettow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Chronic Care ◽  
Elderly Care ◽  
Care Plan ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Medical Specialists

BACKGROUND Telemonitoring could offer solutions to the mounting challenges for health care and could improve patient self-management. Studies have addressed the benefits and challenges of telemonitoring for certain patient groups. OBJECTIVE This paper will examine the nationwide uptake of telemonitoring in chronic care in the Netherlands from 2014 to 2019 by means of an annual representative survey among patients and health care professionals. METHODS Between 2014 and 2019, approximately 2900 patients with chronic diseases, 700 nurses, and 500 general practitioners (GPs) and medical specialists received a questionnaire. About 30 questions addressed topics about the use of eHealth and experiences with it, including data about telemonitoring. RESULTS Between 2014 and 2019, the use of telemonitoring remained stable for all groups except medical specialists. In medical specialist departments, the use of telemonitoring increased from 11.2% (18/161) in 2014 to 19.6% (36/184) in 2019 (<i>χ</i><sup>2</sup><sub>4</sub>=12.3; <i>P</i>=.02). In 2019, telemonitoring was used by 5.8% (28/485) of people with chronic disease. This was 18.2% (41/225) in GP organizations and 40.4% (44/109), 38.0% (78/205), and 8.9% (29/325) in the organizations of nurses working in primary, secondary, and elderly care, respectively. Up to 10% of the targeted patient group such as diabetics were regarded by health care professionals as suitable for using telemonitoring. The main benefits mentioned by the patients were “comfort” (421/1043, 40.4%) and “living at home for longer/more comfortably” (334/1047, 31.9%). Health care professionals added “improvement of self-management” (63/176, 35.8% to 57/71, 80.3%), “better understanding of the patient’s condition” (47/176, 26.7% to 42/71, 59.2%), “reduction of workload” (53/134, 39.6% of nurses in elderly care), “better tailoring of care plan to the patient’s situation” (95/225, 42.2% of GPs), and “saves time for patients/caregivers” (61/176, 34.7% of medical specialists). Disadvantages mentioned by professionals were that “it takes time to monitor data” (13/130, 10% to 108/225, 48.0%), “it takes time to follow up alerts” (15/130, 11.5% to 117/225, 52.0%), and “it is difficult to estimate which patients can work with telemonitoring” (22/113, 19.5% to 94/225, 41.8%). CONCLUSIONS The uptake of telemonitoring in Dutch chronic care remained stable during 2014-2019 but increased among medical specialists. According to both patients and professionals, telemonitoring improves the quality of life and quality of care. Skills for suitably including eligible patients and for allocating the tasks of data monitoring and follow-up care within the team would help to further increase the use of telemonitoring.

Optimising Hand Surgery during COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (01) ◽  
pp. 84-91
Author(s):  
Shivangi Saha ◽  
Suvashis Dash ◽  
Mohammed Tahir Ansari ◽  
Ashish Dhanraj Bichupuriya ◽  
Amit Kumar Gupta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Hand Surgery ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Operative Management ◽  
Hand Injuries ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Flap Cover

Background: With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, most health-care personnel and resources are redirected to prioritize care for seriously-ill COVID patients. This situation may poorly impact our capacity to care for critically injured patients. We need to devise a strategy to provide rational and essential care to hand trauma victims whilst the access to theatres and anaesthetic support is limited. Our center is a level 1 trauma center, where the pandemic preparedness required reorganization of the trauma services. We aim to summarise the clinical profile and management of these patients and highlight, how we modified our practice to optimize their care. Methods: This is a single-centre retrospective observational study of all patients with hand injuries visiting the Department of Plastic Surgery from 22nd March to 31st May 2020. Patient characteristics, management details, and outcomes were analysed. Results: A total of 102 hand injuries were encountered. Five patients were COVID-19 positive. The mean age was 28.9 ± 14.8 years and eighty-two (80.4%) were males. Thirty-one injuries involved fractures/dislocations, of which 23 (74.2%) were managed non-operatively. Seventy-five (73.5%) patients underwent wound wash or procedure under local anaesthetic and were discharged as soon as they were comfortable. Seventeen cases performed under brachial-plexus block, were discharged within 24 hours except four cases of finger replantation/ revascularisation and one flap cover which were discharged after monitoring for four days. At mean follow-up of 54.4 ± 21.8 days, the rates of early complication and loss to follow-up were 6.9% and 12.7% respectively. Conclusions: Essential trauma care needs to continue keeping in mind, rational use of resources while ensuring safety of the patients and health-care professionals. We need to be flexible and dynamic in our approach, by utilising teleconsultation, non-operative management, and regional anaesthesia wherever feasible.

scholarly journals Development and Implementation of Survivorship Tools to Enable Medical Follow-Up After Childhood Cancer Treatment in Southern Sweden

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Magnus Petersson-Ahrholt ◽  
Thomas Wiebe ◽  
Lars Hjorth ◽  
Thomas Relander ◽  
Helena M. Linge
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Childhood Cancer ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Southern Sweden ◽  
Quality Registry ◽  
Treatment Summary ◽  
Group Stratification

PURPOSE Survival rates after childhood cancer have increased from 20% to 80% since the 1970s. The increased number of survivors emphasizes the importance of late effects and their monitoring. Late effects may have a strong impact on quality of life in survivors. The purpose of this study was to make key data in a quality registry available for direct clinical use, enabling health care professionals to perform efficient and appropriate long-term medical follow-up after childhood cancer treatment. METHODS The population-based quality registry upon which this study is centered contains data on all individuals diagnosed with childhood cancer (diagnosed at 18 years of age or younger) in southern Sweden since January 1, 1970, and treatment data on 5-year survivors. Web tools, which were developed and implemented in a health care setting, generate a personalized treatment summary for each patient and enable risk group stratification of survivors. RESULTS Generation of a personalized treatment summary and risk group stratification of survivors led to identification of women at risk for developing breast cancer as a consequence of childhood cancer treatment. Three novel cases of previously undiagnosed breast cancer were identified. CONCLUSION The registry, together with the developed tools, enabled health care professionals to perform medical follow-up in this at-risk patient population.

scholarly journals Outcome of illustrated information leaflet on correct usage of asthma-metered dose inhaler

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Wrench ◽  
Lynette Van Dyk ◽  
Sunitha Srinivas ◽  
Ros Dowse
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Dose Inhaler ◽  
Metered Dose Inhaler ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Metered Dose ◽  
Asthma Patients

Background: Research globally has shown that metered dose inhaler (MDI) technique is poor, with patient education and regular demonstration critical in maintaining correct use of inhalers. Patient information containing pictorial aids improves understanding of medicine usage; however, manufacturer leaflets illustrating MDI use may not be easily understood by low-literacy asthma patients.Aim: To develop and evaluate the outcome of a tailored, simplified leaflet on correct MDI technique in asthma patients with limited literacy skills.Setting: A rural primary health care clinic in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.Methods: Pictograms illustrating MDI steps were designed to ensure cultural relevance. The design process of the leaflet was iterative and consultative involving a range of health care professionals as well as patients. Fifty-five rural asthma patients were recruited for the pre-post design educational intervention study. Metered dose inhaler technique was assessed using a checklist, and patients were then educated using the study leaflet. The principal researcher then demonstrated correct MDI technique. This process was repeated at follow-up 4 weeks later.Results: The number of correct steps increased significantly post intervention from 4.6 ± 2.2 at baseline to 7.9 ± 2.7 at follow-up (p 0.05). Statistically significant improvement of correct technique was established for 10 of the 12 steps. Patients liked the pictograms and preferred the study leaflet over the manufacturer leaflet.Conclusion: The tailored, simple, illustrated study leaflet accompanied by a demonstration of MDI technique significantly increased correct MDI technique in low-literacy patients. Patients approved of the illustrated, simple text leaflet, and noted its usefulness in helping them improve their MDI technique.

scholarly journals Physical Activity on Prescription in Routine Health Care: 1-Year Follow-Up of Patients with and without Counsellor Support

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (16) ◽  
pp. 5679
Author(s):  
Pia Andersen ◽  
Sara Holmberg ◽  
Kristofer Årestedt ◽  
Lena Lendahls ◽  
Per Nilsen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Routine Care ◽  
Interquartile Range ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Everyday Activity ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
One Year

The effectiveness of counsellor support in addition to physical activity on prescription (PAP) from health care professionals has rarely been evaluated. This observational follow-up study investigated differences in physical activity levels and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) one year after PAP regarding patients’ use of counsellor support in addition to PAP in routine care. The study was conducted in a Swedish health care region in which all patients receiving PAP from health care professionals were offered counsellor support. Data were collected from medical records and questionnaires (baseline and follow-up). Of the 400 study participants, 37% used counsellor support. The group of counsellor users attained a higher level of physical activity one year after receiving PAP compared to the group of non-users (p < 0.001). The level of physical activity was measured by a validated index (score 3–19) calculated from weekly everyday activity and exercise training. Comparison of the change in scores between baseline and follow-up showed a significant difference between the two groups, (p < 0.001). The median difference in the PAP + C group was 2.0 (interquartile range, 7.0) and 0.0. among non-users (interquartile range, 4.0). Significant differences in HRQoL were due to positive improvements among counsellor users, with the main improvement in general health. The conclusion is that patients using counsellor support after receiving PAP from health care professionals had higher physical activity and better HRQoL one year after compared with patients who did not use this support.

scholarly journals Does Sense make sense? Mixed methods study of a Dutch sexual health program

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Joosten ◽  
L Jochems ◽  
C Wijsen ◽  
T Heijman ◽  
A Timen
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Open Atmosphere ◽  
Study Results

Abstract In the Netherlands, the Sense program addresses several key elements of sexual health for young people &lt;25 year. This program offers free consultations at the PHS concerning STI, contraceptives, pregnancy or sexuality. The performance of this program has not been studied yet. This mixed methods study investigates facilitators and barriers of a Sense consultation from the perspective of clients and health care professionals (HCP) and investigates the outcome of the consultation at three points in time. Semi-structured interviews were conducted after consultation among 16 clients and 6 HCP. Questionnaires were collected directly after consultation and at 3, 6 and 12 months after consultation. Two cohorts were recruited; clients with STI consultation only and clients with questions related to sexuality, contraception and pregnancy (Sense consultation, SC). Satisfaction of the consultation and applicability of the given advice was measured. In the follow up presence of STI, pregnancy, sexual problem and contraceptive use was measured. A minority of the interviewed clients were familiar with Sense, highly valued the expertise of the HCP and the open atmosphere during the consultation. Reasons for visiting Sense included expertise, more anonymity and feeling more comfortable than at the GP. The questionnaire after consultation was returned by 144 STI clients and 32 SC clients. Both type of consultation were highly valued and advice was easily applicable. The follow up cohort included 97 STI clients and 23 SC clients. Response rate of the 3- and 6 month-questionnaires was 61%. Results of the full one year follow-up are expected in September 2019. Study results provide evidence for a highly valued Sense program, by both clients and HCP. Sense is a platform to discuss STI, contraception and sexuality in an open atmosphere, though familiarity with Sense is low. A major conclusion is that an STI consultation provides the opportunity to address questions related to sexuality. Key messages The Sense program is highly valued by young people, and yet the program is not widely known among young people. There is need for more publicity to the program to enable more young people to use this program and to improve the sexual health care of young Dutch people.

scholarly journals Use of the Ottawa Ankle Rules in children: a survey of physicians’ practice patterns

CJEM ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (05) ◽  
pp. 333-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn K. Dowling ◽  
Ian Wishart
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Pediatric Emergency ◽  
Ankle Fractures ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Emergency Physicians ◽  
Ottawa Ankle Rules ◽  
Clinically Significant

ABSTRACT: Introduction: A number of studies have assessed the diagnostic accuracy of the Ottawa Ankle Rules (OAR) in children; however, the role of the OAR in guiding physician radiograph use is unclear. Objectives: The primary purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which Canadian pediatric emergency physicians report using the OAR. Secondary goals included determining current diagnostic and management strategies for Salter-Harris 1 (SH-1) injuries of the ankle and which fractures physicians deem to be clinically significant. Methods: A self-administered piloted survey was distributed by mail to 215 Canadian pediatric emergency physicians using a modified Dillman technique. Participants were selected through Pediatric Emergency Research Canada (PERC), a national network of health care professionals with an interest in pediatric emergency medicine research. Results: Of 209 surveys, 144 were returned, for a response rate of 68.9%. Of those, 87.5% (126 of 144) reported applying the OAR in children to determine the need for radiographs in acute ankle or midfoot injuries. Of those, 65.1% reported using the OAR always or usually, and 64.5% (93 of 144) of physicians stated that they believe all ankle fractures are clinically significant. Although physicians report that they most commonly order the radiographs, 36.2% of participants indicated that radiographs were requisitioned by nurses or other health care providers at their facilities. SH-1 fractures were reported to be most commonly managed by immobilization (83.3%; 120 of 144), with most patients going on to follow-up with an orthopedic surgeon. Conclusions: The majority of Canadian pediatric emergency physicians indicate that they use the OAR when assessing children with acute ankle and midfoot injuries. Most physicians believe that all ankle fractures, including SH-1, are clinically significant and have a management preference for immobilization and orthopedic follow-up.

scholarly journals Impact of a National Peer-Led Training Program to Increase Brief Physical Activity Advice Given to Patients by Health Care Professionals

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Liz Carlin ◽  
Maxine E. Whelan ◽  
Hayley Musson ◽  
Emma J. Adams
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Baseline Survey ◽  
Physical Activity Guidelines ◽  
Physical Activity Advice ◽  
The Impact

Background: The benefits of physical activity for preventing and managing long-term health conditions are well established and health care professionals could promote physical activity to patients. The current study aims to evaluate the impact of the Clinical Champions Physical Activity Training Program. Methods: Health care professionals attend a one-off in-person training session delivered by a trained Clinical Champion. Attendees at the Clinical Champions Physical Activity Training Program were asked to complete a baseline survey prior to the training session and follow-up surveys 4 and 12 weeks posttraining. Results: A total of 5945 training attendees completed the baseline survey. A total of 1859 and 754 participants completed 4- and 12-week follow-up (31.3% and 12.7% response rate, respectively). Significant increases in confidence to deliver brief physical activity advice and knowledge of physical activity guidelines were reported at 12 weeks (P < .001). The perceived frequency of physical activity discussions with patients significantly increased (P < .001). Twelve weeks after training, fewer barriers in promoting physical activity were reported. Conclusions: The evaluation of the Clinical Champions Physical Activity Training Program demonstrated an increase in knowledge of physical activity guidelines, levels of confidence, and frequency of delivery of brief physical activity advice to patients. Further research is required to determine if this impact translates into changes to patients’ physical activity behavior.

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