scholarly journals A multicenter prospective audit to investigate the current management of patients undergoing anti-reflux surgery in the UK: Audit & Review of Anti-Reflux Operations & Workup

Author(s):  
◽  
Rob Walker ◽  
Tom Wiggins ◽  
Natalie S Blencowe ◽  
John M Findlay ◽  
...  

Abstract Background There are a variety of surgical and endoscopic interventions available to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease. There is, however, no consensus on which approach is best. The aim of this national audit is to describe the current variation in the UK clinical practice in relation to anti-reflux surgery (ARS) and to report adherence to available clinical guidelines. Methods This national audit will be conducted at centers across the UK using the secure online web platform ALEA. The study will comprise two parts: a registration questionnaire and a prospective multicenter audit of ARS. All participating centers will be required to complete the registration questionnaire comprising details regarding pre-, peri-, and post-operative care pathways and whether or not these are standardized within each center. Following this, a 12-month multicenter prospective audit will be undertaken to capture data including patient demographics, predominant symptoms, preoperative investigations, surgery indication, intraoperative details, and postoperative outcomes within the first 90 days. Local teams will retain access to their own data to facilitate local quality improvement. The full dataset will be reported at national and international scientific congresses and will contribute to peer-reviewed publications and national quality improvement initiatives. Conclusions This study will identify and explore variation in the processes and outcomes following ARS within the UK using a collaborative cohort methodology. The results generated by this audit will facilitate local and national quality improvement initiatives and generate new possibilities for future research in anti-reflux interventions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  

Abstract Introduction The aim of this study was to re-audit the rates of acute kidney injury (AKI) after elective colorectal surgery, following local presentations of results. Method Outcomes After Kidney injury in Surgery (OAKS) and Ileus Management International (IMAGINE), were prospective multicentre audits on consecutive elective colorectal resections, in the UK and Ireland. These were performed over 3-month periods in 2015 and 2018 respectively. During the interim period, results were presented at participating centres to stimulate local quality improvement initiatives. Risk-adjusted 7-day postoperative AKI rates were calculated through multilevel logistic regression based on the OAKS prognostic score. Result Of the 4,917 patients included, 3,133 (63.7%) originated from OAKS and 1,784 (36.3%) from IMAGINE. On univariate analysis, there was no significant difference (p=0.737) in the 7-day AKI rate between OAKS (n=346, 11.8%) and IMAGINE (n=205, 11.5%). However, the risk-adjusted AKI rate in IMAGINE was significantly lower compared to OAKS (-1.8%, 95% CI: -2.3% to -1.3%, p<0.001). Of 47 centres (40.1%) with a recorded local presentation, there was no significant difference in the subsequent AKI rate in IMAGINE (-0.7%, -2.0% to 0.6%, p=0.278). Conclusion Rates of AKI after elective colorectal surgery significantly reduced on re-audit. However, this may be related to increased awareness from participation or national quality improvement initiatives, rather than local presentation of results. Abbrev. AKI - Acute Kidney Injury, OAKS - Outcomes After Kidney injury in Surgery, IMAGINE - Ileus Management International Take-home message Risk-adjusted AKI rates significantly reduced on re-audit, however, this was most likely due to factors separate from the local presentation of initial results.


2012 ◽  
Vol 201 (6) ◽  
pp. 428-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. E. Barnes ◽  
Carol Paton

SummaryPositive change in prescribing practice in psychiatric services can be achieved with participation in the UK Prescribing Observatory for Mental Health (POMH-UK) quality improvement programmes. Key elements are feedback of benchmarked performance for local clinical reflection and customised change interventions informed by the national audit findings and parallel qualitative work. However, progress is gradual and gains generally modest.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (34_suppl) ◽  
pp. 142-142
Author(s):  
Ken Williams ◽  
Sarah Donovan ◽  
Eleanor Fitall ◽  
Tilithia McBride

142 Background: Regional, state, and local variations in cancer care necessitate a more thorough understanding of the key drivers of quality at these levels. In this study, Avalere sought to understand how local quality and health information technology (HIT) infrastructures may influence the quality of care to which a cancer patient has access. Methods: Avalere conducted an analysis of the primary influencers of quality and value in each state, cataloguing over 500 public and private quality improvement organizations, including payers; employer groups; and hospitals and alternative care delivery models, such as accountable care organizations and patient-centered medical homes, among others. Recognizing the critical role that health information technology (HIT) plays in underpinning quality improvement efforts, Avalere also catalogued the primary HIT organizations in each state. From this, Avalere conducted a sub-analysis of those initiatives with a specific focus on cancer care to determine how the number of cancer-related initiatives relates to the sophistication of a region’s or state’s quality and HIT sophistication. Results: Avalere found that the sophistication of the quality and HIT infrastructures varied widely from state-to-state and region-to-region, with some areas being significantly less developed than others. Similarly, the number of cancer-related quality initiatives also varied widely, with fewer initiatives found in areas with less sophisticated quality and HIT infrastructures. In addition, major urban areas tend to have significantly more sophisticated infrastructures—and an associated higher number of cancer-related initiatives—than non-urban areas, regardless of regional or state quality or HIT trends, more generally. Conclusions: While national quality improvement efforts receive the most media attention and funding, patient care, including cancer care, is delivered at the local level. As such, in order to improve the quality and value of care cancer patients receive, it is imperative to understand and improve local quality and HIT infrastructures and the barriers to quality associated therewith. This is particularly important in locales without major urban access, such as found in large parts of the Midwest and West.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Budzynski-Seymour ◽  
James Steele ◽  
Michelle Jones

Physical activity (PA) is considered essential to overall health yet it is consistently reported that children are failing to meet the recommended levels. Due to the bidirectional relationship between affective states and PA, affective responses are a potential predictor to long term engagement. Since late March 2020 the UK government enforced ‘lockdown’ measures to help control the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19); however, this has impacted children’s PA. Using online resources at home to support PA is now common. The primary aim of this research was to investigate the use of the Change4Life 10-minute Shake Ups to support PA by examining the effects of Disney branding upon children’s (n=32) post activity affective responses and perceived exertion. The secondary was to investigate the effect of the lockdown on PA habits. Children had similar positive affective responses and perceived effort to activities; however, branding was considered to be a key contributing factor based upon qualitative feedback from parents. Children’s PA levels dropped slightly since ‘lockdown’ was imposed; though online resources have been utilised to support PA. The use of immersive elements such as characters and narrative in PA sessions, as well as utilising online resources during ‘lockdown’ appear potentially promising for future research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah F. Bell ◽  
Rachel E. Collis ◽  
Philip Pallmann ◽  
Christopher Bailey ◽  
Kathryn James ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality and its incidence is increasing in many countries despite management guidelines. A national quality improvement programme called the Obstetric Bleeding Strategy for Wales (OBS Cymru) was introduced in all obstetric units in Wales. The aim was to reduce moderate PPH (1000 mL) progressing to massive PPH (> 2500 mL) and the need for red cell transfusion. Methods A PPH care bundle was introduced into all 12 obstetric units in Wales included all women giving birth in 2017 and 2018 (n = 61,094). The care bundle prompted: universal risk assessment, quantitative measurement of blood loss after all deliveries (as opposed to visual estimation), structured escalation to senior clinicians and point-of-care viscoelastometric-guided early fibrinogen replacement. Data were submitted by each obstetric unit to a national database. Outcome measures were incidence of massive PPH (> 2500 mL) and red cell transfusion. Analysis was performed using linear regression of the all Wales monthly data. Results Uptake of the intervention was good: quantitative blood loss measurement and risk assessment increased to 98.1 and 64.5% of all PPH > 1000 mL, whilst ROTEM use for PPH > 1500 mL increased to 68.2%. Massive PPH decreased by 1.10 (95% CI 0.28 to 1.92) per 1000 maternities per year (P = 0.011). Fewer women progressed from moderate to massive PPH in the last 6 months, 74/1490 (5.0%), than in the first 6 months, 97/1386 (7.0%), (P = 0.021). Units of red cells transfused decreased by 7.4 (95% CI 1.6 to 13.2) per 1000 maternities per year (P = 0.015). Red cells were transfused to 350/15204 (2.3%) and 268/15150 (1.8%) (P = 0.001) in the first and last 6 months, respectively. There was no increase in the number of women with lowest haemoglobin below 80 g/L during this time period. Infusions of fresh frozen plasma fell and there was no increase in the number of women with haemostatic impairment. Conclusions The OBS Cymru care bundle was feasible to implement and associated with progressive, clinically significant improvements in outcomes for PPH across Wales. It is applicable across obstetric units of widely varying size, complexity and staff mixes.


Author(s):  
Emilia Marie Wersig ◽  
Kevin Wilson-Smith

AbstractThis interpretative phenomenological analysis explores aid workers’ understanding of identity and belonging through the transition from working in humanitarian aid to returning home. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants who had returned to the UK after working in recently founded non-governmental organisations in Northern France between 2016 and 2019. Analysis of interview data identified four superordinate themes: (1) shared humanitarian identity, (2) limits and borders, (3) holding on to humanitarian identity and (4) redefining belonging and identity. Aid workers’ belonging in humanitarian work settings is rooted in shared moral values and being able to fulfil a clearly defined role. Upon returning, aid workers struggled to reintegrate, manifesting as denial of having left humanitarian work, re-creation of the social setting and moral demarcation. Participants formed a new sense of belonging through redefining their social in-group. The study sheds light on a previously unexplored area of research, specifically characterised through the closeness of the international humanitarian setting and participants’ homes. Findings suggest organisations can assist aid workers’ re-entry by supporting professional distance in the field, and through opportunities that allow to sustain moral values post-mission. Future research should focus on the role of peer support in the re-entry process and the re-entry experiences of aid workers returning from comparable settings further afield (e.g. Greece).


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