scholarly journals A service improvement project exploring the extent of need for allied health care professionals within neuro-oncology in Velindre Cancer Centre.

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. iv9-iv9
Author(s):  
Rachel Evans ◽  
Hayley Williams ◽  
Lisa Love-Gould ◽  
Owen Tilsley ◽  
James Powell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Education ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Service Improvement ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Support Worker ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Cancer Centre ◽  
Future Care ◽  
Limited Opportunity ◽  
Research And Education

Abstract Given the highly complex and holistic needs of neuro-oncology patients, gold standard guidelines recommend that support is best served by a coordinated multi-disciplinary team (MDT) to provide seamless care from diagnosis to end of life (NICE 2018). Allied Healthcare Professionals (AHPs) including occupational therapy (OT), physiotherapy (PT), speech and language therapy (SLT) and dietitians (DT) are recognised as key professions within the MDT. As there is no designated AHP team at Velindre Cancer Centre, input can be reactive and fragmented with limited opportunity for patient education or service developments. The aim of the project was to scope and evaluate the level of AHP need the neuro-oncology population attending Velindre Cancer Centre. A service improvement grant funded a Band 4 Therapies support worker to conduct the project. The project involved a number of elements including the implementation of a revised neuro-oncology screening tool, strategic effort to improve patient education and self-management and engaging patients and staff to guide future service developments. The mixed methods approach yielded rich quantitative and qualitative data. The results demonstrated that whilst AHP input was beneficial to patient care, significant unmet needs were highlighted and demands for services exceeded the teams’ capacity. Therefore a designated neuro-oncology therapies team should be a central consideration for future care to enable timely, responsive, equitable and seamless MDT working. Greater AHP resource would also enable greater AHP involvement in research and education to revolutionise care in order to fully meet the needs of this vulnerable and complex patient group.

The Importance of Pharmacist Providing Patient Education in Oncology

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mia Avery ◽  
Felecia Williams
Keyword(s):  
Patient Education ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Medical Profession ◽  
Team Approach ◽  
Education Outcomes ◽  
Medication Therapy ◽  
Values And Beliefs

The world’s increasing diversity requires health care professionals to adjust delivery methods of teaching to accommodate different cultural values and beliefs. The ability to communicate effectively across languages and various cultural practices directly affects patient education outcomes. Pharmacist should be aware of varying modalities and considerations when counseling a patient diagnosed with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. In more recent years, the medical profession has seen an increase in patient outcomes due to using the multidisciplinary team approach and has benefited by implementing Medication Therapy Management (MTM) programs at various institutions. For the clinical pharmacist, this would mean documentation for these services should be precise and accurate based on the specific patients needs. There are several factors involved in the care and therapy of the patient with cancer. Clinical oncology pharmacist should be aware of the ever-changing role in oncology and be able to implement new practices at their facility for better patient outcomes.

Survey of otolaryngology services in Ukraine and neighbouring Central and Eastern European countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 131 (11) ◽  
pp. 1002-1009 ◽  
Author(s):  
M M Verkerk ◽  
R Wagner ◽  
R Fishchuk ◽  
J J Fagan
Keyword(s):  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Speech Therapy ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Service Improvement ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Humanitarian Crisis ◽  
Eastern European Countries ◽  
The Uk ◽  
And Training

AbstractObjective:The present humanitarian crisis in Ukraine is putting strains on its healthcare system. This study aimed to assess services and training in otolaryngology, audiology and speech therapy in Ukraine and its geographical neighbours.Method:Survey study of 327 otolaryngologists from 19 countries.Results:Fifty-six otolaryngologists (17 per cent) from 15 countries responded. Numbers of otolaryngologists varied from 3.6 to 12.3 per 100 000 population (Ukraine = 7.8). Numbers of audiologists varied from 0, in Ukraine, to 2.8 per 100 000, in Slovakia, and numbers of speech therapists varied from 0, in Bulgaria, to 4.0 per 100 000, in Slovenia (Ukraine = 0.1). Ukraine lacks newborn and school hearing screening, good availability of otological drills and microscopes, and a cochlear implant programme.Conclusion:There is wide variation in otolaryngology services in Central and Eastern Europe. All countries surveyed had more otolaryngologists per capita than the UK, but availability of audiology and speech and language therapy is poor. Further research on otolaryngology health outcomes in the region will guide service improvement.

scholarly journals Standardization of Education of Patients With Cancer in a Low- and Middle-Income Country: A Quality Improvement Project Using the Cancer and You Booklet

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Olivier Habimana ◽  
Vestine Mukeshimana ◽  
Albertine Ahishakiye ◽  
Protais Makuza ◽  
Vedaste Hategekimana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Education ◽  
Education Program ◽  
Standardized Patient ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Patient Education Program ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction ◽  
Low And Middle Income

PURPOSE The Butaro Cancer Centre of Excellence is the first comprehensive referral cancer center in Rwanda and at its inception did not have a standardized patient education program. Partners in Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima and the Rwandan Ministry of Health conducted a quality improvement project to increase patient knowledge by implementing a standardized oncology education program using picture-based and culturally appropriate materials designed for patients with cancer in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS Four Rwandan nurses were trained to provide patient education using the Cancer and You education booklet created by Global Oncology. A pre- and post-test design was used to evaluate patients’ knowledge of cancer, treatment, and management of adverse effects. Nurses administered a posteducation questionnaire in Kinyarwanda to determine patients’ level of satisfaction with the education session and booklet. The four nurses were interviewed at the completion of the project for their feedback. A total of 40 oncology patients were included in the pilot project, of which 85% reported completing primary school or less. RESULTS On average, participants improved 19% (95% CI, 13.9% to 24.1%; standard deviation, 16%) from pre- to postevaluation, demonstrating a significant increase in knowledge ( P ≤ .001). Nearly all patients (97.5%) reported that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the education program. Oncology nurses gave positive feedback, highlighting that it was helpful to have a standard tool for education with descriptive illustrations for those patients with low literacy. CONCLUSION Implementation of a standardized patient education program demonstrated a statistically significant increase in patient knowledge and a high level of satisfaction among patients and nurses. The project serves as an example for other low- and middle-income countries looking to standardize oncology patient education.

Impact of Pharmacist-Led Patient Education in an Ambulatory Cancer Center: A Pilot Quality Improvement Project

2020 ◽  
pp. 089719002097077
Author(s):  
Daniel Park ◽  
Sweta Patel ◽  
Kendra Yum ◽  
Cardinale B. Smith ◽  
Che-Kai Tsao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Patient Education ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Median Score ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Gastrointestinal Malignancies ◽  
Ambulatory Oncology ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Although pharmacist-driven patient education has been shown to increase adherence, reduce medication errors, and lower 30-day readmission rates, the data in the ambulatory oncology setting is limited. This pilot quality initiative study was conducted from June 1, 2018, to November 15, 2018, in the ambulatory cancer center affiliated with The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, NY, to determine the impact of pharmacist counseling on chemotherapy regimens. Methods and Materials: English-speaking patients with gastrointestinal malignancies who were newly started on chemotherapy were selected for this study. They received a pharmacist-led education session regarding their medications, potential side effects, and how to manage them at home. After each session, they completed a 5-question survey on a 5-point Likert-scale about how they felt before and after speaking with a pharmacist. Survey results were analyzed by median scores and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Of the 96 patients who were counseled, 71 patients were included in this analysis. The median score increased from 3 to 5 for the understanding of their chemotherapy regimen and side effects (questions 1 and 2), 3 to 4.5 for knowledge about interactions with their oral chemotherapy (question 3), 4 to 5 for overall experience in the cancer center (question 5). The median score for anxiety level was unchanged at 3 (question 4). Conclusion: This survey-based study demonstrated the benefit of a pharmacist-led counseling session. An interdisciplinary approach involving the integration of oncology pharmacists in patient education can greatly impact the quality of care for oncology patients.

An investigation of the knowledge of intimate partner violence among clinical staff working with male substance misusers

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 105-116
Author(s):  
M. Aurora Falcone ◽  
Tim Meynen
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Clinical Staff ◽  
Service Improvement ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Senior Staff ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Drug And Alcohol

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe a Service Improvement Project aimed at assessing the level of knowledge of intimate partner violence (IPV) of clinical staff working in Community Drug and Alcohol Services (CDAS) in four boroughs of South London. Design/methodology/approach Clinical staff (n=90) completed a survey which was based on the Capability Framework (Hughes et al., 2015), developed to describe the key capabilities required to work with men who misuse drug and alcohol and perpetrate IPV. Two separate surveys were prepared for clinical (core) staff (n=76) and for manager (senior) staff (n=14). Findings The Capability Framework provided a useful structure for identifying key strengths and gaps in knowledge and skills related to substance use and IPV treatment in frontline CDAS staff. Significant strengths which emerged in the “core staff” survey related to the importance of assessing IPV and being empathic. Gaps related to the confidence in working with these issues and receiving support. Significant strengths which emerged in the “senior staff” survey related to the availability of supervision, information and training on IPV. Gaps related to using the Capability Framework and discussing IPV in supervision. Originality/value Findings have important implications for the development of training addressing gaps in current knowledge and skills required when working with IPV in the context of drug and alcohol misuse.

User preference for HIV self-testing or self-sampling within a free online sexual health service: a service evaluation

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 1239-1242
Author(s):  
Paula Baraitser ◽  
Adam Black ◽  
Stuart Amos-Gibbs ◽  
Gillian Holdsworth ◽  
Elena Ardines ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Service ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Service Evaluation ◽  
User Preference ◽  
Service Improvement ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
Sexual Health Service

The objective of this study was to evaluate a service improvement project offering HIV testing through either self-testing or self-sampling in an online sexual health service by measuring type of test chosen and the reason for this choice. We created a web-page offering choice of online self-sampling or self-testing with information on the advantages and disadvantages of both methods. Anyone aged over 18 years resident in England, Scotland or Wales could order either type of test. We describe the characteristics of users, the tests chosen and the reasons for the choice. A total of 1502 HIV testing orders were placed and 1466 (97.6%) testing kits were dispatched after exclusion of multiple orders by the same user. Sixty-seven per cent of users chose self-testing (n = 984) and the rest chose self-sampling (n = 482, 32.9%). The most frequent reasons for choosing self-testing were: immediate results (n = 264, 46.9%), ability to complete the test themselves (n = 168, 29.8%), less blood required (n = 67, 11.9%) and the privacy of testing at home (n = 55, 9.8%). Public sector provision of self-testing as an adjunct to clinic-based HIV testing services is likely to be highly acceptable to UK populations. However, a proportion will prefer self-sampling, and maintaining choice of testing modality is important.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document