Acceptability and use of glaucoma virtual clinics in the UK: a national survey of clinical leads

ObjectiveThe purpose of this paper is to describe the findings of a national survey that aimed to estimate the proportion of Hospital Eye Service (HES) units using glaucoma virtual clinics, to determine how these services differ and to gauge clinicians’ views and opinions on the safety and acceptability of this model of care compared with usual care.Methods and analysisThis 12-question survey was disseminated nationally to 92 clinical lead consultant ophthalmologists using SurveyMonkey.ResultsThe response rate was 45.7%. There were 21 out of the total 42 respondents (50.0%) who were based at an NHS Trust where glaucoma virtual clinics were already being used and a further 9 (21.4%) were planning to establish one. Clinical leads largely rated efficiency and patient safety to be at least equivalent to usual care (92.9%) and 81.0% perceived glaucoma virtual clinics to be acceptable to patients. The main reasons for not running glaucoma virtual clinics were insufficient staff (71.4%) and inadequate space (47.6%). The majority of those running virtual clinics used this model of care for ‘lower risk’ patients such as ocular hypertensives (90.5%) and glaucoma suspects.ConclusionGlaucoma virtual clinics are employed by a large proportion of HES units, with many seeking to develop such services. Clinical leads largely rate efficiency, patient safety and the perception of patient acceptability to be at least equivalent to usual care.

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5 Standard iv infusion concentration in paediatric and neonatal units: a national survey

Archives of Disease in Childhood ◽

10.1136/archdischild-2017-314585.5 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 103 (2) ◽

pp. e2.45-e2

Author(s):

Nanna Christiansen

Keyword(s):

Patient Safety ◽

National Survey ◽

Response Rate ◽

Improve Patient Safety ◽

National Standards ◽

List Type ◽

National Patient Safety Agency ◽

National Patient ◽

National Consensus ◽

The Uk

AimThe National Patient Safety Agency in the UK has advocated the use of standard concentration (SC) infusions to improve patient safety and care.1 National standards have been adopted for infusions in the adult critical care setting however practice in paediatric and neonatal settings still varies and presents a challenge.2,3 This study is part of a multi-professional collaborative working towards a national consensus on SC infusions in paediatric and neonatal care. The study aims to explore the practice of standardised concentration usage for Intravenous (IV) infusions in paediatric and neonatal units in the UK, specifically:How many units use standardised concentration for IV infusions.Evaluate the variation and overlap of continuous IV infusion concentrations in practice.Assess what devices are used to administer these infusions.How standardised infusions are provided.MethodThe study used a quantitative descriptive survey design via an online self-administered questionnaire. Paediatric and neonatal intensive care units in the UK were surveyed through pharmacy, nursing, and medical networks to describe current practice. Data was collected for 25 days and analysed using SPSS.ResultA total of 194 NICUs and 39 PICUs were surveyed. Responses were received from 71 units: NICU 46 (65%); PICU 17 (24%) and 8 other (11%), giving an overall response rate of 30.5%.Twenty-eight units (40%) have established SC for IV infusions, 18 units provided information on presentation of SC infusions. Forty-six different medication infusions were standardised. Considering the differences in concentration, weight-bands, diluents, volume and presentation, there were 273 variations for these drugs. Taking only the concentration into account, there were 137 variations presented. The average number of variations per medication was 3 (range 1 to 14).15 units (53.6%) use ‘smart’ pumps for administration of SC infusions and 3 (10.7%) use other computer software for infusion rate calculations. Infusions are most commonly prepared on wards (81.3%) or in pharmacy (12.3%).ConclusionThe study is limited by the response rate; however the results suggest that 59% of paediatric and neonatal units in the UK use conventional weight-based methods for IV infusions. A third of units have established some SC with a wide variation of concentrations in this sample. Just over half of the units use ‘smart’ pump technology and over three quarters of SC infusions are prepared on the ward.Further data collection is required to acquire a fuller picture of SC infusions used in UK PICUs and NICUs. This data can then be used as the basis of a national consensus statement on SC infusion, facilitating adoption across the NHS.ReferencesNPSA Patient Safety Alert 20: Promoting safer use of injectable medicines2007. London: The National Patient Safety Agency.MacKay MW, Cash J, Farr F, et al. Improving paediatric outcomes through intravenous and oral medication standardisation. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther2009;14:226–35.Phillips MS, Standardising IV. Infusion concentrations: National survey results. Am J Health Syst Pharm2011;68:2176–82.

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Assessing patient satisfaction with a microsuction service in general practice: a comparative study

BJGP Open ◽

10.3399/bjgpopen19x101649 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. bjgpopen19X101649 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ruairi Hasson ◽

Eoin McDermott ◽

Karena Hanley ◽

Camilla Carroll ◽

Claire Collins

Keyword(s):

General Practice ◽

Patient Satisfaction ◽

Data Collection ◽

Comparative Study ◽

Usual Care ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Hospital Setting ◽

Patient Acceptability ◽

Prospective Comparative Study ◽

The Uk

BackgroundIn the UK, about 2.3 million people each year require intervention for wax impaction, while otitis externa accounts for just over 1% of general practice consultations. Aural microsuction of debris from the ear canal is a commonly performed procedure within the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) outpatient clinic. This article examines the patient acceptability of an aural microsuction service delivered in general practice.AimTo determine patient satisfaction following the introduction of a new microsuction service in general practice compared with a hospital-delivered service.Design & settingThis is a prospective comparative study in two rural general practices in Ireland and the emergency department (ED) of the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH), Dublin.MethodA 3-month period of data collection on usual care of 56 patients in general practice was followed by a 3-month period of GP-intervention data collection on 67 patients. Comparative data were collected on 37 patients who attended the RVEEH for the same intervention procedure. Patients completed a validated patient satisfaction questionnaire (PSQ-18).ResultsBoth general practice groups scored significantly higher in all seven aspects of medical care than the RVEEH cohort. Patients in the GP-intervention group scored significantly higher in terms of satisfaction with procedure technique compared with the usual care GP group.ConclusionThe provision of microsuction as a service in general practice confers as much or more patient satisfaction as the provision of the service in a hospital setting.

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Improving patient safety through education: how visual recognition skills may reduce medication errors on surgical wards

Nursing Reports ◽

10.4081/nursrep.2012.e1 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Christopher R. Davis ◽

Edward C. Toll ◽

Paul M. Bevis ◽

Helena P. Burden

Keyword(s):

Patient Safety ◽

Medication Errors ◽

Undergraduate Education ◽

Visual Recognition ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Postgraduate Training ◽

Response Rate ◽

Recognition Rate ◽

Compromise Patient Safety ◽

The Uk

Medication errors compromise patient safety and cost £500m per annum in the UK. Patients who forget the name of their medication may describe the appearance to the doctor. Nurses use recognition skills to assist in safe administration of medications. This study quantifies healthcare professionals’ accuracy in visually identifying medications. Members of the multidisciplinary team were asked to identify five commonly prescribed medications. Mean recognition rate (MRR) was defined as the percentage of correct responses. Dunn’s multiple comparison tests quantified inter-professional variation. Fifty-six participants completed the study (93% response rate). MRRs were: pharmacists 61%; nurses 35%; doctors 19%; physiotherapists 11%. Pharmacists’ MRR were significantly higher than both doctors and physiotherapists (P<0.001). Nurses’ MRR was statistically comparable to pharmacists (P>0.05). The majority of healthcare professionals cannot accurately identify commonly prescribed medications on direct visualization. By increasing access to medication identification resources and improving undergraduate education and postgraduate training for all healthcare professionals, errors may be reduced and patient safety improved.

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National survey of UK endoscopists showing variation in diathermy practice for colonic polypectomy

Frontline Gastroenterology ◽

10.1136/flgastro-2018-101059 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 120-127 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ajay M Verma ◽

Andrew P Chilton

Keyword(s):

National Survey ◽

Thermal Injury ◽

Evidence Base ◽

British Society ◽

Direct Result ◽

Right Colon ◽

Cold Snare Polypectomy ◽

The Uk ◽

Snare Polypectomy ◽

Question Survey

IntroductionDiathermy practice in colonic polypectomy has a poor evidence base. We surveyed endoscopists across the UK to gain an insight in current diathermy practice.MethodsAn eight-question survey was designed to be compact, easy to complete, while still capturing the relevant data. This national survey was circulated by the endoscopy committees of the British Society of Gastroenterology and Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.ResultsThe survey was open between February and October 2016. Analysis showed: (1) 250/348 (71.8%) completed the full survey, 159 gastroenterologists (63.6%), 36 surgeons (14.4%), 34 gastroenterology trainees (13.6%), 21 others (8.4%); (2) predominant use of coagulation current for small pedunculated polypectomy, high rates of cold snare polypectomy for small sessile polyps (right 43.2% > left 34.4%); (3) a combination of coagulation and cutting current, or Endo Cut, was most popular for larger polypectomy; (4) low use of Endo Cut mode irrespective of size/location of polyp (17.2%–32.0%); (5) 204/250 (81.6%) used reduced current settings for right colon polypectomy; and (6) 208/250 (83.2%) were confident on knowledge and use of diathermy.ConclusionThis national survey exposes a wide variation in practice suggesting that colonoscopists employ diathermy modalities that they are comfortable with. As many complications are as direct result of thermal injury and polypectomy is the most frequent therapeutic intervention, appropriate training and formal guidance is lacking.

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The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine Workforce Survey – What impacts on our working lives?

Journal of the Intensive Care Society ◽

10.1177/1751143718767056 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 111-117

Author(s):

KE Grailey ◽

DC Bryden ◽

SJ Brett

Keyword(s):

Patient Safety ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Intensive Care Medicine ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Response Rate ◽

Limited Resources ◽

Career Intentions ◽

Annual Survey ◽

Working Lives ◽

The Uk

The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine distributes an annual survey to its Consultants, allowing the evaluation of workforce profile, working patterns and the opportunity for analysis of key information on issues affecting these. We undertook an exploratory review of the data provided within the 2016 survey, with the aim of identifying themes within respondents stated career intentions and associated factors. Given the modest (36%) response rate, we are unable to draw conclusions with certainty, but there are indications within the data that the UK Intensive Care Medicine consultant body is facing significant stressors whilst at work, due to working patterns and limited resources. The data within the 2016 survey provide a base from which to develop future Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine workforce surveys that will extract data about the positive aspects of a career in intensive care medicine. The survey data provide a signal that there may be significant potentially modifiable stressors for intensive care doctors, and as such affords support for initiatives to improve job planning and sharing of implemented solutions, as well as a need to focus on workforce wellbeing as an important and necessary contributor to patient safety within intensive care medicine.

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Current Curriculum on Reflectance Confocal Microscopy: a national survey of dermatology faculty and residents

SKIN The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine ◽

10.25251/skin.3.1.5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jonathan Matthew Soh ◽

Alice P Pentland

Keyword(s):

Confocal Microscopy ◽

National Survey ◽

Response Rate ◽

Residency Education ◽

Reflectance Confocal Microscopy ◽

Residency Programs ◽

Future Studies ◽

Residency Curriculum ◽

Question Survey ◽

Current Curriculum

Objective:Characterize Reflectance confocal microscopy’s use and curriculum in residency programs. Methods: Observational nine-question survey sent to the Association of Dermatology Professors (APD). Results: Seventy responses were collected with a faculty response rate of 6.6% (29/439). Fifty-four percent of responses indicated RCM is not taught or learned in a meaningful capacity. If RCM is included within curriculum, teaching occurs on average <1-3 times/week versus conventional dermatopathology which is taught on average 1-3 times/week. Nearly fifty percent of responses indicated that RCM is regularly used by faculty. However, seventy percent of respondents did not know if RCM was reimbursable within the practice area. Forty-six percent of respondents saw a need to incorporate RCM into residency curriculum. Conclusions: This national survey is one of the first to characterize RCM’s current integration into residency education. The results suggest that despite a lack of formalized training, there is cautious optimism towards the modality’s usage in dermatologic practice. Given the low faculty response rate, we are cautious to generalize to the greater academic population at this time. Our hope is that this and future studies can survey the need for a standardized RCM curriculum.

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