scholarly journals A quality improvement project aimed at adapting primary care to ensure the delivery of evidence-based psychotherapy for adult anxiety

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e000066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark D Williams ◽  
Craig N Sawchuk ◽  
Nathan D Shippee ◽  
Kristin J Somers ◽  
Summer L Berg ◽  
...  

Primary care patients frequently present with anxiety with prevalence ratios up to 30%. Brief cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) has been shown in meta-analytic studies to have a strong effect size in the treatment of anxiety. However, in surveys of anxious primary care patients, nearly 80% indicated that they had not received CBT. In 2010, a model of CBT (Coordinated Anxiety Learning and Management (CALM)) adapted to primary care for adult anxiety was published based on results of a randomised controlled trial. This project aimed to integrate an adaptation of CALM into one primary care practice, using results from the published research as a benchmark with the secondary intent to spread a successful model to other practices. A quality improvement approach was used to translate the CALM model of CBT for anxiety into one primary care clinic. Plan-Do-Study-Act steps are highlighted as important steps towards our goal of comparing our outcomes with benchmarks from original research. Patients with anxiety as measured by a score of 10 or higher on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 item scale (GAD-7) were offered CBT as delivered by licensed social workers with support by a PhD psychologist. Outcomes were tracked and entered into an electronic registry, which became a critical tool upon which to adapt and improve our delivery of psychotherapy to our patient population. Challenges and adaptations to the model are discussed. Our 6-month response rates on the GAD-7 were 51%, which was comparable with that of the original research (57%). Quality improvement methods were critical in discovering which adaptations were needed before spread. Among these, embedding a process of measurement and data entry and ongoing feedback to patients and therapists using this data are critical step towards sustaining and improving the delivery of CBT in primary care.

2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 140-140
Author(s):  
G. A. Bloch ◽  
T. J. Ford ◽  
M. Hodgson ◽  
P. McIntyre ◽  
M. Sheehan ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S200-S200
Author(s):  
Michael Hansen ◽  
Barbara Trautner ◽  
Roger Zoorob ◽  
George Germanos ◽  
Osvaldo Alquicira ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Use of antibiotics without a prescription (non-prescription use) contributes to antimicrobial resistance. Non-prescription use includes obtaining and taking antibiotics without a prescription, taking another person’s antibiotics, or taking one’s own stored antibiotics. We conducted a quantitative survey focusing on the factors that impact patients’ decisions to use non-prescription antibiotics. Methods We surveyed patients visiting public safety net primary care clinics and private emergency departments in a racially/ethnically diverse urban area. Surveys were read aloud to patients in Spanish and English. Survey domains included patients’ perspectives on which syndromes require antibiotic treatment, their perceptions of health care, and their access to antibiotics without a prescription. Results We interviewed 190 patients, 122 from emergency departments (64%), and 68 from primary care clinics (36%). Overall, 44% reported non-prescription antibiotic use within the past 12 months. Non-prescription use was higher among primary care clinic patients (63%) than the emergency department patients (39%, p = 0.002). The majority felt that antibiotics would be needed for bronchitis (78%) while few felt antibiotics would be needed for diarrhea (30%) (Figure 1). The most common situation identified “in which respondents would consider taking antibiotics without contacting a healthcare provider was “got better by taking this antibiotic before” (Figure 2). Primary care patients were more likely to obtain antibiotics without prescription from another country than emergency department patients (27% vs. 13%, P=0.03). Also, primary care patients were more likely to report obstacles to seeking a doctor’s care, such as the inability to take time off from work or transportation difficulties, but these comparisons were not statistically significant. Figure 1. Patients’ agreement that antibiotics would be needed varied by symptom/syndrome. Figure 2. Situations that lead to non-prescription antibiotic use impacted the two clinical populations differently Conclusion Non-prescription antibiotic use is a widespread problem in the two very different healthcare systems we included in this study, although factors underlying this practice differ by patient population. Better understanding of the factors driving non-prescription antibiotic use is essential to designing patient-focused interventions to decrease this unsafe practice. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 431-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Zimmerman ◽  
David T. Lush ◽  
Neil J. Farber ◽  
Jon Hartung ◽  
Gary Plescia ◽  
...  

Objective: The authors examined whether there is empirical support for the notion that medical patients are upset by being asked questions about psychiatric disorders. Method: Six hundred and one patients attending a primary care clinic completed the SCREENER—a newly developed, brief self-administered questionnaire that surveys a broad range of psychopathology. In addition, they completed a second questionnaire that assessed their attitudes toward the SCREENER. Results: We found a high level of acceptance by patients. The questions were judged easy to answer, and they rarely aroused significant negative affect. Fewer than 2 percent of the patients judged the questions difficult to answer, and fewer than 3 percent were “very much” embarrassed, upset, annoyed, or uncomfortable with the questions. Individuals with a history of psychiatric treatment and poorer current mental health reacted more unfavorably to the questionnaire. Conclusions: From the patient's perspective, it is feasible and acceptable to use self-administered questionnaires for routine screening of psychiatric problems in primary care settings.


2020 ◽  
Vol 158 (6) ◽  
pp. S-1353-S-1354
Author(s):  
Kanit Bunnag ◽  
Amarat Kongsompong ◽  
Wit Jeamwijitkul ◽  
Worayon Chuerboonchai ◽  
Chutatip Charoenthanawut ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (29_suppl) ◽  
pp. 233-233
Author(s):  
Sherri Rauenzahn Cervantez ◽  
Sadiyah Hotakey ◽  
Amanda Hernandez ◽  
Stephanie Warren ◽  
Jennifer Quintero ◽  
...  

233 Background: Advance directives (ADs) are legal tools that direct treatment or decision making and appoint a surrogate decision-maker (health care proxy). The presence of ADs is associated with decreased rates of hospitalization, use of life-sustaining treatment, and deaths in a hospital setting. Additionally, completed ADs lead to increased use of hospice or palliative care, more positive family outcomes, improved quality of life for patients, and reduced costs for healthcare. Despite the benefits of advance care planning, only 18-36% of adults have completed advance care plans. The aims of our pilot study were to 1) implement a synchronized system for advance care planning across the UT Health San Antonio health system and 2) improve advance care planning rates in a primary care clinic and palliative oncology clinic. Methods: During a 10-month prospective period, system processes for advance care planning were reviewed with identification of three primary drivers for advance care plan completion: a) electronic/EMR processes, b) clinical workflows and training, and c) patient resources and education. As a result of this quality improvement initiative, standardized forms, resources, and processes for obtaining advance care plans were implemented in the selected clinics. Results: At baseline, the primary care clinic had 84/644 (13%) patients and the palliative oncology clinic had 25/336(7%) with completed advance care plans. With the implementation of a standardized process, 108 patients (23% increase in rate of completion) in the primary clinic and 56 patients (71% increase in rate of completion) in the palliative oncology setting completed advance care planning (ACP). Additionally, there was a 5-fold increase in billing of ACP CPT codes within the clinics during the first 6 months compared to the prior full year. Conclusions: While this quality improvement pilot initiative was limited to two clinics, the synchronized modifications suggest that the system changes could be expanded to other clinics in our UT health system to promote ACP discussions, completion of plans, and ultimately improved patient care.


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