scholarly journals Improving Patient-Centredness in Endometriosis Care: A Study Protocol for a Prospective Study with a Mixed-Methods Approach

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Anneke M.F. Schreurs ◽  
Charlotte I. van Schaijik ◽  
Bianca De Bie ◽  
Jacques W.M. Maas ◽  
Cornelis Lambalk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Study Protocol ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Improvement Plan ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Improve Patient ◽  
Patient Centredness

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> Endometriosis is a chronic gynaecologic disease, causing pain and infertility. As there is no definitive cure, patients are subjected to long-term care. This study aimed to improve patient-centred endometriosis care. Patient-centredness of endometriosis care can be evaluated using the validated ENDOCARE questionnaire (ECQ), resulting in centre-specific targets for improvement. To understand how to tackle the targets for improvement as found by the ECQ, focus groups can be organized. <b><i>Design:</i></b> This protocol presents a prospective study with a mixed-methods approach to improve patient-centredness of endometriosis care. The study consists of 5 steps: (1) evaluating current patient-centredness of endometriosis care by using the ECQ, (2) understanding targets for improvement, (3) drafting an improvement plan, (4) implementing improvements, and (5) evaluating the improved patient-centredness of endometriosis care. The final evaluation will be performed 1.5 years after implementing the improvement plan. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Patient-centredness will be evaluated using the ECQ by inviting women with endometriosis to participate (steps 1 and 5). To investigate step 2, focus groups will be organized. For these focus groups, women with endometriosis are asked to participate until data saturation is achieved. During focus groups, participants are motivated to discuss the found targets for improvement and stimulated to find ways to improve them. The drafting and implementing of the improvement plan (steps 3 and 4) will be organized with the help of health-care providers in close collaboration with the patient organization. To assess whether the implementation of the improvement plan was successful in improving endometriosis care, the results from the ECQ in step 5 will be compared to the results from the ECQ in step 1. Ethical approval was granted by the local Institutional Review Board (Ref 2018.438). <b><i>Setting:</i></b> The study was conducted in the university hospital in the Netherlands. <b><i>Limitations:</i></b> Both patients and health-care providers will be involved in drafting the improvement plan. By making the health-care providers responsible for improving care, the chance of succeeding is optimized. Whether this improvement strategy is successful will be investigated after the implementation of the improvement plan. The improvement plan is clinic specific and can possibly not be extrapolated to other endometriosis clinics. In order to aim to improve patient-centred endometriosis care elsewhere, the complete study protocol should be performed. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> This study protocol aimed to investigate focus groups as a strategy to identify possible interventions to improve patient-centred endometriosis care by investigating the underlying causes for poor performance on patient-centred care. This study protocol could be used in more endometriosis care centres in the future and might also be useful for improving patient-centredness in other chronic diseases.

scholarly journals Influencing Factors for Prevention of Postpartum Hemorrhage and Early Detection of Women at Risk in The Northern Province of Rwanda: Beneficiary and Health Worker Perspectives

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliva Bazirete ◽  
Manassé Nzayirambaho ◽  
Aline Umubyeyi ◽  
Marie Chantal Uwimana ◽  
Evans Marilyn
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Northern Province ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Childbearing Women

Abstract Background: Reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity is a major global health priority. However, much remains unknown regarding factors associated with postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) among childbearing women in the Rwandan context. The aim of this study is to explore the influencing factors for prevention of PPH and early detection of women at risk as perceived by beneficiaries and health workers in the Northern Province of Rwanda. Methods: A qualitative descriptive exploratory study was drawn from a larger sequential exploratory‐mixed methods study. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 11 women who experienced PPH within the 6 months prior to interview. In addition, focus group discussions were conducted with: women’s partners or close relatives (2 focus groups), community health workers (CHWs) in charge of maternal health (2 focus groups) and health care providers (3 focus groups). A socio ecological model was used to develop interview guides to describe factors related to early detection and prevention of PPH in consideration of individual attributes, interpersonal, family and peer influences, intermediary determinants of health and structural determinants. The research protocol was approved by the University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences Institutional Ethics Review Board. Results: We generated four interrelated themes: (1) Meaning of PPH: beliefs, knowledge and understanding of PPH: (2) Organizational factors; (3) Caring and family involvement and (4) Perceived risk factors and barriers to PPH prevention. The findings from this study indicate that PPH was poorly understood by women and their partners. Family members and CHWs feel that their role for the prevention of PPH is to get the woman to the health facility on time. The main factors associated with PPH as described by participants were multiparty and retained placenta. Low socioeconomic status and delays to access health care were identified as the main barriers for the prevention of PPH. Conclusions: Addressing the identified factors could enhance early prevention of PPH among childbearing women. Placing emphasis on developing strategies for early detection of women at higher risk of developing PPH, continuous professional development of health care providers, developing educational materials for CHWs and family members could improve the prevention of PPH. Involvement of all levels of the health system was recommended for a proactive prevention of PPH. Further quantitative research, using case control design is warranted to develop a screening tool for early detection of PPH risk factors for a proactive prevention.

scholarly journals Viewpoint: Health literacy and patient portals

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yulong Gu ◽  
Martin Orr ◽  
Jim Warren
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Patient Portal ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Patient Portals ◽  
Health Consumer ◽  
Improve Patient

Health literacy has been described as the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Improving health literacy may serve to promote concordance with therapy, engage patients in their own health care, and improve health outcomes. Patient portal technology aims at enabling patients and families to have easy access to key information in their own medical records and to communicate with their health care providers electronically. However, there is a gap in our understanding of how portals will improve patient outcome. The authors believe patient portal technology presents an opportunity to improve patient concordance with prescribed therapy, if adequate support is provided to equip patients (and family/carers) with the knowledge needed to utilise the health information available via the portals. Research is needed to understand what a health consumer will use patient portals for and how to support a user to realise the technology?s potential.

scholarly journals Identifying and describing a model region to evaluate the impact of telemedicine

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Harst ◽  
S Oswald ◽  
P Timpel
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Model Region ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Telemedicine solutions providing patient-centered care over distance need to be integrated into the regional setting. The acceptance by both providers and patients hat to be continuously evaluated using methods of participatory implementation research. In controlled trials, often taking place in laboratory settings, these methods cannot be applied. In the following, research in progress is presented. Methods Based on socio-demographic data, epidemiology prevalence of age-related chronic diseases and data on the value of health care provision in Saxony, Germany a model region was chosen. Then, a focus group (n = 6) was conducted to differentiate the results and analyze the health networks of patients. For this, network maps putting the individual in the middle and his/her sources of information and support in case of illness in concentric circles around it, were used. The focus group was audiotaped, transcribed and analyzed by two researchers using MaxQDA. Results With a mean age of 47.8 years (n = 17,431), high prevalence of diabetes (&gt;15.85 %) and hypertension (&gt;39.1%) and an expected shortage of primary physicians in 2030, the town of Kamenz is a mirror image of the current health care challenges in rural areas of Saxony. Participants of the focus groups also stated problems in finding a primary physician or a dentist. Compensatory behavior, such as traveling large distances, relying on self-researched online diagnoses and immediately going to the emergency room for medical support was described. According to the network maps, primary sources of support in case of illness are partners and relatives, yet there is little connection between those and health care providers, as well as between different medical specialists. Conclusions The results will lead to potential use cases of telemedicine to be included into a standardized questionnaire for the assessment of telemedicine readiness in the model region. Key messages Telemedicine implementation in a rural area can be studied using a participatory approach. Focus groups and network maps are useful qualitative methods for participatory research and can inform the design of quantitative measurements.

Working Toward an mHealth Platform for Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: Focus Groups With Teens, Parents, and Providers

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 444-454
Author(s):  
Manuela Sinisterra ◽  
Katherine Patterson Kelly ◽  
Caitlin Shneider ◽  
Ashley El-Zein ◽  
Ellen Swartwout ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Open Communication ◽  
Management Behaviors

Purpose The purpose of the study was to explore facilitators and barriers to self-management behaviors in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to inform the development of an mHealth platform. Methods Eight adolescents with T1D, 9 parents, and 13 health care providers participated in separate focus groups that explored teen self-management behaviors. Results Adolescents and their parents have distinct preferences for handling diabetes management and use of mHealth technologies. Health care providers support the use of new technologies yet acknowledge concern meeting the potential increased volume of communication requests from teens and families. Conclusion Stakeholders agreed that an ideal mHealth platform would facilitate open communication between teens and their care network and easily integrate with other diabetes technologies. Future directions include incorporating additional feedback from stakeholders to build and modify the mHealth platform. The use of mHealth platforms could be integrated into clinical practice to optimize self-management and support communication between educators, providers, and families in between clinic visits.

OP162 Stakeholder Involvement In EUnetHTA Relative Effectiveness Assessments

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (S1) ◽  
pp. 35-35
Author(s):  
María Sánchez González ◽  
Iñaki Imaz-Iglesia ◽  
Juan Pablo Chalco-Orrego
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Relative Effectiveness ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Project Plan

IntroductionAppropriate involvement of stakeholders is one of the founding principles of the European Cooperation on Health Technology Assessment. The European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) produces Rapid Relative Effectiveness Assessments (REAs) to assess pharmaceutical (PT) or other technologies (OT). Stakeholders essentially participate in the scoping, the draft assessment phase, or both.MethodsAll REAs published since 2013 were reviewed. Stakeholder participation in scoping (project plan) and draft assessment was evaluated. We aggregated categories of stakeholders in four groups (Health Care Providers and Academia, Patients and Consumers, Manufacturers, and Regulators and Payers). Means of collaboration (meetings, comments to project plan and draft assessment, questionnaires, focus groups) are also analyzed. Data is continuously updated with new REAs.ResultsMore than 20 REAs have been published at the moment, with a higher number of OT. Health Care Providers and Academia acted as experts in both phases, participating in all REA of OT, and less of PT. Manufacturers participated in all REA in the scoping phase. Regulators and Payers, less involved, participated mainly in the scoping phase. The main methods are providing comments in a standardized form and meetings. Patients' contribution, similar in OT and PT, has increased over the years. Questionnaires or interviews were the main method of involvement, followed by participation in meetings and focus groups. Visibility and transparency have also improved, with a clearer reporting of the stakeholder contribution in the last assessments.ConclusionsThe stakeholder involvement in EUnetHTA REAs is steadily growing, with the different nature of stakeholders’ categories reflected in their contribution to the assessments. EUnetHTA is standardizing stakeholder involvement procedures taking into account the particularities of each group when generating guidance for stakeholder involvement.

scholarly journals Identification of Frailty in Primary Care: Feasibility and Acceptability of Recommended Case Finding Tools Within a Primary Care Integrated Seniors’ Program

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 233372141984815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjan Abbasi ◽  
Sheny Khera ◽  
Julia Dabravolskaj ◽  
Melanie Garrison ◽  
Sharla King
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Case Finding ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Completion Rate ◽  
Walk Test ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Care Clinic

Background: Case finding for frailty is recommended as part of routine clinical practice. We aimed to test feasibility and acceptability of three recommended case finding tools in primary care as part of an integrated seniors’ program. Method: Program of Research to Integrate Services for the Maintenance of Autonomy-7 (PRISMA-7), 4-m walk test, and electronic frailty index (eFI) were used as frailty case finding tools for a target population of community-dwelling seniors ≥65 years of age enrolled in a seniors’ program within an academic primary care clinic in Alberta, Canada. Feasibility was measured by percent completion rate and requirements for training/equipment/space/time, and acceptability by health care providers was measured using focus groups. Results: Eighty-five patients underwent case finding and 16 health care providers participated in the focus groups. Completion rate for PRISMA-7, 4-m walk test, and eFI was 97.6%, 93%, and 100%, respectively. No special training or equipment was required for PRISMA-7; brief training, equipment, and space were required for 4-m walk test. Both tools took less than 5 min to complete. Despite eFI requiring 10 to 20 min/patient chart, providers found it less intrusive. Conclusion: Despite feasibility of the tests, acceptance was higher for tools with minimal clinic interruption, low requirements for resources, and those with added benefit.

scholarly journals Motivators and Barriers to Prenatal Supplement Use Among Women in Northern Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 220-220
Author(s):  
Clement Kubreziga Kubuga ◽  
Jeremiah Asangalisa ◽  
Caroline Boahen ◽  
Sawudatu Mohammed ◽  
Eugenia Akoto-Mensah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Family Support ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Network Support ◽  
Social Network Support

Abstract Objectives In developing countries, the benefits of using prenatal supplements on birth outcomes have been well established. The rate of prenatal supplement (iron-folic acid) use compliance is low (52.8%) in northern region of Ghana even though the supplements are provided free to all pregnant women by the government. Little is known about the reasons for the non-compliance. We aimed to investigate through focus groups the barriers and motivators for taking the supplement among subjects who attend health facilities located in northern region of Ghana. Methods We conducted six focus groups with lactating women with toddlers (0–23 months) as they were expected to reflect a complete experience of pregnancy cycle. Results We identified five common themes: a) knowledge on supplement benefits, b) family support, c) social network support, d) reinforcement by health care providers, and e) different views on benefits of prenatal supplements. Key motivators were knowledge on supplement benefits, family support, social network support, and reinforcement by health care providers. Common barriers were adverse effects, inadequate knowledge on supplements, and disrespectful communication from health care providers. Conclusions Motivators/barriers for prenatal supplements usage/non-usage is a complex web. Adherence may be enhanced by reducing barriers related to communication of health care providers and adverse effects, improving social network support, improving family support, and improving health care provider interactions. Funding Sources None.

Development, and Evaluation of a Decision Aid to Support Patients’ Participa-tory Decision-making on Tumor-specific and Palliative Therapy in Advanced Cancer Patients: A Study Protocol. (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsiaryna Laryionava ◽  
Jan Schildmann ◽  
Michael Wensing ◽  
Ullrich Wedding ◽  
Bastian Surmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Study Protocol ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Design Study

BACKGROUND To support advanced cancer patients, for whom standard therapy is no longer avail-able, and their oncologists in therapy decisions, we aim to develop a decision-making aid (DA) in a multi-phased bicentric study. The DA aims to help patients to better un-derstand risks and benefits of available treatment options including the options of standard palliative care, off-label drug use within an individual treatment plan and involvement in clinical trials. OBJECTIVE This study protocol outlines the development and testing of a DA in a pre-post design study targeting at a heterogeneous population of advanced cancer patients. METHODS In phase I, The DA will be developed after of decisional needs of patients and views of health care providers based on face-to face interviews and focus groups discus-sions. Subsequently, the DA will be alpha-tested and redrafted, as necessary, in phase II. In phase III, the DA will be (1) beta-tested with patients and oncologists and (2) assessed by experts. In the last project phase, we will run a pre-post design study with n= 70 doctor-patient-encounters to access improvements on primary study outcome, i.e. patients’ level of decisional conflict. In addition, the user ac-ceptance will be tested. RESULTS Interviews with cancer patients, oncologists and health care providers have been completed. CONCLUSIONS A unique feature of this study is the development of a DA for patients with different types of advanced cancer, which covers a wide range of topics relevant for patients near the end of life such as forgoing cancer-specific therapy and patients’ inclusion in clinical trials. CLINICALTRIAL NCT04606238 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04606238

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