A cross-sectional survey to investigate the quality of care in Tuscan (Italy) nursing homes: the structural, process and outcome indicators of nutritional care

PurposeThe use of qualitative data to assess quality of care in nursing homes from the resident’s perspective has shown to be valuable, yet more research is needed to determine how this data can be used to gain insight into the quality of care within nursing homes. Whereas it is crucial to stay close to the stories that are the strength of qualitative data, an intermittent step to classify this data can support the interpretation and use. Therefore, this study introduces an approach that enables the use of narrative quality of care data to learn from and improve with.DesignA cross-sectional mixed-methods study in which qualitative data were collected with the narrative quality assessment method Connecting Conversations and interpreted for analysis.MethodsConnecting Conversations was used to collect narrative data about experienced quality of care in nursing homes according to residents, their families and nursing staff (triads). Data analysis consisted of coding positive/negative valences in each transcript.FindingsA stepwise approach can support the use of narrative quality data consisting of four steps: (1) perform and transcribe the conversations (listen); (2) calculate a valence sore, defined as the mean %-positive within a triad (look); (3) calculate an agreement score, defined as the level of agreement between resident-family-nursing staff (link); and (4) plot scores into a graph for interpretation and learning purposes with agreement score (x-axis) and valence score (y-axis) (learn).ConclusionsNarrative quality data can be interpreted as a valence and agreement score. These scores need to be related to the raw qualitative data to gain a rich understanding of what is going well and what needs to be improved.

Download Full-text

Views and Experiences of Parents and Physicians on the Care Provided to Children with Sickle Cell Disease in Cameroon

10.1101/2020.02.29.971218 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ettamba Agborndip ◽

Benjamin Momo Kadia ◽

Domin Sone Majunda Ekaney ◽

Lawrence Tanyi Mbuagbaw ◽

David C Rees ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Care ◽

Sickle Cell Disease ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Good Knowledge ◽

Cell Disease ◽

National Guidelines ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

North West

AbstractBackgroundSickle Cell Disease (SCD) affects two in 100 Cameroonian new-borns, with 50-90% of affected children dying before their fifth birthday. Despite this burden, there is no national SCD programme in Cameroon. This study aimed to assess parents’ and physicians’ knowledge of SCD, their satisfaction with the quality of care and their recommendations to improve the treatment of SCD in Cameroon.MethodsA multi-centre cross-sectional survey was conducted in English and French, using structured questionnaires distributed in electronic format to physicians throughout Cameroon. Paper-based questionnaires were also administered to parents in the West and North West regions of Cameroon. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel and analysed using the SPSS statistical software.ResultsFifty-four parents and 205 physicians were recruited. We found that 72.2% of parents had good knowledge of SCD, 72.2% of parents were satisfied with the quality of care. Attending a sickle cell clinic (AOR 22, 95% CI 17.70-250) was significantly associated with having good knowledge. Just 14.2% of physicians had good knowledge and 23.3% of physicians were satisfied with the available management standards of SCD. Seeing more than five patients per month (AOR 3.17, 95% CI 1.23-8.20) was significantly associated with having good knowledge. Sickle cell clinics, national guidelines and subsidised treatment were the top three measures proposed by physicians and parents to improve the management of SCD.ConclusionKnowledge of SCD and satisfaction with care were poor among Cameroonian physicians. There is a need for a national programme and a comprehensive system of care for SCD in Cameroon.

Download Full-text

Evaluating equity in healthcare: pilot implementation of a self-assessment tool

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz186.659 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

A Chiarenza ◽

D Domenig ◽

S Cattacin

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Care ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

The Self ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Service Users ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Self Assessment ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Several sets of standards aiming at improving access and quality of care for service users have been published in recent years. Certain standards focused on improving healthcare providers’ responsiveness to specific target groups. The general goal of this research was to improve organisations’ awareness of equity standards that are not focused on specific groups, but on all contributing factors that put vulnerable groups at risk of exclusion. The specific objective was to evaluate the degree of compliance with a set of equity standards in 52 health care organisations from 16 countries. Methods A self-assessment tool (SAT) was developed to allow healthcare organisations to measure their capacity to provide equitable care for service users. The SAT indicates the main areas that should be addressed: equity in policy; equitable access and utilisation; equitable quality of care; equity in participation; promoting equity. A cross-sectional survey addressing participants from pilot-organisations was used for data collection, concerning both the self-reported compliance score with the standards, as well as the additional information provided to support the score assigned. Data were analysed quantitatively as well as qualitatively. Results The findings confirm that healthcare providers do invest in improving equity in the access and delivery of services to vulnerable groups. However, many health organisations have inadequate strategies to address inequities and are insufficiently engaged in improving equity in participation and promoting equity outside the organisation. Conclusions The participating organisations reported a significant impact from use of the self-assessment tool: some received the support from regional/national authorities to continue working on improving equity in healthcare; others linked the equity standards to existing performance-measurement strategies; others invested in new frameworks to improve service users engagement. Key messages The implementation of the SAT contributes to a self-reflective process, involving health professionals and managers, in which gaps and potential improvements are identified. Pilot organisations utilised the SAT as part of a process of increasing their awareness of equity issues and changing their organisational culture.

Download Full-text

Physicians’ Perceptions Toward Use of Telemedicine During COVID-19 Pandemic in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.36029 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

sarah idriss ◽

walaa alasaadi ◽

abdullah Aldhuhayyan ◽

Ahmed alenzi ◽

Reem alharbi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Quality Of Care ◽

Health Care Delivery ◽

Care Delivery ◽

Well Being ◽

Future Research ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Face To Face

BACKGROUND The use of communication technologies to deliver health care remotely is known as telemedicine. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a variety of consequences for health-care delivery in 2020. As a result, it was necessary to adapt and deliver high-quality care to patients while limiting possible viral exposure for both patients and health-care workers. During the pandemic, physicians employed video visits, phone visits, and electronic written visits (e-consultations), all of which have the ability to provide a comparable quality of care while removing social barriers. OBJECTIVE The study’s aim is to assess physicians’ perspectives and attitudes concerning the usage of telemedicine in Riyadh hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main domains of the assessment are physicians’ overall experience with telemedicine use before and during COVID-19, future adaptability to using telemedicine, perceptions about patients’ experience, and the influence of telemedicine on burnout. METHODS Methods: An anonymous 28-question cross-sectional survey was developed using SurveyMonkey and distributed to all physicians from all specialty disciplines across Riyadh city hospitals. RESULTS A total of 362 doctors were included in the study. Among them, 28.7% were consultants, 30.4% were specialists, and 40.9% were residents. Male doctors formed the majority (56.1%). When asked about the frequency of using telemedicine, 41.4% answered “frequently,” 26% responded “occasionally,” and 32.6% said “never.” Thirty one percent of doctors agreed and somewhat agreed that the “quality of care during telemedicine is comparable with face-to-face visits.” About 55% doctors believed that telemedicine consultation is a cost-effective way, compared to face-to-face visits. Most of the doctors were skilled (70%) at telemedicine, and they were also able to solve technology issues during telemedicine visits (54%). Overall, the physicians felt that their patients liked telemedicine: 68% said they felt comfortable using telemedicine and 76% said theyfound that it saved time. As per the burnout question, 4.1% of doctors felt burnout every day, 7.5% felt burnout a few times a week, and 27.3% felt burnout a few times per month. CONCLUSIONS Physicians had a generally favorable attitude toward telemedicine, believing that the quality of health-care delivery using it was comparable to that of in-person care. Future research is needed to investigate how physicians’ attitudes toward telemedicine have changed since the pandemic, as well as how this virtual technology might be used to improve their professional and personal well-being.

Download Full-text

Nursing unit teams matter: Impact of unit-level nurse practice environment, nurse work characteristics, and burnout on nurse reported job outcomes, and quality of care, and patient adverse events—A cross-sectional survey

International Journal of Nursing Studies ◽

10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2013.12.009 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 51 (8) ◽

pp. 1123-1134 ◽

Cited By ~ 123

Author(s):

Peter Van Bogaert ◽

Olaf Timmermans ◽

Susan Mace Weeks ◽

Danny van Heusden ◽

Kristien Wouters ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Care ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Work Characteristics ◽

Job Outcomes ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Nursing Unit ◽

Unit Level ◽

Nurse Practice Environment

Download Full-text

Factors associated with homecare coordination and quality of care: a research protocol for a national multi-center cross-sectional study

BMC Health Services Research ◽

10.1186/s12913-021-06294-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nathalie Möckli ◽

Michael Simon ◽

Carla Meyer-Massetti ◽

Sandrine Pihet ◽

Roland Fischer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Care ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Home Healthcare ◽

System Level ◽

Care Providers ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Patient Level ◽

Modifiable Factors

Abstract Introduction The persistent fragmentation of home healthcare reflects inadequate coordination between care providers. Still, while factors at the system (e.g., regulations) and organisational (e.g., work environment) levels crucially influence homecare organisation, coordination and ultimately quality, knowledge of these factors and their relationships in homecare settings remains limited. Objectives This study has three aims: [1] to explore how system-level regulations lead to disparities between homecare agencies’ structures, processes and work environments; [2] to explore how system- and organisation-level factors affect agency-level homecare coordination; and [3] to explore how agency-level care coordination is related to patient-level quality of care. Design and methods This study focuses on a national multi-center cross-sectional survey in Swiss homecare settings. It will target 100 homecare agencies, their employees and clients for recruitment, with data collection period planned from January to June 2021. We will assess regulations and financing mechanisms (via public records), agency characteristics (via agency questionnaire data) and homecare employees’ working environments and coordination activities, as well as staff- and patient-level perceptions of coordination and quality of care (via questionnaires for homecare employees, clients and informal caregivers). All collected data will be subjected to descriptive and multi-level analyses. Discussion The first results are expected by December 2021. Knowledge of factors linked to quality of care is essential to plan and implement quality improvement strategies. This study will help to identify modifiable factors at multiple health system levels that might serve as access points to improve coordination and quality of care.

Download Full-text