scholarly journals Are professional pharmacy services being offered for free in pharmacies? A feasibility study exploring the use of a time motion study in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 2422
Author(s):  
Yasmin Abdul Aziz ◽  
Susan J. Heydon ◽  
Stephen B. Duffull ◽  
Carlo A. Marra

Background: Pharmacists report to be providing patient-focused clinical services for which they receive no remuneration. Limited literature exists about unfunded services leading to difficulties in ascertaining an appropriate study design for such research. Objective: This study aims to assess the appropriateness of a proposed study design before launching a nationwide study to investigate the provision of unfunded patient care services. Methods: A multi-methods approach was utilised consisting of (1) continuous time motion study in community pharmacies (2) semi structured patient interviews (3) patient follow up (4) semi structured interviews with pharmacy owners/managers. All observations of unfunded patient care services were recorded, numerically coded and descriptively analysed. Semi structured interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. A semantic thematic analysis was carried out. Appropriateness of study design was dictated by the ability to characterise services and obtain patient perceptions. Results: Ten pharmacies took part in the feasibility study, across the city of Dunedin, New Zealand, representing a range of different practice settings and demographics. Ten patients were interviewed and six responded to follow up. Both pharmacy and patient recruitment proved challenging due to concerns around disruption to workflow and patient privacy. A continuous observation time motion study was found to be appropriate as it minimises disruption to workflow with no additional work required from the pharmacy teams. Conclusions: A continuous observation time motion study proved to be an appropriate method to investigate the provision of unfunded services on a national scale. The findings of the study suggest design changes such as length of observation time, increasing patient recruitment and additional patient questions to enhance the nationwide study.

Author(s):  
Lisbeth D. Nymoen ◽  
Therese Tran ◽  
Scott R. Walter ◽  
Elin C. Lehnbom ◽  
Ingrid K. Tunestveit ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground In the emergency department physicians are forced to distribute their time to ensure that all admitted patients receive appropriate emergency care. Previous studies have raised concerns about medication discrepancies in patient’s drug lists at admission to the emergency department. Thus, it is important to study how emergency department physicians distribute their time, to highlight where workflow redesign can be needed.Aim to quantify how emergency department physicians distribute their time between various task categories, with particular focus on drug-related tasks.Method Direct observation, time-motion study of emergency department physicians at Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Physicians’ activities were categorized in discrete categories and data were collected with the validated method of Work Observation Method By Activity Timing between October 2018 to January 2019. Bootstrap analysis determined 95% confidence intervals for proportions and interruption rates.Results During the observation time of 91.4 h, 31 emergency department physicians were observed. In total, physicians spent majority of their time gathering information (36.5%), communicating (26.3%), and documenting (24.2%). Further, physicians spent 17.8% (95% CI 16.8%, 19.3%) of their time on drug-related tasks. On average, physicians spent 7.8 min (95% CI 7.2, 8.6) per hour to obtain and document patients’ drug lists.Conclusion Emergency department physicians are required to conduct numerous essential tasks and distributes a minor proportion of their time on drug-related tasks. More efficient information flow regarding drugs should be facilitated at transitions of care. The presence of healthcare personnel dedicated to obtaining drug lists in the emergency department should be considered.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. e49-70
Author(s):  
Cameron Leafloor ◽  
Erin (Yiran) Liu ◽  
Cathy Code ◽  
Heather Lochnan ◽  
Erin Keely ◽  
...  

Background: The effects of changes to resident physician duty hours need to be measureable. This time-motion study was done to record internal medicine residents’ workflow while on duty and to determine the feasibility of capturing detailed data using a mobile electronic tool.Methods: Junior and senior residents were shadowed by a single observer during six-hour blocks of time, covering all seven days. Activities were recorded in real-time. Eighty-nine activities grouped into nine categories were determined a priori.Results: A total of 17,714 events were recorded, encompassing 516 hours of observation. Time was apportioned in the following categories: Direct Patient Care (22%), Communication (19%), Personal tasks (15%), Documentation (14%), Education (13%), Indirect care (11%), Transit (6%), Administration (0.6%), and Non-physician tasks (0.4%). Nineteen percent of the education time was spent in self-directed learning activities. Only 9% of the total on duty time was spent in the presence of patients. Sixty-five percent of communication time was devoted to information transfer. A total of 968 interruptions were recorded which took on average 93.5 seconds each to service.Conclusion: Detailed recording of residents’ workflow is feasible and can now lead to the measurement of the effects of future changes to residency training. Education activities accounted for 13% of on-duty time. 


1975 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 129-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Perry ◽  
Stephen C. Hurley

The activities of a clinical pharmacist within a primary care facility are measured in a time-motion study. This type of practice allows the pharmacist an opportunity to provide many patient-care services normally unavailable at community pharmacies. The innovative services are described in detail to establish how they produce savings of physician time and to imply how they improve patient care. The activities of the clinical pharmacist are compared to those of the community pharmacist. The indications are that a significant difference exists between the activities of the community pharmacist and a clinical pharmacist working within the office of a physician.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-261
Author(s):  
Clifford J. Sells ◽  
Richard S. Herdener

Six Medex working with family practitioners were followed by an observer for a total of 18 days to gain an objective profile of how Medex spent their workday. Medex on the average spent 30% of their time with office patients and saw 38% of all office patients. Medex saw between 25% and 100% of all pediatric office patients and spent on the average 37% of their office patient time with pediatric patients. On the average, Medex saw 8 pediatric and 11 adult office patients per day. Well-child examinations, the largest pediatric diagnostic category, accounted for 30% of Medex pediatric office patient time. Minor surgery accounted for the second largest portion of pediatric office patient time (21%) while respiratory illness ranked third (11%). In view of the increasing role family practitioners and their assistants will undoubtedly play in the provision of child health care, pediatricians are urged to work closely with family physicians in developing and implementing health care services for children.


Author(s):  
Vanessa Medeiros da Nóbrega ◽  
Maria Elizabete de Amorim Silva ◽  
Leiliane Teixeira Bento Fernandes ◽  
Claudia Silveira Viera ◽  
Altamira Pereira da Silva Reichert ◽  
...  

abstract OBJECTIVE To evaluate the continuity of care for children and adolescents with chronic diseases in the health care network. METHODS This qualitative study was conducted between February and October 2013 with 12 families, six health managers, and 14 health professionals from different health care services in a municipality of the state of Paraíba, Brazil, using focal groups, semi-structured interviews, and medical record consultation. The data were analyzed by triangulation and thematic analysis. RESULTS Two categories were created: “health care management” and “(dis)continuity of care.” We found gaps in the system, including poor data recording aimed to facilitate follow-up and guide the planning actions as well as sporadic and discoordinate services with a limited flow of information, which hinders follow-up over time. CONCLUSION Continuity of care in the health care network is limited and creates the need to develop strategies to improve these services.


2020 ◽  
pp. 030802262094593
Author(s):  
Tomoaki Asano ◽  
Chih-Wen Wang ◽  
Megumi Tsugaruya ◽  
Takashi Ishikawa

Introduction Reminiscence therapy, using life story books, is a non-pharmacological treatment and helps promote psychosocial benefits in people with dementia. This research thus aimed to determine the effects of life story books among participants with dementia of different severities. Method The experimental group ( n = 36) underwent three semi-structured interviews over 10 weeks. After a 2-week life story books-production interval, the experimental group received the intervention over 4 weeks, five times weekly. The following 12 weeks were the follow-up period. The control group ( n = 30) underwent the first and last assessments, with a 6-month interval, while receiving their usual care services. Results Participants’ cognitive functioning was mostly maintained at follow-up in the experimental group, but significantly declined in the control group. The experimental group showed no significant change in cognition among participants with severe dementia during all periods, assessed using the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, and the caregivers’ burden decreased significantly from before to after the intervention. Conclusion These results demonstrate that life story book interventions are an effective tool in improving the relationship between caregivers and people with dementia, and could help people with dementia maintain cognitive function, even those with severe dementia.


Sains Insani ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-21
Author(s):  
Zulkefli Aini ◽  
Abdul Ghafar Don ◽  
Ahmad Irdha Mokhtar ◽  
Nur Uswah Ahmad Fauzi

One of the factors that can affect a person's behavior is a communication message. In the context of the da`wah, preachers who involved actively in da`wah communication with the Orang Asli should be able to ensure that the message conveyed can be understood by the target group. In addition, the selection of the correct messages of da`wah based on the foremost priority simplify the process of sharing information between the preachers and the Orang Asli. Accordingly, this article aims to identify specific topics of Islamic faith (akidah) submitted by the Orang Asli in the process of da`wah communication and to identify verbal feedback given by the preachers to the Orang Asli of the topics. This qualitative study using case study design and data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Interviews involving nine preachers were active in da`wah activity to the Orang Asli community in Selangor. Data were analyzed thematically according to the specified objectives. The study found that the topics frequently raised by the Orang Asli is concerned about belief in Allah, belief in Malaikat, and belief in Qada' and Qadar. The topics may be found within the framework of worldview in their beliefs and practice of ancient traditions. Therefore, the preachers gave verbal feedback on these topics is based on a clear and precise sample corresponding to the level of their thinking. The emphasis on these topics is very important to strengthen and purify the faith of the community.Keywords: Communication; Message; Preacher; Indigenous community Abstrak: Elemen mesej dalam komunikasi merupakan salah satu faktor yang dapat memberi kesan terhadap perubahan tingkah laku seseorang. Dalam konteks dakwah, pendakwah yang terlibat dalam proses komunikasi dakwah dengan Orang Asli seharusnya berkebolehan memastikan kandungan mesej yang disampaikan boleh difahami oleh sasaran dakwahnya. Di samping itu, pemilihan mesej dakwah yang betul mengikut keutamaan memudahkan proses perkongsian maklumat antara pendakwah dengan Orang Asli. Sehubungan dengan itu, artikel ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti topik-topik tertentu dalam mesej akidah yang dikemukakan oleh masyarakat Orang Asli kepada pendakwah dan mengenalpasti maklum balas lisan yang diberikan oleh pendakwah kepada Orang Asli terhadap topik tersebut. Kajian kualitatif ini menggunakan reka bentuk kajian kes dengan pengumpulan data melalui temu bual separa struktur. Temu bual melibatkan sembilan orang pendakwah yang aktif dalam aktiviti dakwah masyarakat Orang Asli di Selangor. Data kajian dianalisis secara tematik mengikut objektif yang ditentukan. Kajian ini mendapati bahawa topik-topik yang sering dikemukan oleh Orang Asli kepada pendakwah dalam penyampaian mesej akidah ialah berkenaan tentang keimanan kepada Allah SWT, keimanan kepada malaikat, dan keimanan kepada qada’ dan qadar. Topik-topik berkenaan didapati berada dalam kerangka worldview kepercayaan dan amalan tradisi mereka. Sehubungan dengan itu, pendakwah memberikan maklum balas lisan terhadap topik-topik tersebut adalah berdasarkan keterangan yang jelas dan contoh yang tepat bersesuaian dengan tahap pemikiran mereka. Penekanan terhadap topik-topik tersebut merupakan perkara yang penting dalam rangka mengukuhkan dan memurnikan akidah masyarakat Orang Asli.Kata kunci: Komunikasi; Mesej; Pendakwah; Komuniti Orang Asli


Author(s):  
Daniel Bengtsson ◽  
Oskar Ragnarsson ◽  
Katarina Berinder ◽  
Per Dahlqvist ◽  
Engström Britt Edén ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Boakye

The acceptance of electronic laboratory information system (LIS) is gradually increasing in developing countries. However, the issue of time effectiveness due to computerization is less clear as there is fewer accessible information. One of the key issues for laboratorians is their indecision with LISs’ would-be effect of time on their work. A polyclinic in Ghana was in the process of implementing electronic LIS. Several of the laboratorians did not have knowledge and skill in computing and there were disagreeing views on the time effectiveness of the LIS after implementation. The management of the polyclinic laboratory was concerned to assess time advantageousness of recording data when using the electronic LIS compared with paper-based LIS. <div><br></div><div>Five randomly selected laboratorians were provided two sheets of paper with tables to document the time they spent for both paper-based and electronic LIS. Data were collected for a total of 230 records,115 electronic LIS and 115 paper-based LIS. The t-test (mean-comparison test) was computed to compare the means of both electronic and paperbased LIS times. </div><div><br></div><div>There was a statistical significant difference in the time spent between electronic and paper-based LIS. The time spent between paper-based and electronic LIS was 0.41 minutes (95% CI 0.15 to 0.66) longer than in electronic LIS. </div><div><br></div><div>LIS can be adopted in polyclinics without having significant negative impact on time spent between electronic and paper-based LIS. More time–motion studies that include laboratorians are however necessary in order to get a more complete picture of time spent between electronic and paper-based LIS. </div>


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