scholarly journals Factors affecting orthodontists' management of the retention phase

2013 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Bibona ◽  
Bhavna Shroff ◽  
Al M. Best ◽  
Steven J. Lindauer

ABSTRACT Objective: To test the null hypothesis that orthodontist characteristics and factors related to retainer choice do not influence the management of the retention phase with regard to frequency and duration of follow-up care provided. Materials and Methods: Orthodontists (n  =  1000) were randomly selected to participate in an online survey divided into three categories: background, retainer choice, and time management. Results: Of the 1000 selected participants, 894 responded. When deciding the type of retainer to use, the following were considered most frequently: pretreatment malocclusion (91%), patient compliance (87%), patient oral hygiene (84%), and patients' desires (81%). Orthodontists who considered the presence of third molars (P  =  .03) or “special needs” patients (P  =  .02) had significantly more follow-up visits than those who did not. When vacuum-formed retainers (VFRs) were prescribed, there were significantly fewer visits (P  =  .02) compared to when other types of retainers were used. As practitioner experience increased, so did the number of visits (P < .0001). Orthodontists who considered the primary responsibility of retention to fall on the patient had significantly fewer follow-up visits (P < .0001) than those who considered it either a joint or orthodontist-only responsibility. Conclusions: The null hypothesis was rejected because the number of follow-up visits during the retention phase was affected by practitioner experience, whether VFRs were used, whether the orthodontist considered the presence of third molars or special-needs patients when choosing the type of retainer, and to whom the orthodontist attributed responsibility during the retention phase.

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e046316
Author(s):  
Jos Slenders ◽  
Renske Van den Berg-Vos ◽  
Johanna Visser-Meily ◽  
Caroline van Heugten ◽  
Vincent Kwa

BackgroundAfter stroke, many patients experience cognitive and/or emotional problems. While national guidelines recommend screening for these problems, actual screening rates might be limited.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the clinical practice at neurology departments regarding screening, information provision and follow-up care for cognitive and emotional problems after transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and ischaemic stroke.MethodsA nationwide, cross-sectional, online survey was conducted between October 2018 and October 2019 among neurologists in all hospitals in the Netherlands.ResultsNeurologists in 78 hospitals were invited to join the survey, and 52 (67%) of them completed it. Thirty-one (59%) neurologists reported that screening for cognitive problems after TIA and ischaemic stroke was mostly or always performed. When cognitive screening was performed, 42 (84%) used validated screening instruments. Twenty-nine (56%) of the respondents reported that screening for emotional problems was mostly or always performed. When emotional screening was performed, 31 (63%) reported using validated screening instruments. Timing of screening and information provision was highly variable, and the majority reported that there was no protocol for follow-up care when cognitive or emotional problems were found.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that clinical practice at neurology departments is highly variable regarding screening, information provision and follow-up care for cognitive and emotional problems in patients after TIA or ischaemic stroke. Approximately half of the participating neurologists reported that screening was performed only sometimes or never for cognitive and emotional problems after TIA and ischaemic stroke.


Author(s):  
Helen Genis ◽  
Scott MacPhee ◽  
Nancy Vandenbergh ◽  
Chris Yu ◽  
Nisha Andany ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: In March 2020, COVID-19 assessment centres were launched across the province of Ontario to facilitate COVID-19 testing outside of emergency departments. We aimed to study the degree to which assessment centres provide education and follow-up care for patients with suspected COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted an online survey of Ontario COVID-19 assessment centre directors between September 15 and October 15, 2020. The primary outcomes studied were the types of educational modalities employed and information conveyed, methods and frequency of test result communication, and any follow-up care that was offered. Survey respondents were also asked to provide descriptions of barriers to patient education and test communication. RESULTS: A total of 56 directors (representing 73 assessment centres) completed the survey. The most frequent educational modalities employed were educational handouts (92%), direct in-person counselling (89%), and referral to website (72%). Seventy-one percent of respondents indicated patients with positive test results would be notified, and 61% of respondents indicated that follow-up care would be offered. The most frequently reported barriers to patient education were insufficient time and high volume of tests, while the most frequently reported barriers to communication of test results were difficulty accessing online health portals and high volume of tests. CONCLUSION: The ability of many assessment centres to provide patient education is limited by both individual patient and system-level factors. Assessment centres may benefit from standardization of educational materials, improved accessibility to test results for patients in marginalized groups, and virtual pathways to facilitate additional counselling and care for individuals who test positive.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 543-547
Author(s):  
Abigail Cline ◽  
Tamar Gomolin ◽  
Bijan Safai

Background: Patient satisfaction is a proxy for healthcare quality, with physicians evaluated and reimbursed based on patient satisfaction scores. Despite the growing influence of patient satisfaction, factors that impact patient satisfaction in dermatology remain unclear. Methods: We analyzed 225 responses to an online survey evaluating patient expectations, willingness, and satisfaction regarding dermatology appointments. Patient willingness and satisfaction were measured on a 1-5 Likert scale.  Results: Respondents were most willing to discuss their condition and to be examined with a dermatoscope. Respondents were least willing to wear a patient gown without underwear and to be photographed. Highly satisfying factors included a written treatment plan, provider medication recommendations, and use of gloves during physical exams. Highly dissatisfying factors included waiting 60 minutes, taking off underwear with a patient gown, and being photographed with a cellphone.Patient willingness and satisfaction differed significantly by gender and age. Male respondents reported less satisfaction than female respondents if a nurse explained the treatment plan. Older respondents were significantly more willing to change into a patient gown, to be photographed, to be examined with a dermatoscope, and to undergo a biopsy than younger respondents. Older and female respondents preferred written plans, while younger and male respondents preferred verbal plans.  Younger respondents reported higher satisfaction with an email follow-up compared to older respondents, who preferred a phone call.Conclusion: These findings may represent relatively easy ways to improve patient satisfaction scores. Further insight into factors affecting patient satisfaction may enhance patient experience and engagement, thereby improving clinical outcomes.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. e031185
Author(s):  
Maude Laberge ◽  
Malek Badreddine ◽  
Monia Rekik

IntroductionIt is accepted that although patients may initiate a visit to a healthcare provider, follow-up visits are often based on recommendations from providers. This suggests that follow-up care, since not initiated by patients, may not reflect patients’ perception of a need for care. However, few studies have examined the burden of regular follow-up care and patients’ perceived value of such care. For parents of children with type 1 diabetes (T1D), follow-up visits are scheduled regardless of how well controlled the diabetes is. Our study examines how benefits and burden from the parents’ perspective could affect their preferences in regard to the frequency of regular follow-up care.MethodsWe aim to develop an online patient survey to be distributed to parents of children living with T1D in the province of Quebec, Canada. The survey will be available in French and English, and distributed through diabetes clinics, on social media groups and forums for parents of children with T1D. The survey will be developed in collaboration with parents of children with T1D to ensure that it appropriately reflects the services in regular follow-up care and that the language is understandable and clear.Ethics and disseminationAll participants will be informed of the requirements and objectives of the survey at the beginning of the questionnaire and that the data collected will remain anonymous and confidential. Ethics approval for the study was obtained from the research ethics committee of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval. Results of the study will be shared with relevant stakeholders with the aim of improving practices and better meeting patients’ and families’ needs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (08) ◽  
pp. 722-733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carly Hemmingson ◽  
Jessica J. Messersmith

AbstractMany factors affect an individual’s outcomes with a cochlear implant (CI); however, quality of device programming and consistency of follow-up appointments have been shown to be crucial contributors. As audiologists’ CI caseloads increase, time constraints on appointments also increase, thus fueling the need for efficient and effective programming strategies. Currently, there are no standardized guidelines describing what methods should be used during programming, nor are there standardized schedules that delineate what procedures should be performed at specific appointment intervals. Without standardized programming guidelines, clinical practices may be variable and may not align with best practice research; thus, outcomes with a CI, particularly for pediatrics, may not be reflective of the actual potential available.The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical practice patterns used by U.S. audiologists when programming and providing follow-up care to children who use CIs. This study aimed to determine the following: common programming approaches, provision intervals for these procedures, common validation assessments, typical follow-up care schedules, and source(s) of CI training. In addition, this study sought to evaluate if training and/or follow-up care differed between small and large CI centers.A cross-sectional survey design was used.Target population included practicing audiologists working with pediatric CI users throughout the United States. Participation was voluntary, thus random selection could not be used. A total of 167 participants opened and began the online survey and 113 successfully completed the survey instrument (23.99% return rate).Potential participants were identified using the “find a clinic” function on three CI manufacturers' websites. Potential participants were asked to complete an online survey seeking information about practices they employ in their clinical setting. Survey responses were analyzed for trends.Overall, a common follow-up schedule was determined, which included an average of 6.8 appointments within the first year. Minor differences in training and programming practices between small and large CI centers emerged; however, no statistically significant results were noted. Results did reveal trends in the use of certain clinical practices. This was particularly evident in the limited use of objective measures.Overall, the findings support other recent studies that suggest the development of CI guidelines that may standardize programming and follow-up practices of CI audiologists. This could prove valuable for the continual improvement of CI outcomes, particularly in the pediatric population.


2019 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-263
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Tomaszewska ◽  
Mateusz Sikora

Abstract Despite many years of observation, the issue of third molars is still open for discussion. Among human teeth, third molars vary the most in number and morphology, which results from genetic changes and environmental factors affecting the evolution of the human dentition. This research aims to study various aspects of third molars in the population of young Poles, such as the incidence, time of eruption and causes of extraction in men and women. The analyses consider the socio-economic status of the respondents, including the frequency of visits to the dentist. Eight hundred students, aged 19–25 (14.4% of men and 85.6% of women) of the universities located in Wroclaw, Poland, took part in an online questionnaire survey. The incidence of third molars was smaller in the women (32.4–34.9%) than in men (47.8–56.5%) (p<0.001). For both sexes, the most frequent causes of extraction were abnormal tooth position (29.6–54.5%) and orthodontic treatment (15.5–27.3%). Both incidence and causes of extraction were related for all the examined pairs of teeth (upper–lower teeth and right–left teeth). The men (17.94–18.49 year) and women (18.42–18.83 year) did not differ in the mean age of their third molars’ eruption. The men visited the dentist less often than the women did (p<0.001). The study presents original research and confronts it with published results. Despite the limitations of an online survey, the results can contribute to more advanced research conducted on a larger scale. In particular, more detailed research is recommended for the Polish population, for which such studies are scarce.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e049556
Author(s):  
Sandra Skogby ◽  
Eva Goossens ◽  
Bengt Johansson ◽  
Philip Moons ◽  
Ewa-Lena Bratt

In-depth understanding of factors perceived by young people with congenital heart disease (CHD) to affect continued follow-up care is needed to tailor preventive strategies for discontinuation of follow-up care. To identify facilitating factors, low-prevalence settings in terms of discontinuation should be investigated.ObjectiveThis qualitative study describes factors affecting continued follow-up as perceived and experienced by young adults with CHD.ParticipantsUsing a mixed purposive sampling technique, 16 young adults with CHD were included. Three participants had discontinued follow-up care and 13 had continued follow-up care after transfer.SettingParticipants were recruited from all seven university hospitals in Sweden, which is considered a low-prevalence setting in terms of discontinuation.DesignIndividual interviews were performed and subjected to qualitative content analysis.ResultsThe analysis resulted in three main categories, illuminating factors affecting continued follow-up: (1) motivation for follow-up care; (2) participation in care and sense of connectedness with healthcare provider (HCP) and (3) care accessibility. The choice of continuing follow-up or not was multifactorial. Knowledge of your CHD and the importance of continuing follow-up care was a central factor, as well as experiencing CHD-related symptoms and having ongoing or planned medical treatment or interventions. Sensing a clear purpose with follow-up care was facilitating, as was feeling well treated and cared for by HCPs. Practical aspects, such as travel distance was also stressed, as well as active invitations and reminders for visits.ConclusionFactors on both patient, hospital and healthcare system level were raised by participants, stressing the importance of holistic approaches when developing preventive strategies for discontinuation. There is a need for improved skills and competencies among HCPs, as well as a person-centred approach to follow-up care. In addition, specific healthcare needs and remaining transitional needs after transfer to adult care require careful consideration to prevent discontinuation.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine Mitchell ◽  
Peta Callaghan ◽  
Jackie Street ◽  
Susan Neuhaus ◽  
Taryn Bessen

Investigating patients’ reports on the quality and consistency of melanoma follow-up care in Australia would assist in evaluating if this care is effective and meeting patients’ needs. The objective of this study was to obtain and explore the patients’ account of the technical and interpersonal aspects of melanoma follow-up care received. An online survey was conducted to acquire details of patients’ experience. Participants were patients treated in Australia for primary melanoma. Qualitative and quantitative data about patient perceptions of the nature and quality of their follow-up care were collected, including provision of melanoma specific information, psychosocial support, and imaging tests received. Inconsistencies were reported in the provision and quality of care received. Patient satisfaction was generally low and provision of reassurance from health professionals was construed as an essential element of quality of care. “Gaps” in follow-up care for melanoma patients were identified, particularly provision of adequate psychosocial support and patient education. Focus on strategies for greater consistency in the provision of support, information, and investigations received, may generate a cost dividend which could be reinvested in preventive and supportive care and benefit patient well-being.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 1987-1996
Author(s):  
Sherine R. Tambyraja

Purpose This study investigated the extent to which speech-language pathologists (SLPs) facilitate parents' completion of homework activities for children with speech sound disorder (SSD). In addition, this study explored factors related to more consistent communication about homework completion and strategies considered particularly effective for supporting this element of parental involvement. Method Licensed SLPs serving at least one child with SSD were invited to participate in an online survey. Questions relevant to this study gathered information regarding (a) frequency of communication about homework distribution and follow-up, (b) demographic and workplace characteristics, and (c) an open-ended question about the specific strategies used to support parental involvement and completion of homework activities. Results Descriptive results indicated considerable variability with respect to how frequently SLPs engaged in communication about homework completion, but that school-based SLPs were significantly less likely to engage in this type of follow-up. Strategies considered effective, however, were similar across therapy contexts. Conclusion These results suggest potentially important differences between school-based services and therapy in other contexts with respect to this particular aspect of service provision for children with SSD.


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