A Pilot Study of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale as a Measurement of Outcome in a Private Psychiatric Hospital

1996 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 319-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robertd Goldney ◽  
Laura J. Fisher ◽  
Sonja Walmsley ◽  
Penny Kent ◽  
Ashley W. Cooper

In this era of increasing accountability in health care there is a need for an easily administered reliable instrument to assess the outcome of patients treated for psychiatric illness. This need has been reviewed comprehensively by Andrews et al [1]. One of the several instruments they recommended was the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale instrument (HoNOS) [2,3]. This paper describes the introduction of the HoNOS in a private hospital setting.

1993 ◽  
Vol 38 (10) ◽  
pp. 678-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Vanharen ◽  
Catherine Laroche ◽  
Marsha Heyman ◽  
Albert Massabki ◽  
Lois Colle

Over the past 30 years much information has been collected on children whose parents suffer from psychiatric illness. Research has shown that many of these children are at high risk for significant psychopathology but there have been few investigations examining whether or not they are being identified and are receiving mental health care. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate to what extent the children of psychiatrically ill adult patients are identified and referred to the mental health services. Results of structured interviews with the patients indicate that a considerable number had school-aged children and that in many instances no inquiry had been made concerning the children's psychological health. Although some of the children were reported to have received treatment, few had been referred by their parents’ psychiatrists. Recommendations to improve the identification and treatment of such children are outlined in this study.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 1020-1029
Author(s):  
Tsuey Li Yong ◽  
Chee Ping Chong

Pharmacist led vancomycin dosing is not a common practice in private hospital settings of the Malaysian healthcare system. The lack of this pharmacist led system has led to conventional vancomycin dosing without considering the differences in patients pharmacokinetic parameters. This study aims to compare the differences in vancomycin doses between conventional dosing and pharmacist-led personalized pharmacokinetic dosing. A retrospective pilot study was conducted on inpatient adults who were prescribed with intravenous vancomycin in a private hospital. Personalized vancomycin doses were retrospectively calculated by using the pharmacokinetic parameters and was then compared with the actual conventional doses used in the patients. The area under concentration curve over 24 hours/minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC24/MIC) ratio achieved by the doses was also compared. The targeted AUC24/MIC ratio was 400-600 to ensure efficacy and safety of the therapy. A total of 24 patients with a median age of 55.50 years were conveniently sampled. The patients were mostly male (58.3%) and were admitted to the neurosurgical ward (33.3%). Vancomycin was mainly prescribed as empirical treatment (58.3%) for a median treatment period of 5.00 days (IQR 4.00 – 7.00 days). The conventional doses had significant (p < 0.001) lower median total daily dose (2000 mg versus 2500 mg) and lower AUC24/MIC ratio (385 versus 495) as compared to personalized doses. In conclusion, the personalized pharmacokinetic dosing method was significantly more able to achieve the targeted AUC24/MIC ratio. Vancomycin personalized dosing should be considered in the Malaysian private hospital setting.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 107327482091720
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Krok-Schoen ◽  
Michelle J. Naughton ◽  
Anne M. Noonan ◽  
Janell Pisegna ◽  
Jennifer DeSalvo ◽  
...  

The Commission on Cancer’s standard 3.3 represents a paradigm shift in the care of cancer survivors, recommending that survivors receive a treatment summary and survivorship care plan (SCPs). A focus on older breast cancer survivors is needed, as they are the majority of the breast cancer population and their experiences and perspectives of SCPs is limited in the literature. This pilot study utilized a mixed methods approach (focus groups and self-report questionnaire data) to gather information on older (≥65 years) breast cancer survivors’ perspectives of their SCPs, cancer survivorship, and communication with their health-care providers. The questionnaire was completed individually by the participants prior to the focus group and contained items on basic demographics and their health status following cancer treatment. The focus groups indicated that only a minority of women actually developed a SCP. Those who developed a SCP in collaboration with their providers valued the personal care and attention received. However, some participants reported poor communication with their providers and within their health-care team, resulting in frustration and confusion. Participants’ suggestions for ideal SCPs included better education and personalization, particularly in appropriate nutrition and exercise, and managing side effects and comorbidities. Lastly, the women believed that additional long-term care resources, such as health coaches, were important in improving their survivorship. These findings provide insight into enhancing the content, communication, and application of SCPs to improve the survivorship experience of older breast cancer survivors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathrine Håland Jeppesen ◽  
Kirsten Frederiksen ◽  
Marianne Johansson Joergensen ◽  
Kirsten Beedholm

Abstract Background From 2014 to 17, a large-scale project, ‘The User-involving Hospital’, was implemented at a Danish university hospital. Research highlights leadership as crucial for the outcome of change processes in general and for implementation processes in particular. According to the theory on organizational learning by Agyris and Schön, successful change requires organizational learning. Argyris and Schön consider that the assumptions of involved participants play an important role in organizational learning and processes. The purpose was to explore leaders’ assumptions concerning implementation of patient involvement methods in a hospital setting. Methods Qualitative explorative interview study with the six top leaders in the implementation project. The semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed in accordance with Kvale and Brinkmanns’ seven stages of interview research. Result The main leadership assumptions on what is needed in the implementation process are in line with the perceived elements in organizational learning according to the theory of Argyris and Schön. Hence, they argued that implementation of patient involvement requires a culture change among health care professionals. Two aspects on how to obtain success in the implementation process were identified based on leadership assumptions: “The health care professionals’ roles in the implementation process” and “The leaders’ own roles in the implementation process”. Conclusion The top leaders considered implementation of patient involvement a change process that necessitates a change in culture with health care professionals as crucial actors. Furthermore, the top leaders considered themselves important facilitators of this implementation process.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Hopstaken ◽  
D. van Dalen ◽  
B. M. van der Kolk ◽  
E. J. M. van Geenen ◽  
J. J. Hermans ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Over the past decades, health care services for pancreatic surgery were reorganized. Volume norms were applied with the result that only a limited number of expert centers perform pancreatic surgery. As a result of this centralization of pancreatic surgery, the patient journey of patients with pancreatic tumors has become multi-institutional. To illustrate, patients are referred to a center of expertise for pancreatic surgery whereas other parts of pancreatic care, such as chemotherapy, take place in local hospitals. This fragmentation of health care services could affect continuity of care (COC). The aim of this study was to assess COC perceived by patients in a pancreatic care network and investigate correlations with patient-and care-related characteristics. Methods This is a pilot study in which patients with (pre) malignant pancreatic tumors discussed in a multidisciplinary tumor board in a Dutch tertiary hospital were asked to participate. Patients were asked to fill out the Nijmegen Continuity of Care-questionnaire (NCQ) (5-point Likert scale). Additionally, their patient-and care-related data were retrieved from medical records. Correlations of NCQ score and patient-and care-related characteristics were calculated with Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Results In total, 44 patients were included (92% response rate). Pancreatic cancer was the predominant diagnosis (32%). Forty percent received a repetition of diagnostic investigations in the tertiary hospital. Mean scores for personal continuity were 3.55 ± 0.74 for GP, 3.29 ± 0.91 for the specialist and 3.43 ± 0.65 for collaboration between GPs and specialists. Overall COC was scored with a mean 3.38 ± 0.72. No significant correlations were observed between NCQ score and certain patient-or care-related characteristics. Conclusion Continuity of care perceived by patients with pancreatic tumors was scored as moderate. This outcome supports the need to improve continuity of care within multi-institutional pancreatic care networks.


Author(s):  
Julia Steinbauer ◽  
Michael Koller ◽  
Elisabeth Kohl ◽  
Sigrid Karrer ◽  
Michael Landthaler ◽  
...  

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