scholarly journals A design and focus group evaluation of dietary choices tools for an underserved population

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-108
Author(s):  
Tressa McMorris ◽  
Gary Sweet ◽  
Christopher J. Sullivan ◽  
Nicole B. Washington ◽  
Nancy Brahm
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Community Treatment ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Visual Aids ◽  
Group Feedback ◽  
Dietary Choices

Abstract Introduction: Our objective was to develop and evaluate dietary teaching tools for a select population diagnosed with a severe mental illness and limited financial ability. Patients with severe mental illnesses face many challenges, including common health comorbidities of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity. Cognitive deficits may limit educational programming; financial resources can affect access to a healthy diet. The Integrated Multidisciplinary Program of Assertive Community Treatment (IMPACT) program, a university-based program, provides individualized services to this population. One focus is healthy nutritional choices. Methods: In Phase One, a clinical pharmacist and a first-year pharmacy resident created visual aids. These cards were given to health care providers (HCPs) to be used with IMPACT members. HCPs were asked to participate in a focus group and provide feedback. Phase Two: Based on specific focus group feedback, additional resources were created to address identified nutritional needs. Results: Phase One: Ten cards were created and distributed to the HCPs. A focus group was conducted. HCPs reported the cards were useful in opening dietary choices dialogues and were able to give more specific information on alternative choices. Phase Two: From focus group feedback, specific cards for disease states, calorie guidelines, and budget limitations were developed. HCPs immediately utilized them. Discussion: This pilot project was used to design and create educational cards to facilitate discussions on healthy or healthier dietary choices. Feedback from the HCPs participating in the focus group was positive, and they were enthusiastic about both sets of cards, particularly those pertaining to budget choices.

scholarly journals Examining Older Adults’ Attitudes and Perceptions of Cancer Screening and Overscreening: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 215013272095923
Author(s):  
Siddhartha Roy ◽  
Jennifer L. Moss ◽  
Sol M. Rodriguez-Colon ◽  
Chan Shen ◽  
Joie D. Cooper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
South Central ◽  
Attitudes And Perceptions

Introduction/Objectives: Screening guidelines for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer (CRC) are less clear for older adults due to the potential harms that may result from screening. Understanding older adults’ attitudes and perceptions, especially racial/ethnic minority and underserved adults, of cancer screening can help health care providers determine how best to communicate with older adults about cancer screening and screening cessation. The objective of this study was to determine how older adults primarily from minority/underserved backgrounds perceive cancer screening and overscreening. Methods: Four focus groups (n = 39) were conducted with adults (>=65 years of age) in 3 community settings in south-central Pennsylvania. Two focus groups were conducted in Spanish and translated to English upon transcription. Focus group data was managed and analyzed using QSR NVivo 12. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data where themes emerged following the coding process. Results: The focus group participants had an average age of 74 years and were primarily female (74%) and Hispanic (69%), with 69% reporting having less than a high school degree. Four key themes were identified from the focus groups: (1) importance of tailored and targeted education/information; (2) impact of physician/patient communication; (3) impact of barriers and facilitators to screening on cancer screening cessation; and (4) awareness of importance of screening. Participants were more likely to be agreeable to screening cessation if they received specific information regarding their health status and previous medical history from their physician as to why screening should be stopped and told by their physician that the screening decision is up to them. Conclusions: Older adults prefer individualized information from their physician in order to justify screening cessation but are against incorporating life expectancy into the discussion. Future research should focus on developing interventions to test the effectiveness of culturally tailored screening cessation messages for older adults.

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 (>15.85 %) and hypertension (>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.

A Closer Look at the 2015 Beers Criteria

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Salbu ◽  
Judith Feuer
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Clinical Judgment ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Beers Criteria ◽  
Potentially Inappropriate Medications ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Inappropriate Medications ◽  
Made In

The Beers Criteria identifies potentially inappropriate medications for patients who are 65 years of age and older. Initially published in 1991, the criteria have been updated multiple times, most recently in 2015. The Beers Criteria is a tool designed to alert health-care providers to the potential harms of specific medications so they may better tailor therapeutic regimens for their elderly patients. The expert panel of the 2015 update made changes to a number of previous recommendations and provided 2 new tables on select drug interactions and select medications requiring renal dose adjustments. The purpose of this review is to provide additional details and rationale behind selected noteworthy changes within the 2015 criteria. Specific information is provided on the changes in recommendations for the use of nitrofurantoin, antiarrhythmics, nonbenzodiazepine receptor agonist hypnotics, antipsychotics, and proton pump inhibitors in the elderly. Additional comparisons are made between the 2012 recommendations and newer recommendations made in the 2015 update, along with rationale for the change. This review will allow practitioners to apply the 2015 Beers Criteria and integrate their clinical judgment when evaluating and selecting drug therapy for elderly patients.

A focus group study of DES daughters: implications for health care providers

2000 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 439-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne S. Duke ◽  
Sarah A. Mcgraw ◽  
Nancy E. Avis ◽  
Amanda Sherman
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Focus Group Study

scholarly journals The status of the Primary Health Care Plus pilot project in Poland

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Wiktorzak
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Current System ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
The Status

Background The National Health Fund (NHF) is the public payer solely accountable for securing and organizing access to health care services in Poland. The NHF is responsible for implementing a project entitled “Primary Health Care PLUS” which aims to introduce a primary care centered model, based on coordinated, proactive and preventive methods relevant to patients’ needs and furthermore, works to keep patients well-informed and active participants in health care decision-making. The implementation period of the project is July 1, 2018 through Dec. 31, 2021. Aim of the study The purpose of this study is to outline patient demographics and staff structures of providers that took part in the PHC PLUS pilot program, as well as the status of the program throughout the first year of its implementation. Materials and Methods Following an open and transparent recruitment process, 42 urban and rural primary health care providers were selected. The purpose of the providers’ geographic spread was to ensure the model was tested in all representative regions of the country. Results 42 PHC PLUS providers attending to 288,392 patients are participating in the project. Approximately 1,100 medical staff members are involved in the project. PHC PLUS medical teams consist of specialists including physicians, coordinators, nurses, dietitians, psychologists, physiotherapists and health educators. Out of 41,022 health risk assessments declared to be conducted during the project, 18,058 (43.1%) were performed from July 1, 2018 to April 30, 2019, including 4,537 basic and 13,521 extended assessments. Furthermore, 15,020 patients in total, participated in the disease management programs, which are also paid from the project. Conclusions A Polish health care pilot project that centers primary care can help shift the focus toward preventive interventions, rather than the current system, which often focuses on providing medical care to patients who have already been diagnosed with diseases, often in their more advanced stages.

scholarly journals Walk the Talk: The Transforming Journey of Facility-Based Death Review Committee from Stillbirths to Neonates

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Yousef S. Khader ◽  
Nihaya A. Al-Sheyab ◽  
Khulood K. Shattnawi ◽  
Mohammad S. Alyahya ◽  
Anwar Batieha
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Review Committee ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Neonatal Deaths ◽  
Modifiable Factors

Background. Facility-based death review committee (DRC) of neonatal deaths and stillbirths can encourage stakeholders to enhance the quality of care during the antenatal period and labour to improve birth outcomes. To understand the benefits and impact of the DRCs, this study was aimed at exploring the DRC members’ perception about the role and benefits of the newly developed facility-based DRCs in five pilot hospitals in Jordan, to assess women empowerment, decision-making process, power dynamics, culture and genderism as contributing factors for deaths, and impact of COVID-19 lockdown on births. Methods. A descriptive study of a qualitative design—using focus group discussions—was conducted after one year of establishing DRCs in 5 pilot large hospitals. The number of participants in each focus group ranged from 8 to10, and the total number of participants was 45 HCPs (nurses and doctors). Questions were consecutively asked in each focus group. The moderator asked the main questions from the guide and then used probing as needed. A second researcher observed the conversation and took field notes. Results. Overall, there was an agreement among the majority of DRC members across all hospitals that the DRC was successful in identifying the exact cause of neonatal deaths and stillbirths as well as associated modifiable factors. There was also a consensus that the DRC contributed to an improvement in health services provided for pregnant women and newborns as well as protecting human rights and enabling women to be more interdependent in taking decisions related to family planning. Moreover, the DRC agreed that a proportion of the neonatal deaths and stillbirths occurring in the hospitals could have been prevented if adequate antenatal care was provided and some traditional harmful practices were avoided. Conclusions. Facility-based neonatal death review audit is practical and can be used to identify exact causes of maternal and neonatal deaths and is a valuable tool for hospital quality indicators. It can also change the perception and practice of health care providers, which may be reflected in improving the quality of provided healthcare services.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination After Pharmacist-Led Intervention: A Pilot Project in an Ambulatory Clinic at a Large Academic Urban Medical Center

2020 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-321
Author(s):  
Julianna Cebollero ◽  
Suzanne M. Walton ◽  
Laurie Cavendish ◽  
Kristi Quairoli ◽  
Carrie Cwiak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Human Papillomavirus ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Vaccine Dose ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Intervention Phase ◽  
Active Intervention

Objectives Despite the safety and efficacy of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, many persons are still not receiving it. The purpose of this pilot project was to evaluate the number of first doses of the 9-valent HPV (9vHPV) vaccination administered after a pharmacist-led intervention in the Adult Family Planning Clinic at Grady Health System (GHS), a large academic urban medical center in Atlanta, Georgia. Methods The pilot project had 3 phases: pre-intervention (November 15, 2016, through March 31, 2017), active intervention (November 15, 2017, through December 29, 2017), and post-intervention (December 30, 2017, through March 31, 2018). The pre-intervention phase was used as a historical control. The active intervention phase consisted of pharmacist interventions in the clinic and patient and health care provider education. The post-intervention phase evaluated the durability of pharmacist-led interventions performed and education provided during the active phase. Results Eighty-nine first-dose 9vHPV vaccines (of the 3-dose series) were administered to young adults aged 18-26 during the project period (November 15, 2017, through March 31, 2018); none were administered during the pre-intervention phase. Of 89 patients who received a first 9vHPV vaccine dose, 20 patients also received a second 9vHPV vaccine dose. During the project period, 166 doses of 9vHPV vaccine (first, second, or third doses) were administered. Conclusion This pharmacist-led intervention led to an increase in the number of young adult patients receiving their first dose of the 9vHPV vaccination series. With the support of other health care providers, pharmacist-led initiatives can expand vaccine-related health literacy and facilitate access to immunization services.

Challenges in Disability Management of Long-Term Sick Workers

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 47-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne Hedlund ◽  
Bodil J. Landstad ◽  
Christian Wendelborg
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Welfare State ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Disability Management ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Rehabilitation System ◽  
Group Interviews

AbstractIn Norway various welfare state authorities assist in disability management (DM) of long-term sick workers. This study provides empirical-based knowledge about the Norwegian DM process. The data are based on focus-group interviews with health care providers and case-workers in welfare state authorities. A key issue outlined in this article is that long-term sick workers can easily become ‘stuck’ in the rehabilitation system. The focus is on topics that can explain difficulties of re-employing long-term sick workers. Furthermore, we look at what challenges are typical for DM of these workers in Norway, with respect to re-employment issues.

scholarly journals Gridlock from diagnosis to treatment of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Tanzania: patients’ perspectives from a focus group discussion

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stellah G. Mpagama ◽  
Mangi J. Ezekiel ◽  
Peter M. Mbelele ◽  
Anna M. Chongolo ◽  
Gibson S. Kibiki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Resistant Tuberculosis ◽  
Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis ◽  
Mdr Tb

Abstract Background Molecular diagnostics have revolutionized the diagnosis of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Yet in Tanzania we found delay in diagnosis with more than 70% of MDR-TB patients having a history of several previous treatment courses for TB signaling prior opportunities for diagnosis. We aimed to explore patients’ viewpoints and experiences with personal and socio-behavioral obstacles from MDR-TB diagnosis to treatment in an attempt to understand these prior findings. Methods The study was conducted in December 2016 with MDR-TB patients admitted at Kibong’oto Infectious Diseases Hospital. A qualitative approach deploying focus group discussions (FGDs) was used to gather information. Groups were sex aggregated to allow free interaction and to gauge gender specific issues in the social and behavioral contexts. The FGDs explored pathways and factors in the service delivery that may have contributed in the delay in accessing MDR-TB diagnostics and/or treatment. Collected data were coded, categorized and thematically interpreted. Results Forty MDR-TB patients participated in six FGDs. Challenges and barriers contributing to the delay in accessing MDR-TB diagnosis to treatment were as follows: 1) Participants had a different understanding of MDR-TB that led to seeking services outside the conventional health system; 2) Socio-economic adversity made health-seeking behavior difficult and often unproductive; 3) In the health system, challenges included inadequacy of MDR-TB diagnostic centers, lack of knowledge on behalf of health care providers to consider MDR-TB and order appropriate diagnostics; 4) The specimen referral system for early diagnosis of MDR-TB was inefficient. Non-adherence of TB patients to first-line anti-TB drugs prior to MDR-TB diagnosis, given the multitude of barriers discussed, was coupled with both intentional and unintentional non-adherence of health care providers to international standards of TB care. Conclusion Patient-centered strategies bridging communities and the health system are urgently required for optimum MDR-TB control in Tanzania.

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