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1.
Clin Gerontol ; : 1-16, 2024 Jul 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38954524

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This review examines health care team-focused interventions on managing persistent or recurrent distress behaviors among older adults in long-term residential or inpatient health care settings. METHODS: We searched interventions addressing health care worker (HCW) knowledge and skills related to distress behavior management using Ovid MEDLINE, Elsevier Embase, and Ovid PsycINFO from December 2002 through December 2022. RESULTS: We screened 6,582 articles; 29 randomized trials met inclusion criteria. Three studies on patient-facing HCW interactions (e.g. medication management, diagnosing distress) showed mixed results on agitation; one study found no effect on quality of life. Six HCW-focused studies suggested short-term reduction in distress behaviors. Quality-of-life improvement or decreased antipsychotic use was not evidenced. Among 17 interventions combining HCW-focused and patient-facing activities, 0 showed significant distress reduction, 8 showed significant antipsychotic reduction (OR = 0.79, 95%CI [0.69, 0.91]) and 9 showed quality of life improvements (SMD = 0.71, 95%CI [0.39, 1.04]). One study evaluating HCW, patient-, and environmental-focused intervention activities showed short-term improvement in agitation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Novel health care models combining HCW training and patient management improve patient quality of life, reduce antipsychotic use, and may reduce distress behaviors. Evaluation of intervention's effects on staff burnout and utilization is needed.

2.
J Hosp Med ; 2024 Jul 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39031461

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Alcohol withdrawal is a common reason for admission to acute care hospitals. Prescription of medications for alcohol-use disorder (AUD) and close outpatient follow-up are commonly recommended, but few studies report their effects on postdischarge outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of medications for AUD and follow-up appointments on readmission and abstinence. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study evaluated veterans admitted for alcohol withdrawal to medical services at 19 Veteran Health Administration hospitals between October 1, 2018 and September 30, 2019. Factors associated with all-cause 30-day readmission and 6-month abstinence were examined using logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 594 patients included in this study, 296 (50.7%) were prescribed medications for AUD at discharge and 459 (78.5%) were discharged with follow-up appointments, including 251 (42.8%) with a substance-use clinic appointment, 191 (32.9%) with a substance-use program appointment, and 73 (12.5%) discharged to a residential program. All-cause 30-day readmission occurred for 150 patients (25.5%) and 103 (17.8%) remained abstinent at 6 months. Medications for AUD and outpatient discharge appointments were not associated with readmission or abstinence. Discharge to residential treatment program was associated with reduced 30-day readmission (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.39, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.18-0.82) and improved abstinence (AOR: 2.50, 95% CI: 1.33-4.73). CONCLUSIONS: Readmission and return to heavy drinking are common for patients discharged for alcohol withdrawal. Medications for AUD were not associated with improved outcomes. The only intervention at the time of discharge that improved outcomes was discharge to residential treatment program, which was associated with decreased readmission and improved abstinence.

4.
J Addict Med ; 2024 Mar 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38452185

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Few studies describe contemporary alcohol withdrawal management in hospitalized settings or review current practices considering the guidelines by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized with alcohol withdrawal on medical or surgical wards in 19 Veteran Health Administration (VHA) hospitals between October 1, 2018, and September 30, 2019. Demographic and comorbidity data were obtained from the Veteran Health Administration Corporate Data Warehouse. Inpatient management and hospital outcomes were obtained by chart review. Factors associated with treatment duration and complicated withdrawal were examined. RESULTS: Of the 594 patients included in this study, 51% were managed with symptom-triggered therapy alone, 26% with fixed dose plus symptom-triggered therapy, 10% with front loading regimens plus symptom-triggered therapy, and 3% with fixed dose alone. The most common medication given was lorazepam (87%) followed by chlordiazepoxide (33%), diazepam (14%), and phenobarbital (6%). Symptom-triggered therapy alone (relative risk [RR], 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57-0.80) and front loading with symptom-triggered therapy (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62-0.92) were associated with reduced treatment duration. Lorazepam (RR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.02-1.41) and phenobarbital (RR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.06-1.54) were associated with increased treatment duration. Lorazepam (adjusted odds ratio, 4.30; 95% CI, 1.05-17.63) and phenobarbital (adjusted odds ratio, 6.51; 95% CI, 2.08-20.40) were also associated with complicated withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results support guidelines by the ASAM to manage patients with long-acting benzodiazepines using symptom-triggered therapy. Health care systems that are using shorter acting benzodiazepines and fixed-dose regimens should consider updating alcohol withdrawal management pathways to follow ASAM recommendations.

5.
J Healthc Qual ; 44(5): 286-293, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36036779

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT: The intersection of population health (PH), quality improvement (QI), and health disparities is increasingly a focus in graduate medical education. However, it remains unclear how trainees may best improve disparities within clinical training environments. We integrated PH education for residents participating in a practical QI experience in a continuity clinic serving an underserved population. We analyzed whether PH education increased confidence in creating care plans and implementing team-based care strategies after selection of one of three QI metrics with known health disparities led to improvement. Posteducational session, attendees had odds of confidence in creating care plans 10.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.6-21.7) times the presession period, whereas nonattendees' confidence was unchanged (OR 1.63, 95% CI 0.78-3.4). Residents participating in the QI project did not have higher confidence in creating a care plan at baseline (20% vs. 9.6%, p = .09) nor any additional shift in confidence versus other residents (p = .57). There were no differences in QI metric performance rate trends for residents choosing a specific QI metric versus those that did not (p > .33 for all comparisons). PH didactics can increase resident confidence around PH topics. However, translating such learning into outcomes and improved health equity may require dedicated efforts across residency training.


Subject(s)
Internship and Residency , Population Health , Curriculum , Education, Medical, Graduate , Humans , Quality Improvement
6.
BMJ Open Qual ; 11(3)2022 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35922090

ABSTRACT

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that healthcare professionals model their safe infant sleeping environment recommendations, yet adherence to safe sleep practices within our community hospital mother-baby unit was low. We used quality improvement (QI) methodology to increase adherence to infant safe sleep practices, with a goal to improve the proportion of infants sleeping in an environment that would be considered 'perfect sleep' to 70% within a 1-year period. The project occurred while the hospital was preparing for Baby Friendly certification, with increased emphasis on rooming in and skin to skin at the same time.Multiple Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles were performed. Initial cycles targeted nurse and parental education, while later cycles focused on providing sleep sacks/wearable blankets for the infants.While we did not meet our goal, the percentage of infants with 'perfect sleep' increased from a baseline of 41.9% to 67.3%, and we also saw improvement in each of the individual components that contribute to this composite measure. Improvements were sustained over 12 months later, suggesting that QI interventions targeting infant safe sleep in this inpatient setting can have long-lasting results. This project also suggests that infant safe sleep QI initiatives and preparation towards Baby Friendly Hospital Certification can be complementary.


Subject(s)
Quality Improvement , Sudden Infant Death , Child , Humans , Infant , Infant Care/methods , Infant, Newborn , Patient Safety , Sleep , Sudden Infant Death/prevention & control , United States
9.
PLoS One ; 16(3): e0247316, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33735247

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is presently unknown. RESEARCH QUESTION: Describe the incidence/prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of ILD patients within the Veteran's Administration Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN6). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A multi-center retrospective cohort study was performed of veterans receiving hospital or outpatient ILD care from January 1, 2008 to December 31st, 2015 in six VISN6 facilities. Patients were identified by at least one visit encounter with a 515, 516, or other ILD ICD-9 code. Demographic and clinical characteristics were summarized using median, 25th and 75th percentile for continuous variables and count/percentage for categorical variables. Characteristics and incidence/prevalence rates were summarized, and stratified by ILD ICD-9 code. Kaplan Meier curves were generated to define overall survival. RESULTS: 3293 subjects met the inclusion criteria. 879 subjects (26%) had no evidence of ILD following manual medical record review. Overall estimated prevalence in verified ILD subjects was 256 per 100,000 people with a mean incidence across the years of 70 per 100,000 person-years (0.07%). The prevalence and mean incidence when focusing on people with an ILD diagnostic code who had a HRCT scan or a bronchoscopic or surgical lung biopsy was 237 per 100,000 people (0.237%) and 63 per 100,000 person-years respectively (0.063%). The median survival was 76.9 months for 515 codes, 103.4 months for 516 codes, and 83.6 months for 516.31. INTERPRETATION: This retrospective cohort study defines high ILD incidence/prevalence within the VA. Therefore, ILD is an important VA health concern.


Subject(s)
Lung Diseases, Interstitial/epidemiology , Lung Diseases, Interstitial/mortality , Aged , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Incidence , International Classification of Diseases , Kaplan-Meier Estimate , Lung/pathology , Lung Diseases, Interstitial/diagnosis , Male , Middle Aged , North Carolina/epidemiology , Prevalence , Retrospective Studies , United States , United States Department of Veterans Affairs , Veterans , Veterans Health Services , Virginia/epidemiology
10.
Res Nurs Health ; 44(1): 138-154, 2021 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33319411

ABSTRACT

Remote triage (RT) allows interprofessional teams (e.g., nurses and physicians) to assess patients and make clinical decisions remotely. RT use has developed widespread interest due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and has future potential to address the needs of a rapidly aging population, improve access to care, facilitate interprofessional team care, and ensure appropriate use of resources. However, despite rapid and increasing interest in implementation of RT, there is little research concerning practices for successful implementation. We conducted a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis of practices that impact the implementation of RT for adults seeking clinical care advice. We searched MEDLINE®, EMBASE, and CINAHL from inception through July 2018. We included 32 studies in this review. Our review identified four themes impacting the implementation of RT: characteristics of staff who use RT, influence of RT on staff, considerations in selecting RT tools, and environmental and contextual factors impacting RT. The findings of our systemic review underscore the need for a careful consideration of (a) organizational and stakeholder buy-in before launch, (b) physical and psychological workplace environment, (c) staff training and ongoing support, and (d) optimal metrics to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of implementation. Our findings indicate that preimplementation planning, as well as evaluating RT by collecting data during and after implementation, is essential to ensuring successful implementation and continued adoption of RT in a health care system.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Delivery of Health Care , SARS-CoV-2 , Telemedicine , Triage , Humans
11.
J Gen Intern Med ; 35(7): 2136-2145, 2020 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31898116

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Technology-based systems can facilitate remote decision-making to triage patients to the appropriate level of care. Despite technologic advances, the effects of implementation of these systems on patient and utilization outcomes are unclear. We evaluated the effects of remote triage systems on healthcare utilization, case resolution, and patient safety outcomes. METHODS: English-language searches of MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, and CINAHL were performed from inception until July 2018. Randomized and nonrandomized comparative studies of remote triage services that reported healthcare utilization, case resolution, and patient safety outcomes were included. Two reviewers assessed study and intervention characteristics independently for study quality, strength of evidence, and risk of bias. RESULTS: The literature search identified 5026 articles, of which eight met eligibility criteria. Five randomized, two controlled before-and-after, and one interrupted time series study assessed 3 categories of remote triage services: mode of delivery, triage professional type, and system organizational level. No study evaluated any other delivery mode other than telephone and in-person. Meta-analyses were unable to be performed because of study design and outcome heterogeneity; therefore, we narratively synthesized data. Overall, most studies did not demonstrate a decrease in primary care (PC) or emergency department (ED) utilization, with some studies showing a significant increase. Evidence suggested local, practice-based triage systems have greater case resolution and refer fewer patients to PC or ED services than regional/national systems. No study identified statistically significant differences in safety outcomes. CONCLUSION: Our review found limited evidence that remote triage reduces the burden of PC or ED utilization. However, remote triage by telephone can produce a high rate of call resolution and appears to be safe. Further study of other remote triage modalities is needed to realize the promise of remote triage services in optimizing healthcare outcomes. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: This study was registered and followed a published protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42019112262).


Subject(s)
Emergency Medical Services , Triage , Emergency Service, Hospital , Humans , Primary Health Care , Telephone
12.
Cardiovasc Revasc Med ; 18(8): 588-591, 2017 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28529095

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: We sought to characterize how the perceived risk of early dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) discontinuation is incorporated into operator decision-making regarding stent choice, using a simple pre-procedure survey screening for clinical variables that may lead to early DAPT discontinuation. BACKGROUND: Understanding which factors influence operator decision-making regarding stent choice during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) could help identify areas for quality improvement. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 1202 patients who underwent PCI from July 2008 to January 2013 at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center. We excluded patients without a complete pre-procedure survey within 14days of PCI, repeat procedures on the same patient and those who received both drug-eluting stents (DES) and bare-metal stents (BMS) or no stent during PCI, leaving 864 patients. The primary outcome was the independent association of "yes" responses to survey items with the odds of DES use during PCI. RESULTS: Of 864 patients, 661 received DES and 203 received BMS. A "yes" response to "planned major surgery or dental work in the next year" (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.11-0.36, p<0.001), "recent bleeding event or bleeding diathesis" (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.14-0.68, p=0.003) or "currently taking Coumadin" (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.19-0.78, p=0.007) was independently associated with lower odds of DES use. CONCLUSIONS: Responses to 3 items on a simple pre-procedure survey screening for clinical variables that may lead to early DAPT discontinuation were independently associated with stent type used during PCI, suggesting the importance of these factors in an operator's stent choice.


Subject(s)
Choice Behavior , Clinical Decision-Making , Drug-Eluting Stents , Metals , Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/instrumentation , Practice Patterns, Physicians' , Stents , Aged , Anticoagulants/adverse effects , Decision Support Techniques , Dentistry/methods , Drug Administration Schedule , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Health Care Surveys , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Odds Ratio , Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/adverse effects , Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Prosthesis Design , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Surgical Procedures, Operative/adverse effects , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome , United States , United States Department of Veterans Affairs , Warfarin/adverse effects
13.
J Grad Med Educ ; 9(2): 195-200, 2017 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28439353

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Failure to follow up and communicate test results to patients in outpatient settings may lead to diagnostic and therapeutic delays. Residents are less likely than attending physicians to report results to patients, and may face additional barriers to reporting, given competing clinical responsibilities. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to improve the rates of communicating test results to patients in resident ambulatory clinics. METHODS: We performed an internal medicine, residency-wide, pre- and postintervention, quality improvement project using audit and feedback. Residents performed audits of ambulatory patients requiring laboratory or radiologic testing by means of a shared online interface. The intervention consisted of an educational module viewed with initial audits, development of a personalized improvement plan after Phase 1, and repeated real-time feedback of individual relative performance compared at clinic and program levels. Outcomes included results communicated within 14 days and prespecified "significant" results communicated within 72 hours. RESULTS: A total of 76 of 86 eligible residents (88%) reviewed 1713 individual ambulatory patients' charts in Phase 1, and 73 residents (85%) reviewed 1509 charts in Phase 2. Follow-up rates were higher in Phase 2 than Phase 1 for communicating results within 14 days and significant results within 72 hours (85% versus 78%, P < .001; and 82% versus 70%, P = .002, respectively). Communication of "significant" results was more likely to occur via telephone, compared with communication of nonsignificant results. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in a shared audit and feedback quality improvement project can improve rates of resident follow-up and communication of results, although communication gaps remained.


Subject(s)
Communication , Feedback , Internal Medicine/education , Internship and Residency , Ambulatory Care Facilities , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Internet , Male , Medical Audit , Medical Records , Physicians , Time Factors
14.
Am J Med ; 130(7): 856-861, 2017 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28213046

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Asplenic patients are at risk for severe infections, but adherence to recommended preventive education and vaccination is poor. The goal of this study was to demonstrate that a targeted intervention can improve vaccination rates in a population of asplenic veterans. METHODS: Surgically asplenic patients actively receiving care in our health care system were identified via a database search. Patients were contacted via mailed letters and encouraged to attend an existing travel clinic with a new process designed for asplenic patients. In the clinic, patients were educated on the risks of asplenia and proper preventive precautions, a vaccination history was taken, and patients were administered any additional indicated vaccines. RESULTS: The database search yielded 113 patients; an additional 14 asplenic patients were identified and referred to the clinic by providers, and 2 were referred prior to planned splenectomy. Among all asplenic patients, the first-year referral rate to clinic was 38/129 (29%). During the first year of the intervention, there were increases in the rates of 3 of 4 recommended vaccinations: pneumococcal conjugate, 19% to 55% (P <.001); Haemophilus influenzae type B, 19% to 35% (P = .007); and meningococcal vaccine, 24% to 43% (P = .002). The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination rate increased from 91% to 93% (P = .62). CONCLUSIONS: Targeted interventions can improve guideline-based care for asplenic patients. The creation of a clinic designed for asplenic patients led to increases in 3 of 4 recommended vaccinations. This strategy may be applicable to other health care systems with similar numbers of asplenic patients.


Subject(s)
Ambulatory Care Facilities/standards , Patient Compliance , Patient Education as Topic , Quality Improvement , Splenectomy , Vaccination , Veterans , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Humans , Infection Control , Infections/etiology , Middle Aged , Splenectomy/adverse effects , Vaccination/statistics & numerical data
15.
Am J Med Qual ; 32(2): 156-162, 2017.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26917807

ABSTRACT

This study sought to determine burnout prevalence and factors associated with burnout in internal medicine residents after introduction of the 2011 ACGME duty hour rules. Burnout was evaluated using an anonymized, abbreviated version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Surveys were collected biweekly for 48 weeks during the 2013-2014 academic year. Burnout severity was compared across subgroups and time. A score of 3 or higher signified burnout. Overall, 944 of 3936 (24%) surveys were completed. The mean burnout score across all surveys was 2.8. Categorical residents had higher burnout severity than noncategorical residents (2.9 vs 2.7, P = .005). Postgraduate year 2 residents had the highest burnout severity by year (3.1, P < .001). Residents on inpatient rotations had higher burnout severity than residents on outpatient or consultation rotations (3.1 vs 2.2 vs 2.2, P < .001). Night float rotations had the highest severity (3.8). Burnout remains a significant problem even with recent duty hour modifications.


Subject(s)
Burnout, Professional/epidemiology , Internship and Residency/statistics & numerical data , Cost of Illness , Humans , Internal Medicine/education , Internal Medicine/statistics & numerical data , Longitudinal Studies , North Carolina/epidemiology , Personnel Staffing and Scheduling/statistics & numerical data , Prevalence , Surveys and Questionnaires
16.
J Low Genit Tract Dis ; 21(1): 37-41, 2017 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27906806

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Haiti. Given this high disease burden, we sought to better understand women's knowledge of its causes and the sociodemographic and health correlates of cervical cancer screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were 410 adult women presenting at clinics in Léogâne and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. We used bivariate and multivariate logic regression to identify correlates of Pap smear receipt. RESULTS: Only 29% of respondents had heard of human papillomavirus (HPV), whereas 98% were aware of cervical cancer. Of those aware of cervical cancer, 12% believed that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) cause it, and only 4% identified HPV infection as the cause. Women with a previous sexually transmitted infection were more likely to have had Pap smear (34% vs 71%, odds ratio = 3.45; 95% CI = 1.57-7.59). Screening was also more likely among women who were older than the age of 39 years, better educated, and employed (all p < .05). Almost all women (97%) were willing to undergo cervical cancer screening. CONCLUSIONS: This sample of Haitian women had limited awareness of HPV and cervical cancer causes; but when provided with health information, they saw the benefits of cancer screening. Future initiatives should provide health education messages, with efforts targeting young and at-risk women.


Subject(s)
Early Detection of Cancer/psychology , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Papanicolaou Test/psychology , Papanicolaou Test/statistics & numerical data , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/diagnosis , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cross-Sectional Studies , Demography , Early Detection of Cancer/statistics & numerical data , Female , Haiti , Humans , Middle Aged , Socioeconomic Factors , Young Adult
17.
J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol ; 30(1): 96-101, 2017 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27498340

ABSTRACT

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Cervical cancer morbidity and mortality are pressing public health issues that affect women in Haiti. To inform efforts to develop a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program in Haiti, we sought to understand HPV awareness and willingness to get HPV vaccination in Haiti. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We interviewed a convenience sample of 475 women and men in 2 clinical settings in Port-au-Prince and Léogâne, Haiti between April and July 2014. INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: HPV awareness and willingness to get HPV vaccine for daughters. RESULTS: Few participants (27%, 130/475) had heard of HPV. Awareness of HPV was higher among respondents with a previous sexually transmitted infection compared with those without a previous sexually transmitted infection (odds ratio, 2.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-5.13). Adults who had heard of genital warts were also more likely to be aware of HPV compared with those who had not (odds ratio, 4.37; 95% confidence interval, 2.59-7.38). Only 10% (24/250) of parents had previously heard of HPV vaccine; however, after researchers explained the purpose of the vaccine, nearly all (96%, 240/250) said they would be willing to get HPV vaccine for their daughters if it were available. CONCLUSION: Despite low awareness of HPV in Haiti, interest in HPV vaccination was nearly universal in our study of health care-seeking adults. This high acceptability suggests that HPV vaccination programs instituted in Haiti would be well received.


Subject(s)
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Immunization Programs , Mass Vaccination/psychology , Papillomavirus Infections/psychology , Papillomavirus Vaccines , Parents/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Condylomata Acuminata/prevention & control , Condylomata Acuminata/psychology , Female , Haiti , Humans , Male , Nuclear Family/psychology , Papillomaviridae , Papillomavirus Infections/prevention & control , Surveys and Questionnaires , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/prevention & control , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/psychology
18.
J Grad Med Educ ; 8(2): 197-201, 2016 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27168887

ABSTRACT

Background Patient-physician communication is an integral part of high-quality patient care and an expectation of the Clinical Learning Environment Review program. Objective This quality improvement initiative evaluated the impact of an educational audit and feedback intervention on the frequency of use of 2 tools-business cards and white boards-to improve provider identification. Methods This before-after study utilized patient surveys to determine the ability of those patients to name and recognize their physicians. The before phase began in July 2013. From September 2013 to May 2014, physicians received education on business card and white board use. Results We surveyed 378 patients. Our intervention improved white board utilization (72.2% postintervention versus 54.5% preintervention, P < .01) and slightly improved business card use (44.4% versus 33.7%, P = .07), but did not improve physician recognition. Only 20.3% (14 of 69) of patients could name their physician without use of the business card or white board. Data from all study phases showed the use of both tools improved patients' ability to name physicians (OR = 1.72 and OR = 2.12, respectively; OR = 3.68 for both; P < .05 for all), but had no effect on photograph recognition. Conclusions Our educational intervention improved white board use, but did not result in improved patient ability to recognize physicians. Pooled data of business cards and white boards, alone or combined, improved name recognition, suggesting better use of these tools may increase identification. Future initiatives should target other barriers to usage of these types of tools.


Subject(s)
Inpatients/psychology , Physician-Patient Relations , Physicians , Quality Improvement , Adult , Hospitalists , Humans , Internship and Residency , Photography , Surveys and Questionnaires
19.
BMJ Qual Saf ; 25(1): 57-62, 2016 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26405095

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Guidance for appropriate utilisation of transthoracic echocardiograms (TTEs) can be incorporated into ordering prompts, potentially affecting the number of requests. METHODS: We incorporated data from the 2011 Appropriate Use Criteria for Echocardiography, the 2010 National Institute for Clinical Excellence Guideline on Chronic Heart Failure, and American College of Cardiology Choosing Wisely list on TTE use for dyspnoea, oedema and valvular disease into electronic ordering systems at Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Our primary outcome was TTE orders per month. Secondary outcomes included rates of outpatient TTE ordering per 100 visits and frequency of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) ordering prior to TTE. Outcomes were measured for 20 months before and 12 months after the intervention. RESULTS: The number of TTEs ordered did not decrease (338±32 TTEs/month prior vs 320±33 afterwards, p=0.12). Rates of outpatient TTE ordering decreased minimally post intervention (2.28 per 100 primary care/cardiology visits prior vs 1.99 afterwards, p<0.01). Effects on TTE ordering and ordering rate significantly interacted with time from intervention (p<0.02 for both), as the small initial effects waned after 6 months. The percentage of TTE orders with preceding BNP increased (36.5% prior vs 42.2% after for inpatients, p=0.01; 10.8% prior vs 14.5% after for outpatients, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Ordering prompts for TTEs initially minimally reduced the number of TTEs ordered and increased BNP measurement at a single institution, but the effect on TTEs ordered was likely insignificant from a utilisation standpoint and decayed over time.


Subject(s)
Decision Making, Computer-Assisted , Echocardiography/statistics & numerical data , Guideline Adherence/statistics & numerical data , Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data , Unnecessary Procedures/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/blood , Practice Patterns, Physicians'/standards , Tertiary Care Centers/statistics & numerical data
20.
Open Forum Infect Dis ; 2(4): ofv128, 2015 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26484356

ABSTRACT

Background. The optimum approach for infectious complication surveillance for cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) procedures is unclear. We created an automated surveillance tool for infectious complications after CIED procedures. Methods. Adults having CIED procedures between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2011 at Duke University Hospital were identified retrospectively using International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision (ICD-9) procedure codes. Potential infections were identified with combinations of ICD-9 diagnosis codes and microbiology data for 365 days postprocedure. All microbiology-identified and a subset of ICD-9 code-identified possible cases, as well as a subset of procedures without microbiology or ICD-9 codes, were reviewed. Test performance characteristics for specific queries were calculated. Results. Overall, 6097 patients had 7137 procedures. Of these, 1686 procedures with potential infectious complications were identified: 174 by both ICD-9 code and microbiology, 14 only by microbiology, and 1498 only by ICD-9 criteria. We reviewed 558 potential cases, including all 188 microbiology-identified cases, 250 randomly selected ICD-9 cases, and 120 with neither. Overall, 65 unique infections were identified, including 5 of 250 reviewed cases identified only by ICD-9 codes. Queries that included microbiology data and ICD-9 code 996.61 had good overall test performance, with sensitivities of approximately 90% and specificities of approximately 80%. Queries with ICD-9 codes alone had poor specificity. Extrapolation of reviewed infectious rates to nonreviewed cases yields an estimated rate of infection of 1.3%. Conclusions. Electronic queries with combinations of ICD-9 codes and microbiologic data can be created and have good test performance characteristics for identifying likely infectious complications of CIED procedures.

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