Quality improvements of healthcare trajectories by learning from aggregated patient-reported outcomes: a mixed-methods systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND: In healthcare, analysing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) on an aggregated level can improve and regulate healthcare for specific patient populations (meso level). This mixed-methods systematic review aimed to summarize and describe the effectiveness of quality improvement methods based on aggregated PROMs. Additionally, it aimed to describe barriers, facilitators and lessons learned when using these quality improvement methods. METHODS: A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted. Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library were searched for studies that described, implemented or evaluated a quality improvement method based on aggregated PROMs in the curative hospital setting. Quality assessment was conducted via the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Quantitative data were synthesized into a narrative summary of the characteristics and findings. For the qualitative analysis, a thematic synthesis was conducted. RESULTS: From 2360 unique search records, 13 quantitative and three qualitative studies were included. Four quality improvement methods were identified: benchmarking, plan-do-study-act cycle, dashboards and internal statistical analysis. Five studies reported on the effectiveness of the use of aggregated PROMs, of which four identified no effect and one a positive effect. The qualitative analysis identified the following themes for facilitators and barriers: (1) conceptual (i.e. stakeholders, subjectivity of PROMs, aligning PROMs with clinical data, PROMs versus patient-reported experience measures [PREMs]); (2a) methodological-data collection (i.e. choice, timing, response rate and focus); (2b) methodological-data processing (i.e. representativeness, responsibility, case-mix control, interpretation); (3) practical (i.e. resources). CONCLUSION: The results showed little to no effect of quality improvement methods based on aggregated PROMs, but more empirical research is needed to investigate different quality improvement methods. A shared stakeholder vision, selection of PROMs, timing of measurement and feedback, information on interpretation of data, reduction of missing data, and resources for data collection and feedback infrastructure are important to consider when implementing and evaluating quality improvement methods in future research.

Strategies to improve the implementation of infection control link nurse programmes in acute-care hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Infection control practitioners face several challenges when implementing infection control link nurse (ICLN) programmes. Identification of strategies to address these can improve the impact of current ICLN programmes and guide their future implementation. AIM: We aimed to identify implementation strategies for ICLN programmes in acute-care hospitals with the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR)-Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) Implementation Strategy Matching tool. METHODS: An expert panel matched 19 implementation and sustainment barriers, identified in our previous studies, to the most fitting CFIR constructs. Subsequently, we applied the CFIR-ERIC Matching Tool and generated a list of implementation strategies to address these barriers. FINDINGS: Barriers were predominantly found within the CFIR domains 'inner setting' (characteristics of the implementing organization) and 'process' (stages of implementation). With the ERIC Matching Tool, we identified the 10 most important strategies to address barriers of implementation of ICLN programmes: identify and prepare champions, conduct local consensus discussions, assess for readiness and identify barriers and facilitators, inform local opinion leaders, use facilitation, create a learning collaborative, conduct local needs assessments, develop a formal implementation blueprint, build a coalition, and identify early adopters. CONCLUSION: The CFIR domains 'inner setting' and 'process' appeared to be the most important to impede implementation of ICLN programmes in acute-care hospitals. Application of the CFIR-ERIC tool highlighted the identification and preparation of champions as the leading strategy for the successful implementation of these programmes. With this tool, strategies can be specifically tailored towards local implementation and sustainment barriers.

Metabolic phenotypes of early gestational diabetes mellitus and their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

AIMS: To describe the metabolic phenotypes of early gestational diabetes mellitus and their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: We performed a post hoc analysis using data from the Vitamin D And Lifestyle Intervention for gestational diabetes prevention (DALI) trial conducted across nine European countries (2012-2014). In women with a BMI ≥29 kg/m2 , insulin resistance and secretion were estimated from the oral glucose tolerance test values performed before 20 weeks, using homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance and Stumvoll first-phase indices, respectively. Women with early gestational diabetes, defined by the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups criteria, were classified into three groups: GDM-R (above-median insulin resistance alone), GDM-S (below-median insulin secretion alone), and GDM-B (combination of both) and the few remaining women were excluded. RESULTS: Compared with women in the normal glucose tolerance group (n = 651), women in the GDM-R group (n = 143) had higher fasting and post-load glucose values and insulin levels, with a greater risk of having large-for-gestational age babies [adjusted odds ratio 3.30 (95% CI 1.50-7.50)] and caesarean section [adjusted odds ratio 2.30 (95% CI 1.20-4.40)]. Women in the GDM-S (n = 37) and GDM-B (n = 56) groups had comparable pregnancy outcomes with those in the normal glucose tolerance group. CONCLUSIONS: In overweight and obese women with early gestational diabetes, higher degree of insulin resistance alone was more likely to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes than lower insulin secretion alone or a combination of both.