Measuring clinician experience in value-based healthcare initiatives: a 10-item core clinician experience measure (CEM-10).

Objective Clinician's experiences of providing care are identified as a key outcome associated with value-based healthcare (VBHC). In contrast to patient-reported experience measures, measurement tools to capture clinician's experiences in relation to VBHC initiatives have received limited attention to date. Progressing from an initial 18-item clinician experience measure (CEM), we sought to develop and evaluate the reliability of a set of 10 core clinician experience measure items in the CEM-10. Methods A multi-method project was conducted using a consensus workshop with clinicians from a range of NSW Health local health districts to reduce the 18-item CEM to a short form 10-item core clinician experience measure (CEM-10). The CEM-10 was deployed with clinicians providing diabetes care, care for older adults and virtual care across all districts and care settings of New South Wales, Australia. Psychometric analysis was used to determine the internal consistency of the tool and its suitability for diverse clinical contexts. Results Consensus building sessions led to a rationalised 10-item tool, retaining the four domains of psychological safety (two items), quality of care (three items), clinician engagement (three items) and interprofessional collaboration (two items). Data from four clinician cohorts (n = 1029) demonstrated that the CEM-10 four-factor model produced a good fit to the data and high levels of reliability, with factor loadings ranging from 0.77 to 0.92, with Cronbach's alpha (range: 0.79-0.90) and composite reliability (range: 0.80-0.92). Conclusions The CEM-10 provides a core set of common clinician experience measurement items that can be used to compare clinician's experiences of providing care between and within cohorts. The CEM-10 may be supported by additional items relevant to particular initiatives when evaluating VBHC outcomes.

Antenatal models of care for women with gestational diabetes mellitus: Vignettes from an international meeting.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes (GDM) is one of the commonest pregnancy complications and is placing an increasing burden on diabetes and obstetric resources. AIMS: To describe different antenatal models of care that have developed to address the increasing proportion of pregnancies complicated by GDM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Narrative review with thematic analysis from 15 volunteer antenatal diabetes in pregnancy services from Australia and New Zealand identified through a national diabetes organisation. Main outcomes were approaches to patient education, medical nutrition therapy (MNT), ongoing management and escalation of therapy for women with GDM. RESULTS: All clinics provided at least one group education and one MNT session within 1-2 weeks of GDM diagnosis. Women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities usually required 1:1 education. Ongoing management of women with GDM was through either all women being seen in the GDM clinic, a step-up approach (ongoing management by the primary antenatal team with diabetes team referral if self-blood glucose monitoring (SBGM) or insulin therapy dosage criteria are reached) or step-down approach (ongoing management by the diabetes team with step-down to the primary antenatal team if SBGM criteria are reached). Telehealth was used to reduce the burden of clinic attendance, particularly in rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing numbers, earlier diagnoses, the need to provide care to women in rural, remote areas, and cultural/language differences, have generated a range of different antenatal models of care, allowed better workload accommodation and probably reduced costs. Randomised controlled trials of different models of care, with associated health economic analyses, are urgently needed.

Association between the introduction of a structured form and the quality of diabetes in pregnancy clinic care.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy in women with pre-gestational types 1 (T1DM) and 2 (T2DM) diabetes mellitus can be a clinical challenge. This study assessed the association between introducing a structured diabetes in pregnancy proforma, on the quality of medical record documentation and pregnancy outcomes in women with T1DM and T2DM. AIMS: To evaluate the impact of a proforma on the quality of documenting medical records and pregnancy/neonatal outcomes in women with pre-gestational diabetes. METHODS: This was a retrospective two-cycle audit: pre- and post-proforma introduction. The documentation quality was assessed based on the rate of missing pre-pregnancy/first trimester haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), third trimester HbA1c, folate intake and dose, retinopathy and nephropathy progression. Changes in pregnancy outcomes were assessed by mode of delivery, preterm delivery, mean third trimester HbA1c, pre-eclampsia and foetal outcomes. RESULTS: The pre- and post-proforma periods included 91 and 41 pregnancies, respectively. The quality of documentation improved in the post-proforma phase with the rate of missing data declining from 63.4% to 36.6% (P = 0.005) for pre-pregnancy/first trimester HbA1c, 30.8% to 12.2% (P = 0.009) for periconceptional folate intake, 42.9% to 14.6% (P = 0.001) for folate dose, 100% to 31.7% (P < 0.001) for retinopathy progression, 92.3% to 19.5% (P < 0.001) for nephropathy progression and 31.9% to 7.3% (P = 0.016) for third trimester HbA1c. Macrosomia significantly reduced in the second cycle (49% vs 21% P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The quality of documentation improved significantly which is likely attributable to the implementation of the proforma. This study supports the use of structured documentation to reduce variation in care and potentially improve pregnancy outcomes.

Development of an integrated, district-wide approach to pre-pregnancy management for women with pre-existing diabetes in a multi-ethnic population.

BACKGROUND: Poor diabetes management prior to conception, results in increased rates of fetal malformations and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. We describe the development of an integrated, pre-pregnancy management strategy to improve pregnancy outcomes among women of reproductive age with diabetes in a multi-ethnic district. METHODS: The strategy included (i) a narrative literature review of contraception and pre-pregnancy interventions for women with diabetes and development of a draft plan; (ii) a chart review of pregnancy outcomes (e.g. congenital malformations, neonatal hypoglycaemia and caesarean sections) among women with type 1 diabetes (T1D) (n = 53) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) (n = 46) between 2010 and 2015 (iii) interview surveys of women with T1D and T2D (n = 15), and local health care professionals (n = 13); (iv) two focus groups (n = 4) and one-to-one interviews with women with T1D and T2D from an Australian background (n = 5), women with T2D from cultural and linguistically diverse (CALD) (n = 7) and indigenous backgrounds (n = 1) and partners of CALD women (n = 3); and (v) two group meetings, one comprising predominantly primary care, and another comprising district-wide multidisciplinary inter-sectoral professionals, where components of the intervention strategy were finalised using a Delphi approach for development of the final plan. RESULTS: Our literature review showed that a range of interventions, particularly multifaceted educational programs for women and healthcare professionals, significantly increased contraception uptake, and reduced adverse outcomes of pregnancy (e.g. malformations and stillbirth). Our chart-review showed that local rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes were similarly poor among women with both T1D and T2D (e.g. major congenital malformations [9.1% vs 8.9%] and macrosomia [34.7% vs 24.4%]). Challenges included lack of knowledge among women and healthcare professionals relating to diabetes management and limited access to specialist pre-pregnancy care. Group meetings led to a consensus to develop a district-wide approach including healthcare professional and patient education and a structured approach to identification and optimisation of self-management, including contraception, in women of reproductive age with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Sufficient evidence exists for consensus on a district-wide strategy to improve pre-pregnancy management among women with pre-existing diabetes.

Associations between barriers to self-care and diabetes complications among patients with type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: To determine which barriers to care are associated with type 2 diabetes complications in an area in rural East England. METHODS: 3649 individuals with type 2 diabetes from 62 general practices were contacted via postal invitation which included a 33 item Barriers-to-Diabetes-Care Survey. Barriers were grouped into five priori major categories: educational, physical, psychological, psychosocial, and systems. The associations of reported barriers, both individually and as a group, with self-reported complications were assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS: 39.5% of participants had self-reported diabetes complications. Physical health barriers (OR = 3.3; 95%CI: 2.7, 4.0), systems barriers (OR = 1.6; 95%CI: 1.3, 2.0) and psychological barriers (OR = 1.3 (95%CI: 1.1, 1.5) were associated with diabetes complications. In subcategories, presence of comorbidities (OR = 4.8; 95%CI: 3.9, 5.9), financial difficulties (OR = 1.7; 95%CI: 1.3, 2.1), absence of services (OR = 2.0; 95%CI: 1.4, 3.0), feeling others should bear more financial responsibility for their care (OR = 1.6 (95%CI: 1.1, 2.1), no access to diabetes service (OR = 1.3; 95%CI: 1.1, 1.5), feeling worried about their diabetes (OR = 1.5; 95%CI: 1.2, 2.0) and lack of readiness to exercise (OR = 1.4; 95%CI: 1.2, 1.7) were associated with diabetes complications. CONCLUSIONS: Barriers to self-care are significantly more common among those with, than those without, diabetes complications. Systematic identification and management of different barriers to self-care could help personalise care for those with diabetes related complications.

The associations of anthropometric measurements with subsequent gestational diabetes in Aboriginal women.

PROBLEM: To evaluate the associations of different anthropometric measurements on earlier exam with subsequent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Aboriginal women. METHODS: This is a nested case-control study. Anthropometric measurements were conducted at baseline from 1992 to 1995 in a remote Aboriginal community. All subsequent pregnancies among the original participants were identified through review of hospital records of 20 years. Thirty-two women developed GDM and 99 women were hospitalised for pregnancy-related conditions other than GDM. The association between body mass index (BMI), weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio with subsequent GDM was examined. RESULTS: Our results showed an increased risk of GDM with increase in one standard deviation of BMI (OR=2.0; 95% CI: 1.3, 3.1), weight (OR=1.7; 95% CI: 1.1, 2.7), waist circumference (OR=1.8; 95% CI: 1.1, 3.0) and waist-to-height ratio (OR=2.3; 95% CI: 1.4, 3.9). High BMI (BMI≥25kg/m(2)) was associated with subsequent GDM (OR=2.8; 95% CI: 1.0, 7.8). CONCLUSIONS: BMI and waist-to-height ratio are better predictors than other anthropometric indices of GDM in Aboriginal women. Given that these measures are associated with future GDM, interventions to reduce BMI, weight and waist circumference in young women need to be assessed for their potential to prevent GDM.

Anthropometric predictors of gestational hypertensive disorders in a remote aboriginal community: a nested case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Australian Aboriginal women tend to have body shape and pregnancy risk profiles different from other Australian women. This study aims to examine the associations of anthropometric indices with gestational hypertensive disorders (GHD), and to determine the index that can best predict the risk of this condition occurring during pregnancy. METHODS: This is a nested case-control study. Baseline body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were measured as part of a broader health screening program between 1992 and 1995 in a remote Aboriginal community. All subsequent pregnancies among the original participants were identified during 20 year follow-up period through hospital records (up to May 2012). Twenty eight women were diagnosed as having GHD, each of whom were individually matched by age at baseline with five women who were hospitalised for other pregnancy-related conditions and were free from GHD (n = 140). The associations of the baseline anthropometric measurements with GHD were assessed using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: The best predictor of GHD was WC (OR = 1.8; (95% CI, 1.1-2.9) for one standard deviation increase in WC), followed by BMI with the corresponding OR = 1.7 (95% CI, 1.1- 2.6). Other measurements, HC, WHR, and WHtR, were also positively associated with GHD, but those associations were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: WC and BMI prior to pregnancy are anthropometric predictors of GHD in Aboriginal women, and WC is the best predictor. These findings imply the importance of early weight control in preventing GHD in Aboriginal women.

Cigarette smoking and age of menopause: a large prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: One of the possible consequences of tobacco consumption is that it contributes to an earlier age of menopause, though the causal relationship is yet to be confirmed. This study aimed to examine the prospective association between smoking and earlier age of menopause in a cohort of middle age Australian women after adjustment for a number of potential confounders. STUDY DESIGN: 21-Year follow-up of a cohort prospective study, Brisbane, Australia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age of menopause measured at the 21-year follow-up. Smoking and menopausal status were assessed by self-report. Other covariates were measured prospectively in the previous follow-ups. RESULTS: This study is based on 3545 women who provided data on their menopausal status at the 21-year follow-up of the study, and prospective as well as concurrent data on smoking. In univariate analysis tobacco smoking during the reproductive life course, socio-economic status and gravidity were significantly associated with earlier age of menopause. In multivariate analyses women who smoked cigarettes were more likely to experience earlier menopause than non-smokers. Compared to current smokers, risk of early menopause was significantly lower in those women who quit smoking in the past. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the impact of smoking is independent of other covariates associated with both smoking and age of menopause. The findings raise the possibility that effective quit smoking interventions may lead to a later age of menopause, and reduce the risk of adverse health consequences of early menopause.

Single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) in gynaecology: feasibility and operative outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) represents the latest advancement in minimally invasive surgery, combining the benefits of conventional laparoscopic surgery, such as less pain and faster recovery, with improved cosmesis. Although the successful use of this technique is well reported in general surgery and urology, there is a lack of studies on SILS in gynaecology. AIMS: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, cosmesis and outcome of SILS in gynaecology. METHODS: A prospective case series analysis of 105 women scheduled to undergo surgery by SILS from August 2010 to November 2011. Intra-operative data such as operative time, estimated blood loss, complications, additional ports and hospital stay were collected. Post-operative pain and cosmetic outcomes (scar size) were also recorded. RESULTS: Out of 105 women, SILS was performed for 84 (60 excisions of endometriosis, 13 divisions of adhesions, five hysterectomies, two mesh sacrohysteropexies and four ovarian cystectomies). SILS was not undertaken for 21 women because of a number of factors, including the lack of required equipment (eg bariatric scope, SILS port, roticulating instruments and diathermy leads). Four women required insertion of additional ports because of surgical difficulties. One intra-operative (uterine perforation) and seven post-operative complications (six wound infections and one vault haematoma) occurred. Mean operation times were as follows: mesh sacrohysteropexy - 60 min, excision of endometriosis - 55 min, hysterectomy - 150 min, laparoscopic division of adhesions - 62 min and ovarian cystectomy - 40 min. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience shows that SILS is a feasible and safe technique for the surgical management of various gynaecological conditions. Satisfaction is high because of improved cosmesis and reduced analgesic requirements post-operatively.