::Dissertation (D.P.H.)--University of Michigan.

Thesis (M.P.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-129).

Thesis (M.P.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-129). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oklahoma. / Includes bibliographical references.

The primary motivation of this PhD by publication has been the apparent disconnect between the metrics of hospital quality of care at national and board level and patients’ experiences. Exploration of the gap led to the realisation of two key points. Firstly, the concept of healthcare quality continually evolves. Secondly, the NHS Scotland Measurement Framework does not include a measure of patient experience at the microsystem level (e.g. hospital ward). This is needed to counterbalance easier to obtain metrics of quality (e.g. waiting times). Resource tends to follow measurement. Papers 1 and 2 were exploratory, investigating theoretical and practical aspects of measuring quality of hospital care at the clinical microsystem level. With the associated Chapters, they highlighted both the necessity and the possibility of measuring the patient experience at the micro level of the healthcare system. They also drew attention to the inadequacy of “satisfaction” as a metric, leading to closer examination of “experience” as the decisive metric. This required the development of a systematic review protocol (Paper Three), then a systematic review (Paper Four). The review (Paper Four) examined the utility (validity, reliability, cost efficiency, acceptability and educational impact) of questionnaires to measure the patient experience of hospital quality of care, with a newly devised matrix tool. Findings highlighted a gap for an instrument with high utility for use at the clinical microsystem level of healthcare. Paper Five presents the development and preliminary psychometric testing of such an instrument; the Care Experience Feedback Improvement Tool (CEFIT). The thesis provides, as well as the matrix tool and CEFIT, theoretical and methodological contributions in the field of healthcare quality. It contributes to an aspiration that the patient’s voice can be heard and acknowledged, in order to direct improvements in the quality of hospital care.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to ascertain the efficacy of an intervention -where laboratory test costs were provided to clinicians as a pocket-sized brochure - to reduce the laboratory test costs over a 4 month period. Design: This was a non randomised intervention study where the intervention. group was compared to a similar and concurrent control group regarding the difference in laboratory test costs over a specified period in a specific year. The costs incurred were also computed for the same 2 groups over an identical time period and seasonal period in the preceding year, referred to as the control period. Setting and Subjects: The study was conducted in the Internal Medicine Wards at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital. The intervention period was during the winter months of May to August 2008 and the pre-intervention period was in the same months of the preceding year. Outcome measures: In the two (2007 and 2008) 4 month periods, for each patient admitted, the number of days in hospital and the laboratory tests ordered were computed. For the Intervention and control groups, pre and post intervention cost and days in hospital were estimated. The differences in logcosts per day were compared over time using ANOVA with group (1-2), time (1-2) and group*time as factors. Results: The mean cost per patient admitted in the intervention group decreased from R 2864.09 to R 2097.47 as a result of the intervention – a 27 % reduction in cost. The mean cost per day in the intervention group as a whole also decreased from R 442.90 to R 284.14 due to the intervention – a 36% reduction in cost. By contrast, in the control group, all costs increased in the control group from the pre-intervention to intervention periods – mean cost per admission in this group increased from R 1859.87 to R 2429.25 – an increase of 23%. The mean cost per day admitted in this group also increased from R 363.54 to R 371.92 – an increase of 2.2%. Conclusion: A heightened awareness of the cost of a laboratory test be it prospectively or retrospectively is a cost-effective and sustainable method of making doctors order tests rationally and appropriately. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Internal Medicine / unrestricted

No description available.

Thesis (MCur)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) has included a patient safety goal as part of the standards for the accreditation of hospitals. Goal number six states the need to “reduce the risk of patient harm resulting from falls”. An acute care hospital setting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates had implemented a multifaceted, multidisciplinary fall prevention programme (FPP) in preparation for accreditation by the JCIA. The achievement of the above goal is dependent on compliance with JCIA standard requirements and the hospital’s FPP. This study was undertaken to identify the factors preventing the successful implementation of the existing FPP in an acute care setting. The FPP is recognised to be in its development stages and therefore has opportunities for improvement for better patient safety outcomes, more so by reducing the incidence of falls and the severity of injuries from falls. Literature studies by Gowdy and Godfrey (2003:365) and Hathaway, Walsh, Lacey and Saenger (2001:172) suggests that the most successful approach to reducing falls and the severity of injuries from falls among patients in an acute care setting is that of a multifaceted, multidisciplinary approach. The nurses, who were primarily responsible for completing the initial fall risk assessment, expressed feelings of being overwhelmed by more safety standards being required for the JCIA. Patients with a high risk for falls were not referred to the physicians and physical therapists, nor were they referred to the clinical pharmacists for the review of high-risk medications. In addition, fall risk assessments were sometimes not done in the afternoon and during the night shift. The existing programme also did not consider bedbound, long-term patients, who require less frequent assessment. There furthermore was observer evidence to suggest that the existing FPP was not being implemented correctly. The aim of this study was to describe factors preventing the successful implementation of the existing FPP. The objectives were to identify areas being implemented successfully, to identify any barriers to successful implementation and to identify aspects of the existing FPP that may need revision. A quantitative descriptive approach was applied. The population was healthcare providers (HCPs), including both registered and practical nurses, physicians, physical therapists and pharmacists, working in an acute care setting in the United Arab Emirates. The respondents were 118 (86%) from a stratified sample of n = 137 (20%) from 684 HCPs. A specifically developed structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Reliability and validity were assured through the use of experts in questionnaire design and statistical consulting, in addition to pre-testing of the questionnaire. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Stellenbosch Committee for Human Research and the Ethics Committee of the hospital where the study was undertaken. The respondents’ completion of the questionnaire served as voluntary consent to participate. The data were analysed and are presented in frequency tables. The mean and standard deviation were used for the statistical analysis. Correlational analyses were not done because of the descriptive approach to the study. It was considered most practical to focus on the professional groups and not on the variables, as the initial analysis indicated weak correlations. The results show those aspects of the FPP that were successfully implemented and those areas that need improvement if the JCIA requirements are to be met. Policy revision to include a clearly defined referral process for the high-risk patients, in addition to consistency of the environmental safety rounds and greater involvement and support of the unit managers/supervisors, will contribute to the greater success of the FPP. The hallmark of a successful FPP is staff education, which should be the key step in addressing the identified barriers. The human need for safety and the patient’s right to safe care and a safe environment must be integrated into staff orientation, and education and safety training programmes for all HCPs. Increased compliance may occur when HCPs are more aware of the hospital’s commitment to the patient’s right to safety. Compliance with JCIA standards and the FPP will contribute in the achievement of the accreditation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) het ’n pasiëntveiligheidsdoelwit as deel van die standaarde vir die akkreditasie van hospitale ingesluit. Doelwit nommer ses lui: “verminder die risiko vir leed aan die pasiënt as gevolg van val”. ’n Akute sorg hospitaal in die Verenigde Arabiese Emirate het ’n veelvuldig gefasetteerde, multidissiplinêre program vir die voorkoming van val (fall prevention programme (FPP)) geïmplementeer ter voorbereiding vir akkreditasie deur die JCIA. Die bereiking van bogenoemde doelwit is afhanklik van nakoming van die standaardvereistes van die JCIA en die hospitaal se FPP. Hierdie studie is onderneem om die faktore wat die suksesvolle implementering van die bestaande FPP in die akute sorg omgewing verhinder, te identifiseer. Daar word erken dat die FPP nog in die ontwikkelingstadium is en dat daar dus geleenthede vir beter pasiëntveiligheidsuitkomstes is, veral deur die aantal valvoorvalle en die erns van beserings as gevolg van val te verminder. Literatuurstudies deur Gowdy en Godfrey (2003:365) en Hathaway, Walsh, Lacey en Saenger (2001:172) stel voor dat die suksesvolste benadering tot die vermindering van val en die erns van die gevolglike beserings onder pasiënte in ’n akute sorg omgewing ’n veelvuldig gefasetteerde, multidissiplinêre benadering behels. Verpleërs, wat die primêre verantwoordelikheid vir die voltooiing van die aanvanklike assessering van die risiko vir val het, het daarop gewys dat hulle oorweldig voel deur bykomende veiligheidstandaarde wat vir die JCIA vereis word. Pasiënte met ’n hoë risiko vir val is nie na die geneeshere en fisiese terapeute verwys nie, en ook nie na die kliniese aptekers vir die beoordeling van hoë-risiko medikasie nie. Assessering van die risiko vir val is soms ook nie in die middag en tydens die nagskof gedoen nie. Die bestaande program het ook nie bedlêende, langtermyn pasiënte wat minder gereelde assessering benodig, oorweeg nie. Daar is verder ook waargeneem dat die bestaande FPP nie korrek geïmplementeer word nie. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die faktore te beskryf wat die suksesvolle implementering van die bestaande FPP verhoed. Die doelwitte was om areas wat suksesvol geïmplementeer word, te identifiseer, sowel as hindernisse tot suksesvolle implementering en aspekte van die bestaande FPP wat hersiening benodig. ’n Kwantitatiewe beskrywende benadering is gebruik. Die populasie was gesondheidsorgverskaffers, insluitend beide geregistreerde en praktiese verpleërs, geneeshere, fisiese terapeute en aptekers wat in ’n akute sorg omgewing in die Verenigde Arabiese Emirate werk. Daar war 118 (86%) respondente uit ’n gestratifiseerde steekproef van n = 137 (20%) uit 684 gesondheidsorgverskaffers. ’n Spesiaal ontwikkelde, gestruktureerde vraelys is vir dataversameling gebruik. Betroubaarheid en geldigheid is verseker deur die gebruik van kundiges in vraelysontwerp en statistiese raadgewing, sowel as die vooraftoetsing van die vraelys. Etiese goedkeuring is van die Universiteit Stellenbosch se Komitee vir Menslike Navorsing, en die Etiekkomitee van die hospitaal waar die studie onderneem is, verkry. Die voltooiing van die vraelys deur die respondente het gedien as vrywillige toestemming om deel te neem. Die data is geanaliseer en in frekwensietabelle voorgesit. Die gemiddelde en standaardafwyking is vir die statistiese analises gebruik. Korrelasie-analises is as gevolg van die beskrywende benadering nie onderneem nie. Daar is besluit dat die mees praktiese benadering sou wees om op die professionele groeperinge te fokus en nie op die veranderlikes nie, aangesien die aanvanklike analise swak korrelasies aangedui het. Die resultate identifiseer daardie aspekte van die FPP wat die suksesvolste geïmplementeer is, sowel as dié gebiede wat verbetering benodig om aan die JCIA-vereistes te voldoen. Faktore wat sal bydra tot die groter sukses van die FPP is beleidshersiening wat ’n duidelik bepaalde verwysingsproses vir hoë-risiko pasiënte insluit, sowel as konsekwentheid in die omgewingsveiligheidsrondtes, en meer betrokkenheid en ondersteuning deur die eenheidsbestuurders/toesighouers Die waarmerk van ’n suksesvolle FPP is personeelopvoeding, wat die belangrikste stap in die aanspreek van die geïdentifiseerde hindernisse moet wees. Die menslike behoefte aan veiligheid en die pasiënt se reg op veilige sorg en ’n veilige omgewing moet in personeeloriëntering, personeelopvoeding- en veiligheidsopleidingsprogramme vir alle gesondheidsorgverskaffers ingesluit word. Verhoogde nakoming sou moontlik plaasvind indien gesondheidsorgverskaffers meer bewus was van die hospitaal se verbintenis tot die pasiënt se reg op veiligheid. Nakoming van JCIA-standaarde en die FPP sal bydra tot die verkryging van die akkreditasie.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of New South Wales, 2004. / Also available online.

Orientador: Sérgio Alberto Rupp de Paiva / Resumo: É importante que o cuidador ou manipulador das dietas receba as orientações necessárias para que sejam diminuídas as variações de composição, garantida a oferta adequada de nutrientes e reduzidos os riscos de contaminação durante seu preparo, manuseio e administração, evitando com isso as possíveis intercorrências na saúde do paciente.Objetivo: Compreender a experiência de cuidadores de pacientes com dieta enteral domiciliar que receberam orientação multiprofissional na alta hospitalar e visita domiciliar. Método: estudo de abordagem qualitativa com uso de entrevista não diretiva para coleta de dados, seguindo o referencial metodológico da Análise de Conteúdo e como referenciais teóricos a Portaria 825 do Ministério da Saúde (Brasil), as publicações do Programa Melhor em Casa e a literatura atual sobre o tema disponível. A amostragem se deu por saturação teórica. Resultados: Participaram da pesquisa 15 cuidadores, sendo a maioria do sexo feminino, com idade entre 26 e 65 anos. A partir da análise do conteúdo das falas dos cuidadores emergiram as seguintes categorias: a orientação recebida sobre os cuidados com a Terapia Nutricional Enteral (TNE), a dificuldade de gerenciamento da sonda, o enfrentamento da nova situação (adaptação), os cuidados com a TNE e em saúde, a rede de cuidado familiar, em caso de intercorrências e a preocupação que permeia os cuidadores. Considerações finais: Pôde-se compreender a experiência dos cuidadores de pacientes em uso de dieta enteral domicili... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: It is important that the caregiver or manipulator of the diets receive the necessary guidelines to reduce variations in the composition, ensure the adequate supply of nutrients and reduce the risk of contamination during preparation, handling and administration, therefore, avoiding possible health complications of the patient. Objective: To understand the experience of the patient caregivers with home enteral diet who received multiprofessional guidance at hospital discharge and home visit. Method: The qualitative study using a non-directive interview for data collection, following the methodological framework for the Content Analysis and as theoretic references to Portaria 825 from the the Ministry of Health (Brazil) and the publications from the Programa Melhor em Casa and the literature in place about the available topic. The sampling was selected by theoretical saturation. Results: Fifteen caregivers participated in the study, being the majority female, aged between 26 and 65 years. Based on the analysis of the caregivers speeches, the following categories emerged: the orientation received on care with Enteral Nutritional Therapy (ENT), difficulty in managing the catheter, handling with the new situation (adaptation), care with enteral nutrition and in health, the network of family care, in case of intercurrences and the concern that saturates the caregivers. Final considerations: It was possible to understand the experience from the caregivers with the patient taking hom... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre