The adoption of provider-based rural health clinics by rural hospitals: a study of market and institutional forces.
(17/1294)
OBJECTIVE: To examine the response of rural hospitals to various market and organizational signals by determining the factors that influence whether or not they establish a provider-based rural health clinic (RHC) (a joint Medicare/Medicaid program). DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: Several secondary sources for 1989-1995: the AHA Annual Survey, the PPS Minimum Data Set and a list of RHCs from HCFA, the Area Resource File, and professional associations. The analysis includes all general medical/surgical rural hospitals operating in the United States during the study period. STUDY DESIGN: A longitudinal design and pooled cross-sectional data were used, with the rural hospital as the unit of analysis. Key variables were examined as sets and include measures of competitive pressures (e.g., hospital market share), physician resources, nurse practitioner/physician assistant (NP/PA) practice regulation, hospital performance pressures (e.g., operating margin), innovativeness, and institutional pressure (i.e., the cumulative force of adoption). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Adoption of provider-based RHCs by rural hospitals appears to be motivated less as an adaptive response to observable economic or internal organizational signals than as a reaction to bandwagon pressures. CONCLUSIONS: Rural hospitals with limited resources may resort to imitating others because of uncertainty or a limited ability to fully evaluate strategic activities. This can result in actions or behaviors that are not consistent with policy objectives and the perceived need for policy changes. Such activity in turn could have a negative effect on some providers and some rural residents. (+info)
Goal attainment scaling in a geriatric day hospital. Team and program benefits.
(18/1294)
PROBLEM BEING ADDRESSED: The Geriatric Day Program (GDP) of the Capital Health Region in Victoria, BC, is concerned with effective team processes, accountability for health service outcomes, and improving the quality of programs. The GDP identified a need to improve its interdisciplinary processes and generate useful patient outcome data. OBJECTIVE OF PROGRAM: To determine whether Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) could be introduced to facilitate interdisciplinary processes and to generate useful health outcome data. MAIN COMPONENTS OF PROGRAM: The GAS procedures were incorporated into clinical routines based on published guidelines. The authors determined GAS outcome scores for patients who completed the program and developed outcome scores for specific geriatric problem areas requiring intervention. Outcome scores were made available to the clinical care team and to program managers for continuous quality improvement purposes. CONCLUSIONS: The GAS process was successfully implemented and was acceptable to clinicians and managers at the GDP. Team processes were thought to be improved by focusing on patient goals in a structured way. The GAS provided data on both patient outcomes and outcomes of interventions in specific problem areas. Accountability for patient care increased. Goal Attainment Scaling provided indicators of care for which clinicians could develop program quality improvements. (+info)
The natural history of multiple sclerosis: a geographically based study. 6. Applications to planning and interpretation of clinical therapeutic trials in primary progressive multiple sclerosis.
(19/1294)
The natural history of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PP-multiple sclerosis) recently has been defined in a geographically based multiple sclerosis population. For a series of prognostically defined hypothetical entry criteria based upon current trends in presentation to the London Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, we determined the number of patients who would have been trial eligible. Using 23 year mean longitudinal natural history data, we identified the observed rate of deterioration for frequently used trial endpoints. Hypothetical entry criteria were based on the practical considerations which would attend the execution of clinical trials in progressive multiple sclerosis. We then developed a series of sample size tables giving the number of patients with PP-multiple sclerosis and the length of observation that would be required to detect a significant result (P = 0.05) for a 25, 50 and 75% decrease in the median time to progression with 80 or 90% power, with treatment efficacy based upon the ability to slow progression on the disability status score. It is expected that the considerations outlined here will prove useful for both trial design and interpretation of trials in PP-multiple sclerosis which will require multi-centre collaborative efforts. (+info)
Association of human papillomavirus infection and disease with magnitude of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA plasma level among women with HIV-1 infection.
(20/1294)
Ninety-three women with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection were enrolled in a cross-sectional study to evaluate the relationship between plasma HIV-1 RNA levels and coincident cervical infection and disease caused by human papillomaviruses (HPVs). HIV-1 RNA plasma levels of >10,000 copies/mL were highly associated with the presence in cervical specimens of HPV DNA of oncogenic (high risk) virus genotypes (P=.006; relative risk, 2.57). In addition, similar HIV-1 RNA plasma levels were associated with abnormal Pap smears (P=.01; relative risk, 2.11). In this study, 81% of women with high-risk HPV cervical infection had abnormal Pap smears. Measurement of HIV-1 RNA plasma levels may help to identify a subgroup of HIV-1-infected women at increased risk for cervical HPV infection and disease. (+info)
Use of complementary therapies by patients attending musculoskeletal clinics.
(21/1294)
Patients with musculoskeletal disorders commonly seek treatment outside orthodox medicine (complementary therapy). In patients attending hospital clinics we investigated the prevalence of such behaviour and the reasons for it. Patients attending rheumatology and orthopaedic clinics who agreed to participate were interviewed on the same day by means of a structured questionnaire in three sections: the first section about demographic characteristics; the second about the nature and duration of the complaint, the length of any treatment and whether the patient was satisfied with conventional treatment; and the third about the use of complementary medicine, the types of therapy that had been considered and the reasoning behind these decisions. The data were examined by univariate and bivariate analysis as well as logistic regression multivariate analysis. 166 patients were interviewed (99% response rate) and the predominant diagnosis was rheumatoid arthritis (22.3%). 109 patients (63%) were satisfied with conventional medical treatment; 63 (38%) had considered the use of complementary therapies, and 47 (28%) had tried such a therapy. 26 of the 47 who had used complementary therapy said they had gained some benefit. Acupuncture, homoeopathy, osteopathy and herbal medicine were the most popular types of treatment to be considered. Patients of female gender (P = 0.009) and patients who had expressed dissatisfaction with current therapies (P = 0.01) were most likely to have considered complementary medicine. These results indicate substantial use of complementary therapy in patients attending musculoskeletal disease clinics. The reasons for dissatisfaction with orthodox treatment deserve further investigation, as does the effectiveness of complementary treatments, which must be demonstrated before they are integrated with orthodox medical practice. (+info)
Gonorrhoea in women and exposure to risk.
(22/1294)
Data are presented on the characteristics of women with newly diagnosed gonorrhoea who attended Lydia Clinic, St. Thomas' Hospital, during a 6-month period. Although gonorrhoea in women is largely asymptomatic, there was strong circumstantial evidence to suggest that some women had attended because they had been exposed to risk. The proportion of women thus motivated was largest among those women who had attended a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases before--in which up to 40 per cent. of women had apparently attended entirely of their own accord. Women born in the West Indies differed from their counterparts born in the United Kingdom in three respects: they were younger, recorded fewer contacts, and referred themselves less frequently to the clinic for a first visit. Implications for health education and for future research are discussed. (+info)
What do internal medicine residents need to enhance their diabetes care?
(23/1294)
OBJECTIVE: To identify areas that should be targeted for improvement in care, we examined internal medicine resident practice patterns and beliefs regarding diabetes in a large urban hospital outpatient clinic. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Internal medicine residents were surveyed to assess the frequency at which they performed key diabetes quality of care indicators. Responses were compared with recorded performance derived from chart and laboratory database reviews. Resident attitudes about diabetes were determined using the Diabetes Attitude Survey for Practitioners. Finally, an eight-item scale was used to assess barriers to diabetes care. RESULTS: Both self-described and recorded performance of recommended diabetes services short of national recommendations. For yearly eye examinations and lipid screening, recorded performance levels were similar to trainees' reports. However, documented inquiries about patient self-monitoring of blood glucose, performance of foot examinations, and urine protein screening were lower than trainees' reports. Some 49% of the residents selected a target HbA1c of 6.6-7.5% as an attainable goal, yet half of the patients using oral agents or insulin had HbA1c values > 8.0%. No differences in self-described or recorded performance were found by year of training. Most residents did not perceive themselves to need additional training related to diabetes care, and residents were generally neutral about patient autonomy. Patient nonadherence and time constraints within the clinic were most often cited as barriers to care. CONCLUSIONS: The study identifies several areas that require improvement in resident care of diabetes in the ambulatory setting. Because experience during training contributes to future practice patterns, developing a program that teaches trainees how to implement diabetes practice guidelines and methods to achieve optimal glycemic control may be key to future improvements in the quality of diabetes care. (+info)
Effect on hospital attendance rates of giving patients a copy of their referral letter: randomised controlled trial.
(24/1294)
OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether sending patients a copy of their referral letter can reduce non-attendance at outpatient departments. DESIGN: Blinded randomised controlled trial. SETTING: 13 general practices in Exeter, Devon. SUBJECTS: 2078 new consultant referrals from 26 doctors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Non-attendance at outpatient departments. RESULTS: The doctors excluded 117 (5.6%) referrals, and 100 (4.8%) received no appointment. Attendance data were available for 1857 of the 1861 patients sent an appointment (99.8%). The receipt of a copy letter had no effect on the non-attendance rate: copy 50/912 (5.5%) versus control 50/945 (5.3%). CONCLUSION: Copy letters are ineffective in reducing non-attendance at outpatient departments. (+info)