Unnecessary overuse. Study of "inadvisable practices" for patients with atrial fibrillation

Head and neck cancer patient journey's health literacy: a multidisciplinary team perspective. VOICE study

PURPOSE

Health literacy is a current Public Health priority in Portugal. The participation of well-informed patients in their care and shared decision making are essential, especially in chronic aggressive and debilitating pathologies such as recurrent or metastatic (R/M) Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC).

AIMS

This study aimed to characterize R/M HNSCC patients' and caregivers' information needs identified by healthcare professionals (HCPs).

METHODS

Two online Focus Groups, one with only medical doctors and the other with other HCPs involved in the treatment of R/M HNSCC patients, were conducted, using a modified Metaplan, Lean or adapted PDCA methodology. The discussions were audio recorded in full and content analysis was performed using ATLAS.ti qualitative data analysis software.

RESULTS

Topics addressed were diagnosis, treatment, quality of life, and global evaluation. In general, all experts agreed that only essential information should be cautiously given, according to patients' and caregivers' wishes. It was consensual that patients are given the necessary information to adhere to treatment. Two main barriers were identified: one barrier was associated with verbal communication due to the lack of health literacy of these patients, and the other barrier regarded healthcare access. It was also considered important to remind patients of the daily and social activities that they could and should maintain, as well as providing sufficient social resources and problem-solving training to caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

This qualitative study highlights the complexity of R/M HNSCC patients' care. Immediate availability of psychologists and psychiatrists should be implemented in all centers that treat HNSCC patients. The differences found between the physicians' Focus Group and other HCPs' Focus Group in some of the addressed topics emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary and holistic approach, in a biomedical model integrated with a biopsychosocial model.

[Design of a set of indicators for 'Do Not Do' recommendations]

BACKGROUND

There is a growing interest in the optimisation of health care that has fostered and developed initiatives advocating more efficient and safe health care.

OBJECTIVE

To determine indicators set for assessing the 'Do Not Do' Recommendations (DNDR) in a Spanish health area, in order to set interventions in motion for improving the quality of care and the patient safety.

METHOD

The DNDR published by the health care organisation in 2016 were identified, and those that could be analysed were designed and tested using two assessment methods (if possible, directly from the whole data or, if not, by applying the lot quality assurance sampling - LQAS) and 2016 data from a Spanish health area. Both validity and reliability of these indicators were checked.

RESULTS

Of the 271 DNDR identified, 25 (9.3%) were prioritised and their corresponding quality indicator designed. From them, 80% were obtained directly, whereas the rest required LQAS. The interobserver agreement was very high. Efficiency was the quality dimension most frequently involved.

CONCLUSIONS

In order to improve the quality of care in terms of adequacy, safety, and sustainability, to assess the DNDR is possible, compulsory, and urgent. Thus, a set of valid, reliable and useful indicators has been designed. This set is focused on identifying improve opportunities and making it possible to approach them.