Assessment of barriers and facilitators in the implementation of appropriate use criteria for elective percutaneous coronary interventions: a qualitative study

Perceptions of stimulant and buprenorphine diversion and strategies to address it

There is ongoing policy debate on the prescribing of controlled substances such as buprenorphine and stimulants via telemedicine. The goal of federal and state policymakers is to ensure access to care while limiting diversion risk. However, there is little evidence on how clinicians view and address diversion and on telemedicine's role in diversion. From December 2023 to January 2024, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 21 psychiatrists and primary care physicians engaged in hybrid (telemedicine and in-person) care models in which we explored perceptions of diversion and strategies used to monitor for diversion. Most physicians reported monitoring for diversion, but there was little consistency on how monitoring was done and reported strategies did not differ between telemedicine vs in-person care. When physicians suspected diversion, there was also wide variation in responses: some clinicians did not immediately take any action while others imposed more requirements on patients (e.g., more frequent visits), no longer prescribed the controlled substance, or terminated the patient from their practice. Few physicians had ever reported a case of suspected diversion to law enforcement. Our findings suggest that the Drug Enforcement Administration could clarify reporting requirements and professional societies could provide additional guidance on how to respond to suspected diversion, given the current variation in practice across clinicians could be exploited by individuals who want to divert.

Factors influencing adherence to clinical practice guidelines in patients with suspected chronic coronary syndrome: a qualitative interview study in the ambulatory care sector in Germany

BACKGROUND

Chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) is a potentially progressive clinical presentation of coronary artery disease (CAD). Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are available for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Embedded in the "ENLIGHT-KHK" healthcare project, a qualitative study was conducted to identify factors that influence guideline adherence from the perspective of general practitioners (GPs) and cardiologists (CA) in the ambulatory care sector in Germany.

METHODS

GPs and CAs were surveyed via telephone using an interview guide. The respondents were first asked about their individual approach to caring for patients with suspected CCS. Subsequently, the accordance of their approach with guideline recommendations was addressed. Finally, potential measures for assisting with guideline adherence were discussed. The semi-structured interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a qualitative content analysis in accordance with Kuckartz and Rädiker. Factors influencing adherence to CPGs were categorised by assessing whether they (i) inhibited or facilitated guideline adherence, (ii) played a role in patients at risk of CCS or with suspected or known CCS, (iii) were mentioned in implicit or explicit thematic reference to CPGs, and (iv) were declared a practical problem.

RESULTS

Based on interviews with ten GPs and five CAs, 35 potential influencing factors were identified. These emerged at four levels: patients, healthcare providers, CPGs, and the healthcare system. The most commonly cited barrier to guideline adherence among the respondents was structural aspects at the system level, including reachability of providers and services, waiting times, reimbursement through statutory health insurance (SHI) providers, and contract offers. There was a strong emphasis on interdependencies between factors acting at different levels. For instance, poor reachability of providers and services at the system level may result in inexpedience of guideline recommendations at the CPG level. Likewise, poor reachability of providers and services at the system level may be aggravated or alleviated by factors such as diagnostic preferences at the patient level or collaborations at the provider level.

CONCLUSIONS

To assist with adherence to CPGs regarding CCS, promoting measures may be needed that account for interdependencies between barriers and facilitators at various healthcare levels. Respective measures should consider medically justified deviations from guideline recommendations in individual cases.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00015638; Universal Trial Number (UTN): U1111-1227-8055.

Implications of transient ischemic dilatation and impaired left ventricular ejection fraction reserve in patients with normal stress myocardial perfusion imaging and elevated coronary artery calcium

PURPOSE

Guidelines recommend stress only (SO) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) without follow-up rest imaging if perfusion and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are normal. However additional rest imaging may show transient ischaemic dilation (TID) and/or impaired LVEF reserve (iLVEFr) suggestive of 'balanced ischemia'. Concurrent coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring helps to identify subclinical atherosclerosis. The safety of SO MPI when CAC is elevated is unclear. We aim to assess the incidence and outcomes of TID and iLVEFr amongst stress/rest MPIs with normal SO images and elevated CAC.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of normal stress/rest MPIs performed between 1 March 2016 to 31 January 2017 with concurrently measured CAC >300. Cases were stratified by presence of TID and/or iLVEFr. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE, defined as cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and revascularization) within 24 months were compared.

RESULTS

There were 230 cases included of which 43 (18.7%) had TID and/or iLVEFr. Presence of TID and/or iLVEFr was associated with higher 24-month MACE (23.3 vs. 8.6%, p = 0.013), driven by more elective revascularizations (18.6 vs. 4.3%, p = 0.001). Cardiac death and non-fatal myocardial infarction rates were similar. TID and/or iLVEFr significantly predicted overall MACE after multivariate analysis (OR 2.933 [1.214 - 7.087], p = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

TID and/or iLVEFr is seen in the minority of normal stress MPI with elevated CAC, and is associated with higher 24-month MACE, driven by higher elective revascularizations. Overall cardiac death and non-fatal myocardial infarction rates were low and not significantly different between both groups.

Interventional cardiologists' perceptions of percutaneous coronary intervention quality measurement and feedback

BACKGROUND

Interventional cardiologists receive feedback on their clinical care from a variety of sources including registry-based quality measures, case conferences, and informal peer interactions. However, the impact of this feedback on clinical care is unclear.

METHODS

We interviewed interventional cardiologists regarding the use of feedback to improve their care of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients. Interviews were assessed with template analysis using deductive and inductive techniques.

RESULTS

Among 20 interventional cardiologists from private, academic, and Department of Veterans Affairs practice, 85% were male, 75% performed at least 100 PCIs annually, and 55% were in practice for 5 years or more. All reported receiving feedback on their practice, including formal quality measures and peer learning activities. Many respondents were critical of quality measure reporting, citing lack of trust in outcomes measures and poor applicability to clinical care. Some respondents reported the use of process measures such as contrast volume and fluoroscopy time for benchmarking their performance. Case conferences and informal peer feedback were perceived as timelier and more impactful on clinical care. Respondents identified facilitators of successful feedback interventions including transparent processes, respectful and reciprocal peer relationships, and integration of feedback into collective goals. Hierarchy and competitive environments inhibited useful feedback.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite substantial resources dedicated to performance measurement and feedback for PCI, interventional cardiologists perceive existing quality measures to be of only modest value for improving clinical care. Catherization laboratories should seek to integrate quality measures into a holistic quality program that emphasizes peer learning, collective goals and mutual respect.

A pilot study to assess the learning environment and use of reliability enhancing work practices in VHA cardiac catheterization laboratories

INTRODUCTION

A learning health system (LHS) harnesses data and analytics to learn from clinical encounters to implement the best care with high reliability. The 81 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) cardiac catheterization laboratories (cath lab) are a model LHS. The quality and safety of coronary procedures are monitored and reported by the Clinical Assessment, Reporting and Tracking (CART) Program, which has identified variation in care across cath labs. This variation may be due to underappreciated aspects of LHSs, the learning environment and reliability enhancing work practices (REWPs). Learning environments are the educational approaches, context, and settings in which learning occurs. REWPs are the organizational practices found in high reliability organizations. High learning environments and use of REWPs are associated with improved outcomes. This study assessed the learning environments and use of REWPs in VHA cath labs to examine factors supportive of learning and high reliability.

METHODS

In 2018, the learning organization survey-27 and the REWP survey were administered to 732 cath lab staff. Factor analysis and linear models were computed. Unit-level analyses and site ranking (high, low) were conducted on cath labs with >40% response rate using Bayesian methods.

RESULTS

Surveys from 40% of cath lab staff (n = 294) at 84% of cath labs (n = 68) were included. Learning environment and REWP strengths across cath labs include the presence of training programs, openness to new ideas, and respectful interaction. Learning environment and REWP gaps include lack of structured knowledge transfer (eg, checklists) and low use of forums for improvement. Survey dimensions matched established factor structures and demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach's alpha >.76). Unit-level analyses were conducted for 29 cath labs. One ranked as high and four as low learning environments.

CONCLUSIONS

This work demonstrates an approach to assess local learning environments and use of REWPs, providing insights for systems working to become a LHS.

Suddenly Becoming a "Virtual Doctor": Experiences of Psychiatrists Transitioning to Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic

OBJECTIVE

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many psychiatrists have rapidly transitioned to telemedicine. This qualitative study sought to understand how this dramatic change in delivery has affected mental health care, including modes of telemedicine psychiatrists used, barriers encountered, and future plans. The aim was to inform the ongoing COVID-19 response and pass on lessons learned to psychiatrists who are starting to offer telemedicine.

METHODS

From March 31 to April 9, 2020, semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 outpatient psychiatrists practicing in five U.S. states with significant early COVID-19 activity. Inductive and deductive approaches were used to develop interview summaries, and a matrix analysis was conducted to identify and refine themes.

RESULTS

At the time of the interviews, all 20 psychiatrists had been using telemedicine for 2-4 weeks. Telemedicine encompassed video visits, phone visits, or both. Although many continued to prefer in-person care and planned to return to it after the pandemic, psychiatrists largely perceived the transition positively. However, several noted challenges affecting the quality of provider-patient interactions, such as decreased clinical data for assessment, diminished patient privacy, and increased distractions in the patient's home setting. Several psychiatrists noted that their disadvantaged patients lacked reliable access to a smartphone, computer, or the Internet. Participants identified several strategies that helped them improve telemedicine visit quality.

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic has driven a dramatic shift in how psychiatrists deliver care. Findings highlight that although psychiatrists expressed some concerns about the quality of these encounters, the transition has been largely positive for both patients and physicians.

What Drives Greater Assimilation of Telestroke in Emergency Departments?

OBJECTIVE

Although many emergency departments (EDs) have telestroke capacity, it is unclear why some EDs consistently use telestroke and others do not. We compared the characteristics and practices of EDs with robust and low assimilation of telestroke.

METHODS

We conducted semi-structured interviews with representatives of EDs that received telestroke services from 10 different networks and had used telestroke for a minimum of two years. We used maximum diversity sampling to select EDs for inclusion and applied a positive deviance approach, comparing programs with robust and low assimilation. Data collection was informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. For the qualitative analysis, we created site summaries and conducted a supplemental matrix analysis to identify themes.

RESULTS

Representatives from 21 EDs with telestroke, including 11 with robust assimilation and 10 with low assimilation, participated. In EDs with robust assimilation, telestroke workflow was highly protocolized, programs had the support of leadership, telestroke use and outcomes were measured, and individual providers received feedback about their telestroke use. In EDs with low assimilation, telestroke was perceived to increase complexity, and ED physicians felt telestroke did not add value or had little value beyond a telephone consult. EDs with robust assimilation identified four sets of strategies to improve assimilation: strengthening relationships between stroke experts and ED providers, improving and standardizing processes, addressing resistant providers, and expanding the goals and role of the program.

CONCLUSION

Greater assimilation of telestroke is observed in EDs with standardized workflow, leadership support, ongoing evaluation and quality improvement efforts, and mechanisms to address resistant providers.