1
|
Frisardi V, Brunetti O, Abbinante V, Ardigò M, Caolo G, Di Turi A, Torsello A, Napoli C, Mancini R, Belleudi V, Addis A, Di Bella O, Ciliberto G, Neri A, Corsini R, Ruggieri P, Pollorsi C, Silvestris N. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on outpatient visit volume in cancer patients: Results of COMETA multicenter retrospective observational study. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1077103. [PMID: 36866103 PMCID: PMC9971950 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1077103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on first and follow-up visits for cancer outpatients. Methods This is a multicenter retrospective observational study involving three Comprehensive Cancer Care Centers (CCCCs): IFO, including IRE and ISG in Rome, AUSL-IRCCS of Reggio Emilia, and IRCCS Giovanni Paolo II in Bari) and one oncology department in a Community Hospital (Saint'Andrea Hospital, Rome). From 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021, we evaluated the volume of outpatient consultations (first visits and follow-up), comparing them with the pre-pandemic year (2019). Results were analyzed by quarter according to the Rt (real-time indicator used to assess the evolution of the pandemic). IFO and IRCCS Giovanni Paolo II were "COVID-free" while AUSL-IRCCS RE was a "COVID-mixed" Institute. Depending on the Rt, Sain't Andrea Hospital experienced a "swinging" organizational pathway (COVID-free/ COVID-mixed). Results Regarding the "first appointments", in 2020 the healthcare facilities operating in the North and Center of Italy showed a downward trend. In 2021, only AUSL-IRCCS RE showed an upward trend. Regarding the "follow-up", only AUSL IRCCS RE showed a slight up-trend in 2020. In 2021, IFO showed an increasing trend, while S. Andrea Hospital showed a negative plateau. Surprisingly, IRCCS Giovanni Paolo II in Bari showed an uptrend for both first appointment and follow-ups during pandemic and late pandemic except for the fourth quarter of 2021. Conclusions During the first pandemic wave, no significant difference was observed amongst COVID-free and COVID-mixed Institutes and between CCCCs and a Community Hospital. In 2021 ("late pandemic year"), it has been more convenient to organize COVID-mixed pathway in the CCCCs rather than to keep the Institutions COVID-free. A swinging modality in the Community Hospital did not offer positive results in term of visit volumes. Our study about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on visit volume in cancer outpatients may help health systems to optimize the post-pandemic use of resources and improve healthcare policies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincenza Frisardi
- Department of Neuromotor Diseases, Geriatric Unit, AUSL IRCCS of Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy,*Correspondence: Vincenza Frisardi ✉
| | - Oronzo Brunetti
- Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II” of Bari, IRCCS, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Marco Ardigò
- San Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Christian Napoli
- Sapienza University of Rome, Saint'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Lazio, Italy
| | - Rita Mancini
- Sapienza University of Rome, Saint'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Lazio, Italy
| | - Valeria Belleudi
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Addis
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Antonino Neri
- Scientific Directorate, AUSL-IRCCS of Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Romina Corsini
- Scientific Directorate, AUSL-IRCCS of Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Patrizia Ruggieri
- Scientific Directorate, AUSL-IRCCS of Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Chiara Pollorsi
- Department of Neuromotor Diseases, Geriatric Unit, AUSL IRCCS of Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Nicola Silvestris
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Human Pathology “G. Barresi”, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mazzini E, Soncini F, Cerullo L, Genovese L, Apolone G, Ghirotto L, Mazzi G, Costantini M. A focused ethnography in the context of a European cancer research hospital accreditation program. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:446. [PMID: 33975580 PMCID: PMC8111912 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06466-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A quality accreditation program (AP) is designed to guarantee predefined quality standards of healthcare organizations. Evidence of the impact of quality standards remains scarce and somewhat challenging to document. This study aimed to investigate the accreditation of a cancer research hospital (Italy), promoted by the Organization of European Cancer Institutes (OECI), by focusing on the individual, group, and organizational experiences resulting from the OECI AP. Methods A focused ethnography study was carried out to analyze the relevance of participation in the accreditation process. Twenty-nine key informants were involved in four focus group meetings, and twelve semistructured interviews were conducted with professionals and managers. Inductive qualitative content analysis was applied to examine all transcripts. Results Four main categories emerged: a) OECI AP as an opportunity to foster diversity within professional roles; b) OECI AP as a possibility for change; c) perceived barriers; and d) OECI AP-solicited expectations. Conclusions The accreditation process is an opportunity for improving the quality and variety of care services for cancer patients through promoting an interdisciplinary approach to care provision. Perceiving accreditation as an opportunity is a prerequisite for overcoming the barriers that professionals involved in the process may report. Critical to a positive change is sharing the values and the framework, which are at the basis of accreditation programs. Improving the information-sharing process among managers and professionals may limit the risk of unmet expectations and prevent demotivation by future accreditation programs. Finally, we found that positive changes are more likely to happen when an accreditation process is considered an activity whose results depend on managers’ and professionals’ joint work.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Mazzini
- Azienda USL - IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, viale Umberto I, 50, 42123, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Francesco Soncini
- Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli - IRCCS, Via Giulio Cesare Pupilli, 1, 40136, Bologna, Italy
| | - Loredana Cerullo
- Azienda USL - IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, viale Umberto I, 50, 42123, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Lucia Genovese
- Azienda USL - IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, viale Umberto I, 50, 42123, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Apolone
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Giacomo Venezian, 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Ghirotto
- Azienda USL - IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, viale Umberto I, 50, 42123, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Mazzi
- Azienda USL - IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, viale Umberto I, 50, 42123, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Massimo Costantini
- Azienda USL - IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, viale Umberto I, 50, 42123, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hut-Mossel L, Ahaus K, Welker G, Gans R. Understanding how and why audits work in improving the quality of hospital care: A systematic realist review. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248677. [PMID: 33788894 PMCID: PMC8011742 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several types of audits have been used to promote quality improvement (QI) in hospital care. However, in-depth studies into the mechanisms responsible for the effectiveness of audits in a given context is scarce. We sought to understand the mechanisms and contextual factors that determine why audits might, or might not, lead to improved quality of hospital care. METHODS A realist review was conducted to systematically search and synthesise the literature on audits. Data from individual papers were synthesised by coding, iteratively testing and supplementing initial programme theories, and refining these theories into a set of context-mechanism-outcome configurations (CMOcs). RESULTS From our synthesis of 85 papers, seven CMOcs were identified that explain how audits work: (1) externally initiated audits create QI awareness although their impact on improvement diminishes over time; (2) a sense of urgency felt by healthcare professionals triggers engagement with an audit; (3) champions are vital for an audit to be perceived by healthcare professionals as worth the effort; (4) bottom-up initiated audits are more likely to bring about sustained change; (5) knowledge-sharing within externally mandated audits triggers participation by healthcare professionals; (6) audit data support healthcare professionals in raising issues in their dialogues with those in leadership positions; and (7) audits legitimise the provision of feedback to colleagues, which flattens the perceived hierarchy and encourages constructive collaboration. CONCLUSIONS This realist review has identified seven CMOcs that should be taken into account when seeking to optimise the design and usage of audits. These CMOcs can provide policy makers and practice leaders with an adequate conceptual grounding to design contextually sensitive audits in diverse settings and advance the audit research agenda for various contexts. PROSPERO REGISTRATION CRD42016039882.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisanne Hut-Mossel
- Centre of Expertise on Quality and Safety, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kees Ahaus
- Department Health Services Management & Organisation, Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gera Welker
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rijk Gans
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|