| 1. |
- Abrahamsen Grøndahl, Vigdis, 1964-, et al.
(author)
-
Patients' experiences of care quality and satisfaction satisfaction during hospital stay : a qualitative study
- 2013
-
In: European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare. - : University of Buckingham Press. - 2052-5656 .- 2052-5648. ; 1:1, s. 185-192
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rationale, aim and objectives: Patients experiencing high care quality and satisfied patients are more likely to follow treatments. Patient satisfaction is an important contributor to physical and mental health-related quality of life. Research emphasises the need to further study satisfaction from the patients’ perspective. The aim was to describe patients’ experiences of care quality and the relation to their satisfaction during hospital stay. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used. Interviews were conducted with 22 patients discharged from hospital. Data was analysed by conventional content analysis.Results: Four categories and seven subcategories describing patients’ experiences of care quality and the relation to their satisfaction emerged. Desire to regain health comprised waiting for treatment, being cured, having hopes of being cured and described the treatment and health outcome of hospitalisation. Need to be met in a professional way as a unique person comprised receiving personalized knowledge, receiving healthcare by competent healthcare personnel and described the way patients need to be met by healthcare personnel. Need to be involved comprised taking responsibility for own health, leaving responsibility for own health and concerned the patients’ way of handling hospitalisation. Need to have balance between privacy and companionship concerned the relationship to fellow patients. Conclusions: Health condition is of great importance to patients’ experiences of quality of care and their satisfaction in relation to hospital stay. The healthcare personnel need to be aware that seriously ill patients may never be completely satisfied. Furthermore, healthcare personnel must do their utmost to provide the patients with person-centered care. Hospital managers must consider the design of wards with respect to such matters as multiple-bed versus single-bed rooms and heads of nursing must carefully plan each patient’s accommodation.
|
|
| 2. |
- Annoni, Marco, et al.
(author)
-
Persons over models : shared decision-making for person-centered medicine
- 2020
-
In: European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare. - : University of Buckingham Press. - 2052-5648 .- 2052-5656. ; 8:3, s. 355-362
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the last decades “shared decision-making” has been hailed as the new paradigm for the doctor-patient relationship. However, different models of clinical decision-making appear to be compatible with the core tenets of “shared decision-making”. Reconsidering Emanuel and Emanuel (1992) classic analysis, in this paper we distinguish five possible models of clinical decision-making: (i) the ‘instrumental’; (ii) the ‘paternalistic’; (iii) the ‘informative’; (iv) the ‘interpretative’; and (v) the ‘persuasive’ models. For each model we present its fundamental assumptions as well as the role that patients and doctors are expected to play with respect to value-laden dilemmas. We argue that, with the exception of the instrumental model, each of the other four models may be appropriate depending on the circumstances. We conclude by highlighting the importance of structuring clinical care around actual persons - and their unique lives and philosophies - rather than around abstract frameworks.
|
|
| 3. |
- Brattwall, Metha, 1952, et al.
(author)
-
What can a mobile App add to improve quality of care, with focus on ambulatory surgery?
- 2018
-
In: European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare. - : University of Buckingham Press. - 2052-5656 .- 2052-5648. ; 6:1, s. 20-24
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rationale, aims and objectives: Many surgical procedures are nowadays performed as ambulatory or short stay procedures, reducing hospital length of stay. Patient safety and quality of care remain imperative especially when adopting enhanced recovery pathways. Patients should be adequately informed and prepared prior to admission. Recovery is to a major extent dependent after discharge on self-care and thus techniques to follow the post-operative course after leaving hospital are warranted. Telemedicine has grown tremendously over recent years and the incorporation of mobile telephone app technology for the pre- and post-operative coaching of the ambulatory surgical patient may represent an effective means of assisting patients. The present paper presents a feasibility study of a mobile telephone app providing pre-operative information and following the post-operative recovery following day surgery. Method: Patients scheduled for elective day surgery were asked to participate, testing the app and to assess its usefulness on visual analogue scales. Results: Sixty-nine patients aged 18 to 73 years tested the app. Patients aged 30 to 50 where the most frequent users and patients < 30 less frequent. The app was in general assessed as useful and most users expressed an interest in the option of having an app as a source of information before undergoing a scheduled procedure. General pre-operative information was assessed as the most important. A willingness to submit follow-up information decreased rapidly, only 26 and 16 responded at day 10 and 30, respectively. Conclusion: A mobile telephone app is a feasible and appreciated tool for pre-operative information and coaching as part of person-centered healthcare, but its use for follow-up after discharge is challenging and requires further investigation.
|
|
| 4. |
- Carlström, Eric, 1957
(author)
-
Implementing person-centered care in a general medical clinic. Cultural Barriers and driving forces
- 2013
-
In: European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare. - : University of Buckingham Press. - 2052-5656 .- 2052-5648. ; 1:2, s. 333-335
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Public healthcare organisations in Sweden have been described as strongly hierarchical and coherent organisations [1]. To bring about control, generalized care models have been developed to handle hospital clinics and primary care sites [2]. This paper examines the preparedness to change in hospital settings. The purpose of the present study was to reveal barriers to the introduction of person-centred care (PCC). Organisational culture and resistance to change on hospital ward and clinical level and was based on the 2 concepts of “organisational culture” and “resistance to change”. These 2 concepts were measured by questionnaires based on theories of organisational culture and resistance to change.
|
|
| 5. |
- Ekman, Inger, 1952, et al.
(author)
-
The person-centred approach to an ageing society
- 2013
-
In: European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare. - : University of Buckingham Press. - 2052-5656 .- 2052-5648. ; 1:1, s. 132-137
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Modern care is often based on investigations such as laboratory markers and imaging - for example, x-ray or ultrasound. The results contribute to a diagnosis and, if judged necessary, treatment is initiated. This diseased-oriented approach is the prevailing mode of management in modern medicine. In contrast, person-centered care (PCC) takes the point of departure from each person´s subjective experience of illness and its impact on daily life. A patient is considered as a person with emotions and feelings. PCC is considered present within clinical care according to a definition articulated by the Centre for Person Centred Care at the University of Gothenburg (GPCC) when three core components are present: elicitation of a detailed patient narrative; formulated partnership between caregiver and patient and documentation of the partnership in the patient record. Accordingly, when there is an illness requiring care and the person is attended using these components, PCC is being applied. In most situations today, PCC is not applied as the narrative is not fully elicited or the partnership and/or the documentation are not included. It is proposed that the challenge to Society arising from changing demographics can be addressed by implementing PCC and creating an alternative to existing healthcare. The importance and benefits of such an approach on a wider scale is not yet clear as research has been limited to date. Studies in selected patient populations (heart failure and hip fractures), however, have shown promising results. As the population ages, there will be a dramatic increase in healthcare consumption. Even with technological developments, there will be a need for tremendous resources to be dedicated to care. A new organization and attitude from healthcare policymakers and providers above and beyond the present model appears required in order to respond to this demand. As part of such change, person-centred care, with the interaction between healthcare providers and the person of the patient, can facilitate, compensate and develop more effective healthcare services for the future.
|
|
| 6. |
- Elmqvist, Carina, 1964-, et al.
(author)
-
Benefits of a slideshow with nature pictures and music in the emergency department waiting room : a pilot study
- 2019
-
In: European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare. - : University of Buckingham Press. - 2052-5648 .- 2052-5656. ; 7:2, s. 344-350
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: It is well recognized that long waiting times at Emergency Departments (ED) influence patient satisfaction rates. Evidence suggests that changes in the design of healthcare environments can improve patient care when these changes include the provision of nature and music elements in different ways.Aim: To explore how patients, relatives and staff perceive a slideshow with nature pictures and music in the emergency department waiting room.Method: A descriptive survey design including a slideshow with nature pictures and music shown in the waiting room. Questionnaires were distributed to patients and relatives (n=94) as well as to the staff (n=76), analysed with descriptive statistics and content analysis.Results: A majority (67%) of the participants thought that the slideshow contributed to a positive environment in the waiting room. Content analysis of 254 comments demonstrated it to be experienced as relaxing and calming. There is, however, room for improvement regarding quality, length and variation of the slideshow.Conclusion: An organized wait time with different alternative activities including nature elements and music in the waiting environment may have positive impacts. The challenge lies in creating a supportive design, which supports the three separate groups and their needs for control in terms of freedom of choice and variation.
|
|
| 7. |
- Elmqvist, Carina
(author)
-
Inhabiting the interspaces within emergency care
- 2016
-
In: European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare. - : The University of Buckingham Press Ltd. - 2052-5648 .- 2052-5656. ; 4:1, s. 196-207
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: To describe and develop an understanding of the patient’s first encounter with different professionals at the scene of an accident and at the emergency department (ED), with a special focus on describing the meaning of emergency care of patients in these care contexts.Design and Methods: The study, having a descriptive design, was carried out with a reflective lifeworld (RLR) approach founded on phenomenological philosophyResults: The general structure revealed that emergency care is characterized by a hand-over of responsibility, which is characterized by life-saving medical actions and constitutes a doing. Those life-saving actions need a conscious presence, which at the same time means an existential support for the patient that is constituted by a being. The responsibility then intertwines the doing and the being and all persons involved are brought together into a mutual space. When the patient’s condition allows for increased physical distance from the professionals, a gap or an interspace in the intertwining between doing and being arises as well as an interspace in the patient's understanding of the encounter. For the patient and next-of-kin, this interspace means an empty space with paradoxical feelings of being interesting and at the same time uninteresting - a paradox of care. For the professionals, this interspace provides a needed breathing space, but also feelings of being split between the high demands of efficiency and the patient's need for existential support and a meaningful encounter - an ethical dilemma.Discussion: Knowledge of the temporal meaning ofthe encounter, to be here andnow,can give professionals an opportunityto fillthe interspacedespite increasingphysical distance as patient health improves. Furthermore, it will also give professionals an opportunity toreflect on howthe available timeis used.
|
|
| 8. |
- Gaab, Jens, et al.
(author)
-
The good treatment : a biopsychosocioethical proposition
- 2020
-
In: European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare. - : University of Buckingham Press. - 2052-5648 .- 2052-5656. ; 8:2, s. 201-206
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- While there is undisputedly a great need to establish, maintain, evaluate, provide and disseminate good treatments, the consensus as to what constitutes a good treatment is far less established. Here, we deconstruct the phrase into its components, seeking to describe definitory elements of both what is to be considered a treatment and how this could be good. Thereby, we identify deliberateness in the context of an adequately empathic and humane relationship as being at the core of a good treatment. Thus, care becomes treatment when provided deliberately and treatment becomes good, when provided deliberately with care. Since this understanding encompasses biological, psychological and social treatment constituents in the context of ethical considerations, we propose a ‘biopsychosocioethical’ model for treatment as a conceptual frame, which is centred on a shared understanding of what should be achieved by the treatment and how this is achieved.
|
|
| 9. |
- Gesar, Berit, et al.
(author)
-
Patient-reported outcomes at acute hospital stay and four months after hip fracture surgery. A register and questionnaire study
- 2018
-
In: European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare. - : University of Buckingham Press. - 2052-5648 .- 2052-5656. ; 6:1, s. 119-127
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: The large and increasing number of hip fracture patients, in combination with the large impact that this is having on daily living activities, is emphasizing the importance of identifying factors that have a detrimental impact on post-operative outcomes. There are benefits to planning the ward in a way that prevents a steep decline in recovery after hip fracture surgery. Adding the patient`s perspective into the healthcare assessment, via shared healthcare decision-making, allows the patient’s needs and preferences to be taken fully into account. The aim of this study was to identify factors that predict how patients recover after hip fracture surgery.Methods: A descriptive quality register/questionnaire study in acute orthopaedic wards, 2 to 5 days after surgery, with a follow-up 4 months later. The patients included were ≥65 years of age and had been previously healthy and living independently before the hip fracture.Results: The participants in this study had returned to their own homes after 4 months, but only 21% reported themselves as being fully or almost fully recovered. In several domains of recovery, all 3 age groups (65-74, 75-84 and 85-97) reported different challenges both during their acute hospital stay and at the 4 months follow-up. The recovery phase is heterogeneous and requires individual care. The way that this is planned has an influence on patient outcome.Conclusion: Patients sustaining a hip fracture are heterogeneous and different age groups experience different challenges. At 4 months follow-up, one fifth of the participants reported themselves fully or almost fully recovered and most of them had returned to their own homes. The Swedish National Hip Fracture Register and the patient-reported questionnaires employed in this study are appropriate tools to audit further development of healthcare to improve quality of life after hip fracture surgery.
|
|
| 10. |
- Hörberg, Niklas, et al.
(author)
-
The Swedish version of the Sheehan Disability Scale : a valid and brief measure of functioning
- 2016
-
In: European Journal of Person Centered Healthcare. - : University of Buckingham Press. - 2052-5656 .- 2052-5648. ; 4:1, s. 1-7
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rationale, aims and objective: The Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) is a brief instrument used to measure functional disability, but the Swedish translation has not been psychometrically evaluated. The aim of this paper is to test the psychometric properties of the Swedish translation and to further examine concurrent and external validity.Method: In this cross-sectional study, 160 young psychiatric patients from an open care unit in Sweden, were recruited based on a clinical diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Bipolar Disorder (BD) and/or Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and re-diagnosed for confirmation. Participants were interviewed concerning socio-demographic data and a socio-demographic index (SDI) was constructed. Reliability of SDS was measured as internal consistency and an exploratory factor analysis was performed. Level of functioning was measured by SDS scores and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). SDS, both self-assessed and expert rated and GAF scores were compared to measure concurrent validity, while SDS and the SDI were compared to measure external validity.Results: The Swedish SDS had a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.77. An exploratory factor analysis showed that the SDS-items loaded on a single factor with an eigenvalue of 2.06. Self-assessed SDS-scores correlated with expert rated GAF-scores (r = -0.606) and, to some extent, with SDI scores (r = 0.280). Patients with an SDI score ≥ 1 had higher SDS-scores (t=2.70, p=0.008).Conclusions: The Swedish SDS has similar psychometric properties as the English and Spanish versions. It showed both concurrent and external validity, but external validity was weaker
|
|
| 11. |
- Muntlin, Åsa, Docent, 1971-, et al.
(author)
-
Teamwork – a way to improve patient perceptions of the quality of care in an emergency department : an intervention study with follow-up
- 2016
-
In: European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare. - : University of Buckingham Press. - 2052-5648 .- 2052-5656. ; 4:3, s. 509-519
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rationale, aims and objectives: Targeted interventions are suggested for improving patient perceptions of the emergency care they have received. However, organizational changes are another way of addressing these issues. Structured evaluation of such changes is warranted. The overall aim was to investigate how organizational changes aimed to support multi-professional teamwork in the emergency department (ED) could affect patients’ perceptions of the quality of care.Method: The introduction of multi-professional teamwork in an emergency department at a Swedish university hospital was evaluated using an intervention study design. Weeks with standard procedure were interchanged with and compared to, intervention weeks over a 4-week period and follow-up after 1.5 years. In total, 203 patients completed the questionnaire “Quality from the Patient’s Perspective (QPP)”. Results: Of 4 dimensions, 3 (medical-technical, identity-oriented approach and socio-cultural atmosphere) showed increasing improvements from the control phase to follow-up. Seven of 22 items concerning quality of care in the emergency department improved significantly from baseline to intervention and to follow-up. The number of areas in need of improvement was dramatically reduced in the intervention phase compared to the control phase and overall the results were sustained 1.5 years later. Significant differences between the study phases in patient perceptions of waiting time were also noted.Conclusion: Multi-professional teamwork has previously been related to improved patient safety and lead time efficiency. Findings show that it may also be related to improvements in patients’ perceptions of quality of care in the emergency department. Emphasizing this relationship may enhance the patient-centered care approach of emergency departments.
|
|
| 12. |
- Nilsson, Åsa, et al.
(author)
-
Meanings of participation in hospital care : as narrated by patients
- 2018
-
In: European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare. - : The University of Buckingham Press Ltd. - 2052-5648 .- 2052-5656. ; 6:3, s. 431-437
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Patient participation is said to be an important factor for patients to experience satisfaction and quality with hospital care. Still, little is known about what participation actually means for patients in the specific context of hospital settings. Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate meanings of participation as narrated by patients.Method: Narrative interviews were conducted during the Autumn of 2013 until the Spring of 2014 and then phenomenological hermeneutically interpreted. In this study, we suggest that the phenomenon of participation in hospital care is experienced by the patient when being a co-creator and seen as an important person in a trustful context.Results: The results illustrate that an experience of an open, cooperative and coherent environment invites and contributes to participate despite being in a vulnerable situation. The study highlights the importance of responding to each patient as a person, who sometimes has a need to participate actively and sometimes wants to hand over and assume the role of patient in the hospital care setting.Discussion: Meanings of participation among patients in hospital care can be understood as a phenomenon experienced when being an involved co-creator and seen as an important person in a trustful context. In this study, as well as in previous research it is obvious that participation in hospital care concerns more than being involved in decision-making and receiving information.
|
|
| 13. |
- Norberg Boysen, Gabriella, 1966-, et al.
(author)
-
Use of the Medical emergency services by patients with suspected acte primary healthcare problems : Developing av questionnaire measure patient trust in healthcare
- 2016
-
In: European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare. - : University of Buckingham Press. - 2052-5648 .- 2052-5656. ; 4:3, s. 444-452
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rationale aims and objectives: The objective of this study was to develop a questionnaire measuring the level of trust and its constituents in patients calling the Emergency Medicak Services (EMS) for suspected acute primary healthcare problems. The questionnaire is called the Patient Trust Questionnaire (PTQ). The following frontline service providers were involved: 1) The Dispatch Centre, 2) the Emergency Medical Services and 3) the recieving unit (the Emergency Department/Healthcare Centre)Method: Cross-sectional data were collected repeately and redundant items were discarded using a step-by-step approach. Based on litterature review, the PTQ was developed in line with the folowing 4-step procedure: 1) item construction, 2) a face-to-face evaluation of separate items, 3) an emerical pre-evaluation targeting each separate frontline service provider and 4) an emperical full-scale evaluation. The inclusion criteria for participating were that the patient must be 18 years of age or older and suspected having a suspected acute primary care problem when calling the EMS. In the finale full-scale evaluation of the questionnaire, 427 patients were included.Results: A set of 8 items with good phsycometric properties remained through the developing procedure. Two constituents of trust emerged (labelled credibility and accessibility), witch were robust across all fronline service providers.Conclusion: A new measuring instrument has been developed for this particular healthcare chain, for patients with suspected acute primary care problem calling the EMS. Althought not yet validated, the PTQ is a potentially usefull tool in future healthcare research with reference to the concept of patient trust.
|
|
| 14. |
- Petersson, Christina, et al.
(author)
-
To promote child involvement – healthcare professionals' use of a health-related quality of life assessment tool during paediatric encounters
- 2017
-
In: European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare. - : University of Buckingham Press. - 2052-5648 .- 2052-5656. ; 5:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Children and healthcare professionals should be provided with easy-to-use tools which could lead to actionable results.Objectives: There is increasing interest in the use of patient reported outcomes to aid management of individual care; therefore, the use of health-related qualityof life (HRQOL) assessments during consultations need to be studied. The aim of this study was to explore how healthcare professionals use a HRQOL assessment tool during paediatric encounters.Design: A descriptive, explorative design with a qualitative approach based on video recordings was chosen.Methods: Twenty-one video recordings, from nine different healthcare professionals’ consultations where an assessment tool of HRQOL were used were analysed by content analysis.Results: The healthcare professionals were using different strategies and when they combined these strategies three approaches emerged. The instructing approach was characterized by healthcare professionals giving a summary of the results, leading to children becoming passive bystanders in the encounter. Based on an inviting approach, the children’s perceptions of their situation were requested while the items were explored. This resulted in involving the children in the conversations. In the engaging approach, an open dialogue and a common interpretation were sought to guide further care which was interpreted as children becoming actively involved.Conclusions: The child’s involvement could be facilitated depending on which approach is being used. When an inviting and engaging approach is used, actions in a non-linear set of interactions is co-produced with the child.Relevance to practice: The use of an HRQOL assessment tool change the management during consultations and could promote child involvement dependent on which approach the healthcare professionals are using.
|
|
| 15. |
- Semark, Birgitta, 1956-, et al.
(author)
-
Participation in decision making when starting long-term medication : patients´ experiences
- 2014
-
In: European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare. - 2052-5648 .- 2052-5656. ; 2:3, s. 282-289
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rationale, aim and objectiveTo achieve the beneficial effect of drug treatment and reduce unnecessary health care costs, patients must be involved in shared decision making. The aim of this study was to describe patient experiences of participation in decision making when starting long-term medication.MethodNine patients at two health care centers were semi-structured interviewed about their experiences, beliefs and feelings about their participation in the decision to start long-term medication. Data was analyzed by a qualitative content method. Results Respondents stated that participating in decision making in drug treatment requires knowledge of the relevant area and requiring trusting the physician. The respondent’s responsibility and motivation facilitate adherence to drug treatment. ConclusionPatients sought participation in the decision making of long-term medication and wished for adequate time needed for this dialogue. If they lacked sufficient knowledge, they wanted relevant and useful information from the physician. To experience trust in the physician through a good encounter increases the possibility for participation and enhancement of medication adherence. In order to participate in decision making, the patient needs the physician’s encouragement.
|
|
| 16. |
- Sparud-Lundin, Carina, 1964-, et al.
(author)
-
Use of participatory design in the development of person-centred web-based support for persons with long-term illness
- 2013
-
In: European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare. - Buckingham, UK : University of Buckingham Press. - 2052-5648 .- 2052-5656. ; 1:2, s. 369-380
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: E-health solutions are increasingly being developed to meet patients’ preferences and promote their participation in healthcare. Few studies have explored the participatory design process from the perspective of person-centeredness, including how it becomes materialized in technology. This paper explores how applied participatory approaches and the design of 4 web-based interventions directed towards long-term illness correspond to key areas of person-centeredness. Methods: Data were collected during 2009 to 2012, from 4 Swedish research projects. The analysis followed an inductive approach involving a step-wise cross-case analysis. The purpose was to create shared knowledge and understanding of each separate case and to generate relevant categories.Results: A number of question areas describe the dialogue with the case participants. Results of the dialogue are categorized into 4 support areas: psychological/emotional, personal, information and technical. Person-centeredness becomes visible in the participatory design process as the approach promotes the development of a holistic view of the person and the illness and a partnership between patients and carers. The use of communication technology exemplifies concrete materialization of person-centeredness in the design of the web-based supports. The purpose of the web supports and the shaping of the actual use of the functionalities are more abstract forms of materialization.Conclusions: Our results contribute to a central development area within eHealth involving increased opportunities for patients to contribute actively in real time, obtaining access to information and sometimes interacting with carers. However, neither participatory approaches nor technology for online information and communication, can guarantee person-centeredness in isolation.
|
|
| 17. |
- Nemes, Szilard, 1977, et al.
(author)
-
Summary statistics for patient-reported outcome measures: the improvement ratio
- 2015
-
In: European journal for person centered healthcare. - 2052-5656. ; 3:3
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rationale, aims and objective: Patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) can facilitate objective comparisons of alternative treatments and can aid clinicians, researchers, decision-makers and members of the general public in gauging different healthcare providers’ performance. However, this assumes an easy to use and understand summary measure. Methods: Using PROMs (EQ-5D index, EQ VAS and VAS Pain) from 1799 patients in 7 Swedish hospitals with at least 200 hip arthroplasty surgeries in 2009, we illustrated the possibility of summarizing pre- and post-treatment PROM values with the help of a simple index. This index expressed the attained improvement as a percentage of the total possible improvement. Change score, Cohen’s effect size and Standardized Response Means served as alternative measures. Results: The Improvement Ratio index proved capable of offering a vivid and easy to understand summary of healthcare providers’ performance. The alternative measures indicated similar patterns as the Improvement Index. The routines of statistical inference made possible null-hypothesis testing of the improvement in different groups or testing for trends. Conclusions: This simple improvement index gives an easy to understand summary measure that appeals not only to researchers, but also to laymen for consulting healthcare provider comparisons or countrywide white papers. We recommend using the Improvement Ratio index to summarize the PROMs outcome of elective surgeries.
|
|
| 18. |
|
|
