Health information can be extremely useful, empowering us to make important health decisions. However, health information also can be confusing and overwhelming. Given the wealth of information available through the Internet, journals and other sources, it's important to be able to assess its quality.
This can be difficult because health information is constantly changing as a result of new research and because there may be different valid approaches to treating particular conditions. Although there is no simple rule to determine the validity of online information, there are some useful guides that can be used to assess its credibility and accuracy. Ideally, information in a journal or on the Web should have an identifiable source or an author.
In considering the credibility of the source, ask yourself whether the particular source you are reading is likely to be fair, objective and lacking in hidden motives. Take care to examine the credentials of the source to determine whether the author or organization has the required expertise and training to provide the information. If the information is medical, credibility is generally enhanced if it is provided by a medical institution, an entity that brings together medically knowledgeable professionals, or a government health agency.
Knowing that a publication has undergone peer review by a panel of professionals in the field can add to the credibility of the information. If the publisher's or author's contact information is listed in the form of a mailing address or phone number, this also can add to the legitimacy of the information.
Continue reading. When assessing the accuracy, try to determine whether the information is supported by evidence from scientific studies, other data or expert opinion.
If you receive information from a medical journal, note the size and category of the study. Is the information based on a large or small sample? Read the article carefully to see if the authors discuss any limitations or weaknesses of the study.
The most reliable evidence comes from randomized controlled studies. Evaluation of Health Information on the Web. NotLate Not 2 Late. How do you evaluate health information you find on the Web? The Health on the Net Foundation grants th is certificate to health sites who comply with ethical and trustworthy practices And as a general rule of thumb when looking for health information, stick to reputable sites from educational instututions, government sources, and health related associations and societies.
Credibility Credibility involves consideration of information source, currency, relevancy and editorial review process. Source: The source of health information is one of the most important criteria to determine its quality and credibility.
Does the site display the authors name if relevant? Personal or financial connections that present a real or potential source of bias should be disclosed. Disclosure of sponsorship and motivation of information provider, i. Currency: The date of which the original information is based should be displayed. The date of posting on the web should also be displayed.
Relevance: Does the content of the site correspond to the information it claims to offer? Review process: Does the site have a "seal of approval" from an individual or group commonly perceived as credible? Sites should state if the information provided has been subject to review and if so describe the individuals and process involved. C Measures of health care Health care performance measures have already been described in 'Measures of supply and demand' and 'Study design for assessing effectiveness, efficiency and acceptability of services including measures of structure, process, service quality, and outcome of health care' in some detail.
They may include: Patient satisfaction and experience and patient reported outcome measures. There are many tried and tested patient surveys in existence to capture satisfaction and experience as used by the Care Quality Commission and Picker Institute in national performance monitoring. Quality of health care can also be measured in terms of process as well as outcomes such as the implementation of guidelines, latest evidence and criteria for treatment and referral.
In addition quality can be assessed by external organisations such as the Care Quality Commission through their monitoring and inspection processes and Monitor. Quantity or productivity of health care organisations throughput of patients, bed occupancy and waiting times are commonly used measures. Financial performance is now considered a key aspect of health care performance. References [6] World Health Organisation Report.
Quality of life: assessment, analysis and interpretation. Chichester: Wiley, Navigation The uses of epidemiology and other methods in defining health service needs and in policy development Participatory needs assessment Formulation and interpretation of measures of utilisation and performance Measures of supply and demand Study design for assessing effectiveness, efficiency and acceptability of services including measures of structure, process, service quality, and outcome of health care Measures of health status, quality of life and health care Population health outcome indicators Deprivation measures Principles of evaluation, including quality assessment and quality assurance Equity in health care Clinical audit Confidential enquiry processes The use of Delphi methods Economic evaluation Appropriateness and adequacy of services and their acceptability to consumers and providers Epidemiological basis for preventive strategies Health and environmental impact assessment Health Care Evaluation Frameworks.
Our most popular content Public Health Textbook. Those choices influence patient experiences. Prioritisation is very important. It means that you have to coordinate the daily care and decide which activities have priority. Patients sometimes have to wait for help. It shows immediately.
The restlessness affects the other patients. Respondent 18, nursing home focus group. Participants said that patients sometimes have to wait before they are taken care of, or that nurses are not immediately available to answer questions or deal with problems.
According to participants, it is important to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with professionals, including those in their own field. In the view of participants, collaborative working relationships exist when all the involved professionals interact and operate in a complementary manner, and show mutual respect that is based on knowledge and expertise. Participants stated that all professionals need to discuss and influence patient care on the basis of their own expertise.
Participants believe that problems will be solved sooner when ideas and thoughts are exchanged. In their view, it is about sharing information and communication. As stated by participants, communication and aligning with each other is needed so that no conflicting information is given and uniformity in care or treatment is provided.
This generates, according to the participants, composure and clarity towards patients. Participants believe that collaboration and communication affect how patients experience the quality and effectiveness of care. We have a patient who is very compulsive.
We made agreements about how to approach and handle this patient. We continually need to communicate with each other, physicians, psychologists, nurses. Clear communication is so important, and I miss that sometimes. When you have good relationships it is easier to review and discuss the treatment administered.
It will not only increase your knowledge, but also be helpful in the communication with the patient and his family. Respondent 5, mental health care focus group. Participants in all four focus groups stated that the scope of practice for which they are accountable influences patient experiences.
The scope of practice, according to them, means that nurses can control their own work related to patient care and can make independent decisions about patient outcomes based on clinical judgements.
Participants therefore believe it is essential to monitor and measure outcomes, as long as the monitoring is directly related to patient care. However, participants indicated that they did not have insight into care results obtained from assessments. We participate in an annual national prevalence survey. We have to fill out a lot of forms. We get a pile of papers, screen patients and register them.
And what does one measurement tell us? I do not believe that. Respondent 12, home care focus group. According to participants, there is no policy to improve patient experiences on the basis of the information derived from assessments. Participants could not indicate whether the interventions deployed are actually leading to desired nursing care results, including patient experiences. Participants feel they have insufficient autonomy to influence this process.
Participants stated that the number of nurses available influences how patients experience the quality of care. Although they could not indicate what number they consider sufficient, they think that a sufficient nurse staffing level is linked to team composition or staff mix.
For instance, participants indicated the proportion of registered nurses to student nurses, or the number of different nurse qualification levels in one team.
Participants stated that several tasks and assignments have been transferred to nurses with a lower qualification in order to work as efficiently as possible and to achieve higher productivity. As a result, participants believe that nursing care is, in general, increasingly developing in the direction of task-centred care in which different working methods are applied.
According to them, this affects patient experiences of the quality and effectiveness of nursing care. Nurses provide care within certain theoretical frameworks that are designed to increase the self-reliance and self-management of the patient. Nurse assistants have a more practical focus and take over patient care at a point when they should not. These two ways of working are confusing for patients. And we think 'How come the patient is made to feel so nervous?
Respondent 3, mental health care focus group. As stated by participants, a sufficient nurse staffing level determines whether patient wishes and needs are met. According to participants, an insufficient deployment of nursing staff has a direct negative impact on patient experience. I work alone in a group.
So I have to keep my eyes and ears open and must respond to what occurs. And that is not always easy. I constantly think: I must check if everything is all right.
I always leave the bathroom door partly open, so I can see and listen to what is going on in the living room. I provide patient care too hastily. My patients obviously feel that. Respondent 17, nursing home focus group.
The participants stated that control over nursing practice means that nurses are involved in nursing policy or nursing issues. In their view, nurses are not always in charge and cannot always make their own decisions about nursing issues.
Participants feel that this affects the quality of nursing care. In the past, I always made my own schedule. Efficient planning is more important than patient-centred planning. The patient should be scheduled later if it fits better in the planned route. Respondent 9, home care focus group. The participants stated that if nurses were more involved in the development of nursing policies, this would have a positive influence on patient care. According to them, they would be able to reflect upon and discuss nursing issues related to the quality of patient care, which would improve the quality of care.
Participants indicated that a manager should pay attention to the team spirit and unity. In their view, a manager must be able to handle conflicts, and also be visible and approachable. Participants said that they believe that a manager should ask the opinion of nurses; therefore, in their opinion, regular contact is important. A manager, according to the participants, must be able to create the right conditions and have the logistical ability to ensure continuity of care.
In their view, this means arranging sufficient personnel, replacement staff and succession planning. Participants find that managers critically examine the deployment of personnel. According to them, the nursing staff mix has drifted towards a model whereby higher-educated nurses are replaced with lower-educated ones. They noted that management is tied to a system that is dominated by controlling costs.
Thus in their view, nurses may want to provide a patient with a specific form of care, while management limits care to a maximum number of minutes based on budgetary considerations.
According to participants, nurses regularly experience a tension with management in shaping care that meets patient expectations. For instance, we plan 30 minutes for patient care. When a patient wants to go outside for a walk, this will cost him 10 minutes of this total time. So we really have to negotiate with the patient or his family. This leads, of course, to lots of misunderstandings. I understand that feeling.
Respondent 13, nursing home focus group. According to participants, the focus of nurses is the provision of patient-centred care. They define this as nursing care that is focussed on patient needs and preferences and is intended to increase patient self-management and encourage improved health and recovery. As participants stated, nurses are the first points of contact for patients.
They think that direct contact with patients is crucial to building and maintaining a relationship of trust. The participants believe that high quality nursing care is achieved when patients feel heard and understood, consider themselves to be in safe hands and know that their care problems have been noticed. This, according to the participants, results in positive patient experiences.
We listen to the patient and talk to him. We immerse ourselves in his background. What is important, how he copes and handles care problems. Based on this knowledge, we present the patient with a number of options so that he can decide upon a solution for his care problems.
Respondent 8, home care focus group. Participants stated that organisation policy is focused on the efficient and effective deployment of people and resources. They mentioned the transfer of tasks to less well qualified nurses in order to work as efficiently as possible and to achieve higher productivity. In their view, care is more and more standardised. At the same time, they noted that care has become increasingly complex. According to them, patients are generally older and have multiple age-related comorbidities.
The participants experience an increasing workload and work-associated pressure. In recent years, patient turnover has increased. It means that patients are discharged quicker. However, patients sometimes also have chronic disorders. I sometimes think it is irresponsible [to send these patients home so quickly]. Patients get less attention because the work pressure is high.
Respondent 22, hospital focus group. Participants reported an increasing administrative workload to account for the quality and costs of care. So many forms. Entering the data means a double administrative workload.
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