Impact and feasibility of a tailor-made patient communication quality improvement programme for hospital-based physiotherapists: a mixed-methods study

Background In tailoring a quality improvement programme for hospital-based physiotherapy, the original use of video recordings was replaced by using the tracer methodology.Objective To examine the impact of a tailor-made quality improvement programme addressing patient communication on the professio...

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Main Authors: Thomas J Hoogeboom, Rudi A Steenbruggen, Marjo Maas, Paul Brand, Philip van der Wees, Linda AG van Heusden-Scholtalbers
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2021-05-01
Series:BMJ Open Quality
Online Access:https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/10/2/e001286.full
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author Thomas J Hoogeboom
Rudi A Steenbruggen
Marjo Maas
Paul Brand
Philip van der Wees
Linda AG van Heusden-Scholtalbers
author_facet Thomas J Hoogeboom
Rudi A Steenbruggen
Marjo Maas
Paul Brand
Philip van der Wees
Linda AG van Heusden-Scholtalbers
author_sort Thomas J Hoogeboom
collection DOAJ
description Background In tailoring a quality improvement programme for hospital-based physiotherapy, the original use of video recordings was replaced by using the tracer methodology.Objective To examine the impact of a tailor-made quality improvement programme addressing patient communication on the professional development of hospital-based physiotherapists, and to evaluate barriers and facilitators as determinants of feasibility of the programme.Methods A mixed-methods study was conducted. Participants were clustered in groups per hospital and linked with an equally sized group in a nearby hospital. Within the groups, fixed couples carried out a 2-hour tracer by directly observing each other’s daily work routine. This procedure was repeated 6 months later. Data from feedback forms were analysed quantitatively, and a thematic analysis of transcripts from group interviews was conducted.Results Fifty hospital-based physiotherapists from 16 hospitals participated. They rated the impact of the programme on professional development, on a scale from 1 (much improvement needed) to 5 (no improvement needed), as 3.99 (SD 0.64) after the first tracer and 4.32 (SD 0.63) 6 months later; a mean improvement of 0.33 (95% CI 0.16 to 0.50). Participants scored, on a scale ranging from 1 to 5 on barriers and facilitators (feasibility), a mean of 3.45 (SD 0.95) on determinants of innovation, 3.47 (SD 0.86) on probability to use and 2.63 (SD 1.07) on the user feedback list. All participants emphasised the added value of the tracer methodology and mentioned effects on self-reflection and awareness most.Conclusions The tailor-made quality improvement programme, based on principles of the tracer methodology, was associated with a significant impact on professional development. Barriers and facilitators as determinants of feasibility of the programme showed the programme being feasible.
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spelling doaj-art-ba4ece45743f41ccad0892e39ab740e82025-08-20T02:10:53ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Quality2399-66412021-05-0110210.1136/bmjoq-2020-001286Impact and feasibility of a tailor-made patient communication quality improvement programme for hospital-based physiotherapists: a mixed-methods studyThomas J Hoogeboom0Rudi A Steenbruggen1Marjo Maas2Paul Brand3Philip van der Wees4Linda AG van Heusden-Scholtalbers5IQ Healthcare, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The NetherlandsIQ Healthcare, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The NetherlandsIQ Healthcare, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The NetherlandsMedical Education, Isala Hospitals, Zwolle, The NetherlandsIQ Healthcare, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The NetherlandsRehabilitation, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The NetherlandsBackground In tailoring a quality improvement programme for hospital-based physiotherapy, the original use of video recordings was replaced by using the tracer methodology.Objective To examine the impact of a tailor-made quality improvement programme addressing patient communication on the professional development of hospital-based physiotherapists, and to evaluate barriers and facilitators as determinants of feasibility of the programme.Methods A mixed-methods study was conducted. Participants were clustered in groups per hospital and linked with an equally sized group in a nearby hospital. Within the groups, fixed couples carried out a 2-hour tracer by directly observing each other’s daily work routine. This procedure was repeated 6 months later. Data from feedback forms were analysed quantitatively, and a thematic analysis of transcripts from group interviews was conducted.Results Fifty hospital-based physiotherapists from 16 hospitals participated. They rated the impact of the programme on professional development, on a scale from 1 (much improvement needed) to 5 (no improvement needed), as 3.99 (SD 0.64) after the first tracer and 4.32 (SD 0.63) 6 months later; a mean improvement of 0.33 (95% CI 0.16 to 0.50). Participants scored, on a scale ranging from 1 to 5 on barriers and facilitators (feasibility), a mean of 3.45 (SD 0.95) on determinants of innovation, 3.47 (SD 0.86) on probability to use and 2.63 (SD 1.07) on the user feedback list. All participants emphasised the added value of the tracer methodology and mentioned effects on self-reflection and awareness most.Conclusions The tailor-made quality improvement programme, based on principles of the tracer methodology, was associated with a significant impact on professional development. Barriers and facilitators as determinants of feasibility of the programme showed the programme being feasible.https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/10/2/e001286.full
spellingShingle Thomas J Hoogeboom
Rudi A Steenbruggen
Marjo Maas
Paul Brand
Philip van der Wees
Linda AG van Heusden-Scholtalbers
Impact and feasibility of a tailor-made patient communication quality improvement programme for hospital-based physiotherapists: a mixed-methods study
BMJ Open Quality
title Impact and feasibility of a tailor-made patient communication quality improvement programme for hospital-based physiotherapists: a mixed-methods study
title_full Impact and feasibility of a tailor-made patient communication quality improvement programme for hospital-based physiotherapists: a mixed-methods study
title_fullStr Impact and feasibility of a tailor-made patient communication quality improvement programme for hospital-based physiotherapists: a mixed-methods study
title_full_unstemmed Impact and feasibility of a tailor-made patient communication quality improvement programme for hospital-based physiotherapists: a mixed-methods study
title_short Impact and feasibility of a tailor-made patient communication quality improvement programme for hospital-based physiotherapists: a mixed-methods study
title_sort impact and feasibility of a tailor made patient communication quality improvement programme for hospital based physiotherapists a mixed methods study
url https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/10/2/e001286.full
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