Debbie Baldie

Successful Grants 2005-2009

1. Exploring patients' views of self managing community acquired pneumonia at home

2. What scope is there to improve the use of patient experience feedback data in primary care?

Investigators

Institutions

Funding

Body

1.  Exploring patients' views of self managing community acquired pneumonia at home

This study aimed to explore the experiences of patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and to identify any information and support needs they might have.  A total of 15 patients were recruited from assessment units and accident and emergency departments in Ninewells Hospital and Perth Royal Infirmary.  Semi-structured interviews were carried out with all 15 patients between one-three weeks following discharge from hospital.

Findings:

• Patients with CAP need a clear description of their illness, its implications and its treatment and specific advice on how they can manage symptoms and re-build their normal level of well-being.

• Opportunities to discuss these issues need to be available throughout their period of illness.

• Extending the provision of home care will depend on ensuring patients receive oral antibiotics as their first line of treatment; are presented with the option of returning home; are well informed of their risk of deterioration in the first few days and advised what to do if this happens.

• Patients who choose home care may also need assistance from family or social/health care services with personal care and domestic chores.

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Debbie Baldie

Vikki Entwistle

Peter Davey

SDHI

NHS Tayside

NHS Tayside Acute Division

2.  What scope is there to improve the use of patient experience feedback data in primary care?

Patients' experiences of care are important, but are not always as good as they could be.  This project aims to investigate how practitioners and managers respond to and use the feedback they receive from patients about their experiences of care.  The researcher will 1) undertake a literature review of ways in which patient experience is used to inform practice, 2) conduct a survey to identify the extent to which primary care teams are engaged in using patients' feedback and 3) investigate 3 different primary care teams in some depth to find out how they use such data to improve service quality.

This study will inform policy makers', managers' and staff efforts to develop effective ways of using patient feedback to improve patients' experiences of care.

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Debbie Baldie

Vikki Entwistle

Brian Williams

SDHI

CSO