International journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care
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Int J Qual Health Care · Apr 2005
Theory-based identification of barriers to quality improvement: induced abortion care.
The UK Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists published the clinical guideline, The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion, to address recognized variations in care. There is little empirical evidence on factors that influence compliance with the guideline. A better understanding of such factors is needed for quality improvement initiatives. ⋯ Clinical staff were highly motivated to implement the guideline but hindered by organizational constraints. Quality improvement initiatives need to target organizational barriers as well as individual professionals.
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Int J Qual Health Care · Apr 2005
Waiting for orthopaedic surgery: factors associated with waiting times and patients' opinion.
To assess waiting times for three groups of orthopaedic patients in Sweden and to identify factors explaining variations in waiting time. Also examined were factors associated with patients' perceptions that waiting times were too long. ⋯ Hospital-related factors are more important than patient characteristics as explanations of variations in waiting times for orthopaedic surgery. Patients value short waiting times and the possibility of influencing the date of surgery.
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Int J Qual Health Care · Apr 2005
Undertreatment of acute pain in the emergency department: a challenge.
Evaluation and improvement of pain management in our emergency department (ED). ⋯ Inadequate pain management in the ED appears related to poor staff assessment of pain and may be improved by routine VAS recording and by a nurse-based pain protocol.
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Int J Qual Health Care · Apr 2005
Development of a set of strategy-based system-level cancer care performance indicators in Ontario, Canada.
To develop a set of scientifically sound and managerially useful system-level cancer care performance indicators for public reporting in Ontario, Canada. ⋯ The resulting instrument incorporates a credible evidence basis for performance measurement aligned to the five strategic goals for the Ontario cancer system. It represents the integrating of a management culture, focused on the implementation of a new strategic direction for the cancer system, with the underlying evidence-based culture of clinicians.