Behavior change outcomes in an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition education within an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program. DESIGN: Subjects were assigned, according to participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs in two community hospitals within an integrated healthcare system, to either a treatment (n=54), or a control group (n=50). SUBJECTS/SETTING: One hundred four men and women, age range 35 to 85 years, participating in a 6-week cardiac rehabilitation program. Most were men (80%) and overweight. The majority presented with the diagnosis of myocardial infarction followed by coronary artery bypass surgery or percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography procedure. INTERVENTION: Subjects in the control group received usual nonindividualized nutrition education from cardiac rehabilitation therapists. Subjects in the treatment group attended two group nutrition education classes and one individual diet counseling session, all led by the same dietitian. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and carbohydrate intake, and restaurant eating habits as assessed by the Diet Habit Survey; changes in cardiac diet self-efficacy; and changes in health-related quality of life. Statistical analyses performed Group-by-time analysis of variance with repeated measures, chi2 test. RESULTS: The treatment group had greater improvement in Restaurant and Recipes scores on the Diet Habit Survey (2.6 vs 1.0) and a greater cardiac diet self-efficacy mean score (4.3) compared with the control group (3.8), with the greatest change in items related to eating in restaurants, away from home, or when alone. From entry into the program to discharge, the cholesterol-saturated fat index decreased significantly in the control group (from 57 to 48), and in the treatment group (from 51 to 42). The percent of energy from carbohydrate increased significantly in the control group (from 51% to 55%) and in the treatment group (from 53% to 57%). There were no differences between groups over the 3 time periods (baseline, 6 weeks, and 3-month follow-up) (n=39 for control group and n=47 for treatment group for all 3 time periods). APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition education within an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program can improve dietary choices at restaurants and boost self confidence in the ability to adhere to a lipid-lowering diet.     

Marketing the professional services of the dietitian.

Professionals are beginning to realize that a good service does not necessarily sell itself and that active strategic marketing is often needed. It is no longer sufficient for a dietitian to be up-to-date and provide high quality services; cost effectiveness of sound nutrition must be demonstrated and the services of the dietitian aggressively marketed. A strategic market plan based on an assessment of opportunities and capabilities should be developed and continuously adjusted. This article discusses the steps in strategic market planning with practical examples for the dietitian. Dietitians should examine the marketing strategies being implemented by other professional groups since many can be adapted to marketing nutrition services. There exists much opportunity and unprecedented challenges for all dietitians, calling for creativity, innovation, and professionalism.     

Receipt of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation among heart attack survivors--United States, 2005

Each year, approximately 865,000 persons in the United States have a myocardial infarction (i.e., heart attack). In 2007, direct and indirect costs of heart disease were estimated at approximately $277.1 billion. Cardiac rehabilitation, an essential component of recovery care after a heart attack, focuses on cardiovascular risk reduction, promoting healthy behaviors, reducing death and disability, and promoting an active lifestyle for heart attack survivors. Current guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation emphasize the importance of cardiac rehabilitation, which reduces morbidity and mortality, improves clinical outcomes, enhances psychological recovery, and decreases the risk for secondary cardiac events. To estimate the prevalence of receipt of outpatient cardiac rehabilitation among heart attack survivors in 21 states and the District of Columbia (DC), data from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were assessed. The results of that assessment indicated that 34.7% of BRFSS respondents who had experienced a heart attack participated in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation for eligible patients after a heart attack is an essential component of care that should be incorporated into treatment plans. Increasing the number of persons who participate in cardiac rehabilitation services also can reduce health-care costs for recurrent events and reduce the burden on families and caregivers of patients with serious sequelae.     

Conceptualizing services research on outpatient commitment

Issues affecting the research of outcomes of involuntary outpatient commitment (OC) of persons with serious mental illness are explored. These issues include the reliance on hospital recidivism as a primary measure of outcome, the role of family members and coercion in the process of outpatient commitment, and the conceptualization and design of studies. A conceptual framework that attempts to incorporate responses to these issues is proposed. Continued research on OC should build on conceptual models that include family, role and burden, services delivered, an accounting for varied coercive mechanisms, and client-level outcomes. Rehospitalization should be conceptualized as an intermediate variable between OC and client-level outcomes rather than as an ultimate outcome.     

Factors affecting the uptake of cardiac rehabilitation services in a rural locality

INTRODUCTION: A number of studies have investigated factors affecting uptake of cardiac rehabilitation services. However, little information on factors affecting uptake of services in rural localities is available. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. METHODS: A survey of patients eligible for cardiac rehabilitation was undertaken to investigate uptake of services. The effects of individual and geographic factors on service utilization were explored. RESULTS: Utilization rates for cardiac rehabilitation services within the South Staffordshire locality are low, with 59.3% of eligible patients invited to attend cardiac rehabilitation services following discharge from hospital, 38.6% attending and 22.5% completing the programme. Two factors were independently associated with low service utilization. Patients under the age of 65 years are 1.90 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.01-3.65] times more likely to complete rehabilitation than patients aged over 65 years, and women are only 0.48 (95% CI 0.22-1.03) times as likely as men to complete rehabilitation. The major reported barrier to utilization of services was access. This included problems with public transport, parking and the time and location of classes. Access and medical problems were significantly higher in older people and may have contributed to their low overall completion rate. Electoral ward deprivation, geographical access score, living in an urban or rural electoral ward, electoral ward of residence and provider were not significantly associated with service utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, utilization rates were low. No geographical factors were associated with uptake of services, although the possible effect may have been mediated by the relative affluence of the locality. Two individual factors, age and sex, were most likely to influence uptake.     

Implementation of dietitian recommendations for enteral nutrition results in improved outcomes

A primary role of the registered dietitian (RD) is to assess nutritional needs of patients in states of physiological stress and illness and to recommend changes to diet and tube feedings when warranted. However, implementation of changes is dependent upon the physician accepting the recommendations of the RD. This study evaluated outcomes of two groups of enterally fed patients in a long-term acute-care facility in northwest Louisiana: (a) those for whom the physician accepted RD recommendations; and (b) those for whom the physician did not accept RD recommendations. Data showed that physician-prescribed enteral formulas provided 10.0% less kilocalories and 7.8% less protein than the RD-assessed needs. t tests showed that when RD recommendations were implemented, patients had a significantly shorter length of stay (28.5+/-1.8 vs 30.5+/-4.8 days, P<0.05), as well as significantly improved albumin (0.13+/-0.17 vs -0.44+/-0.21 g/dL [1.3+/-1.7 vs -4.4+/-2.1 g/L], P<0.05) and weight gains (0.51+/-0.1 vs -0.42+/-0.2%, P<0.05) when compared to those who continued with physician's orders. These data suggest that if RDs had the authority to write nutrition orders and provide early nutrition intervention, patient care would improve.     

Geriatric nutrition assessment: comparison of a screening tool to a dietitian assessment

A priority in nutrition care is early identification of patients at risk of developing nutrition disorders. Simple identification measures such as nutrition screening on admission must be demonstrated to be as effective as the more lengthy traditional nutrition assessment. This study compares a nutrition screen to a clinical assessment in a geriatric setting. Seventy-two consecutive admissions to a geriatric assessment unit were both screened and individually assessed by different staff dietitians. Results of the assessment and the screen corresponded in classifying those at nutrition risk 92% of the time and those not at nutrition risk 77% of the time. The screen was found to be highly sensitive (88%) and specific (83%). A geriatric nutrition screen that has a high degree of agreement with a lengthier assessment may be a useful tool for the clinical practitioner in early identification of patients at nutritional risk.     

The role of the general practitioner and the dietitian in patient nutrition management

There is mounting evidence that nutrition plays an important role in the aetiology and management of many diseases affecting Australians. Nutrition counselling provides a strategy for not only reducing patient suffering, but also for reducing the health care costs associated with these illnesses. At the forefront of providing nutrition counselling to Australians are General Practitioners (GPs) and Dietitians. Australian data shows that GPs encounter many patients with the chronic diseases that have nutrition in their aetiology and management. Although this presents opportunities to provide nutrition counselling, overseas literature suggests that often nutrition counselling opportunities are not taken up. At present, there is little evidence to support whether this problem exists in Australia, or the magnitude of the problem. Whilst evidence suggests there are barriers for GPs in providing nutrition counselling, there is conflicting evidence on how these influence the GP's decision to provide such counselling. Overseas studies have also identified barriers for GPs to refer to dietitians to provide nutrition counselling, however there is no evidence to identify whether these barriers exist in Australia. Whilst various strategies have been implemented to aid in the provision of effective nutrition management to the Australian public, there is little evidence on the efficacy of these. Research is needed in the above areas if effective patient nutrition management is to be implemented in Australia.     

优化预约诊疗服务提升门诊服务质量

目的：进一步落实改善医疗服务行动计划,探索实施分时段预约诊疗,改善患者就诊感受,促进患者有序就诊。方法：分析预约诊疗存在问题,依托信息技术,规范预约流程,拓展预约方式,预约诊疗全过程精细化、科学化管理。结果：2019年医生按时出诊率提升至99.8%,患者平均等待时间缩短至22分钟,门诊患者满意度提升至98.4%。结论：提高患者预约诊疗的依从性,可有效改善医院诊疗秩序,提升门诊服务质量,提高医疗资源使用效率,使医院的服务、管理、效益、声誉进入良性循环,达到医患双赢。