Patient and family perceptions of the provision of medicines as part of virtual outpatient consultations for children during COVID-19 pandemic
Objectives To evaluate (1) views and perceptions of patients/parents/carers and healthcare professionals on the medicines optimisation (MO) process following virtual outpatient clinic (VOC) during the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) the processes introduced at this time, identifying areas for improvements...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2022-10-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open Quality |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/11/4/e001916.full |
| _version_ | 1797786473133506560 |
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| author | Sukeshi Makhecha Sian Bentley Joanne Crook Nanna Christiansen Venessa Vas Linda Eftychiou Victoria Tsang |
| author_facet | Sukeshi Makhecha Sian Bentley Joanne Crook Nanna Christiansen Venessa Vas Linda Eftychiou Victoria Tsang |
| author_sort | Sukeshi Makhecha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives To evaluate (1) views and perceptions of patients/parents/carers and healthcare professionals on the medicines optimisation (MO) process following virtual outpatient clinic (VOC) during the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) the processes introduced at this time, identifying areas for improvements and suggest potential solutions.Design A mixed-methods service evaluation using qualitative and quantitative methods of the MO pathway in children aged 0–18 years following VOC across three specialist children’s units.Semi-structured interviews were conducted over the telephone with the participants exploring their experiences and categorised into themes.Process mapping sessions with the multidisciplinary team identified areas for improvement and an ease impact framework developed for potential solutions.Outcome measures included: (1) themes from interviews, (2) patients satisfaction rates, (3) process maps and (4) development of a simplified future process.Results One hundred and twenty-five patients’ families were contacted: 71 families consented to participate and their views were categorised into four main themes: (1) patient experience, (2) communication, (3) need for virtual video consultations for patient education by hospital pharmacists and (4) need for electronic processes to send prescriptions to local pharmacies.Median patient satisfaction rate was 96% (range 67%–100%). The convenience of receiving medications directly to patient’s homes; access to medicines information helplines and education provided by pharmacists were regarded as valuable. Communication between care providers, development of virtual video consultations by hospital pharmacists and electronic transfer of some prescriptions directly to community pharmacies were identified as areas of improvement.Conclusions Participants appreciated the pharmacy processes adopted during the pandemic, however, challenges and recommendations for improvement in delivering MO VOC were identified. As digital innovations evolve within the NHS, future research should focus on integrated care and improved communication between care providers with selected medications prescribed directly to community pharmacies using electronic prescription service, with clinical screening and education provided by hospital pharmacists. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:08:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0d1e173a01f34af68f5ac034d517a9b0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2399-6641 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:08:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open Quality |
| spelling | doaj.art-0d1e173a01f34af68f5ac034d517a9b02023-07-06T05:30:07ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Quality2399-66412022-10-0111410.1136/bmjoq-2022-001916Patient and family perceptions of the provision of medicines as part of virtual outpatient consultations for children during COVID-19 pandemicSukeshi Makhecha0Sian Bentley1Joanne Crook2Nanna Christiansen3Venessa Vas4Linda Eftychiou5Victoria Tsang61Royal Brompton Hospital1Royal Brompton HospitalKing`s College London, London, UKEvelina London Children’s Hospital2Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust2Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust1Royal Brompton HospitalObjectives To evaluate (1) views and perceptions of patients/parents/carers and healthcare professionals on the medicines optimisation (MO) process following virtual outpatient clinic (VOC) during the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) the processes introduced at this time, identifying areas for improvements and suggest potential solutions.Design A mixed-methods service evaluation using qualitative and quantitative methods of the MO pathway in children aged 0–18 years following VOC across three specialist children’s units.Semi-structured interviews were conducted over the telephone with the participants exploring their experiences and categorised into themes.Process mapping sessions with the multidisciplinary team identified areas for improvement and an ease impact framework developed for potential solutions.Outcome measures included: (1) themes from interviews, (2) patients satisfaction rates, (3) process maps and (4) development of a simplified future process.Results One hundred and twenty-five patients’ families were contacted: 71 families consented to participate and their views were categorised into four main themes: (1) patient experience, (2) communication, (3) need for virtual video consultations for patient education by hospital pharmacists and (4) need for electronic processes to send prescriptions to local pharmacies.Median patient satisfaction rate was 96% (range 67%–100%). The convenience of receiving medications directly to patient’s homes; access to medicines information helplines and education provided by pharmacists were regarded as valuable. Communication between care providers, development of virtual video consultations by hospital pharmacists and electronic transfer of some prescriptions directly to community pharmacies were identified as areas of improvement.Conclusions Participants appreciated the pharmacy processes adopted during the pandemic, however, challenges and recommendations for improvement in delivering MO VOC were identified. As digital innovations evolve within the NHS, future research should focus on integrated care and improved communication between care providers with selected medications prescribed directly to community pharmacies using electronic prescription service, with clinical screening and education provided by hospital pharmacists.https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/11/4/e001916.full |
| spellingShingle | Sukeshi Makhecha Sian Bentley Joanne Crook Nanna Christiansen Venessa Vas Linda Eftychiou Victoria Tsang Patient and family perceptions of the provision of medicines as part of virtual outpatient consultations for children during COVID-19 pandemic BMJ Open Quality |
| title | Patient and family perceptions of the provision of medicines as part of virtual outpatient consultations for children during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Patient and family perceptions of the provision of medicines as part of virtual outpatient consultations for children during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Patient and family perceptions of the provision of medicines as part of virtual outpatient consultations for children during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patient and family perceptions of the provision of medicines as part of virtual outpatient consultations for children during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Patient and family perceptions of the provision of medicines as part of virtual outpatient consultations for children during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | patient and family perceptions of the provision of medicines as part of virtual outpatient consultations for children during covid 19 pandemic |
| url | https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/11/4/e001916.full |
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