Pamela Williams

Using qualitative comparative analysis to understand and quantify translation and implementation

ABSTRACTUnderstanding the factors that facilitate implementation of behavioral medicine programs into practice can advance translational science. Often, translation or implementation studies use case study methods with small sample sizes. Methodological approaches that systematize findings from these types of studies are needed to improve rigor and advance the field. Qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) is a method and analytical approach that can advance implementation science. QCA offers an approach for rigorously conducting translational and implementation research limited by a small number of cases. We describe the methodological and analytic approach for using QCA and provide examples of its use in the health and health services literature. QCA brings together qualitative or quantitative data derived from cases to identify necessary and sufficient conditions for an outcome. QCA offers advantages for researchers interested in analyzing complex programs and for practitioners interested in developing programs that achieve successful health outcomes.

How Accurate Are Americans’ Perceptions of Their Own Weight?

As obesity/overweight has increased in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009), studies have found that Americans’ perceptions of their own weight often are not aligned with their actual body mass index (BMI; Brener et al., 2004; Christakis, 2003; Johnson-Taylor et al., 2008). Taylor, Funk, and Craighill (2006) found that half of Americans whose BMI indicated they were overweight perceived their weight to be just about right. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that influence the accuracy of weight self-perceptions and whether accuracy influences health behaviors. Using data from the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey, the authors compared respondents’ weight self-perceptions to their actual BMI to determine the accuracy of their weight self-perceptions. About 28%of respondents were obese, 35%were overweight, 35%were of normal weight, and 2%were underweight. About three quarters of the samples self-perceptions of weight were aligned with their BMI. About 10%of the sample had a BMI that indicated they were overweight, but they perceived themselves to be of normal weight; about 10%were of normal weight but perceived themselves to be overweight; and about 5%of respondents were of normal weight but thought they were underweight. Gender, race, and education were associated with the accuracy of respondents’ weight perceptions. Results suggest that asking patients about their weight self-perceptions could be useful in clinical settings and that weight perception accuracy could be used to segment audiences and tailor messages.

A Mobile Clinical Decision Support Tool for Pediatric Cardiovascular Risk-Reduction Clinical Practice Guidelines: Development and Description

Background Widespread application of research findings to improve patient outcomes remains inadequate, and failure to routinely translate research findings into daily clinical practice is a major barrier for the implementation of any evidence-based guideline. Strategies to increase guideline uptake in primary care pediatric practices and to facilitate adherence to recommendations are required. Objective Our objective was to operationalize the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents into a mobile clinical decision support (CDS) system for healthcare providers, and to describe the process development and outcomes. Methods To overcome the difficulty of translating clinical practice guidelines into a computable form that can be used by a CDS system, we used a multilayer framework to convert the evidence synthesis into executable knowledge. We used an iterative process of design, testing, and revision through each step in the translation of the guidelines for use in a CDS tool to support the development of 4 validated modules: an integrated risk assessment; a blood pressure calculator; a body mass index calculator; and a lipid management instrument. Results The iterative revision process identified several opportunities to improve the CDS tool. Operationalizing the integrated guideline identified numerous areas in which the guideline was vague or incorrect and required more explicit operationalization. Iterative revisions led to workable solutions to problems and understanding of the limitations of the tool. Conclusions The process and experiences described provide a model for other mobile CDS systems that translate written clinical practice guidelines into actionable, real-time clinical recommendations.

Usability Testing and Adaptation of the Pediatric Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Clinical Decision Support Tool

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is 1 of the leading causes of death, years of life lost, and disability-adjusted years of life lost worldwide. CVD prevention for children and teens is needed, as CVD risk factors and behaviors beginning in youth contribute to CVD development. In 2012, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute released their “Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents” for clinicians, describing CVD risk factors they should address with patients at primary care preventative visits. However, uptake of new guidelines is slow. Clinical decision support (CDS) tools can improve guideline uptake. In this paper, we describe our process of testing and adapting a CDS tool to help clinicians evaluate patient risk, recommend behaviors to prevent development of risk, and complete complex calculations to determine appropriate interventions as recommended by the guidelines, using a user-centered design approach. Objective The objective of the study was to assess the usability of a pediatric CVD risk factor tool by clinicians. Methods The tool was tested using one-on-one in-person testing and a “think aloud” approach with 5 clinicians and by using the tool in clinical practice along with formal usability metrics with 14 pediatricians. Thematic analysis of the data from the in-person testing and clinical practice testing identified suggestions for change in 3 major areas: user experience, content refinement, and technical deployment. Descriptive statistical techniques were employed to summarize users’ overall experience with the tool. Results Data from testers showed that general reactions toward the CDS tool were positive. Clinical practice testers suggested revisions to make the application more user-friendly, especially for clinicians using the application on the iPhone, and called for refining recommendations to be more succinct and better tailored to the patient. Tester feedback was incorporated into the design when feasible, including streamlining data entry during clinical visits, reducing the volume of results displayed, and highlighting critical results. Conclusions This study found support for the usability of our pediatric CVD risk factor tool. Insights shared about this tool may be applicable for designing other mHealth applications and CDS tools. The usability of decision support tools in clinical practice depends critically on receiving (ie, through an accessible device) and adapting the tool to meet the needs of clinicians in the practice setting.

Understanding physicians' perceived barriers to screening and patient education to reduce stroke risk in community health centers in Indonesia

Abstract Background Stroke is the leading cause of death in Indonesia and correspondingly the prevalence of stroke risk factors is high. Improved risk factor screening along with education and counseling for patients on the behavior changes that they need to make to reduce their stroke risk have the potential to lessen stroke burden. Methods Focus groups were conducted with physicians working in community health centers (puskesmas) in Indonesia to explore physicians’ practices with regard to stroke risk screening and patient education to reduce stroke risk. Results Physicians perceive that patients commonly have misconceptions about their stroke risk factors, indicating a need for patient education. Screening and education practices vary considerably among Indonesian primary care physicians, suggesting a need for physicians to improve their patient education and counseling practices. Physicians reported lack of time during appointments, as well as their perceptions of patients’ reluctance to modify their behaviors and patients’ low level of education as barriers to patient education for stroke prevention. Conclusion Physicians reported knowledge, attitudinal, and health care system barriers that need to be addressed as part of interventions aimed at improving stroke screening and patient education and counseling in this setting.

Implementing a STEMI system of care in urban Bangalore: Rationale and Study Design for heart rescue India

Background A system of care designed to measure and improve process measures such as symptom recognition, emergency response, and hospital care has the potential to reduce mortality and improve quality of life for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Objective To document the methodology and rationale for the implementation and impact measurement of the Heart Rescue India project on STEMI morbidity and mortality in Bangalore, India. Study Design A hub and spoke STEMI system of care comprised of two interventional, hub hospitals and five spoke hospitals will build and deploy a dedicated emergency response and transport system covering a 10u202fKm. radius area of Bangalore, India. High risk patients will receive a dedicated emergency response number to call for symptoms of heart attack. A dedicated operations center will use geo-tracking strategies to optimize response times including first responder motor scooter transport, equipped with ECG machines to transmit ECGs for immediate interpretation and optimal triage. At the same time, a dedicated ambulance will be deployed for transport of appropriate STEMI patients to a hub hospital while non-STEMI patients will be transported to spoke hospitals. To enhance patient recognition and initiation of therapy, school children will be trained in basic CPR and signs and symptom of chest pain. Hub hospitals will refine their emergency department and cardiac catheterization laboratory protocols using continuous quality improvement techniques to minimize treatment delays. Prior to hospital discharge, secondary prevention measures will be initiated to enhance long-term patient outcomes.

Impact of a pilot intervention to increase physician-patient communication about stroke risk in Indonesia

ABSTRACT In Indonesia, where stroke is the leading cause of death, we designed and tested a brief intervention to increase physician–patient conversations about stroke prevention in community health centers. The pilot study used a quasi-experimental design involving repeated cross-sectional data collection over 15 weeks to compare pre- and during-intervention differences within four centers. We conducted exit interviews with 675 patients immediately following their medical appointments to assess whether physicians discussed stroke risks and provided recommendations to modify their risk behaviors. From pre-intervention to during intervention, patients reported more frequent physician recommendations to modify their stroke risk behaviors. We also conducted interviews with eight providers (physicians and nurses) after the intervention to get their feedback on its implementation. This study demonstrated that a brief intervention to motivate physician–patient conversations about stroke prevention may improve these conversations in community health centers. While interventions to reduce risk hold considerable promise for reducing stroke burden, barriers to physician–patient conversations identified through this study need to be addressed.