Feedback based on patient evaluations: a tool for quality improvement?

Feedback regarding patient evaluations of health care is expected to be a tool for quality improvement. This study examined the response of general practitioners to such feedback in a randomised trial. Practitioners in the intervention group read and discussed the feedback report and then reported on a range of actions that can be undertaken to improve the quality of care.

Deconstructing patient centred communication and uncovering shared decision making: an observational study.

Background: Patient centred communication (PCC) has been described as a method for doctor-patient communication. The principles of shared decision making (SDM) have been proposed more recently.

Aims: This study aimed to examine PCC and SDM empirically with respect to their mutual association, the variation in practitioners' working styles, and the associations with patient characteristics.

Feedback of patients' evaluations of general practice care: a randomised trial.

Objective: To assess the effects of feedback of patients' evaluations of care to general practitioners.

Design: Randomised trial.

Setting: General practice in the Netherlands.

Functional status, health problems, age and comorbidity in primary care patients.

Objectives: To determine the relationship between functional status and health problems, age and comorbidity in primary care patients.

Methods: Patients from 60 general practitioners who visited their general practitioner were recruited and asked to complete a written questionnaire, including a list of 25 health problems and the SF-36 to measure functional status. The response rate was 67% (n = 4,112).

Mental retardation associated with parental smoking and alcohol consumption before, during, and after pregnancy.

Methods: In an epidemiologic study, parental alcohol consumption and smoking before, during, and after pregnancy were studied as possible risk factors for mental retardation in offspring. The parents of 306 mentally retarded children (cases) and 322 physically handicapped children (referents) were interviewed about their lifestyle habits from 3 months preconception to 6 months postnatal.

Results: Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated as risk indicators.