Reflection on a professional advisory group to inform the use of patient empowerment tools within an implementation science research project.

Professional advisory groups, with patient and public involvement (PPI) representatives, can be used for co-production within research projects. This paper aims to document the benefits and challenges of undertaking stakeholder and participant engagement for an implementation research project within NHS (National Health Service) Wales. A patient focused research project, initiated by clinicians, on the use of patient empowerment tools within standard patient care, used a professional advisory group to identify appropriate tools to use within the research proposal.

Application of the PAPERS Grading Criteria Within a Rapid Evidence Review to Determine the Psychometric and Pragmatic Properties of Patient Empowerment Tools.

Self-management of long-term conditions requires health professionals to understand and develop capabilities that empower the population they serve. A rapid evidence review was undertaken to assess the current evidence based on the psychometric properties of patient empowerment tools. MEDLINE was searched, and data were extracted for each publication and scored using a modified Psychometric and Pragmatic Evidence Rating Scale (PAPERS) evidence rating scale.

Improving the time to ileostomy closure following an anterior resection for rectal cancer in the UK.

Aim: Delayed closure of ileostomy following an anterior resection for rectal cancer in the UK is common. The aims of this study were (i) to investigate the variation in patient pathways between hospitals, (ii) to identify the key learning points from units with the shortest time to closure and (iii) to develop guidance for a pathway to minimize delay in ileostomy closure.

Method: This was a mixed methods study.

Quality of life benefits from arrhythmia ablation: A longitudinal study using the C-CAP questionnaire and EQ5D.

Aims: To investigate long-term efficacy of cardiac ablation for symptomatic arrhythmia by gathering generic and arrhythmia-related quality of life data using patient-reported outcome measures before and after ablation.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing cardiac ablation procedures at three sites in the United Kingdom were enrolled (n = 561). Data were collected at baseline, at 8-16 weeks, and 12 months after the ablation with responses from 390 patients received at all three time points.

Cardiff cardiac ablation patient-reported outcome measure (C-CAP): validation of a new questionnaire set for patients undergoing catheter ablation for cardiac arrhythmias in the UK.

Purpose: To formally test and validate a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for patients with cardiac arrhythmias undergoing catheter ablation procedures in the UK [Cardiff Cardiac Ablation PROM (C-CAP)].

Methods: A multicentre, prospective, observational cohort study with consecutive patient enrolment from three UK sites was conducted. Patients were sent C-CAP questionnaires before and after an ablation procedure.

Living on a knife edge-the daily struggle of coping with symptomatic cardiac arrhythmias.

Background: In 2010 a retrospective audit was undertaken to assess the viability of using PROMs in patients with symptomatic cardiac arrhythmias having undergone percutaneous arrhythmia ablation. A response rate of 74 % was achieved, with finding suggesting that arrhythmia patients reported a significant impact on their work, social and family life.

Aims: To conduct a qualitative cross sectional survey to understand patients' perspectives of how cardiac arrhythmias affect their daily lives, as part of a program to develop a Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM).

Establishing content validity in a novel patient reported outcome measure for cardiac arrhythmia ablation patients.

Aim: Preliminary content validity testing of a UK Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) for use in cardiac arrhythmia patients undergoing ablation treatment.

Methods: Twenty five patients diagnosed with symptomatic cardiac arrhythmias participated in qualitative interviews to obtain their perspective of a draft PROM. As part of the process to establish preliminary content validity, patients were asked to complete the questionnaires and to identify missing and redundant items within the PROM, while also reviewing the instructions and formatting.

Patient reported outcome measures for cardiac ablation procedures: a multicentre pilot to develop a new questionnaire.

Aim: To assess the feasibility of administering Patient Reported Outcomes Measures (PROMs) in patients treated with ablation for cardiac arrhythmias, and to conduct the first stage of development and testing of a new PROM tool.

Methods And Results: A new tool was developed by a multidisciplinary team and tested alongside an adaptation of the patient perception of arrhythmia questionnaire (PPAQ) and EQ-5D-5L in a multicentre retrospective audit involving 791 consecutive cardiac arrhythmia patients treated with catheter ablation at three UK centres over 13 months. Data were recorded in the National Cardiac Rhythm Management Database, part of the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research.