ObjectivesHospital discharge is a complex process that can result in errors and delays for patients, particularly around the supply of medicines and communication of information. To improve patient discharge, patient perspectives of the discharge service must be explored to determine where patients feel problems arise. This study aimed to explore inpatient perceptions and experiences of the current discharge process.
MethodsThis study involved questionnaires with patients at a large city centre teaching hospital.
ResultsA total of 104 inpatients participated, 60% (n=62) were male with an average age of 55 (age range 19-93). Participants were from a range of medical, surgical and admissions wards. The majority, 71% of respondents (n=74) took regular medicines, with 65% (n=48) taking five or more medicines daily. Most patients, 89% (n=87) were satisfied with their hospital discharge but felt that it took too long. The perceived main cause of delay was waiting for medicines. Other highlighted issues included lack of counselling by pharmacists and the need for more patient involvement throughout the discharge process.
ConclusionsThis study shows that certain aspects of the discharge process need improving to provide safe, quality care for patients and improve patient experience of discharge. The findings from this study will inform the development of a new model of care for patient discharge from hospital.
Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the migratory and working patterns of primary care pharmacists, to explore the reasons pharmacists changed jobs, and in particular to ascertain from which sector pharmacists moved into primary care.
Method A self‐completion postal questionnaire was used to gather quantitative data on current post and working practices and reasons for movement into the primary care sector, and semi‐structured interviews to explore in more depth reasons for movement across sectors. Setting Primary care pharmacists in England in 2001.
Key findings Just over half (52%) of the sample worked exclusively in primary care, having most likely left a post in hospital pharmacy, while almost half (48%) of the sample adopted a ‘portfolio’ pattern of working, where the primary care pharmacists have more than one job. This is most likely to be a locum position in community pharmacy. Pharmacists in this study were mostly attracted into primary care because they wanted to undertake more interesting work, make better use of their knowledge and get involved with the primary healthcare team. They left their previous place of work because they needed a change. The importance primary care pharmacists gave to each of these reasons differed, depending on the sector of employment they had left or continued to work in.
Conclusion As a sector of practice, primary care is drawing pharmacists from both the community and hospital sectors of the profession. However, the impact on the hospital sector is more marked as pharmacists are leaving this sector completely, while primary care pharmacists are more likely to maintain their practice commitments in the much larger community sector.
Purpose: Idea density has been shown to influence comprehension time for text in various populations. This study aims to explore the influence of spoken idea density on attainment in young, healthy subjects using demographic characteristics. Methods: Students watched two online lectures and answered 10 multiple choice questions on them. Students received one more idea dense (MID) and one less idea dense (LID) lecture on two different subjects. Results: Seventy-five students completed the study achieving a higher median score after a less idea-dense lecture (LID ¼ 7(3), MID ¼ 6(3), p ¼ 0.04). Artificial neural network models revealed the first language as the main predictor of exam performance. The odds ratio (OR) of obtaining !70% after a more idea-dense lecture was six-time higher for the first language versus second language English speakers (OR ¼ 5.963, 95% CI 1.080-32.911, p ¼ 0.041). The odds ratio was not significant when receiving a less dense lecture (OR ¼ 2.298, 95% CI 0.635-8.315, p ¼ 0.205). Second-language speakers benefited from receiving a lower idea density, achieving a 10.8% score increase from high to low density, versus a 3.2% increase obtained by first language speakers. Conclusions: The propositional idea density of lectures directly influences students' comprehension, and disproportionately for second language speakers; revealing the possibility of reduced spoken idea density in levelling the attainment differential between first and second language speakers.
KEYWORDSIdea density; concept density; attainment differential; international students; psycholinguistics 'The black cat sat on the mat' Idea density ¼ 5 ideas Ä 7 words ¼ 0.71 'There is a cat, which is black, and it is sitting on the mat' Idea density ¼ 5 ideas Ä 14 words ¼ 0.36
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