DESCRIBE TWO APPROACHES OR INDICATORS TO MEASURING PATIENT OUTCOMES
Doesn't that depend upon the goals and objectives for each patient's care? Is the health care professional trying to cure an illness? Or keep the patient comfortable? Or prevent serious illness? Or keep the patient in good physical condition? Or alleviate uncomfortable symptoms?
You'll find the answer your instructor wants in Chapter 11 of your text book.
Also check these sites.
http://www.jabfm.org/cgi/content/full/20/1/1
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/551246
http://www.managedcaremag.com/archives/9904/9904.patsatis.html
And sometimes, the patients want different outcomes than the medical staff expect. Examples
Dementia Patient
Schizophrenic patient
Patient in unbearable pain
and many more you can imagine.
There are several approaches and indicators that can be used to measure patient outcomes, and here I will describe two commonly used ones: mortality rates and quality of life assessments.
1. Mortality Rates: A commonly used approach to measure patient outcomes is through mortality rates. This indicator quantifies the number of deaths related to a particular disease, condition, or medical intervention. By comparing mortality rates before and after a specific intervention or treatment, healthcare providers can assess its effectiveness in reducing fatalities. Mortality rates can be calculated for specific populations or subgroups, such as age, gender, or certain medical conditions. This approach provides important data on the impact of interventions on patient survival, helping healthcare professionals make informed decisions and improve patient care.
To calculate mortality rates, follow these steps:
Step 1: Identify the specific population or group of patients you want to measure outcomes for.
Step 2: Determine the time period for measuring mortality rates (e.g., one year, five years).
Step 3: Collect data on the number of deaths within the chosen population during the specified time period.
Step 4: Divide the number of deaths by the total population size to calculate the mortality rate.
Step 5: Analyze and compare mortality rates to identify trends, patterns, or changes over time.
2. Quality of Life Assessments: Another approach to measuring patient outcomes is through quality of life assessments. This indicator focuses on evaluating the overall well-being and functional status of patients after a treatment or intervention. Quality of life assessments can include physical, emotional, psychological, and social aspects that affect an individual's daily life and overall happiness. Common methods used to measure quality of life include standardized questionnaires or surveys that capture patient-reported outcomes, such as pain levels, activities of daily living, emotional well-being, and social interactions. These assessments provide valuable information about the effectiveness of treatments in improving patients' overall quality of life.
To conduct a quality of life assessment:
Step 1: Select an appropriate quality of life questionnaire or survey that aligns with the specific population or healthcare condition under evaluation.
Step 2: Administer the questionnaire or survey to the patients, instructing them to provide honest and accurate answers.
Step 3: Collect and analyze the responses.
Step 4: Use statistical tools or scoring systems provided by the questionnaire to quantify and interpret the quality of life scores.
Step 5: Compare the pre- and post-intervention quality of life scores to assess the impact of the treatment or intervention on patient outcomes.
By utilizing these approaches and indicators, healthcare professionals can gain valuable insights into patient outcomes, enabling them to make informed decisions and improve the quality of care provided.