PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Knowledge Management”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 667 records · Page 37Linked to original sources

Knowledge of guidelines for the management of COPD: a survey of primary care physicians.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate primary care physicians' knowledge of guidelines for the management of COPD. METHOD: Survey to 455 primary care physicians in private practice in the state of Geneva, Switzerland, and to 243 physicians practicing in Geneva University Hospital. RESULTS: Although 75% of respondents identified that the prevalence of COPD was increasing and 33% recognized it as a major public health issue, only 55% of physicians used spirometric criteria to define COPD, and one-third knew the correct GOLD criteria. Fifty-two percent felt uncomfortable with smoking cessation counselling. Sixty-two percent administered influenza vaccination annually and 29% had immunized their patients against Pneumococcus. Beta2-agonists were the first-line treatment for 89% of physicians, but 10% overestimated their clinical benefit. Twenty-five percent of respondents used systematically inhaled corticosteroids, but 46% ignored their indications. Oral corticosteroids were used by 42% of physicians outside of acute exacerbations. Seventy-nine percent thought that oral steroids had a beneficial effect on stable COPD. Finally, pulmonary rehabilitation was underused by 72% of physicians. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows major gaps in the knowledge of all core elements of guidelines for the management of COPD and identifies targets for future educational programs.

Adolescent↗

Physicians' perceptions of managed care.

We wished to determine physicians' views and knowledge of managed care, particularly their beliefs about the provisions of managed care contracts in terms of legality and ethics. A questionnaire was sent to the 315 physicians of the medical staff of Norwalk Hospital in Connecticut regarding managed care and managed care contracts. Sixty-six responses were received within a 45-day period (20.9% return). Although only 1 of 11 contract provisions presented in one section of the questionnaire was illegal in Connecticut, a majority of physicians believed 7 of the 11 were illegal. On average, 50% of physicians polled thought each of the provisions was illegal, and a varying majority of physicians (53% to 95.4%) felt the various provisions were unethical. The majority of respondents (84.8% to 92.4%) believed that nondisclosure provisions were unethical. Ninety-seven percent thought managed care interferes with quality of care, and 72.7% of physicians felt that the managed care industry should be held legally responsible for ensuring quality of care. However, 92.4% of physicians considered themselves to be ethically responsible for ensuring quality of care. Physicians have a poor understanding of the legal aspects of managed care contracts but feel strongly that many provisions of these contracts are unethical. Physicians also believe that managed care is causing medicine to be practiced in a manner that is contrary to patients' interests and that legal recourse is needed to prevent this.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

The impact of educational interventions on primary health care workers' knowledge of occupational exposure to blood or body fluids.

AIM: To assess the impact of educational interventions on primary health care workers' knowledge of management of occupational exposure to blood or body fluids. METHODS: Cluster-randomized trial of educational interventions in two National Health Service board areas in Scotland. Medical and dental practices were randomized to four groups; Group A, a control group of practices where staff received no intervention, Group B practices where staff received a flow chart regarding the management of blood and body fluid exposures, Group C received an e-mail alert containing the flow chart and Group D practices received an oral presentation of information in the flow chart. Staff knowledge was assessed on one occasion, following the educational intervention, using an anonymous postal questionnaire. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifteen medical and dental practices were approached and 114 practices participated (response rate 53%). A total of 1120 individual questionnaires were returned. Face to face training was the most effective intervention with four of five outcome measures showing better than expected knowledge. Seventy-seven percent of staff identified themselves as at risk of exposure to blood and body fluids. Twenty-one percent of staff believed they were not at risk of exposure to blood-borne viruses although potentially exposed and 16% of exposed staff had not been immunized against hepatitis B. Of the 856 'at risk' staff, 48% had not received training regarding blood-borne viruses. CONCLUSIONS: We found greater knowledge regarding management of exposures to blood and body fluids following face to face training than other educational interventions. There is a need for education of at risk primary health care workers.

Allied Health Personnel↗

Nurses' knowledge of pressure ulcer management in elderly people.

The nursing management of pressure ulcers has not been extensively reported in the Hong Kong context. This article reports the results of a survey of 34 Hong Kong registered nurses to determine their knowledge and practices in preventing and treating pressure ulcers in the elderly. The findings indicate that, overall, the nurses had a sound knowledge of the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers, but that there were inconsistencies in their practices. This situation could be improved if standardized systems for assessing patients at risk of developing pressure ulcers and for grading (staging) these pressure ulcers were used.

Adult↗

The evaluation of a community-based group program for low-income diabetics and hypertensives.

Two studies compared the effectiveness of a community-based, behavioral group program versus an individual patient-education program with low-income diabetic and hypertensive patients, respectively. The dependent variables measured patients' knowledge, disease management skills, and clinical outcomes. Patients in the group programs demonstrated greater gains in knowledge and disease management skills than did the control patients. However, there was no clinically significant change in weight, blood pressure, or urinalysis results for any group of patients. The data suggest that group management is an effective mechanism for patient education but is not sufficiently reinforcing to induce change of habits, particularly when there are competing sources of reinforcement within the community.

Adult↗

Randomized trial of the effect of research design and publication characteristics on physician change.

BACKGROUND: The primary barrier to translation of research into practice relates to physician use of research. If we are to succeed at translating research into practice, we must understand to which research characteristics and publication formats practitioners attend. OBJECTIVE: To determine which characteristics of research design (sample characteristics, study design) and publication (type of publication) are most influential on the acquisition of knowledge and change in behavior of family practitioners. METHOD: This randomized clinical trial was conducted in family practice offices on the 305 family physicians who scored lowest on a survey of knowledge about management of major depressive disorder (MDD), panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Subjects were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 3 MDD abstracts differing in study site, 1 of 3 panic disorder abstracts differing in study design, and 1 of 3 GAD communications differing in format. The main outcome measures (knowledge and management strategies) were assessed immediately following the intervention and again 6 months later. Data for the intervention survey were gathered in November 2002. RESULTS: This study found significant increases in knowledge level and use of first-line agents with all interventions; however, knowledge declined again after 6 months for both panic disorder and GAD. The only statistically significant interoption difference was that the POEM (patient-oriented evidence that matters) was associated with better retention of knowledge of the treatment of GAD. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, all interventions were associated with immediate increases in knowledge and use of first-line treatments. However, such gains were not retained for panic disorder and GAD. Except for better knowledge retention associated with POEM use, no consistent differences between intervention options were noted.

Journal Article↗

New skills sets needed to navigate managed care.

Nurse managers in the late 1990s and the 21st century may find themselves working for a managed care organization, and certainly will find themselves employed in a managed health care environment. The roles and opportunities are many for managers who have the right combination of skills and knowledge. Understanding managed care language and strategies in synergy, with a creative leadership approach, enables nurse managers to move successfully from acute care to the new world now unfolding.

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice↗

Knowledge about asthma and COPD: associations with sick leave, health complaints, functional limitations, adaptation, and perceived control.

We sought to investigate associations between knowledge about the disease and sick leave, health complaints, functional limitations, adaptation and perceived control. Patients with asthma (n = 101) and COPD (n = 64) underwent lung function tests and completed questionnaires. In addition, all were asked the question: 'what is the diagnosis of your disease?', with the response categories: 'asthma' and 'COPD (chronic bronchitis or emphysema)'. Thirty-five percent of the asthma patients and 30% of the COPD patients did not know their correct diagnosis. Sick leave was not associated with knowledge about the disease in asthma and COPD. In asthma, much knowledge about management of the disease was associated with better adaptation (P = 0.01) and less perceived control over health by external factors (P = 0.02). Knowing the correct diagnosis was associated with less control over health by powerful others (P = 0.02). For COPD, more knowledge about management of the disease was associated with better adaptation (P = 0.02) and less control over health by internal factors (P = 0.01). Knowing the correct diagnosis was associated with less control over dyspnea at work (P = 0.01).

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Pakistani moslems with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: effect of sex, literacy skills, known diabetic complications and place of care on diabetic knowledge, reported self-monitoring management and glycaemic control.

AIMS: To study factors such as sex, educational status and place of care, which might influence knowledge and self-management of diabetes, and glycaemic control in a Pakistani moslem diabetic population attending primary care general practices (GP) and secondary care clinics at the Manchester Diabetes Centre (MDC). METHODS: Patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus took part in a one-to-one semi-structured interview and gave blood for haemoglobin A1c levels. RESULTS: Two hundred and one patients entered the study. Knowledge about diabetic diets was good (average scores 72%), and patients claimed to perform regular glucose measurements (66%), but they were not good at applying their knowledge to problems in daily life. Only 24% knew how to manage persistent hyperglycaemia. Women were worse than men at this (19 vs. 31% (chi2 = 3.8, P = 0.05)), were less likely to understand why glucose levels should be monitored, and had poorer glycaemic control overall (HbA1c 8.8 vs. 8.1%, P = 0.04). Fifty-four patients were completely illiterate. They had similar knowledge scores to readers but were less able to handle problem scenarios. Forty-five of these patients were women, and multiple regression analysis showed they were more likely to have the poorest glycaemic control. No major differences were found between general practitioner and hospital attenders, or between patients with and without known complications, except that hospital attenders were more likely to have complications and poorer control. CONCLUSIONS: Women who cannot read in this population are likely to have poorer glycaemic control and may be finding it more difficult to learn how to apply their knowledge to daily life. This subgroup may need more intensive, culturally appropriate, health education and support.

Age Factors↗

Nurses' knowledge and attitudes concerning pain management in an Australian hospital.

Pain management is widely acknowledged as being a significant concern for many health professionals. Effective management of patients' pain is a crucial nursing activity dependent on accurate pain knowledge, attitudes, and assessment. The development of a questionnaire by McCaffery and Ferrell allowed the quantification of registered nurses' knowledge and attitudes concerning their pain management decisions. When this questionnaire was applied to registered nurses working in four different hospital departments within an Australian hospital, the results showed that many nurses have inadequate knowledge and attitudinal barriers that may hamper effective pain management decisions. These results demonstrate that Australian registered nurses may have knowledge deficiencies and attitudinal barriers similar to their overseas counterparts.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Educational interventions to improve cancer pain control: a systematic review.

CONTEXT: Inadequate pain control is a dismaying reality in cancer patients. OBJECTIVES: To review studies on cancer pain control interventions, and describe their findings with respect to participants' attitudes and knowledge, pain management, and pain levels. DATA SOURCES: Computer searches were made in MEDLINE from January 1962, in PsychLIT from January 1974, and in CINAHL from January 1982 to August 1999, using a search strategy based on a combination of key words. STUDY SELECTION: Computerized listings from these sources contained 383, 26, and 85 articles, respectively. After exclusion of duplicates, abstracts, editorials, letters, and irrelevant articles, we retained for review 33 articles, of which 25 (76%) were interventions targeting health professionals, and 8 (24%) interventions targeting patients and family caregivers. DATA EXTRACTION: Study reports were reviewed using the following structured framework: Intervention Setting, Study Methods, Process Assessment, and Pain Outcome Assessment (Attitudes and Knowledge, Pain Management, and Pain Relief/Quality of Life). DATA SYNTHESIS AND CONCLUSION: Educational interventions can successfully improve cancer pain knowledge and attitudes of health care professionals, but without having much impact on patients' pain levels. The most promising avenue for improving cancer pain control in ambulatory settings may be brief, nursing interventions targeting patients in combination with a daily pain diary. This review suggests that further progress may occur through incorporating a systematic and valid method of documenting daily fluctuation in pain levels, and ensuring that documented uncontrolled pain is followed rapidly by clinical reassessment and dose adjustment.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Evaluation of a knowledge-based system providing ventilatory management and decision for extubation.

We evaluated whether a knowledge-based system (KBS) connected to a ventilator in pressure support mode could correctly predict the ability of patients to tolerate total withdrawal from ventilatory support. The KBS was designed to continuously adapt ventilatory assistance to the needs of the patient, to manage a strategy of gradually decreasing ventilatory assistance, and to indicate when the patient was able to breathe without assistance. Thirty-eight patients for whom weaning was being considered were evaluated using a conventional battery of parameters, including weaning criteria, tolerance of a T-piece trial, and outcome 48h after permanent withdrawal of ventilation. The results of this evaluation were compared with the suggestions made by the KBS at the end of a period of KBS-driven mechanical ventilation inserted in the conventional weaning procedure. The positive predictive value of the KBS was 89%, versus 77% for the conventional procedure and 81% for the rapid shallow breathing index alone. The KBS correctly predicted the course of five patients who tolerated a T-piece trial but required ventilation within 48 h. We conclude that our KBS ensured appropriate patient management during the weaning period and improved our ability to predict responses to weaning.

Adult↗

Information technology and the clinical curriculum: some predictions and their implications for the class of 2003.

Information technology, medical knowledge, and medical practice are on a collision course. The consequences of the impact will change the way physicians work, the way medical knowledge is processed, packaged, and distributed, and the way patients obtain medical care and information. Today's educators need to design an information technology curriculum to prepare students for this emerging world of practice. Computer labs, based on today's complex and unreliable desktop systems, are not the answer. What is needed by students who entered medical school in 1997-98 is an informatics curriculum that is based on the real-world requirements of 2003 and beyond. The authors draw upon academic studies and their own clinical and industry experiences to outline some predictable elements of what lies ahead. Their predictions--ubiquitous, simple network computing and "power tools" for managing medical knowledge--have implications for how schools cover such educational topics as patient confidentiality, systems thinking and error management, and knowledge resource evaluation.

Computer Communication Networks↗

Clinicians' perceptions of barriers to pain management in AIDS.

A growing body of literature has demonstrated the widespread undertreatment of pain in patients with AIDS. While clinician-related barriers to cancer pain management have been studied, to date there has been no systematic attempt to survey clinician-related barriers to the management of pain in patients with AIDS. We surveyed AIDS health care providers' attitudes towards pain management, as well as their perception of the barriers to adequate pain management in patients with HIV disease. Subjects were 492 AIDS care providers attending continuing education symposia on the clinical management of pain in patients with AIDS in 5 major U.S. cities (New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami). Results indicated that the most frequently endorsed barriers to pain management were those regarding lack of knowledge about pain management or access to pain management experts, and concerns regarding potential substance abuse or addiction. Experience in the management of pain in patients with AIDS was inversely correlated with endorsement of barriers related to pain management expertise and concern regarding potential substance abuse. More experienced clinicians were significantly less likely to cite these factors as barriers to pain management. More knowledgeable respondents were significantly more likely to identify barriers to pain management and individuals with more conservative attitudes towards pain management were significantly more likely to cite substance abuse issues or medical concerns as barriers to pain management.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

The WISECARE Project and the impact of information technology on nursing knowledge.

The European Union retained the WISECARE project "Work flow Information Systems for European nursing CARE" for funding. The project focuses on the use of telematics technology for clinical and resource management in oncology care in hospitals. This paper outlines the impact of introducing this kind of advanced nursing informatics application on the management of nursing knowledge. Three shift in knowledge management that will get high attention in WISECARE, are identified. The first is the shift from knowledge dissemination to knowledge sharing. The second is the shift from individual knowledge to organisational knowledge. The third is the shift from deductive, prescriptive knowledge as seen in guidelines, protocols to more inductive, experience based knowledge. The paper emphasizes that the real impact of information technology is not in the automation of existing processes but on the discovery of new ways of organisation and living.

Diffusion of Innovation↗

Health services reform and human resource management in Hong Kong public hospitals.

This article discusses the empirical study of reform in the human resource management function in the Hong Kong Hospital Authority. It describes the prior management of the hospitals based on the civil service administration model before looking at management reform in general. From this research, the creative tensions between the centrifugal and centripetal forces in the pursuit of 'effectiveness', 'efficiency' and 'economy' are explored in terms of decentralization. A survey of line managers, in eleven Hospital Authority hospitals, revealed the progress of decentralization: a majority of respondents felt that, over the previous five years, managers at their level had been given greater responsibility for human resource management issues. In spite of the widespread perception of increased decentralization, however, it was recognized that there are limits to decentralization. It was the routine administration rather than the policy formulation and interpretation which had been decentralized, and hospitals continued to rely on the Hospital Authority Head of Office for guidance on policy interpretation. Several barriers to the effective decentralization of responsibility for human resource management were identified, including a lack of management skill, knowledge and time, the attitudes of some managers and the tight control of budget.

Data Collection↗

Vendor management: a model for collaboration and quality improvement.

BACKGROUND: The Massachusetts Medicaid agency, also known as the Division of Medical Assistance, has developed a quality-driven approach for managing its managed care suppliers. Such an approach has, as its foundation, principles of continuous quality improvement (CQI). Suppliers participate in an annual process whereby CQI goals are negotiated between the division and its suppliers. The division then works with suppliers to achieve such goals. A cornerstone of the division's approach is the notion that data can highlight an unlimited number of opportunities for improvement and that pursuit of such opportunities will ultimately result in meaningful improvements in the health status of recipients who are served by the division. COLLABORATIVE APPROACH: The agency's approach involves five key steps: 1) the development of contractual terms and purchasing specifications; 2) the identification of improvement priorities; 3) the negotiation of improvement goals; 4) efforts directed at meeting improvement goals and measurement of success; and 5) collaboration to achieve mutual objectives. BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES: Overall, suppliers report many benefits of collaborative participation in CQI activities with the division. Suppliers have enhanced their understanding of the importance of meeting the needs of the customer and have further accrued benefits resulting from discussions with managed care vendors throughout the site regarding benchmarking of efforts and CQI efforts. Conversely, suppliers are challenged by the need to balance and allocate resources to meet increasing demands, which are not always consistent, from various purchasers, including the division. The division has been challenged in the evolution of its contract management strategy by an uneven level of knowledge among managed care vendors regarding CQI; goal setting and measurement issues; the length of time and level of effort required to develop good relationships with suppliers; and the critical importance of comparable, valid, and timely submission of data. RESULTS: Over the last three years, the division has seen a dramatic increase in the responsiveness of managed care suppliers to meet its needs as a purchaser. Specifically, this has been expressed through supplier ability to meet mutually negotiated improvement goals. The division is also pleased that it is beginning to achieve some measurable improvements in outcomes of care.

Contract Services↗

Patient and physician satisfaction with a telephone-based anticoagulation service.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the satisfaction and knowledge of patients who have their warfarin managed by their physician or by a multidisciplinary, telephone-based anticoagulation service (ACS) and to assess referring physicians' satisfaction with the ACS. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: We surveyed 300 patients taking warfarin (mean age 73 years): 150 at health centers randomized to have access to an ACS, and 150 at control health centers without ACS access. We also surveyed 17 physicians who refer patients to the ACS. SETTING: Eight outpatient health centers in Missouri and Southern Illinois. MEASUREMENTS: We asked patients about the timeliness of international normalized ratio (INR) monitoring, perceived safety of warfarin, overall satisfaction with their warfarin management, and knowledge of what a high INR meant. We asked physicians at ACS-available health centers how many minutes they saved per INR by referring patients to the ACS, their satisfaction with the ACS, and their willingness to recommend the ACS to a colleague. MAIN RESULTS: As compared with patients at control health centers, patients at ACS-available health centers were more satisfied with the timeliness of getting blood test results (mean 4.31 vs 4.03, P =.02), were more likely to know what a safe INR value was (45% vs 15%, P =.001), and felt safer taking warfarin (mean 5.7 vs 5.2, P =.04). Physicians reported that using the ACS saved, on average, four minutes of their time and 13 minutes of their staff's time, per INR. All physicians recommended use of the ACS to a colleague and were highly satisfied with the ACS. CONCLUSIONS: A telephone-based ACS can be endorsed by primary-care physicians and improve patients' satisfaction with and knowledge about their antithrombotic therapy.

Aged↗