Patient engagement study to identify and improve surgical experience

E D Kennedy; M McKenzie; S Schmocker; L Jeffs; M D Cusimano; A Pooni; R Nenshi; A S Scheer; T L Forbes; R S McLeod

doi:10.1093/bjs/znaa087

Patient engagement study to identify and improve surgical experience

Br J Surg. 2021 Apr 30;108(4):435-440. doi: 10.1093/bjs/znaa087.

Authors

E D Kennedy^{1

2

3}, M McKenzie³, S Schmocker³, L Jeffs^{4

5}, M D Cusimano^{1

6

7}, A Pooni^{1

2}, R Nenshi⁸, A S Scheer^{1

9}, T L Forbes^{1

10}, R S McLeod¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
² Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
³ Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁵ Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing and Institute of Health, Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁶ Division of Neurosurgery, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁷ Department of Public Health, University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁸ Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
⁹ Division of General Surgery and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
¹⁰ Division of Vascular Surgery, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Background: Patient engagement is the establishment of active partnerships between patients, families, and health professionals to improve healthcare delivery. The objective of this project was to conduct a series of patient engagement workshops to identify areas to improve the surgical experience and develop strategies to address areas identified as high priority.

Methods: Faculty surgeons and patients were invited to participate in three in-person meetings. Evaluation included identifying and developing strategies for three priority areas to improve the surgical experience and level of engagement achieved at each meeting.

Results: Sixteen faculty surgeons and 32 patients participated. Some 63 themes to improve the surgical experience were identified; the three highest-priority themes were physician communication, discharge process, and expectations at home after discharge. Individual improvement strategies for these three prioritized themes (12, 36 and 6 respectively) were used to develop a formal strategic plan, and included a physician communication survey, discharge process worksheet and video, and guideline regarding what to expect at home after discharge. Overall, the level of engagement achieved was considered high by over 85 per cent of the participants.

Conclusion: A high level of patient engagement was achieved. Priorities were identified with patients and surgeons to improve surgical experience, and strategies were developed to address these areas.

Antecedentes: El compromiso del paciente implica el establecimiento de asociaciones activas entre los pacientes, sus familias y los profesionales de la salud para mejorar la atención médica. El objetivo de este proyecto fue realizar una serie de talleres sobre la participación de los pacientes para identificar áreas de mejora de la experiencia quirúrgica y desarrollar estrategias para abordar áreas identificadas como de alta prioridad.

Métodos: Se invitó a 16 cirujanos del equipo y a 32 pacientes a participar en tres reuniones presenciales. La evaluación incluyó la identificación y el desarrollo de estrategias en tres áreas prioritarias para mejorar la experiencia quirúrgica y el nivel de compromiso logrado en cada reunión.

Resultados: Se identificaron 63 temas para mejorar la experiencia quirúrgica y los tres temas de mayor prioridad fueron (i) comunicación del médico, (ii) proceso del alta, y (iii) expectativas en el hogar después del alta. Las estrategias de mejora individual para estos tres temas priorizados (12, 36 y 6, respectivamente) se utilizaron para desarrollar un plan estratégico formal, e incluyeron una encuesta de comunicación médica, una hoja de trabajo y un video del proceso de alta y qué esperar en el hogar tras las recomendaciones del alta. En general, el nivel de compromiso logrado fue considerado alto por más del 85% de los participantes.

Conclusión: Se logró un alto nivel de compromiso del paciente. Con la colaboración de pacientes y cirujanos se identificaron prioridades para mejorar la experiencia quirúrgica y se desarrollaron estrategias para el abordaje de estas áreas.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aftercare
Communication
Female
Humans
Male
Patient Discharge
Patient Participation* / methods
Physician-Patient Relations
Quality Improvement*
Surgical Procedures, Operative* / methods
Surgical Procedures, Operative* / psychology
Surgical Procedures, Operative* / standards

Grants and funding

PEG-415211/ Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Abstract in English, Spanish

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding

Abstract
in English, Spanish