Exploring practical approaches to maximising data quality in electronic healthcare records in the primary care setting and associated benefits

Exploiting the information contained within electronic healthcare records (EHR) data will be key to addressing major challenges to public health both nationally and globally, ultimately offering a means of maximising efficiency and equality in care. There are, however, significant challenges in using EHRs effectively and particularly in ensuring the quality of data recorded. Incorrect or missing data could render records as useless or indeed misleading such that conclusions drawn from the data could have a negative impact. Amongst other difficulties, recording data can be time consuming to the extent of conflicting with the GP’s primary focus of patient consultation in an already time-constrained environment. Understanding the requirements of and the demands upon GPs must be central to addressing the issue of data quality (DQ) within EHRs. As part of on-going work into DQ at the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and in collaboration with the University of Sussex (UoS), a workshop session was held at the SAPC (Society for Academic Primary Care) conference in 2014 with the aim of exploring issues of DQ in primary care EHRs from the perspective of different users of GP data and with particular focus on how and why data is recorded in the first instance. The intended outcome was a furthered understanding of both the challenges and the direct benefits to GPs of ensuring high quality data with a view to establishing a workable approach to recording data and maximising benefits to all users of EHRs

ANIMA D2.11: recommendations from exemplification case studies summary and implications for BP dissemination

This study presents the analysis of seven airport exemplification case studies undertaken in the European project “Aviation Noise Impact Management through Novel Approaches – ANIMA”. Best practices related to aircraft noise management at airports in individual airport contexts were implemented and evaluated. Case studies on communication and community engagement in airport noise management were investigated at Heathrow (United Kingdom), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Rotterdam The Hague (The Netherlands) airports. For Zaporizhzhia (Ukraine) and Iasi (Romania) airports, the implementation of interventions related to land use planning was examined. The interdependencies between noise and emissions were studied for the airport at Cluj (Romania) along with an exploration of key Quality of Life issues. All case studies were performed under the scope of the corresponding national legislation and guidelines. Individual characteristics of airport operations were taken into account. The case studies were aligned with expectations and priorities of all involved stakeholders, such as representatives of airport operators, local communities, civil aviation authorities and policy makers. The efficacy of the noise management case studies was assessed in terms of the capacity to negotiate consensus outcomes, the extent to which noise impact reductions were achieved, and the participants’ satisfaction with the process and outcomes. The case studies revealed the vital importance of community engagement in noise management if decisions are to be accepted and outcomes valued. In general, the earlier this engagement starts in the process of decision-making and implementation the better; although care needs to be taken in the selection of methods of engagement to ensure the tools used are appropriate to the engagement and communication task faced. In this way, overly long engagement should be avoided and with that the risk of increased uncertainty in outcomes. Such engagement should also ensure that decisions and subsequent interventions are tailored to local community concerns reflecting national, regional and cultural differences across Europe

Encouraging nurses to take the lead on the information agenda

This is the final in a series of four articles that discuss issues relating to the UK's growing reliance on health information technology. It is becoming increasingly clear that information and communication technologies are increasing the availability of health care, and improving the management, sharing and understanding of health care at a local and national level. This article explores the role of senior nurses in the management, delivery and support of care

Exploring practical approaches to maximising data quality in electronic healthcare records in the primary care setting and associated benefits. Report of panel-led discussion held at SAPC in July 2014

BackgroundElectronic healthcare records provide information about patient care over time which not only affords the opportunity to improve patient care directly through effective monitoring and identification of care requirements but also offers a unique platform for both clinical and service-model research essential to the longer-term development of the health service. The quality of the recorded data can, however, be variable and can compromise the validity of data use both for primary and secondary purposes.ObjectivesIn order to explore the challenges and benefits of and approaches to recording high quality primary care electronic records, a Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) sponsored workshop was held at the Society of Academic Primary Care (SAPC) conference in 2014 with the aim of engaging GPs and other data users.MethodsThe workshop was held as a structured discussion, led by an expert panel and focused around three questions: (1) What are the data quality priorities for clinicians and researchers? How do these priorities differ or overlap? (2) What challenges might GPs face in provision of good data quality both for treating their patients and for research? Do these aims conflict? (3) What tools (such as data metrics and visualisations or software components) could assist the GP in improving data quality and patient management and could this tie in with analytical processes occurring at the research stage?ResultsThe discussion highlighted both overlap and differences in the perceived data quality priorities and challenges for different user groups. Five key areas of focus were agreed upon and recommendations determined for moving forward in improving quality.ConclusionsThe importance of good high quality electronic healthcare records has been set forth along with the need for a practical user-considered and collaborative approach to its improvement.</jats:sec

What is cognition?

Eleven authors with disparate relevant backgrounds give their view on what is meant by the word "cognition"

What is cognition?

Eleven authors with disparate relevant backgrounds give their view on what is meant by the word "cognition"

Propositions and recommendations for enhancing the legacies of major sporting events for disadvantaged communities and individuals

This consensus statement is the outcome of comprehensive collaboration through an international working group on the disparities in the legacies of major sporting events, specifically for communities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds (CIDBs). The workshop brought together scholars to discuss current challenges and develop four propositions and recommendations for event leveraging, policy stakeholders, and researchers. The propositions included (1) the nature of ‘disadvantage’ needs to be recognised and the specific targeted CIDBs in each event context must be carefully identified or clearly defined; (2) CIDBs should be considered as an integral part of the whole event hosting cycle to ensure legacy inclusivity; (3) dedicated event leverage, sufficient financial backing and resource commitments for CIDBs are needed; and (4) it is critical to establish a system of legacy governance for CIDBs. The recommendations aim to inform change in practice and ensure lasting positive legacies for the communities that need them most