Authors (including presenting author) :
Kwong SK (1), Ha CN (1), Tam YS (1), Tsui WS (1), Ko WK(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Family Medicine & Primary Healthcare
Introduction :
Nurse and Allied Health Service is a comprehensive and cost-effective care filling the service gaps in the primary care, including health promotion, enhancing allied health and multi-disciplinary service and improving collaboration with different primary healthcare providers, social care and the community.
Objectives :
(1) To improve clinical outcome (2) to minimize the number of patients visit to primary care (3) to improve patient satisfaction, for patients with chronic disease
Methodology :
Patient satisfaction surveys were conducted in 2012-2013 and 2014-2015. Data on clinical outcomes (e.g. HbA1c, blood pressure) and service utilization (e.g. general out-patient clinic (GOPC) attendance) were retrieved with support from statistics team in HA from Nov 2014 to Dec 2015. Patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus attending the Nurse and Allied Health Service in the Tsan Yuk Hospital (TYH) in the study period were included. Those who had ever attended the service in TYH in the study period were assigned to study group and those patients without attending the service in TYH in the study period were assigned to control group. Age and gender were matched between study group and control group. Generalized estimating equation model was used to analyse the pre-post difference on the difference between control group and study group.
Result & Outcome :
Results: 3,431 satisfaction questionnaires were collected. 98% of them satisfy with the overall Nurse and Allied Health service. 74% of them would strongly recommend our service to others (rate 8 or above out of 10). 12,462 patients were retrieved for analysis of clinical outcome and service utilization. All patients with visits to the Nurse and Allied Health service , especially joining Physiotherapy program and Dietitian programs, can significantly reduce the number of visits to GOPCs by 0.34 to 0.78 times per year comparing with control group (Pp<0.01). Patients joining dietitian programs can significantly increase the percentage of reaching HbA1c <7% (p=0.03) and systolic blood pressure <140mmHg (p=0.02) comparing with control group. Conclusions: The Nurse and Allied Health service in primary care is satisfied by patients with chronic diseases with significant help in improving clinical outcomes and reduction in the burden of GOPCs.
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