PG13 National evaluation of a low-dose, high-frequency cardiac resuscitation quality improvement programme in the United Kingdom – user feedback preliminary findings

The alpha/B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 lineage emerged in autumn 2020 in the United Kingdom and transmitted rapidly until winter 2021 when it was responsible for most new COVID-19 cases in many European countries. The incidence domination was likely due to a fitness advantage that could be driven by the RBD residue change (N501Y), which also emerged independently in other Variants of Concern such as the beta/B.1.351 and gamma/P.1 strains. Here we present a functional characterization of the alpha/B.1.1.7 variant and show an eight-fold affinity increase towards human ACE-2. In accordance with this, transgenic hACE-2 mice showed a faster disease progression and severity after infection with a low dose of B.1.1.7, compared to an early 2020 SARS-CoV-2 isolate. When challenged with sera from convalescent individuals or anti-RBD monoclonal antibodies, the N501Y variant showed a minor, but significant elevated evasion potential of ACE-2/RBD antibody neutralization. The data suggest that the single asparagine to tyrosine substitution remarkable rise in affinity may be responsible for the higher transmission rate and severity of the B.1.1.7 variant.

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Monitoring lithium therapy: the impact of a quality improvement programme in the UK

Bipolar Disorders ◽

10.1111/bdi.12128 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 15 (8) ◽

pp. 865-875 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Carol Paton ◽

Roma Adroer ◽

Thomas RE Barnes

Keyword(s):

Quality Improvement ◽

Lithium Therapy ◽

Quality Improvement Programme ◽

Improvement Programme ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact

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Effect of a health system payment and quality improvement programme for tonsillectomy in Ontario, Canada: an interrupted time series analysis

BMJ Quality & Safety ◽

10.1136/bmjqs-2021-013110 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. bmjqs-2021-013110

Author(s):

Sanjay Mahant ◽

Jun Guan ◽

Jessie Zhang ◽

Sima Gandhi ◽

Evan Jon Propst ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Quality Improvement ◽

Quality Of Care ◽

Health System ◽

Interrupted Time Series ◽

Improve Quality ◽

Interrupted Time Series Analysis ◽

Quality Improvement Programme ◽

Improvement Programme

BackgroundTonsillectomy is among the most common and cumulatively expensive surgical procedures in children, with known variations in quality of care. However, evidence on health system interventions to improve quality of care is limited. The Quality-Based Procedures (QBP) programme in Ontario, Canada, introduced fixed episode hospital payment per tonsillectomy and disseminated a perioperative care pathway. We determined the association of this payment and quality improvement programme with tonsillectomy quality of care.MethodsInterrupted time series analysis of children undergoing elective tonsillectomy at community and children’s hospitals in Ontario in the QBP period (1 April 2014 to 31 December 2018) and the pre-QBP period (1 January 2009 to 31 January 2014) using health administrative data. We compared the age-standardised and sex-standardised rates for all-cause tonsillectomy-related revisits within 30 days, opioid prescription fills within 30 days and index tonsillectomy inpatient admission.Results111 411 children underwent tonsillectomy: 51 967 in the QBP period and 59 444 in the pre-QBP period (annual median number of hospitals, 86 (range 77–93)). Following QBP programme implementation, revisit rates decreased for all-cause tonsillectomy-related revisits (0.48 to −0.18 revisits per 1000 tonsillectomies per month; difference −0.66 revisits per 1000 tonsillectomies per month (95% CI −0.97 to −0.34); p<0.0001). Codeine prescription fill rate continued to decrease but at a slower rate (−4.81 to −0.11 prescriptions per 1000 tonsillectomies per month; difference 4.69 (95% CI 3.60 to 5.79) prescriptions per 1000 tonsillectomies per month; p<0.0001). The index tonsillectomy inpatient admission rate decreased (1.12 to 0.23 admissions per 1000 tonsillectomies per month; difference −0.89 (95% CI −1.33 to −0.44) admissions per 1000 tonsillectomies per month; p<0.0001).ConclusionsThe payment and quality improvement programme was associated with several improvements in quality of care. These findings may inform jurisdictions planning health system interventions to improve quality of care for tonsillectomy and other paediatric procedures.

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Exploring clinicians’ perspectives on the ‘Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury Care Bundle’ national quality improvement programme: a qualitative study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035674 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. e035674 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Posy Bidwell ◽

Ranee Thakar ◽

Ipek Gurol-Urganci ◽

James M Harris ◽

Louise Silverton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Improvement ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Anal Sphincter ◽

Implementation Strategies ◽

Care Bundle ◽

Quality Improvement Programme ◽

Anal Sphincter Injury ◽

National Quality ◽

Registration Number ◽

Improvement Programme

IntroductionObstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI) can have severe debilitating consequences to women and health systems. The OASI Care Bundle quality improvement programme was introduced in 16 maternity units across England, Scotland and Wales (January 2017 to March 2018) to address increasing OASI rates.ObjectivesTo explore clinicians’ (midwives’ and obstetricians’) perspectives of the OASI Care Bundle with respect to (1) acceptability, (2) feasibility, and (3) sustainability.DesignA qualitative exploratory study using focus groups methodology.SettingA total of 16 focus groups were conducted in 16 maternity units in England, Scotland and Wales where the OASI Care Bundle was implemented. Focus groups took place approximately 3 months following initial implementation of the care bundle in each unit.ParticipantsA total of 101 clinicians participated, with an average of six per focus group. Participants volunteered to take part and compromised of 37 obstetricians and 64 midwives (including eight students). The majority were female and the mean age was 36.5 years.ResultsFour main themes emerged: ‘Implementation strategies’, ‘Opportunities to use the OASI Care Bundle’, ‘Does current practice need to change?’ and ‘Perceptions of what women want’. Midwives were more likely than obstetricians to report themes alluding to ‘what women want’ and variations in intrapartum perineal protection techniques. Both professional groups reported similar views of other themes, in particular regarding the supporting clinical evidence. Gaps were identified in clinicians’ knowledge and experience of intrapartum perineal management.ConclusionsAdoption of the OASI Care Bundle was associated with a number of cognitive and interpersonal factors, such as personal values, interprofessional working and how the intervention was launched; which both facilitated and impeded adoption. The ‘what women want’ theme has implications for maternal autonomy and needs further exploration. Our findings can be used by similar initiatives to reduce perineal trauma both nationally and internationally.Trial registration numberISCTRN 12143325; https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN12143325.

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