Improving patient-education assessment skills of hospital staff: a case study in diabetes.
While the importance of collecting patient education data of high quality is well established, few studies have examined the quality of patient educational assessment procedures. Utilizing a standardized instrument and assessment protocol, an observational trial of nine insulin-controlled adult diabetics was conducted using pairs of trained patient assessors. Although the overall mean percent agreement for the first trial was very good (90%), lack of agreement was noted for several important subcategories. A training program was conducted to improve accuracy, addressing the assessment problems found in the first trial. A second rater trial found an overall level of rater agreement of 99%. This study confirmed that routine assessment of patients should be periodically monitored using the quality control methods described to ensure program data of high quality.
D000407:Alabama; D003071:Cognition; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000523:psychology*; D006743:Hospital Bed Capacity, under 100; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*