title: Can the APO method be used for measuring soft data?: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims were to develop auditing according to the APO (Audit Project Odense) method for measuring soft data, exemplified by a holistic view, and to test the instrument.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive study of the development of an APO chart and a test registration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary health care, Blekinge County, Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten general practitioners (GPs) were invited to transform categories of the concept of a holistic view obtained in an earlier study, into 30 variables on an APO registration chart. The participants chose to study different kinds of knowledge as aspects of holistic care.
  
  
  METHODS
  An APO registration chart and test of the instrument.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After three meetings the group had drawn up an APO registration chart supplemented with Likert scales. A pilot audit was performed. Eight doctors registered 255 consultations. In assessment of the patients' problems, factual medical knowledge was important in 83% of the cases, familiarity in 53%, and a capacity for judgement in 36%. In decision-making factual medical knowledge was used in 88% and capacity for judgement in 58%. A holistic view was necessary for the outcome in 43% and valuable in 25%. The GPs used the Likert scales in a majority of the cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this first step in developing an instrument, the results indicate that the APO method could be an alternative for studying what happens in the consultation, and the occurrence of an abstract phenomenon such as the use of different kinds of knowledge as part of a holistic view.
authors: Lund University, Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, General Practice/Family Medicine, Malmö, Sweden. eva-lena.strandberg@med.lu.se
authors: Eva Lena
authors: EL
authors: Strandberg
authors: Ingvar
authors: I
authors: Ovhed
authors: Anders
authors: A
authors: Håkansson
authors: Margareta
authors: M
authors: Troein
mesh_terms: D003718:Denmark; D058006:General Practice / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012042:Registries