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Does direct referral after an abnormal smear improve patient experience?
Hilary Jefferies1, Amanda Sutton, K K Chan
1Birmingham Women's NHS Foundation Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Nursing Times
|March 10, 2009
Summary
The direct referral policy significantly reduced waiting times for women with abnormal cervical smears. While patient information improved, some women still reported receiving no information, highlighting the need for ongoing evaluation of patient care pathways.
Area of Science:
- Gynecologic Oncology
- Public Health Policy
- Patient Pathway Analysis
Background:
- Process-mapping identified significant delays in treatment referral for women with abnormal cervical smears at Birmingham Women's Hospital.
- A direct referral policy was implemented in 2007 to expedite patient care as part of a larger regional initiative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of the direct referral policy on the patient experience.
- To assess changes in patient information provision and overall clinical experience.
Main Methods:
- An integrated survey, collecting quantitative and qualitative data, was administered to 200 patients.
- The survey was repeated with another 200 patients after the introduction of a new patient information booklet.
Main Results:
- The direct referral policy successfully reduced the time women waited for colposcopy appointments after an abnormal smear.
- Improvements were noted in the information provided to patients, though some still reported receiving no information.
Conclusions:
- Evaluating changes in care delivery, such as the direct referral policy, is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
- While surveys are valuable, they may not fully capture the nuances of a patient's clinical experience, necessitating complementary assessment methods.