Improving Patient-Centredness in Endometriosis Care: A Study Protocol for a Prospective Study with a Mixed-Methods
Anneke M F Schreurs1, Charlotte I van Schaijik1, Bianca De Bie2
1Endometriosis Center, Department of Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation
|November 28, 2021
Summary
This study used focus groups to identify ways to improve patient-centred endometriosis care. The findings offer a strategy for enhancing care in endometriosis clinics and other chronic disease settings.
Area of Science:
- Gynaecology
- Patient-centred care
- Mixed-methods research
Background:
- Endometriosis is a chronic condition causing pain and infertility, necessitating long-term patient management.
- Current care for endometriosis lacks definitive cures, highlighting the need for improved patient-centred approaches.
- The ENDOCARE questionnaire (ECQ) is a validated tool for assessing patient-centredness in endometriosis care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance patient-centred care for women with endometriosis.
- To utilize focus groups to understand and address targets for improvement identified by the ECQ.
- To develop and implement a clinic-specific improvement plan for endometriosis care.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, mixed-methods study involving 5 steps: ECQ evaluation, understanding improvement targets via focus groups, drafting an improvement plan, implementation, and final evaluation.
- The ECQ was administered to women with endometriosis at the beginning and 1.5 years after implementing improvements.
- Focus groups engaged women with endometriosis to discuss ECQ findings and propose solutions, with input from healthcare providers and a patient organization.
Main Results:
- The study protocol outlines a structured approach to identify and address deficits in patient-centred endometriosis care.
- Focus groups are proposed as a method to explore underlying causes of suboptimal patient-centredness.
- The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a collaborative improvement plan developed by patients and healthcare providers.
Conclusions:
- Focus groups can effectively identify interventions to improve patient-centred endometriosis care by exploring reasons for poor performance.
- The developed improvement plan involves collaboration between patients and healthcare providers, with providers taking responsibility for implementation.
- This protocol offers a transferable strategy for improving patient-centred care in other endometriosis centers and chronic disease management settings.
