Updates
Nationalizing PE Patient Support Groups
Dr. Caprini and his assistant, Nancy Lala, hosted their first PE Support Group last week at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Illinois. The Support Group was a success with nearly 20 attendees. The next Support Group in Illinois is not yet scheduled, but is expected to be in January. If you are in the area, or interested in joining the Support Group, please contact Nancy Lala at NLala@northshore.org with any questions.
Here at NATF, Ruth Morrison and Kathryn Mikkelsen are continuing their efforts in nationalizing PE Patient Support Groups. For questions regarding hosting a PE Support Group in your area, please email Kathryn Mikkelsen at kzmikkelsen@partners.org.
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
The principal objective of this program is to create PE Support Groups across the United States which will improve patient education, enhance knowledge and provide psychological support to patients who have suffered a DVT or PE.
Specific goals and objectives that will be achieved throughout the duration of this program are:
- Increase the number of hospitals that adopt and maintain successful PE Support Groups.
- Cater to the unmet psychological needs of patients stricken with DVT or PE and their families.
- Foster patient education, awareness and advocacy.
- Encourage patients to work toward leading a heart healthy lifestyle.
- Educate healthcare providers (HCPs) on communication skills that will allow them to better counsel and educate patients in a Support Group setting.
- Develop a PE Support Group blog which will allow participating hospitals and Support Group members from around the United States to connect.
- Develop and employ a five-phase evaluation instrument that measures patient participation, learning, and whether psychological needs have been understood and met.
- Develop and employ an evaluation instrument that measures HCP satisfaction with creating a PE Support Group, ease of creating a PE Support Group, and whether they feel their institution has successfully implemented a PE Support Group.
- Publish a document on how to successfully create and maintain a Support Group.
Program objectives will be measured using a written survey instrument that will be administered periodically (via www.surveymonkey.com).
These outcomes will be evaluated in two distinct phases:
Phase 1: HCP will be asked fill out a written questionnaire that will evaluate their knowledge of how to start and maintain a successful Support Group, how successful they expect their Support Group to be, and what they expect the focus to be.
A separate written questionnaire will be distributed to patients who will be participating in the Support Group, asking them about their knowledge of DVT and PE, why they joined the Support Group and what they expect from the Support Group.
Phase 2: Approximately six months after the first Support Group meeting, HCPs will participate in an online written questionnaire that will evaluate: 1) The ease of implementing a PE Support Group, 2) how frequently they have been having Support Group meetings, 3) approximately how many members attended each meeting, 4) what the main focus of the meetings generally was, 5) difficulties that were encountered, 6) the likelihood of continuing to host PE Support Groups.
Patients will be asked to participate in an online written questionnaire that will evaluate: 1) What knowledge they gained, 2) whether their psychological needs have been met, 3) how many meetings they have attended, 4) the likelihood of continuing to attend meetings, 5) any lifestyle changes that may result from the meetings.
At each phase of the evaluation, HCPs and Support Group member satisfaction and knowledge will be quantified to measure improvements over time. Program refinements, revisions, and improvements will be based on evaluation data review to ensure continuous quality improvement and goal attainment over the 2-year span of this initiative.
An evaluation tool kit will be created and distributed to participating HCPs to help them measure program outcomes.
This is a two year project.
