Appointment Booking Research Articles

Understanding student preferences for one to one writing appointments post-pandemic

The academic writing scheme at the university is a near-peer service, which provides students with the opportunity to book one to one appointments with an academic writing tutor. All academic writing tutors are currently studying for their PhD and offer support to students with planning assignments, being critical, structuring their writing, understanding tutor feedback and referencing. When launched in 2019, all appointments took place in-person in the university library. When Covid-19 hit in March 2020, the service moved online, with appointments taking place over Microsoft Teams. However, with this, we noticed a drop in appointment bookings. Within this study, an online survey was conducted, and the 701 responses analysed to investigate students’ preferences in relation to the delivery of one to one writing appointments post-pandemic. The results indicated a preference for in-person appointments to be available, with 55.8% of the respondents choosing this. The main factor was the preference for communicating in-person as it allows for more questions and a natural conversation. However, there is clearly still an appetite for appointments to be delivered online, with postgraduate students in particular expressing an interest in this format. Students indicated that the accessibility of appointments for students who are not on campus regularly as the biggest factor for choosing online as their preference. It can be concluded that a hybrid model, where students can choose between the two appointment types is most appropriate, which along with increased targeted promotion to specific faculties and year groups, should increase the usage of the service.

Development and testing of a reduced carbohydrate intervention for the management of obesity and reduction of gestational diabetes (RECORD): protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial

IntroductionPrevious trials of dietary interventions to prevent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have yielded only limited success. Low-carbohydrate diets have shown promise for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but there...

P49 - Exploring the impact of a parenting information kit on experience of motherhood and maternal emotional wellbeing: a cluster randomised controlled trial

There are considerable gaps in education for new families, particularly for the most vulnerable. A parenting education resource (the ‘Kit'), developed by a tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Australia, aimed to provide evidence-based pregnancy and parenting information to prospective parents, from conception until one year after birth. The kit included; an educational book, an app and a children’s story book. The trial aimed to evaluate the impact of the ‘Kit’ on women’s experience of motherhood. Secondary aims were to evaluate the impact of the kit on maternal emotional wellbeing and parenting confidence. We undertook a two-arm cluster randomised controlled trial of first-time mothers, ≤30 weeks gestation, recruited at their pregnancy booking appointment. The intervention group received the Kit with content to be actively delivered by health professionals. The non-intervention group received standard hospital-based resources. Data were collected by telephone interview at six months assessing Experience of Motherhood Questionnaire (EMQ), and maternal emotional wellbeing using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Kessler 6 (K6). Of the 1034 women recruited, 599 women completed the follow-up interview; 301 and 298 in intervention and non-intervention arms respectively. Overall, there was no significant difference by trial arm for the EMQ ≤40 (n=415, 78.4% vs 75.6%, AOR 0.85 CI 0.53-1.36), EPDS ≥13 (n=351, 3.2% vs 3.1%, AOR 0.93 95% CI 0.27-3.19) and K6 ≥8 (n=352, 7.0% vs 9.0%, AOR 0.76, 95% CI 0.35-1.67) at six months after birth. Most women stated that their midwife or doctor never used the book (70%) or app (93%). There was no significant difference between trial arms. This may be due to the dilution and/or delivery of the intervention. Further research in this area should ensure high level engagement with staff delivering new interventions further informing the provision of pregnancy and early parenting information.

Characteristics of Electronic Health Services in Saudi Arabia During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: Saudi Arabia’s experience using digital technology during the COVID-19 pandemic helped the country in tackling the pandemic. We aim to explore a bundle of consumer-directed electronic health services released by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Saudi Arabia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: We reviewed all electronic health services that have been released in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by the MOH in Saudi Arabia. A list of the services has been prepared and each service has been explored in detail. The service terms and procedures have also been reviewed for pertinent information.Results: There were 13 services noted in total. Services were devoted to the general public and healthcare practitioners. Services ranged from simple appointment booking for the COVID-19 vaccine to interactive maps of all available healthcare centers and electronic prescriptions of medications. In addition, 10 applications were published for use on smartphones.Conclusion: The digitalization of healthcare services in Saudi Arabia has eased communication between the public and healthcare professionals. Furthermore, electronic health services served as an effective tool against the spread of COVID-19 infection during the pandemic.

Vaccination nudges: A study of pre-booked COVID-19 vaccinations in Sweden

A nudge changes people's actions without removing their options or altering their incentives. During the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the Swedish Region of Uppsala sent letters with pre-booked appointments to inhabitants aged 16–17 instead of opening up manual appointment booking. Using regional and municipal vaccination data, we document a higher vaccine uptake among 16- to 17-year-olds in Uppsala compared to untreated control regions (constructed using the synthetic control method as well as neighboring municipalities). The results highlight pre-booked appointments as a strategy for increasing vaccination rates in populations with low perceived risk.

Causes, impacts and possible mitigation of non-attendance of appointments within the National Health Service: a literature review

PurposeMissed appointments within the National Health Service (NHS) are a drain on resources, associated with not only considerable time and cost implications, but also sub-optimal health outcomes. This literature review aims to explore non-attendance within the NHS in relation to causes, impacts and possible mitigation of negative effects of missed appointments.Design/methodology/approachMEDLINE, CINAHL Plus and PubMed were searched with a date range of 2016–2021. Databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles published in English addressing non-attendance of adults within the NHS. Studies were excluded if they were theoretical papers, dissertations or research concerning patients aged under 18. A total of 21 articles met the inclusion criteria and were selected for analysis.FindingsThe results indicate a significant association of non-attendance and poor health outcomes. Patients from a lower socioeconomic status, adults aged over 85 and those with multiple co-morbidities are more likely to miss appointments. The most commonly reported patient-centred reasons for failing to attend were forgetfulness, transportation difficulties, and family commitments. Practice-specific reasons were cited as inefficiencies of the appointment booking system, failure of traditional reminders and inconvenient timings. Interventions included text reminder services, the inclusion of costs within reminders and enhanced patient involvement with the booking process.Originality/valueNon-attendance is complex, and to secure maximum attendance, targeted interventions are required by healthcare facilities to ensure patient needs are met. The adaption of scheduling systems and healthcare services can assist in reducing DNA rates.

Association between access to primary care and unplanned emergency department return visits among patients 75 years and older.

To identify factors associated with unplanned return visits to the emergency department (ED) among the population aged 75 years and older. Moreover, it aims to determine the association between patients' access to primary care and unplanned return visits. Data were collected from structured interviews, administrative databases, and medical charts at the index visits, and follow-up telephone calls were made at 3 months. Emergency departments of the 3 tertiary care hospitals in Montréal, Que. Community-dwelling patients aged 75 years and older. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression analysis was conducted of unplanned return visits within 3 months. Rate ratios (RRs) and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs are presented. During the study period, 4577 patients were identified, 2303 were recruited, and 1998 were retained for the analysis. Among the analysis sample, 33% were 85 and older, 34% lived alone, and 91% had a family physician. Before their ED visits, 16% of patients attempted to contact their family physicians. More than half of the patients reported having difficulty seeing their physicians for urgent problems, more than 40% had difficulty speaking with their family physicians by telephone, and more than one-third had difficulty booking appointments for new health problems. Within 3 months, 562 patients (28%) had made 894 return visits. Factors associated with a lower return visit rate included age 85 years and older (RR=0.80; 95% CI 0.67 to 0.96), less severe triage score (RR=0.83; 95% CI 0.74 to 0.92), and hospitalization at the index visit (RR=0.76; 95% CI 0.64 to 0.90). Factors that resulted in a higher return visit rate were difficulty booking appointments for new problems with their family physicians (RR=1.19; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.41), having had ED visits within the previous 6 months (RR=1.47; 95% CI 1.28 to 1.68), and higher Charlson comorbidity index scores (RR=1.06; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.11). Having had ED visits within the previous 6 months (OR=2.11; 95% CI 1.27 to 3.49), having a higher Charlson comorbidity index score (OR=1.41; 95% CI 1.19 to 1.68), and having received community care services (OR=3.00; 95% CI 0.95 to 9.53) also increased the odds of return visits. Although most people 75 years and older have a family physician, problems still exist in terms of timely access. Unplanned return visits to the ED are associated with having more comorbidities, having had previous ED visits, having already received community services, and having difficulty booking appointments with family physicians for new problems.

Assessment of glaucoma awareness, uptake, and satisfaction with a free, targeted glaucoma screening program Southwest in Nigeria.

Glaucoma is a global public eye health concern, being the number one cause of irreversible blindness. It is commoner, has an earlier onset, and is more aggressive in people of African descent. Awareness creation and screening activities have been identified as key components of the glaucoma care pathway. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study with analysis. The screening took place at the eye clinic, University College Hospital, Ibadan. Participants comprised all consenting adults aged 40 years and above who presented following a prescheduled telephone appointment during the 2021 World Glaucoma Week (WGW) activities. The main outcome variables were the awareness of glaucoma, and the uptake of and satisfaction with the free screening program. The associations between participants' prior awareness of glaucoma and their socio-demographic and clinical features were explored using the Chi-squared test. A P value of <0.05 was considered significant. A total of 94 (47%) participants presented for the screening out of the 200 people who scheduled an appointment through the telephone appointment booking system. Forty-nine (52.1%) were males, and the mean (SD) age of participants was 55 years (10.9) with a range of 40-80 years. Fifty-eight (61.7%) participants had heard of glaucoma before the 2021 WGW awareness programs and 75.9% (44) gained some new knowledge from the programs. Newly diagnosed glaucoma was 9.6% (n = 9) of which seven (77.8%) had advanced glaucoma (CDR ≥0.9) in at least one eye. One hundred percent of the participants reported that they would recommend the screening to others. Targeted eye screening can help with the early detection of glaucoma. Patient satisfaction should be at the fore of eye health services to improve uptake.

Humanizing the Physician-Patient Relationship

Humanizing the Physician-Patient Relationship

E-patients in Hungary: Digital health use and attitudes based on a representative nationwide survey

Introduction: The impact of digitalisation on healthcare has become one of the most important research areas in re-cent years. The COVID-19 epidemic has been a major driver in this process. Objective: In our nationally representative, population-based survey (n = 1500), we sought to find out how patients in Hungary use digital health tools, what the advantages and disadvantages of introducing and using these technolo-gies are, and how this is transforming the doctor-patient relationship. Methods: We conducted a national representative telephone questionnaire survey (CATI). The sample is representa-tive of the adult population of Hungary in terms of gender, age, type of settlement and education. Results: 81.3% of the respondents use the internet - 87.6% of whom use it in relation to health and illness, too. This is 71.2% of the total sample. Websites (76 .3%) and social media (47.3%) are the main sources of information on the internet; e-prescription and online appointment booking are the most known by patients (92.6% and 85.2%, respec-tively), while almost half of the respondents would like to try telehealth and would welcome a recommendation from their doctor on reliable websites, apps and sensors. Our results highlighted that the effect of the type of settlement on access to digital health is not significant, but that the effect of age, education and gender is decisive. Conclusion: Data from our national representative population survey indicate that the use of digital health solutions is already an integral part of care and that there is a strong demand for further digital options.

Behaviourally informed, patient-led interventions to reduce missed appointments in general practice: a 12-month implementation study.

Scalable, positive, behaviourally informed interventions may help people remember to attend their primary care appointment or cancel in good time, but have not yet been implemented long term. To examine effects of social norms and making active commitments on missed and cancelled appointments in primary care over 12 months and explore implementation factors. A mixed-methods design evaluation and implementation study led by a Patient Participation Group (PPG) member in a large GP practice in the West Midlands. Following a 6-month baseline, waiting room notices were redesigned to emphasise positive social norms for desired behaviours. When booking appointments, receptionists were trained to invite patients to (i) verbally actively commit to cancelling if needed; (ii) write down their own appointment details. Monthly missed appointments (MAs) and cancellations were statistically compared with baseline averages and seasonally equivalent months. To explore implementation, reception staff completed a knowledge, attitude, and behaviour questionnaire at 9 months, analysed descriptively. Study team field notes were thematically analysed. Across 12 intervention months there was a mean of 37.67 fewer MAs per month (20% reduction) and 102.66 more cancellations (21.07% increase) compared with 6-month baseline means [MAs t(11) = -6.15, P < 0.001; cancellations t(11) = 3.637, P = 0.004] with statistically significant differences in seasonally equivalent months [MAs t(5) = -4.65, P = 0.006; cancellations t(5) = 3.263, P = 0.022]. Receptionists (n = 12) reported implementing the strategies except when facing pressures; knowledge and attitudes varied. Behaviourally informed interventions reduced primary care MAs longer term; PPGs and practice teams can work together on quality improvement projects with support from leaders to prioritise and embed new practices.

Medbot

Although the majority of persons who get COVID-19 recover completely, current evidence suggests that 10% to 20% of those who recover experience a variety of mid- and long-term symptoms after their initial sickness. In the system Medbot: Artificial Intelligence based Interactive Chatbot for assisting with Telephonic Health Checkup Service after COVID-19, we use the NLP technique. Patients who use this system after finishing the Covid-19 must log in whenever they have symptoms. Patients use this system to get therapy at home, and if their symptoms are too severe, the system will refer them to a doctor. Patients can book appointments with doctors following Covid-19 if the chatbot gives a list of doctors. In this system, we use the FL approach to get accurate results. We guarantee 98.47 % while utilizing our technology.

An Advanced Mobile Application Powered with Machine Learning to Provide Improved Healthcare Services

Healthcare mobile applications are widely accepted by the health care organizations and patients due to user friendliness, low cost, reliable etc. Mobile Applications powered by artificial intelligence for processing health data and analysis can save cost and time for the diagnosis and management of diseases and makes health care more effective and efficient. Across the world many are affected by diabetes and hypertension and most of them do not have enough information about their diseases to manage and control them. Selecting suitable food, booking appointments and managing blood pressure and diabetes are major issues in managing diabetes and blood pressure. So a mobile application is developed using Google flutter framework with firebase database. The application focuses on managing the appointments for all types of patients, and monitoring diabetes and blood pressure to control and manage their diseases. The application helps the patients to book their appointments based on the crowd level on the selected date and to make emergency calls. This also provides food recommendation for patients based on its nutrition score, fat, protein and carbohydrate. It will improve patient’s lifestyle by having an education source in their hands to avoid the complications of various diseases.

Perinatal mental health services in pregnancy and the year after birth: the ESMI research programme including RCT

Perinatal mental health services in pregnancy and the year after birth: the ESMI research programme including RCT

Reducing Treatment Scheduling Errors in a Radiation Therapy Department

Aim: Appointment booking in radiation therapy is a highly manual process that cannot be easily automated within Mosaiq. As a result of significant manual data entry required by both the Radiation Therapy and Unit Coordinator teams, our incident reporting data consistently indicates that 1 out of 5 reports related to scheduling and scheduling is the 2nd most common incident type. Our aim is to reduce both frequency and impact of scheduling errors; to reduce the number of errors that reach the patient by 50% and those that do not reach the patient by 25%. We aim to reduce the overall number of scheduling related incidents by 25% and those related to treatment booking by 50%. Process: Data was obtained through our online incident reporting and learning software. Baseline data was collected for a period of 13 months with our first PDSA cycle beginning July, 2021, with a 3-month cycle time. Data was extracted based on the tag and point of origin with 75.3% of the reports originating with the process of appointment booking rather than request for booking. Analysis indicated that 52.6% were related to treatment bookings while 47.4% to simulation/other bookings. Subsequent thematic analysis of treatment booking errors showed 5 common themes: incorrect treatment dates, SBRT fractionation, wrong timeframe for review, review missing, and appointment status/comments incorrect. Processing mapping indicated an opportunity to add an independent quality check earlier in the workflow. A second check was created for the unit coordinators where the above criteria are independently checked within 24 hours after the appointments are initially booked. A fidelity check via QCL to track changes made during this step. Benefits/Challenges: Reducing scheduling errors is beneficial for both patient and staff. Scheduling errors can lead to delay in a patient receiving treatment, additional wait time at the center, decrease in patient experience and increased anxiety. Scheduling errors also contribute to rework and inefficiencies for staff, avoidable idle time of the treatment machines and increased potential for conflict between patient and staff. The primary challenge was in leading change as this project involved engagement not only within the Radiation Therapy team but also within the Unit Coordinator team. We were able to address this challenge by focusing on positive quality culture messaging, education and continued support. Impact/Outcomes: After completing 2 PDSA cycles, there remains opportunity for improvement in reducing the number of incidents that reach the patient; however, a positive trend indicates improvement in 50% of the sub-themes analyzed. Positive correlation was found between the use of the implemented second check and corresponding number of decreased incidents reported by staff. Improvement is also seen in point of origin of errors indicating that fewer errors are originating from the booking process. The project has also provided us the opportunity to recognize additional contributing factors affecting scheduling processes including access to and use of standard operating procedures. We will be harnessing these learning opportunities for continued improvement.

Scarred survivors: gate keepers and gate openers to healthcare for migrants in vulnerable circumstances.

BackgroundThe main barriers to ‘vulnerable migrants’ receiving good quality primary care are language and administration barriers. Little is known about the experiences of healthcare discrimination faced by migrants from different cultural groups. The aim was to explore vulnerable migrants’ perspectives on primary healthcare in a UK city.MethodsThree focus groups and two semi-structured interviews were aided by interpreters. These were analysed against a pre-developed framework based on national standards of care for vulnerable migrants. Recruitment was facilitated via a community organisation.ResultsIn total, 13 participants took part, six women and seven men. There were five Arabic speakers, four Farsi speakers and four English speakers. Themes included access to primary care, mental health, use of interpreters, post-migration stressors and cultural competency.ConclusionVulnerable migrants perceived high levels of discrimination and reported the value of a respectful attitude from health professionals. Appointment booking systems and re-ordering medication are key areas where language barriers cause the most disruption to patient care. Medication-only treatment plans have limitations for mental distress for this population. Community-based therapies which manage post-migration stressors are likely to enhance recovery.

Aarogya Centre- A Complete Healthcare Website

Abstract: During the COVID-19 pandemic, everybody was forced to restrict their human interaction to avoid the spread of coronavirus. All the doctors and other employees in the medical industry were working day and night to eradicate the virus. Getting health-related consultation from doctors was risky as an individual had to physically go to a doctor for a checkup. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the fastest-growing field and is expanding rapidly in other work sectors including the medical sector. Our proposed system is to develop a platform in which all queries related to health can be fulfilled. To start, every individual will need to create a profile on the platform by providing a few details. The user can insert their previous medical records onto the profile so that they can store their entire medical history in one place. On the platform, there will be three modules, chatbot, video chat, and appointment booking. The chatbot can predict the disease and give healthcare advice according to details provided by the user. In the video chat module, the user will be able to communicate with a doctor through video call or only through chat. In the appointment booking module, users can book an appointment with different doctors and hospitals for checkups. With the help of the platform, an individual can save a lot of time and money for simple health-related problems. The platform would also be beneficial for people living in remote areas as they can easily access good medical consultations. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Chatbot, Web Development, Prediction, Disease, Query Processing.

Car Service Slot Booking System

Abstract: The purpose of implementing this application was for users to book a slot for car servicing by using the car bath app. The automobile Car Bath industry is additionally growing staggeringly and automobile owners favor requesting cleanup services through their mobile devices. To make the automotive wash programming computer code additional reliable, distinctive panels are developed for all users. The service provider's panel advantages to showcasing and automatizing the entire automotive particularization and washing services business online are viable in a very single click. The options of our appointment booking computer code have created the net automotive wash system sturdy. easy showing the services, booking the appointments 24/7, the choice of fixing the service packages, on-line transactions, etc. area unit a number of the main characteristics to spice up productivity. This application is simple and users will book the automotive service squeeze the automotive Car Bath app. This application mostly saves time and human work free. Users can book the services at anytime and anywhere. This type of service is now growing very rapidly and the booking system is used very easily and more accessible. Now every ware there is all online services and just one click away. The car Bath app is allowed to book the slot for car service. By using this app customers can book the service at their flexible time. It's a user-friendly application. In this application customer, data will store very securely. By using this application customers can save time and energy. By using this app, we can book any type of vehicle for service. Currently, technology is very fast. People want to measure an expensive life with minimum physical work. This application is an android app that will be run on any android compatible tablet and portable. The app can alter any automobile user to book an appointment for automobile service. Index Terms: Car bath service, android application, booking, and user-friendly.

Online HealthCare Online Doctor Appointment Booking System

Abstract—The goal of this project is to create a web application that allows people to acquire prescriptions and recommendations from their preferred doctor without having to visit the hospital or schedule an appointment. Users of the 'Online E-Healthcare Online Doctor Appointment Booking System' do not need to visit a clinic to obtain prescriptions or medical advice. They simply become a registered member of our application and submit a prescription request to their favorite doctor. They must sign up with the registration number issued by the hospital at the time of their visit in order to become a member of our application. Guest users can search for information such as health recommendations, information about common medical conditions, and doctor availability in addition to registered members. Individual specialists and hospitals can also register using our service. As the administrator of this application, you have the ability to generate a variety of statistical reports. Any user who has logged in to our program me can sign out safely. Keywords—E- Healthcare, Medical Practice, Management System.

Pregnant women's awareness, knowledge, and attitudes about perinatal depression

BackgroundPerinatal depression (PD) is linked with a multitude of poor outcomes and far-reaching complications that extend within the whole family unit. A growing body of evidence suggests that measuring PD literacy levels, attitudes and awareness is important as these may influence a perinatal woman's ability to seek support. AimTo explore pregnant women's awareness, knowledge, and attitudes about PD and identify any personal characteristics which influence attitudes and beliefs about PD. MethodA mixed-method, cross-sectional survey design was adopted. The established Perinatal Depression Monitor Questionnaire was adapted for use amongst the local population. Pregnant women attending their antenatal booking appointment at Mater Dei Hospital, Malta, were recruited between April and July 2019. Descriptive data was generated, and a multivariate linear regression model was used to evaluate the relative influence of the sociodemographic variables on attitudes and beliefs towards PD. ResultsOut of 487 distributed questionnaires, 404 questionnaires were returned. While awareness of PD appeared to be high, there was limited understanding of the term PD. The sample was generally knowledgeable on the core signs and symptoms of PD. First help-seeking intentions generally revolved around family and friends. Attitudes towards PD and relevant screening measures were generally positive. Education, parity, gestational age, and marital status were identified as the main predictors of attitudes towards PD. ConclusionThis study exposed some shortcomings that ought to be addressed with appropriate education measures. The study findings are also valuable to policymakers in evaluating the introduction of PD screening services.