Aspects Of Subjective Quality Research Articles

Comparing simulated client experiences with phone survey self-reports for measuring quality of information given in family planning counseling: The case of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate – subcutaneous (DMPA-SC) in Nigeria

Background: The quality of family planning services can have important implications for uptake and continued method use. The aim of this analysis is to examine aspects of quality related to information provided for a new injectable contraceptive method, DMPA-SC (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate – subcutaneous, known as Sayana Press®), service provision and contraceptive services more broadly in Nigeria. Methods: We compared self-reports from follow-up phone surveys with users to simulated client interactions that were designed to measure the same concepts. Through mixed-methods, we sought to more deeply understand the biases associated with different data collection methods that ultimately lead to different conclusions regarding quality of information provided in contraceptive services, and to further assess to what extent these methods were suitable for detecting differences in quality across sub-groups using the case of married versus unmarried women. Results: We found that simulated clients reported lower levels of informational quality across all comparable quality indicators than phone survey respondents attending the same facilities. Both methods were able to detect differential treatment by marital status. Conclusions: A mixed-methods approach can provide differential insights into informational quality of family planning services, especially when aiming to understand both objective and subjective aspects of quality.

Calidad de la atención en el servicio de cirugía ambulatoria desde la percepción del usuario

Introducción. La satisfacción del usuario es considerada un componente importante en la calidad de la prestación de los servicios hospitalarios. El modelo SERVQHOS permite evaluar la percepción del usuario en los diferentes servicios.Objetivo. Identificar la percepción del usuario en relación con la calidad del servicio de cirugía ambulatoria en una institución prestadora de servicios de salud en Boyacá, Colombia.Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio de tipo descriptivo y de corte transversal con un enfoque cuantitativo para analizar las dimensiones objetivas y subjetivas de la calidad en la prestación del servicio de cirugía ambulatoria.Resultados. En las variables sociodemográficas se destaca: predominio del sexo femenino, edad promedio de 47.5 años y nivel de escolaridad de bachillerato. Según la evaluación con la escala SERVQHOS, los aspectos mejor valorados por los usuarios de la calidad subjetiva son la amabilidad del personal, el trato personalizado y la confianza, mientras que en la calidad objetiva se destacan la apariencia del personal, la señalización, la tecnología y la apariencia de la infraestructura.Conclusión. La percepción del paciente sobre la calidad de los servicios se ha convertido en un factor determinante para establecer planes de mejora dentro de las actividades administrativas de las instituciones prestadoras de servicios de salud.

Comparing simulated client experiences with phone survey self-reports for measuring the quality of family planning counseling: The case of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate – subcutaneous (DMPA-SC) in Nigeria

Background: The quality of family planning services can have important implications for uptake and continued method use. The aim of this analysis is to examine aspects of quality for a new injectable contraceptive method, DMPA-SC (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate – subcutaneous, known as Sayana Press®), service provision and contraceptive services more broadly in Nigeria. Methods: We compared self-reports from follow-up phone surveys with users to simulated client interactions that were designed to measure the same concepts. Through mixed-methods, we sought to more deeply understand the biases associated with different data collection methods that ultimately lead to different conclusions regarding quality of contraceptive services, and to further assess to what extent these methods were suitable for detecting differences in quality across sub-groups using the case of married versus unmarried women. Results: We found that simulated clients reported lower levels of quality across all comparable quality indicators than phone survey respondents attending the same facilities. Both methods were able to detect differential treatment by marital status. Conclusions: A mixed-methods approach can provide differential insights into quality of family planning services, especially when aiming to understand both objective and subjective aspects of quality.

Construct and validation of a quality of life's scale for older French people

Given changing and subjective aspects of quality of life, the current assessment scales are often encompassing and not very adapted for older people. Thus, the present validation study has several objectives: 1) To elaborate a specific measure of the quality of life of older people, given the characteristics and problems of this population; 2) To propose a simple scale to use for any health care professional and fast passation to encourage the inclusion of such measures in the framework of a comprehensive care of the elderly; 3) To validate this scale in a large cohort of retired older farmers. This scale resulted in 14 items illustrating the various dimensions of quality of life of older people. It was then proposed for validation in a large cohort of retired elderly farmers of 65 years and over, and living at home. After exploratory factor analysis of subjects' responses to the EQVPA, five items were extracted explaining 48.8% of the total variance. Its internal consistency was satisfactory (Cronbach's alpha=0.72). The five items permitted to assess daily and social activities in environment, social and familial relationships, physical and functional health and mental health. The results showed that quality of life is significantly correlated with greater life satisfaction, more social support and social network, higher level of subjective health, lower level of functional impairments, lower level of anxious and depressive symptoms, and lower level of routinization. Validation of the tools such as EQVPA seems important for the prevention and preservation of the quality of life of older people.

Assessment of abstracts submitted to the annual scientific meeting of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists

The process for selecting abstracts submitted for presentation at annual scientific meetings should ensure both the quality of these meetings and fairness to prospective presenters. The aim of the present study was to review the assessment of radiation oncology abstracts submitted for oral presentation to the 2004 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists annual scientific meeting. Selection criteria were developed that were primarily focused on the subjective aspects of abstract quality. All research abstracts were reviewed blindly by five individual reviewers (four radiation oncologists and a statistician), scoring each abstract in five categories. The scores of three reviewers were used to select the top 30 general and top eight trainee entries. For comparison, cluster analysis using the scores of all five reviewers was used to group papers into two ranks. There was a strong correlation in total scores for each paper, between all reviewers. Similarly, the study design subscale was strongly correlated between all reviewers. Abstracts belonging to the first-rank cluster were generally selected. Most trainee entries would have been successful in being accepted into the general programme. The selection process described appears feasible and fair and may improve the quality of meetings.

Quality of life and the ICIDH: towards an integrated conceptual model for rehabilitation outcomes research

Objective: The development of the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH) has led to the assessment of a wider range of relevant rehabilitation outcomes, but a need for a further broadening exists. In this article, a new proposal for an extended ICIDH is made. Method: Review of the literature on quality of life and of attempts to integrate the World Health Organization (WHO) biopsychosocial model and the ICIDH. Results: Our review shows three operationalizations of the concept of quality of life: as health, as well-being and, preferably, as a superordinate construct. None of the attempts to integrate the WHO biopsychosocial model have been entirely successful. Our new proposal is characterized by (a) incorporation of the organ, person and social levels of the ICIDH, (b) distinction between objective and subjective aspects of quality of life as a second axis in the model, resulting in somatic sensations as the subjective part of the organ level, perceived health as the subjective part of the person level and domain- specific life satisfaction as the subjective part of the social level, and (c) separation of the concept of general well-being or happiness as being distinct from the ICIDH. The proposal model is intended to serve as a framework in which different outcomes can be positioned in relation to each other. Conclusion: Our model is intuitively appealing and remains close to familiar concepts and models. However, it is as yet far from perfect, and we hope to provoke discussion to help further refinement.