Impact of Multi-Disciplinary Team in Implementing Clinical Audit Recommendations to Improve Health Educators' Practice at Primary Care in Qatar.

Abstract

Background: Health educators play a vital role in primary care by educating patients on the significance of maintaining good health and preventive measures, especially in the case of chronic illnesses. Evaluating the impact of their efforts is essential to ensure the delivery of high-quality patient care.

Method: A multi-layered process involves pre-intervention analysis of 180 health records, followed by a SWOT analysis to identify necessary interventions, facilitated by a multidisciplinary team to enhance the quality of practice. Subsequently, a post-intervention re-audit is conducted with a sample size of 236 health records to assess any changes in measured parameters.

Results: The initial health education and learning needs assessment compliance was 41% during the baseline evaluation but increased to 81% (P = .001) post-intervention. Social history review improved from 54% to 75% (P = .198) following the intervention. Mental health screening for anxiety and depression was done on 67% of patients initially, but compliance rose to 98% (P ≤ .001) post-intervention. Problem list documentation reached 100%(P ≤ .001) compliance post-intervention, up from 44% during the baseline assessment. In the initial evaluation, it was found that 56% of patients were provided with health education and follow-up guidance. After the intervention, this number increased to 79%(P = .013). During the baseline assessment, 35% of patients underwent follow-up assessments, including a review of previous goals and their achievement status. This percentage significantly improved to 92%(P = .001) after the intervention. Additionally, 47% of patients received a follow-up plan with new goals and instructions before the intervention, but this improved to 90% (P = .004) afterwards. The overall compliance rate during the baseline assessment was 51%, which increased to 88% following the intervention, indicating a significant improvement in the health educator's practice.

Conclusion: The involvement of a multidisciplinary team in implementing multifaceted post baseline recommendations was instrumental in enhancing the overall performance of health educators. The study results underscore the positive impact of this cooperation among different departments on the efficacy of health educators' practice. The SWOT analysis helped to examine various possibilities for implementing interventions to address existing gaps and enhance the quality of practice through positive changes.