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PROS Defining Patient Visits Study
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Protocol Overview:
The Defining Patient Visits Study is divided into two phases:
Phase 1: Traditional Paper/Pencil Data Collection
- "Active" PROS practices, stratified by geographic region, will be asked to participate with the goal of recruiting a practitioner from 40 different practices. An active practice is one that has had at least one practitioner complete a PROS study in the last 5 years.
- Each participating practitioner must complete a Primary Care Network Survey: Clinician Interview (PRINS_1) that collects general demographic and practice information.
- The participating practitioner will also complete a short Primary Care Network Survey: Patient Record Form (PRINS_2) on 30 patient visits during the data collection period. Data will be obtained on variables including patients' symptoms, physicians' diagnoses, and medications ordered or provided. All data are routinely collected as part of medical practice.
- Each practitioner will maintain a Patient Visit Worksheet and an Enrollment Log that tracks each patient visit for sample selection and reference purposes. A Daily Summary Sheet and Missing Information Chart will also be completed for accuracy and error-reduction.
- There will be two fielding time periods for this study. The first group will collect data during a 1 to 2-week period between March 1 and April 30, 2002 ("acute-care season'). The second group will collect data during a 1 to 2-week period between May 1 and June 30, 2002 ("well-child season").
- At the study's conclusion, practitioners will be provided with a final study report. In addition, participating practitioners will have the opportunity to participate as a paper author on peer-reviewed manuscripts arising from the project.
Honorarium: Practitioners who complete the study in March 2002 will receive the regular honorarium of $50 plus an additional $100 for participating on short notice. Practitioners who complete the study in April, May or June 2002 will receive $50.
Phase 2: Paper/Pencil vs. Web Data Collection
- PROS and National Medical Association (NMA) practices will be asked to participate with the goal of recruiting 37 PROS practitioners and 3 NMA practitioners. Practitioners must also have access to the Internet.
- Each of the 40 Phase 2 participants will be randomized into one of two groups. In week one, the first group will complete 30 PRINS_2s (as described in Phase 1) using a practitioner-specific password-protected electronic form on the Members Only area of the PROS home webpage. This group will complete another 30 PRINS_2s the following week using traditional paper/pencil technology. The second group will collect like numbers of patients but will employ the paper/pencil technology in week one and the web technology in week two.
- Each practitioner will maintain a Patient Visit Worksheet and an Enrollment Log that tracks each patient visit for sample selection and reference purposes. A Daily Summary Sheet and Missing Information Chart will also be completed for accuracy and error-reduction.
- At the end of the study, participating practitioners will be asked to conduct a Chart Audit on 10 randomly selected patient visits from the paper/pencil portion of the study and 10 randomly selected patient visits from the web portion of the study. In addition, they will be asked to complete a one-page Post-Study Evaluation Questionnaire indicating their experience with each method.
Honorarium: Practitioners who complete Phase 2 will receive $100. Practitioners who complete both Phase 1 and Phase 2 (a total of 60 PRINS_2s) will be reimbursed $150.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Because of the sensitive nature of this study, every effort has been made to ensure the privacy of each practitioner, practice and patient. Statute 42 U.S.C. 259 a(1C) which created the funding agency, AHRQ, contains strong confidentiality protection. The statute states that information obtained cannot be used for any purpose other than the purpose for which it was supplied. To further maintain this confidentiality, all patient names and records will remain in the office. The results of this study will be reported in aggregate.
| Core support for the PROS network is provided by a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration Maternal and Child Health Bureau |  |
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