4 results
Getting Better: How Well Are We Assessing and Managing Anxiety Disorders in Community Camhs?
- Harriet Greenstone, Juliet Prentice, Luciana Matone
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 9 / Issue S1 / July 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 July 2023, pp. S91-S92
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Aims
Anxiety disorders are a common presenting problem for young people under the care of Melksham Community CAMHS. Guidelines from NICE outline recommendations for best practice in assessment and treatment of these disorders. A local gap analysis in 2017 identified areas for improvement in assessment of anxiety disorders. Measures were implemented following this, including training for staff. A repeat audit was conducted in 2021 and results compared.
MethodsNICE guidelines were used to set audit standards, which were used for data collection in both 2017 and 2021. A proforma was developed. A pilot sample of five patients was used to test the proforma. A cut off of 80% compliance was used. Caseload screening by clinicians was used to identify all eligible patients, then a random sample of these was selected by the project leads. Case note review was then conducted. Patients with a diagnosis of autism were excluded from the sample. ROMS, SDQ, GAD-7 or general clinical observation was used as a measure of treatment response. In total in the 2021 sample, 22 patient records were audited.
ResultsTreatment and follow up for anxiety disorders was good or excellent in 2017 and remained so in 2021. Areas for improvement lay in the assessment of anxiety disorder. In the 2017 audit, there was poor documentation of: mental health history (this had improved from unacceptable to good by 2021), past treatments (improved from unacceptable to requires improvement by 2021), family history (improved from unacceptable to good by 2021), domestic violence/CSA (improved from unacceptable to requires improvement by 2021). Response to treatment was inconsistently documented in the 2017 audit. In 2021 there remained some inconsistencies in documentation. Improvements in recording response to treatment would assist with clearly evidencing compliance with the NICE standards.
ConclusionOverall, treatment and follow up for anxiety disorders was good or excellent (and remained so in 2021). Areas for improvement lay in the assessment of anxiety disorder. Recommendations to promote ongoing improvement include: 1) Circulation of re-audit results to the team 2) Brief recap of guidelines on assessment of social anxiety disorder to the team 3) Written/ email reminder to consider and document the other areas that received less than 80% compliance 4) Continue use of ROMS. Effective assessment and management of anxiety disorder is an important area of clinical practice for all clinicians in the team; we would recommend this is re assessed in 2023 to ensure standards continue to improve.
Psychiatrists’ Experiences of the Transition From Trainee to Consultant: A Qualitative Study
- Harriet Greenstone, Elizabeth Anderson
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 9 / Issue S1 / July 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 July 2023, pp. S23-S24
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Aims
Population mental health relies on retention of a skilled mental health workforce, including consultant psychiatrists. The purpose of this study was to explore UK psychiatrists’ experiences, expectations, and reflections about the transition from trainee to consultant. By exploring the transition experience, it was hoped that ideas could be generated which might inform ways of supporting psychiatrists during this period.
MethodsA qualitative approach was used to gather rich, detailed data about individuals’ experiences. The sample population was a large NHS mental health trust in the South West of the UK. Stratified purposeful sampling was used, allowing focus on three distinct groups of psychiatrists at different stages of transition. Four trainees, four Specialty Doctors and nine new consultant psychiatrists were interviewed 1-1 by the lead researcher. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis.
ResultsPsychiatrists’ experiences of transition centred on three major themes: Facing the Real World, Learning from Others, and Being Myself. These themes were connected by central concepts of belonging and identity. New consultants must survive the challenges associated with transition, and establish professional identity as a consultant; an authentic sense of self-in-role. This relied on the psychiatrist's establishment of a sense of identity, industry and belonging within professional communities.
ConclusionTransition is unique for each individual but there are common aspects, and study of seventeen individuals’ experiences enriched understanding of the transition period. Clinicians and managers must not underestimate the challenges faced at transition. This matters for the specialty; consultants form a small proportion of the workforce, but their functioning has a major impact. It would be detrimental to care provision if difficulties at consultant transition resulted in attrition of psychiatrists. The main recommendation is development of a trust-level transition programme to provide support to individuals, which could also be of value to the organisation and wider profession.
Induction shouldn't be painful: improving psychiatry local induction for junior doctors across the South West
- Bethany Cole, Harriet Greenstone
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 7 / Issue S1 / June 2021
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 18 June 2021, p. S16
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Aims
The GMC recommends that organisations ensure learners have an induction in preparation for each placement. We aimed to ensure that high quality induction was being delivered in psychiatry posts across the whole of the Severn Deanery. This included multiple localities (Bristol, Bath, Swindon, Devizes, Weston-Super-Mare, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Taunton and Yeovil) across three NHS trusts.
BackgroundInduction plays a vital role in preparing doctors for their new roles. Crucially, some doctors are not only new to the specific role and site, but also new to the specialty (for example, Foundation Doctors and GP Trainees). In Severn, each locality takes responsibility for providing Junior Doctors with a locality-specific induction; these occur four times per year. Previous feedback from trainees in Severn was poor; as demonstrated by informal feedback and the August 2018's GMC survey results, showing some localities ‘required improvement’.
MethodPre- and post-intervention measurements were ascertained by written questionnaires for Foundation Doctors, GP Trainees and Core Trainees in Psychiatry. Baseline questionnaires were completed in August/September 2019. Five ‘Plan, Do, Study, Act’ Cycles were completed over the following eighteen months. Examples of the changes made included incorporating ‘missed’ topics (such as wellbeing, seclusion reviews and exception reporting) and specific information to on-call responsibilities, reducing replicated information, and touring clinical sites. These changes were coordinated via monthly meetings between Locality Trainee Leads (LTLs).
ResultThere was an overall improvement in trainee's satisfaction with induction. Outcomes also included the development of an induction checklist specific to each locality and a ‘gold standard’ list for what local induction should involve. This is hopefully soon to be ratified by the Medical Education department and Severn Deanery.
ConclusionHaving worked on this project for over 18 months, sustainability of change remains a crucial issue. In response to this, we have established several recommendations: the LTL job role needs to be revised to include updating the written induction handbook in each locality and delivering face-to-face induction. Outgoing and incoming LTLs will plan each induction together, at least 4 to 8 weeks before the start date. Support from Medical Education regarding attendees at each induction is to be put in place. Handbooks will be shared across localities, so that the ‘core’ information is consistent. Ongoing feedback will ensure that Junior Doctors continue to receive a high quality and relevant induction.
Severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases risk for later neurological and motor sequelae in preterm survivors
- Annette Majnemer, Patricia Riley, Michael Shevell, Rena Birnbaum, Harriet Greenstone, Allan L Coates
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- Journal:
- Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology / Volume 42 / Issue 1 / January 2000
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 26 January 2006, pp. 53-60
- Print publication:
- January 2000
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Preterm children who develop severe chronic lung disease may be developmentally compromised by exposure to hypoxic episodes. This study aims to determine if children with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) who required home oxygen therapy were at greater risk for neurological and motor deficits at school age than preterm peers without BPD. This study evaluated 27 subjects with BPD and 27 preterm control infants matched for gestational age, birthweight, sex, and year of birth at a mean age of 9.9 years (2.0 SD) using standardized neuromotor outcome measures. Pair-matched comparisons and regression analyses were used to determine if subjects with BPD were at increased risk for neuromotor sequelae. Neurological abnormalities, including subtle neurological signs, cerebral palsy, microcephaly, and behavioral difficulties were highly prevalent in the BPD group (71% compared with 19% in control group, P<0.005). Over half the BPD cohort had difficulties in gross and/or fine motor skills. There were significant differences in postural stability between groups. Duration of hospitalization and home oxygen treatment, and decreased lung function at school age, markers of severity of illness, correlated with motor outcomes. The findings underline the importance of preventing the cardiorespiratory complications associated with chronic lung disease to minimize disability in preterm children. For children with severe BPD, better recognition and subsequent remediation of neuromotor impairments that manifest at school age may help maximize their functional potential.