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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Regis Blais, PhD, Department of Health Administration, University of Montreal, PO Box 6128, Station Centre-ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada, (514) 343-5907, regis.blais@umontreal.ca and Claudine Laurier, PhD, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, PO Box 6128, Station Centre-ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada.

Background and Objectives: Feedback, defined as a summary of clinical performance over a specified period of time that is given back to a professional for practice improvement, has been shown to have some impact on prescribing practices. However, no typology of feedback modalities exists to help sort out what kind of feedback is more useful and what is less useful. The objective of this presentation is to propose a typology of feedback interventions structured around a valid yet simple conceptual framework. Methods: A literature search was performed using the key words “feedback, interventions and prescribing”. The different types of feedback modalities were classified according to the classical model of communication process developed by McGuire: who (Source) says what (Message), how (Channel), to whom (Target) and why (Purpose). Results: The Source includes the characteristics of the organization that sends the feedback (e.g. government, professional, academic, national, local). The Message pertains to the nature of the feedback, the aggregation level, whether there are comparisons with peers or scientific norms, etc. The Channel by which the feedback is transmitted corresponds to the material means, frequency and whether there is an interactive process or incentive. The Target defines the types of professionals who receive the feedback, their performance level and their work setting. The Purpose specifies the approach (sanctional or formative) and the intention (modify, reduce or increase a given behaviour). Conclusions: McGuire model of communication process provides a useful framework to guide both the design of feedback interventions and the study of their effectiveness. Feedback interventions can be an important tool for health care quality improvement.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• List the five components of the McGuire model of communication process as they relate to feedback interventions to professionals regarding their medication prescribing practices
• Classify various modalities of feedback interventions into the five components of the McGuire model

Keywords: Prescription Drug Use Patterns, Quality Improvement

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered