Improving Female Preventive Health Care Delivery through Practice Essay

Improving Female Preventive Health Care Delivery through Practice Change., (article review) - Essay Example 401). The authors noted however that despite the reduced or no cost access to the program, â€Å"the level breast and cervical cancer screening falls short of the ideal† (Backer et al., 2005, p. 401). As a result, the program was examined using the GAPs model with GAPS standing for â€Å"goal-setting, assessing existing routines, planning the modification of routines, and providing support for these improvements† (Backer et al., 2005, p. 402). The authors described the study as multi-method: a qualitative study design was used to describe the process of changes that took place in the implementation of the program while quantitative audits on mammogram and Papanicolaou test data were used to measure the success that was assumed to be related with the practice. The data that was used to assess the program involved observational field notes, audio-taped interviews with physicians and key staff, and chart reviews of the last female patients from 19 to 64 found in the clinic . Backer et al. (2005) led respondents to identify potential reforms in the EWM that can improve screening rates and advance key reforms that must be instituted in the program. Respondents identified several initiatives that may improve screening rates. ... Thirdly, it was suggested that the patient educational materials be more readily available. Fourthly, it was raised that the program creates a monthly computer-generated reminders for patients needing screening. Fifthly, it was proposed that a reminder system for patients be designed. Sixthly, it was recommended that a common fact sheet for all health providers be used. Finally, the recommendations were forwarded to increase the accessibility of the patient educational materials. Although these are the most practical recommendations of the research activity reported by Backer et al. (2005) in the discussion section of their papers, the authors focused on the theoretical aspects of their research initiative. In particular, Backer et al. (2005) stressed that their findings â€Å"support the concept of practices as unique, complex organizational systems† which may be hardly immediately relevant for the immediate and more important concern of improving clinical or public health st rategies; improving strategies and service delivery to promote preventive breast and cervical cancer screening. One important insight discussed in the discussion section of their research is that most practices are sometimes unable to institute change because of inertia. In other words, what is currently practiced tends to be perpetuated as practitioners tend to resist the movement to change: without friction, a body at rest tends to be rest while a body in motion tends to be in motion. However, a systems change model such as the GAPS can promote vigilance for systems change (Backer et al., 2005). II. Recommendations for Improving Every Woman Matters Program On reviewing the material of Backer et al. (2005), it is easy to see where the EWM program was probably weak. Firstly, while the