The following is a summary of “Screening for Quality of Life in a Neurology Tic Clinic Using Quality Improvement Methodology,” published in the February 2024 issue of Pediatrics by Morgan al.

Tic disorders in children often coincide with other conditions that profoundly affect their daily functioning. Screening for quality of life (QoL) can be instrumental in discerning optimal treatment approaches. This quality improvement (QI) initiative delineates the integration of a QoL measure into a bustling neurology clinic to facilitate targeted psychological interventions for patients with tic disorders.

Following the Institute for Healthcare Improvement guidelines, this study incorporated the PedsQL Generic Core (4.0) into an outpatient neurology clinic specializing in diagnosing and managing tic disorders. The study identified gaps in the screening protocol by assembling a research team to devise process maps and key driver diagrams. Iterative plan-do-study-act cycles were conducted to refine patient selection for QoL assessment. Over the three years, electronic health record tools and data collection were increasingly leveraged to capture patient information during visits.

During the assessment period, over 350 distinct patients underwent screening. Progressively, electronic modes supplanted paper-based measures. The proportion of patients completing the assessment surged from 0% to 51.9% following initial process enhancements, escalating to 91.6% with the introduction of electronic measures. This robust completion rate was sustained for 15 months.

Employing QI methodology facilitated the practical implementation of QoL assessments to augment screening practices in a bustling medical clinic. Timely review of assessments during appointments informed treatment strategies and referrals effectively.

Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S088789942400050X