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Patient satisfaction / Public consultation -
Health Authority
A Strategic Health Authority wanted to establish which of three
options for the possible location of a future hospital and satellite clinics
was most popular with people living in the area. HRC was able to conduct
public meetings and focus groups with a large cross-section of local people
to hear their views and to present the three possible hospital plans. A
postal survey was then conducted to establish which option was most popular
with local patients, and the PCT was able to go ahead with their future development
with public backing.
Client:
Local Health Authority
Problem:
Need to know public opinion and preference of future hospital locations
Approach:
The Health Authority already had a series of public forums
planned to hear public opinion.
After consulting with HRC, focus groups with members of the public were held,
and 2000 anonymous questionnaires were sent to a cross section of local
people to establish what they wanted from local hospitals
Solution:
Analysis of the data allowed the Health Authority to understand which option
for the location of the future hospital was preferred
Duration:
Three months
Cost:
∙ Questionnaire design and deployment
∙ 6 Focus groups
∙ Statistical analysis
∙ Report-writing
∙ �3,200
Workplace Hazard Assessments - City Council
A city council with 350 employees in an office building had many
workers reporting physical symptoms such as coughs, dry eyes and
musculoskeletal pains. The city council's occupational health department had
conducted a symptom-survey of the workforce, but did not know how to analyse
the data. HRC was able to analyse the data and pin-point the specific type of
symptoms reported by workers. Analysis of the building plans and an
environmental / hygienic evaluation revealed physical hazards in the
workplace that were affecting many of the workers. The city council then took
simple measures to reduce exposure to the physical hazards for the workers,
and symptoms in the workers improved.
Client:
City Council
Problem:
Workplace ill-health in many workers with no known cause of symptoms
Approach:
The City Council had conducted a survey of workers' symptoms
and ill-health while at work, but did not know how to analyze the data
generated by the questionnaire survey
Solution:
HRC were able to analyze the data and investigate for a variety of possible
causes of ill-health. Further investigation using blueprints of the building
allowed steps to be made to reduce exposure to physical hazards in the
workplace.
Duration:
Two months
Cost:
∙ Coding of questionnaires and data entry
∙ Statistical analysis
∙ Report-writing
∙ �2,100
Intervention studies - Engineering Company
An engineering firm manufacturing gearboxes had many workers reporting irritancy and skin problems on their hands,
caused by the cutting oils they used while operating machinery. HRC was able
to trial a number of different barrier creams in the workplace with
volunteers from the shop floor, and during rest-breaks, the workers were
examined. After improvements were clinically observed in the hands and skin
of many workers, the company was able to make the evidence-based decision for
purchasing and providing two types of barrier cream for their workers.
Client:
Engineering Company, Birmingham
Problem:
Deciding which barrier cream would protect workers' hands best
Approach:
After consultation with HRC, the engineering company recruited
volunteers from the workforce to take part in the research. Worker's hands
were clinically examined every other day over two weeks, and they applied the
two types of barrier creams to their hands everyday.
Solution:
After two weeks of measuring workers' hands and skin, HRC analyzed the
clinical data and identified the barrier cream that was most effective for
the chemicals and oils used in the workplace that workers were exposed to.
The company were able to select and use the most suitable and clinically
effective barrier cream for the workforce.
Duration:
Three months
Cost:
∙ Hiring of specialist skin assessment equipment
∙ Measuring skin condition for 2 weeks
∙ Statistical analysis
∙ Report-writing
∙ �5,500
Musculoskeletal problems in workers -
Hospital Pharmacy
A large hospital with a pharmacy department found that many
workers using isolator cabinets and industrial-style cleanrooms
to prepare delicate medicines, were reporting increased levels of back pain,
fatigue and visual disturbances, especially after long periods working in the
cleanrooms. HRC used a focus group and recorded
videos of cleanroom workers in their jobs, to
obtain a clear picture of what was causing the symptoms. Modifications were
made to the cleanrooms, the isolator cabinets, and
the work schedules in order to improve employees' well-being.
Client:
NHS Hospital
Problem:
High level of musculoskeletal problems and fatigue in pharmacy workers
Approach:
After consultation with HRC, video observation was used to
record and identify working practices and environmental aspects of hospital
pharmacy cleanrooms. A focus group was convened with
pharmacy workers within the hospital to identify any issues of concern.
Solution:
The isolator cabinets in the pharmacy cleanroom
were observed to be older and did not come with adjustable foot rests. In
addition, workers were leaning into the isolators and performing tasks
requiring great manual dexterity. Adjustable foot rests were fitted to the
isolator cabinets, along with new seating, and more frequent breaks were
implemented. Incidents of musculoskeletal problems and visual disturbances
dropped immediately.
Duration:
Two months
Cost:
∙ Video observation of working practices
∙ Ergonomic assessment
∙ Report-writing
∙ �2,500
Attitudes to working in the cleaning industry
- Contract Cleaners
A major UK contract cleaning company wanted to improve the image
of cleaning as a profession in order to improve recruitment rates, increase
the calibre of staff, and to redress the balance concerning poor staff
turnover. HRC used a survey approach to interview young people and gather
their impressions about the cleaning industry.
Client:
Contract Cleaning Company
Problem:
The company wanted to understand young peoples' attitudes to working as a
cleaner and how to improve job recruitment and retention in the industry
Approach:
After consultation with HRC, a survey was designed and
conducted among several hundred young people in the West Midlands.
Questionnaires asked young people what they thought the good and bad aspects
of cleaning would be
Solution:
The contract cleaning company were able to make changes to the image of their
company in order to improve what young people thought about cleaning and a
job within the industry
Duration:
Three months
Cost:
∙ Design of questionnaire
∙ Conduction of interviews
∙ Report-writing
∙ �4,500
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