Proven results of Healthy Outlook®
Over the past few years there have been a number of evaluations of the effectiveness of Healthy Outlook®. This is a part of an ongoing assessment process. We believe this to be an essential aspect of the development of the service and have made changes to Healthy Outlook® as a result.
PCTs using Healthy Outlook®
See which PCTs have signed up to use the Healthy Outlook® service for winter 2009/10.
Healthy Outlook® patient survey results
We commissioned an independent survey of 7,653 patients who used the Healthy Outlook® service in Winter 2008/9. The survey questions were put together with help from Birmingham University. Bristol University advised on the overall evaluation approach.
Staff satisfaction survey
We surveyed 313 members of staff to find out satisfaction with Healthy Outlook® in Winter 2008/9.
Exeter randomised controlled trial
Funded by Astra Zeneca.
Seventy-seven patients in Devon were selected to participate in a community-based trial. All were give the Met Office Healthy Outlook® patient packs, but 38 were randomised to receive the alert calls.
The patient’s condition was evaluated on a daily basis throughout the trial and the number of exacerbations recorded.
The results showed that the forecast accurately predicted periods of higher risk and that exacerbations rates were lower for those in receipt of the calls (approx. 20%).
Full results will be published in Autumn 2009.
North Yorkshire and York PCT patient level evaluation
This was a study carried out by the PCT.
Twenty-two practices in York took part. Of 2,835 patients 1,549 signed up to receive the service. Hospital admission records for those using the service were compared against those not in receipt of the calls.
The results showed that admissions were 20% lower for those using the service than for those that did not.
Finland randomised controlled trial
This study is being conducted by the Department of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Tampere.
This ongoing two-year study is looking at 520 patients recruited from hospital clinics. Exacerbations, hospital admissions and GP visits are recorded for both the intervention group (i.e. those receiving alerts) and the control group.
First-year results showed that the interventions group had 20% less exacerbations, 32% fewer hospital admissions and 10% fewer GP visits than the control group.
Analysis of hospital admissions
This was a Met Office evaluation.
For the winters of 2006/7 and 2007/8, we analysed hospital admissions data to measure the effect of Healthy Outlook® on hospital admissions. We evaluated results from 30 Primary Care Trusts and found an average national reduction in admissions of 20%.
