What is the Pod Project?

The Pod project is a development of Making Cases Count by Philippa Fibert. The aim is to provide a structure to collect, record and analyse Patient's Own Data using Patient Recorded Outcome Measures (PROMS).

The idea is that groups of therapists with similar treatment interests join together. Although there's nothing to stop a single therapist, a clinic, or a pharmacy from running a Pod Project, there's a lot to be gained from working together. You can support and encourage each other, and record the outcomes of more patients.

The Pod Project focusses on collecting outcomes from patients with a particular condition. Please see Outcome Measures for more information about which outcome to use.

How to collect outcomes?

Traditionally we have collected outcomes such as MYMOP on paper. This is very labour intensive; often our files are full of them; and we don't know what to do with them next. What a waste! All these MYMOPs tell about our patient's experiences with homeopathy. It's time to collect together what they say, and tell it to the world!

Nowadays we recommend using an on-line database platform because data about several therapist's patients can be stored in one place, and the accumulating data is ready for analysis. For example, MYMOP is now available as a digital, portal version from Meaningful Measures.

Safety

Data should always be presented in an anonymous way, unless you have the patient's explicit, written permission. You must also check that all the information you provide is kept securely and confidentially, and that data collection and storage adheres to the highest security standards.

How do I take part?

First identify your Pod. Is there a specific condition you treat a lot of? Do you know other therapists who also specialise? Current on-going Pods include patients with autism, psoriasis, anxiety & long-COVID.
Decide who you want to work with in your Pod. Are you doing this on your own, or would you like to work with a group of therapists with similar treatment interests, or are you open to collecting outcomes from all-comers?
Create your Pod. Decide:
- What to call your Pod
- What PROM you want to use?
- How often you want patients to complete it?
- How long will the project run for?
- What message of invitation to send your patients?
Set up your Pod.
- Start inviting patients
- Record their responses
At some stage you will want to analyse your data. Describe:

How many patients took part
What PROM did you use?
How often did you ask your patients to complete it? every month/3 months etc)
What was the average score to start with?
What was the average score over time?

How we can help

We can help you get started and advise. Within reason, Philippa can guide you through this (philippahomeopath@hotmail.co.uk).

If you're interested in joining an existing Pod, we can put you in touch with Pod leaders.

Philippa can also be commissioned to help with the data analysis, write up and publication.