Exploring family members’ and health care professionals’ perceptions on ICU diaries: a systematic review and qualitative data synthesis

Abstract Background The KT Challenge program supports health care professionals to effectively implement evidence-based practices. Unlike other knowledge translation (KT) programs, this program is grounded in capacity building, focuses on health care professionals (HCPs), and uses a multi-component intervention. This study presents the evaluation of the KT Challenge program to assess the impact on uptake, KT capacity, and practice change. Methods The evaluation used a mixed-methods retrospective pre-post design involving surveys and review of documents such as teams’ final reports. Online surveys collecting both quantitative and qualitative data were deployed at four time points (after both workshops, 6 months into implementation, and at the end of the 2-year funded projects) to measure KT capacity (knowledge, skills, and confidence) and impact on practice change. Qualitative data was analyzed using a general inductive approach and quantitative data was analyzed using non-parametric statistics. Results Participants reported statistically significant increases in knowledge and confidence across both workshops, at the 6-month mark of their projects, and at the end of their projects. In addition, at the 6-month check-in, practitioners reported statistically significant improvements in their ability to implement practice changes. In the first cohort of the program, of the teams who were able to complete their projects, half were able to show demonstrable practice changes. Conclusions The KT Challenge was successful in improving the capacity of HCPs to implement evidence-based practice changes and has begun to show demonstrable improvements in a number of practice areas. The program is relevant to a variety of HCPs working in diverse practice settings and is relatively inexpensive to implement. Like all practice improvement programs in health care settings, a number of challenges emerged stemming from the high turnover of staff and the limited capacity of some practitioners to take on anything beyond direct patient care. Efforts to address these challenges have been added to subsequent cohorts of the program and ongoing evaluation will examine if they are successful. The KT Challenge program has continued to garner great interest among practitioners, even in the midst of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and shows promise for organizations looking for better ways to mobilize knowledge to improve patient care and empower staff. This study contributes to the implementation science literature by providing a description and evaluation of a new model for embedding KT practice skills in health care settings.

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Clostridium botulinum and the Clinical Laboratorian: A Detailed Review of Botulism, Including Biological Warfare Ramifications of Botulinum Toxin

Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine ◽

10.5858/2004-128-653-cbatcl ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 128 (6) ◽

pp. 653-662 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

James G. Caya ◽

Rashmi Agni ◽

Joan E. Miller

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Differential Diagnosis ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Clinical Laboratory ◽

Therapeutic Approaches ◽

Data Synthesis ◽

Literature Searches ◽

Pertinent Data ◽

Prompt Diagnosis ◽

Timely Treatment

Abstract Objective.—This review article is designed to thoroughly familiarize all health care professionals with the history, classification, epidemiology, clinical characteristics, differential diagnosis, diagnostic evaluation (including laboratory-based testing), treatment, and prognosis of botulism. It is especially targeted toward clinical laboratorians and includes a detailed enumeration of the important clinical laboratory contributions to the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of patients with botulism. Finally, the bioterrorism potential for botulism is discussed, with an emphasis on the clinical laboratory ramifications of this possibility. Data Sources.—Included medical periodicals and textbooks accessioned from computerized and manual medical literature searches. More than 1000 medical works published from the 1800s through 2003 were retrieved and reviewed in this process. Data Synthesis.—Pertinent data are presented in textual and tabular formats, the latter including 6 tables presenting detailed information regarding the clinical parameters, differential diagnosis, diagnostic studies, laboratory testing, and therapeutic approaches to botulism. Conclusions.—Because botulism is such a rare disease, a keen awareness of its manifestations and prompt diagnosis are absolutely crucial for its successful treatment. The bioterrorism potential of botulism adds further urgency to the need for all health care professionals to be familiar with this disease, its proper evaluation, and timely treatment; the need for such urgency clearly includes the clinical laboratory.

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Breastfeeding Skills Training for Health Care Professionals: A Systematic Review

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3984081 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Helen Mulcahy ◽

Llyod F. Philpott ◽

Michelle O’Driscoll ◽

Róisín Bradley ◽

Patricia Leahy-Warren

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Skills Training

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Current Evidence for Continuous Vital Signs Monitoring by Wearable Wireless Devices in Hospitalized Adults: Systematic Review

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/18636 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. e18636 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jobbe P L Leenen ◽

Crista Leerentveld ◽

Joris D van Dijk ◽

Henderik L van Westreenen ◽

Lisette Schoonhoven ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Health Care ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Continuous Monitoring ◽

Vital Signs ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Wireless Devices

Background Continuous monitoring of vital signs by using wearable wireless devices may allow for timely detection of clinical deterioration in patients in general wards in comparison to detection by standard intermittent vital signs measurements. A large number of studies on many different wearable devices have been reported in recent years, but a systematic review is not yet available to date. Objective The aim of this study was to provide a systematic review for health care professionals regarding the current evidence about the validation, feasibility, clinical outcomes, and costs of wearable wireless devices for continuous monitoring of vital signs. Methods A systematic and comprehensive search was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from January 2009 to September 2019 for studies that evaluated wearable wireless devices for continuous monitoring of vital signs in adults. Outcomes were structured by validation, feasibility, clinical outcomes, and costs. Risk of bias was determined by using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies 2nd edition, or quality of health economic studies tool. Results In this review, 27 studies evaluating 13 different wearable wireless devices were included. These studies predominantly evaluated the validation or the feasibility outcomes of these devices. Only a few studies reported the clinical outcomes with these devices and they did not report a significantly better clinical outcome than the standard tools used for measuring vital signs. Cost outcomes were not reported in any study. The quality of the included studies was predominantly rated as low or moderate. Conclusions Wearable wireless continuous monitoring devices are mostly still in the clinical validation and feasibility testing phases. To date, there are no high quality large well-controlled studies of wearable wireless devices available that show a significant clinical benefit or cost-effectiveness. Such studies are needed to help health care professionals and administrators in their decision making regarding implementation of these devices on a large scale in clinical practice or in-home monitoring.

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A review of the literature surrounding the provision of interpreters in health care, focusing on their role in translating information for non-English-speaking cancer patients and issues relating to informed consent

Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice ◽

10.1017/s1460396907006152 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 201-209 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Niamh Gargan ◽

Janette Chianese

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Informed Consent ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Family Members ◽

Fundamental Principle ◽

Health Care Ethics ◽

Equal Rights ◽

Written Information ◽

English Speaking ◽

Professional Interpreting

AbstractInformed consent is a fundamental principle of health care ethics. All patients should have equal opportunities in accessing information to help them make informed decisions about their treatments.Literature on informed consent, translators in health care, non-English-speaking patients and the importance of communication and information, most specifically in radiotherapy, were reviewed. Western studies published between 1995 and 2005 were accessed and filtered though two eligibility screens and a critique framework to assess quality.The evidence suggested that many non-English-speaking patients are not in a position to give true informed consent due to lack of interpreters. This may lead to health care professionals giving treatment without full consent. Written information for radiotherapy patients was often only available in English, apart from inner city areas.There appears to be a scarcity of professional interpreters used in the health care setting; the most common practice is to use family members and friends to interpret. This practice results in breach of patient confidentiality, extra pressure on family members and filtration of information.This patient group is often excluded from certain treatment opportunities such as clinical trials. Ideally, a fully accessible professional interpreting service should be available to allow non-English patients equal rights in accessing appropriate health care options and treatments.

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