scholarly journals Digital Tools to Enhance Caregiver-Centered Communication

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 571-571
Author(s):  
Debra Parker Oliver

Abstract While it is recognized that caregiver engagement can improve processes and outcomes of care in gerontology, there are barriers to caregiver centered communication, including limited resources for health systems to devote services specifically to families, geographic distance and lack of time. Digital tools such as social media platforms and video-conferencing introduce opportunities for remote and often asynchronous communication. In this presentation, we discuss findings from two randomized clinical trials that explored digital tools to empower family caregivers. In the first we examined ways to use video-conferencing to enable family caregivers to become virtual team members during hospice interdisciplinary teams, and in the second trial we examine the use of secret Facebook groups to meet informational and emotional needs of family caregivers during episodes of care that are often linked to increased social isolation and loneliness. We discuss challenges and opportunities in designing digital tools to facilitate caregiver engagement and empowerment.

2021 ◽  
pp. 105065192110214
Author(s):  
Michelle McMullin ◽  
Bradley Dilger

Academic work increasingly involves creating digital tools with interdisciplinary teams distributed across institutions and roles. The negative impacts of distributed work are described at length in technical communication scholarship, but such impacts have not yet been realized in collaborative practices. By integrating attention to their core ethical principles, best practices, and work patterns, the authors are developing an ethical, sustainable approach to team building that they call constructive distributed work. This article describes their integrated approach, documents the best practices that guide their research team, and models the three-dimensional thinking that helps them develop sustainable digital tools and ensure the consistent professional development of all team members.


Author(s):  
Jasneet Parmar ◽  
Sharon Anderson ◽  
Marjan Abbasi ◽  
Saeed Ahmadinejad ◽  
Karenn Chan ◽  
...  

Background. Research, practice, and policy have focused on educating family caregivers to sustain care but failed to equip healthcare providers to effectively support family caregivers. Family physicians are well-positioned to care for family caregivers. Methods. We adopted an interpretive description design to explore family physicians and primary care team members’ perceptions of their current and recommended practices for supporting family caregivers. We conducted focus groups with family physicians and their primary care team members. Results. Ten physicians and 42 team members participated. We identified three major themes. “Family physicians and primary care teams can be a valuable source of support for family caregivers” highlighted these primary care team members’ broad recognition of the need to support family caregiver’s health. “What stands in the way” spoke to the barriers in current practices that precluded supporting family caregivers. Primary care teams recommended, “A structured approach may be a way forward.” Conclusion. A plethora of research and policy documents recommend proactive, consistent support for family caregivers, yet comprehensive caregiver support policy remains elusive. The continuity of care makes primary care an ideal setting to support family caregivers. Now policy-makers must develop consistent protocols to assess, and care for family caregivers in primary care.


Author(s):  
Hanna Barton ◽  
Ryan Coller ◽  
Sara Finesilver ◽  
Christopher Lunsford ◽  
Rupa S. Valdez ◽  
...  

For vulnerable patient populations, such as children with medical complexity (CMC), the patient journey is fraught with challenges. By providing a range of perspectives including clinicians, a family caregiver, and Human Factors/Ergonomics (HF/E) experts, the present panel will describe the unique opportunities for HF/E to design jointly optimized systems for CMC and their family caregivers, including an explication of some of the specific challenges and complexities related to studying the work of and designing systems for this population. We will also highlight the ways in which HF/E could help in the design of solutions to improve outcomes for families.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Ellington ◽  
Kristin G. Cloyes ◽  
Jiayun Xu ◽  
Lanell Bellury ◽  
Patricia H. Berry ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTObjective:Our intention was to describe and compare the perspectives of national hospice thought leaders, hospice nurses, and former family caregivers on factors that promote or threaten family caregiver perceptions of support.Method:Nationally recognized hospice thought leaders (n = 11), hospice nurses (n = 13), and former family caregivers (n = 14) participated. Interviews and focus groups were audiotaped and transcribed. Data were coded inductively, and codes were hierarchically grouped by topic. Emergent categories were summarized descriptively and compared across groups.Results:Four categories linked responses from the three participant groups (95%, 366/384 codes): (1) essentials of skilled communication (30.6%), (2) importance of building authentic relationships (28%), (3) value of expert teaching (22.4%), and (4) critical role of teamwork (18.3%). The thought leaders emphasized communication (44.6%), caregivers stressed expert teaching (51%), and nurses highlighted teamwork (35.8%). Nurses discussed teamwork significantly more than caregivers (z = 2.2786), thought leaders discussed communication more than caregivers (z = 2.8551), and caregivers discussed expert teaching more than thought leaders (z = 2.1693) and nurses (z = 2.4718; all values of p < 0.05).Significance of Results:Our findings suggest differences in priorities for caregiver support across family caregivers, hospice nurses, and thought leaders. Hospice teams may benefit from further education and training to help cross the schism of family-centered hospice care as a clinical ideal to one where hospice team members can fully support and empower family caregivers as a hospice team member.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-310
Author(s):  
Zoe Corwin ◽  
Tattiya J. Maruco

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to highlight the potential of digital tools to address the significant challenge of increasing access to college and outline challenges and opportunities in effectively implementing a digital intervention across an entire school. Design/methodology/approach The study encompasses a randomized control trial and comparative case studies. This paper highlights qualitative data focused on implementation. Findings Findings illustrate impediments and strategies for implementing a school-wide digital intervention. Research limitations/implications Research focused on one particular intervention and is thus limited in scope. Practical implications The study has the potential to assist practitioners in better serving students from low-income and minoritized communities through digital tools. Social implications The study has implications for increasing the number of first-generation and minoritized youth who apply to and enroll in college. The study highlights digital equity issues often overlooked in ed-tech sectors. Originality/value Few studies exist that examine the implementation of digital interventions at the school level. Focusing on digital equity in the college access space (academic and practice) is novel.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-65
Author(s):  

It is the position of American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) that all inpatient interdisciplinary teams include a diabetes educator to lead or support improvement efforts that affect patients hospitalized with diabetes or hyperglycemia. This not only encompasses patient and family education but education of interdisciplinary team members and achievement of diabetes-related organizational quality metrics and performance outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (28) ◽  
pp. 167-181
Author(s):  
Valentina Canese ◽  
Juan Ignacio Mereles ◽  
Jessica Amarilla

The measures implemented in response to COVID-19 have affected education systems around the world, generating significant disruptions. This study examines the main challenges and opportunities presented to the different educational actors in Paraguay considering the health emergency and the need to give continuity to the educational processes in the country from the last week of March until the first days of May 2020. A total of 2501 people participated, including teachers, students, parents of non-university students, and managers from educational institutions at all levels and from all over the country. It follows a mixed-quan-qual explanatory approach and data collection was conducted through online questionnaires. The study showed changes and strategies implemented by educational actors for the development of classes mediated by digital tools. The results reflect challenges related to access to technological resources, training in the use of ICT, and difficulties in carrying out school activities. Among the opportunities mentioned is the possibility of continuing with studies, learning about technology, and transforming the educational system. These show evidence of the need to improve access to technology to guarantee equal educational opportunities in the country.


2019 ◽  
pp. 130-148
Author(s):  
Laurel Northouse ◽  
Clayton Shuman ◽  
Moira Visovatti ◽  
Bonnie Dockham ◽  
Marita Titler

This chapter describes the development and testing of the FOCUS program with patient-caregiver dyads (i.e., pairs) as the unit of care. The chapter reviews studies that examined (1) the efficacy of the FOCUS program when tested in randomized clinical trials, (2) the effectiveness of the program when implemented in Cancer Support Community affiliates in three states, and (3) outcomes when translated to a tailored, web-based program. Results indicate that FOCUS consistently produced positive outcomes for cancer patients and their caregivers in these studies. The program also improved patient and caregiver outcomes when delivered to patients with different types and stages of cancer, to spousal and nonspousal family caregivers, and in various intervention doses (three-, five-, and six-session programs). The chapter concludes with plans for further implementation of FOCUS and existing dissemination activities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S228-S229
Author(s):  
Jennifer Schoonard ◽  
Jeanne Lee ◽  
Eli Strait ◽  
Jeremy Cabrera ◽  
Jen Garner

Abstract Introduction The Burn Resuscitation Critical Reflective Practice (CRP) was started as collaborative meetings to review 1st 48 hours of admission for burn resuscitations (resus) October 2018- July 2019. All multi- disciplinary teams were invited. The problem identified was on average burn resus patients (&gt;20% TBSA) were being over resuscitated in 1st 24 hours of admission. The goals of the CRP were: 1) Decrease resus fluid in the 1st 24 hours; 2) Increase knowledge of the current fluid resus pathway; 3) Increase communication with interdisciplinary teams during the resus. Methods CRP initiated in October 2018. 6 CRPs were held October 2018- July 2019.The average ml/ KG/ TBSA prior to CRP from January 2017- September 2018 was 5.17ml/kg/TBSA (goal: &lt; 4ml). Chart reviews were done to gather data from each resus (i.e. urine output, fluids, labs, events). Discussions held with staff involved in the 1st 24 hours of resus regarding any communication/process issues.Patient data was presented & staff members present would discuss questions/ issues that came up during the resus. Multi-disciplinary teams surveyed prior to CRP to assess comfort/competence with current resus pathway and communication. 46 surveys received prior to initiating CRP. After initiating CRP October 2018- July 2019, staff members that had attended &gt;1 CRP were post-surveyed. Results January 2017- October 2018 average ml/ KG/ TBSA was 5.17ml/kg/TBSA. October 2018- July 2019 POST CRP implementation, the avg ml/ KG/ TBSA was 3.86 ml LR/ kg/ TBSA in 1st 24 hours of resus. 3 new practices were implemented 1) Decrease fluids by 200ml/hr (instead of 100) when UOP is &gt;100/hr at least 2 hours into resus; 2) Double sign by 2 RNs required when calculating Parkland Formula; 3) Guideline created to guide communication between Burn RNs & trauma bay when burn resus arrives. Post- survey data showed increase in comfort communicating with physicians regarding resus & increase in comfort/confidence in calculating Parkland Formula. 2 additional subjective questions were added onto the post- CRP survey. Conclusions Fluids given in the 1st 24 hours decreased from 5.17 to 3.86 average ml/ kg/ TBSA post- CRP. 3 new practices were implemented as discussed in results. Staff felt more comfortable communicating with team & calculating Parkland formula. Staff had positive responses on the post- survey. Applicability of Research to Practice The monthly CRPs are to be continued to discuss all burn resus patients received during the prior month. Allows team members to continue to modify practice as needed by what’s learned through each CRP to help better our patient outcomes and decrease overall resus fluids.


Dementia ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 147130122097305
Author(s):  
Tamara Sussman ◽  
Rebecca Pimienta ◽  
April Hayward

This study reports findings from a series of focus groups with persons with dementia and family caregivers intended to explore: (1) perceptions of and experiences with advance care planning (ACP); (2) concerns related to future care including, but not limited to, end-of-life care; and (3) practices that may support positive engagement with ACP. A total of 18 participants including 10 persons with dementia and eight family caregivers participated in five focus groups held in two urban cities in Canada. All focus group deliberations were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed in five stages using a semantic thematic approach. All participants expressed some form of engagement in ACP, but understandings were limited and divergence was expressed regarding the timing of more expansive conversations about future care. Although some persons with dementia were ready to engage in future care discussions, most preferred focusing on the present and suggested their families did not require direction. This placed families in the complex dilemma of protecting their loved ones while compromising their own needs for dialogue. Although individually focused models of ACP engagement hold promise for those persons with dementia ready to engage in future planning, our findings suggest that early engagement of families in the reflective process may go a long way in supporting ACP activation. Our findings further suggest that persons with dementia who do not have close family/friends may require extensive ACP encouragement and support from service providers.


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