Integrating patient safety into health professionals’ curricula: a qualitative study of medical, nursing and pharmacy faculty perspectives

Lack of adherence constitutes one of the most important challenges in patients undergoing treatment with oral antineoplastic drugs (ANEO). Understanding cancer patients’ experiences with respect to their medication is key for optimizing adherence and therapeutic results. We aimed to assess the medication experience (ME) in patients with cancer in treatment with ANEO, to describe the barriers and facilitators related to the disease and its treatment and to compare them with the healthcare professionals’ perspectives. We carried out an exploratory qualitative study in the University Hospital of San Juan de Alicante, Spain. Three focus groups and two nominal group discussions were conducted with 23 onco-hematological patients treated with ANEO and 18 health professionals, respectively. The data were analyzed using content analyses and were eventually triangulated. The most impactful aspects in patients’ ME were the presence of adverse effects; lack of information about treatment; beliefs, needs and expectations regarding medications; social and family support; and the relationship with the health professionals. Both patients and professionals agreed on considering the negative side effects and the information about treatment as the main barriers and facilitators of adherence, respectively, although the approaches differed between both profiles. The professionals offered a more technical vision while patients prioritized the emotional burden and motivation associated with the disease and medication. This study allowed us to understand the real-life experiences of patients being treated with ANEO and explore the factors which had an impact on adherence to treatment. This understanding enables professionals to have a positive influence on patients’ behavior and provide individualized care plans. Pharmacists’ assistance is relevant to support patients’ adherence and self-management.

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Use of symptom checkers for COVID-19-related symptoms among university students: a qualitative study

BMJ Innovations ◽

10.1136/bmjinnov-2020-000498 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. bmjinnov-2020-000498

Author(s):

Stephanie Aboueid ◽

Samantha B Meyer ◽

James R Wallace ◽

Shreya Mahajan ◽

Teeyaa Nur ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Healthcare Services ◽

Healthcare Systems ◽

Positive Experience ◽

Perceived Credibility ◽

Inductive Thematic Analysis

ObjectiveSymptom checkers are potentially beneficial tools during pandemics. To increase the use of the platform, perspectives of end users must be gathered. Our objectives were to understand the perspectives and experiences of young adults related to the use of symptom checkers for assessing COVID-19-related symptoms and to identify areas for improvement.MethodsWe conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with 22 young adults (18–34 years of age) at a university in Ontario, Canada. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.ResultsWe identified six main themes related to the decision of using a symptom checker for COVID-19 symptoms: (1) presence of symptoms or a combination of symptoms, (2) knowledge about COVID-19 symptoms, (3) fear of seeking in-person healthcare services, (4) awareness about symptom checkers, (5) paranoia and (6) curiosity. Participants who used symptom checkers shared by governmental entities reported an overall positive experience. Individuals who used non-credible sources reported suboptimal experiences due to lack of perceived credibility. Five main areas for improvement were identified: (1) information about the creators of the platform, (2) explanation of symptoms, (3) personalised experience, (4) language options, and (5) option to get tested.ConclusionsThis study suggests an increased acceptance of symptom checkers due to the perceived risks of infection associated with seeking in-person healthcare services. Symptom checkers have the potential to reduce the burden on healthcare systems and health professionals, especially during pandemics; however, these platforms could be improved to increase use.

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The interdisciplinary team experiences of managing patient safety during a fixed-wing inter-hospital aeromedical transport: A qualitative study

International Emergency Nursing ◽

10.1016/j.ienj.2021.101052 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 58 ◽

pp. 101052

Author(s):

Carla Pena Dias ◽

Marina Aparecida Chrispim Silva ◽

Moema Souza Santos ◽

Flávio Lopes Ferreira ◽

Vânia de Paula Carvalho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Patient Safety ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Interdisciplinary Team ◽

Aeromedical Transport

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Student nurses' strategies when speaking up for patient safety: A qualitative study

Nursing and Health Sciences ◽

10.1111/nhs.12831 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anthea Fagan ◽

Jackie Lea ◽

Vicki Parker

Keyword(s):

Patient Safety ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Student Nurses ◽

Speaking Up

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A qualitative study using the Theoretical Domains Framework to investigate why patients were or were not assessed for rehabilitation after stroke

Clinical Rehabilitation ◽

10.1177/0269215516658938 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 31 (7) ◽

pp. 966-977 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Elizabeth A Lynch ◽

Julie A Luker ◽

Dominique A Cadilhac ◽

Caroline E Fryer ◽

Susan L Hillier

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Acute Stroke ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Theoretical Domains Framework ◽

Assessment Practices ◽

Stroke Units ◽

Changing Practice ◽

Referral Practices ◽

Rehabilitation Assessment

Objective: To explore the factors perceived to affect rehabilitation assessment and referral practices for patients with stroke. Design: Qualitative study using data from focus groups analysed thematically and then mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework. Setting: Eight acute stroke units in two states of Australia. Subjects: Health professionals working in acute stroke units. Interventions: Health professionals at all sites had participated in interventions to improve rehabilitation assessment and referral practices, which included provision of copies of an evidence-based decision-making rehabilitation Assessment Tool and pathway. Results: Eight focus groups were conducted (32 total participants). Reported rehabilitation assessment and referral practices varied markedly between units. Continence and mood were not routinely assessed (4 units), and people with stroke symptoms were not consistently referred to rehabilitation (4 units). Key factors influencing practice were identified and included whether health professionals perceived that use of the Assessment Tool would improve rehabilitation assessment practices (theoretical domain ‘social and professional role’); beliefs about outcomes from changing practice such as increased equity for patients or conversely that changing rehabilitation referral patterns would not affect access to rehabilitation (‘belief about consequences’); the influence of the unit’s relationships with other groups including rehabilitation teams (‘social influences’ domain) and understanding within the acute stroke unit team of the purpose of changing assessment practices (‘knowledge’ domain). Conclusion: This study has identified that health professionals’ perceived roles, beliefs about consequences from changing practice and relationships with rehabilitation service providers were perceived to influence rehabilitation assessment and referral practices on Australian acute stroke units.

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Importance of safety climate, teamwork climate and demographics: understanding nurses, allied health professionals and clerical staff perceptions of patient safety

BMJ Open Quality ◽

10.1136/bmjoq-2018-000433 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. e000433

Author(s):

Shahram Zaheer ◽

Liane R Ginsburg ◽

Hannah J Wong ◽

Kelly Thomson ◽

Lorna Bain

Keyword(s):

Patient Safety ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Allied Health ◽

Safety Climate ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Senior Leadership ◽

Staff Perceptions ◽

Allied Health Professionals ◽

Leadership Support ◽

The Impact

BackgroundThere is growing evidence regarding the importance of contextual factors for patient/staff outcomes and the likelihood of successfully implementing safety improvement interventions such as checklists; however, certain literature gaps still remain—for example, lack of research examining the interactive effects of safety constructs on outcomes. This study has addressed some of these gaps, together with adding to our understanding of how context influences safety.PurposeThe impact of staff perceptions of safety climate (ie, senior and supervisory leadership support for safety) and teamwork climate on a self-reported safety outcome (ie, overall perceptions of patient safety (PS)) were examined at a hospital in Southern Ontario.MethodsCross-sectional survey data were collected from nurses, allied health professionals and unit clerks working on intensive care, general medicine, mental health or emergency department.ResultsHierarchical regression analyses showed that perceptions of senior leadership (p<0.001) and teamwork (p<0.001) were significantly associated with overall perceptions of PS. A non-significant association was found between perceptions of supervisory leadership and the outcome variable. However, when staff perceived poorer senior leadership support for safety, the positive effect of supervisory leadership on overall perceptions of PS became significantly stronger (p<0.05).Practice implicationsOur results suggest that leadership support at one level (ie, supervisory) can substitute for the absence of leadership support for safety at another level (ie, senior level). While healthcare organisations should recruit into leadership roles and retain individuals who prioritise safety and possess adequate relational competencies, the field would now benefit from evidence regarding how to build leadership support for PS. Also, it is important to provide on-site workshops on topics (eg, conflict management) that can strengthen working relationships across professional and unit boundaries.

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