Hospitalist Perceptions of Fall Prevention: A Comparison of Two Health Care Systems

2020 ◽  
pp. 106286062091720
Author(s):  
Katherine M. Runkel ◽  
Rebecca E. Rdesinski ◽  
Lisa N. Miura

Inpatient falls are common, but little is known about hospitalist perceptions regarding their exact role in fall prevention. The authors conducted a cross-sectional analysis of hospitalists’ attitudes and perceived barriers to fall prevention practices in 2 different hospital systems in Portland, Oregon. A total of 42 responses were collected. Although hospitalists in both groups agreed that all patients admitted should undergo fall risk assessments (FRAs), both groups disagreed that hospitalists should be responsible for performing them. Neither group felt that they had the time to complete FRAs and were either neutral or felt the lack of expertise to conduct them. These findings suggest that the hospitalist role in inpatient fall prevention multidisciplinary teams may be unclear to physician providers and that health care systems may benefit from examining this further.

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pishoy Gouda ◽  
Aoife Kirk ◽  
Anne-Marie Sweeney ◽  
Diarmuid O’Donovan

ABSTRACTObjective:With the rising incidence of health care emergencies, there has been a considerable burden placed on health care systems worldwide. We aimed to determine the willingness and capacity of medical students in Ireland to volunteer during health care emergencies.Methods:An online, cross-sectional survey of medical students at the National University of Ireland was conducted in 2015.Results:Respondents totaling 274 completed the survey (response rate – 30.1%). Of participants, 69.0% were willing to volunteer in the event of a natural disaster and 59.1% in an event of an infectious epidemic, with altruism being the strongest motivational factor. Only a minority of students (23.7%) felt their current skill level would be useful in an emergency setting.Conclusions:Medical students express a strong interest in actively participating during health care emergencies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-56
Author(s):  
Gehan Abd Elfattah Elasrag ◽  
Hana Mohammad Abu-Snieneh

Safety and quality care of patients are key aspects and the mean goals of effective health care systems. The reality that medical treatment can harm patients is one that has had to be addressed by the healthcare community in recent years. This study aimed to explore nurses' perception of factors contributing to medication administration errors and reasons for which medication administration errors are not reporting. Descriptive exploratory cross-sectional design carried out to achieve the study aim. The study was conducted in two regional hospitals in Egypt. They had a total bed capacity of 512 beds distributed over three units (emergency, intensive care, and surgical units). A convenient sample of 146 nurses distributed in the morning and afternoon shifts in the units mentioned above was recruited in this study. Medication Administration Errors (MAEs) Reporting Scale used to collect data regarding the nurses' perception of factors contributing to the MAEs. The participants were ranked the most important factor for MAEs occur system reasons (24.73±1.46), followed by nurses staffing as the second reason of MAEs (24.11± 2.25). Third, fourth, and fifth-ranked reasons were physician communication (13.37± 2.7), medication packaging (12.84±1.87), transcription-related (8±0.1), respectively. Finally, pharmacy processes (6.9±2.93) viewed as the least factor for the frequency of MAE. The findings of the present study concluded seven perceived reasons for MAE, namely system reason, nurses' staffing, physician communication, medication packaging, transcription, and pharmacy process. The study recommended the development of active quality assurance systems in all health care environments concerning medications and drug administration.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharath Chandra Guntuku ◽  
Jonathan Purtle ◽  
Zachary F Meisel ◽  
Raina M Merchant ◽  
Anish Agarwal

BACKGROUND As policy makers continue to shape the national and local responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, the information they choose to share and how they frame their content provide key insights into the public and health care systems. OBJECTIVE We examined the language used by the members of the US House and Senate during the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic and measured content and sentiment based on the tweets that they shared. METHODS We used Quorum (Quorum Analytics Inc) to access more than 300,000 tweets posted by US legislators from January 1 to October 10, 2020. We used differential language analyses to compare the content and sentiment of tweets posted by legislators based on their party affiliation. RESULTS We found that health care–related themes in Democratic legislators’ tweets focused on racial disparities in care (odds ratio [OR] 2.24, 95% CI 2.22-2.27; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), health care and insurance (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.7-1.77; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), COVID-19 testing (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.12-1.19; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), and public health guidelines (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.22-1.29; <i>P</i>&lt;.001). The dominant themes in the Republican legislators’ discourse included vaccine development (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.47-1.55; <i>P</i>&lt;.001) and hospital resources and equipment (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.18-1.25). Nonhealth care–related topics associated with a Democratic affiliation included protections for essential workers (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.52-1.59), the 2020 election and voting (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.27-1.35), unemployment and housing (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.24-1.31), crime and racism (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.18-1.26), public town halls (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.16-1.23), the Trump Administration (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.19-1.26), immigration (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.12-1.19), and the loss of life (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.35-1.42). The themes associated with the Republican affiliation included China (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.85-1.92), small business assistance (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.23-1.3), congressional relief bills (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.2-1.27), press briefings (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.19-1.26), and economic recovery (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.16-1.23). CONCLUSIONS Divergent language use on social media corresponds to the partisan divide in the first several months of the course of the COVID-19 public health crisis.


Author(s):  
Anara Zhumadilova ◽  
Brett J. Craig ◽  
Alexey Tsoy ◽  
Alla Gabdrakhmanova ◽  
Martin Bobak

Introduction: Communication between patients and health care providers is important for the effective functioning of health care systems. Miscommunication often stems from discrepancies in expectations of both healthcare professionals and patients due to cultural and historical influences. We investigated the degree to which health care providers (doctors and nurses) and patients in Kazakhstan believe that interaction between doctors and patients should be doctor- or patient-oriented.Material and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 163 patients and 176 health care providers (71 doctors and 105 nurses) in a general hospital in Astana, Kazakhstan. The subjects completed a structured questionnaire containing the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS), and scales assessing life and job satisfaction, effort-reward balance of healthcare professionals, and the patients’ perceptions of communication practices.Results: An overwhelming majority of doctors (81.7%), nurses (88.1%), and patients (92.3%) were doctor-oriented. Among health care providers, PPOS was not associated with age, sex, life and job satisfaction, or effort-reward imbalance. Among patients, PPOS was not associated with age, sex, or specialty of health care provider. However, higher PPOS among patients (indicating preference for patient-oriented interaction) was associated with higher satisfaction with communication with health care providers and, less strongly, with their life satisfaction.Conclusion: The main finding of this study is the very small proportion of doctors, nurses and patients who believe that interaction should be patient-oriented. These results highlight the necessity of improvement of communication among health care providers towards patient-oriented approach in order to decrease miscommunication with patients. The fact that most patients prefer doctor-oriented interaction may reflect historical stereotypes; educational/information interventions among patients may also be needed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dahai Zhao ◽  
Hongyu Zhao ◽  
Paul D Cleary

Objectives Despite increasing research attention on public trust in health care systems, empirical evidence on this topic in the developing world is limited and inconclusive. This paper examines the level and determinants of public trust in the health care system in China. Methods We used data from a survey conducted with a sample of 5347 adults in all Chinese provincial areas between January and February 2016. Trust in the health care system was assessed with a question used by the 2011–2013 International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) to assess public trust in the health care systems of 29 industrialized countries and regions (‘In general, how much confidence do you have in the health care system in your country?’). Results Only 28% of respondents reported that they had a great deal or complete trust in China’s health care system. Respondents who reported to have more trust in other people in society, more trust in the local government and who were more satisfied with their most recent health care system experience and their health insurance were significantly more likely to trust the country’s health care system. Furthermore, respondents who reported a higher level of happiness, better health status and positive attitudes towards social equity were more likely to trust the health care system in China. Conclusions Our findings suggest that low public trust in China’s health care system is a potential problem. Improving health care experiences may be the most practical and effective way of improving trust in the health care system in China.


Author(s):  
Sebastian Michel ◽  
Christian Witt ◽  
Jens Gottlieb ◽  
Clemens Aigner

AbstractThe current COVID-19 pandemia affects health care systems worldwide, however, to a variable extent depending on the caseload in each country. We aimed to provide a cross-sectional overview of current limitations or adaptions in lung transplant programs in Germany in from January to May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. A cross-sectional survey assessing various aspects of lung transplant activity was sent to all active lung transplant programs (n = 12) in Germany. Eight centers (66%) responded to the survey within the requested time frame. Four centers (50%) reported their activity is not restricted at all and four centers (50%) reported on moderate general limitations. The overall lung transplant activity in Germany from January to May 2020 contains 128 bilateral and 11 single lung transplantations, which is similar to the same period in the year 2019 (126 bilateral transplantations and 12 single lung transplantations). The results suggest that the influence of the COVID-19 pandemia on lung transplantation activity in Germany has been moderate so far. Nevertheless, adaptions such as extensive testing of donors and recipients were introduced to reduce the likelihood of infections and increase patient safety. Alertness to changes in COVID-19 reproduction rates might be required until effective antiviral therapy or vaccination is available.


2021 ◽  
pp. 152483992110097
Author(s):  
Susan Patton ◽  
Jennifer Vincenzo ◽  
Leanne Lefler

Aim To explore gender differences in older adults’ perceptions about preventing falls. Background Falls are a major problem for older adults and health care systems and a challenge to the aging population. Consideration of older adults’ perceptions of fall prevention is needed to increase their engagement in evidence-based prevention strategies. Method A qualitative analysis of secondary data was performed. Results Three major themes emerged: We’ve Seen It, Women Are Caregivers, and Men Are Analyzing Risks and Modifying Behaviors. The men and women in this study shared information about falls and fall prevention in alignment with traditional role expectations. The women learned about falling through their roles as caregivers and prevented falls by controlling extrinsic risk factors indoors such as holding onto handrails on stairs or making home modifications. The men demonstrated an analytical approach to reducing risk such as employing improved safety measures during outdoors activities as a responsibility to maintain independence. Implications The different perceptions of men and women influence what they do to engage in fall prevention. Health care professionals need to consider gender differences and take an individualized approach that includes allowing older adults to share their experiences, acknowledging their successful fall prevention behaviors, and validating and addressing their concerns.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 797
Author(s):  
Miguel Ángel Díaz-Herrera ◽  
José Ramón Martínez-Riera ◽  
José Verdú-Soriano ◽  
Raúl Miguel Capillas-Pérez ◽  
Carme Pont-García ◽  
...  

Background: Chronic wounds give rise to major costs and resource consumption in health care systems, due to their protracted healing time. Incidence and prevalence data are scarce or nonexistent in community settings. Objective: The aim of the present epidemiological study was to analyse and determine the prevalence of chronic wounds in the community in the south of the province of Barcelona (Spain). Design: A cross-sectional, multicentre secondary data analysis study was conducted in the community (excluding nursing homes) in Barcelona between 16 April and 13 June 2013. It included 52 primary care centres that serve a total population of 1,217,564 inhabitants. Results: The observed prevalence was 0.11%. Venous ulcers presented the highest prevalence, at 0.04%, followed by pressure injuries, at 0.03%. The >74 age group presented the highest frequency of chronic wounds, accounting for 69.4% of cases. Conclusion: The results obtained are consistent with those reported in previous similar studies conducted in Spain and elsewhere. As with most studies that adjusted their variables for age and sex, we found that the prevalence of ulcers increased with age and was higher in women, except in the case of diabetic foot ulcers and ischaemic ulcers, which were more frequent in men.


2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 211-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Panella ◽  
Carmela Rinaldi ◽  
Fabrizio Leigheb ◽  
Sanita Knesse ◽  
Chiara Donnarumma ◽  
...  

Objective To identify the prevalence of the practice of defensive medicine among Italian hospital physicians, its costs and the reasons for practising defensive medicine and possible solutions to reduce the practice of defensive medicine. Methods Cross-sectional web survey. Main outcome measures Number of physicians reporting having engaged in any defensive medicine behaviour in the previous year. Results A total of 1313 physicians completed the survey. Ninety-five per cent believed that defensive medicine would increase in the near future. The practice of defensive medicine accounted for approximately 10% of total annual Italian national health expenditure. Conclusions Defensive medicine is a significant factor in health care costs without adding any benefit to patients. The economic burden of defensive medicine on health care systems should provide a substantial stimulus for a prompt review of this situation in a time of economic crisis. Malpractice reform, together with a systematic use of evidence-based clinical guidelines, is likely to be the most effective way to reduce defensive medicine.


2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Murchie ◽  
N. C. Campbell ◽  
E. K. Delaney ◽  
G.-J. Dinant ◽  
P. C. Hannaford ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document