scholarly journals Health care providers’ perception of the frequent emergency department user issue and of targeted case management interventions: a cross-sectional national survey in Switzerland

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oriane J. Chastonay ◽  
Melissa Lemoine ◽  
Véronique S. Grazioli ◽  
Marina Canepa Allen ◽  
Miriam Kasztura ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Frequent users of emergency departments (FUEDs) (≥5 ED visits/year) represent a vulnerable population with complex needs accounting for a significant number of emergency department (ED) consultations, thus contributing to EDs overcrowding. Research exploring ED staff perceptions of FUEDs is scarce. Objectives The current study aimed to evaluate in ED staff a) the extent to which FUEDs are perceived as an issue; b) their perceived levels of knowledge and understanding of FUEDs; c) levels of perceived usefulness of case management (CM) and interest in implementing this intervention in their ED service. Methods Head physicians of the EDs at all public hospitals in Switzerland (of various level of specialization) were sent a 19-item web-based survey, pilot tested prior to its dissemination. The head physicians were asked to forward the survey to ED staff members from different health professional backgrounds. Results The hospital response rate was 81% (85/106). The exploitable hospital response rate was 71% (75/106 hospitals) including 208 responding health professionals. Issues and difficulties around FUEDs were perceived as important by 64% of respondents. The perceived frequency of being confronted with FUEDs was higher among nurses in more specialized EDs. In total, 64% of respondents felt poorly informed about FUEDs, nurses feeling less informed than physicians. The understanding of FUEDs was lower in the French-Italian-speaking parts (FISP) of Switzerland than in the German-speaking part. Eighty-one percent of respondents had no precise knowledge of FUED-related interventions. The perceived usefulness of CM interventions after receiving explanations about it was high (92%). However, the overall level of interest for CM implementation was 59%. The interest in CM by physicians was low across all regions and ED categories. Nurses, on the other hand, showed more interest, especially those in EDs of high specialization. Conclusions The majority of ED staff reported being confronted with FUEDs on a regular basis. Staff perceived FUEDs as a vulnerable population, yet, they felt poorly informed about how to manage the issue. The majority of ED staff thought a CM intervention would be useful for FUEDs, however there appears to be a gap in their desire or willingness to implement such interventions.

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S873-S873
Author(s):  
L. Penzenstadler ◽  
A. Machado ◽  
Y. Khazaal

IntroductionSubstance use disorder (SUD) is a growing health problem which needs a very complex range of care due to the chronic and relapsing nature of the disorder and the multiple psychosocial problems involved. There are often difficulties in current outpatient programs to deliver and coordinate ongoing care and access to different health care providers. To improve treatment outcomes various case management (CM) models have been developed, at first in other psychiatric domains but also for patients with SUD.AimsThe aim was to assess the effectiveness of CM for patients with SUD using existing studies.MethodsSystematic review of CM interventions for patients with SUD by analyzing randomized controlled studies on this matter found on the electronic database PubMed published between 1996 and 2016.Results and conclusionsMost of the analyzed studies showed improvement on the chosen outcome measures, although, these varied in the different studies. Mainly the treatment adherence improved, but substance use only reduced in a third of the studies. Overall functioning improved in about half of the studies. Further, studies are necessary to determine inclusion criteria for CM treatment for patients suffering from SUD in order to orientate patients most likely to benefit from this approach to the specific CM programs. There are still only few studies on this intervention and SUD. Further, studies are needed to examine the effect of treatment intensity of the CM intervention. Also longitudinal studies are needed to ensure the effectiveness of these treatments.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.Y. Lee ◽  
E.M. Khoo

70 patients presented with acute asthma exacerbation requiring nebulised bronchodilator treatment at the emergency department of a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were interviewed over a two-week period in July 2001. The results showed that 45 (64%) patients had not been educated on the nature of asthma; 30 (43%) had not been advised on preventive measures or avoidance of triggers; 54 (77%) were not advised about the medications used and their side effects; 42 (60%) patients did not know the difference between reliever and preventive medications; 37 (53%) were unable to recognize features of worsening asthma and 68 (97%) were not told about the danger of non-prescribed self-medication or traditional medications. Only six (9%) patients were using peak flow meters and were taught self-management plans. The multiple regression results suggest that patients who were followed up at teaching hospital based clinics were better educated on asthma. In conclusion, asthmatic patients are still not educated well about their disease. Health care providers need to put more emphasis on asthma education so that the number of emergency room visits can be reduced. Asia Pac J Public Health 2004; 16(1): 45-49.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Haroon ◽  
S. S. Owais ◽  
A. S. Khan ◽  
J. Amin

Summary COVID-19 has challenged the mental health of healthcare workers confronting it world-wide. Our study identifies the prevalence and risk of anxiety among emergency healthcare workers confronting COVID-19 in Pakistan. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in an Emergency Department using the Generalized Anxiety Scale (GAD-7), and questions about sources of anxiety. Of 107 participants, 61.7% were frontline workers. The prevalence of anxiety was 50.5%. Nonparametric tests determined that nurses, younger and inexperienced staff, developed significant anxiety. Multivariate ordinal regression determined independent risk factors for developing anxiety were younger age (OR 2.11, 95% CI 0.89–4.99) and frontline placement (OR 1.34, 95% CI 0.33–1.66). Significant sources of stress were fear of infecting family (P = 0.003), lack of social support when the health care providers were themselves unwell (P = 0.02) and feelings of inadequate work performance (P = 0.05). Our study finds that HCWs’ anxiety is considerable. Appropriate measures for its alleviation and prevention are required.


Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 559
Author(s):  
Tobial Mchugh ◽  
Karen A. Brown ◽  
Sam J. Daniel ◽  
Sharmila Balram ◽  
Chantal Frigon

Adenotonsillectomy is performed in children on an outpatient basis, and pain is managed by parents. A pain diary would facilitate pain management in the ambulatory setting. Our objective was to evaluate the parental response rate and the compliance of a prototype electronic pain diary (e-diary) with cloud storage in children aged 2–12 years recovering from adenotonsillectomy and to compare the e-diary with a paper diary (p-diary). Parents recorded pain scores twice daily in a pain diary for 2 weeks post-operation. Parents were given the choice of an e-diary or p-diary with picture message. A total of 208 patients were recruited, of which 35 parents (16.8%) chose the e-diary. Most parents (98%) chose to be contacted by text message. Eighty-one families (47%) returned p-diaries to us by mail. However, the response rate increased to 77% and was similar to that of the e-diary (80%) when we included data texted to the research phone from 53 families. The proportion of diaries with Complete (e-diary:0.37 vs. p-diary:0.4) and Incomplete (e-diary:0.43 vs. p-diary:0.38) data entries were similar. E-diaries provide a means to follow patients in real time after discharge. Our findings suggest that a smartphone-based medical health application coupled with a cloud would meet the needs of families and health care providers alike.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anh Ly ◽  
Roger Zemek ◽  
Bruce Wright ◽  
Jennifer Zwicker ◽  
Kathryn Schneider ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Multiple evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) exist to guide the management of concussion in children, but few have been translated into clinical pathways (CP), which operationalize guidelines into accessible and actionable algorithms that can be more readily implemented by health care providers. This study aimed to identify the clinical behaviours, attitudinal factors, and environmental contexts that potentially influence the implementation of a clinical pathway for pediatric concussion. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted from October 2017 to January 2018 with 42 emergency department clinicians (17 physicians, 25 nurses) at five urban emergency departments in Alberta, Canada. A Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF)-informed interview guide contained open-ended questions intended to gather feedback on the proposed pathway developed for the study, as well as factors that could potentially influence its implementation. Results The original 14 domains of the TDF were collapsed into 6 clusters based on significant overlap between domains in the issues discussed by clinicians: 1) knowledge, skills, and practice; 2) professional roles and identity; 3) attitudes, beliefs, and motivations; 4) goals and priorities; 5) local context and resources; and 6) engagement and collaboration. The 6 clusters identified in the interviews each reflect 2–4 predominant topics that can be condensed into six overarching themes regarding clinicians’ views on the implementation of a concussion CP: 1) standardization in the midst of evolving research; 2) clarifying and communicating goals; 3) knowledge dissemination and alignment of information; 4) a team-oriented approach; 5) site engagement; and 6) streamlining clinical processes. Conclusion Application of a comprehensive, evidence-based, and theory-driven framework in conjunction with an inductive thematic analysis approach enabled six themes to emerge as to how to successfullly implement a concussion CP.


1995 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 229-238
Author(s):  
Jill M. Baren ◽  
James S. Seidel

This section of Pediatrics in Review is designed to be clipped or duplicated and filed in a handy place in the office, clinic, or emergency department, providing a convenient and concise reference. All offices in which children are examined should have pediatric emergency equipment, supplies, drugs, policies, and procedures. The equipment, supplies, and drugs kept in the office will depend on the spectrum of ill or injured children seen in the practice. However, a source of oxygen, basic resuscitation drugs (suited to the patient population and experience of the health-care providers), and a dosage chart or weight-based dosing tape (Figure 1) should be available in all offices. The following list of drugs is fairly comprehensive and is organized according to sign or symptom needing treatment. Health-care providers should become familiar with the information regarding specific drugs that they use commonly, eg, choose a short-acting benzodiazepine such as diazepam or lorazepam for treating status epilepticus. The intraosseous (IO) route of drug administration can be used for the majority of emergency drugs listed in the chart that suggest administration by the intramuscular (IM) or intravenous (IV) routes. The IO route is appropriate for children age 6 years and younger and should be reserved for those circumstances where failure to achieve vascular access might result in loss of life or limb (ie, anaphylaxis, cardiopulmonary arrest).


2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
pp. 1522-1542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jee Young Joo ◽  
Diane L. Huber

The challenges faced by case managers when implementing case management have received little focus. Several qualitative studies have been published that may be able to shed light on those challenges. This study is a systematic review of qualitative literature to identify barriers case managers have when implementing case management. Five electronic bibliographic databases were systematically searched, and 10 qualitative studies were identified for inclusion in the review which were published from 2007 to 2016. Through thematic synthesis of findings, five themes were identified as barriers to case management implementation: unclear scope of practice, diverse and complex case management activities, insufficient training, poor collaboration with other health-care providers, and client relationship challenges. This review study suggested that standardized evidence-based practical protocols and certification programs may help overcome case managers’ barriers and improve case management practices. Health policymakers, case management associations, and health-care management researchers should develop educational and practical supports for case managers.


2018 ◽  
Vol 09 (04) ◽  
pp. 772-781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan Reading ◽  
Dawon Baik ◽  
Melissa Beauchemin ◽  
Kathleen Hickey ◽  
Jacqueline Merrill

Background Patient-generated health data (PGHD) collected digitally with mobile health (mHealth) technology has garnered recent excitement for its potential to improve precision management of chronic conditions such as atrial fibrillation (AF), a common cardiac arrhythmia. However, sustained engagement is a major barrier to collection of PGHD. Little is known about barriers to sustained engagement or strategies to intervene upon engagement through application design. Objective This article investigates individual patient differences in sustained engagement among individuals with a history of AF who are self-monitoring using mHealth technology. Methods This qualitative study involved patients, health care providers, and research coordinators previously involved in a randomized, controlled trial involving electrocardiogram (ECG) self-monitoring of AF. Patients were adults with a history of AF randomized to the intervention arm of this trial who self-monitored using ECG mHealth technology for 6 months. Semistructured interviews and focus groups were conducted separately with health care providers and research coordinators, engaged patients, and unengaged patients. A validated model of sustained engagement, an adapted unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), guided data collection, and analysis through directed content analysis. Results We interviewed 13 patients (7 engaged, 6 unengaged), 6 providers, and 2 research coordinators. In addition to finding differences between engaged and unengaged patients within each predictor in the adapted UTAUT model (perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, facilitating conditions), four additional factors were identified as being related to sustained engagement in this population. These are: (1) internal motivation to manage health, (2) relationship with health care provider, (3) supportive environments, and (4) feedback and guidance. Conclusion Although it required some modification, the adapted UTAUT model was useful in understanding of the parameters of sustained engagement. The findings of this study provide initial requirement specifications for the design of applications that engage patients in this unique population of adults with AF.


Author(s):  
Sipra Mondol ◽  
Faisal Muhammad ◽  
A. B. M. Alauddin Chowdhury

Background: Most of the time pain is difficult to assess and manage because of being inherently a subjective experience influenced by multiple factors. The perception and tolerance of pain may vary because of different psychological and social influences of the patient. Therefore it is important for health care providers to assess the pain so that individualized management interventions can be provided. This study was aimed to assess the nurses’ knowledge and practices related to pain assessment in critically ill patients.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 200 registered nurses working at different ICU in Square Hospital. The study was conducted within April to August 2017. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was used. The data was collected using pre-tested self-administered semi-structured questionnaire and it was analysed using SPSS 22.0 version.Results: About 81% of the respondents were in the age group 22-32 years and the mean age of the respondents was 27.74±12.06 years. About 79.0% of the respondents were female and 59.5% of the respondents had diploma in nursing. The mean monthly income of the respondents’ was 19450.5 taka. The majority (59.5%) of the respondents had less than 2 years’ service experience. About 85.5% of the respondents said it is important to assess the pain and need for analgesia before, during, and after wound care.Conclusions: Our findings reported that the nurses were reasonably knowledgeable about the principles of pain assessment. More than four-fifths of the respondents had adequate knowledge about pain assessment.


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