scholarly journals Quality and Safety in Hospital Pediatrics During COVID-19: A National Qualitative Study

Author(s):  
Nadia Roessler De Angulo ◽  
Nicole Penwill ◽  
Priya R. Pathak ◽  
Clairissa Ja ◽  
Martha J. Elster ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: To describe challenges in inpatient pediatric quality and safety during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: In a previous qualitative study, our team sought to broadly describe changes in pediatric inpatient care during the pandemic. For both that study and this ancillary analysis, we purposefully sampled participants from community and children’s hospitals in the 6 US states with the highest COVID-19 hospitalization rates from March to May 2020. We recruited 2 to 3 participants from each hospital (administrators, front-line physicians, nurses, caregivers) for semistructured interviews. We used constant comparative methods to identify themes regarding quality and safety challenges during the pandemic. RESULTS: We interviewed 30 participants from 12 hospitals. Participants described several impacts to clinical workflows, including decreased direct clinician-patient interactions and challenges to communication, partly addressed through innovative use of telehealth technology. Participants reported changes in the discharge and transfer process (eg, discharges, difficulties accessing specialized facilities). Participants also described impacts to hospital operations, including changes in quality monitoring and operations (eg, decreased staff, data collection), increased health risks for clinicians and staff (eg, COVID-19 exposure, testing delays), and staff and supply shortages. Participants voiced concerns that negative quality and safety impacts could include increased risk of preventable safety events and hospital readmissions, and decreased patient engagement, education, and satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: We identified several impacts to clinical workflows and hospital operations during the pandemic that may have affected inpatient pediatric care quality and safety. Our findings highlight potentially important areas of focus for planning pandemic recovery, preparing for future pandemics, and conducting future research on inpatient pediatric quality and safety.

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 974-990 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Carter ◽  
Fred N. Silverman

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: to enable hospital administrators to increase reimbursement rates under value-based purchasing (VBP) by understanding the process by which the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) calculate and use performance scores from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey of patient experience; to apply statistical methods to determine what dimensions of patient care have the greatest impact on overall satisfaction scores and thus reimbursement. Design/methodology/approach The expository purpose was met by locating, analyzing and interpreting published CMS documentation related to VBP to explain the complex methods used to convert raw survey data to total patient satisfaction scores on seven dimensions. The raw data on 2,984 hospitals were cleaned and correlation and regression analysis used to measure the relationship between raw survey scores and overall patient satisfaction scores. Finally, Pareto analysis was used to show the relative influence of each dimension on satisfaction performance scores. Findings Nursing communications accounted for 75 percent of the variance in the patient satisfaction domain score in a stepwise regression. Research limitations/implications This research focusses only on the patient satisfaction component of VBP, over which hospital administrators have significant control. Future research could explore how hospital management can improve scores on clinical outcomes, process and efficiency. Practical implications Shows hospital management the most influential methods for improving their patient satisfaction scores and reimbursement under VBP. Originality/value Offers a managerially focussed explanation of how patient satisfaction scores are computed from raw survey data and how statistical analysis of the data can be used to improve quality.


2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (669) ◽  
pp. e260-e267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian McMillan ◽  
Katherine Easton ◽  
Elizabeth Goyder ◽  
Brigitte Delaney ◽  
Priya Madhuvrata ◽  
...  

BackgroundDespite the seven-fold increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among females previously diagnosed with gestational diabetes (GD), annual rates of follow-up in primary care are low. There is a need to consider how to reduce the incidence of progression to T2DM among this high-risk group.AimTo examine the views of females diagnosed with GD to ascertain how to improve primary care support postnatally, and the potential role of technology in reducing the risk of progression to T2DM.Design and settingA qualitative study of a purposive sample of 27 postnatal females leaving secondary care with a recent diagnosis of GD.MethodSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 females, who had been previously diagnosed with GD, at around 6–12 weeks postnatally. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analysed thematically.ResultsFacilitators and barriers to engaging in a healthy postnatal lifestyle were identified, the most dominant being competing demands on time. Although females were generally satisfied with the secondary care they received antenatally, they felt abandoned postnatally and were uncertain what to expect from their GP in terms of follow-up and support. Females felt postnatal care could be improved by greater clarity regarding this, and enhanced by peer support, multidisciplinary input, and subsidised facilities. Technology was seen as a potential adjunct by providing information, enabling flexible and personalised self-management, and facilitating social support.ConclusionA more tailored approach for females previously diagnosed with GD may help reduce the risk of progression to T2DM. A need for future research to test the efficacy of using technology as an adjunct to current care was identified.


2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (S2) ◽  
pp. 51-51
Author(s):  
Nadia Roessler De Angulo ◽  
Nicole Penwill ◽  
Priya Pathak ◽  
Martha Elster ◽  
Clairissa Ja ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 530-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Farrand ◽  
Eugene Mullan ◽  
Kat Rayson ◽  
Alberta Engelbrecht ◽  
Karen Mead ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground:The principles of the Armed Forces Covenant state that Armed Forces Veterans should be at no disadvantage resulting from their service compared with a general adult population. However, despite being at increased risk of experiencing common mental health difficulties, evidence indicates that 82% of Armed Forces Veterans receive no treatment, compared with 63% of the general adult population.Aim:To gain a better appreciation of factors that inform the type of adaptations to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) interventions for depression and mainstream service promotion materials to enhance acceptability for Armed Forces Veterans.Method:This is a qualitative study employing a focus group of 12 participants to examine the main impacts of depression on Armed Forces Veterans alongside attitudes towards terminology and visual imagery. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes and sub-themes with rigour established through two researchers independently developing thematic maps to inform a final agreed thematic map.Results:A behavioural activation intervention supporting re-engagement with activities to overcome depression had good levels of acceptability when adapted to reflect an Armed Forces culture. Preferences regarding terminology commonly used within CBT adapted for Armed Forces Veterans were identified. Concerns were expressed with respect to using imagery that emphasized physical rather than mental health difficulties.Conclusions:There is the need to consider the Armed Forces community as a specific institutional culture when developing CBT approaches with potential to enhance engagement, completion and recovery rates. Results have potential to inform the practice of CBT with Armed Forces Veterans and future research.


Author(s):  
Tuna C Hayirli ◽  
Nicholas Stark ◽  
Aditi Bhanja ◽  
James Hardy ◽  
Christopher R Peabody ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Newly intensified use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in emergency departments presents teamwork challenges affecting the quality and safety of care at the frontlines. We conducted a qualitative study to categorize and describe barriers to teamwork posed by PPE and distancing in the emergency setting. Methods: We conducted 55 semi-structured interviews between June-August, 2020 with personnel from two emergency departments serving in a variety of roles. We then performed a thematic analysis to identify and construct patterns of teamwork challenges into themes. Results: We discovered two types of challenges to teamwork: material barriers related to wearing masks, gowns, and powered air purifying respirators, and spatial barriers implemented to conserve PPE and limit coronavirus exposure. Both material and spatial barriers resulted in disrupted communication, roles, and interpersonal relationships, but did so in unique ways. Material barriers muffled information flow, impeded team member recognition and role/task division, and reduced belonging and cohesion while increasing interpersonal strain. Spatial barriers resulted in mediated communication, and added physical and emotional distance between teammates and patients. Conclusion: Our findings identify specific aspects of how intensified PPE use disrupts teamwork, and can inform efforts to ensure care quality and safety in emergency settings as PPE use continues during and, potentially beyond, the COVID-19 pandemic.


Crisis ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 433-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Gryglewicz ◽  
Melanie Bozzay ◽  
Brittany Arthur-Jordon ◽  
Gabriela D. Romero ◽  
Melissa Witmeier ◽  
...  

Abstract. Background: Given challenges that exceed the normal developmental requirements of adolescence, deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) youth are believed to be at elevated risk for engaging in suicide-related behavior (SRB). Unfortunately, little is known about the mechanisms that put these youth potentially at risk. Aims: To determine whether peer relationship difficulties are related to increased risk of SRB in DHH youth. Method: Student records (n = 74) were retrieved from an accredited educational center for deaf and blind students in the United States. Results: Peer relationship difficulties were found to be significantly associated with engagement in SRB but not when accounting for depressive symptomatology. Limitations: The restricted sample limits generalizability. Conclusions regarding risk causation cannot be made due to the cross-sectional nature of the study. Conclusion: These results suggest the need for future research that examines the mechanisms of the relationship between peer relationship difficulties, depression, and suicide risk in DHH youth and potential preventive interventions to ameliorate the risks for these at-risk youth.


Author(s):  
Gitte Normann ◽  
Kirsten Arntz Boisen ◽  
Peter Uldall ◽  
Anne Brødsgaard

AbstractObjectivesYoung adults with cerebral palsy (CP) face potential challenges. The transition to young adulthood is characterized by significant changes in roles and responsibilities. Furthermore, young adults with chronic conditions face a transfer from pediatric care to adult healthcare. This study explores how living with CP affects young adults in general, and specifically which psychosocial, medical and healthcare needs are particularly important during this phase of life.MethodsA qualitative study with data from individual, semi-structured, in-depth interviews with six young adults with CP (ages 21–31 years) were transcribed verbatim and analyzed. The participants were selected to provide a maximum variation in age, gender, Gross Motor Function Classification System score and educational background. A descriptive thematic analysis was used to explore patterns and identify themes.ResultsThree themes were identified: “Being a Young Adult”, “Development in Physical Disability and New Challenges in Adulthood” and “Navigating the Healthcare System”. The three themes emerged from 15 sub-themes. Our findings emphasized that young adults with CP faced psychosocial challenges in social relationships, participation in education and work settings and striving towards independence. The transition to young adulthood led to a series of new challenges that the young adults were not prepared for. Medical challenges included managing CP-related physical and cognitive symptoms and navigating adult health care services, where new physicians with insufficient knowledge regarding CP were encountered.ConclusionThe young adults with CP were not prepared for the challenges and changes they faced during their transition into adulthood. They felt that they had been abandoned by the healthcare system and lacked a medical home. Better transitional care is urgently needed to prepare them for the challenges in young adulthood.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Snoen Glomsås ◽  
Ingrid Ruud Knutsen ◽  
Mariann Fossum ◽  
Kristin Halvorsen

Abstract Background Public home care for the elderly is a key area in relation to improving health care quality. It is an important political goal to increase elderly people’s involvement in their care and in the use of welfare technology. The aim of this study was to explore elderly service users’ experience of user involvement in the implementation and everyday use of welfare technology in public home care services. Method This qualitative study has an explorative and descriptive design. Sixteen interviews of service users were conducted in five different municipalities over a period of six months. The data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Service users receiving public home care service are not a homogenous group, and the participants had different wishes and needs as regards user involvement and the use of welfare technology. The analysis led to four main themes: 1) diverse preferences as regards user involvement, 2) individual differences as regards information, knowledge and training, 3) feeling safe and getting help, and 4) a wish to stay at home for as long as possible. Conclusion The results indicated that user involvement was only to a limited extent an integral part of public home care services. Participants had varying insight into and interest in welfare technology, which was a challenge for user involvement. User involvement must be facilitated and implemented in a gentle way, highlighting autonomy and collaboration, and with the focus on respect, reciprocity and dialogue.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Grogan ◽  
Hannah O’Daly ◽  
Jessica Bramham ◽  
Mary Scriven ◽  
Caroline Maher ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Resilience research to date has been criticised for its consideration of resilience as a personal trait instead of a process, and for identifying individual factors related to resilience with no consideration of the ecological context. The overall aim of the current study was to explore the multi-level process through which adults recovering from EDs develop resilience, from the perspectives of clients and clinicians. The objective of this research was to outline the stages involved in the process of developing resilience, which might help to inform families and services in how best to support adults with EDs during their recovery. Method Thirty participants (15 clients; 15 clinicians) took part in semi-structured interviews, and responded to questions relating to factors associated with resilience. Using an inductive approach, data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results The overarching theme which described the process of developing resilience was ‘Bouncing back to being me’, which involved three stages: ‘Who am I without my ED?’, ‘My eating disorder does not define me’, and ‘I no longer need my eating disorder’. Twenty sub-themes were identified as being involved in this resilience process, thirteen of which required multi-level involvement. Conclusion This qualitative study provided a multi-level resilience framework for adults recovering from eating disorders, that is based on the experiences of adults with eating disorders and their treating clinicians. This framework provided empirical evidence that resilience is an ecological process involving an interaction between internal and external factors occurring between adults with eating disorder and their most immediate environments (i.e. family and social). Plain English summary Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder demonstrate high rates of symptom persistence across time and poor prognosis for a significant proportion of individuals affected by these disorders, including health complications and increased risk of mortality. Many researchers have attempted to explore how to improve recovery outcomes for this population. Eating disorder experts have emphasised the need to focus not only on the weight indicators and eating behaviours that sustain the eating disorder during recovery, but also on the psychological well-being of the person recovering. One way to achieve this is to focus on resilience, which was identified as a fundamental aspect of eating disorder recovery in previous research. This study conceptualises resilience as a dynamic process that is influenced not only at a personal level but also through the environment in which the person lives. This study gathered data from adults with eating disorders and their treating clinicians, to devise a framework for resilience development for adults recovering from eating disorders. The paper discussed ways in which these findings and the framework identified can be easily implemented in clinical practice to facilitate a better understanding of eating disorder resilience and to enhance recovery outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 135-143
Author(s):  
Stephanie A Kliethermes ◽  
Stephen W Marshall ◽  
Cynthia R LaBella ◽  
Andrew M Watson ◽  
Joel S Brenner ◽  
...  

Sport specialisation is becoming increasingly common among youth and adolescent athletes in the USA and many have raised concern about this trend. Although research on sport specialisation has grown significantly, numerous pressing questions remain pertaining to short-term and long-term effects of specialisation on the health and well-being of youth, including the increased risk of overuse injury and burnout. Many current elite athletes did not specialise at an early age. Methodological and study design limitations impact the quality of current literature, and researchers need to prioritise pressing research questions to promote safe and healthy youth sport participation. The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine hosted a Youth Early Sport Specialization Summit in April 2019 with the goal of synthesising and reviewing current scientific knowledge and developing a research agenda to guide future research in the field based on the identified gaps in knowledge. This statement provides a broad summary of the existing literature, gaps and limitations in current evidence and identifies key research priorities to help guide researchers conducting research on youth sport specialisation. Our goals are to help improve the quality and relevance of research on youth sport specialisation and to ultimately assure that opportunities for healthy and safe sport participation continue for all youth.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document