Barriers to Completion of Advance Care Directives among African Americans Ages 25–84: A Cross-Generational Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Kelly West ◽  
Marianne Hollis
Keyword(s):  
African Americans ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Nursing Facilities ◽  
Skilled Nursing ◽  
Multiple Focus ◽  
Advance Care Directives ◽  
Advance Care ◽  
Surrogate Decision ◽  
Advance Care Directive ◽  
Common Barriers

Prior studies conducted in the area of Advance Care Directive document completion in African Americans have primarily targeted the elderly who are either institutionalized in skilled nursing facilities or are members of faith communities. Few studies have been done concerning barriers to Advance Care Directive document completion that include non-elderly African Americans. The purpose of this study was to identify the common barriers to advance care directive document completion across generations of African Americans ages 25–84. Using convenience sampling among various Baptist denominations of the African-American faith community of Buncombe County, North Carolina, 40 individuals ranging in age from 25–84 participated in multiple focus group sessions. Findings revealed participants shared three common barriers: 1) surrogate decision-making, 2) lack of education concerning advance care directive discussions and completion and 3) fear and denial. Also revealed were barriers that varied across generations: 1) fatalism, 2) mistrust of the health care system, 3) spirituality, and 4) economics.

Advance Care Planning in Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Multisite Examination of Professional Judgments

2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 338-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin R Baughman ◽  
Ruth Ludwick ◽  
David Jarjoura ◽  
Denise Kropp ◽  
Vimal Shenoy
Keyword(s):  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Skilled Nursing Facilities ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Nursing Facilities ◽  
Skilled Nursing ◽  
Advance Care ◽  
Professional Judgments

scholarly journals COVID-19 Across the Landscape of Long-Term Care in Alameda County: Heterogeneity and Disparities

2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 233372142110734
Author(s):  
Terry E. Hill ◽  
David J. Farrell
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Nursing Facilities ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Skilled Nursing ◽  
Data Infrastructure ◽  
Care Facilities

Throughout the pandemic, public health and long-term care professionals in our urban California county have linked local and state COVID-19 data and performed observational exploratory analyses of the impacts among our diverse long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Case counts from LTCFs through March 2021 included 4309 (65%) in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), 1667 (25%) in residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFEs), and 273 (4%) in continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). These cases led to 582 COVID-19 resident deaths and 12 staff deaths based on death certificates. Data on decedents’ age, race, education, and country of birth reflected a hierarchy of wealth and socioeconomic status from CCRCs to RCFEs to SNFs. Mortality rates within SNFs were higher for non-Whites than Whites. Staff accounted for 42% of LTCF-associated COVID-19 cases, and over 75% of these staff were unlicensed. For all COVID-19 deaths in our jurisdiction, both LTCF and community, 82% of decedents were age 65 or over. Taking a comprehensive, population-based approach across our heterogenous LTCF landscape, we found socioeconomic disparities within COVID-19 cases and deaths of residents and staff. An improved data infrastructure linking public health and delivery systems would advance our understanding and potentiate life-saving interventions within this vulnerable ecosystem.

Ethnicity and Advance Care Directives

1996 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila T. Murphy ◽  
Joycelynne M. Palmer ◽  
Stanley Azen ◽  
Gelya Frank ◽  
Vicki Michel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Living Will ◽  
Power Of Attorney ◽  
Major Barrier ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Advance Care Directives ◽  
Advance Care ◽  
Advance Care Directive ◽  
End Of Life Decision ◽  
And Behavior

Advance care directives for health care have been promoted as a way to improve end-of-life decision making. These documents allow a patient to state, in advance of incapacity, the types of medical treatments they would like to receive (a living will), to name a surrogate to make those decisions (a durable power of attorney for health care), or to do both. Although studies have shown that both physicians and patients generally have positive attitudes about the use of these documents, relatively few individuals have actually completed one.What underlies this discrepancy between attitudes and behavior with regard to advance care directives? One obvious explanation is lack of access. Emanuel et al. estimated that approximately 90 percent of the population desire an advance care directive, and they pointed to access as the major barrier. Yet interventions that increase accessibility have typically failed to yield more than a 20 percent completion rate. Thus, it appears that access is not the sole determinant of advance care directive completion.

scholarly journals Emergency Department Urinary Antibiograms Differ by Specific Patient Group

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (9) ◽  
pp. 2629-2636 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Jorgensen ◽  
M. Zurayk ◽  
S. Yeung ◽  
J. Terry ◽  
M. Dunn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Patient Group ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Nursing Facilities ◽  
Skilled Nursing ◽  
Specific Patient ◽  
Female Age ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Positive Urine

ABSTRACT Patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) represent a heterogeneous population comprised of all ages, various backgrounds, such as from the community and skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs), and at various risks for resistant pathogens. The aim of this study was to compare patient group-specific urinary antibiograms in the ED. Adults presented to the ED with an ICD 9/10 code urinary tract infection (UTI) diagnosis during July 2015 to June 2016 were randomly selected ( n = 500) to extract relevant demographic, laboratory, and clinical data from the medical record. Urinary Escherichia coli antibiograms were compared between institutional versus ED and among ED patients (male versus female; age of 18 to 64 years versus ≥65 years; female aged 18 to 50 years versus >50 years; home versus SNF; and admitted versus discharged). E. coli grew from 56% (145/259) of the positive urine cultures. Overall ciprofloxacin (CIP), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT), and cefazolin (CFZ) susceptibilities were <71%. Differences in antibiograms were the following: lower CFZ and SXT susceptibilities in ED versus institutional (CFZ, 67% versus 86% [ P = 0.001]; SXT, 66% versus 74% [ P = 0.02]), lower ampicillin and gentamicin susceptibilities in females aged 18 to 50 years versus >50 years (32% versus 52% [ P = 0.04]; 78% versus 93% [ P = 0.02]), lower CIP susceptibilities in the elderly (64% versus 81%; P = 0.03), SNF versus home (35% versus 77%; P < 0.001), admitted versus discharged (63% versus 78%; P = 0.04), and lower SXT susceptibilities in patients aged <65 years versus the elderly (58% versus 71%; P = 0.01). Nitrofurantoin showed >80% susceptibility in all groups. Patient group-specific urinary antibiograms revealed distinct differences in E. coli susceptibility and should be developed to better inform empirical UTI therapy selection in the ED.

scholarly journals 132 A Survey of Non-consultant Hospital Doctors’ Knowledge and Understanding of the Legal Status of Advance Care Directives in Ireland

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii17-iii65
Author(s):  
Ruth Comber
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Medical Intervention ◽  
Advance Care Directives ◽  
Advance Care ◽  
Hospital Doctors ◽  
Advance Care Directive

Abstract Background The legal status of advance care directives (ACDs) in Irish law, as they pertain to current clinical practice, is a relatively new topic to healthcare staff. This project aimed to assess current understanding in non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs). Methods An online survey was conducted with NCHDs across a range of disciplines to ascertain current knowledge of the legal parameters of ACDs. Descriptive analysis of data was conducted in Excel. Results The survey was completed by 183 NCHDs. Of respondents 93.99% (n=172) were familiar with the term advance care directive and 41.53% (n=76) had encountered one in clinical practice. Their current legal status in Ireland was not known to 58.47% (n=107). That to be considered legally binding an ACD must be in writing was understood by 63.39%, but 58.47% (n=107) were unsure if a solicitor is required to draft one. Refusal of medical treatment as an application for ACDs was appreciated by 79.78% (n=146), however 38.89% (n=73) erroneously believed medical intervention could be requested in an ACD, with a further 30.6% (n=56) unsure. Current guidance sets out that only specific situations may be contained within an ACD, however 77.6% (n=142) of respondents believed a general stipulation could be documented, 25.14% (n=46) did not know if cognitive function affected the legality of an ACD, 95.08% (n=174) of respondents would attend formal training on ACDs if provided by their place of work. Conclusion Despite being enshrined in current legislation the legal status of advance care directives, their definition and criteria to be considered legally binding are very poorly understood by NCHDs. Guidance and education are crucial to the future protection of both patients and doctors with regards the execution of advanced care directives as prescribed by law.

scholarly journals Nation-Wide Observational Study of Cardiac Arrests Occurring in Nursing Homes and Nursing Facilities in Singapore

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 285-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew FW Ho ◽  
Kai Yi Lee ◽  
Xinyi Lin ◽  
Ying Hao ◽  
Nur Shahidah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Facilities ◽  
Do Not Resuscitate ◽  
Neurological Outcomes ◽  
Shockable Rhythm ◽  
Bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ◽  
History Of ◽  
Advance Care Directives ◽  
Advance Care ◽  
Outcomes Study ◽  
Do Not Resuscitate Orders

Introduction: Nursing home (NH) residents with out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) have unique resuscitation priorities. This study aimed to describe OHCA characteristics in NH residents and identify independent predictors of survival. Materials and Methods: OHCA cases between 2010–16 in the Pan-Asian Resuscitation Outcomes Study were retrospectively analysed. Patients aged <18 years old and non-emergency cases were excluded. Primary outcome was survival at discharge or 30 days. Good neurological outcome was defined as a cerebral performance score between 1–2. Results: A total of 12,112 cases were included. Of these, 449 (3.7%) were NH residents who were older (median age 79 years, range 69–87 years) and more likely to have a history of stroke, heart and respiratory diseases. Fewer NH OHCA had presumed cardiac aetiology (62% vs 70%, P <0.01) and initial shockable rhythm (8.9% vs 18%, P <0.01), but had higher incidence of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (74% vs 43%, P <0.01) and defibrillator use (8.5% vs 2.8%, P <0.01). Non-NH (2.8%) residents had better neurological outcomes than NH (0.9%) residents (P <0.05). Factors associated with survival for cardiac aetiology included age <65 years old, witnessed arrest, bystander defibrillator use and initial shockable rhythm; for non-cardiac aetiology, these included witnessed arrest (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.8, P <0.001) and initial shockable rhythm (AOR 5.7, P <0.001). Conclusion: Neurological outcomes were poorer in NH survivors of OHCA. These findings should inform health policies on termination of resuscitation, advance care directives and do-not-resuscitate orders in this population. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2020;49:285–93 Key words: Advance care directives, Do-not-resuscitate orders, Geriatrics, Out-of- hospital, Palliative care

Rehabilitation Intensity and Patient Outcomes in Skilled Nursing Facilities in the United States: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel A Prusynski ◽  
Allison M Gustavson ◽  
Siddhi R Shrivastav ◽  
Tracy M Mroz
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Hospital Readmissions ◽  
The United States ◽  
Skilled Nursing Facilities ◽  
Functional Improvement ◽  
Nursing Facilities ◽  
Skilled Nursing ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Objective Exponential increases in rehabilitation intensity in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) motivated recent changes in Medicare reimbursement policies, which remove financial incentives for providing more minutes of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Yet there is concern that SNFs will reduce therapy provision and patients will experience worse outcomes. The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize current evidence on the relationship between therapy intensity and patient outcomes in SNFs. Methods PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, PEDro, and COCHRANE databases were searched. English-language studies published in the United States between 1998 and February 14, 2020, examining the relationship between therapy intensity and community discharge, hospital readmission, length of stay (LOS), and functional improvement for short-stay SNF patients were considered. Data extraction and risk of bias were performed using the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Classification of Evidence scale for causation questions. AAN criteria were used to assess confidence in the evidence for each outcome. Results Eight observational studies met inclusion criteria. There was moderate evidence that higher intensity therapy was associated with higher rates of community discharge and shorter LOS. One study provided very low-level evidence of associations between higher intensity therapy and lower hospital readmissions after total hip and knee replacement. There was low-level evidence indicating higher intensity therapy is associated with improvements in function. Conclusions This systematic review concludes, with moderate confidence, that higher intensity therapy in SNFs leads to higher community discharge rates and shorter LOS. Future research should improve quality of evidence on functional improvement and hospital readmissions. Impact This systematic review demonstrates that patients in SNFs may benefit from higher intensity therapy. Because new policies no longer incentivize intensive therapy, patient outcomes should be closely monitored to ensure patients in SNFs receive high-quality care.

scholarly journals Differences in Hospital Costs among Octogenarians and Nonagenarians Following Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty

Geriatrics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Christopher Fang ◽  
Andrew Hagar ◽  
Matthew Gordon ◽  
Carl T. Talmo ◽  
David A. Mattingly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Total Joint Arthroplasty ◽  
Hospital Costs ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Joint Arthroplasty ◽  
Nursing Facilities ◽  
Activity Based Costing ◽  
Skilled Nursing ◽  
Value Based Care ◽  
Hospital Expenses

The proportion of patients over the age of 90 years continues to grow, and the anticipated demand for total joint arthroplasty (TJA) in this population is expected to rise concomitantly. As the country shifts to alternative reimbursement models, data regarding hospital expenses is needed for accurate risk-adjusted stratification. The aim of this study was to compare total in-hospital costs following primary TJA in octogenarians and nonagenarians, and to determine the primary drivers of cost. This was a retrospective analysis from a single institution in the U.S. We used time-drive activity-based costing (TDABC) to capture granular total hospital costs for each patient. 889 TJA’s were included in the study, with 841 octogenarians and 48 nonagenarians. Nonagenarians were more likely to undergo total hip arthroplasty (THA) (70.8% vs. 42.4%; p < 0.0001), had higher ASA classification (2.6 vs. 2.4; p = 0.049), and were more often privately insured (35.4% vs. 27.8%; p = 0.0001) as compared to octogenarians. Nonagenarians were more often discharged to skilled nursing facilities (56.2% vs. 37.5%; p = 0.0011), experienced longer operating room (OR) time (142 vs. 133; p = 0.0201) and length of stay (3.7 vs. 3.1; p = 0.0003), and had higher implant and total in-hospital costs (p < 0.0001 and 0.0001). Multivariate linear regression showed implant cost (0.700; p < 0.0001), length of stay (0.546; p < 0.0001), and OR time (0.288; p < 0.0001) to be the strongest associations with overall costs. Primary TJA for nonagenarians was more expensive than octogenarians. Targeting implant costs, length of stay, and OR time can reduce costs for nonagenarians in order to provide cost-effective value-based care.

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