Protocol for a Pilot Study of Schwartz Rounds in an Australian Setting: A Team and System Level Wellness Intervention (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatjana Ewais ◽  
Georgia Hunt ◽  
Jonathan Munro ◽  
Paul Pun ◽  
Christy Hogan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
The United States ◽  
Organisational Culture ◽  
System Level ◽  
Compassionate Care ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Secondary Outcomes ◽  
Staff Wellbeing

BACKGROUND Schwartz Rounds are a unique, organisation-wide interdisciplinary intervention aimed at enhancing staff wellbeing, compassionate care, teamwork, and organisational culture in healthcare settings. They provide a safe space wherein both clinical and non-clinical health staff can connect and share their experiences about the social and emotional aspects of health care. OBJECTIVE Although Schwartz Rounds have been assessed and widely implemented in the United States and United Kingdom, they are yet to be formally evaluated Australian healthcare settings. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and impact of Schwartz Rounds on staff wellbeing, compassionate care and organisational culture, in a tertiary metropolitan hospital in Brisbane, Australia. METHODS This mixed methods repeated measures pilot study will recruit 24 participants in two groups from two departments, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the gastroenterology department. Participants from each group will take part in three unit-based Schwartz Rounds. Primary outcomes will include the study and intervention feasibility measures while secondary outcomes will include Maslach Burnout inventory, the Schwartz Centre Compassionate Care Scale, and Culture of Care Barometer. Primary and secondary outcomes will be collected at baseline, post-round, and three-month follow-up. Two focus-groups will be held approximately two months after completion of the Schwartz Rounds. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, chi-square tests, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be used to compare quantitative data across time points and groups. Qualitative data from focus groups and free-text survey questions will be analysed using an inductive thematic analysis approach. RESULTS The study was approved by the Mater Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee (reference number: HREC/MML/71868) and recruitment commenced in July 2021; study completion is anticipated by May 2022. CONCLUSIONS The study will contribute to the assessment of feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the Schwartz Rounds in a tertiary Australian hospital, during the COVID-19 pandemic. CLINICALTRIAL Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Id is ACTRN12621001473853.

Formulating another’s report of troubles in peer support

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Pudlinski
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Conversation Analysis ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Mental Health System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Telephone Support ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Professional Perspective

This study stems from an interest in peer support talk, an underexplored area of research, and in how supportive actions such as formulated summaries function in comparison to more professional healthcare settings. Using conversation analysis, this study explores 35 instances of formulations within 65 calls to four different ‘warm lines’, a term for peer-to-peer telephone support within the community mental health system in the United States. Formulations can be characterized across two related axes: client versus professional perspective, and directive versus nondirective. The findings show that formulations within peer support were overwhelmingly nondirective, in terms of meeting institutional agendas to let callers talk. However, formulations ranged from client-oriented ones that highlight or repeat caller reports to those which transform caller reports through integrating past caller experiences or implicit caller emotions. These tactics are found to have similarities to how formulations function in professional healthcare settings.

The Development of an Online Tobacco Tracker Tool to Crowdsource Campus Environmental Reports for Smoke and Tobacco Free College Policies: A Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina F. Loureiro ◽  
Kim M. Pulvers ◽  
Melissa M. Gosdin ◽  
Keavagh R. Clift ◽  
Myra J. Rice ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Positive Reinforcement ◽  
The United States ◽  
College Campuses ◽  
Policy Enforcement ◽  
Sequential Mixed Methods ◽  
Effective Policy ◽  
Online Tracking ◽  
One Year

BACKGROUND College campuses in the United States have begun implementing Smoke and Tobacco-Free policies to discourage the use of tobacco. Smoke and Tobacco-Free policies, however, are contingent upon effective policy enforcement. OBJECTIVE To develop an empirically-derived online tracking tool (Tracker) for crowdsourcing campus environmental reports of tobacco use and waste to support smoke and tobacco-free college policies. METHODS An exploratory sequential mixed methods approach was utilized to inform the development and evaluation of the Tracker. In October 2018, three focus groups across two California universities were conducted and themes were analyzed, guiding Tracker development. After one year of implementation, users were asked in April 2020 to complete a survey about their experience. RESULTS In the focus groups, two major themes emerged: barriers and facilitators to tool utilization. Further Tracker development was guided by focus group input to address these barriers (e.g. information, policing, and logistical concerns) and facilitators (e.g. environmental motivators, positive reinforcement). Amongst 1,163 Tracker reports, those who completed the user survey (n=316) reported the top motivations to using the tool were having a cleaner environment (79%) and health concerns (69%). CONCLUSIONS Environmental concerns, a motivator which emerged in focus groups, shaped the Tracker’s development and was cited by the majority of users surveyed as a top motivator for utilization.

scholarly journals Perspectives of Survivorship Care Plans Among Older Breast Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 107327482091720
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Krok-Schoen ◽  
Michelle J. Naughton ◽  
Anne M. Noonan ◽  
Janell Pisegna ◽  
Jennifer DeSalvo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Survivorship Care Plan ◽  
Survivorship Care ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Term Care

The Commission on Cancer’s standard 3.3 represents a paradigm shift in the care of cancer survivors, recommending that survivors receive a treatment summary and survivorship care plan (SCPs). A focus on older breast cancer survivors is needed, as they are the majority of the breast cancer population and their experiences and perspectives of SCPs is limited in the literature. This pilot study utilized a mixed methods approach (focus groups and self-report questionnaire data) to gather information on older (≥65 years) breast cancer survivors’ perspectives of their SCPs, cancer survivorship, and communication with their health-care providers. The questionnaire was completed individually by the participants prior to the focus group and contained items on basic demographics and their health status following cancer treatment. The focus groups indicated that only a minority of women actually developed a SCP. Those who developed a SCP in collaboration with their providers valued the personal care and attention received. However, some participants reported poor communication with their providers and within their health-care team, resulting in frustration and confusion. Participants’ suggestions for ideal SCPs included better education and personalization, particularly in appropriate nutrition and exercise, and managing side effects and comorbidities. Lastly, the women believed that additional long-term care resources, such as health coaches, were important in improving their survivorship. These findings provide insight into enhancing the content, communication, and application of SCPs to improve the survivorship experience of older breast cancer survivors.

scholarly journals Developing a Volunteer Education Initiative for Older Adults’ Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 687-687
Author(s):  
Liz Seidel ◽  
Tara Cortes ◽  
Cinnamon St John
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Sufficient Information ◽  
Data Utilization ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Healthy Behaviors ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Usable Knowledge ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Education Initiative

Abstract Older adults need sufficient information to make healthy decisions and be active participants in their healthcare. Yet there is often a lack of information available. The Bronx Health Corps (BHC) was created to meet this need by providing older adults with usable knowledge on managing health conditions and promoting healthy behaviors in community-based settings. The BHC trained 175 volunteers, educated 2,065 older adults, with a total attendance of >5,000. Steps of creating a volunteer education initiative will be presented with qualitative and quantitative data utilization in implementation of the program. Focus groups with older adults noted challenges in addressing community health needs and the importance of reaching outside of healthcare settings to address the health of the community. Focus groups with Spanish speaking older adults and caregivers expanded knowledge on their attitudes toward the 4Ms and their ability to use that knowledge in interacting with their providers.

scholarly journals Candida auris and Carbapenemase-Producing Organism Prevalence in an Extended Stay Pediatric Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, 2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s145-s146
Author(s):  
Kelly Walblay ◽  
Tristan McPherson ◽  
Elissa Roop ◽  
David Soglin ◽  
Ann Valley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Pediatric Hospital ◽  
Mechanical Ventilators ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
High Acuity ◽  
Gastrostomy Tubes

Background:Candida auris and carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO) are multidrug-resistant organisms that can colonize people for prolonged periods and can cause invasive infections and spread in healthcare settings, particularly in high-acuity long-term care facilities. Point-prevalence surveys (PPSs) conducted in long-term acute-care hospitals in the Chicago region identified median prevalence of colonization to be 31% for C. auris and 24% for CPO. Prevalence of C. auris colonization has not been described in pediatric populations in the United States, and limited data exist on CPO colonization in children outside intensive care units. The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) conducted a PPS to assess C. auris and CPO colonization in a pediatric hospital serving high-acuity patients with extended lengths of stay (LOS). Methods: CDPH conducted a PPS in August 2019 in a pediatric hospital with extended LOS to screen for C. auris and CPO colonization. Medical devices (ie, gastrostomy tubes, tracheostomies, mechanical ventilators, and central venous catheters [CVC]) and LOS were documented. Screening specimens consisted of composite bilateral axillae and groin swabs for C. auris and rectal swabs for CPO testing. The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene tested all specimens. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were used to detect C. auris DNA and carbapenemase genes: blaKPC, blaNDM, blaVIM, blaOXA-48, and blaIMP (Xpert Carba-R Assay, Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA). All axillae and groin swabs were processed by PCR and culture to identify C. auris. For CPO, culture was only performed on PCR-positive specimens. Results: Of the 29 patients hospitalized, 26 (90%) had gastrostomy tubes, 24 (83%) had tracheostomies, 20 (69%) required mechanical ventilation, and 3 (10%) had CVCs. Also, 25 (86%) were screened for C. auris and CPO; 4 (14%) lacked parental consent and were not swabbed. Two rectal specimens were unsatisfactory, producing invalid CPO test results. Median LOS was 35 days (range, 1–300 days). No patients were positive for C. auris. From CPO screening, blaOXA-48 was detected in 1 patient sample, yielding a CPO prevalence of 3.4% (1 of 29). No organism was recovered from the blaOXA-48 positive specimen. Conclusions: This is the first documented screening of C. auris colonization in a pediatric hospital with extended LOS. Despite a high prevalence of C. auris and CPOs in adult healthcare settings of similar acuity in the region, C. auris was not identified and CPOs were rare at this pediatric facility. Additional evaluations in pediatric hospitals should be conducted to further understand C. auris and CPO prevalence in this population.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

scholarly journals The Efficacy of Convalescent Plasma Use in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 257
Author(s):  
Livius Tirnea ◽  
Felix Bratosin ◽  
Iulia Vidican ◽  
Bianca Cerbu ◽  
Mirela Turaiche ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
The United States ◽  
Plasma Therapy ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
United States Food ◽  
States Food

Background and Objectives: On 24 March 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of convalescent plasma therapy for critically ill patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as an emergency investigational new drug. This pilot study from Romania aimed to determine if convalescent plasma transfusion can be beneficial in the treatment of selected critically ill patients diagnosed with a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Materials and Methods: Donor and receiver eligibility for critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients was based on Romanian guidelines issued at the time of the study. Here, we describe the evolution of a total of five eligible patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who received convalescent plasma (CP) in Romania. Results: In spite of our efforts and convalescent plasma administration, three of the five patients did not survive, while the other two recovered completely. Over the course of our five-day laboratory record, the surviving patients had significantly lower values for C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and white blood cells. Conclusions: This pilot study provides insufficient evidence to determine the efficacy of convalescent plasma use as a therapeutic option for critically ill COVID-19 patients.

scholarly journals Who are we missing with EHR-based smoking cessation treatments? A descriptive study of patients who smoke and do not regularly visit primary care clinics

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 175-180
Author(s):  
Margaret Nolan ◽  
Deejay Zwaga ◽  
Danielle McCarthy ◽  
Christian Kastman ◽  
Timothy Baker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Care Provider ◽  
Primary Care Provider ◽  
The United States ◽  
Primary Care Visit ◽  
Patient Portal ◽  
The Past ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Care Visit ◽  
Tobacco Treatment

AbstractIntroductionMost tobacco treatment efforts target healthcare settings, because about 75% of smokers in the United States visit a primary care provider annually. Yet, 25% of patients may be missed by such targeting.AimsTo describe patients who smoke but infrequently visit primary care – their characteristics, rates of successful telephone contact, and acceptance of tobacco treatment.MethodsTobacco Cessation Outreach Specialists ‘cold-called’ those without a primary care visit in the past year, offering tobacco dependence treatment. Age, sex, insurance status, race, ethnicity, electronic health record (EHR) patient-portal status and outreach outcomes were reported.ResultsOf 3,407 patients identified as smokers in a health system registry, 565 (16.6%) had not seen any primary care provider in the past year. Among 271 of those called, 143 (53%) were successfully reached and 33 (23%) set a quit date. Those without visits tended to be younger, male, some-day versus every-day smokers (42 vs. 44 years, P = 0.004; 48% vs. 40% female, P = 0.0002, and 21% vs. 27% some-day, P = 0.003), and less active on the EHR patient portal (33% vs. 40%, P = 0.001).ConclusionsA substantial proportion of patients who smoke are missed by traditional tobacco treatment interventions that require a primary care visit, yet many are receptive to quit smoking treatment offers.

Factors contributing to burnout among perfusionists in the United States

Perfusion ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 461-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Bui ◽  
A Hodge ◽  
A Shackelford ◽  
J Acsell
Keyword(s):  
Stress Level ◽  
Employee Turnover ◽  
Electronic Mail ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
The United States ◽  
Current Level ◽  
Professional Burnout ◽  
Turnover Rates ◽  
Job Demand ◽  
As Stress

Introduction: As the job climate continues to change, many perfusionists are faced with high employee turnover rates, working longer hours, and increased stress related to more complex surgeries. Understanding the sources of professional burnout and stress may allow the formulation of a strategy to help prevent such negative outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the current level of stress and burnout among perfusionists. Methods: A questionnaire was constructed with the use of SurveyMonkey®. Invitations requesting participation in the survey were distributed by electronic mail to members of PerfList and PerfMail. To assess burnout, components of the well-established Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) tool were used. Results: At p<0.05, job demand variables such as stress level, conflict, call duties, hours worked, and case load were all shown to have a statistically significant relationship to burnout. Conclusion: The study found that, among the various factors, job demands were the most likely culprit contributing to burnout. Stress level and conflict, in particular, had the strongest association to burnout.

scholarly journals Development of Packaging and Modular Control of Thermoelectric Clothes Dryer, With Performance Evaluation

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viral K. Patel ◽  
Kyle R. Gluesenkamp
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Heat Pump ◽  
Minimum Energy ◽  
Experimental System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
System Level ◽  
Clothes Dryer ◽  
Thermoelectric Heat Pump ◽  
Thermoelectric Heat

This paper provides an overview of a thermoelectric heat pump clothes dryer which was developed with the aim of reducing the significant primary energy consumption attributed to residential electric clothes drying in the United States (623 TBtu/yr). The use of thermoelectric modules in place of the conventional electric resistance heater resulted in a 40% reduction in the energy consumption of the system, compared to the minimum energy efficiency standard. This was achieved for the first time for a standard test load of 8.45 lb, using a clothes dryer prototype with a thermoelectric heat pump module as the sole heating mechanism. The current experimental prototype was developed after extensive modeling, system design and control optimization, and experimental system-level evaluation of control parameters. The demonstration of improved energy consumption has laid the foundation for future development of this technology.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document