Learner Perception of Disaster Simulation Modalities: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Both simulation and tabletop exercises are used in disaster training, but the efficacy of one approach versus the other is lacking. PURPOSE: This pilot study explored the satisfaction, confidence, and perception of effectiveness among nursing students regarding 2 disaster preparedness training methods: simulation and tabletop exercises. METHODS: A comparative quasi-experimental design assessed the effectiveness of 2 simulation experiences. Validated effectiveness and confidence survey tools were completed by 126 self-selected senior prelicensure baccalaureate nursing students after the completion of simulation experiences. RESULTS: Tabletop exercises may be more effective to build confidence and understand pathophysiology. Full-scale simulations may be more effective in facilitating participant expression of feelings and providing a constructive evaluation of the simulation. CONCLUSIONS: Variability among facilitators may have impacted the results of this pilot project. Further research is needed to enhance understanding of the effectiveness of tabletop and full-scale simulations for disaster preparedness in nursing education.

Psychiatric Deprescribing: A Narrative Review.

OBJECTIVE: Psychiatric deprescribing is an intervention where psychiatric medications are reduced or discontinued with the goal to improve health and reduce unnecessary risks. The purpose of this study was to synthesize the literature related to psychiatric deprescribing to discuss practice and research implications. METHODS: A structured search of the literature was conducted from May to September 2022, yielding 29 articles meeting inclusion criteria. Articles were reviewed and synthesized. RESULTS: Psychiatric deprescribing is a complex process with many potential facilitators and barriers. The extant literature provides insight into current gaps in knowledge and implications for clinical practice and research. CONCLUSIONS: In current clinical practice, psychiatric deprescribing is a priority but there are significant barriers. Several areas of future research could be pursued to better support evidence-based practice in this area.

Does Healthcare Provider Counseling for Weight Management Behaviors among Hispanic Adults Who Are Overweight/Obese Vary by Acculturation Level?

This cross-sectional study explored differences in the receipt of health care provider (HCP) counseling to control/lose weight and adopt weight-related lifestyle behavior changes among Hispanic respondents according to acculturation level. Differences in reported action regarding HCP counseling were also examined. Data from four National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles (2011-2018) were analyzed, with the analytic sample limited to Hispanic respondents who were overweight/obese. Respondents' acculturation levels were derived from their reported country of origin and the primary language spoken at home. Respondents who reported speaking only Spanish or more Spanish than English at home were classified as primarily speaking Spanish at home. In contrast, those who reported speaking Spanish and English equally, more English than Spanish, or only English were categorized as primarily speaking English at home. Weighted multivariate logistic regression models were utilized to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to determine if differences in acculturation levels existed regarding the likelihood of receiving HCP counseling to (1) control/lose weight, (2) increase exercise/PA, and (3) reduce fat/calorie intake. Similar analyses examined differences in reported action regarding HCP counseling according to acculturation level. The analysis found no significant differences in receiving HCP counseling according to acculturation level. However, non-US-born respondents who primarily spoke Spanish at home were less likely than US-born respondents to report acting to control/lose weight (p = 0.009) or increase exercise/PA (p = 0.048), but were more likely to report having taken action to reduce fat/calorie intake (p = 0.016). This study revealed differences between acting on recommendations of health care professionals according to acculturation level, indicating a need for interventions tailored to acculturation levels.

Standardizing communication from acute care providers to primary care providers on critically ill adults.

OBJECTIVE: To increase the frequency of communication of patient information between acute and primary care providers. A secondary objective was to determine whether higher rates of communication were associated with lower rates of hospital readmission 30 days after discharge. METHODS: A validated instrument was used for telephone surveys before and after an intervention designed to increase the frequency of communication among acute care and primary care providers. The communication intervention was implemented in 3 adult intensive care units from 2 campuses of an academic medical center. RESULTS: The frequency of communication among acute care and primary care providers, the perceived usefulness of the intervention, and its association with 30-day readmission rates were assessed for 202 adult intensive care episodes before and 100 episodes after a communication intervention. The frequency of documented communication increased significantly (5/202 or 2% before to 72/100 or 72% after the intervention; P < .001) and the communication was considered useful by every participating primary care provider. Rates of rehospitalization at 30 days were lower for the intervention group than the preintervention group, but the difference was not statistically significant (41/202 or 23% vs 16/88 or 18% of discharged patients; P = .45; power 0.112 at P = .05). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of communication episodes that provide value can be increased through standardized processes. The key aspects of this effective intervention were setting the expectation that communication should occur, documenting when communication has occurred, and reviewing that documentation during multiprofessional rounds.

Prehospital management of evolving critical illness by the primary care provider.

BACKGROUND: The factors that limit primary care providers (PCPs) from intervening for adults with evolving, acute, severe illness are less understood than the increasing frequency of management by acute care providers. METHODS: Rates of prehospital patient management by a PCP and of communication with acute care teams were measured in a multicenter, cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted in all four of the adult medical ICUs of the three hospitals in central Massachusetts that provide tertiary care. Rates were measured for 390 critical care encounters, using a validated instrument to abstract the medical record and conduct telephone interviews. RESULTS: PCPs implemented prehospital management for eight episodes of acute illness among 300 encounters. Infrequent prehospital management by PCPs was attributed to their lack of awareness of the patient's evolving acute illness. Only 21% of PCPs were aware of the acute illness before their patient was admitted to an ICU, and 33% were not aware that their patient was in an ICU. Rates of PCP involvement were not appreciably different among provider groups or by patient age, sex, insurance status, hospital, ICU, or ICU staffing model. CONCLUSIONS: We identified lack of PCP awareness of patients' acute illness and high rates of PCP referral to acute care providers as the most frequent barriers to prehospital management of evolving acute illness. These findings suggest that implementing processes that encourage early patient-PCP communication and increase rates of prehospital management of infections and acute exacerbations of chronic diseases could reduce use of acute care services.