Patient experience with enhanced recovery and early discharge after minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy: a qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to describe patient experiences with an enhanced recovery protocol (ERP) after minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy (SCP). METHODS: We conducted 14 semi-structured telephone interviews with women who had undergone SCP and were discharged the day of the surgery (POD#0, n = 7) or spent 1 night at the hospital (POD#1, n = 7). Interviews occurred between 2 and 6 weeks after surgery. We explored the following topics: patient preparedness, preoperative education, physical recovery, emotional recovery, and overall perception of the ERP. Interviewing continued until thematic saturation was achieved. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to identify relevant themes. RESULTS: Both POD#0 and POD#1 discharge patients reported largely positive experiences regarding their preparation for surgery, at-home recovery, and access to follow-up care. Yet for some patients, the accelerated pace of the ERP felt rushed and was perceived as an absence of care rather than as an advance in treatment. Patients that elected to stay the night lived farther from ready access to care, had less robust systems of postoperative support, and worried more about the management of their pre-existing conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Our research found that despite having consistently positive impressions of the ERP, patients shared common anxieties surrounding their surgeries including worries about access to care and the prospect of going home with a urinary catheter. Furthermore, we found that the therapeutic value of protocol recommendations such as early discharge must be made explicit to patients and often individualized to avoid being interpreted as sub-standard care.

Patient and Caregiver Outcomes and Experiences With Team-Based Memory Care: A Mixed Methods Study.

Patients with dementia and their caregivers need ongoing educational and psychosocial support to manage their complex diagnosis. This mixed methods study evaluated the impact of a memory clinic with an embedded dementia navigator on the experiences and health outcomes of patients with dementia and their caregivers. At the 12-month follow-up, patients receiving memory clinic services (n = 238) had higher emergency department visits than a matched cohort with dementia (n = 938), although hospitalizations did not differ. Patient quality of life and caregiver burden scores also did not differ between baseline and 12-months. Interviews revealed that caregivers (n = 12) valued the educational and social support components of the memory clinic and perceived that the clinic had a positive impact on their experiences. Findings suggest that this embedded navigator model is useful for addressing caregiver needs and may have potential to stem increases in caregiver burden and patient quality of life that occur with disease progression.

Not a magic pill: a qualitative exploration of provider perspectives on antibiotic prescribing in the outpatient setting.

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics poses an urgent public health threat. Limited research has examined factors associated with antibiotic prescribing practices in outpatient settings. The goals of this study were to explore elements influencing provider decisions to prescribe antibiotics, identify provider recommendations for interventions to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use, and inform the clinical management of patients in the outpatient environment for infections that do not require antibiotics. METHODS: This was a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with key informants. Seventeen outpatient providers (10 medical doctors and 7 advanced care practitioners) within a large healthcare system in Charlotte, North Carolina, participated. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for themes. RESULTS: Primary barriers to reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescribing included patient education and expectations, system-level factors, and time constraints. Providers indicated they would be interested in having system-wide, evidence-based guidelines to inform their prescribing decisions and that they would also be receptive to efforts to improve their awareness of their own prescribing practices. Results further suggested that providers experience a high demand for antibiotic prescriptions; consequently, patient education around appropriate use would be beneficial. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that antibiotic prescribing in the outpatient setting is influenced by many pressures, including patient demand and patient satisfaction. Training on appropriate antibiotic prescribing, guideline-based decision support, feedback on prescribing practices, and patient education are recommended interventions to improve levels of appropriate prescribing.

Exploring Patient Awareness and Perceptions of the Appropriate Use of Antibiotics: A Mixed-Methods Study.

In the outpatient setting, estimates suggest that 30% of the antibiotics prescribed are unnecessary. This study explores patient knowledge and awareness of appropriate use of antibiotics and expectations regarding how antibiotics are used for their treatment in outpatient settings. A survey was administered to a convenience sample of patients, parents, and caregivers (n = 190) at seven primary care clinics and two urgent care locations. Fisher's exact tests compared results by patient characteristics. Although 89% of patients correctly believed that antibiotics work well for treating infections from bacteria, 53% incorrectly believed that antibiotics work well for treating viral infections. Patients who incorrectly believed that antibiotics work well for treating viral infections were more than twice as likely to expect a provider to give them an antibiotic when they have a cough or common cold. Patients who completed the survey also participated in semi-structured interviews (n = 4), which were analyzed using thematic analysis. Patients reported experiencing confusion about which illnesses may be treated by antibiotics and unclear communication from clinicians about the appropriate use of antibiotics. Development of easy to understand patient educational materials can help address patients' incorrect perceptions of appropriate antibiotic use and facilitate patient-provider communication.