Analysis of the Effect of Nursing Intervention for Thyroid Diseases Based on Family Nursing Methods.

Patients with thyroid disease must take long-term antithyroid drugs and go to the outpatient clinic for regular check-ups. This requires patients to have good compliance behaviors in order to better control their thyroid hormone levels. In order to improve patients' compliance behavior and seek effective family care interventions, this paper combines family care methods to evaluate the nursing effect of thyroid disease and combines investigation and analysis and experimental methods to verify the effectiveness of the method proposed in this paper. In addition, this paper compares family nursing methods with conventional methods under the guidance of family philosophy and objectively analyzes and evaluates the application value of accelerated rehabilitation surgery concepts and methods in thyroid surgery. Finally, this paper sets up a control group and a test group to carry out the nursing effect of home nursing in thyroid diseases. Through comparative experiments, it can be seen that the nursing intervention for thyroid diseases based on home nursing in this paper has a good nursing effect.

A Multilevel Modeling Approach to Examine Incongruent Illness Appraisals in Family Care Dyads Over Time.

Over the past two decades, there has been movement toward a dyadic perspective of the illness experience. Although multilevel models have led to great insights into how dyads are affected by illness as family units, these models are still underutilized for understanding incongruent illness appraisals. Such incongruent appraisals can have implications for how the dyad collaborates to manage illness, the health of the dyad, and clinical outcomes. The focus of this article is to describe and promote the application of multilevel models to longitudinal dyadic data to understand incongruent illness appraisals over time. In particular, we present a data exemplar so researchers can apply these models to their own data and clinical questions to understand the ways care dyads converge and diverge in their appraisals and determine factors associated with such variability. We comment on the implications and extensions of these models for family nursing research and practice.

Knowledge and health promotion practice of Family Health Strategy nurses.

OBJECTIVES: to analyze the knowledge and health promotion practice carried out by Family Health Strategy nurses. METHODS: a descriptive study and qualitative approach. The study was conducted with 18 Family Health Strategy nurses from the city of São Carlos. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed through thematic analysis. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. RESULTS: the data revealed that nurses had difficulties to conceptualize health promotion, and it is common to describe the definition of disease prevention. Nurses also reported developing group activities for health promotion; however, individual actions and consultations were still predominant. Final Considerations: it is necessary to develop sustainable strategies for collective health-promoting activities, in addition to strengthening multidisciplinary work and Continuing Education actions.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Testing of the Spanish Version of Iceland Health Care Practitioner Illness Beliefs Questionnaire.

The beliefs of nursing professionals who care for families experiencing illness are fundamental to the quality of the nurse-family relationship and the level of the nurse's involvement in the therapeutic process of Family Systems Nursing. It is essential to have valid and reliable instruments for assessing nurses' illness beliefs, especially in the Spanish context where no instruments have been identified to date. The Iceland Health Care Practitioner Illness Beliefs Questionnaire (ICE-HCP-IBQ) is a reliable and valid measure of professionals' beliefs about their understanding of the meaning of the illness experience of families. The purpose of this study was to adapt and psychometrically test the Spanish version of the ICE-HCP-IBQ (N = 249 nurses). The exploratory factor analysis showed one-factor solution with good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .91) and test-retest reliability (r = .72, p < .01). This questionnaire is a promising tool for mapping nurse's illness beliefs and monitoring the effectiveness of family nursing educational interventions in the Spanish context.

Weight assessment and the provision of weight management advice in primary care: a cross-sectional survey of self-reported practice among general practitioners and practice nurses in the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND: Although primary care settings provide a large-scale and high-reach opportunity for weight management and obesity prevention, the proportion of adults in the United Kingdom (UK) who report receiving weight management advice is limited. This study examines the self-reported frequency of assessing weight and providing weight management advice by General Practitioners (GPs) and Practice Nurses (PNs) working in primary care in the UK, and differences by practitioner characteristics. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey with GPs and PNs in the UK (n = 2020), conducted January-March 2017. A mock consultation exercise assessed what factors led to calculating a patient's Body Mass Index (BMI) and whether weight management advice was given after determining the patient had an obese BMI. For all patients, practitioners were asked how often they calculated BMI, how often they gave weight management advice to patients with an obese BMI, and how often they utilised different advice or referral options (each: Always/Often vs. Less often/Never). Binary logistic regressions examined whether frequency of assessing weight and providing advice was associated with practitioner characteristics. RESULTS: In the mock consultation, physical cues (40%) were most likely to prompt calculation of BMI, and half of practitioners (56%) provided weight management advice after determining the patient had an obese BMI, with GPs less likely to do so than PNs (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.47-0.75). Half of practitioners (58%) said they calculated the BMI of all patients Always/Often, with GPs less likely to do so than PNs (OR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.21-0.34). Three quarters (78%) said they provided weight management advice to patients with an obese BMI Always/Often, with GPs less likely to do so than PNs (OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.47-0.85). Weight management advice was provided more frequently than referrals, particularly suggesting increased physical activity (93%) and diet modification (89%). CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with previous research, the findings suggest that opportunities to provide weight management advice in primary care, including to patients with an obese BMI, are potentially missed. Future research should test alternative mechanisms to increase weight assessment and advice provision, examine the effectiveness of advice frequently given, and seek solutions to reported barriers for providing weight management advice.

Mothers' Experiences in the NICU Before Family-Centered Care and in NICUs Where It Is the Standard of Care.

BACKGROUND: Family-centered care (FCC) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) was initiated in 1992 to promote a respectful response to individual family needs and support parental participation in care and decision-making for their infants. Although benefits of FCC have been reported, changes in the maternal experience in the NICU are unknown. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare mothers' experiences in NICUs where FCC is the standard of care and to compare these with the experiences of mothers 2 decades ago. METHODS: In this qualitative descriptive design, mothers of infants born under 32 weeks postconceptional age were asked to describe their experiences with their infant's birth and hospitalization. Open-ended probing questions clarified maternal responses. Saturation was reached after 14 interviews. Iterative coding and thematic grouping was used for analysis. RESULTS: Common themes that emerged were: (1) visiting; (2) general caregiving; (3) holding; (4) feeding; and (5) maternal ideas for improvement. Findings indicated important improvements in privacy, mother-nurse relationship, ease of visiting, and maternal knowledge and participation in infant caregiving. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Mothers suggested improvements such as additional comforts in private rooms, areas in the NICU where they can meet other mothers, and early information on back-transport. Better recognition and response for mothers without adequate social support would provide much needed emotional assistance. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH: Future research addressing benefits of webcams, wireless monitors, back-transport, maternity leave, and accommodations for extended visiting for siblings would address other needs mentioned by mothers.

Knowledge and health promotion practice of Family Health Strategy nurses / Conocimiento y práctica de promoción de la salud de las enfermeras de la Estrategia de Salud Familiar / Conhecimento e prática de promoção da saúde de enfermeiros da Estratégia Saúde da Família

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze the knowledge and health promotion practice carried out by Family Health Strategy nurses. Methods: a descriptive study and qualitative approach. The study was conducted with 18 Family Health Strategy nurses from the city of São Carlos. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed through thematic analysis. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee. Results: the data revealed that nurses had difficulties to conceptualize health promotion, and it is common to describe the definition of disease prevention. Nurses also reported developing group activities for health promotion; however, individual actions and consultations were still predominant. Final Considerations: it is necessary to develop sustainable strategies for collective health-promoting activities, in addition to strengthening multidisciplinary work and Continuing Education actions.

RESUMEN Objetivos: analizar el conocimiento y la práctica de la promoción de la salud llevada a cabo por enfermeras de Estrategias de Salud Familiar. Métodos: estudio descriptivo y enfoque cualitativo. El estudio se realizó con 18 enfermeras de Estrategias de Salud Familiar de la ciudad de São Carlos. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas y analizados a través de análisis temáticos. El estudio fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética en Investigación. Resultados: los datos revelaron que las enfermeras tenían dificultades para conceptualizar la promoción de la salud, y es común describir la definición de prevención de enfermedades. Las enfermeras también informaron el desarrollo de actividades grupales para la promoción de la salud; sin embargo, las acciones y consultas individuales seguían predominando. Consideraciones Finales: es necesario desarrollar estrategias sostenibles para las actividades colectivas de promoción de la salud, además de fortalecer el trabajo multidisciplinario y las acciones de Educación Continua.

RESUMO Objetivos: analisar o conhecimento e a prática de promoção de saúde realizada por enfermeiros de Estratégias Saúde da Família. Métodos: estudo descritivo e de abordagem qualitativa. O estudo foi realizado com 18 enfermeiros de Estratégias Saúde da Família do município de São Carlos. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista semiestruturada e analisados por meio da análise temática. O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Resultados: os dados revelaram que os enfermeiros apresentaram dificuldades para conceituar a promoção de saúde, sendo comum descrever a definição de prevenção de doenças. Os enfermeiros também relataram desenvolver atividades grupais para a promoção de saúde; porém, as ações de caráter individual e em forma de consultas ainda eram predominantes. Considerações Finais: torna-se necessário o desenvolvimento de estratégias sustentáveis para a realização de atividades coletivas de promoção em saúde, além do fortalecimento do trabalho multidisciplinar e das ações de Educação Permanente.

Primary care behind the former "Iron Curtain": changes and development of primary healthcare provision in the Eastern part of the European Union.

BACKGROUND: The Alma-Ata Declaration was a big step in the development of primary care, defining the main tasks and populations' expectation. Celebrating the 40th year's anniversary is a good opportunity to make an analysis. Development of primary care was not parallel in the Eastern and Western part of Europe. AIM: To provide an overview on the societal and economic situation, structural and financial changes of healthcare systems in the former 'Soviet bloc' countries, to present an analysis of the primary healthcare (PHC) provision and to find relationships between economic development and epidemiological changes of the respective countries. METHOD: Epidemiological data, healthcare expenditures and structure, and financing schemes were compared; systematic literature search was performed. RESULTS: Visible improvements in population health, in the national economic condition, structural changes in healthcare and more focus to primary care were experienced everywhere. Higher life expectancies with high inter-country variation were observed in the former 'Soviet bloc' countries, although it could not be clearly linked to the development of healthcare system. PHC provision improved while structural changes were rarely initiated, often only as a project or model initiation. Single-handed practices are yet predominant. The gate-keeping system is usually weak; there were no effective initiatives to improve the education of nurses and to widen their competences. Migrations of workforce to Western countries become a real threat for the Central-East European countries. CONCLUSION: Lack of coordination between practices and interdisciplinary cooperation were recognized as the main barriers for further improvement in the structure.

Characteristics of Nurse Practitioner Practice in Family Health Teams in Ontario, Canada.

Nurse practitioners (NPs) in Ontario work in a number of settings, including physician-led, interprofessional Family Health Teams (FHTs). However, many aspects of NP practice within the FHTs are unknown. Our study aimed to describe the characteristics of NP practice in FHTs and the relationships between NPs and physicians within this model. This cross-sectional descriptive study analyzed NP service and diagnostic code data collected for every NP patient encounter from 2012 to 2015. Encounter data were linked to health administrative data housed at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences to allow for comparison with physician service and diagnostic codes. Findings demonstrated that NPs saw patients across all age groups for one to more than five problems per encounter and that NPs handled both acute and episodic care and chronic disease management issues. Patients with chronic conditions had more encounters with physicians than with NPs. In addition, compared to physicians, NPs saw more female than male patients. Our findings provide a snapshot of NP practice in FHTs and may be useful in informing other practice models in Ontario, elsewhere in Canada, and internationally. More evidence is needed, however, to clarify the responsibilities of the NPs in collaborative relationships with physicians and to embed policies that will ensure that NPs work to their full potential. In addition, applying service coding to all health care providers in FHTs could enhance data on interprofessional teams and the individual clinicians that comprise them.

Do nurses and other health professionals' in elderly care have education in family nursing?

BACKGROUND: Family caregivers are an important resource for providing care to elderly living at home. How nurses and other health professionals interact with family caregivers can have both a positive and a negative impact on the family caregivers' situation. We lack knowledge of Norwegian nurses' and other health professionals' participation in educational programmes about family caregivers' needs and situations. AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether nurses and other health professionals working in home-care nursing had participated in educational programmes about family caregivers. Additionally, the study aimed to determine whether participation in educational programmes was associated with awareness of family caregivers' contributions to elder care. METHODS: This is a quantitative study, and it was conducted as a cross-sectional study. The participants were required to be educated as nurses, nursing assistants or other health professionals with relevant health education and to be working with the elderly in home-care nursing settings. Descriptive statistics and trivariate table analysis using the Pearson Chi-square t-test were conducted using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). RESULT: A total of 152 nurses and health professionals in home-care nursing in 23 municipalities have participated (in one county in Norway). The results showed that only half of the respondents had participated in educational programmes about family caregivers' needs and situations. The study did not provide a clear answer regarding the association between participation in educational programmes and awareness of family caregivers' contributions. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that nurses and other health professionals, to a small extent, have participated in educational programmes about family caregivers. Our findings indicate that participation in educational programmes may be particularly important for health professionals in leadership positions and for health professionals with vocational training.

Family presence during resuscitation (FPDR): A qualitative study of implementation experiences and opinions of emergency personnel.

AIM: To explore the experiences of nurses and doctors on the implementation of family presence during resuscitation (FPDR) in Victorian emergency departments. METHODS: An interpretative qualitative study design was utilized which incorporated the open ended responses on a state wide Victorian survey of emergency department nurses and doctors. A thematic analysis of the responses was conducted involving data reduction, identification of key words, phrases and themes. RESULTS: A total of 18 emergency departments consented to participate with a mean participant age of 41 years, made up of 91 (81) nurses and 21(19) doctors. The participants came from both metropolitan (64 (57), hospitals 300 - >500 beds) and regional (48 (43), hospitals <80 - 300 beds) health services. There were four emerging themes from the analysis; Depends on the day, impact family have on staff, organisational considerations and incorporating family centred care. CONCLUSION: There remain a number of variables which have been identified as continuing to create barriers to implementation of family presence during resuscitation that need to be investigated further in order to ensure emergency personnel have consistency of FPDR practice.

Autoavaliação da inclusão das famílias em políticas e práticas institucionais: perspectiva da equipe de enfermagem / Self-assessment of family inclusion in institutional policies and practices: nursing team perspective

Objective: To compare the evaluation carried out by the nursing teams of pediatric and maternal-infant with adult patient wards on the inclusion of families in institutional policies and practices. Method: A cross-sectional and descriptive study carried out in a university hospital with 148 professionals from the nursing team of the maternal and pediatric units and 43 from adult units. The data were analyzed by the program Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 22, using the chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Results: The groups presented distinct perceptions about the differentiation between families and visitors in policies and practices; similar perceptions related to the policies and practices are not favorable to the presence of siblings and children, and to the non-inclusion of the families in aspects related to daily care. Conclusion and Implications for Practice: The perception of nursing teams indicates that families are not included in institutional policies and practices. The results of an organizational self-assessment about families' inclusion subsidize a way to improve organizational policies and practices, making it possible to draw up an action plan to implementing Patient and Family Centered Care at the institutional level.

Objetivo: Comparar la evaluación efectuada por los equipos de enfermería de unidades pediátricas y materno-infantiles con las de pacientes adultos acerca de la inclusión de las familias en las políticas y prácticas institucionales. Método: Estudio transversal y descriptivo, realizado en un hospital universitario con 148 profesionales del equipo de enfermería de las unidades pediátricas y materno-infantiles y 43 de las unidades de adulto. Los datos fueron analizados por el programa Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 22, utilizando el test Qui-cuadrado y la prueba Exacto de Fisher. Resultados: Los grupos presentaron percepciones distintas acerca de la diferenciación entre familias y visitantes en las políticas y prácticas; las percepciones similares se relacionaron a las políticas y prácticas no ser favorables a la presencia de hermanos y niños, y la no inclusión de las familias en aspectos relacionados al cotidiano asistencial. Conclusión e implicaciones para la práctica: La percepción de los equipos de enfermería indica que las familias no están incluidas en las políticas y prácticas institucionales. Los resultados de una autoevaluación organizacional acerca de la inclusión de las familias subsidian un camino para mejorar las políticas y prácticas organizativas, posibilitando trazar un plan de acción para implementar el Cuidado Centrado en el Paciente y en la Familia en el ámbito institucional.

Objetivo: Comparar a avaliação efetuada pelas equipes de enfermagem de unidades pediátricas e materno-infantis com as de unidades de pacientes adultos acerca da inclusão das famílias nas políticas e práticas institucionais. Método: Estudo transversal e descritivo, realizado em um hospital universitário com 148 profissionais da equipe de enfermagem das unidades pediátricas e materno-infantis e 43 das unidades de adulto. Os dados foram analisados pelo programa SPSS 22, sendo utilizado o teste Qui-quadrado e teste Exato de Fisher. Resultados: Os grupos apresentaram percepções discordantes acerca da inclusão das famílias nas políticas e práticas institucionais, sobretudo, acerca da diferenciação entre famílias e visitantes nas políticas e práticas; percepções semelhantes relacionaram-se às políticas e práticas não serem favoráveis à presença de irmãos e crianças, e à não inclusão das famílias em aspectos relacionados ao cotidiano assistencial. Conclusão e implicações para a prática: A percepção das equipes de enfermagem indica que as famílias não estão incluídas nas políticas e práticas institucionais. Os resultados de uma autoavaliação organizacional acerca da inclusão das famílias subsidiam a construção de um caminho para melhoria das políticas e práticas organizacionais, possibilitando traçar um plano de ação para implementar o Cuidado Centrado no Paciente e na Família em âmbito institucional.

Teoria fundamentada nos dados como referencial metodológico para pesquisas com famílias na enfermagem brasileira / Grounded theory as a methodological reference for research with families in brazilian nursing

Grounded Theory extracts experiences from social actors attributing significant aspects to them, and allowing to interconnect constructs and potentialize the expansion of knowledge. Based on real data, it allows thestudy of family interaction processes and emerging issues for the development of family nursing. The aim of the study was identify and analyze trends in the construction of nursing knowledge in Brazil about studies with families using the grounded theory as a methodological reference. This is a narrative review conducted with theses and dissertations available in the Catalogs of the Center for Nursing Studies and Research. The survey found 124 documents, of which, 30 made up the corpus of the present review. Such studies approached families in situations of illness, discussing feelings and difficulties faced in the situation experienced. Before the need to adaptat, the families reorganize its structure and redefines values so as to care for the sick relative, aiming to maintain balance. There is a gap regarding research methodologically supported by the Grounded Theory, carried out with families that experience moments of adaptation due to transitions of their development cycle.

A Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados extrai experiências dos atores sociais atribuindo-lhes aspectos significativos, permite interligar constructos e potencializar a expansão do conhecimento. Construída com base em dados reais, possibilita estudar processos interacionais familiares e questões emergentes para o desenvolvimento da enfermagem da família. O objetivo do estudo foi identificar e analisar as tendências na construção do conhecimento da enfermagem brasileira acerca dos estudos com famílias, os quais utilizaram teoria fundamentada nos dados como referencial metodológico. Trata-se de uma revisão narrativa, realizada em teses e dissertações disponíveis nos Catálogos do Centro de Estudos e Pesquisas em Enfermagem. A busca obteve, como resultado, 124 documentos; desses, 30 compuseram o corpus da revisão. Tais estudos abordaram famílias em situações de adoecimento, a discutir sentimentos e dificuldades enfrentadas na situação vivida. Frente às necessidades de adaptações, a família reorganiza-se, redefine valores e estrutura-se para cuidar do familiar doente, visando a manter o equilíbrio. Percebe-se haver uma lacuna quanto a pesquisas embasadas metodologicamente na Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados, realizadas com famílias que vivenciam momentos de adaptações em razão de transições do seu ciclo de desenvolvimento

Creating a Social Media Assessment Tool for Family Nursing.

The use of social media (SM) is contributing to an unprecedented state of global connectivity and occupying an increasingly prominent position in the lives of individuals and families. The more integrated these media become into society the more likely they are to play a role in overall health and family functioning, be it positively or negatively. Family systems theory provides an ideal lens through which to examine the effects of SM in today's family life. This article introduces a new SM assessment tool aligned with the principles of this foundational theory. Family nurses can use the proposed Social Media Assessment Package (SMAP) to gain an initial picture of usage patterns within a family as well as identify and support positive future SM choices. Practitioners may also use the SMAP in a personal evaluation of their practice as a means to maximize SM use in ongoing professional development.

Care Coordination with Schools: The Role of Family-Centered Care for Children with Special Health Care Needs.

Objectives Family-centered care has been associated with positive outcomes for children with special health care needs. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship of family-centered care as associated with care coordination with schools and school absences (e.g., missed days) as reported by parents of children with special health care needs. Methods The current study utilized data from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs 2009-201 (N = 40,242) to achieve this purpose. The National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs may be considered a nationally-representative and community-based sample of parent responses for children with special health care needs across the United States. Results Results from the current study indicate that family-centered care is associated with fewer absences and improved care coordination with schools when applicable. The variables of functional difficulties, poverty level, and the number of conditions were statistically controlled. Conclusions We suggest that the positive influence of family-centered care when practiced extends beyond the family and interacts with educational outcomes. We also suggest that the role of schools appears to be under-studied given the role that schools can play in family-centered care.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of family physicians and nurses regarding unintentional injuries among children under 15 years in Cairo, Egypt.

Unintentional injuries are a leading cause of death among children, especially in developing countries. Lack of reliable data regarding primary health care professionals' role in childhood unintentional injury prevention hinders the development of effective prevention strategies. A survey of 99 family physicians and nurses from 10 family health centres sought to develop insight into their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding unintentional injury prevention for children <15 in Cairo, Egypt. Approximately, 60% were familiar with the terms unintentional injuries and injury prevention. Falls and road traffic crashes were identified as primary causes of childhood injuries by 54.5%. While >90% agreed injury prevention counselling (IPC) could be effective, only 50.5% provided IPC. Lack of time and educational materials were the leading barriers to provision of IPC (91.9% and 85.9%, respectively), while thinking counselling is not part of their clinical duties was the least perceived barrier (9.1%). There is a large disconnect between providers' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding IPC, more training and provision of counselling tools are essential for improving IPC by Egyptian medical providers.

Responding to families with complex needs: a national survey of child and family health nurses.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to explore the extent to which Australian child and family health nurses work with families with complex needs and how their practice responds to the needs of these families. BACKGROUND: Many families with young children face challenges to their parenting capacity, potentially placing their children at risk of poorer developmental outcomes. Nurses increasingly work with families with mental health problems, trauma histories and/or substance dependence. Universal child health services must respond effectively to these challenges, to address health inequalities and to promote the best outcomes for all children and families. DESIGN: The descriptive study used cross-sectional data from the first national survey of child and family health nurses in Australia, conducted during 2011. METHODS: Survey data reported how often, where and how child and family health nurses worked with families with complex needs and their confidence in nursing tasks. FINDINGS: Many, but not all, of the 679 respondents saw families with complex needs in their regular weekly caseload. Child and family health nurses with diverse and complex caseloads reported using varied approaches to support their clients. They often undertook additional professional development and leadership roles compared with nurses who reported less complex caseloads. Most respondents reported high levels of professional confidence. CONCLUSION: For health services providing universal support and early intervention for families at risk, the findings underscore the importance of appropriate education, training and support for child and family health professionals. The findings can inform the organization and delivery of services for families in Australia and internationally.

[Analysis of a Family-centred Care Programme with Follow-up Home-visits in Neonatology - In Times of the Directive from G-BA]. / Konzeptanalyse einer stationären und ambulanten psychosozialen familienzentrierten Betreuung in der Neonatologie in Zeiten des G-BA-Beschlusses.

BACKGROUND: Marked progress in neonatology changed care of very preterm infants (VLBW) over the last decades - but also the attitude towards family-centred care (FCC). With the directive of the German Federal Joined Committee (G-BA), politicians recognize the necessity of neonatal FCC. AIM: To evaluate time and personnel costs necessary at a centre of established FCC. METHODS: Elternberatung "Frühstart" is a FCC programme for VLBW and seriously ill neonates from preganancy at risk to follow-up home-visits delivered by one interdisciplinary team. Analysis (2011-2014): 1.) Number of cases /participation in programme, 2.) resources of time, 3) and personnel, 4.) funding, 5) economic impact. RESULTS: 1.1.2011-31.12.2014: 441 cases (total cases: 2 212) participated in the programme. Participation of VLBW: mean 92% (86.4-97,2%). Costs of time are highest in neonates with congenital malformations: median 13.8 h, VLBW: median 11,2 h. Transition to home is most time intensive: median 7,3 (0-42.5) h. In average of 3.1 full-time nurses (part-time workers) are able to counsel 48 families/quarter. In severe cases funding is partly provided by health care insurances for social medical aftercare: positive applications: mean 92.7% (79.6-97.7%). CONCLUSION: Participation in the FCC programme in neonatology is high and costs of time are manageable.

Nurse Family Partnership: Comparing Costs per Family in Randomized Trials Versus Scale-Up.

The literature that addresses cost differences between randomized trials and full-scale replications is quite sparse. This paper examines how costs differed among three randomized trials and six statewide scale-ups of nurse family partnership (NFP) intensive home visitation to low income first-time mothers. A literature review provided data on pertinent trials. At our request, six well-established programs reported their total expenditures. We adjusted the costs to national prices based on mean hourly wages for registered nurses and then inflated them to 2010 dollars. A centralized data system provided utilization. Replications had fewer home visits per family than trials (25 vs. 31, p = .05), lower costs per client ($8860 vs. $12,398, p = .01), and lower costs per visit ($354 vs. $400, p = .30). Sample size limited the significance of these differences. In this type of labor intensive program, costs probably were lower in scale-up than in randomized trials. Key cost drivers were attrition and the stable caseload size possible in an ongoing program. Our estimates reveal a wide variation in cost per visit across six state programs, which suggests that those planning replications should not expect a simple rule to guide cost estimations for scale-ups. Nevertheless, NFP replications probably achieved some economies of scale.