Piloting of the virtual telecare technology 'Addison Care' to promote self-management in persons with chronic diseases in a community setting: protocol for a mixed-methods user experience, user engagement and usability pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic diseases in older adults are one of the major epidemiological challenges of current times and leading cause of disability, poor quality of life, high healthcare costs and death. Self-management of chronic diseases is essential to improve health behaviours and health outcomes. Technology-assisted interventions have shown to improve self-management of chronic diseases. Virtual avatars can be a key factor for the acceptance of these technologies. Addison Care is a home-based telecare solution equipped with a virtual avatar named Addison, connecting older persons with their caregivers via an easy-to-use technology. A central advantage is that Addison Care provides access to self-management support for an up-to-now highly under-represented population-older persons with chronic disease(s), which enables them to profit from e-health in everyday life. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A pragmatic, non-randomised, one-arm pilot study applying an embedded mixed-methods approach will be conducted to examine user experience, usability and user engagement of the virtual avatar Addison. Participants will be at least 65 years and will be recruited between September 2022 and November 2022 from hospitals during the discharge process to home care. Standardised instruments, such as the User Experience Questionnaire, System Usability Scale, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale, Short-Form-8-Questionnaire, UCLA Loneliness Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, Stendal Adherence with Medication Score and Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Diseases Scale, as well as survey-based assessments, semistructured interviews and think-aloud protocols, will be used. The study seeks to enrol 20 patients that meet the criteria. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study protocol has been approved by the ethic committee of the German Society for Nursing Science (21-037). The results are intended to be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated through conference papers. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: DRKS00025992.

[Tasks and roles of newly bachelor graduates of nursing in acute care settings - A scoping review]. / Tätigkeiten und Rollen von neu graduierten Bachelorabsolvent_innen der Pflege im akutstationären Setting.

Tasks and roles of newly bachelor graduates of nursing in acute care settings - A scoping review Abstract. Background: Despite the need, institutions in the German-speaking health care system are still not prepared for newly qualified bachelor graduates of professional nursing programs, since task and role profiles for their use in the acute care setting are not available. AIM: The aim is to provide an international overview of tasks and roles of newly qualified bachelor graduates in the acute care setting. METHODS: The search covered the period from 2010 to 2021 in the databases CINAHL and MEDLINE. Publications in German and English were included in the scoping review regardless of their study designs. RESULTS: The eight included studies follow mostly a qualitative design (n = 5), two studies had a cross-section design and one a mixed-methods design. They were predominantly conducted in the Scandinavian (n = 3) and North American (n = 3) regions. The results show a mix of tasks and roles in which bachelor graduates are employed in basic nursing care, as educators (including lecturers) and in medication management of all age groups, as well as for advanced pediatric lifesaving, monitoring and maintenance of equipment for assessment and diagnostics plus as managers of nursing teams. CONCLUSIONS: There is a nationally need for the development of task and role profiles for specific care settings derived from existing competency attributions. Training programs based on these profiles support transition into the acute care setting and promote the assurance of quality interprofessional care.

Safety climate in hospitals: A cross-sectional study on the perspectives of nurses and midwives.

AIMS: To explore nurses' and midwives' perspectives of safety climate in Austrian hospitals as measurable elements of safety culture and to identify areas of quality improvement. BACKGROUND: Due to close contact with patients, nurses and midwives play a vital role in ensuring patient safety. METHOD: An online survey among 713 nurses and midwives was conducted, using the 19-item Safety Climate Survey (SCS). To answer the survey, a 5-point Likert scale was provided with higher ratings indicating a more positive safety climate. RESULTS: Results demonstrate a positive safety culture (MD 4.09, SD 0.53). Significant group differences in overall safety climate score could be found regarding nurses and midwives in managerial positions, between gender and participants age with low effect size. High item missing rates focus aspects on management/leadership, institutional concerns, leadership by physicians, and handling of adverse events. In addition, these items present the lowest ratings in safety climate. CONCLUSION: Results indicate potentials for optimization in the areas of leadership communication and feedback, the handling of safety concerns, and visibility or improvement of patient safety strategies. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: A regular, standardized safety climate measurement can be a valuable tool for nurse managers and (political) decision-makers to manage patient safety initiatives.

Psychometric Properties of the Safety Climate Survey in Austrian Acute Care: Factor Structure, Reliability, and Usability.

BACKGROUND: Hospitals are complex organizations with a potential for medical errors that can be influenced by safety culture. Safety climate, as measurable element of safety culture, illustrates the perception of safety-relevant aspects of health care staff at a certain time. The Safety Climate Survey is applied internationally to measure safety climate. However, psychometrics for the German version of the survey have yet not been evaluated. The aim of this study is to explore the factor structure, reliability, and potential usefulness of the Safety Climate Survey in Austrian acute care. METHODS: Cross-sectional surveys of physicians, therapists, and nurses/midwives were implemented. An exploratory factor analysis was carried out, both in total sample and split by 2 selected professions. After deriving a factor structure for both professions, internal consistency and scale means were calculated for the subscales. Finally, mean subscale differences between physicians and nurses/midwives were tested. RESULTS: Of 5160 eligible staff, 933 respondents participated. A 6-factor solution explaining 59.1% of total variance was identified. Comparison by profession illustrated that the factor structures and item loading patterns differ between physicians and nurses/midwives. To achieve an overarching solution, 5 items were excluded from consecutive subscale measures because of cross-loadings and contradictory factor loadings. Subscales demonstrated good to low internal consistency (α = 0.794-0.535). Significant mean differences between subscales of professions were found relating to 3 factors. CONCLUSIONS: The German Safety Climate Survey measures safety climate multidimensionally rather than unidimensionally and demonstrated some limitations in factor structures and item loadings but overall had satisfactory reliability of the 6 subscales.

RECOVER-E - a mobile app for patients undergoing total knee or hip replacement: study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Total knee replacement (TKR) or total hip replacement (THR) are common and effective procedures in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) to restore physical function and reduce joint related pain. Patient education plays an important role in the treatment process aiming to develop necessary self-management skills to facilitate recovery and ensure long-term success. We have developed a mobile app (RECOVER-E) for iOS and Android smartphones which provides important information on the preoperative phase, surgery and recovery. The concomitant study will determine the efficacy of RECOVER-E on patients' surgical outcomes. METHODS/DESIGN: This study is a non-randomized, multi-centre (4 sites), double-arm, controlled trial with 1:1 assignment. 160 patients undergoing primary TKR or THR will be recruited from January until October 2019 in 4 German hospitals. Both groups will receive standard care. Additionally, the intervention group will use the app RECOVER-E. Measurements will be taken 4-6 weeks before surgery, on the day of admission to the hospital, on the first and 7th postoperative day and 3 months post-surgery. Primary outcome will be self-reported physical function measured on the activities of daily living (ADL) subscale of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) for patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis, respectively. Secondary outcomes include the subscales for pain, symptoms, function in sport and recreation and knee/hip-related quality of life of the HOOS and KOOS, preoperative anxiety, measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), as well as, pain at rest and pain during activity measured by a numerical rating scale (NRS). Primary endpoint is 3 months post-surgery. DISCUSSION: Mobile Health (mHealth) has become increasingly important in patient-centred health care aiming to enhance patient involvement and self-management capabilities. To our knowledge this is the first study to investigate the effect of an evidence-based mobile app on patient reported outcomes after joint replacement. This study should provide evidence supporting the use of mHealth to facilitate recovery and open up new possibilities for patient care in joint replacement. TRIAL REGISTRATION: DRKS Data Management retrospectively registered. DRKS-ID: DRKS00012744.

Impact of training and structured medication review on medication appropriateness and patient-related outcomes in nursing homes: results from the interventional study InTherAKT.

BACKGROUND: Uncoordinated interprofessional communication in nursing homes increases the risk of polypharmacy and inappropriate medication use. This may lead to augmented frequency of adverse drug events, hospitalizations and mortality. The aims of this study were (1) to improve interprofessional communication and medication safety using a combined intervention and thus, (2) to improve medication appropriateness and health-related outcomes of the included residents. METHODS: The single-arm interventional study (2014-2017) was conducted in Muenster, Germany and involved healthcare professionals and residents of nursing homes. The intervention consisted of systematic education of participating healthcare professionals and of a structured interprofessional medication review which was performed via an online communication platform. The primary endpoint was assessed using the Medication Appropriateness Index MAI. Secondary endpoints were: cognitive performance, delirium, agitation, mobility, number of drugs, number of severe drug-drug interactions and appropriateness of analgesics. Outcomes were measured before, during and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inference-statistical methods. RESULTS: Fourteen general practitioners, 11 pharmacists, 9 nursing homes and 120 residents (n = 83 at all testing times) participated. Overall MAI sum-score decreased significantly over time (mean reduction: -7.1, CI95% -11.4 - - 2.8; median = - 3.0; dCohen = 0.39), especially in cases with baseline sum-score ≥ 24 points (mean reduction: -17.4, CI95% -27.6 - - 7.2; median = - 15.0; dCohen = 0.86). MAI sum-score of analgesics also decreased (dCohen = 0.45). Mean number of severe drug-drug interactions rose slightly over time (dCohen = 0.17). The proportion of residents showing agitated behavior diminished from 83.9 to 67.8%. Remaining secondary outcomes were without substantial change. CONCLUSION: Medication appropriateness increased particularly in residents with high baseline MAI sum-scores. Cognitive decline of participating residents was seemingly decelerated when compared with epidemiologic studies. A controlled trial is required to confirm these effects. Interprofessional interaction was structured and performance of medication reviews was facilitated as the online communication platform provided unlimited and consistent access to all relevant and updated information. TRIAL REGISTRATION: DRKS Data Management, ID: DRKS00007900 , date of registration: 2015-09-02 (retrospectively registered i.e. 6 weeks after commencement of the first data collection).

Nursing care and outcome in surgical patients - why do we have to care?

Nurses have an important role in patient care. They continuously work in very close contact with patients and foster the realization of activities of daily living as well as ensure quality medical treatment. For both, a high educational level is needed. A large proportion of patients with complex health situations involving chronic illnesses and multimorbidities are treated in hospitals with shortened hospital lengths of stay, changing the caring needs and the demands on nursing. Nurses must handle complex nursing tasks for which a higher educational level is indispensable, including the ability to implement evidence-based practice. In addition, studies show a correlation between the educational level of nursing staff and the health outcomes of patients. If there are too few highly educated nurses, there is an increase in patient mortality as well as the risk of patient complications, such as falls. Also, a low number of nursing staff and a high proportion of admissions decrease the quality of nursing and result in unfavorable patient outcomes. Both developments call for the necessity of a changing nursing practice and the possibilities to transform interprofessional work.

Effect of training and structured medication review on medication appropriateness in nursing home residents and on cooperation between health care professionals: the InTherAKT study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacotherapy in residents of nursing homes is critical due to the special vulnerability of this population. Medical care and interprofessional communication in nursing homes are often uncoordinated. As a consequence, polypharmacy and inappropriate medication use are common and may lead to hospitalizations and health hazards. The aim of this study is to optimize communication between the involved professional groups by specific training and by establishing a structured medication review process, and to improve medication appropriateness and patient-relevant health outcomes for residents of nursing homes. METHODS/DESIGN: The trial is designed as single-arm study. It involves 300 nursing home residents aged ≥ 65 years and the members of the different professional groups practising in nursing home care (15-20 general practitioners, nurses, pharmacists). The intervention consists of interprofessional education on safe medication use in geriatric patients, and a systematic interprofessional therapy check (recording, reviewing and adapting the medication of the participating residents by means of a specific online platform). The intervention period is divided into two phases; total project period is 3 years. Primary outcome measure is the change in medication appropriateness according to the Medication Appropriateness Index. Secondary outcomes are cognitive performance, occurrence of delirium, agitation, tendency of falls, total number of drugs, number of potentially dangerous drug-drug interactions and appropriateness of recorded analgesic therapy regimens according to the Medication Appropriateness Index. Data are collected at t0 (before the start of the intervention), t1 (after the first intervention period) and t2 (after the second intervention period). Cooperation and communication between the professional groups are investigated twice by qualitative interviews. DISCUSSION: The project aims to establish a structured system for monitoring of drug therapy in nursing home residents. The newly developed online platform is designed to systematize and to improve the communication between the professional groups and, thus, to enhance quality and safety of drug therapy. Limitations of the study are the lack of a control group and the non-randomly recruited study sample. TRIAL REGISTRATION: DRKS Data Management, DRKS-ID: DRKS00007900.

A Prospective Multicentre Study to Improve Postoperative Pain: Identification of Potentialities and Problems.

Many studies still indicate insufficient pain management after surgery, e.g., in patients after small- or medium-size operations. Yet it is still uncertain if postoperative pain based on patient-related outcomes can be improved by implementing guideline-related programmes in a multicentre approach. Adult patients in six hospitals in one German city were included in this prospective study. Data collection took place twice in each hospital, once before and once after implementation of concepts and in-house training. Pain and pain-related aspects were assessed one day after surgery and compared between the pre- and post-test group including subgroup analysis of certain surgical procedures by using Student's t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests and chi-square tests (alphatwo-tailed = 0.05). Overall, pain at rest and during movement was slightly lower after the intervention. Significant changes were observed after thoracic surgery, small joint surgery and other minor surgical procedures. The rather moderate decrease in pain likely relates to a reasonable pre-existing pain management and to detached improvements in certain patient subgroups. Interestingly, specific analyses revealed significantly lower post-test pain as compared to pre-test pain only in patients without pre-existing chronic pain. Side effects related to pain medication were significantly lower after intervention. Our data show, for the first time, benefits of a perioperative teaching programme in a multicentre approach. Pain ratings improved mainly in specific subgroups of patients, e.g., small surgical procedures and patients without preoperative pain. Thus, general improvement is possible but special attention should be paid to the group of patients with preoperative pain.

Emerging standards of care in pain management in Germany.

A research project addressing roles of nurses in pain management is described. The role of specialized pain management nurses is discussed. Standards, communication, and multidisciplinary care, as well as roles of nurses in hospitals, nursing homes, and home care are described. Specialization is discussed including training and certification. The German National Expert Standard for Pain Management in Nursing is described.

The quality of pain management in German hospitals.

BACKGROUND: The Pain-Free Hospital Project was initiated in 2003 with the aim of improving pain management throughout Germany. We assessed the current state of pain management in German hospitals. METHODS: From 2004 to 2006, data were obtained anonymously from 2252 patients who had undergone surgery, and 999 who had been treated non-surgically, in a total of 25 hospitals. They were interviewed about the intensity of pain they had experienced and about the effectiveness of its treatment. RESULTS: No pain at all was reported by 12.4% of patients who had undergone surgery and by 16.7% of the non-surgically treated patients. Moderate to severe pain at rest was reported by 29.5% of the surgical group and 36.8% of the non-surgical group. More than 50% of the overall group reported pain on movement. 55% of the surgical group, and 57% of the non-surgical group, were dissatisfied with their pain management. Peak pain tended to occur outside normal working hours. No analgesic treatment at all was given to 39% of patients in the non-surgical group, even though they were in pain; the corresponding figure for the surgical group was 15% (a significant difference, p<0.001). Inadequately effective pain management was reported by 45.6% of patients in the non-surgical group and 29.6% in the operative group (again, a significant difference. Cancer patients were treated more often with potent opioids. CONCLUSION: Severe postoperative pain is still too common among hospitalized patients, particularly pain that is induced by movement. Patients being treated on non-surgical wards also often suffer severe pain needlessly. Pain management seems to be worse for non-surgical patients (cancer patients excepted) than for surgical patients: waiting times for medication are longer, and ineffective medications are given more often. On the other hand, a number of hospitals provide positive examples of the potential effectiveness of pain management for both surgical and non-surgical patients.