Usability testing of a fall prevention toolkit.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate a fall prevention toolkit, determine its ease of use and user satisfaction, and determine the preferred venue of distribution. METHODS: Three forms of assessment were used: focus groups, usability testing, and surveys. Focus group participants were recruited from four locations: two rural health clinics and two urban centers. Usability testing participants were recruited from two rural health clinics. Survey questions included self-reported prior falls, current fall prevention habits, reaction to the toolkit, and demographics. RESULTS: Participants reported the toolkit was attractive, well-organized, and easy to use, but may contain too much information. Most participants admitted they would not actively use the toolkit on their own, but prefer having it introduced by a healthcare provider or in a social setting. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare focuses on customer satisfaction; therefore, providers benefit from knowing patient preferred methods of learning fall prevention strategies.

Acceptance of physician assistants and nurse practitioners in trauma centers.

OBJECTIVE: Census data published by professional organizations indicate an upward trend in the number of physician assistants (PAs) working in many specialty fields, including the subspecialty of trauma surgery. As the role of hospital-based PAs and nurse practitioners (NPs) continues to evolve, greater understanding of these roles will help identify future employment trends for these professions. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of PAs and NPs in US trauma centers, to document their roles, and to identify their potential future utilization by trauma centers. METHODS: A survey was mailed to 464 directors of major trauma centers in the United States. The survey was designed to evaluate trauma centers' utilization of PAs/NPs. Respondents were asked to identify specific daily tasks of PAs/NPs and to indicate potential for their future utilization. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-six (246) of 464 surveys were returned, for a response rate of 53%. Approximately one-third of reporting major trauma centers reported utilizing PAs/NPs. More American College of Surgeons (ACS)-verified trauma facilities utilized PAs/NPs than did nonverified facilities; and Level I trauma centers used significantly more PAs/NPs than did Level II trauma centers. Nineteen percent (19%) of respondents who did not currently utilize PAs/NPs indicated that they intended to do so in the future. The majority of facilities utilized PAs/NPs to assist with trauma resuscitation and in performing traditional tasks, including obtaining and dictating histories and physical findings, participating in rounds on the general medical floor, and dictating discharge summaries. Fewer than half of reporting facilities indicated that PAs/NPs performed more invasive procedures, such as inserting arterial lines, central lines, chest tubes, and intracranial pressure monitors. CONCLUSIONS: PAs and NPs are increasingly utilized as clinicians in the surgical subspecialty of trauma. In most trauma centers, PAs/NPs are utilized to complete the traditional duties of a surgical PA/NP, with fewer performing invasive procedures. Finally, 19% of responding trauma centers who do not currently utilize PAs/NPs state that they intend to in the future, indicating the potential for continued job growth for PAs/NPs in trauma care. This evaluation of the utilization of PAs/NPs in direct care to trauma patients indicates acceptance of PAs/NPs in trauma staffing models.