RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Older individuals with functional decline and homecare are frequent visitors to emergency departments (ED). Homecare workers (HCWs) interact regularly with their clients and may play a crucial role in their well-being. Therefore, this study explores if and how HCWs perceive they may contribute to the prevention of ED visits among their clients. METHODS: In this qualitative study, 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with HCWs from Sweden between July and November 2022. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify barriers and facilitators to prevent ED visits in older home-dwelling individuals. RESULTS: HCWs want to actively contribute to the prevention of ED visits among clients but observe many barriers that hinder them from doing so. Barriers refer to care organisation such as availability to primary care staff and information transfer; perceived attitudes towards HCWs as co-workers; and client-related factors. Participants suggest that improved communication and collaboration with primary care and discharge information from the ED to homecare services could overcome barriers. Furthermore, they ask for support and geriatric education from primary care nurses which may result in increased respect towards them as competent staff members. CONCLUSIONS: HCWs feel that they have an important role in the health management of older individuals living at home. Still, they feel as an untapped resource in the prevention of ED visits. They deem that improved coordination and communication between primary care, ED, and homecare organisations as well as proactive care would enable them to add significantly to the prevention of ED visits.
Assuntos
Visitas ao Pronto Socorro , Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência , Humanos , Idoso , Suécia/epidemiologia , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Cuidados PaliativosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Optimizing care at home, or home health care (HHC), is necessary as the population of care-dependent older people receiving care at home steadily increases. The COVID-19 pandemic tested Swedish primary care professionals as they provided HHC for a population of very frail older homebound people, but a better understanding of what healthcare workers did to manage the crisis may be useful for the further development of HHC. In this study, we aimed to understand how HHC physicians solved the problems of providing home healthcare during the pandemic to learn lessons on how to improve future HHC. METHODS: This is a qualitative study of individual interviews with 11 primary care physicians working in HHC (8 women) from 7 primary care practices in Region Stockholm, Sweden. Interviews were conducted between 1 December 2020, and 11 March 2021. The data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: We generated an overarching theme in our analysis: Physicians focus on core tasks and professional values in response to crisis. This theme incorporated three underlying subthemes describing this response: physicians prioritize and resolve ethically challenging situations in new ways, cultivate the patient perspective, and build on existing teams. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that a healthcare system that gives HHC physicians agency to focus on core tasks and professional values could promote person-centered care.
Optimizing care at home, or home health care (HHC), is necessary as the population of care-dependent older people receiving care at home steadily increases.During the COVID-19 pandemic, HHC physicians in Stockholm were able work person-centred and focus on clinically relevant tasks.A healthcare system that allows HHC physicians to focus on core tasks and professional values can promote person-centered care.Strategies to promote quality HHC include supporting physician autonomy, building on existing teams, and promoting collaboration between primary care providers and other caregivers.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Clínicos Gerais , Serviços de Assistência Domiciliar , Humanos , Feminino , Idoso , Pandemias , Pesquisa QualitativaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic affected nursing homes and their residents heavily. Guidelines on how to mitigate the virus's spread and ensuring safe healthcare delivery were continually evolving. Concurrently, nursing homes faced intense media scrutiny. This challenging environment severely impacted registered nurses and physicians employed within these facilities. AIM: To understand the ethical challenges experienced by registered nurses and physicians working in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESEARCH DESIGN: Qualitative descriptive research using thematic analysis. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT: Individual online interviews with four registered nurses and eight physicians clinically active at nursing homes in Sweden. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: The study was approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority. All participants provided written consent. RESULTS: Registered nurses and physicians working in nursing homes perceived ethical challenges stemming from early COVID-19 pandemic guidelines and media coverage. The main theme generated was 'Struggling to maintain professional and ethical standards under pressure' incorporating two subthemes: 'Guidelines developed without the profession put pressure on staff' and 'Media's biased reporting was perceived as unethical and undermined care'. Guidelines from the authorities were considered as developed without professional involvement. It made them difficult to adhere to without deviating from professional and ethical compasses. Media coverage adversely influenced relatives' perceptions, resulting in mistrust towards physicians' and registered nurses' in delivering optimal care for the residents. CONCLUSIONS: Resilient care in nursing homes necessitates the collaborative development of guidelines involving registered nurses and physicians, particularly amidst crises. Moreover, it is vital to provide support to registered nurses navigating ethical dilemmas, especially during pandemics. Guidelines and principles for care during a crisis should be development with professional involvement, be transparent, and be available to the public, to promote neutral media coverage. Future research is crucial to enhance ethical standards and tackle challenges in this context.
RESUMO
Many older adults with complex care needs live at home due to ageing-in-place policies. This study explored homecare workers' experiences and suggestions for improvements of care. Twelve semi-structured interviews were analyzed thematically, and revealed pride, capability, and satisfaction in their work, yet they feel undervalued and lack support. They advocate for integrated care models, recognition of their competence, flexible work approaches, and committed leadership. This would enhance patient care and address their own working conditions, addressing concerns from being relegated to the bottom of the hierarchy. They emphasize the need for comprehensive approaches, spanning from housekeeping to end-of-life palliative care.
Assuntos
Visitadores Domiciliares , Pacientes Domiciliares , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Pacientes Domiciliares/psicologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Visitadores Domiciliares/psicologia , Idoso , Serviços de Assistência Domiciliar , Adulto , Entrevistas como AssuntoRESUMO
AIM: Children with epilepsy often have concomitant diagnoses. Dried blood spot samples for drug monitoring can be collected by parents at home as an alternative to traditional sampling. This mixed-method study aimed to understand the parents' perspectives on blood self-sampling from their children and to identify factors contributing to successful sampling. METHOD: Parents who had collected a sample from their child during a visit to the neuropediatric clinic were asked to fill in a questionnaire. To get in-depth information and individual perspectives, parents and nurses participated in semi-structured interviews and analysed with thematic analysis. RESULTS: The results from questionnaires (n = 64) and interviews (n = 9) were interpreted together. Watching an instruction video and practical training contributed to successful sampling. 97% of the parents managed to collect a sample, 72% thought it was easy to perform, and 80% found self-sampling at home desirable. Factors for success were as follows: high motivation, prepared parents with pre-understanding, a pragmatic attitude, flexible education, effective communication and willingness to take on the role as a performer. Risk factors were as follows: conflict, fear, unprepared parents, confused or worried children. CONCLUSION: Voluntary self-sampling at home for parents of children with epilepsy is feasible and can reduce stress factors in everyday life.
Assuntos
Epilepsia , Criança , Monitoramento de Medicamentos , Epilepsia/diagnóstico , Humanos , Motivação , Pais , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
PURPOSE: Inappropriate use of medicines causes increased morbidity, mortality, adverse drug reactions, therapeutic failures and drug resistance as well as wastes valuable resources. Evidence-based cost-effective treatment recommendations of essential medicines are a way of avoiding these. We assessed primary care prescribers' knowledge about and perceptions of an essential medicines formulary, as well as the reasons for adhering to the recommendations. METHODS: We conducted a web based questionnaire survey targeting all physicians working in the primary healthcare of the Stockholm healthcare region (2.3 million inhabitants), regarding the knowledge of, attitudes to and usefulness of the essential medicines formulary of the Stockholm Drug and Therapeutics Committee, the so-called Wise List. RESULTS: Of the 1862 physicians reached by our e-mail invitations, 526 (28%) participated in the survey. All but one respondent knew of the formulary, and 72% used it at least once a week when prescribing. The main reason for using the formulary was evidence-based prescribing; 97% trusted the guidelines, and almost all (98%) found the content easy to understand. At the same time, many prescribers thought that the annual changes of some recommendations were too frequent, and some felt that a national formulary would increase its trustworthiness. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the essential medicines formulary was widely used and trusted by the prescribers. The high uptake of the treatment recommendations could be due to the Stockholm Drug and Therapeutics Committee's transparent process for developing recommendations involving respected experts and clinicians using strict criteria for handling potential conflicts of interest, feedback to prescribers, continuous medical education and minor financial incentives.
Assuntos
Prescrições de Medicamentos/normas , Uso de Medicamentos/estatística & dados numéricos , Medicamentos Essenciais/uso terapêutico , Comitê de Farmácia e Terapêutica , Médicos de Atenção Primária/normas , Guias de Prática Clínica como Assunto/normas , Prescrições de Medicamentos/estatística & dados numéricos , Uso de Medicamentos/economia , Medicamentos Essenciais/economia , Alocação de Recursos para a Atenção à Saúde/economia , Humanos , Prescrição Inadequada/prevenção & controle , Prescrição Inadequada/estatística & dados numéricos , Médicos de Atenção Primária/estatística & dados numéricos , Inquéritos e Questionários , SuéciaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Involving patients in decisions about their pharmacotherapy is crucial for a satisfactory treatment outcome. Information and opinions about medicines are available from a variety of sources. The Wise List is the drug formulary of recommended essential medicines for the Stockholm healthcare region and is issued by the Drug and Therapeutics Committee (DTC). To inform the public about treatment for common diseases and the concept of recommended medicines, a patient edition of the Wise List was developed. The aim of this study was to explore patients' knowledge, needs and attitudes to the Wise List, DTC and information about medicines in general. METHODS: To examine patient knowledge about recommended medicines a survey (n = 312) was carried out at four large primary healthcare centres in Stockholm, Sweden. To further elucidate the patients' needs of the information on recommended medicines and medicines in general, three focus group discussions (FGDs) were performed. RESULTS: Of the respondents 57% did not recognise the Wise List, 26% recognised but did not use it and 17% used it. A total of 63% reported that they search for information about medicines. The most common information source was "asking their doctor" (36%) followed by searching the internet (31%). The FGDs revealed that the patients were not interested in medicines in general, only in the medicines they use themselves. They did not understand the aim of the Wise List or how they could benefit from information about recommended medicines. The patients expressed a wish to access all information they need about their own care as well as public healthcare information at one location. CONCLUSION: The intended aim of the DTC with providing information to the public was not achieved as the patients have difficulties to understand the information and how they should use it. The patients were not interested in medicines in general, they wanted information tailored to their specific needs. The findings highlight the importance of creating tools for patients in collaboration with them and evaluate the concept continuously.
Assuntos
Medicamentos Essenciais , Formulários Farmacêuticos como Assunto , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Pacientes/psicologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Grupos Focais , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pacientes/estatística & dados numéricos , Comitê de Farmácia e Terapêutica , Guias de Prática Clínica como Assunto , Atenção Primária à Saúde , Inquéritos e Questionários , Suécia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To explore registered nurses' experience of medication management in municipal care of the elderly in Sweden, with a focus on their pharmacovigilant activities. DESIGN: A qualitative approach using focus-group discussions was chosen in order to provide in-depth information. Data were analysed by qualitative content analysis. SETTING: Five focus groups in five different long-term care settings in two regions in Sweden. SUBJECT: A total of 21 registered nurses (RNs), four men and 17 women, aged 27-65 years, with 4-34 years of nursing experience. RESULTS: The findings reveal that RNs in municipal long-term care settings can be regarded as "vigilant intermediaries" in the patients' drug treatments. They continuously control the work of staff and physicians and mediate between them, and also compensate for existing shortcomings, both organizational and in the work of health care professionals. RNs depend on other health care professionals to be able to monitor drug treatments and ensure medication safety. They assume expanded responsibilities, sometimes exceeding their formal competence, and try to cover for deficiencies in competence, experience, accessibility, and responsibility-taking. CONCLUSION: The RNs play a central but also complex role as "vigilant intermediaries" in the medication monitoring process, including the issue of responsibility. Improving RNs' possibility to monitor their patients' drug treatments would enable them to prevent adverse drug events in their daily practice. New strategies are justified to facilitate RNs' pharmacovigilant activities. KEY POINTS: This study contributes to the understanding of registered nurses' (RNs') role in medication management in municipal care of the elderly (i.e. detecting, assessing, and preventing adverse drug events or any drug-related problems). RNs can be considered to be "vigilant intermediaries" in elderly patients' drug treatments, working at a distance from staff, physicians, and patients. RNs occasionally take on responsibilities that exceed their formal competence, with the patients' best interests in mind. In order to prevent adverse drug events in municipal care of the elderly, new strategies are justified to facilitate RNs' pharmacovigilant activities.
Assuntos
Monitoramento de Medicamentos , Enfermagem Geriátrica , Serviços de Saúde para Idosos , Assistência de Longa Duração , Enfermeiras e Enfermeiros , Papel Profissional , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Farmacovigilância , Pesquisa QualitativaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Biological and sociocultural differences between men and women may play an important role in medical treatment. Little is known about the awareness of these differences among general practitioners (GPs) and if they consider such differences in their medical practice. The aim of this study was to explore GPs' perception of sex and gender aspects in medical treatment. METHODS: We conducted five focus group discussions (FGDs) with 29 physicians (mainly GPs) in Sweden. A discussion guide with semi-structured questions was used. All FGDs were audio-recorded and transcribed word-by-word. Data were analysed through inductive thematic analysis with no predetermined categories. RESULTS: Three main categories emerged from the data. The first category emphasised GPs' experiences of sex and gender differences in diagnosing and assessment of clinical findings. Medical treatment in men and women was central in the second category. The third category emphasised GPs' knowledge of sex differences in drug therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The GPs stated they had little knowledge of sex and gender differences in drug treatment, but gave multiple examples of how the patient's sex affects the choice of treatment. Sex and gender aspects were considered in diagnosing and in the treatment decision. However, once the decision to treat was made the choice of drug followed recommendations by local Drug and Therapeutics Committee, which were perceived to be evidence-based. In the analysis we found a gap between perceived and expressed knowledge of sex and gender differences in drug treatment indicating a need of education about this to be included in the curriculum in medical school and in basic and specialist training for physicians. Education could also be a tool to avoid stereotypical thinking about male and female patients.
Assuntos
Médicos , Atenção Primária à Saúde , Sexismo , Adulto , Idoso , Competência Clínica , Feminino , Grupos Focais , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Médicos/psicologia , Atenção Primária à Saúde/normas , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Fatores Sexuais , Sexismo/psicologia , Suécia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The regional Board of Health in Stockholm, Sweden, established the Pharmacotherapy Centre (PTC) to enhance the rational use of medicines. The PTC initiated computerised decision support systems and developed a range of electronic service products to sustain rational prescribing. However, knowledge about which determinants have supported or hindered the sustainability of this type of healthcare organisation is limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify and explore determinants that support or challenge the development and sustainability of the PTC organisation, as well as investigate the key elements of their implementation efforts. METHODS: An in-depth interview study among key informants involved in the establishment of the PTC organisation was conducted. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Findings suggest that determinants enabling the development and expansion of this organisation include the presence of innovative characteristics among the PTC leadership and the ability of leaders to nurture visionary innovation in others, as well as the instigation of informal social networks and to identify end-user needs. Challenges included an ambiguous relationship to the pharmaceutical industry, an underestimation of the innovation-system fit and to undertake systematic evaluation of created impact by the organisation. Although prescriber use of electronic service products and adherence to an essential drug list increased over time, it remains difficult to identify methods required for demonstrating patient effects. CONCLUSION: Whereas some determinants enabled the successful expansion of the PTC organisation, others served to substantially hinder it. The determinants identified can pave the way for systematic investigations into organisational change and development research in the pharmaceutical field.
Assuntos
Tratamento Farmacológico , Administração de Instituições de Saúde , Sistemas de Apoio a Decisões Clínicas/organização & administração , Tratamento Farmacológico/métodos , Instalações de Saúde , Humanos , Comunicação Interdisciplinar , Liderança , Inovação Organizacional , Desenvolvimento de Programas , Avaliação de Programas e Projetos de Saúde , SuéciaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Decision-making is central for general practitioners (GP). Practice guidelines are important tools in this process but implementation of them in the complex context of primary care is a challenge. The purpose of this study was to explore how GPs approach, learn from and use practice guidelines in their day-to-day decision-making process in primary care. METHOD: A qualitative approach using focus-group interviews was chosen in order to provide in-depth information. The participants were 22 GPs with a median of seven years of experience in primary care, representing seven primary healthcare centres in Stockholm, Sweden in 2011. The interviews focused on how the GPs use guidelines in their decision-making, factors that influence their decision how to approach these guidelines, and how they could encourage the learning process in routine practice.Data were analysed by qualitative content analysis. Meaning units were condensed and grouped in categories. After interpreting the content in the categories, themes were created. RESULTS: Three themes were conceptualized. The first theme emphasized to use guidelines by interactive contextualized dialogues. The categories underpinning this theme: 1. Feedback by peer-learning 2. Feedback by collaboration, mutual learning, and equality between specialties, identified important ways to achieve this learning dialogue. Confidence was central in the second theme, learning that establishes confidence to provide high quality care. Three aspects of confidence were identified in the categories of this theme: 1. Confidence by confirmation, 2. Confidence by reliability and 3. Confidence by evaluation of own results. In the third theme, learning by use of relevant evidence in the decision-making process, we identified two categories: 1. Design and lay-out visualizing the evidence 2. Accessibility adapted to the clinical decision-making process as prerequisites for using the practice guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Decision-making in primary care is a dual process that involves use of intuitive and analytic thinking in a balanced way in order to provide high quality care. Key aspects of effective learning in this clinical decision-making process were: contextualized dialogue, which was based on the GPs' own experiences, feedback on own results and easy access to short guidelines perceived as trustworthy.
Assuntos
Atitude do Pessoal de Saúde , Tomada de Decisões , Clínicos Gerais , Guias de Prática Clínica como Assunto , Padrões de Prática Médica , Atenção Primária à Saúde/métodos , Retroalimentação , Feminino , Grupos Focais , Fidelidade a Diretrizes , Humanos , Aprendizagem , Masculino , Pesquisa Qualitativa , SuéciaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: In resource-poor countries access to essential medicines, suboptimal prescribing and use of medicines are major problems. Health workers lack updated medical information and treatment support. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) could help tackle this. The impact of ICT on health systems in resource-poor countries is likely to be significant and transform the practice of medicine just as in high-income countries. However, research for finding the best way of doing this is needed. We aimed to assess current approaches to and use of ICT among health workers in two rural districts of Tanzania in relation to the current drug distribution practices, drug stock and continuing medical information (CME), as well as assessing the feasibility of using ICT to improve ordering and use of medicines. METHODS: This pilot study was conducted in 2010-2011, mapping the drug distribution chain in Tanzania, including problems and barriers. The study was conducted in Bunda and Serengeti districts, both part of the ICT4RD (ICT for rural development) project. Health workers involved in drug procurement and use at 13 health facilities were interviewed on use and knowledge of ICT, and their attitudes to its use in their daily work. They were also shown and interviewed about their thoughts on an android tablet application prototype for drug stock inventory and drug ordering, based on the Tanzanian Medical Stores Department (MSD) current paper forms. RESULTS: The main challenge was a stable supply of essential medicines. Drug supplies were often delayed and incomplete, resulting in stock-outs. All 20 interviewed health workers used mobile phones, 8 of them Smartphones with Internet connection. The Health workers were very positive to the tablet application and saw its potential in reducing drug stock-outs. They also expressed a great need and wish for CME by distance. CONCLUSION: The tablet application was easily used and appreciated by health workers, and thus has the potential to save time and effort, reduce transportation costs and minimise drug stock-outs. Furthermore, the android tablet could be used to reach out with CME programs to health care workers at remote health facilities, as well as those in towns.
Assuntos
Atitude do Pessoal de Saúde , Necessidades e Demandas de Serviços de Saúde , Aplicações da Informática Médica , Avaliação das Necessidades , Preparações Farmacêuticas/provisão & distribuição , Adulto , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Projetos Piloto , População Rural , Tanzânia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Purpose: Few studies explored what patients initiated on blood pressure medication in primary care think about their disease and their medications. The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of hypertensive patients' views on and experiences of hypertension and the use of antihypertensive medications. Methods: A qualitative study based on open-ended questions from a survey on medication adherence, which captured treated hypertensive patients' perspective on their condition and treatment. Data were collected for 219 patients on antihypertensive medication, ≥ 30 years old, who consulted 25 primary health care centers in Stockholm, Sweden, during 2016. Thematic analysis with both inductive and deductive approach was applied. Results: We identified 21 codes from the data and grouped them under the World Health Organization's five dimensions of adherence: condition-, therapy-, health care team and system-, patient-, and socioeconomic-related factors. The analyses revealed that many patients with hypertension have limited knowledge of their disease, are afraid of drug side effects and experience various issues in primary health care that may negatively impact adherence, including short doctor appointments, prescribing without communication and room for improvement in individualization of therapy and a person-centered approach. Conclusion: Many patients with hypertension have limited understanding of their hypertension and fear of adverse events from their antihypertensive medications. There is also room for improvement in how the patients are managed in primary health care. Interventions should focus on these issues to promote a better blood pressure target achievement.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: NHs have been severely exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about how staff who provide practical daily care of older residents experienced work during the pandemic. The aim of this study was to understand how nursing assistants (NAs) experienced their work at nursing homes (NHs) for older people during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study of focus group discussions with in total 20 participants from four NHs in Stockholm, Sweden. Discussions were held in November 2020. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: We identified three major themes: 1) We felt abandoned, scared and disrespected, 2) We made sure we made it through, and 3) We can do good work with appropriate resources. NAs felt disregarded as they were often left alone without adequate support from managers, registered nurses and the municipalities. NAs felt distressed and guilty and developed their own strategies to cope and manage their work. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic NAs felt abandoned and burdened due to lack of leadership. Organizational improvements are required to protect the wellbeing of NAs and to ensure sustainability of patient safety. NAs are crucial in the care for vulnerable older people and their experiences should constitute a keystone for development of future policy and practice in NHs.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Assistentes de Enfermagem , Humanos , Idoso , Suécia , Pandemias , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Casas de SaúdeRESUMO
BACKGROUND: In Sweden, patients receiving Home Care (HC) are older people with frailty and multimorbidity, and are often treated with many medicines. Their perspectives on polypharmacy have been sparsely explored. AIM: To investigate HC patients' experiences and perceptions regarding polypharmacy. DESIGN & SETTING: Semi-structured interviews with 17 patients with HC in Stockholm, Sweden. METHOD: The interview questions were open and aimed to encourage participants to speak freely about their personal experiences of living with polypharmacy. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: The participants' median age was 83.5 years (range 74-97 years) and the median number of prescribed medicines was 11 (range 5-30). The following two themes were identified: (1) experiences from daily life with polypharmacy; and (2) dependency on the relationship to healthcare professionals. The first theme contains the main finding, which was the diversity in how older people experienced polypharmacy and how they coped with polypharmacy in everyday life. While some were satisfied despite having multiple medicines, others experienced such psychological unease owing to polypharmacy that it led to reduced quality of life. The second theme reflects the importance of the relationship between the older person and healthcare professionals for medicine-related ideas and attitudes. CONCLUSION: The individual variation in experiences regarding polypharmacy points to the value of interprofessional teamwork with the patient as an active partner. Therefore, healthcare professionals need to adapt a more person-centred approach where the patient's perspectives are respected and considered in medicine-related decisionmaking.
Assuntos
Sistemas de Apoio a Decisões Clínicas , Cálculos da Dosagem de Medicamento , Quimioterapia Assistida por Computador/métodos , Sistemas Computadorizados de Registros Médicos , Preparações Farmacêuticas/administração & dosagem , Insuficiência Renal/tratamento farmacológico , Atitude do Pessoal de Saúde , Creatinina/sangue , Taxa de Filtração Glomerular , Humanos , Rim/fisiologia , Projetos Piloto , Avaliação de Programas e Projetos de Saúde , Inquéritos e Questionários , SuéciaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Creating evidence of effectiveness is an important part of service development. In an ongoing research project Swedish community pharmacists participate in services research by recruiting patients initiated on statins to an adherence-promoting cognitive pharmaceutical service, jointly run by nurses and pharmacists. AIMS: To explore the pharmacists' experiences of providing part of the service and their views regarding future participation in practice research aiming at developing cognitive pharmaceutical services. METHODS: Focus group interviews were conducted with community pharmacists from pharmacies participating in the project. A semi-structured interview guide was developed, based on the aim and earlier research. RESULTS: The domains identified were the service itself, operative conditions, the pharmacists' role/profession and stakeholders. The research project was thought to promote the local pharmacy to customers, increase job satisfaction and contribute to service development. However, a perceived lack of competence among pharmacists affected both patient communication and project involvement. Additional resources and strengthened collaboration with other local healthcare were requested. Competition among pharmacy chains was identified as a barrier to patient-centred service provision and research. CONCLUSION: The current operative conditions in Swedish community pharmacies were perceived by pharmacists as hampering cognitive pharmaceutical services provision and research. Additional resources, improved communication skills and research competence, and increased collaboration with other healthcare and across pharmacy chains are necessary changes. A stronger patient-centred perspective among all stakeholders is required.
Assuntos
Atitude do Pessoal de Saúde , Serviços Comunitários de Farmácia/organização & administração , Pesquisa Farmacêutica , Farmacêuticos/psicologia , Papel Profissional , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Inibidores de Hidroximetilglutaril-CoA Redutases/uso terapêutico , Satisfação no Emprego , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Enfermeiras e Enfermeiros , Farmacêuticos/organização & administração , SuéciaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Subsequent dosing errors after implementing an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) at a pediatric hospital in Sweden led to the development, in close collaboration with the clinical profession, of a Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) with Dose Range Check and Weight Based Dose Calculation integrated directly in the EMR. The aim of this study was to explore the understanding and experiences of the CDSS among Swedish pediatricians after one year of practice. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with physicians at different levels of the health care system were performed with seventeen pediatricians working at three different pediatrics wards in Stockholm County Council. The interviews were analysed with a thematic analysis without pre-determined categories. RESULTS: Six categories and fourteen subcategories emerged from the analysis. The categories included the use, the benefit, the confidence, the situations of disregards, the misgivings/risks and finally the development potential of the implemented CDSS with Weight Based Dose Calculation and Dose Range Check. CONCLUSIONS: A need for CDSS in the prescribing for children is evident to support the prevention of medication errors. After implementing a CDSS, organized efforts are crucial to understand the need for further development based on the practical knowledge of the clinical profession. Different contextual settings of health care organisations do affect the way how physicians think and act in work. When implementing a CDSS in practice we need to describe and analyse the context where the CDSS should be used as well as the prescribers' needs in work.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Maternal and neonatal mortality is high in sub-Saharan Africa. To support Healthcare Workers (HCWs), a computerized decision support system (CDSS) was piloted at six rural maternal care units in Burkina Faso. During the two years of the study period, it was apparent from reports that the CDSS was not used regularly in clinical practice. This study aimed to explore the reasons why HCWs failed to use the CDSS. METHODS: A workshop, organized as group discussions and a plenary session, was performed with 13 participants to understand their experience with the CDSS and suggest improvements if pertinent. Workshop transcripts were analyzed thematically. Socio-demographic and usage patterns of the CDSS were examined by a questionnaire and analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: The participants reported that the contextual basic conditions for using the CDSS were not fulfilled. These included unreliable power supply, none user-friendly partograph, the CDSS was not integrated with workflow and staff lacked motivational incentives. Despite these limitations, the HCWs reported learning benefits from guidance and alerts in the CDSS. Using the CDSS enabled them to discover problems earlier as they learned to focus on symptoms to prevent harmful situations. CONCLUSION: The CDSS was not tailored to the needs and context of the users. The HCWs, defined their needs and suggested how the CDSS should be re-designed. This suggests that the successful and regular usage of any CDSS in rural settings requires the involvement of users throughout the construction and pilot-testing phases and not only during the early prototype design period.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To present the 'Wise List' (a formulary of essential medicines for primary and specialised care in Stockholm Healthcare Region) and assess adherence to the recommendations over a 15-year period. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of all prescription data in the Stockholm Healthcare Region between 2000 and 2015 in relation to the Wise List recommendations during the same time period. SETTING: All outpatient care in the Stockholm Healthcare Region. PARTICIPANTS: All prescribers in the Stockholm Healthcare Region. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of core and complementary substances included in the Wise List, the adherence to recommendations by Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) 1st level using defined daily doses (DDDs) adjusted to the DDD for 2015, adherence to recommendations over time measured by dispensed prescriptions yearly between 2002 and 2015. RESULTS: The number of recommended core substances was stable (175-212). Overall adherence to the recommendations for core medicines for all prescribers increased from 75% to 84% (2000 to 2015). The adherence to recommendations in primary care for core medicines increased from 80% to 90% (2005 to 2015) with decreasing range in practice variation (32% to 13%). Hospital prescriber adherence to core medicine recommendations was stable but increased for the combination core and complementary medicines from 77% to 88% (2007 to 2015). Adherence varied between the 4 therapeutic areas studied. CONCLUSIONS: High and increasing adherence to the Wise List recommendations was seen for all prescriber categories. The transparent process for developing recommendations involving respected experts and clinicians using strict criteria for handling potential conflicts of interests, feedback to prescribers, continuous medical education and financial incentives are possible contributing factors. High-quality evidence-based recommendations to prescribers, such as the Wise List, disseminated through a multifaceted approach, will become increasingly important and should be developed further to include recommendations and introduction protocols for new expensive medicines.