Pursuit of Equity: Women on a Low Income Navigating Access to Health and Social Services in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Existing research highlights the role of social determinants of health, such as education and housing, in predicting health outcomes and the challenges that arise from deficiencies in these areas, often linked to societal inequities. Gender and income are recognized as social determinants of health, yet the complexities of their interplay, particularly for women with low income seeking health and social services in Canada, need more exploration. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates how gender and income intersect to affect access to health and social services for Canadian women with low income. METHODS: Employing a participatory action approach with arts-based and interpretive methodologies, the study partnered with a non-profit organization to engage five women through photovoice, interviews, and a focus group, aiming to capture their experiences in accessing services. RESULTS: The analysis revealed three primary themes: the labyrinth-like complexity of navigating health and social service systems, the importance of mental health sanctuaries, and the value of supportive networks. Participants reported difficulties and frustrations in system navigation, often feeling ignored by service providers. Contrarily, community agencies provided essential non-judgmental support, including daily necessities and emotional care, with the companionship of pets also being a notable source of comfort. CONCLUSION: The findings advocate for a shift towards more person-centred care in health and social service systems to better serve women in vulnerable positions, emphasizing the need to simplify the process of accessing services and ensuring that service providers recognize and address the unique challenges faced by equity-deserving groups.

The Current State of Kidney Supportive Care in Nephrology Nursing Practice: A Literature Review.

Kidney disease is associated with a high physical and psychological symptom burden. For patients whose condition is more compromised, receiving dialysis as a life-sustaining therapy may not improve longevity or quality of life. Palliative care for patients with kidney disease (also termed kidney supportive care [KSC]) is appropriate for this patient population. Nephrology nurses working in dialysis are well positioned to talk with patients about what patients perceive constitutes a meaningful life or death. A literature review was undertaken to find evidence about if and how nephrology nurses engage in KSC with patients receiving dialysis. Based on the 29 articles included in this review, the overarching finding was nephrology nurses working in dialysis are not routinely engaging in KSC. Reasons for this are varied and warrant further investigation.

Diabetes self-management education (DSME) for older persons in Western countries: A scoping review.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic health condition affecting millions globally. Diabetes is a growing concern among aging societies, with its prevalence increasing among those aged 65 and above. Enabling disease self-management via relevant education is part of high-quality care to improve health outcomes and minimize complications for individuals living with diabetes. Successful diabetes self-management education (DSME) programs usually require tailoring for the intended audience; however, there is limited literature about the preferences of older persons in Western countries concerning DSME. As such, a broad overview of DSME for older persons was an identified need. To map the available evidence on DSME for persons aged 65 years and older in Western countries, the JBI methodology for conducting and reporting scoping reviews was used. In this scoping review, we considered all studies about DSME for older persons with T1D and T2D in Western countries where lifestyles, risks, prevention, treatment of diabetes, and approaches to self-management and DSME are similar (e.g., North America, Western and Northern Europe and Australasia). Systematic keyword and subject heading searches were conducted in 10 databases (e.g., MEDLINE, JBI EBP) to identify relevant English language papers published from 2000 to 2022. Titles and abstracts were screened to select eligible papers for full-text reading. Full-text screening was done by four independent reviewers to select studies for the final analysis. The review identified 2,397 studies, of which 1,250 full texts were screened for eligibility. Of the final 44 papers included in the review, only one included participants' understanding of DSME. The education programs differed in their context, design, delivery mode, theoretical underpinnings, and duration. Type of research designs, outcome measures used to determine the effectiveness of DSME, and knowledge gaps were also detailed. Overall, most interventions were effective and improved clinical and behavioural outcomes. Many of the programs led to improvements in clinical outcomes and participants' quality of life; however, the content needs to be adapted to older persons according to their culture, different degrees of health literacy, preference of education (e.g., individualized or group), preference of setting, degree of frailty and independence, and comorbidities. Few studies included the voices of older persons in the design, implementation, and evaluation of DSME programs. Such experiential knowledge is vital in developing educational programs to ensure alignment with this population's preferred learning styles, literacy levels, culture, and needs-such an approach could manifest more substantive, sustained results.

Factors of a physician quality improvement leadership coalition that influence physician behaviour: a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: A coalition (Strategic Clinical Improvement Committee), with a mandate to promote physician quality improvement (QI) involvement, identified hospital laboratory test overuse as a priority. The coalition developed and supported the spread of a multicomponent initiative about reducing repetitive laboratory testing and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) ordering across one Canadian province. This study's purpose was to identify coalition factors enabling medicine and emergency department (ED) physicians to lead, participate and influence appropriate BUN test ordering. METHODS: Using sequential explanatory mixed methods, intervention components were grouped as person focused or system focused. Quantitative phase/analyses included: monthly total and average of the BUN test for six hospitals (medicine programme and two EDs) were compared pre initiative and post initiative; a cost avoidance calculation and an interrupted time series analysis were performed (participants were divided into two groups: high (>50%) and low (<50%) BUN test reduction based on these findings). Qualitative phase/analyses included: structured virtual interviews with 12 physicians/participants; a content analysis aligned to the Theoretical Domains Framework and the Behaviour Change Wheel. Quotes from participants representing high and low groups were integrated into a joint display. RESULTS: Monthly BUN test ordering was significantly reduced in 5 of 6 participating hospital medicine programmes and in both EDs (33% to 76%), resulting in monthly cost avoidance (CAN$900-CAN$7285). Physicians had similar perceptions of the coalition's characteristics enabling their QI involvement and the factors influencing BUN test reduction. CONCLUSIONS: To enable physician confidence to lead and participate, the coalition used the following: a simply designed QI initiative, partnership with a coalition physician leader and/or member; credibility and mentorship; support personnel; QI education and hands-on training; minimal physician effort; and no clinical workflow disruption. Implementing person-focused and system-focused intervention components, and communication from a trusted local physician-who shared data, physician QI initiative role/contribution and responsibility, best practices, and past project successes-were factors influencing appropriate BUN test ordering.

Characteristics promoting behaviour change: physician experience with a coalition-led quality improvement initiative to reduce excessive laboratory test ordering.

BACKGROUND: Attempts have been made to reduce excessive laboratory test ordering; however, the problem persists and barriers to physician involvement in quality improvement (QI) remain. We sought to understand physician participation experience following a laboratory test overuse initiative supported by a QI coalition. METHODS: As part of a larger mixed-methods study, structured virtual interviews were conducted with 12 physicians. The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and the Behavioural Change Wheel (BCW) were used to identify characteristics that influence physician behaviour change for QI leadership and participation and appropriate blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test ordering. A content analysis of physicians' statements to the TDF was performed, resulting in overarching themes; relevant TDF domains were mapped to the intervention functions of the BCW. RESULTS: Nine overarching themes emerged from the data. Eight of 14 TDF domains influence QI leadership and participation, and 10 influence appropriate BUN-test ordering behaviours. The characteristics participants described that promoted a change in their QI participation, leadership and appropriate BUN-test ordering were: QI education with hands-on training; physician peer mentorship/support; personnel assistance (QI and analytics) and communication from a trusted/credible physician leader who shares data and insights about the physician role in the initiative, clinical best practice and past project success. Other elements included: a simply designed initiative requiring minimal effort and no clinical workflow disruptions; revised order forms/panels and limiting test-order frequency when laboratory tests are normal. Additionally, various future intervention strategies were identified. For their initial initiative participation, physicians acknowledged coalition leader or member credibility was more important than awareness of the coalition. CONCLUSIONS: Based on physicians' described perceptions and experiences, coalition characteristics that influenced their QI leadership and participation, and appropriate BUN-test ordering behaviours were revealed; these characteristics aligned to several TDF domains. The findings suggest that these behaviours are multidimensional, requiring a multistrategy approach to change behaviour.

"I Could Have Stood a Little More Education Rather than Just: 'Hey, you're Diabetic Man, Make the Best out of It'": Revisioning Diabetes Self-Management Education for Older Adults.

Objectives: Providing diabetes self-management education (DSME) in an evidence-based format that is accessible and tailored to the population needs is crucial for individuals living with diabetes mellitus. Our qualitative study explores the experiences of older adults living with diabetes while residing in a rural setting. Methods: Adults aged 65 or older and residing in a rural area of Ontario completed a photovoice activity and semi-structured interviews to illustrate their experience of living with diabetes and accessing DSME. Results: Fourteen participants (11 males; mean age = 74 years) completed the photovoice activity and interview. Four main themes were identified pertaining to learning about diabetes education, the depth and breadth of learning, applying knowledge to daily life, and engaging older adults in DSME. Discussion: Diabetes self-management education should account for older adults' preferences in learning about diabetes and self-management to promote access to evidence-based information, bolster knowledge and self-management efficacy, and improve disease control.

Diabetes self-management education for older adults in Western countries: a scoping review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: This scoping review will map the available evidence on diabetes self-management education programs for older adults in Western countries. INTRODUCTION: Self-management and education are crucial for controlling diabetes and its associated complications. The successful uptake of diabetes self-management education programs is not straightforward, and little is known about diabetes programs for older adults. Within this context, a broad overview of diabetes self-management education for older adults, considering all types of related evidence, is needed. INCLUSION CRITERIA: All studies in English concerning diabetes self-management education for older adults (aged 65 years and older) living with type 1 or 2 diabetes will be included. This review will not be specific to gender, sex, ethnicity, frailty, or other demographic variables. The review will be restricted to Western countries (North America, Western and Northern Europe, and Australasia), where approaches to diabetes self-management education will be similar. Studies including older adults with or without diabetes will not be considered unless they provide separate analyses for the 2 cohorts. METHODS: This scoping review will follow the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. We will conduct searches of electronic databases, including CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PubMed, from January 1, 2000, to the present to capture eligible articles. The review will consider all study designs, including quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods designs, as well as text and opinion papers, and systematic reviews that meet the inclusion criteria. After duplicates are removed, titles and abstracts will be screened independently by 2 reviewers, and the full texts will be reviewed. The screening criteria and data extraction protocol will be pilot-tested by the research team. The results will be summarized in tables accompanied by narrative text.

Access to health and social services by women living on a low income in Canada: a scoping review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this scoping review is to map the current evidence about access to health and social services for women living on a low income in Canada. INTRODUCTION: Women, especially those living on a low income, are disproportionately likely to suffer inequities in access to health and social services. There is insufficient understanding of how the interaction of socioeconomic factors and gender can affect women's access to these services. This review will provide an initial picture of what exists in the literature about access to health and social services for women living on a low income in Canada. The results of this scoping review may be used to inform subsequent qualitative and quantitative reviews on this subject. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Literature addressing access to health and social services by women who are 18 years or older and living on a low income in Canada will be considered for inclusion. Health services will include health promotion and disease prevention; treatment of medical conditions; and rehabilitation, palliative, and end-of-life care. Social services are non-medical services designed to help members of a society who may need extra support or are considered to have social or behavioral risk factors. METHODS: We will search relevant electronic databases (eg, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO) and gray literature. The review will include all study designs, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods methodologies (excluding economic analyses or clinical practice guideline development documents). Two reviewers will test the screening criteria and data extraction protocol.

Patient feedback identifies "Rheum" to improve clinic visit preparedness.

Healthcare providers and administrators are incorporating patient feedback to drive local health system improvement. Improvement interventions, including patient feedback, guided a novel approach for rheumatology patient appointment preparedness. We tested the interventions in a single rheumatology clinic. A comprehensive patient questionnaire was developed by assessing patients' clinic access using patient journey mapping. The questionnaire was administered to a random cohort of 125 rheumatology patients about their feedback on pre-clinic practices. From the responses, modifications were made to existing administrative practices within the clinic. The modified practices were tested with an additional cohort of 10 patients aligned to one rheumatologist, assessing overall patients' preparedness and clinic visit cycle time. It was identified from the questionnaire that during appointment booking, inconsistent pre-clinic planning information was communicated to patients and the appointment package did not support patient preparedness, resulting in extending clinic visits. Standardization of the appointment phone call script, updating the appointment package, and inclusion of a clinic visit preparation checklist, reduced the clinic visit cycle time by 10 minutes for new patients, and 5 minutes for existing patients. The participating clinic rheumatologist also perceived improved patient preparedness and clinic visit flow based on the modified practices. In this study, patient feedback was used to identify patient-centred interventions to improve patient preparedness at clinic visits. The interventions developed were simple and easy to incorporate into practice. Systematic collection of and strategies based on patient feedback was determined to be a valid, meaningful method for incorporating clinical quality improvement. KEY POINTS : • Structured patient feedback can inform quality improvement practices in a rheumatological clinic setting. • A patient journey map outlining healthcare clinic access can help to understand patient experiences and needs. • Simple, patient-centred interventions, such as an appointment package and a consistent telephone reminder script, improved patient preparedness and reduced average clinic cycle time.

The Association Between new Nurses' Gerontological Education, Personal Attitudes Toward Older Adults, and Intentions to Work in Gerontological Care Settings in Ontario, Canada.

BACKGROUND: The older adult population in Canada is increasing, and many will require care within an acute geriatric unit (AGU) or long-term care facility (LTCF). However, the nursing workforce is not growing at the same pace as the population is aging. New graduate nurses may be able to fill this gap; therefore, it is important to understand their intentions of working in gerontological care settings (i.e., AGU or LTCF). AIM: To examine if nursing education and personal attitudes toward older adults influence newly registered nurses'(RNs) intentions to work in a gerontological care setting. METHOD: Nurses (n= 1,103) who registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario for the first time in 2018 were invited to complete a questionnaire. RESULTS: The majority of participants (n = 181) reported a positive attitude toward older adults. However, only 14% reported an intention to work in a gerontological care setting. Participants who completed multiple geriatric focused clinical placements were more likely to report an intention to work in these settings. CONCLUSION: This study provides some information regarding the attitudes and intentions of newly RNs toward a career in gerontological care settings. Further research is needed to understand nurses' intentions regarding working in AGUs or LTCFs.

Exploring How Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Practise Trauma-Informed Care.

BACKGROUND: Sexual violence is a term describing sexual acts where consent is not freely given. Registered nurses employed as sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) provide care to address the medical and legal needs of victims/survivors of sexual violence. Trauma-informed care (TIC) is an approach recommended when caring for individuals who have experienced trauma. PURPOSE: The study purpose was to understand how SANEs incorporate trauma-informed approaches in the care of adult and postpubescent adolescent victims/survivors of sexual violence. METHODS: Eight SANEs were purposively recruited to participate in online semistructured interviews. Interview data were analyzed using qualitative interpretive description. RESULTS: Six themes emerged from the analysis: (a) the importance of understanding the patient's experience; (b) personalized connection: developing a safe nurse-patient relationship; (c) choice: the framework of how we do things; (d) rebuilding strengths and skills to support healing and posttraumatic growth; (e) a wonderful way to practise: facilitators and benefits of trauma-informed practice; and (f) challenges to trauma-informed practice. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate the perceived value of TIC and the need for enhanced support of providers who deliver TIC. More research is warranted to strengthen the evidence about trauma-informed practice in SANE programs and across healthcare settings.

Remote Monitoring of Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices in Canada: Survey of Patients and Device Health Care Professionals.

BACKGROUND: Remote monitoring is used to supplement in-clinic follow-up for patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) every 6-12 months. There is a need to optimize remote management for CIEDs because of the consistent increases in CIED implants over the past decade. The objective of this study was to investigate real and perceived barriers to the use of remote patient management strategies in Canada and to better understand how remote models of care can be optimized. METHODS: We surveyed 512 CIED patients and practitioners in 22 device clinics in Canada. RESULTS: Device clinic surveys highlighted significant variation and inconsistency in follow-up care for in-clinic and remote visits across and within clinics. This survey showed that funding policies and management of additional workflow are barriers to optimal use and uptake. Despite this, device clinics perceive remote follow-up as a valuable resource and an efficient way to manage patient follow-up. Patients were broadly satisfied with their CIED follow-up care but identified barriers related to coordination of care, visit logistics, and information needs. Views varied as a function of clinical or sociodemographic characteristics. Most patients (n = 228; 91%) expressed a desire to receive a phone call from their device clinic after a remote transmission has been received. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of a unified, guideline-supported approach to follow-up after CIED implant, and discrepant funding policies across jurisdictions, are significant barriers to the use of remote patient management strategies in Canada. Efforts to increase or expand use of remote follow-up must recognize these barriers and the needs of specific subgroups of patients.

INTRODUCTION: La télésurveillance sert de complément à la consultation en clinique des patients porteurs d'un dispositif cardiaque électronique implantable (DCEI) tous les 6 à 12 mois. Il est nécessaire d'optimiser la prise en charge à distance des patients porteurs de DCEI en raison de la constante augmentation des implantations de DCEI au cours de la dernière décennie. L'objectif de la présente étude était d'examiner les obstacles réels et perçus à l'utilisation des stratégies de prise en charge à distance des patients du Canada et de mieux comprendre la façon d'optimiser les modèles de soins à distance. MÉTHODES: Nous avons interrogé 512 patients porteurs de DCEI et praticiens de 22 cliniques spécialisées en DCEI du Canada. RÉSULTATS: Les enquêtes des cliniques spécialisées en DCEI ont fait ressortir la variation importante et le manque d'uniformité dans les soins de suivi lors des consultations en clinique et à distance au sein de toutes les cliniques et entre elles. Cette enquête a montré que les politiques de financement et la gestion du flux de travail supplémentaire sont les obstacles qui empêchent l'utilisation optimale et l'adoption. Malgré cela, les cliniques spécialisées en DCEI perçoivent le suivi à distance comme une ressource très utile et un moyen efficace de prendre en charge le suivi du patient. Les patients étaient dans l'ensemble satisfaits de leurs soins de suivi relatifs à leur DCEI, mais relevaient des obstacles liés à la coordination des soins, à la logistique des consultations et à leurs besoins d'information. Les points de vue variaient en fonction des caractéristiques cliniques et sociodémographiques. La plupart des patients (n = 228 ; 91 %) ont fait part de leur souhait de recevoir un appel téléphonique de leur clinique spécialisée en DCEI après la réception de la transmission à distance. CONCLUSIONS: L'absence d'une approche unifiée et fondée sur les lignes directrices qui porte sur le suivi après l'implantation de DCEI, et la divergence des politiques de financement des provinces et territoires sont des obstacles importants à l'utilisation de stratégies de prise en charge à distance des patients au Canada. Les efforts visant à accroître ou à étendre l'utilisation du suivi à distance doivent tenir compte de ces obstacles et des besoins des sous-groupes particuliers de patients.

Scoping review of patients' attitudes about their role and behaviours to ensure safe care at the direct care level.

BACKGROUND: To improve harm prevention, patient engagement in safety at the direct care level is advocated. For patient safety to most effectively include patients, it is critical to reflect on existing evidence, to better position future research with implications for education and practice. METHODS: As part of a multi-phase study, which included a qualitative descriptive study (Duhn & Medves, 2018), a scoping review about patient engagement in safety was conducted. The objective was to review papers about patients' attitudes and behaviours concerning their involvement in ensuring their safe care. The databases searched included MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE (year ending 2019). RESULTS: This review included 35 papers about "Patient Attitudes" and 125 papers about "Patient Behaviours"-indicative of growing global interest in this field. Several patterns emerged from the review, including that most investigators have focused on a particular dimension of harm prevention, such as asking about provider handwashing, and there is less known about patients' opinions about their role in safety generally and how to actualize it in a way that is right for them. While patients may indicate favourable attitudes toward safety involvement generally, intention to act or actual behaviours may be quite different. CONCLUSION: This review, given its multi-focus across the continuum of care, is the first of its kind based on existing literature. It provides an important international "mapping" of the initiatives that are underway to engage patients in different elements of safety and their viewpoints, and identifies the gaps that remain.

Building Research Capacity in Nursing Academia in 2020: Is the Road Less Perilous?

BACKGROUND: Building research capacity in nursing academic units continues to be a challenge. There are a number of external contextual factors and internal factors that influence individual faculty as well as the collective to engage successfully in research. PURPOSE: The overall aim of this opinion article is to provide an overview of the current external and internal, processes and structures, relevant to capacity of nursing faculty to engage in research. METHODS: To inform the external context, we reviewed national research funding trends for nursing. To inform the internal context, we provided an exemplar of the internal processes and structures designed to support research capacity building within our academic unit. RESULTS: Canadian Institutes of Health Research funding trends for research grants led by nurse principal applicants increased between 2010 and 2013, followed by a steady decline. In 2017 to 2018, there were only 24 research grants led by nurse principal applicants. These external challenges coupled with the traditional internal barriers, such as the imbalance between teaching and research time, threaten research capacity for nursing academics. CONCLUSION: Organizational strategies to promote research capacity within academic nursing units are a necessary requirement to move forward.

A 5-facet framework to describe patient engagement in patient safety.

BACKGROUND: Health care remains unacceptably error prone. Recently, efforts to address this problem have included the patient and their family as partners with providers in harm prevention. Policymakers and clinicians have created patient safety strategies to encourage patient engagement, yet they have typically not included patient perspectives in their development or been comprehensively evaluated. We do not have a good understanding of "if" and "how" patients want involvement in patient safety during clinical interactions. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to gain insight into patients' perspectives about their knowledge, comfort level and behaviours in promoting their safety while receiving health care in hospital. METHODS: The study design was a descriptive, exploratory qualitative approach to inductively examine how adult patients in a community hospital describe health-care safety and see their role in preventing error. RESULTS: The findings, which included participation of 30 patients and four family members, indicate that although there are shared themes that influence a patient's engagement in safety, beliefs about involvement and actions taken are varied. Five conceptual themes emerged from their narratives: Personal Capacity, Experiential Knowledge, Personal Character, Relationships and Meaning of Safety. DISCUSSION: These results will be used to develop and test a pragmatic, accessible tool to enable providers a way to collaborate with patients for determining their personal level and type of safety involvement. CONCLUSION: The most ethical and responsible approach to health-care safety is to consider every potential way for improvement. This study provides fundamental insights into the complexity of patient engagement in safety.

Wireless communication in clinical environments with unique needs.

Wireless technology in healthcare has been associated with communication-related improvements in workflow; however, there are barriers to adoption. This study examined predictors of use of wireless communication devices (WCDs) in environments with unique needs (i.e., intensive care unit [ICU]). Nurses were recruited in the ICU to complete a paper questionnaire to assess their willingness to use WCDs. The Theory of Planned Behaviour was used to assess attitudes, subjective norms, perceived control, and behavioral intent. Responses included Likert scale scores and open-ended questions. Data were collected before and following the implementation of WCDs in ICU. The combined effects of attitudes, perceived control and subjective norms on behavioral intent were tested using the general linear model. The narrative data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Attitudes and subjective norms were predictors of behavioral intent to use WCDs preimplementation but not postimplementation. Differences in the factors affecting intent to use WCDs between the ICU and the surgical unit may be related to the unique nature of the critical care environment, and to the lack of a comprehensive preimplementation strategy. A study examining predictors of use on a general inpatient unit where a comprehensive implementation strategy was not employed would provide insight into whether these findings are related to the implementation strategy or the unique nature of the critical care environment. Improved understanding of the function and application of innovative technology at the point of care, and attention to the process of implementation may improve adoption of this potentially beneficial device.

Perspectives on patient safety among undergraduate nursing students.

Incorporating patient safety principles in academic and clinical education for health science professionals is necessary to support widespread adoption of safety practices. It is vital to understand nursing students' perspectives on patient safety and the extent to which patient safety is addressed in the classroom and clinical settings. In this cross-sectional study, students in all 4 years of an undergraduate program were asked to complete the Health Professional Education in Patient Safety Survey. Eighty-one percent (238 of 293) of students completed the questionnaire. Responses were favorable, with students reporting confidence in learning about a variety of patient safety competencies. Of note, there were decreasing levels of confidence in the third-year and fourth-year students and low-to-moderate correlation between classroom and clinical responses. These results support the importance of consistently engaging students in safety principles early in and throughout their health care programs.