Implementing PainChek and PARO to Support Pain Assessment and Management in Residents with Dementia: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Pain is a common problem but often undiagnosed and untreated in people with dementia. AIMS: This study explored the experiences of residents with dementia, family, andformal carers with (1) pain assessment and management for residents with dementia; (2) the use of the PainChek app for pain assessment, and (3) the use of a social robot PARO for pain management in residents with dementia. DESIGN: A qualitative study. SETTINGS/PARTICIPANTS: Interviews were conducted with 13 residents withdementia, three family members, and 18 formal carers from a residential aged carefacility. METHOD: Residents with dementia interacted with PARO for 15 mins, five days perweek for three weeks. The PainChek app assessed pain levels before and after eachsession. After three-week intervention, individual interviews were conducted withresidents, family, and formal carers who experienced or observed the use of PainChekapp and PARO for residents. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, andanalyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four themes were identified regarding pain in residents with dementia: (1) the impact, challenges and strategies of pain assessment and management; (2) benefits and barriers of using PainChek app to assess pain; (3) benefits of interacting with PARO to manage pain and behavioral symptoms; and (4) implementing PainChek app and PARO to support pain assessment and management in dementia care. CONCLUSIONS: Technology, such as PainChek and PARO, is promising to improve painassessment and reduce pain for people with dementia. Barriers to using technologyinclude limited staff training and the implementation of person-centered care.

Innovation in Ontario's Family Health Teams: How Palliative and Coordinated Care Programs Are Filling Service Gaps and Keeping Patients at Home.

Collaborative interprofessional primary care (PC) teams are widely seen as an essential attribute of high-performing PC systems (Aggarwal and Hutchinson 2012). Effective PC teams play a key role in the mobilization of healthcare resources and navigation of the health and social care system for their patients. In Ontario, the establishment of Family Health Teams has resulted in the implementation of unique programs that deliver services to palliative and elderly patients with a focus on keeping them at home and out of hospital. Case studies cited in this article highlight two innovative programs in Family Health Teams and provide perspectives on lessons for successful implementation.

The Cost-Effectiveness of Using PARO, a Therapeutic Robotic Seal, to Reduce Agitation and Medication Use in Dementia: Findings from a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the within-trial costs and cost-effectiveness of using PARO, compared with a plush toy and usual care, for reducing agitation and medication use in people with dementia in long-term care. DESIGN: An economic evaluation, nested within a cluster-randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Twenty-eight facilities in South-East Queensland, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 415 residents, all aged 60 years or older, with documented diagnoses of dementia. INTERVENTION: Facilities were randomized to 1 of 3 groups: PARO (individual, nonfacilitated 15-minute sessions, 3 afternoons per week for 10 weeks); plush toy (as per PARO but with artificial intelligence disabled); and usual care. MEASUREMENTS: The incremental cost per Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory-Short Form (CMAI-SF) point averted from a provider's perspective. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (BLINDED FOR REVIEW). RESULTS: For the within-trial costs, the PARO group was $50.47 more expensive per resident compared with usual care, whereas the plush toy group was $37.26 more expensive than usual care. There were no statistically significant between-group differences in agitation levels after the 10-week intervention. The point estimates of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were $13.01 for PARO and $12.85 for plush toy per CMAI-SF point averted relative to usual care. CONCLUSION: The plush toy used in this study offered marginally greater value for money than PARO in improving agitation. However, these costs are much lower than values estimated for psychosocial group activities and sensory interventions, suggesting that both a plush toy and the PARO are cost-effective psychosocial treatment options for agitation.

'We don't even have Wi-Fi': a descriptive study exploring current use and availability of communication technologies in residential aged care.

BACKGROUND: There has been significant growth in communication technologies. However, it is unknown to what extent RACFs accommodate such technologies. AIM: To explore the use and availability of communication technologies for use by residents within RACFs in Queensland, Australia. METHODS: A descriptive, structured telephone survey. Every 10th alphabetically listed facility from a total sample of n = 462 were telephoned and staff were invited to complete the survey. RESULTS: Forty-one out of a total of 93 RACFs completed the survey. The telephone was by far the primary form of communication used by residents to communicate with family and friends (n = 40; 97.6%). Conversely, the use of web-connection communication software (Skype or similar) was uncommon. CONCLUSION: The use and availability of communication technologies is limited within RACFs, highlighting a significant lag in the uptake within the sector.

Seated T'ai Chi in Older Taiwanese People Using Wheelchairs: A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating Mood States and Self-Efficacy.

OBJECTIVE: There is growing interest in t'ai chi, but little research has addressed whether t'ai chi is effective in older people using wheelchairs for mobilization. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of seated t'ai chi exercise and usual standard activities on mood states and self-efficacy in older people living in a long-term care facility and using wheelchairs for mobilization. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial (trial registration no. ACTRN12613000029796). SETTING: One long-term-care facility in Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty participants were randomly assigned by a computer-generated random sequence to a t'ai chi group (n = 30) or a usual exercise and entertainment activities group (n = 30). INTERVENTION: Seated t'ai chi exercise for 40 minutes three times a week for 26 weeks was provided. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mood states (Profile of Mood States Short Form [POMS-SF]) and self-efficacy (Self-Efficacy for Exercise [SEE]). RESULTS: At week 26, participants in the t'ai chi group reported significantly lower mood states on the fatigue-inertia dimension of the POMS-SF (mean score ± standard deviation, 3.56 ± 3.71) than did the control group (mean score, 7.16 ± 6.36) (F [1, 58] = 7.15; p < 0.05). The t'ai chi group recorded significantly higher SEE levels (mean, 35.66 ± 36.83) than did those in the control group (mean, 15.30 ± 26.43) (F [1, 58] = 6.05; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the importance of t'ai chi for a reduction in the fatigue-inertia mood state and an increase in self-efficacy for older people using wheelchairs.

Assessing engagement in people with dementia: a new approach to assessment using video analysis.

The study of engagement in people with dementia is important to determine the effectiveness of interventions that aim to promote meaningful activity. However, the assessment of engagement for people with dementia in relation to our current work that uses social robots is fraught with challenges. The Video Coding - Incorporating Observed Emotion (VC-IOE) protocol that focuses on six dimensions of engagement: emotional, verbal, visual, behavioral, collective and signs of agitation was therefore developed. This paper provides an overview of the concept of engagement in dementia and outlines the development of the VC-IOE to assess engagement in people with dementia when interacting with social robots.

Effect of an interactive therapeutic robotic animal on engagement, mood states, agitation and psychotropic drug use in people with dementia: a cluster-randomised controlled trial protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Apathy, agitated behaviours, loneliness and depression are common consequences of dementia. This trial aims to evaluate the effect of a robotic animal on behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia in people with dementia living in long-term aged care. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A cluster-randomised controlled trial with three treatment groups: PARO (robotic animal), Plush-Toy (non-robotic PARO) or Usual Care (Control). The nursing home sites are Australian Government approved and accredited facilities of 60 or more beds. The sites are located in South-East Queensland, Australia. A sample of 380 adults with a diagnosis of dementia, aged 60 years or older living in one of the participating facilities will be recruited. The intervention consists of three individual 15 min non-facilitated sessions with PARO or Plush-Toy per week, for a period of 10 weeks. The primary outcomes of interest are improvement in agitation, mood states and engagement. Secondary outcomes include sleep duration, step count, change in psychotropic medication use, change in treatment costs, and staff and family perceptions of PARO or Plush-Toy. Video data will be analysed using Noldus XT Pocket Observer; descriptive statistics will be used for participants' demographics and outcome measures; cluster and individual level analyses to test all hypotheses and Generalised Linear Models for cluster level and Generalised Estimation Equations and/or Multi-level Modeling for individual level data. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study participants or their proxy will provide written informed consent. The Griffith University Human Research Ethics Committee has approved the study (NRS/03/14/HREC). The results of the study will provide evidence of the efficacy of a robotic animal as a psychosocial treatment for the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Findings will be presented at local and international conference meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number ACTRN12614000508673 date registered 13/05/2014.

The need for tobacco cessation in a free clinic population.

INTRODUCTION: Free clinics are a unique safety net provider in that they exclusively serve the uninsured. Because free clinic providers are often volunteers, it is unclear whether uninsured patients seeking care in these clinics receive evidence-based tobacco cessation support. Here we report baseline data on prevalence and correlates of tobacco use and provider cessation advice among a sample of uninsured patients at six free clinics. METHODS: Patient exit interviews were conducted after a healthcare provider visit. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess correlates of tobacco use. RESULTS: Of the 158 patients interviewed, 83 (53%) were tobacco users. Tobacco use was less likely among Hispanics (AOR 0.13 [95% CI 0.03-0.64]) and high school graduates (AOR=0.20 [95% CI 0.08-0.55]). Among tobacco users, 62% made at least one quit attempt in the past year and the majority were in the Contemplation (33%) or Preparation (39%) stage of readiness. 70% of all patients were screened in the past 3 months, although screening was more likely among tobacco users than nonusers (AOR 3.56 [95% CI 1.47-8.61]). At the current visit, 18% of tobacco users were advised to quit and 16% were asked if they were willing to quit. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of tobacco use among uninsured free clinic patients was more than twice the national average. There is substantial opportunity to increase tobacco screening among all patients and cessation advice among tobacco users. Free clinics present an untapped opportunity to reduce tobacco harm in a population at high risk for tobacco morbidity and mortality.

Integrating evidence-based tobacco cessation interventions in free medical clinics: opportunities and challenges.

BACKGROUND: Free medical clinics serve a critical role in health care delivery of America's uninsured population, who are less likely to receive tobacco cessation counseling and 1½ times more likely than the general population to use tobacco. The authors evaluate the opportunities for and challenges to implementing the U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for tobacco cessation in free clinics. METHODS: Six free clinics participated in this pilot study. Five objectives were targeted: implementation of a tobacco user identification system, education of all clinic staff and volunteers, dedication of a program champion, use of evidence-based treatment, and creation of a supportive environment that reinforces provider behavior. Key informant interviews and focus group data were used to describe the opportunities and barriers of implementing the Public Health Service Guidelines. RESULTS: All clinics adopted a user identification system, dedicated a program champion, adopted evidence-based counseling, and created an environment conducive for cessation. Common challenges included getting volunteers to attend on-site training programs, accessing nicotine replacement therapy, and promoting Quit Line usage, all of which are part of evidence-based treatment. CONCLUSION: With more than 1,200 free clinics nationwide, it is very important to understand the opportunities and barriers of implementing tobacco cessation services and systems in free clinics.

Predictors of Clinician Tobacco Intervention Counseling in Six North Carolina Free Clinics.

While the poor and the uninsured are at increased risk for tobacco use, up to two thirds of these patients express interest in near-term quitting. Nonetheless, tobacco counseling rates remain low in clinics serving these patients. As part of a larger tobacco intervention project in North Carolina free clinics, we gathered baseline data on patient characteristics in six randomly selected facilities affiliated with the North Carolina Association of Free Clinics. An exit interview was completed by 231 patients; 126 (54%) were tobacco users. Among all patients, 71% had been asked by a clinician about tobacco use in the past 3 months. Among tobacco users, 68% had received at least one other counseling step (assessment; advice; or assistance). Patients with asthma and current tobacco users had a two-fold increase in being asked about tobacco use. Patients' diagnoses-in particular asthma-can remind clinicians of tobacco intervention.

Competency-based education for the molecular genetic pathology fellow: a report of the association for molecular pathology training and education committee.

The following report represents guidelines for competency-based fellowship training in Molecular Genetic Pathology (MGP) developed by the Association for Molecular Pathology Training and Education Committee and Directors of MGP Programs in the United States. The goals of the effort were to describe each of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education competencies as they apply to MGP fellowship training, provide a summary of goals and objectives, and recommend assessment tools. These guidelines are particularly pertinent to MGP training, which is a relatively new specialty that operates within a rapidly changing scientific and technological arena. It is hoped that this document will provide additional material for directors of existing MGP programs to consider for improvement of program objectives and enhancement of evaluation tools already in place. In addition, the guidelines should provide a valuable framework for the development of new MGP programs.

Enhancing patient care via a pharmacist-managed rural anticoagulation clinic.

Integrating specialized pharmacist services and follow-up with the laboratory, home care nursing, retail pharmacy and physicians can ensure optimal outcomes for patients receiving anticoagulation, or "blood thinner," therapy. Improved patient education and discharge care planning can bridge disconnects, enable patients to better manage their care and ensure better patient outcomes and more effective use of health system resources. Specially trained pharmacists can provide safe and effective management of a high-alert medication to help prevent potentially life-threatening clots or bleeding. With advanced prescribing authorization, the pharmacist can seamlessly provide this service both locally in a community and via Telehealth to surrounding areas, potentially for any Albertan. Warfarin therapy may be lifelong or short-term (three to six months), but all patients require regular monitoring with blood tests. Many variables, both lifestyle and medication related, can impact therapy, and through extensive education and access via telephone to an "expert" for questions and follow-up of blood tests, patients are empowered to better regulate their anticoagulants. Anticoagulation pharmacists, as part of an AMS (anticoagulation management service), can provide a continuum of care for patients while in hospital, when discharged home, as an outpatient in the community or as a resident of a long-term care facility or seniors' home.