Family members' perception of their needs in critical care units at a tertiary hospital in Malawi: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Family members experience an emotional crisis when their loved one is critically ill and admitted to a critical care unit (CCU). An extensive literature has explored optimal ways to interact with families in the critical care setting, including intervention studies. What is less explored are perceptions of family members in low-income settings including Malawi. In such settings, perceptions may differ as a consequence of different cultural practices and resource limitations (personnel and technology). Therefore, this study explored family members' perceptions of their needs in CCUs at a tertiary hospital in Malawi. STUDY DESIGNS AND METHODS: The study used a qualitative descriptive design. Data were gathered through interviews with 12 participants who were purposively selected from immediate family members of patients hospitalized for 48 h or more in adult intensive care unit (ICU) and high dependency unit (HDU). The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis followed the steps of content analysis. FINDINGS: The following four themes were identified: perceived information, physical, and psychosocial needs, and coping mechanisms of the family members. The family members needed information about their patient's progress frequently and viewed this as a priority compared to other needs such as comfort and food. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that there should be a collaborative relationship between the CCU team and family members in order to meet their needs. Findings affirm the need for health professionals to develop guidelines or standards that promote frequent discussions with CCU family members as a means to provide support and lessen anxiety.

Nurses' perceptions on the effects of high nursing workload on patient care in an intensive care unit of a referral hospital in Malawi: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The Malawi health system has taken numerous actions to reduce high nurse workloads, despite this, shortage of nurses especially in critical care settings still persists due to lack of prioritisation of critical care. Therefore, it is important to understand the effects of high nursing workload in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This study aimed at exploring the perceptions of nurses regarding the effects of high nursing workload on patient care in ICU at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital. METHODS: This qualitative descriptive study was conducted in a general ICU at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. A purposive sample of 12 nurses working in the ICU was selected. Participants included full-time nurses working in the ICU. A total of 10 In-depth interviews were conducted to collect data upon which data saturation was reached. A semi-structured interview guide was used for data collection. Data was analysed manually using thematic analysis method by Braun & Clarke. RESULTS: Study findings indicated that high nursing workload compromises the delivery of quality nursing care to critically ill patients, compromises patient safety and has negative impact on nurses' wellbeing. CONCLUSION: The study findings portray that nurses are aware of the negative effects that high nursing workload has on patient care. The study findings support the need for more ICU nurses in order to reduce nurse workloads and the need for nurse managers and policy makers to develop strategies to manage nurse workloads and its effects on patient care.

An exploration of workarounds and their perceived impact on antibiotic stewardship in the adult medical wards of a referral hospital in Malawi: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic stewardship, the proper management of antibiotics to ensure optimal patient outcomes, is based on quality improvement. Evidence-based guidelines and protocols have been developed to improve this process of care. Safe and timely patient care also requires optimal coordination of staff, resources, equipment, schedules and tasks. However, healthcare workers encounter barriers when implementing these standards and engage in workarounds to overcome these barriers. Workarounds bypass or temporarily 'fix' perceived workflow hindrances to achieve a goal more readily. This study examines workaround behaviours that nurses and doctors employ to address the challenges encountered during their antibiotic stewardship efforts and their impact, at a tertiary hospital in Malawi. METHODS: This was a qualitative descriptive case study design and is part of a large mixed methods study aimed at understanding nurses' role in antibiotic stewardship and identifying barriers that informed the development of nurse-focused interventions. For this study, we conducted interviews with staff and observations of nurses antibiotic stewardship practices on two adult medical wards. We convened three focus group discussions with doctors, pharmacists and laboratory technologists (n = 20), focusing on their attitudes and experiences with nurses' roles in antibiotic stewardship. We also observed nurses' antibiotic stewardship practices and interactions duringfour events: shift change handovers (n = 10); antibiotic preparation (n = 13); antibiotic administration (n = 49 cases); and ward rounds (n = 7). After that, the researcher conducted follow up interviews with purposively selected observed nurses (n = 13). RESULTS: Using inductive and deductive approaches to thematic analysis, we found that nurses established their ways of overcoming challenges to achieve the intended task goals with workarounds. We also found that nurses' practices influenced doctors' workarounds. We identified six themes related to workarounds and grouped them into two categories: "Taking shortcuts by altering a procedure" and "Using unauthorized processes". These behaviors may have both positive and negative impacts on patient care and the health care system. CONCLUSION: The study provided insight into how nurses and doctors work around workflow blocks encountered during patient antibiotic management at a tertiary hospital in Malawi. We identified two categories of workaround namely taking shortcuts by altering a procedure and using unauthorized processes. Addressing the blocks in the system by providing adequate resources, training, improving multidisciplinary teamwork and supportive supervision can minimize workarounds.

Assessment of factors that influence timely administration of initial antibiotic dose using collaborative process mapping at a referral hospital in Malawi: a case study of pneumonia patients.

BACKGROUND: Timely initiation of antibiotics within one hour of prescription is one of the recommended antibiotic stewardship interventions when managing patients with pneumonia in the emergency department. Effective implementation of this intervention depends on effective communication, a well-established coordination process and availability of resources. Understanding what may influence this aspect of care by using process mapping is an important component when planning for improvement interventions. The aim of the study was to identify factors that influence antibiotic initiation following prescription in the Adult Emergency and Trauma Centre of the largest referral hospital in Malawi. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational case study using process mapping of two purposively selected adult pneumonia patients. One of the investigators CM observed the patient from the time of arrival at the triage area to the time he/she received initial dose of antibiotics. With purposively selected members of the clinical team; we used simple questions to analyze the map and identified facilitators, barriers and potential areas for improvement. RESULTS: Both patients did not receive the first dose of antibiotic within one hour of prescription. Despite the situation being less than ideal, potential facilitators to timely antibiotic initiation were: prompt assessment and triaging; availability of different expertise, timely first review by the clinician; and blood culture collected prior to antibiotic initiation. Barriers were: long waits, lack of communication/coordinated care and competency gap. Improvements are needed in communication, multidisciplinary teamwork, education and leadership/supervision. CONCLUSION: Process mapping can have a significant impact in unveiling the system-related factors that influence timely initiation of antibiotics. The mapping exercise brought together stakeholders to evaluate and identify the facilitators and barriers. Recommendations here focused on improving communication, multidisciplinary team culture such as teamwork, good leadership and continuing professional development.

Introducing multidisciplinary ward rounds in Malawi: a best practice implementation project.

INTRODUCTION: The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in the United Kingdom advocate the use of structured multidisciplinary team (MDT) ward rounds since they can enable safe, effective, improved care and enhanced staff satisfaction. OBJECTIVES: This project sought to implement best practices for MDT ward rounds in a male medical ward in a hospital in Malawi. METHODS: The project was conducted in line with the JBI Evidence Implementation Framework. A baseline audit of MDT ward rounds was conducted with six staff members. Audit criteria consisted of ten best practices, as recommended by JBI, the RCP, and the RCN. Stakeholder meetings were held to review the baseline audit results and highlight areas of non-compliance. JBI's Getting Research into Practice (GRiP) tool was used to identify barriers to compliance with best practices, and a follow-up audit was conducted to determine changes in practice. RESULTS: The results only showed improvement for one criterion, which rose from 33% to 100% (n=6) where nurses attended the ward round. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated some challenges in evidence implementation projects and how these can, in part, be overcome. While the results only demonstrated improvement for one criterion, this paper shows how audits can be used to promote best practice, which in this case resulted in nurses being more involved in ward rounds, improvements in MDT communication, enhanced nurse inclusion in decision-making and, consequently, patient care. SPANISH ABSTRACT: http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A233.

Effectiveness of a pediatric critical care pilot preceptor program: Improved confidence and competency outcomes among a cohort of professional nurses in Blantyre, Malawi.

BACKGROUND: Availability of high-level pediatric training for nurses in Malawi is limited. To address this gap, a novel pediatric critical care nurse preceptor program was developed and implemented by pediatric nurse specialists. AIM: Evaluate the effectiveness of a pediatric critical care nurse preceptor program, via change in nurses' knowledge, skills, confidence, and precepting competence. DESIGN: A 12-month pediatric critical care nurse preceptor program with assessments at baseline, end of intensive (3 months), and end of program (6 months). SETTING: Blantyre, Malawi. PARTICIPANTS: Nurses with two or more years of pediatric nursing experience (N = 20) nominated by unit managers. METHODS: Quantitative data were collected throughout program implementation. Assessments included: (1) multiple choice knowledge test, (2) Objective Structured Clinical Examinations in two areas (vital signs and airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure assessments; and blood gas and electrolyte analysis), (3) group simulations (cardiopulmonary resuscitation or respiratory distress), (4) Likert-scale clinical confidence survey, and (5) Likert-scale precepting competence survey. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with pairwise comparisons. For Likert-scale surveys, median confidence scores were compared using a Friedman test with post hoc pairwise comparisons using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. RESULTS: Participants demonstrated significant improvement in clinical knowledge (p < .001), vital signs and airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure assessment (p = .001), blood gas and electrolyte analysis (p = .001), CPR (p < .001) and respiratory distress (p < .001) simulations, clinical confidence (p = .002), and precepting competence (p = .041). CONCLUSION: This pediatric critical care nurse preceptor program was effective in improving participants' confidence and competence (knowledge and skills) in pediatric critical care nursing and precepting. Results suggest the program's potential to address the shortage of highly trained pediatric critical care nurses in Malawi. This lays groundwork for refining and expanding preceptorship, ultimately improving pediatric critical care nursing education in resource-limited settings.

'It is the child with the big head' - Primary healthcare providers' perceptions of paediatric hydrocephalus in Blantyre, Malawi: A qualitative study.

Children in Africa are disproportionately burdened by the neurosurgical condition hydrocephalus. In Blantyre, Malawi, paediatric hydrocephalus represents the majority of surgical procedures performed in the neurosurgical department at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital. To reduce morbidity and mortality, timely detection followed by referral from surrounding primary health centres is crucial. Aiming to explore perceptions and identify enablers and barriers to detection and referral, we conducted a qualitative study among primary healthcare providers (n = 30) from ten health centres in Blantyre district. Using a semi-structured interview-guide, we audio-recorded and transcribed the interviews before conducting a thematic analysis. One main finding is that there is a potential to improve detection through head circumference measurements, which is the recommended way to detect hydrocephalus early, yet healthcare providers did not carry this out systematically. They described the health passport provided by the Malawian Ministry of Health as an important tool for clinical communication. However, head circumference growth charts are not included. To optimise outcomes for paediatric hydrocephalus we suggest including head circumference growth charts in the health passports. To meet the need for comprehensive management of paediatric hydrocephalus, we recommend more research from the continent, focusing on bridging the gap between primary care and neurosurgery.

Improving competencies and skills across clinical contexts of care: a qualitative study on Malawian nurses' experiences in an institutional health and training programme.

AIM: To explore what competencies and skills Malawian nurses gained after participating in an institutional health and training programme in Norway and how they viewed these competencies applicable upon return to Malawi. Furthermore, to examine facilitators and challenges experienced on the exchange programme and opportunities and obstacles to make the competencies usable in own local hospital context. DESIGN: Qualitative study with an explorative design. METHODS: Fourteen interviews and one focus group discussion were conducted at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi, from August to September 2018. RESULTS: Competencies gained in Norway included clinical skills, teamwork, coordination and strengthened professionalism. The main finding was that the exchange programme was a transformative experience. Upon return to Malawi, the competencies gained on the exchange were helpful. However, the return was characterized by mixed emotions due to the considerable difference between the two clinical settings.

'Prison facilities were not built with a woman in mind': an exploratory multi-stakeholder study on women's situation in Malawi prisons.

PURPOSE: Sub-Saharan African prisons have seen a substantial increase in women prisoners, including those incarcerated with children. There is very little strategic literature available on the health situation and needs of women prisoners and their circumstantial children in Malawi. The study aims to explore this issue. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A qualitative exploratory study using in-depth key informant interviews with senior correctional stakeholders (commissioner of prison farms, senior correctional management staff, senior health officials and senior officers in charge) (n = 5) and focus group discussions (FGD) with women in prison of age between 18 and 45 years (n = 23) and two FGD with correctional staff (n = 21) was conducted in two prisons in Malawi, Chichiri and Zomba. Narratives were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. FINDINGS: Three key themes emerged and are as follows: "hygiene and sanitary situation across multiple prison levels and subsequent health implications for women"; "nutritional provision and diets of women and children in prison"; and "women's access to prison-based and external health services". Divergence or agreement across perspectives around sanitation and disease prevention, adequacy of nutrition for pregnant or breast-feeding women, health status and access to prison-based health care are presented. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Garnering a contemporary understanding of women's situation and their health-care needs in Malawian prisons can inform policy and correctional health practice change, the adaptation of technical guidance and improve standards for women and their children incarcerated in Malawi. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: There is a strong need for continued research to garner insight into the experiences of women prisoners and their children, with a particular emphasis on health situation.

The examination of nurses' adherence to the 'five rights' of antibiotic administration and factors influencing their practices: a mixed methods case study at a tertiary hospital, Malawi.

Background: Adherence to 'Five Rights' of medication administration guidelines namely the right drug, the right patient, the right dose, the right time and the right route is the basic nursing standard and a crucial component in medication safety. Specifically for antibiotics, this helps to minimize resistance and reduce hospital costs. There is a dearth in literature on how nurses apply this standard when administering antibiotics to inpatients. This study explored nurses' adherence to the 'Five Rights' of antibiotic administration and factors influencing their practices. Methods: This was a cross sectional case study using prospective observation of 23 nurses and 49 patients with pneumonia and follow up interviews with 13 nurses. Participants were selected between November 2015 and February 2016. The study setting was two medical wards of a tertiary hospital. Observations were guided using a checklist to collect quantitative data. This was followed by semi-structured in-depth interviews with nurses. Results: From the quantitative data, untimely administration of antibiotics was common, with only 10.1% of patients given antibiotics at the right time. Nurses gave the right (prescribed) antibiotics in 67.3% of the patients and 59.2% of the patients received the required doses. 69.4% of the patients received the antibiotics using the right route. The right documentation of dose initiation and continuation occurred in 38.5% and 24.5% respectively. From follow up interview data, two main themes were identified: Competency gap with subthemes namely inconsistent undestanding of three/four times a day dosing schedules and knowledge translation gap; Conflict between medication administration times and ward routines. Conclusions: We found poor compliance with the 'Five Rights' of antibiotic administration. This has been attributed to both a competency gap and challenges within the hospital system.