Malnutrition defined by global leadership initiative on malnutrition criteria impedes home discharge in acute care hospital admissions.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Limited evidence exists on the association between malnutrition diagnosis using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria in hospitalized acute care patients and their outcomes; several aspects still require clarification. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between malnutrition, as defined by the GLIM criteria, at the time of acute hospital admission and discharge to home. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted at a hospital that provides acute care in Japan. Adult patients admitted between July 2023 and April 2024 were included in this study. The primary outcome was the number of patients discharged to home, with in-hospital mortality as the secondary outcome. To ensure the reliability of the cohort-wide results, background factors were adjusted using propensity score matching. The two groups were compared based on the presence or absence of malnutrition, as defined by the GLIM criteria at admission. Furthermore, multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted, with the outcome as the dependent variable and malnutrition, diagnosed using the GLIM criteria, as the explanatory variable, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: A total of 1007 patients were included in the final analysis, of whom 492 (49 %) were diagnosed without malnutrition, while 515 (51 %) were diagnosed with malnutrition according to the GLIM criteria. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis after matching, malnutrition defined by the GLIM criteria emerged as an independent factor associated with discharge to home (odds ratio [OR] = 0.37, 95 % confidence interval = 0.25-0.56, P < 0.001) when adjusting for age, sex, and various comorbidities. Among the GLIM sub-criteria, reduced muscle mass, reduced food intake or assimilation, and disease burden or inflammation were independently associated with discharge to home. Notably, disease burden/inflammation exhibited the lowest OR among the GLIM sub-criteria for discharge. CONCLUSION: Malnutrition diagnosed using the GLIM criteria upon admission in patients admitted to a regional hospital providing acute care was associated with decreased rates of discharge to home and increased in-hospital mortality. Specifically, attention should be paid to the criteria for reduced muscle mass and disease burden or inflammation within the GLIM framework.

Changes in Acute Care Pharmacist Prescribing and Laboratory Ordering over Time: CAPLET Study.

Background: In Alberta, pharmacists may obtain additional prescribing authorization (APA) and a practice identification number (PRAC-ID) for ordering laboratory tests. Pharmacists working within Alberta Health Services were mandated by the employer to attain APA by 2018, whereas laboratory ordering has been in place since 2009. Five acute care sites within the Calgary Zone had a computerized provider order entry (CPOE) system that allowed tracking of these activities. Objectives: To describe changes in prescribing and laboratory ordering by acute care pharmacists over time and to compare these activities across hospitals, sites, and specialty teams. Methods: A retrospective, descriptive review of acute care pharmacist orders for medications and laboratory tests was completed using data from the CPOE system for the period 2018 to 2021. Results: Over the study period, the rates of prescribing and laboratory ordering by pharmacists increased by 67.5% (from 1423 to 2383 per full-time equivalent [FTE]) and by 5.5% (from 235 to 248 per FTE), respectively. Pharmacists at the 5 hospitals increased their prescribing rates during that time (by proportions ranging from 7% to 176%). Cardiology, intensive care, and mental health teams had the largest increases in prescribing rates, whereas mental health, hospitalist, and intensive care teams had the greatest increases in rates of laboratory ordering. In each year of the study, the most frequently ordered medication for adult patients was vancomycin, and the most frequently ordered laboratory test was measurement of vancomycin before dose administration. The proportion of medication orders conveyed verbally decreased from 60.0% to 47.4% over the study period. Conclusions: The application of expanded scope of practice increased among acute care pharmacists, to a greater extent for prescribing than for laboratory ordering; however, the proportion of verbal medication orders remains high, a situation that should be addressed to improve patient safety. This study showed that prescribing and laboratory ordering are complementary, given that the top medications and laboratory tests were frequently related. The results of this study can be used for practice development and as the basis for further research within an expanded CPOE system.

Contexte: En Alberta, les pharmaciens peuvent obtenir une autorisation de prescription élargie (APE) et un numéro d'identification de pratique (PRAC-ID) pour demander des analyses de laboratoire. Les pharmaciens travaillant dans les Services de santé de l'Alberta ont été sommés par leur employeur d'obtenir une APE avant 2018, alors que les demandes d'analyses de laboratoire sont en place depuis 2009. Cinq sites de soins aigus dans la zone de Calgary disposaient d'un système de saisie informatique des ordonnances médicales (CPOE) permettant de suivre ces activités. Objectifs: Décrire les changements en matière de prescription et de demande d'analyses de laboratoire par les pharmaciens de soins aigus au fil du temps et comparer ces activités entre les hôpitaux, les sites et les équipes spécialisées. Méthodologie: Un examen rétrospectif et descriptif des prescriptions de médicaments et des demandes d'analyses de laboratoire effectuées par les pharmaciens en soins aigus a été mené à l'aide des données du système de CPOE pour la période 2018 à 2021. Résultats: Au cours de la période de l'étude, les taux de prescription et de demande d'analyses de laboratoire par les pharmaciens ont augmenté respectivement de 67,5 % (de 1423 à 2383 par équivalent temps plein [ETP]) et de 5,5 % (de 235 à 248 par ETP). Le taux de prescription des pharmaciens de tous les hôpitaux a augmenté au cours de cette période (de 7 % à 176 %). Les équipes de cardiologie, de soins intensifs et de santé mentale ont enregistré les plus fortes augmentations des taux de prescription, tandis que celles de santé mentale, de soins hospitaliers et de soins intensifs ont enregistré les plus fortes augmentations des taux de demande d'analyses de laboratoire. Chaque année de l'étude, la vancomycine était le médicament le plus fréquemment prescrit pour les patients adultes et les analyses de laboratoire les plus fréquemment demandées portaient sur la mesure de la vancomycine avant l'administration de la dose. La part des prescriptions de médicament communiquées verbalement a diminué de 60,0 % à 47,4 % au cours de la période d'étude. Conclusions: L'application d'un champ de pratique élargi a augmenté chez les pharmaciens de soins aigus, dans une plus grande mesure pour la prescription que pour les demandes d'analyses de laboratoire. Cependant, la part des prescriptions de médicament communiquées verbalement demeure élevée ­ une situation qui devrait être corrigée pour améliorer la sécurité des patients. Cette étude a démontré que les prescriptions et les demandes d'analyses de laboratoire sont complémentaires, étant donné que les principaux médicaments et les principales analyses sont fréquemment liés. Les résultats de cette étude peuvent être utilisés pour le développement de la pratique et comme base pour des recherches ultérieures au sein d'un système de CPOE élargi.

The impact of recreational cannabis legalization on cannabis-related acute care events among adults with schizophrenia.

PURPOSE: Patients with schizophrenia have a higher risk of cannabis use disorder and may be uniquely affected by the legalization of recreational cannabis. This study examined whether cannabis legalization led to changes in acute care utilization among patients with schizophrenia. METHOD: Using linked health administrative data, we included adult patients with schizophrenia in Ontario from October 2015 to May 2021 (n = 121,061). We examined the differences in cannabis, psychosis, and mental health-related emergency department (ED) visits over three periods: pre-legalization, legalization of flowers and herbs (phase 1), and legalization of edibles, extracts, and topicals (phase 2) using interrupted time-series methods. RESULTS: Our study found that phase 1 was associated with decreases in cannabis-related, mental health-related, and cannabis + psychosis-related ED visits among the patients with schizophrenia. Notably, an immediate 25.8% (95% CI 13.8-37.6%) decrease in cannabis-related ED visits was observed in men, and an immediate 18.5% decrease in mental health-related ED visits (95% CI 6.0-31.2%) in women. These decreases were also shown in the comparative ITS models, demonstrating that the changes observed were distinct from trends in the general population. However, phase 2 was not associated with any significant changes. CONCLUSIONS: Despite higher baseline rates of acute care utilization among patients with schizophrenia, cannabis legalization was associated with significant reductions, particularly during phase 1. Our findings suggest that regulatory measures accompanying legalization could enhance the quality and safety of cannabis products, potentially leading to fewer adverse health outcomes in vulnerable patient populations. Further research is needed to optimize healthcare responses for this vulnerable population.

A Qualitative Study Identifying the Potential Risk Mechanisms Leading to Hospitalization for Patients With Chronic Lung Disease.

BACKGROUND: Care management programs for chronic lung disease attempt to reduce hospitalizations, yet have not reliably achieved this goal. A key limitation of many programs is that they target patients with characteristics associated with hospitalization risk, but do not specifically modify the mechanisms that lead to hospitalization. RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the common mechanisms underlying known patient-level risk characteristics leading to hospitalizations for acute exacerbations of chronic lung disease? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study of patients admitted to the University of Pennsylvania Health System with acute exacerbations of chronic lung disease between January and September 2019. We interviewed patients, their family caregivers, and their inpatient and outpatient clinicians about experiences leading up to the hospitalization. We analyzed the interview transcripts using triangulation and abductive analytic methods. RESULTS: We conducted 69 interviews focused on the admission of 22 patients with a median age of 66 years (interquartile range, 60-70 years), of whom 16 patients (73%) were female and 14 patients (64%) were Black. We interviewed 22 patients, 14 caregivers, 19 inpatient clinicians, and 14 outpatient clinicians. We triangulated the available interview data for each patient admission and identified the underlying mechanisms of how several known patient characteristics associated with risk actually led to hospitalization. These mechanisms included limited capacity for home management of acute symptom changes, barriers to accessing care, chronic functional limitations, and comorbid behavioral health disorders. Importantly, many of the clinical, social, and behavioral mechanisms underlying hospitalizations were present for months or years before the symptoms that prompted inpatient care. INTERPRETATION: Care management programs should be built to target specific clinical, social, and behavioral mechanisms that directly lead to hospitalization. Upstream interventions that reduce hospitalization risk are possible given that many contributory mechanisms are present for months or years before the onset of acute exacerbations.

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Acute Care Utilization in Washington State Medicaid: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Neighborhood disadvantage has been associated with potentially preventable acute care utilization among Medicare beneficiaries, but this association has not been studied in a Medicaid population, which is important for informing more equitable care and policies for this population. OBJECTIVE: To describe the association between Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and acute care utilization (including potentially preventable utilization) among Medicaid beneficiaries in Washington State. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of 100% Medicaid claims. Mixed effects logistic regression was applied to estimate the association between state-level ADI decile and acute care utilization, adjusting for age, sex, self-identified race and ethnicity, Charlson Comorbidity Index, primary spoken language, individual Federal Poverty Level, homelessness, and rurality. Standard errors were clustered at the Census block group level. PARTICIPANTS: 1.5 million unique adult Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled for at least 11 months of a calendar year during the period 2017-2021. MAIN MEASURES: Binary measures denoting receipt of ED visits, low-acuity ED visits, hospitalizations in a calendar year. KEY RESULTS: Increasing levels of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage (by ADI decile) were associated with greater odds of any ED visits (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.07), low-acuity ED visits (aOR 1.08, CI 1.08-1.08), and any hospitalizations (aOR 1.02, CI 1.02-1.02). CONCLUSIONS: Among Medicaid beneficiaries, greater neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with increased acute care utilization, including potentially preventable utilization. These findings signal potential barriers to outpatient care access that could be amenable to future intervention by health systems and payers.

Non-Home Discharge is an Independent Risk Factor for Readmission Following Primary Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Utilization of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) in the United States has increased substantially within the last two decades and this trend is expected to continue. As TSA volume has continued to increase, healthcare policy has shifted towards an emphasis on value-based care. Therefore, it is important to understand variables that may increase TSA costs, including readmission rates. Patients discharged to home healthcare (HHC) or post-acute care (PAC) facilities have demonstrated increased readmission rates following TSA. However, few studies have directly compared HHC to PAC facilities and routine home discharge while accounting for pertinent demographics. The purpose of this study was to compare 180-day readmission rates between routine home discharge, HHC, and PAC facility groups following primary TSA. METHODS: The Nationwide Readmissions Database was queried from 2010 to 2020 to identify all patients that underwent primary TSA. Readmission rates were compared between routine home discharge, HHC, and PAC facility groups. Binary logistic regression identified independent risk factors for readmission within 180 days. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2020 a total of 171,898 patients underwent TSA. 71% were routinely discharged home, 21% were discharged to HHC, and 8% were discharged to a PAC facility. After adjusting for income, insurance, obesity status, age, Charlson Comorbidity index, and gender, discharge to a PAC facility was independently predictive of readmission within 180 days following TSA (OR: 1.69, 95% CI 1.59-1.79, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients discharged to a PAC facility after TSA had higher readmission rates compared to HHC and routine home discharge that persisted even after controlling for relevant demographics. Clinicians should be cognizant of the risks and benefits of different discharge methods and consider home discharges for suitable candidates. Understanding risk factors that increase healthcare expenditures has significant utility for institutions in the era of bundled care. However, it is important that alternative payment models do not disincentivize orthopedic surgeons from providing care to medically complex patients.

Diverticulitis: A Review of Current and Emerging Practice-Changing Evidence.

Acute diverticulitis represents a common colorectal emergency seen in the Western world. Over time, management of this condition has evolved. This review aims to highlight recent evidence and update current recommendations. Notable evidence has emerged in certain aspects of diverticulitis. This includes disease pathogenesis, as emerging data suggest a potentially greater role for the microbiome and genetic predisposition than previously thought. Acute management has also seen major shifts, where traditional antibiotic treatment may no longer be necessary for acute uncomplicated diverticulitis. Following successful medical management of acute diverticulitis, indications for elective sigmoidectomy have decreased. The benefit of emergency surgery remains for peritonitis, sepsis, obstruction, and acute diverticulitis in certain immunocompromised patients. Routine colonoscopy, once recommended after all acute diverticulitis episodes, has been shown to be beneficial for cancer exclusion in a distinct patient population. Despite advances in research, certain entities remain poorly understood, such as smoldering diverticulitis and symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease. As research in the field expands, paradigm shifts will shape our understanding of diverticulitis, influencing how clinicians approach management and educate patients.

Successful Rapid Benzodiazepine Detoxification in an Acute Care Hospital: A Case Report.

Introduction: Benzodiazepine (BZD) dependence and withdrawal are significant public health concerns, affecting 15-30% of regular users within 4-6 weeks of administration. Rapid BZD tapering protocols in acute care settings can mitigate withdrawal symptoms and facilitate rehabilitation, yet are challenging due to variability in patient responses. Case presentation: We report a case of a 67-year-old male with a history of high-dose BZD use for panic disorder and depression and recent mild ischemic stroke, presenting with worsening left lower limb paralysis. The patient's complex medication regimen included multiple BZDs and other psychotropic drugs. Given the risks associated with high-dose BZD use, particularly in the context of stroke rehabilitation, a rapid detoxification protocol was initiated, aiming to reduce BZD dosage by 25% every 4 days. This approach led to successful detoxification within 2 weeks without significant withdrawal symptoms, facilitating stroke rehabilitation and improving prognosis. Discussion: This case highlights the effectiveness of a collaborative, rapid BZD tapering approach in an acute care setting, emphasizing the importance of patient cooperation, interdisciplinary communication, and careful monitoring of withdrawal symptoms. The case also underscores the potential benefits of replacing short-acting BZDs with long-acting ones, such as diazepam, to minimize withdrawal symptoms and support rehabilitation processes. Conclusion: Rapid BZD detoxification is feasible and can be safely achieved within a short-term hospital stay, demonstrating significant benefits for patients with BZD dependence. This case contributes to the evolving strategies for managing BZD dependence in acute care settings, advocating for tailored, patient-centered approaches to detoxification.

Evaluating the effectiveness of social workers as lead community care coordinators of a large integrated veteran affairs health care system in the Southeast region.

A Veteran Affairs Health Care System (VAHCS) in the Southeast region implemented the Social Workers as Lead Community Care Coordinators (SWLCCC) program to prevent delays in care coordination for veterans admitted to community hospitals. This study examines community hospital care coordinators' perceptions and satisfaction levels with the SWLCCC program. An explanatory sequential mixed method research design was used. Surveys were analyzed using descriptive analysis and chi-square test of association and interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results showed that care coordination assistance has improved since the veteran-centered social work-led program was implemented.

Robotic Repair of Acute Traumatic Diaphragmatic Injury From an Abdominal Approach: A Case Report.

Traumatic diaphragmatic injury is a rare condition with a significant mortality risk and may cause a herniation of an intraperitoneal organ into the pleural space. In the acute phase, traumatic diaphragmatic hernia (TDH) may be repaired with laparotomy or thoracotomy and is often associated with multiple concurrent injuries. This case report highlights a rare clinical scenario of blunt traumatic DH in a 62-year-old male with approximately seven centimeters of stomach herniating into the left pleural space, repaired with minimally invasive surgery. This was done via a transabdominal approach with robotic-assisted laparoscopic hernia repair and institution of biologic mesh and represents an important opportunity that potentially reduces the morbidity risk involved with open surgeries.

Providing trauma-informed care in the acute care setting.

Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have increased people's awareness of mental health issues. Psychological trauma impacts patients in the acute care setting through physical and mental health presentations. Trauma is a public health issue crossing all socioeconomic groups and is related to social determinants of health. Trauma-informed care (TIC) is an evidence-based approach to providing care. TIC is within the scope of nursing practice and improves outcomes for patients. However, there is a lack of standard terms or practices within healthcare. Additionally, there is superficial acknowledgment of the need for TIC at the local or national level regarding policy. Nurses need to adopt TIC into practice and advocate for policy change to improve the health and lives of those seeking care.

Adapting the Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Organizational Climate Questionnaire for Acute Care Nurse Practitioners.

Background and Purpose: This study adapted the Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Organizational Climate Questionnaire to measure the organizational climate of nurse practitioners in acute care settings and validated the Nurse Practitioner Acute Care Organizational Climate Questionnaire (NP-ACOCQ). Methods: We used a three-phase instrument adaptation design. In phase 1, experts assessed face and content validity. In phase 2, pilot testing enabled item analysis and preliminary reliability testing. In phase 3, field testing supported exploratory factor analysis. Results: The NP-ACOCQ had a three-factor structure representing subscales. The subscales had Cronbach's alphas of 0.87, 0.90, and 0.94. The subscales, Institutional Visibility, Interprofessional Relationships, and Organizational Autonomy each had between 5 and 13 items. Conclusions: The NP-ACOCQ is a valid and reliable measure to assess organizational factors determining the acute care nurse practitioner work environment.

Frailty Explains Variation in Emergency Department Use for Older Veterans During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: Older adults were critically vulnerable to disruptions in health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is not known if changes in ED utilization varied based on patient characteristics. Using a cohort of older Veterans, we examined changes in ED visit rates based on four characteristics of interest: age, race, area deprivation index, and frailty. Methods: Participants were aged ≥65, with ≥2 visits in primary or geriatric clinics between 02/02/2018-05/07/2019. An adjusted negative binomial regression model was constructed for each characteristic. We report mean counts of all ED visits by quarter for subgroups separately, and report rate ratios to compare ED visits in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic to the year before. Results: Patients with complete case data numbered 38,871. During the first two quarters, all subgroups had decreased ED visits, with more variation in the third and fourth quarters. The very highly frail, who had the highest mean estimated count of ED visits per person through both pre-COVID and COVID periods, also had a significant decrease in their ED visits during multiple quarters of the pandemic to a greater degree than other frailty subgroups. Conclusion: Stratifying older adults by frailty identified patient subgroups with the greatest variation in ED visits during COVID. Very highly frail patients warrant special attention to understand how variation in ED utilization affects patient outcomes.

Dementia-Friendly Hospital-The Perspective of Professional Dementia Experts.

AIM: To investigate the professional dementia experts' understanding of a dementia-friendly hospital to identify its characteristics. DESIGN: We used a qualitative design embedded in a case study. A total of 16 semi-structured expert interviews were conducted with 17 professional dementia experts. Using inductive content analysis, the interviews were analysed in a participatory manner involving a group of researchers and dementia experts. RESULTS: We identified six characteristics of dementia-friendly hospitals: Proud to be dementia-friendly-That's what we want; Seeing the human being-Taking care of everyone; Having everyone on board-It's a collective task; Being professional-It takes more than being nice and kind; Rethinking the 'running' system-We have to change, not them; and Being part of the community-Thinking beyond the hospital. CONCLUSION: The concept of a dementia-friendly hospital seems complex and requires a rethinking of the traditional hospital. For a conceptualisation, the involvement of people with dementia and their relatives is important to gain a comprehensive understanding. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND PATIENT CARE: A dementia-friendly hospital is characterised by professional care that comprises a safe, familiar and supportive environment, is prepared but also flexible, has everyone on board, and sees the human being. To become dementia-friendly, individual interventions such as training courses can be a starting point. However, an overall concept is required that also includes components that contribute to successful implementation and a welcoming culture of people with dementia. IMPACT: Our findings on the perspective of professional dementia experts contribute to the conceptualisation of dementia-friendly hospitals. REPORTING METHOD: We reported our study according to the COREQ checklist. PATIENT AND PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The investigation of the perspective of professional dementia experts is one part of a larger study. In this overall DEMfriendlyHospital study, we interviewed professional dementia experts, people with dementia and their relatives and also involved them in a participatory manner in various stages of the research process.

Balancing Urgency and Strategy in the Surgical Management of a Complex Case of Gallstone Ileus: A Surgical-Video-Based Case Report of a 60-Year-Old Female.

Gallstone ileus is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening complication of gallstone disease, characterized by the obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract by a gallstone, typically at the ileocecal valve. This condition predominantly affects elderly patients and carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality due to delayed diagnosis and the complexity of associated comorbidities. We report the case of a 60-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and cholelithiasis who presented with a four-day history of intermittent epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, and an inability to pass stool or flatus. Initial imaging studies, including ultrasonography and computed tomography, revealed a biliary-enteric fistula with a large obstructing gallstone at the ileocecal valve. Despite conservative management with intravenous fluids, nasogastric tube suction, and antibiotics, the patient's symptoms persisted, necessitating surgical intervention. A midline laparotomy was performed, during which the gallstone was successfully removed via enterotomy. The patient recovered without complications and was discharged in stable condition. The complexity of management, particularly in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities, necessitates careful consideration between the one-stage and two-stage surgical approaches. In this case, the decision to perform an enterotomy without immediate cholecystectomy reflects a two-stage strategy, aimed at minimizing operative risk while addressing the immediate obstruction. This approach underscores the need for individualized management plans, where the choice between one-stage and two-stage surgery is guided by the patient's overall clinical status.

Structural validation of two person-centred practice inventories PCPI-S and PCPI-C - French version.

BACKGROUND: The shift towards person-centred care has become integral in achieving high-quality healthcare, focusing on individual patient needs, preferences, and values. However, existing instruments for measuring person-centred practice often lack theoretical underpinnings and comprehensive assessment. The Person-centred Practice Inventory - Staff (PCPI-S) and the Person-centred Practice Inventory - Care (PCPI-C) were developed in English to measure clinicians' and patients' experience of person-centred practice. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the French version of the PCPI-S and PCPI-C. METHODS: A multi-centred cross-sectional study was conducted in six hospitals in French-speaking Switzerland. Construct validity of the PCPI-S and the PCPI-C was evaluated by using confirmatory factor analysis and McDonald's Omega coefficient was used to determine the internal consistency. RESULTS: A sample of 558 healthcare professionals and 510 patients participated in the surveys. Psychometric analyses revealed positive item scores and acceptable factor loadings, demonstrating the meaningful contribution of each item to the measurement model. The Omega coefficient indicated acceptable to excellent internal consistency for the constructs. Model fit statistics demonstrated good model fit for the PCPI-S and PCPI-C. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the construct validity and internal consistency of the PCPI-S and PCPI-C in assessing person-centred practice among healthcare professionals and patients in French-speaking Switzerland. This validation offers valuable tools for evaluating person-centred care in hospital settings.

Frailty and Long-Term Mortality Following Emergency Laparotomy: A Comparison Between the 11-Item and 5-Item Modified Frailty Indices.

INTRODUCTION: Emergency laparotomy (EL) is a high-risk operation which is increasingly performed on an aging patient population. Objective frailty assessment using a validated index has the potential to improve preoperative risk stratification. This study aimed to assess the correlation between frailty and long-term mortality and morbidity outcomes for older EL patients. Secondary aims were to compare the 11-item and shortened five-item modified frailty indices (mFIs) in terms of value and predictive validity. METHODS: A prospective multicenter observational study of patients aged ≥55 y undergoing EL was conducted across five hospitals in New Zealand between 2017 and 2022. Frailty was measured using the 11-item and abbreviated five-item mFIs. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine whether frailty was independently associated with one-year postoperative mortality and other morbidity outcomes. Correlation between the two frailty indices were assessed with the Spearman's correlation coefficient (P). RESULTS: Frailty assessments were performed in 861 participants, with the prevalence being 18.7% and 29.8% using the 11-item and five-item mFIs, respectively. Both frailty indices demonstrated similar associations with one-year mortality (two-fold increased risk), major complications, admission to intensive care unit, rehabilitation, and 30-d readmission. The 11-item mFI demonstrated a greater association with early mortality (four-fold increased risk), reoperations, and increased length of stay compared with the five-item frailty index. Spearman P was 0.6 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Frailty, as identified by the 11-item and five-item mFIs, was associated with one-year mortality and other important morbidity outcomes for older EL patients. These forms of frailty assessment provide important information that may aid in risk assessment and patient-centered decision-making.

Why do acute healthcare staff behave unprofessionally towards each other and how can these behaviours be reduced? A realist review.

Background: Unprofessional behaviour in healthcare systems can negatively impact staff well-being, patient safety and organisational costs. Unprofessional behaviour encompasses a range of behaviours, including incivility, microaggressions, harassment and bullying. Despite efforts to combat unprofessional behaviour in healthcare settings, it remains prevalent. Interventions to reduce unprofessional behaviour in health care have been conducted - but how and why they may work is unclear. Given the complexity of the issue, a realist review methodology is an ideal approach to examining unprofessional behaviour in healthcare systems. Aim: To improve context-specific understanding of how, why and in what circumstances unprofessional behaviours between staff in acute healthcare settings occur and evidence of strategies implemented to mitigate, manage and prevent them. Methods: Realist synthesis methodology consistent with realist and meta-narrative evidence syntheses: evolving standards reporting guidelines. Data sources: Literature sources for building initial theories were identified from the original proposal and from informal searches of various websites. For theory refinement, we conducted systematic and purposive searches for peer-reviewed literature on databases such as EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and MEDLINE databases as well as for grey literature. Searches were conducted iteratively from November 2021 to December 2022. Results: Initial theory-building drew on 38 sources. Searches resulted in 2878 titles and abstracts. In total, 148 sources were included in the review. Terminology and definitions used for unprofessional behaviours were inconsistent. This may present issues for policy and practice when trying to identify and address unprofessional behaviour. Contributors of unprofessional behaviour can be categorised into four areas: (1) workplace disempowerment, (2) organisational uncertainty, confusion and stress, (3) (lack of) social cohesion and (4) enablement of harmful cultures that tolerate unprofessional behaviours. Those at most risk of experiencing unprofessional behaviour are staff from a minoritised background. We identified 42 interventions in the literature to address unprofessional behaviour. These spanned five types: (1) single session (i.e. one-off), (2) multiple sessions, (3) single or multiple sessions combined with other actions (e.g. training session plus a code of conduct), (4) professional accountability and reporting interventions and (5) structured culture-change interventions. We identified 42 reports of interventions, with none conducted in the United Kingdom. Of these, 29 interventions were evaluated, with the majority (n = 23) reporting some measure of effectiveness. Interventions drew on 13 types of behaviour-change strategy designed to, for example: change social norms, improve awareness of unprofessional behaviour, or redesign the workplace. Interventions were impacted by 12 key dynamics, including focusing on individuals, lack of trust in management and non-existent logic models. Conclusions: Workplace disempowerment and organisational barriers are primary contributors to unprofessional behaviour. However, interventions predominantly focus on individual education or training without addressing systemic, organisational issues. Effectiveness of interventions to improve staff well-being or patient safety is uncertain. We provide 12 key dynamics and 15 implementation principles to guide organisations. Future work: Interventions need to: (1) be tested in a United Kingdom context, (2) draw on behavioural science principles and (3) target systemic, organisational issues. Limitations: This review focuses on interpersonal staff-to-staff unprofessional behaviour, in acute healthcare settings only and does not include non-intervention literature outside the United Kingdom or outside of health care. Study registration: This study was prospectively registered on PROSPERO CRD42021255490. The record is available from: www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021255490. Funding: This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (NIHR award ref: NIHR131606) and is published in full in Health and Social Care Delivery Research; Vol. 12, No. 25. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

For this study, we asked: how, why and in what situations can unprofessional behaviour between healthcare staff working in acute care (usually hospitals) be reduced, managed and prevented? We wanted to research how people understand unprofessional behaviour, explore the circumstances leading to unprofessional behaviour and understand how existing approaches to addressing unprofessional behaviour worked (or did not work) across staff groups and acute healthcare organisations. We used a literature review method called a 'realist review', which differs from other review methods. A realist review focuses on understanding not only if interventions work but how and why they work, and for whom. This allowed us to analyse a wider range of relevant international literature ­ not only academic papers. We found 148 sources, which were relevant either because they described unprofessional behaviour or because they provided information on how to address unprofessional behaviour. Definitions of unprofessional behaviour varied, making it difficult to settle on one description. For example, unprofessional behaviour may involve incivility, bullying, harassment and/or microaggressions. We examined what might contribute to unprofessional behaviour and identified factors including uncertainty in the working environment. We found no United Kingdom-based interventions and only one from the United States of America that sought to reduce unprofessional behaviour towards minority groups. Strategies often tried to encourage staff to speak up, provide ways to report unprofessional behaviour or set social standards of behaviour. We also identified factors that may make it challenging for organisations to successfully select, implement and evaluate an intervention to address unprofessional behaviour. We recommend a system-wide approach to addressing unprofessional behaviour, including assessing the context and then implementing multiple approaches over a long time (rather than just once), because they are likely to have greater impact on changing culture. We are producing an implementation guide to support this process. Interventions need to enhance staff ability to feel safe at work, work effectively and support those more likely to experience unprofessional behaviour.

Empowering Support for Family Members of Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury During the Acute Care: Insights From Family Members and Nurses.

AIM: To investigate the perceptions of family members (FMs) of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and nurses on empowering support and its implementation during the acute phase within Finnish neurosurgical and neurological care in hospital settings, focusing on identifying similarities and differences in their viewpoints. DESIGN: Participatory qualitative descriptive study. METHODS: Data were collected from seven FMs and 11 nurses using the World Café method in November 2019. An abductive approach was employed for data analysis, combining deductive interpretation within the conceptual framework of empowering support and inductive content analysis. RESULTS: Four main themes were identified: (1) FMs' diverse information and guidance needs of TBI, treatment and its impact on family life, (2) support based on empowering FMs in participation, competence and decision-making, (3) empowering FMs through collaborative nursing practices and interprofessional support, and (4) internal and external hospital support enhancing and promoting the empowerment of FMs. CONCLUSION: The perceptions of FMs and nurses regarding empowering support were largely consistent, yet diverged in its implementation in nursing practice. Nurses play a crucial role in fostering the empowerment of FMs; however, further research is needed to explore the impact of organisational and community factors on the implementation of empowering support. IMPACT: Our study contributes to advancing nursing practices by underscoring the necessity for a paradigm shift towards a family-centred approach. Furthermore, it emphasises the urgency for standardising nursing practices to ensure equitable access to empowering support for FMs, applicable across various care settings for patients with TBI. PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This review is part of a larger research project in which FMs of patients with TBI and nurses were involved in designing the project. REPORTING METHOD: This study was reported using the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Checklist for qualitative studies.

Opioid-specific harm reduction in the emergency department: how staff provide harm reduction and contextual factors that impact their capacity to engage in harm reduction practice.

BACKGROUND: Emergency Departments (ED) staff, including nurses and physicians, are most directly involved in the care of people who use unregulated substances, and are ideally positioned to provide harm reduction interventions. Conceptualizing the ED as a complex adaptive system, this paper examines how ED staff experience opioid-specific harm reduction provision and engage in harm reduction practice, including potential facilitators and barriers to engagement. METHODS: Using a mixed methods approach, ED nurses and physicians completed a self-administered staff survey (n = 99) and one-on-one semi-structured interviews (n = 15). Five additional interviews were completed with clinical leaders. Survey data were analyzed to generate descriptive statistics and to compute scale scores. De-identified interview data were analyzed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach, which was informed by the theory of complex adaptive systems, as well as understandings of harm reduction as both a technical solution and a contextualized social practice. The final analysis involved mixed analysis through integrating both quantitative and qualitative data to generate overarching analytical themes. RESULTS: Study findings illustrated that, within the context of the ED as a complex adaptive system, three interrelated contextual factors shape the capacity of staff to engage in harm reduction practice, and to implement the full range of opioid-specific harm reduction interventions available. These factors include opportunities to leverage benefits afforded by working collaboratively with colleagues, adequate preparation through receiving the necessary education and training, and support in helping patients establish connections for ongoing care. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for harm reduction provision across all health and social care settings where people who use unregulated opioids access public sector services. In the context of the ED, attention to contextual factors including teamwork, preparedness, and connections is warranted to support that ED staff engage in harm reduction practice.