Quality of Life and Dependence Degree of Chronic Patients in a Chronicity Care Model.

BACKGROUND: The complex chronic patient is a person with one or several long-term diseases, the clinical management of which are considered difficult and related to cognitive or functional impairment. The chronicity care model deeply affects the quality of life and degree of dependence. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to analyse the perceived quality of life and dependence degree in complex chronic patients within a chronicity care model in the Autonomous Communities of Cantabria and the Balearic Islands (Spain). DESIGN: This was a multicentred, transversal, descriptive, and observational study on a cohort of 206 chronic patients included in a chronicity care program. METHODS: Patients' sociodemographic variables, integral valuation, nurse follow-up records, nursing outcomes classification (NOC)/nursing interventions classification (NIC), nurse diagnoses, and hospitalization data were analysed. A descriptive analysis of all data was carried out. The bivariate analysis assessed the relation between covariables and the overall scoring in European Quality of Life Scale (EuroQuol-5D), Barthel, Braden, and Chronic Patient eXperience Assessment Instrument (IEXPAC in the Spanish abbreviation). A multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The mean age was 79.4 years (standard deviation (SD) = 9.12; range: 39-94). A percentage of 79.3% of the study population shows functional impairment in one or more activities of daily life. A percentage of 83.3% of patients showed a physical dependence. There is a significant relationship between the gender and kinship degree of the caregiver (χ2 = 18.2; p = 0.001). An overall mean score of 55.38 points in EuroQuol-5D was obtained, along with a 36.87-point satisfaction with the care given in IEXPAC. The overall score correlated positively and significantly with Barthel, Braden, and IEXPAC. The dependence levels improved slightly in the observed patients, which was a very significant outcome in statistical terms (t = 2.08; p = 0.039). A percentage of 66% (R2 = 0.66) of the score variability at the Barthel index could be predicted from Braden scale scoring. CONCLUSIONS: Dependence is not only affected by the related pathology, but also by the effect on mobility and daily-life activities, which cause a worse perception of the quality of life. The health-care model based on the case management nurse is having positive effects, especially on dependence and patients with ulcer issues.

Enfermería de Práctica Avanzada y gestión de casos: elementos imprescindibles en el nuevo modelo de atención a la cronicidad compleja en España / Advanced practice in case management: An essential element in the new complex chronicity care model

El aumento de la prevalencia de enfermedades crónicas complejas en todas las etapas de la vida; el progresivo envejecimiento de la población; la prevalencia de multimorbilidad, la polimedicación, y la pérdida de autonomía, han hecho emerger nuevas necesidades en la sociedad, a las que el actual modelo de atención no está dando respuestas eficaces ni sostenibles. Las personas con enfermedades crónicas complejas son vulnerables, se van deteriorando a medida que las enfermedades progresan, y requieren cuidados profesionales individualizados y coordinados, que tengan en cuenta la progresión de la enfermedad, las transiciones y las preferencias de las personas. Es imprescindible determinar un nuevo paradigma de atención en el que enmarquemos los proyectos y las acciones que se deben impulsar para avanzar hacia una atención transversal, de calidad y sostenible dirigida a las personas con enfermedades crónicas complejas y avanzadas en todas las etapas de la vida. Diferentes estudios demuestran que la gestión de casos es un valor añadido en términos de calidad, seguridad y coste-efectividad. Sin embargo, su implementación en España es desigual y heterogénea, no habiéndose desarrollado aún normativa alguna que dé estabilidad a esta nueva figura enfermera. El Ministerio y las Comunidades Autónomas, tienen ahora la responsabilidad de crear normativa e institucionalizar la figura de enfermera gestora de casos como modelo de práctica avanzada, con una definición clara de sus competencias y funciones, tal y como se ha hecho en otros países

The increased prevalence of complex chronic diseases in all stages of life, the progressive aging of the population, the prevalence of multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and loss of autonomy, have given rise to new needs in society. The current model of care is failing to meet these needs in an effective or sustainable way. People with complex chronic diseases are vulnerable, they deteriorate as diseases progress, and they require individualized and coordinated professional care that takes into account the progression of the disease, transitions and people's preferences. It is essential to determine a new care paradigm as a framework for the projects and actions that should be promoted to reach transversal, sustainable and quality care directed at people with complex and advanced chronic diseases in all stages of life. Different studies show that case management is an added value in terms of quality, safety and cost-effectiveness. However, its implementation in Spain is uneven and heterogeneous, and no regulations have yet been developed to give stability to this new nurse figure. The Ministry and the Autonomous Communities now have the responsibility to create regulations and institutionalize the figure of case management nurses/advanced practice nurses, with a clear definition of their professional competences and functions, as has been done in other countries

Advanced practice in case management: An essential element in the new complex chronicity care model. / Enfermería de Práctica Avanzada y gestión de casos: elementos imprescindibles en el nuevo modelo de atención a la cronicidad compleja en España.

The increased prevalence of complex chronic diseases in all stages of life, the progressive aging of the population, the prevalence of multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and loss of autonomy, have given rise to new needs in society. The current model of care is failing to meet these needs in an effective or sustainable way. People with complex chronic diseases are vulnerable, they deteriorate as diseases progress, and they require individualized and coordinated professional care that takes into account the progression of the disease, transitions and people's preferences. It is essential to determine a new care paradigm as a framework for the projects and actions that should be promoted to reach transversal, sustainable and quality care directed at people with complex and advanced chronic diseases in all stages of life. Different studies show that case management is an added value in terms of quality, safety and cost-effectiveness. However, its implementation in Spain is uneven and heterogeneous, and no regulations have yet been developed to give stability to this new nurse figure. The Ministry and the Autonomous Communities now have the responsibility to create regulations and institutionalize the figure of case management nurses/advanced practice nurses, with a clear definition of their professional competences and functions, as has been done in other countries.

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La enfermera familiar y comunitaria: referente del paciente crónico en la comunidad / The family and community nurse: Health agent and model for the chronic patient within the community

Se estima que el paciente crónico complejo y/o frágil supone un 5% de la población y consume el 65% de la totalidad de los recursos sanitarios. Las personas mayores con problemas de dependencia, con enfermedades crónicas y comorbilidades necesitan cuidados profesionales que promuevan en las personas el autocuidado y la autogestión de la enfermedad. Es necesario plantearse un reenfoque donde adquieran un mayor protagonismo aquellos servicios relacionados con necesidades de cuidados profesionales. Las enfermeras y enfermeros son profesionales con una buena proyección para mejorar la sostenibilidad del sistema porque pueden responder de manera eficaz a las demandas de los pacientes en situación de cronicidad, dependencia y fragilidad. Para que la enfermera pueda dar respuestas eficientes y coste-efectivas a las necesidades de salud de las personas dependientes y/o con enfermedades crónicas, es necesario analizar y corregir los factores que limitan el crecimiento profesional y la oferta de una cartera de servicios enfermeros, entre los que se encuentran la ausencia de enfermeras en las decisiones estratégicas, la falta de objetivos e indicadores de cuidados, la escasa medida del producto, la falta de asignación de población a la enfermera, la indefinición de competencias, la heterogeneidad en la profesión y el escaso poder en el sistema para liderar un proyecto de cuidados con autonomía

It is estimated that the chronic, fragile and complex patient represents 5% of the general population, but uses up to 65% of the total amount of health care resources. Older people who are dependent, with chronic illnesses and comorbidities need professional care that promotes self-care and self-management of their illnesses. Thus, new strategies need to be considered to channel those professional care services to focus on this group. Nurse practicioners are professionals who could lead this change to improve the sustainability of the health care system, since they are in a position to respond in an effective way to the demands of patients with chronic illnesses, dependency or fragility. For the nurse working force to provide an efficient and cost-effective response to the health needs of chronically ill and disabled persons, an analysis needs to be made of the factors that restrict professional growth, as well as those nursing services where nurses do not take part in the decision making, as well as how to correct them. The lack of goals or quality care indicators, the measurement of the problem, the lack of patients assigned to a nurse practicioners, lack of training, the disparity of the profession in Spain, and the inability of the system to lead a self-sufficient care system project, should also be taken into consideratio

[The family and community nurse: Health agent and model for the chronic patient within the community]. / La enfermera familiar y comunitaria: referente del paciente crónico en la comunidad.

It is estimated that the chronic, fragile and complex patient represents 5% of the general population, but uses up to 65% of the total amount of health care resources. Older people who are dependent, with chronic illnesses and comorbidities need professional care that promotes self-care and self-management of their illnesses. Thus, new strategies need to be considered to channel those professional care services to focus on this group. Nurse practicioners are professionals who could lead this change to improve the sustainability of the health care system, since they are in a position to respond in an effective way to the demands of patients with chronic illnesses, dependency or fragility. For the nurse working force to provide an efficient and cost-effective response to the health needs of chronically ill and disabled persons, an analysis needs to be made of the factors that restrict professional growth, as well as those nursing services where nurses do not take part in the decision making, as well as how to correct them. The lack of goals or quality care indicators, the measurement of the problem, the lack of patients assigned to a nurse practicioners, lack of training, the disparity of the profession in Spain, and the inability of the system to lead a self-sufficient care system project, should also be taken into consideration.

Psychometric testing of the Spanish version of the practice environment scale of the nursing work index in a primary healthcare context.

AIM: This paper is a report of psychometric testing of the Spanish version of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index for use in a primary health care. BACKGROUND: The Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index has been widely used in different studies and contexts. However, there is no validated version for primary care nursing staff in Spain. METHODS: A descriptive, multicentre, cross-sectional study for transcultural adaptation and psychometric validation purposes. Data were collected from October 2009 to January 2010. To test the reliability of the factors in the measurement model, Cronbach's alpha was used. To study the measurement model, different structural models were tested, using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. 377 completed questionnaires were obtained from a total of 553 nurses working for the Public Health Service in the Balearic Islands (Spain). This represents a response rate of 68·2%. RESULTS: For overall reliability, a Cronbach alpha of 0·91 was obtained. The confirmatory analysis upholds the original five-factor structure. CONCLUSION: The excellent goodness of fit of the confirmatory analysis corroborates the validity of this adapted version in primary healthcare contexts.

Autonomía clínica y de gestión. Percepción de los coordinadores de los centros de salud de Mallorca / Clinical and managerial autonomy. Perception of the coordinators of the health centers in Mallorca, Spain

Fundamento: la autogestión se ha relacionado con un incremento de la eficiencia y de la satisfacción profesional. Ante cualquier cambio tendente a una gestión más autónoma es trascendente conocer el posicionamiento de sus profesionales y directivos. El objetivo del trabajo es conocer la importancia atribuida por los coordinadores de los centros de salud (CS) a la autonomía clínica y de gestión, así como su capacidad de decisión y sus expectativas sobre la factibilidad de implantar un proyecto de gestión autónoma. Métodos: Diseño: Descriptivo transversal, aplicación de cuestionario. Emplazamiento: Atención Primaria, año 2009. Participantes: Todos los coordinadores de los CS de Mallorca (47). Intervenciones y mediciones principales: 27 preguntas que exploran la opinión del coordinador sobre la importancia de los componentes de la autogestión, su capacidad de intervención actual, la propensión/aversión al riesgo, la capacidad de liderazgo, y la factibilidad de un proyecto de autogestión. Resultados: Tasa respuestas: 42/47 (89,4%). 42 (100%) atribuyeron la máxima importancia a la gestión de los recursos humanos, 41 (97,6%) a la gestión de la demanda y 40 (95,2%) a la gestión de las listas de espera. 15 (35,7%) asumirían un riesgo financiero, 14 (33,3%) se consideraban capacitados y 18 (42,9%) se mostraban dispuestos a liderar un proceso de autogestión. 14 (33,3%) pensaban que los profesionales de su equipo no estarían interesados en un proceso de autogestión y 29 (69%) creían que otros CS de Mallorca podrían desarrollarlo. Conclusiones: Los coordinadores encuestados manifestaron disponer de una limitada capacidad de decisión sobre los componentes de la autogestión, ser aversos al riesgo y presentar una escasa capacidad y disposición para liderar proyectos de autogestión(AU)

Background: The self-management has been linked with increased efficiency and job satisfaction. Before any changes aimed at a more autonomous management is important to know the position of professionals and managers. Objective: To assess the importance attached by the coordinators of the health centers (HC) to the clinical and managerial autonomy, knowing their decision making capacity and their expectations about the feasibility of implementing a project of self-management. Methods: Design: cross-sectional study, application questionnaire. Location: Primary Care, 2009. Participants: All the coordinators of the HC of Mallorca (N = 47). Interventions and Measurements: 27 questions that explore the coordinator's opinion about the importance of the components of the self-management, its ability to present intervention, the propensity / aversion to risk, leadership, and the feasibility of a selfmanagement. Results: response rate: 42/47 (89,4%). 42 (100%) attaches the highest importance to the management of human resources, 41 (97,6%) to demand management and 40 (95,2%) to the management of waiting lists. 15 (35,7%) would take a financial risk, 14 (33,3%) were considered trained and 18 (42,9%) were willing to lead a process of self-management. 14 (33,3%) thought that the professionals in your team would not be interested in a process of self-management and 29 (69%) believed that others could develop HC of Mallorca. Conclusions: The respondents were coordinators have a limited ability to decide on the components of the self-management, being risk averse and make a little leadership ability and willingness to self-management projects(AU)

[Clinical and managerial autonomy. Perception of the coordinators of the health centers in Mallorca, Spain]. / Autonomía clínica y de gestión. Percepción de los coordinadores de los centros de salud de Mallorca.

BACKGROUND: The self-management has been linked with increased efficiency and job satisfaction. Before any changes aimed at a more autonomous management is important to know the position of professionals and managers. objective: To assess the importance attached by the coordinators of the health centers (HC) to the clinical and managerial autonomy, knowing their decision making capacity and their expectations about the feasibility of implementing a project of self-management. DESIGN: cross-sectional study, application questionnaire. LOCATION: Primary Care, 2009. PARTICIPANTS: All the coordinators of the HC of Mallorca (N = 47). INTERVENTIONS AND MEASUREMENTS: 27 questions that explore the coordinator's opinion about the importance of the components of the self-management, its ability to present intervention, the propensity / aversion to risk, leadership, and the feasibility of a self-management. RESULTS: response rate: 42/47 (89,4%). 42 (100%) attaches the highest importance to the management of human resources, 41 (97,6%) to demand management and 40 (95,2%) to the management of waiting lists. 15 (35,7%) would take a financial risk, 14 (33,3%) were considered trained and 18 (42,9%) were willing to lead a process of self-management. 14 (33,3%) thought that the professionals in your team would not be interested in a process of self-management and 29 (69%) believed that others could develop HC of Mallorca. CONCLUSIONS: The respondents were coordinators have a limited ability to decide on the components of the self-management, being risk averse and make a little leadership ability and willingness to self-management projects.