Effect of a person-centred goals-of-care form and clinical communication training on shared decision-making and outcomes in an acute hospital: a prospective longitudinal interventional study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with a life-limiting illness (LLI) requiring hospitalisation have a high likelihood of deterioration and 12-month mortality. To avoid non-aligned care, we need to understand our patients' goals and values. AIM: To describe the association between the implementation of a shared decision-making (SDM) programme and documentation of goals of care (GoC) for hospitalised patients with LLI. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal interventional study of patients admitted to acute general medicine wards in an Australian tertiary hospital over 5 years was conducted. A SDM programme with a new GoC form, communication training and clinical support was implemented. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a documented person-centred GoC discussion (PCD). Clinical outcomes included hospital utilisation and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: 1343 patients were included. The proportion of patients with PCDs increased from 0% to 35.4% (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 2.38; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.01-2.82; P < 0.001). During this time, median hospital length of stay decreased from 8 days (interquartile range (IQR), 4-14) to 6 days (IQR, 3-11) (adjusted estimate effect, -0.38; 95% CI, -0.64 to -0.11; P = 0.005) and rapid response team activation from 28% to 13% (aOR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.78-0.97; P value = 0.01). Documented treatment preference of high-dependency unit care decreased from 39.7% to 24.4% (aOR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.73-0.89; P value < 0.001), and ward-based care increased from 31.9% to 55.1% (aOR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.14-1.36; P value < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The implementation of a SDM programme was associated with increased documentation of person-centred GoC, changed patient treatment preference to lower intensity care and reduced hospital utilisation.

iValidate: a communication-based clinical intervention in life-limiting illness.

OBJECTIVES: Report the implementation, user evaluation and key outcome measures of an educational intervention-the iValidate educational programme-designed to improve engagement in shared decision-making by health professionals caring for patients with life-limiting illness (LLI). DESIGN: Prospective, descriptive, cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Health professionals working in acute care settings caring for patients with an LLI. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURED: Participant evaluation of learning outcomes for communication skills and shared decision-making; demographic data of participants attending education workshops; and documentation of patients with LLI goals of management, including patient values and care decision based on area in acute care and seniority of doctor. RESULTS: The programme was well accepted by participants. Participant evaluations demonstrated self-reported improved confidence in the areas of patient identification, information gathering to ascertain patient values and shared decision-making. There was strong agreement with the course-enhanced knowledge of core communication skills and advanced skills such as discussing mismatched agendas. CONCLUSIONS: We described the educational pedagogy, implementation and key outcome measures of the iValidate education programme, an intervention designed to improve person-centred care for patients with an LLI. A targeted education programme could produce cultural and institutional change for vulnerable populations within a healthcare institution. A concurrent research programme suggests effectiveness within the current service and the potential for transferability.

Non-spouse companions accompanying older adults to medical visits: a qualitative analysis.

BACKGROUND: Medical Visit Companions (MVCs) are encouraged for older adults' routine medical encounters. Little data exist on the experiences and contributions of non-spouse companions for the growing population of older adults without a living spouse. METHODS: We conducted six focus groups with forty non-spouse MVCs identified through churches in Baltimore, Maryland. Thematic analysis was used to identify key issues before the visit, during the visit itself, after the visit, and in the overall companion experience. RESULTS: MVCs described their experiences positively but also highlighted many challenges related to the role that extended far beyond the visit itself. These included scheduling, transportation, communication, and coordination of care expectations. CONCLUSION: Our increasingly complex healthcare system can be challenging for older adults to navigate successfully. The diverse nature of tasks performed by companions in this study highlight the many benefits of having a companion accompany older patients to medical visits. The positive experience of the companions studied and their willingness to continue their role in the future highlights the untapped potential for increased social facilitation to improve the quality of healthcare visits and achieve patient-centered care for all older patients.

Health Ministry and Activities in African American Faith-Based Organizations: A Qualitative Examination of Facilitators, Barriers, and Use of Technology.

African American faith-based organizations (FBOs) play an important role in addressing health disparities. Increasingly, churches offer health fairs, screenings, or education through health ministries. However, little is known about linking these organizations with evidence-based interventions (EBIs) developed by research. This study explored 1) factors that facilitate or impede health ministry activities, including the adoption of EBIs, and 2) opportunities to use technology to support/enhance the capacity of FBOs to sustain health-related activities. We conducted 18 key informant interviews with African American pastors and FBO leaders and six focus groups with members. A popular health ministry strategy was distribution of print materials. There was limited awareness of EBIs and how to access them. Challenges included maintaining qualified volunteers, financial resources, and technical assistance needs. Participants used technology and social media but older adults did so less often. Findings have implications for dissemination/implementation research in FBOs, in relation to the translational continuum.

Homicide Among American Indians/Alaska Natives, 1999-2009: Implications for Public Health Interventions.

OBJECTIVE: We determined estimates of homicide among American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) compared with non-Hispanic white people to characterize disparities and improve AI/AN classification in incidence and mortality reporting. METHODS: We linked 1999-2009 death certificate data with Indian Health Service (IHS) patient registration data to examine death rates from homicide among AI/AN and non-Hispanic white people. Our analysis focused primarily on residents of IHS Contract Health Service Delivery Area counties and excluded Hispanic people to avoid underestimation of incidence and mortality in AI/ANs and for consistency in our comparisons. We used age-adjusted death rates per 100,000 population and stratified our analyses by sex, age, and IHS region. RESULTS: Death rates per 100,000 population from homicide were four times higher among AI/ANs (rate = 12.1) than among white people (rate = 2.8). Homicide rates for AI/ANs were highest in the Southwest (25.6 and 6.9 for males and females, respectively) and in Alaska (17.7 and 10.3 for males and females, respectively). Disparities between AI/ANs and non-Hispanic white people were highest in the Northern Plains region among men (rate ratio [RR] = 9.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 8.5, 11.3) and among those aged 25-44 years (RR59.0, 95% CI 7.5, 10.7) and 0-24 years (RR57.4, 95% CI 6.1, 8.9). CONCLUSION: Death rates from homicide among AI/ANs were higher than previously reported and varied by sex, age, and region. Violence prevention efforts involving a range of stakeholders are needed at the community level to address this important public health issue.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Delivery of the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health II Intervention.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there are racial and ethnicity group differences in Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH II) intervention delivery. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Community-based intervention delivered at five sites across the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Family caregivers of persons with dementia who were randomized to the active intervention condition (N = 323). INTERVENTION: Nine in-home sessions (90 minutes each) and three telephone sessions (30 minutes each) were intended to be delivered and designed to reduce caregiver burden and depression, improve caregiver self-care and social support, and help caregivers manage behavior problems in persons with dementia. MEASUREMENTS: Interventionists recorded the type of intervention (home or telephone), start and stop times, and whether specific intervention content modules (e.g., stress management, social support) were administered in each session. RESULTS: Overall, REACH II intervention delivery was high, with more than 80% of randomized caregivers completing at least five in-home sessions and receiving eight or more hours of intervention contact, but black caregivers completed fewer in-home sessions (mean 6.98) than Hispanics (mean 7.84) or whites (mean 8.25) and received less total intervention contact time (mean 683 minutes) than Hispanics (mean 842 minutes) or whites (mean 798 minutes). No significant differences in exposure to content according to race or ethnicity were found after controlling for demographic covariates. CONCLUSION: Blacks in REACH II received significantly less intervention contact. Similar multicomponent interventions should examine whether there are systematic differences in intervention delivery across specific demographic subgroups and explore implications for treatment outcomes.