A scoping review of theories used to investigate clinician adherence to clinical practice guidelines

'How are we going to harm the next trauma patient?' Trauma care providers' perspective on potential harm to trauma patients

Background

The question, "How will the next patient be harmed?" is a component of strategies used to identify latent safety risks in healthcare. We sought to survey a broad audience attending the 2023 annual conference of the American College of Surgeons-Trauma Quality Improvement Program to record their perception of the risks that might lead to patient harm at their own trauma centers.

Methods

Attendees were surveyed with a single free-text question "How are we going to harm the next patient?" using a quick response code. All responses were categorized into clustered themes. To report the results using a standardized reporting taxonomy, the responses were also classified according to the Joint Commission (JC) patient safety event taxonomy for near misses and adverse events. Results were reported as counts and as proportions of responders.

Results

During the 3-day duration of the conference, 64 participants provided 80 responses. Provider-related risk (n=16, 25.0%) was the most commonly reported category, followed closely by practice management guideline related (n=14, 21.9%) and communication gaps or failures (n=12, 18.8%). "Clinical performance" was the most commonly reported subclassification in the main category "type" of the JC patient safety event taxonomy (n=34, 53.1%), followed by patient management (n=30, 46.9%). "Human error" was the most common subclassification in the main category "cause" (n=48, 75.0%).

Conclusions

Human failures, rather than systems issues, were perceived to be responsible for the majority of potential harm in trauma patients by a broad audience of trauma care providers. These results require amplified focus on strategies that decrease the impact of the human element while enhancing process standardization and addressing barriers to the implementation of processes and guidelines. It might also suggest an opportunity to bring forward alternative conceptual frameworks to advance safety in trauma care.

Factors influencing the implementation and adherence to volume-based enteral feeding protocols in the critical care setting: A scoping review

OBJECTIVE

Delivery of enteral nutrition is an essential component of care for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU); however, patients only receive approximately 60% of prescribed enteral nutrition. Volume-based feeding (VBF) has been demonstrated as a safe and effective strategy to catch up for missed delivery of enteral nutrition. The aim of this review was to investigate factors influencing the adherence and implementation of VBF in the adult critical care and high-dependency unit settings to inform future implementation of VBF protocols in the ICU.

METHODS

Systematic searches of databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Emcare) and grey literature repositories (TROVE, TRIP, CPG Infobase, WorldCat, and Google) were conducted to identify original research studies including adults admitted to the ICU, where VBF or catch-up feeding protocols were in place. Studies reporting on barriers, enablers, and acceptability or adherence to VBF protocols were included.

RESULTS

A total of 28 studies involving 7057 participants were eligible for inclusion, of which 19 were conducted in the USA, seven in Canada, one in the UK, and one in Australia. Factors enabling the implementation of VBF included management support, multidisciplinary team engagement, a project team, multimodal education, and communication strategies. Embedding the protocol into current work systems increased success. Barriers included a culture of deprioritising nutrition, safety concerns, staff turnover, and failure to embed the changes into work systems including the electronic medical record. VBF was considered acceptable to ICU staff; however, adherence to VBF protocols was variable (between 32.1% and 90%).

CONCLUSION

Successful implementation of a VBF protocol is enabled by strong project leadership, staff education, team engagement, and embedding VBF into current work processes. VBF is acceptable to staff; however, continuous education is recommended to sustain change in practice. Implementation of VBF should be considered as part of an "enhanced" feeding strategy in the ICU setting.

REGISTRATION

The protocol was developed and registered a priori on Open Science Framework on 8th August 2023 (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/8DJKY).

A Call to Action for Anticoagulation Stewardship to Address Suboptimal Thromboprophylaxis Practices for at-Risk Non-Orthopedic Surgical Patients in Vietnam: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Methods Study

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the current practices of VTE prophylaxis in patients undergoing abdominal-pelvic surgery (PAS) and to identify the factors that influence surgeons' practice of VTE prophylaxis.

Patients and Methods

This two-phase explanatory sequential mixed-method study used chart audits followed by semi-structured interviews based on the theoretical domain framework (TDF). During Phase I, quantitative data from 240 medical records of patients with PAS in April 2023 were audited to measure adherence rates to the standard thromboprophylaxis guidelines. In Phase II, in-depth interviews with 16 surgeons were conducted and analyzed using thematic content analysis based on the TDF framework to understand the determinants of thromboprophylaxis in patients with PAS.

Results

Audits of 240 medical records of patients showed the rate of appropriate prophylactic methods was low (11.7%). For patients on anticoagulant prophylaxis, adherence rates regarding drug selection and dosage were high (100% and 89.3%, respectively), whereas adherence rates regarding time of initiation and length of prophylaxis were low (50% and 28.6%, respectively). A qualitative analysis identified 12 theoretical domains relevant to thromboprophylaxis practices among surgeons. The most encountered barriers included concerns about bleeding risk, resource issues, low beliefs about preventive benefits for certain patients with PAS, inadequate knowledge and training, and a lack of protocol and policy. The most encountered enablers included positive beliefs in prophylaxis benefits, mandatory policy and computerized supportive tools, thromboprophylaxis set as patient safety goals, leadership and multidisciplinary working, and training.

Conclusion

Significant quality gaps were present in VTE prevention practice for abdominal-pelvic surgical patients, and multiple coexisting factors prevented the full adoption of practice standards. The implementation of an anticoagulation stewardship program is essential for addressing practical issues.

Evidence for return to work following complex orthopaedic injury - a scoping review

BACKGROUND

The rates of return to work (RTW) following complex orthopaedic injury are low. No review has summarised current knowledge and prognostic factors for RTW in these patients.

OBJECTIVES

This scoping review presents the nature and the extent of current research evidence for the prognostic factors of RTW following complex orthopaedic injury.

METHODS

This review was designed using the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Online databases were searched for articles (1969-2023) which covered: return to work, complex orthopaedic injury, and prognostic factors. Complex orthopaedic injury is defined as multiple fractures, open fractures, high energy pelvic injuries or polytrauma with related orthopaedic injury. Data were extracted and placed into an evidence table.

RESULTS

Eleven studies were eligible for inclusion. All but one were prospective cohort in design with small patient numbers. There was a skew for studies of open tibial fractures. There was limited breadth of tested prognostic factors. The only commonly reported statistically significant prognostic factors were age, ISS classification and nature of work. Endpoints for RTW ranged from 3 months to 8 years, preventing the pooling of data for meta-analyses.

CONCLUSION

In summary, there is a limited understanding of prognostic factors for RTW following complex orthopaedic injury. Estimates for RTW following these injuries range from 16-90%. The authors recommend that future studies take a holistic approach, using the biopsychosocial model, when investigating prognostic factors for RTW in these patients. This study offers guidance on qualitative investigation, investigative variables and mechanisms to achieve this.

Trends in pharmacological prescriptions and polypharmacy for personality disorders: a 10-year cross-sectional analysis of naturalistic data

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to examine trends in prescribing practices for individuals diagnosed with personality disorders (PD) over a 10-year period in a major metropolitan area in Sweden. Our aim was to assess the alignment of prescribing patterns with national clinical guidelines.

METHODS

A register analysis was conducted on 26,520 pharmacological prescriptions from patients' Electronic Health Records (EHRs), documented between January 2011 and December 2020. The study compared the annual proportion of prescriptions across various psychotropic medication classes over time between individuals diagnosed with PD alone and those diagnosed with PD and co-occurring clinical conditions. Additionally, polypharmacy (≥ 3 psychiatric medications) was investigated in both groups.

RESULTS

The proportion of individuals diagnosed with PD alone who received medication increased significantly over the study period. No significant changes were observed in polypharmacy, which remained prevalent in both groups. In the PD alone group, significant negative trends were observed in prescriptions for antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and benzodiazepine derivatives, while stimulant prescriptions rose significantly. In contrast, non-benzodiazepine sedatives and antipsychotics increased significantly in the group with co-occurring conditions.

CONCLUSION

Our study indicates mixed adherence to Swedish national prescribing guidelines for PD. While there was alignment with recommendations, such as reduced benzodiazepine use, challenges remain in addressing polypharmacy and the prescribing of medications without clear indications, particularly in individuals without comorbidities. These findings emphasize the need for improved diagnostic accuracy, ongoing clinician education, and the integration of prescribing data with diagnostic and treatment records. Future research should explore prescribing practices across various clinical settings and assess the influence of psychopharmacological trends on prescribing, while also defining polypharmacy in the context of personality disorders to guide clinical practice.

Barriers and facilitators of adherence to clinical practice guidelines in Germany-A systematic review

RATIONALE

Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) represent evidence-based tools designed to assist healthcare practitioners and patients in decisions in clinical practice. Evidence supports the clinical benefits of adhering to CPGs. However, their successful implementation and adherence in clinical settings often encounter challenges.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This systematic review aimed to explore barriers and facilitators influencing adherence to CPGs in Germany.

METHOD

The protocol of this study was registered in the Open Science Framework (OSF) registry (DOI: 10.17605/OSF. IO/GMFUB). In November 2022 we searched on PubMed and Embase for primary studies employing qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods approaches that focus on barriers or facilitators to CPGs adherence in the Germany. Two reviewers independently screened articles, extracted data, and evaluated the quality of the studies. The collected data on barriers and facilitators of CPG adherence were systematically categorized and analyzed using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF).

RESULTS

A total of 24 studies were included, mainly focusing on adherence to national CPGs. This review introduces a new domain, guideline characteristics, reflecting the need to address barriers and facilitators to CPG development, implementation, dissemination and format, which couldn't be encompassed within the existing 14 domains of TDF framework. Among healthcare professionals, the most frequently reported influencing factors were related to the environmental context and resources (encompassing aspects such as employer support for CPG utilization), the CPG development and dissemination process (including layout, wording, and interactive tools) and beliefs about consequences (such as contradictions with practical experience). Knowledge (knowledge about the content of CPGs, awareness about published CPGs), primarily as a barrier, and reinforcement facilitators (notably financial support), were also frequently reported.

CONCLUSION

The findings revealed multilevel factors contributing to CPG adherence, with environmental context and resources emerging as the most frequently reported considerations. This systematic review offer holistic insights into the barriers and facilitators of CPG adherence in Germany. The results contribute to a better understanding of the topic and serve as a resource for developing targeted strategies to enhance CPG adherence and implementation within the German healthcare system.

Implementation of a Novel Seizure Assessment Tool for Unified Seizure Evaluation Improves Nurse Response

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Ictal and postictal testing is an essential aspect of clinical care when diagnosing and treating seizures. The epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) has standard operating procedures for nursing care during and after seizure events, but there is limited interrater reliability. Streamlining ictal and postictal testing processes may enhance care consistency for patients in the EMU unit. The purpose of this study was to create an ictal and postictal seizure assessment tool that would increase the consistency of nursing assessment for EMU patients. METHODS: This prospective study had 4 phases: baseline assessment, instrument development, staff education, and field testing. During baseline assessment, an advanced practice provider and an epilepsy fellow graded nurse ictal and postictal assessment via survey questions. After instrument development, education, and implementation, the same survey was administered to determine if nursing consistency in assessing seizure events improved. The tool used in this study was created by a team of clinical experts to ensure consistency in the assessment of seizure patients. RESULTS: A total of 58 first seizure events were collected over a 6-month intervention period; 27 in the pretest and 31 in the posttest. Paired t test analyses revealed significant improvement in the clinical testing domains of verbal language function ( P < .005), motor function ( P < .0005), and item assessment order ( P < .005) postintervention. There was nonsignificant improvement in the domains of responsiveness (feeling [ P = .597], using a code word [ P = .093]) and visual language function ( P = .602). CONCLUSION: The data captured in this study support the need for this instrument. There is strong need to increase consistency in assessing seizure events and to promote continued collaboration among clinical teams to enhance care to EMU patients. Validation of this instrument will further improve team collaboration by allowing nurses to contribute to their fullest extent.

The implementation of the guideline for the management of pediatric off-label use of drugs in China: a cross-sectional study

Background

Previously, we developed the Guidelines for the Management of Pediatric Off-Label Use of Drugs in China in addressing the need for standardization of pediatric off-label drug use. As the implementation of recommendations in Guidelines among healthcare professionals is weak, it is important to identify barriers to guideline implementation for developing appropriate strategies for specific settings and target groups. This study aimed to assess the difficulty and urgency in implementing the recommendations in the Guideline, identifying the factors affecting the implementation of these recommendations to realize the clinical translation of the Guideline.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 1 to June 17, 2022. Pediatricians, pharmacists, and health managers from all 31 mainland Chinese provinces were involved. The electronic questionnaires were distributed nationwide by The Clinical Pharmacology Group of the Pediatric Society of the Chinese Medical Association and the National Clinical Research Center for Child Health. Data analysis, including frequency, percentages, averages, and standard deviations was performed using Microsoft Excel 16.54. Chi-squared tests, multi-factor logistic regression, and linear regression were analyzed in SPSS 23.0. A Sankey diagram was constructed using R software.

Results

A total of 869 valid questionnaires were collected from 491 participating organizations. More than half of the recommendations were implemented, and 12 recommendations were implemented more in tertiary hospitals than in secondary hospitals. The mean urgency scores of all 21 recommendations were over 5. The mean difficulty scores of all 21 recommendations were over 4. The percentage of the most urgent was 44.33%, and the least urgent was 1.45%. The most difficult portion was 12.03%, and the least difficult was 5.74%. Factors impacting the urgency and difficulty of guideline implementation were different, with common influences including the position, education level of clinicians and hospital level.

Conclusions

The recommendations in the Guideline for the Management of Pediatric Off-Label Use of Drugs are considered highly urgent for implementation in China. Nevertheless, the study revealed challenges in applying all 21 recommendations within clinical practice. The key factors affecting implementation include the position, education, experience, and hospital level of healthcare professionals. It is recommended to facilitate implementing the recommendations by sharing experience across various hospital levels, starting from high-level hospitals and extending to primary healthcare settings. Moreover, adjustments to the professional structure within hospitals are needed to enhance the management of off-label drug use in pediatric patients.

Index admission cholecystectomy for biliary acute pancreatitis or choledocholithiasis reduces 30-day readmission rates in children

BACKGROUND

Adult patients with biliary acute pancreatitis (BAP) or choledocholithiasis who do not undergo cholecystectomy on index admission have worse outcomes. Given the paucity of data on the impact of cholecystectomy during index hospitalization in children, we examined readmission rates among pediatric patients with BAP or choledocholithiasis who underwent index cholecystectomy versus those who did not.

METHODS

Retrospective study of children (< 18 years old) admitted with BAP, without infection or necrosis (ICD-10 K85.10), or choledocholithiasis (K80.3x-K80.7x) using the 2018 National Readmission Database (NRD). Exclusion criteria were necrotizing pancreatitis with or without infected necrosis and death during index admission. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with 30-day readmission.

RESULTS

In 2018, 1122 children were admitted for index BAP (n = 377, 33.6%) or choledocholithiasis (n = 745, 66.4%). Mean age at admission was 13 (SD 4.2) years; most patients were female (n = 792, 70.6%). Index cholecystectomy was performed in 663 (59.1%) of cases. Thirty-day readmission rate was 10.9% in patients who underwent cholecystectomy during that index admission and 48.8% in those who did not (p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, patients who underwent index cholecystectomy had lower odds of 30-day readmission than those who did not (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.11-0.24, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Index cholecystectomy was performed in only 59% of pediatric patients admitted with BAP or choledocholithiasis but was associated with 84% decreased odds of readmission within 30 days. Current guidelines should be updated to reflect these findings, and future studies should evaluate barriers to index cholecystectomy.

Investigating physicians' views on non-formulary prescribing: a qualitative study using the theoretical domains framework

BACKGROUND

Well-designed and well-maintained drug formularies serve as a reliable resource to guide prescribing decisions; they are associated with improved medicine safety and increased efficiency, while also serving as a cost-effective tool to help manage and predict medicine expenditure. Multiple studies have investigated the inappropriate prescribing of non-formulary drugs (NFDs) with statistics indicating that up to 70% of NFD usage being inappropriate or not following the ascribed NFD policies.

AIM

To explore physicians' views and influences on their prescribing of non-formulary drugs.

METHOD

Data collection and analysis were underpinned using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted within Hamad Medical Corporation, the main provider of secondary and tertiary healthcare in Qatar, with physicians who had submitted a NFD request in the preceding 12 months.

RESULTS

Three overarching themes were identified: providing evidence-based care for individual patients; influences of others; and formulary management issues. Subthemes were mapped to specific TDF domains: environmental context and resources; social influences; professional role and identity; beliefs about consequences; goals; intentions.

CONCLUSION

The behavioral influences identified in this study can be mapped to behavior change strategies facilitating the development of an intervention to promote appropriate prescribing of NFDs with implications for medicine safety and healthcare efficiency.

The Treatment of Pediatric Pain in Spain: A Survey Study

Pain is a common experience among children and adolescents, and pain management in this population is a challenge to clinicians. The aims of this study were to increase our understanding of current practices in the management of both acute and chronic pediatric pain in Spain, explore potential barriers to ideal practices, and identify professional needs as perceived by healthcare professionals. A total of 277 healthcare professionals took part, all of whom had wide experience in managing children and adolescents with pain (M [SD] age = 44.85, [10.73]; 75% women). Participants had to respond to a web-based survey with 50 questions related to pain education, organizational characteristics of their pain programs (including the characteristics of the patients treated), and current practices in the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with pain. Almost all the participants (93%) acknowledged important gaps in their training, and only 47% reported that they had received specific education on the management of pediatric pain during their undergraduate and postgraduate studies. A third (31%) were members of multidisciplinary teams, and almost all (99%) understood that protocols to guide the management of pain in young people were necessary. However, only a few of them used a protocol to assess and treat (56% and 48%, respectively) acute and chronic pain (24% and 23%, respectively). The data also showed that a lack of pain education, coordination of professionals, and guidelines was perceived as an important barrier in the care provided to children and adolescents with pain in Spain. The findings of this study can now be used by healthcare professionals in Spain interested in managing pediatric pain, as well as policymakers concerned to improve the education of professionals and the care given to young people with pain.