Validity and reliability of the Patient Centred Assessment Method for patient complexity and relationship with hospital length of stay: a prospective cohort study

Biopsychosocial complexity in patients scheduled for elective TKA surgery: A feasibility pilot study with the INTERMED self-assessment questionnaire

OBJECTIVE

Primary aim; to determine the feasibility of implementation of the INTERMED Self-Assessment (IM-SA) in adult patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Secondary aim; to measure biopsychosocial complexity, referral to psychiatry or psychology in cases of complexity and to gain insight into the relation between biopsychosocial complexity and length of stay (LOS), method of discharge (MOD) and polypharmacy.

METHODS

A feasibility study was conducted with 76 participants in a general hospital in the Netherlands. Feasibility was determined by the number of completed questionnaires, time spent completing the questionnaire and the attitude of staff and patients towards the IM-SA. A cut off point ≥19 on the IM-SA was used to determine the prevalence of biopsychosocial complexity. A case file study was performed to check if referral to psychiatry or psychology had taken place. The Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient or Phi was used to determine if there was a relation between biopsychosocial complexity and LOS, MOD and polypharmacy.

RESULTS

All participants completed the IM-SA. The average time spent completing the questionnaire was 11.46 min (SD 5.74). The attitude towards the IM-SA was positive. The prevalence of biopsychosocial complexity was 11.84%. Referral to psychiatry or psychology did not take place. There was no relation between complexity and LOS (Spearman's rho (r) = 0.079, p = 0.499, MOD (Phi = 0.169, p = 0.173) and polypharmacy (Phi = 0.007, p = 0.953).

CONCLUSION

Biopsychosocial complexity can be identified in TKA patients during the pre-operative phase by using the IM-SA. Implementation of the IM-SA in a Dutch general hospital is feasible.

Supporting professionals to implement integrated, person-centered care for people with chronic conditions: the TARGET pilot study

OBJECTIVE

The TARGET program for integrated, person-centered care for people with chronic conditions offers primary care (PC) professionals a set of tools and trainings to actively engage in population segmentation and person-centered needs assessments (PCNAs). A pilot study was conducted to gain insight into the program's feasibility and acceptability, and identify preconditions for successful implementation.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Seven Dutch PC practices participated in a half-year pilot study starting in August 2020. We performed a review of the population segmentation tool, observed four training sessions and 15 PCNAs, and interviewed 15 professionals and 12 patients.

RESULTS

Regarding feasibility and acceptability, we found that the tools and trainings provided professionals with skills to use the segmentation tool and take a more coaching role in the well-appreciated PCNAs. Concerning implementation preconditions, we found that team commitment and network connections need improvement, although work pleasure increased and professionals generally wanted the program to continue.

CONCLUSIONS

While the content of the TARGET program is supported by its users, the implementation process, for instance team commitment to the program, needs more attention in future upscaling efforts.

Hospital length of stay prediction tools for all hospital admissions and general medicine populations: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Unwarranted extended length of stay (LOS) increases the risk of hospital-acquired complications, morbidity, and all-cause mortality and needs to be recognized and addressed proactively.

Objective

This systematic review aimed to identify validated prediction variables and methods used in tools that predict the risk of prolonged LOS in all hospital admissions and specifically General Medicine (GenMed) admissions.

Method

LOS prediction tools published since 2010 were identified in five major research databases. The main outcomes were model performance metrics, prediction variables, and level of validation. Meta-analysis was completed for validated models. The risk of bias was assessed using the PROBAST checklist.

Results

Overall, 25 all admission studies and 14 GenMed studies were identified. Statistical and machine learning methods were used almost equally in both groups. Calibration metrics were reported infrequently, with only 2 of 39 studies performing external validation. Meta-analysis of all admissions validation studies revealed a 95% prediction interval for theta of 0.596 to 0.798 for the area under the curve. Important predictor categories were co-morbidity diagnoses and illness severity risk scores, demographics, and admission characteristics. Overall study quality was deemed low due to poor data processing and analysis reporting.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic review assessing the quality of risk prediction models for hospital LOS in GenMed and all admissions groups. Notably, both machine learning and statistical modeling demonstrated good predictive performance, but models were infrequently externally validated and had poor overall study quality. Moving forward, a focus on quality methods by the adoption of existing guidelines and external validation is needed before clinical application.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42021272198.

Hospital length of stay prediction for general surgery and total knee arthroplasty admissions: Systematic review and meta-analysis of published prediction models

Objective

Systematic review of length of stay (LOS) prediction models to assess the study methods (including prediction variables), study quality, and performance of predictive models (using area under receiver operating curve (AUROC)) for general surgery populations and total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Method

LOS prediction models published since 2010 were identified in five major research databases. The main outcomes were model performance metrics including AUROC, prediction variables, and level of validation. Risk of bias was assessed using the PROBAST checklist.

Results

Five general surgery studies (15 models) and 10 TKA studies (24 models) were identified. All general surgery and 20 TKA models used statistical approaches; 4 TKA models used machine learning approaches. Risk scores, diagnosis, and procedure types were predominant predictors used. Risk of bias was ranked as moderate in 3/15 and high in 12/15 studies. Discrimination measures were reported in 14/15 and calibration measures in 3/15 studies, with only 4/39 externally validated models (3 general surgery and 1 TKA). Meta-analysis of externally validated models (3 general surgery) suggested the AUROC 95% prediction interval is excellent and ranges between 0.803 and 0.970.

Conclusion

This is the first systematic review assessing quality of risk prediction models for prolonged LOS in general surgery and TKA groups. We showed that these risk prediction models were infrequently externally validated with poor study quality, typically related to poor reporting. Both machine learning and statistical modelling methods, plus the meta-analysis, showed acceptable to good predictive performance, which are encouraging. Moving forward, a focus on quality methods and external validation is needed before clinical application.

Evaluation of Complexity Measurement Tools for Correlations with Health-Related Outcomes, Health Care Costs and Impacts on Healthcare Providers: A Scoping Review

Various tools to measure patient complexity have been developed. Primary care physicians often deal with patient complexity. However, their usefulness in primary care settings is unclear. This study explored complexity measurement tools in general adult and patient populations to investigate the correlations between patient complexity and outcomes, including health-related patient outcomes, healthcare costs, and impacts on healthcare providers. We used a five-stage scoping review framework, searching MEDLINE and CINAHL, including reference lists of identified studies. A total of 21 patient complexity management tools were found. Twenty-five studies examined the correlation between patient complexity and health-related patient outcomes, two examined healthcare costs, and one assessed impacts on healthcare providers. No studies have considered sharing information or action plans with multidisciplinary teams while measuring outcomes for complex patients. Of the tools, eleven used face-to-face interviews, seven extracted data from medical records, and three used self-assessments. The evidence of correlations between patient complexity and outcomes was insufficient for clinical implementation. Self-assessment tools might be convenient for conducting further studies. A multidisciplinary approach is essential to develop effective intervention protocols. Further research is required to determine these correlations in primary care settings.

Effect of COVID-19 inpatients with cognitive decline on discharge after the quarantine period: A retrospective cohort study

Background

A new SARS-CoV-2 variant, Omicron, was reported on November 14, 2021, and it altered the COVID-19 epidemic with a different peak timing by region in Japan. Residents in the Hiroshima prefecture, especially the vulnerable elderly, were threatened by this wave in advance of many other prefectures. We evaluated the effect of cognitive decline on discharge extension after the quarantine period.

Methods

Participants of this retrospective cohort study were patients who were admitted to the care unit for COVID-19 treatment at Hiroshima University Hospital between January 1, 2022, and March 1, 2022 (60 days). Our primary outcome was the extended length of stay (LOS) in the hospital after the quarantine period (10 days after onset). A negative binomial regression analysis was performed to assess the extended LOS of patients with cognitive decline, adjusting for age classification, gender, and severity of COVID-19.

Results

The total number of participants was 74. Per the level of cognitive function, there were 56 independent participants, 5 mild declines, and 13 severe declines. For the negative binomial regression analysis, the exponentiated coefficient of mild cognitive decline was 3.05 (95% confidential interval [CI]: 1.43-6.49) and that of severe cognitive decline was 1.95 (95% CI: 1.09-3.53).

Conclusions

Mild cognitive decline and severe cognitive decline elevated the risk of extended LOS after COVID-19 patients finished the quarantine period.

Structural validity and internal consistency of the Patient Centred Assessment Method in a primary care setting in a Japanese island area: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to examine the structural validity and internal consistency of the original English version of the Patient Centred Assessment Method (PCAM) in a primary care setting in a Japanese island area.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

A clinic on a remote island in Okinawa, Japan, that provides general outpatient and 24-hour emergency services.

PARTICIPANTS

This study included 355 patients who visited Tarama Clinic from 1 April 2018 to 30 June 2018, were aged ≥20 years, lived in Tarama Village and had decision-making capacity.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Patient complexity scored by the PCAM.

RESULTS

The mean (SD) PCAM score was 21.4 (5.7). The distribution was skewed to the right and there were no ceiling and floor effects. Confirmatory factor analysis found that the previously reported two-factor and three-factor structures did not show a good fit (root mean square error of approximation 0.18 and 0.16, comparative fit index 0.83 and 0.89 and standardised root mean square residual 0.14 and 0.11, respectively). Exploratory factor analysis revealed a new two-factor structure: 'Biomedical complexity' and 'Psychosocial complexity'. The Cronbach's alpha values for the total PCAM score, the 'Biomedical complexity' factor, and the 'Psychosocial complexity' factor were 0.81, 0.82 and 0.74, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, confirmatory factor analysis found that the data did not fit sufficiently using the previously reported two-factor and three-factor structures. Instead, exploratory factor analysis revealed a new two-factor structure, for which the Cronbach's alpha values exceeded the threshold level. Therefore, the structural validity and internal consistency of the English version of the PCAM were verified in a primary care setting in a Japanese island area.

Definition of patient complexity in adults: A narrative review

Background

Better identification of complex patients could help to improve their care. However, the definition of patient complexity itself is far from obvious. We conducted a narrative review to identify, describe, and synthesize the definitions of patient complexity used in the last 25 years.

Methods

We searched PubMed for articles published in English between January 1995 and September 2020, defining patient complexity. We extended the search to the references of the included articles. We assessed the domains presented in the definitions, and classified the definitions as based on (1) medical aspects (e.g., number of conditions) or (2) medical and/or non-medical aspects (e.g., socio-economic status). We assessed whether the definition was based on a tool (e.g., index) or conceptual model.

Results

Among 83 articles, there was marked heterogeneity in the patient complexity definitions. Domains contributing to complexity included health, demographics, behavior, socio-economic factors, healthcare system, medical decision-making, and environment. Patient complexity was defined according to medical aspects in 30 (36.1%) articles, and to medical and/or non-medical aspects in 53 (63.9%) articles. A tool was used in 36 (43.4%) articles, and a conceptual model in seven (8.4%) articles.

Conclusion

A consensus concerning the definition of patient complexity was lacking. Most definitions incorporated non-medical factors in the definition, underlining the importance of accounting not only for medical but also for non-medical aspects, as well as for their interrelationship.

The Patient Centered Assessment Method (PCAM) for Action-Based Biopsychosocial Evaluation of Patient Needs: Validation and Perceived Value of the Dutch Translation

The Patient Centered Assessment Method (PCAM) is an action-based tool that supports professionals to engage in a biopsychosocial assessment with patients and measure their needs. It is a promising tool for person-centered care. As the Netherlands lacks such a tool, a Dutch version was developed. Furthermore, we aimed to contribute to the relatively limited insights into the psychometric properties and value of the tool when used as part of a needs assessment in primary care. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to study construct validity and Cronbach’s alpha was computed to assess reliability. Furthermore, we interviewed 15 primary care professionals who used the PCAM. It was confirmed that each PCAM domain measures a separate construct, informed by the biopsychosocial model. The tool showed adequate reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.83). Despite face validity concerns, the tool was mainly valued for measurement of patient needs and to facilitate action planning. Criticism of the PCAM pertained to a limited focus on the patient perspective, which is one of the crucial aspects of person-centered care. These rich, mixed-method insights can help to improve the value of the PCAM, as one of the few multifunctional tools to support professionals in holistic assessments.

The development of pathways for responding to patient complexity in a liaison psychiatry setting

OBJECTIVES

The aims were to develop and operationalise a method of identifying patients at increased risk of adverse outcomes due to clinical and systems complexity within consultation-liaison psychiatry (CLP), and to formalise escalation processes for enhanced input with targeted clinical and organisational support.

METHODS

The literature pertaining to methods for identifying and responding to complexity in general hospital settings was reviewed. An Escalation Tool operationalising the identification of complexity and response pathways was devised and tested. Feedback on the face validity and utility guided refinement.

RESULTS

Two established tools that assess complexity, INTERMED and the Patient-Centred Accreditation method (PCAM) and a novel 'episode complexity' screening method, were identified and informed the development of a tool for identifying and responding to complexity, which was then piloted. The tool was deemed useful, notwithstanding variability in scoring.

CONCLUSIONS

The Escalation Tool combined elements of existing measures to identify complexity in general hospital inpatients and guide pathways for action. It was well received and considered feasible for implementation, with local adaptation according to available resources.

Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic variations in hospital length of stay: A state-based analysis

Disparities by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES) exist in rehospitalization rates and inpatient mortality rates. Few studies have examined how length of stay (LOS, a measure of hospital efficiency/quality) differs by race/ethnicity and SES.This study's objective was to determine whether differences in risk-adjusted LOS exist by race/ethnicity and SESUsing a retrospective cohort of 1,432,683 medical and surgical discharges, we compared risk-adjusted LOS, in days, by race/ ethnicity and SES (median household income by patient ZIP code in quartiles), using generalized linear models controlling for demographic and clinical factors, and differences between hospitals and between diagnoses.White patients were on average older than both Black and Hispanic patients, had more chronic conditions, and had a higher inpatient mortality risk. In adjusted analyses, Black patients had a significantly longer LOS than White patients (0.25-day difference when discharged to home and 0.23-day difference when discharged to non-home destinations, both P<.001); there was no difference between Hispanic and White patients. Wealthier patients had a shorter LOS than poorer patients (0.16-day difference when discharged to home and 0.06-day difference when discharged to nonhome destinations, both P<.001). These differences by race/ethnicity reversed for Medicaid patients.Disparities in LOS exist based on a patient's race/ethnicity and SES. Black and poorer patients, but not Hispanic patients, have longer LOS compared to White and wealthier patients. In aggregate, these differences may be related to trust and implicit bias and have implications for use of LOS as a quality metric. Future research should examine the drivers of these disparities.

A scoping Review of tools used to assess patient Complexity in rheumatic disease

OBJECTIVE

Patients with rheumatic diseases often have multiple comorbidities which may impact well-being leading to high psychosocial complexity. This scoping review was undertaken to identify complexity measures/tools used in rheumatology that could help in planning and coordinating care.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL were searched from database inception to 14 December 2019 using keywords and Medical Subject Headings for "care coordination", "complexity" and selected rheumatic diseases and known complexity measures/tools. Articles describing the development or use of complexity measures/tools in patients with adult rheumatologic diagnoses were included regardless of study design. Included articles were evaluated for risk of bias where applicable.

RESULTS

The search yielded 407 articles, 37 underwent full-text review and 2 were identified during a hand search with 9 included articles. Only 2 complexity tools used in populations of adult patients with rheumatic disease were identified: the SLENQ and the INTERMED. The SLENQ is a 97-item patient needs questionnaire developed for patients with systemic lupus (n = 1 study describing tool development) and applied in 5 cross-sectional studies. Three studies (a practice article, trial and a cross-sectional study) applied the INTERMED, a clinical interview to ascertain complexity and support coordinated care, in patients with rheumatologic diagnoses.

CONCLUSIONS

There is limited information on the use of patient complexity measures/tools in rheumatology. Such tools could be applied to coordinate multidisciplinary care and improve patient experience and outcomes.

PATIENT CONTRIBUTION

This scoping review will be presented to patient research partners involved in co-designing a future study on patient complexity in rheumatic disease.

Development and validation of a Japanese version of the Patient Centred Assessment Method and its user guide: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this study was to develop the Japanese version of the Patient Centred Assessment Method (PCAM) and its user guide. The secondary objective was to examine the validity and reliability in the primary care setting.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Three family physician teaching clinics located in urban residential areas in Tokyo, Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients who were aged 20 years or older, and who had an appointment with physicians at the three participating clinics.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Patient complexity measured by PCAM and complexity/burden level measured by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

RESULTS

Although confirmatory factor analysis using a model described in a previous study revealed that the indices did not meet the criteria for good fit, exploratory factor analysis revealed a new three-factor structure of 'Personal well-being,' 'Social interaction' and 'Needs for care/service.' Cronbach's alpha of PCAM was 0.86. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients between PCAM scores and VAS scores were 0.51 for complexity (p<0.001) and 0.41 for burden (p<0.001). There were 42 patients (14.3% of total patients) with PCAM scores greater than its mean of 16.5 but with complexity VAS scores less than its mean of 20.8.

CONCLUSIONS

The Japanese version of PCAM and its user guide were developed through Japanese translation and cultural adaptation by cognitive debriefing. PCAM is a valid and reliable tool to assess patient complexity in the primary care settings in Japan. Additionally, although the correlation between total PCAM scores and complexity/burden as assessed by VAS was moderate, PCAM can more precisely identify patient complexity than skilled physician's intuition.

[Analysis of the reliability of a multidimensional complexity scale instrument (COMID) for home care nurses]

Introduction : The increasingly frequent mention of complexity by different health care actors challenges the measurement of this construct. The COMID, a tool that helps home nurses to identify complex situations, provides a multidimensional and operational definition of complexity.Context : While an acceptability study showed that nurses took a keen interest in the COMID, its psychometric properties have not yet been examined.Objective : This article reports on two studies testing the reliability of the scale.Method : Study 1 focuses on 5,401 COMIDs completed by home care nurses in their usual practice. The internal consistency was estimated using Cronbach's alpha. Study 2 focuses on 38 COMIDs, completed by home care nurses (rater group 1) and specialized nurses (rater group 2). Inter-rater agreement was examined using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).Results : The COMID has an acceptable internal consistency α = 0.797 and an excellent inter-rater agreement ICC = 0.839.Discussion : The metrological properties of the COMID will need to be complemented by an analysis of its validity. Conclusion : The COMID has good measurement accuracy and therefore has good potential for identifying complexity in nursing practice.

Multimorbidity and healthcare resource utilization in Switzerland: a multicentre cohort study

BACKGROUND

Multimorbidity is associated with higher healthcare resource utilization, but we lack data on the association of specific combinations of comorbidities with healthcare resource utilization. We aimed to identify the combinations of comorbidities associated with high healthcare resource utilization among multimorbid medical inpatients.

METHODS

We performed a multicentre retrospective cohort study including 33,871 multimorbid (≥2 chronic diseases) medical inpatients discharged from three Swiss hospitals in 2010-2011. Healthcare resource utilization was measured as 30-day potentially avoidable readmission (PAR), prolonged length of stay (LOS) and difference in median LOS. We identified the combinations of chronic comorbidities associated with the highest healthcare resource utilization and quantified this association using regression techniques.

RESULTS

Three-fourths of the combinations with the strongest association with PAR included chronic kidney disease. Acute and unspecified renal failure combined with solid malignancy was most strongly associated with PAR (OR 2.64, 95%CI 1.79;3.90). Miscellaneous mental health disorders combined with mood disorders was the most strongly associated with LOS (difference in median LOS: 17 days) and prolonged LOS (OR 10.77, 95%CI 8.38;13.84). The number of chronic diseases was strongly associated with prolonged LOS (OR 9.07, 95%CI 8.04;10.24 for ≥10 chronic diseases), and to a lesser extent with PAR (OR 2.16, 95%CI 1.75;2.65 for ≥10 chronic diseases).

CONCLUSIONS

Multimorbidity appears to have a higher impact on LOS than on PAR. Combinations of comorbidities most strongly associated with healthcare utilization included kidney disorders for PAR, and mental health disorders for LOS.

Correlation of patient complexity with the burden for health-related professions, and differences in the burden between the professions at a Japanese regional hospital: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

An ageing society includes high patient complexity. Various biopsychosocial problems result in a high burden for health-related professionals. The direct relationship between the burden and patient complexity, however, has not been reported. We aimed to examine correlations between the burden for the attending physicians and nurses, and Patient Centred Assessment Method (PCAM) scores of patient complexity.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

A regional secondary care hospital in Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

We included all inpatients admitted to our acute care unit between 1 July 2014 and 30 September 2014. Exclusion criteria were age <20 years, refusal to participate in the study and length of stay fixed at the time of admission.

MAIN PREDICTOR

PCAM total score in the initial phase of hospital admission.

MAIN OUTCOME

The burden for each profession (measured on a Visual Analogue Scale).

RESULTS

In total, 201 inpatients participated [female/male=98/103, mean (SD) age of 77.4±11.9 years]. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients between the burden and the PCAM score ranged from 0.23 to 0.32. All p values were <0.05. Multivariate analysis was conducted using multilevel mixed-effects linear regression to determine the association between the burden and the PCAM score in two models. Model 1 used the total PCAM score as the predictive variable. Model 2 used the PCAM factors, patient-oriented complexity and medicine-oriented complexity, as predictive variables. In Model 2, with the burden of physicians, medicine-oriented complexity was statistically significant, whereas with the burden of nurses, both age and patient-oriented complexity were statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

PCAM scores correlated with the burden for physicians and nurses. Individual PCAM factors affected the burden for each profession differently.

Reducing Emergency Room Visits and In-Hospitalizations by Implementing Best Practice for Transitional Care Using Innovative Technology and Big Data

BACKGROUND

Efforts to improve care transitions require coordination across the healthcare continuum and interventions that enhance communication between acute and community settings.

AIMS

To improve post-discharge utilization value using technology to identify high-risk individuals who might benefit from rapid nurse outreach to assess social and behavioral determinants of health with the goal of reducing inpatient and emergency department visits.

METHODS

The project employed a before and after comparison of the intervention site with similar primary care practice sites using population-level Medicaid claims data. The intervention targeted discharged persons with preexisting chronic disease and delivered a care transition alert to a nurse care coordinator for immediate telephonic outreach. The nurse assessed social determinants of health and incorporated problems into the EHR to share across settings. The project evaluated health outcomes and the value of nursing care on existing electronic claims data to compare utilization in the years before and during the intervention using negative binomial regression to account for rare events such as inpatient visits.

RESULTS

Avoiding readmissions and emergency visits, and increasing timely outpatient visits improved the individual's experience of care and the work life of healthcare providers, while reducing per capita costs (Quadruple Aim). In the intervention practice, the nurse care coordinator demonstrated the value of nursing care by reducing inpatient (25%) and emergency (35%) visits, and increasing outpatient visits (27%). The estimated value of avoided encounters over the secular Medicaid trend was $664 per adult with chronic disease, generating $71,289 in revenue from additional outpatient visits.

LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION

Using health information exchange to deliver appropriate and timely evidence-based clinical decision support in the form of care transition alerts and assessment of social determinants of health, in conjunction with data science methods, demonstrates the value of nursing care and resulted in achieving the Quadruple Aim.