The Effectiveness of Patient-Centred Medical Home-Based Models of Care versus Standard Primary Care in Chronic Disease Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised and Non-Randomised Controlled Trials

Two sides of the same coin: person-centred systems versus person-centred nursing practice. Theory, barriers and opportunities

Background

Person-centred care is a well-known concept in nursing practice. It is understood that person-centred care represents a way of providing care, which considers the person's social, emotional and physical health. Person-centred care is tailored care, which meets individual's needs, while also including them in decision-making.

Aims

Despite this, the practice of person-centred care can be stifled by system constraints which impact largely on the nursing profession. This paper aims to explore such challenges, highlighting the disconnect between theory and practice.

Methods

Adapted from the work of Fairclough, this discourse analysis critically reviews a cross section of texts related to person-centred care and offers a critique for discussion.

Results

This paper has found a divergence between person-centred care (system) and person-centred practice (nursing care), highlighting the tension between the theories and practice.

Conclusion and contribution to nursing

This paper highlights not only the challenges but also the opportunities in embedding person-centred care into system design, and considers further changes required to enable nurses to practice care which supports the whole needs of the person. It suggests that leveraging nursing expertise and experience may provide an avenue for system change.

Self-measured leg circumference for the detection of lymphedema among men with prostate cancer: a reliability study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Early lymphedema detection is crucial to timely treatment, and home-based monitoring holds promise for early detection of leg lymphedema among at-risk cancer survivors. We developed a self-measurement protocol for home-based leg circumference measurements and tested its reliability in men with prostate cancer at risk of lymphedema.

PATIENTS/MATERIAL AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study recruited men with prostate cancer from the Department of Urology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. Circumference measurements were taken at four points on both legs, from which leg volume was calculated. Intrarater reliability was assessed by comparing self-measurements taken at home and in the hospital. Interrater reliability was evaluated by comparing hospital self-measurements to those of a blinded physiotherapist. Statistical power required 13 participants for the detection of a good (>0.8) intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

RESULTS

Forty-three men were included (median age 69 [63-76] years). Intrarater reliability (n = 39) was good to excellent for six out of eight measurement points (ICC ≥ 0.79, p < 0.01) and moderate for two (ICC ≥ 0.55, p < 0.01). Intrarater reliability for leg volume was excellent (ICC ≥ 0.96, p < 0.01). Similarly, interrater reliability (n = 23) was excellent for all measurement points and leg volumes (ICC ≥ 0.91, p < 0.01). Forty-one of 43 participants performed the measurements independently, found them easy to do, and were willing to conduct self-measurements if recommended by their doctor.

INTERPRETATION

Self-measured leg circumference among men with prostate cancer is highly reliable and acceptable. This low-cost approach for home-based monitoring for lymphedema offers potential for early detection and timely management of the condition.

Transformation to a Patient Centred Medical Home in an Urban Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service: A Qualitative Study Using Normalisation Process Theory

RATIONALE

The Patient-Centred Medical Home (PCMH) is a model of team-based care that is patient centred, coordinated, accessible, and focused on quality and safety. To learn how this model of healthcare works in an Indigenous primary health care setting in Australia, we explored the experiences of health staff in an urban Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) transitioning to an adapted model of a PCMH. Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) was applied to better understand factors enabling and inhibiting implementation of the PCMH, and the work required to deliver it.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Applying NPT, we aimed to examine enablers and barriers to implementing a PCMH in an ACCHS setting and identify practical strategies to strengthen its implementation and delivery.

METHODS

We employed semi-structured interviews with 19 health staff in an urban ACCHS to explore mechanisms that inhibit and promote the implementation and delivery of a PCMH in their setting. Interview data were analysed using thematic analysis that mapped codes against NPT constructs (Coherence, Cognitive Participation, Collective Action and Reflexive Appraisal) to generate themes.

RESULTS

Five key themes and 14 sub-themes related to NPT constructs were identified. Broadly, health staff found the model of the PCMH to be coherent, engaged with others to adapt their roles, and worked collectively to embed new practices. Characteristics and practice norms of the clinic already aligned with the PCMH model were key enablers. Barriers were related to inadequate resourcing and ill-defined roles. Stronger leadership and support, practical learning resources for staff, workforce mapping to better define staff roles, and training to address gaps in staff skills were strategies identified for strengthening implementation of a PCMH and sustaining its delivery in the ACCHS setting.

CONCLUSIONS

Applying NPT revealed the characteristics and practice norms of Indigenous community controlled health care as key enablers of implementing a PCMH in an urban ACCHS. Less than optimal resourcing and workforce development emerged as barriers needing to be resolved to strengthen implementation and delivery of a PCMH in this setting.

Interventions to improve pharmacists' competency in chronic disease management: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

INTRODUCTION

Effective chronic disease management (CDM) is vital for addressing chronic disease challenges. Given the importance of ensuring pharmacists' competence in CDM, interventions targeting knowledge, skills, and attitudes are essential. Therefore, a comprehensive and up-to-date study is needed to analyze these interventions' effect and potential development. Categorizing the interventions based on the Effective Practice and Organization of Care (EPOC) taxonomy is essential for better informing policymakers. The objectives of this systematic review were to identify interventions to improve pharmacists' competency in chronic disease management based on the EPOC taxonomy and summarize their effectiveness.

METHODS

Following methods in the Cochrane Handbook, a systematic search was conducted up to April 2024 on MEDLINE and Scopus. The inclusion criteria were an intervention study with a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design published in English, targeting pharmacists, and measuring knowledge, skills, and attitudes in aspects of CDM. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane's RoB 2 tool for either randomized or cluster-randomized trials. Findings are reported narratively and align with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement.

RESULTS

We included 11 RCT studies that focused on various aspects of CDM among community and hospital pharmacists. Implementation strategies and combined implementation strategies-delivery arrangements interventions were identified. Six implementation strategies interventions consistently yielded effective results, with scores ranging from 0.99 to 9.17 (p < 0.05). However, the other two implementation strategies interventions reported mixed results, with no significant improvements in knowledge or skills. Two implementation strategies-delivery arrangements interventions showed improvements, with score differences ranging from 4.5% (95% CI: 1.6%-7.4%) to 30% (95% CI: 29%-40%). Conversely, one implementation strategies-delivery arrangements intervention showed no significant improvement. The risk of bias assessment revealed varying levels of bias across the studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation strategies and combined implementation strategies-delivery arrangements interventions improved pharmacists' competency in CDM. Most interventions consistently resulted in significant improvements in pharmacists' knowledge, skills, and attitudes. These findings underscore the potential of tailored, competency-based interventions to improve pharmacist competencies in CDM. Policymakers can use these insights to create guidelines and policies that promote ongoing professional development for pharmacists.

Experiences of older people with multimorbidity regarding self-management of diseases: A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis

AIM

This qualitative systematic review aimed to consolidate existing evidence on the self-management experience of older patients with multimorbidity worldwide.

METHODS

Nine databases were searched, for papers published from database inception to April 2023. The systematic review was conducted according to the systematic review method of qualitative evidence by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI).

RESULTS

Seven studies were included. Finally, four themes and 12 subthemes were formed: (1) physical level: reduced physical function and lack of coordinated care; (2) psychological level: mental state of anxiety and positive attitude towards life; (3) social level: technical support, support from family, support from healthcare workers and support from others; and (4) practical level: economic burden, lifestyle changes, self-care in daily life and compliance was much lower than expected.

CONCLUSIONS

To improve self-management in older people with multimorbidity, nurses should provide more guidance to patients to improve their self-management skills, and clinicians should recommend effective self-management behaviours.

A Cluster-Randomized Study of Technology-Assisted Health Coaching for Weight Management in Primary Care

PURPOSE

We undertook a trial to test the efficacy of a technology-assisted health coaching intervention for weight management, called Goals for Eating and Moving (GEM), within primary care.

METHODS

This cluster-randomized controlled trial enrolled 19 primary care teams with 63 clinicians; 9 teams were randomized to GEM and 10 to enhanced usual care (EUC). The GEM intervention included 1 in-person and up to 12 telephone-delivered coaching sessions. Coaches supported goal setting and engagement with weight management programs, facilitated by a software tool. Patients in the EUC arm received educational handouts. We enrolled patients who spoke English or Spanish, were aged 18 to 69 years, and either were overweight (body mass index 25-29 kg/m2) with a weight-related comorbidity or had obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2). The primary outcome (weight change at 12 months) and exploratory outcomes (eg, program attendance, diet, physical activity) were analyzed according to intention to treat.

RESULTS

We enrolled 489 patients (220 in the GEM arm, 269 in the EUC arm). Their mean (SD) age was 49.8 (12.1) years; 44% were male, 41% Hispanic, and 44% non-Hispanic Black. At 12 months, the mean adjusted weight change (standard error) was -1.4 (0.8) kg in the GEM arm vs -0.8 (1.6) kg in the EUC arm, a nonsignificant difference (P = .48). There were no statistically significant differences in secondary outcomes. Exploratory analyses showed that the GEM arm had a greater change than the EUC arm in mean number of weekly minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity other than walking, a finding that may warrant further exploration.

CONCLUSIONS

The GEM intervention did not achieve clinically important weight loss in primary care. Although this was a negative study possibly affected by health system resource limitations and disruptions, its findings can guide the development of similar interventions. Future studies could explore the efficacy of higher-intensity interventions and interventions that include medication and bariatric surgery options, in addition to lifestyle modification.

"As a patient I do not belong to the clinic, I belong to the community": co-developing multi-level, person-centred tuberculosis stigma interventions in Cape Town, South Africa

Background

Anticipated, internal, and enacted stigma are major barriers to tuberculosis (TB) care engagement and directly impact patient well-being. Unfortunately, targeted stigma interventions are lacking. We aimed to co-develop a person-centred stigma intervention with TB-affected community members and health workers in South Africa.

Methods

Using a community-based participatory research approach, we conducted ten group discussions with people diagnosed with TB (past or present), caregivers, and health workers (total n = 87) in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Group discussions were facilitated by TB survivors. Discussion guides explored experiences and drivers of stigma and used human-centred design principles to co-develop solutions. Recordings were transcribed, coded, thematically analysed, and then further interpreted using the socio-ecological model and behaviour change wheel framework.

Results

Intervention components across socio-ecological levels shared common functions linked to effective behaviour change, namely education, training, enablement, persuasion, modelling, and environmental restructuring. At the individual level, participants recommended counselling to improve TB knowledge and provide ongoing support. TB survivors can guide messaging to nurture stigma resilience by highlighting that TB can affect anyone and is curable, and provide lived experiences of TB to decrease internal and anticipated stigma. At the interpersonal level, support clubs and family-centred counselling were suggested to dispel TB-related myths and foster support. At the institutional level, health worker stigma reduction training informed by TB survivor perspectives was recommended to decrease enacted stigma. Participants discussed how integration of TB/HIV care services may exacerbate TB/HIV intersectional stigma and ideas for restructured service delivery models were suggested. At the community level, participants recommended awareness-raising events led by TB survivors, including TB information in school curricula. At the policy level, solutions focused on reducing the visibility generated by a TB diagnosis and resultant stigma in health facilities and shifting tasks to community health workers.

Conclusions

Decreasing TB stigma requires a multi-level approach. Co-developing a person-centred intervention with affected communities is feasible and generates stigma intervention components that are directed and implementable. Such community-led multi-level intervention components should be prioritised by TB programs, including integrated TB/HIV care services.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s44263-024-00084-z.

Effectiveness of a health literacy intervention to improve diabetes outcomes in rural family medicine clinics: a randomized pragmatic trial

Background

Adults with diabetes mellitus (DM) living in rural areas often face limited access to medical and specialist care, minimal exposure to diabetes education, and transportation challenges. Rural residents also tend to be older, poorer, less educated, under-insured and have lower health literacy compared to their urban counterparts.

Aims

We tested the effectiveness of the American College of Physicians (ACP) diabetes health literacy intervention in rural community clinics to improve a range of diabetes-related patient outcomes and determine whether the intervention reduces disparities by health literacy.

Methods

We recruited 756 English-speaking adults with uncontrolled Type 2 DM from rural clinics in Arkansas. Trained health coaches reviewed the ACP Diabetes Guide and conducted counseling and action-planning monthly to participants randomized to the intervention. The enhanced usual care (EUC) arm received an American Diabetes Association workbook and was followed as usual. Interviews were conducted at baseline, 3 and 6 months, and clinical outcomes, including hemoglobin A1C and blood pressure values, were extracted from charts through 12 months post-baseline. Health literacy was measured at baseline using the Newest Vital Sign (NVS). Our primary outcome was A1C at 6 months, with other clinical values and self-reported diabetes-related knowledge, self-efficacy, distress, and self-care behaviors examined as secondary outcomes.

Results

Participants had a mean age of 55.8 (SD=11.7), 68% were female, two-thirds had an annual household income <$15,000, and 52% had limited health literacy. Overall, the intervention had little effect on outcomes at 6 and 12 months, including our primary outcome of A1C at 6 months (Intervention Least Squared Means (LSM) 8.28, 95% CI 8.11, 8.46; EUC LSM 8.44, 95% CI 8.26, 8.61). Diabetes knowledge was greater in those with adequate (LSM 9.46, 95% CI 9.25, 9.67) compared to those with limited health literacy (LSM 8.11, 95% CI 7.91, 8.23, p<0.001) at baseline. This disparity remained in the EUC arm after 6 months but disparities were mitigated in the intervention arm (interaction p<0.001).

Discussion

Our intensive intervention was well received, but insufficient to improve outcomes. Strategies may need to attend to other barriers faced by rural patients beyond health literacy to improve health behaviors and outcomes.

The Australian Health Care Homes trial: quality of care and patient outcomes. A propensity score-matched cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of the Health Care Homes (HCH) primary health care initiative on quality of care and patient outcomes.

DESIGN, SETTING

Quasi-experimental, matched cohort study; analysis of general practice data extracts and linked administrative data from ten Australian primary health networks, 1 October 2017 - 30 June 2021.

PARTICIPANTS

People with chronic health conditions (practice data extracts: 9811; linked administrative data: 10 682) enrolled in the HCH 1 October 2017 - 30 June 2019; comparison groups of patients receiving usual care (1:1 propensity score-matched).

INTERVENTION

Participants were involved in shared care planning, provided enhanced access to team care, and encouraged to seek chronic condition care at the HCH practice where they were enrolled. Participating practices received bundled payments based on clinical risk tier.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Access to care, processes of care, diabetes-related outcomes, hospital service use, risk of death.

RESULTS

During the first twelve months after enrolment, the mean numbers of general practitioner encounters (rate ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-1.17) and Medicare Benefits Schedule claims for allied health services (rate ratio, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.24-1.33) were higher for the HCH than the usual care group. Annual influenza vaccinations (relative risk, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.17-1.22) and measurements of blood pressure (relative risk, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.08-1.11), blood lipids (relative risk, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.16-1.21), glycated haemoglobin (relative risk, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03-1.08), and kidney function (relative risk, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.11-1.15) were more likely in the HCH than the usual care group during the twelve months after enrolment. Similar rate ratios and relative risks applied in the second year. The numbers of emergency department presentations (rate ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02-1.18) and emergency admissions (rate ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.04-1.22) were higher for the HCH group during the first year; other differences in hospital use were not statistically significant. Differences in glycaemic and blood pressure control in people with diabetes in the second year were not statistically significant. By 30 June 2021, 689 people in the HCH group (6.5%) and 646 in the usual care group (6.1%) had died (hazard ratio, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.96-1.20).

CONCLUSIONS

The HCH program was associated with greater access to care and improved processes of care for people with chronic diseases, but not changes in diabetes-related outcomes, most measures of hospital use, or risk of death.

Overcoming silos in health care systems through meso-level organisations - a case study of health reforms in New South Wales, Australia

Fragmented care delivery is a barrier to improving health system performance worldwide. Investment in meso-level organisations is a potential strategy to improve health system integration, however, its effectiveness remains unclear. In this paper, we provide an overview of key international and Australian integrated care policies. We then describe Collaborative Commissioning - a novel health reform policy to integrate primary and hospital care sectors in New South Wales (NSW), Australia and provide a case study of a model focussed on older person's care. The policy is theorised to achieve greater integration through improved governance (local stakeholders identifying as part of one health system), service delivery (communities perceive new services as preferable to status quo) and incentives (efficiency gains are reinvested locally with progressively higher value care achieved). If effectively implemented at scale, Collaborative Commissioning has potential to improve health system performance in Australia and will be of relevance to similar reform initiatives in other countries.

Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Four Advanced Primary Care Redesign Initiatives on Medicare Expenditures

We conducted a secondary analysis of the evaluations of 22 sites participating in four primary care redesign initiatives funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. Our objectives were to determine the overall impact of the initiatives on Medicare expenditures and whether specific site-level program features influenced expenditure findings. Averaged over sites, the mean intervention effect was a statistically insignificant US$26 per beneficiary per year. Policy implications from meta-regression results suggest that funders should consider supporting technical assistance efforts and pay for performance incentives to increase savings. There was no evidence that paying for medical home transformation produced savings in total cost of care. We estimate that in future evaluations, data from 35 sites would be needed to detect feature effects of US$300 per beneficiary per year.

Effectiveness of care models for chronic disease management: A scoping review of systematic reviews

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a scoping review of models of care for chronic disease management to identify potentially effective components for management of chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI).

METHODS

Information sources: Systematic searches of three databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) from January 2010 to May 2021.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses reporting on the effectiveness of the Chronic Care Model (CCM), collaborative/integrated care, and other chronic disease management models.

DATA

Target diseases, model components used (n = 11), and six outcomes (disease-specific, generic health-related quality of life and functioning, adherence, health knowledge, patient satisfaction, and cost/health care use).

SYNTHESIS

Narrative synthesis, including proportion of reviews documenting outcome benefits.

RESULTS

More than half (55%) of the 186 eligible reviews focused on collaborative/integrated care models, with 25% focusing on CCM and 20% focusing on other chronic disease management models. The most common health conditions were diabetes (n = 22), depression (n = 16), heart disease (n = 12), aging (n = 11), and kidney disease (n = 8). Other single medical conditions were the focus of 22 reviews, multiple medical conditions of 59 reviews, and other or mixed mental health/behavioral conditions of 20 reviews. Some type of quality rating for individual studies was conducted in 126 (68%) of the reviews. Of reviews that assessed particular outcomes, 80% reported disease-specific benefits, and 57% to 72% reported benefits for the other five types of outcomes. Outcomes did not differ by the model category, number or type of components, or target disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there is a paucity of evidence for TBI per se, care model components proven effective for other chronic diseases may be adaptable for chronic TBI care.

Outpatient care of adults with congenital heart disease in the UK: a qualitative appraisal of the clinician perspective

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore clinicians' perspectives of ambulatory care in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD).

METHODS

Semistructured interviews were carried out remotely (Zoom) with a range of physicians providing ambulatory care to patients with ACHD across the UK. The chronic care model, thrive and candidacy frameworks were used to design prompt guides and subsequently develop themes. A framework approach was used to code and analyse transcripts, which were managed in NVivo.

RESULTS

21 clinicians (43% females, 38% specialists) from 10/12 ACHD networks in the UK participated. Shared themes included the purpose of the clinic appointment, problems in the 'hub-and-spoke' care system, role of the general practitioner and ACHD specialist nurse, communication with patients, burden of ambulatory care and patient self-management. Reflecting on these themes, participants identified resources, what care and how and by it is delivered alongside the role of the patient as key areas for future research.

CONCLUSIONS

The present structure of ACHD ambulatory care is neither patient-centred nor equitable. The concerned clinicians raise the question whether increasing resource alone without changing structure will lead to better outcomes for patients.

The effectiveness of home-based transcranial direct current stimulation on chronic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

As highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying strategies for home-based patient management is crucial. As pain is highly prevalent and imposes significant burdens, interest in its remote management is steadily increasing. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) seems promising in this context.

Methods

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effectiveness of home-based tDCS in pain management (PROSPERO, CRD42023452899). The extracted data included clinical conditions, interventions, comparators, outcome measures, adverse effects, and risk of bias; the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) assessment was carried out.

Results

12 records (9 randomized controlled trials [RCTs], 446 participants, 266 undergoing tDCS) were included in the systematic review. The meta-analysis showed that home-based tDCS might produce large and clinically relevant improvement in chronic pain intensity at the end of the intervention (standard mean difference [SMD] -0.95, 95% CI -1.34 to -0.56; p < 0.01; 404 participants, low certainty), as well as small clinically unimportant improvement at short-term follow-up (SMD -0.50, 95% CI -0.82 to -0.19; p < 0.01; 160 participants, moderate certainty). A subgroup analysis showed that it might clinically improve the chronic pain related to fibromyalgia and knee osteoarthritis. Moreover, home-based tDCS seems to modulate pressure pain threshold, heat pain threshold, and heat and cold tolerance at the end of the intervention. Notably, tDCS appeared to be generally safe, well-accepted and easily applied at home.

Conclusions

Low to moderate certainty evidence suggests that home-based self-administered tDCS is a safe and effective tool for managing various types of chronic pain. Further well-designed, large-scale RCTs are warranted.

Health literacy interventions among patients with chronic diseases: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness and impact of health literacy interventions for patients with chronic diseases.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and EBSCO CINAHL from inception through March 2022. Eligible chronic diseases include diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. RCTs were included in eligible studies to assess health literacy and other relevant health outcomes. Two investigators selected studies, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of included studies independently.

RESULTS

A total of 18 studies involving 5384 participants were included in the final analysis. The implementation of health literacy interventions exhibited a significant improvement in the health literacy level of individuals diagnosed with chronic diseases (SMD = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.40-1.10). Analysis of heterogeneity sources indicated statistically significant variations in the effects of interventions across different diseases and age groups (P < 0.05). However, no significant impact was observed on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interventions with a follow-up duration exceeding three months, or application-based interventions on the health literacy level of individuals with chronic diseases. Remarkably, our findings revealed that health literacy interventions exerted a positive influence on health status (SMD = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.13-1.34), depression and anxiety (SMD = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.17-1.63), as well as self-efficacy (SMD = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.15-0.41) among patients diagnosed with chronic diseases. Furthermore, a specific analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of these interventions on hypertension and diabetes control. The results demonstrated that health literacy interventions were more effective in enhancing hypertension control compared to diabetes control.

CONCLUSION

Health literacy interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in improving the health of patients with chronic diseases. The importance of emphasizing the quality of these interventions cannot be overstated, as factors such as appropriate intervention tools, extended intervention duration, and reliable primary care services play crucial roles in their efficacy.

Models of integrated care for multi-morbidity assessed in systematic reviews: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of multi-morbidity is increasing globally. Integrated models of care present a potential intervention to improve patient and health system outcomes. However, the intervention components and concepts within different models of care vary widely and their effectiveness remains unclear. We aimed to describe and map the definitions, characteristics, components, and reported effects of integrated models of care in systematic reviews (SRs).

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review of SRs according to pre-specified methods (PROSPERO 2019 CRD42019119265). Eligible SRs assessed integrated models of care at primary health care level for adults and children with multi-morbidity. We searched in PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Epistemonikos, and Health Systems Evidence up to 3 May 2022. Two authors independently assessed eligibility of SRs and extracted data. We identified and described common components of integrated care across SRs. We extracted findings of the SRs as presented in the conclusions and reported on these verbatim.

RESULTS

We included 22 SRs, examining data from randomised controlled trials and observational studies conducted across the world. Definitions and descriptions of models of integrated care varied considerably. However, across SRs, we identified and described six common components of integrated care: (1) chronic conditions addressed, (2) where services were provided, (3) the type of services provided, (4) healthcare professionals involved in care, (5) coordination and organisation of care and (6) patient involvement in care. We observed differences in the components of integrated care according to the income setting of the included studies. Some SRs reported that integrated care was beneficial for health and process outcomes, while others found no difference in effect when comparing integrated care to other models of care.

CONCLUSIONS

Integrated models of care were heterogeneous within and across SRs. Information that allows the identification of effective components of integrated care was lacking. Detailed, standardised and transparent reporting of the intervention components and their effectiveness on health and process outcomes is needed.

Effects of aromatherapy with Rosa damascene and lavender on pain and anxiety of burn patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Pain and anxiety were considered the most common complications of treatment procedures in burn patients. Non-pharmacological drugs, including aromatherapy, can decrease these issues. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to summarise the effects of aromatherapy with Rosa damascene (RD) and lavender on the pain and anxiety of burn patients. A systematic search was performed on international electronic databases such as Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, as well as on Iranian electronic databases such as Iranmedex and Scientific Information Database (SID) with keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings such as "Burns", "Pain", "Pain management", "Anxiety", and "Aromatherapy" were performed from the earliest to November 1, 2022. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist assessed the quality of randomised control trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies. STATA v.14 software was used to estimate pooled effect size. Heterogeneity was assessed with I2 value. Random effect model and inverse-variance method using sample size, mean, and standard deviation changes were applied to determine standard mean differences (SMD). The confidence interval of 95% was considered to determine the confidence level. A total of 586 burn patients participated in six studies, including three RCT studies and three quasi-experimental studies. The results based on RCT studies showed RD significantly decreased the dressing pain average when compared to the control group (SMD: -1.61, 95%CI: -2.32 to -0.99, Z = 5.09, I2 : 66.2%, P < 0.001). Aromatherapy with lavender decreased the average pain in the interventional group more than in the control group (SMD: -1.78, 95%CI: -3.62 to 0.07, Z = 1.89, I2 : 97.2%, P = 0.06). Using aromatherapy with RD and lavender significantly decreased pain average in the interventional group than the control group (SMD: -1.68, 95%CI: -2.64 to -0.72, Z = 3.42, I2 : 94.2%, P = 0.001). The results showed RD significantly decreased the anxiety average in the interventional group than the control group (SMD: -2.49, 95%CI: -2.98 to -2.0, Z = 9.94, I2 : 51.6%, P < 0.001). Overall, this study showed that aromatherapy with RD decreased pain and anxiety of dressing procedures in burn patients. Although aromatherapy with lavender decreased pain in the patients, it was not statistically significant. More RCTs studies are required to be able to better judge the effects of aromatherapy with RD and lavender on the pain and anxiety of burn patients.

Effects of breathing exercise techniques on the pain and anxiety of burn patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to summarise the effect of breathing exercise techniques (BET) on the pain and anxiety of burn patients during burn care. A systematic search was performed on international electronic databases such as Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, as well as on Iranian electronic databases such as Iranmedex and Scientific Information Database (SID) with keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings such as 'Burns', 'Bandages', 'Pain', 'Pain management', 'Anxiety', 'Breathing', and 'Breathing exercise', which were performed from the earliest to 4 April 2022. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist assessed the quality of randomised control trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies. The current meta-analysis was performed using STATA V.14.0 software. A 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to determine significance levels. Random effect model was used to calculate the weighted mean difference (WMD). A total of 469 burn patients participated in 10 studies. Exactly 58.60% of burn patients were male, and the number of people in the intervention and control groups was equal. The mean age of burn patients was 32.84 (SD = 10.39). Exactly 78.05% of patients had second-degree burns. The mean study duration was 19 weeks. Results of analysis of RCT studies showed BET decreased insignificantly pain severity (WMD: -1.17, 95%CI: -2.54 to 0.21, Z = 1.66, P = .096, I2 :97.1%) in the intervention group than control group. However, the results of non-RCTs studies indicated BET significantly decreased pain (WMD: -1.38, 95%CI: -2.16 to -0.61, Z = 3.49, P < .001, I2 :88.4%) and anxiety (WMD: -4.91, 95%CI: -9.35 to -0.47, Z = 2.71, P = .03 0.001, I2 :88.4%) in the intervention group than control group. Overall, the results of RCTs found BET intervention decreased pain in the intervention group when compared with the control group; however, it was statistically insignificant. Also, results of non-RCT studies showed intervention of BET significantly decreased pain and anxiety in burns patients. More RCTs studies are required for better judgement of the effectiveness of BET intervention in clinical settings.

Perceptions and satisfaction of patients with chronic heart failure when using a remote monitoring web application named Satelia® Cardio

INTRODUCTION

The use of telehealth, such as remote patient monitoring (RPM), for chronic heart failure (CHF) impacts patient pathways. Patient-centricity in chronic disease management is valuable. Even though RPM is recommended in practice, the evaluation of patient satisfaction has been limited to date. The objective of this study was to assess the perceptions and satisfaction of patients with CHF when using RPM.

METHODS

A voluntary declarative survey was conducted with users of Satelia® Cardio, an RPM web application which was included in an experimental model program in France funded by the ETAPES program initiative sponsored by the French Ministry of Health. Monitoring was based on patient-reported outcomes (seven questions on symptoms, one question on weight) which were answered online (digitally literate patients) or by phone with a nurse (patients with poor digital literacy). The survey included questions on perceived usefulness, ease of use and impact on quality of life (QoL).

RESULTS

Overall, 87% of the 825 patients were satisfied with having their CHF digitally monitored. Patients found that the application was easy to use (94%), problem free (95%), provided well-timed notifications (98%), easily accessible (96.5%), understandable (89%), and did not require an unreasonable amount of time to answer questions (99%). Most patients felt that RPM helped physicians provide better care during their follow-ups (70%, mean score: 7.98/10) and 45% of the digitally literate patients indicated an improved QoL.

CONCLUSION

Poor digitally literate patients may need human-based or assisted RPM. Patients monitored daily for CHF through RPM expressed strong satisfaction and acceptance.

Needle Direction and Distance of Arteriovenous Fistula Cannulation in Hemodialysis Adequacy; a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the evidence regarding the impact of needle direction and distance of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) cannulation on KT/V (where k is the dialyzer urea clearance, t, the duration of dialysis, and V, the volume of distribution of urea) and access recirculation (AR) as hemodialysis (HD) adequacy criteria.

Methods

A comprehensive systematic search was performed on international and domestic electronic databases from the earliest to June 4, 2022 using keywords. Analysis was performed in STATA software v.14.

Results

Three randomized control trials (RCTs) and four non-RCT articles were included in the final review. Six studies reported the effects of direction, while four mentioned the effects of distances of AVF cannulation on outcomes of HD adequacy based on KT/V or AR. Results of three non-RCT studies showed that retrograde direction decreased KT/V more than antegrade direction (ES: 0.44, 95% CI: -0.38 to 1.27). Two non-RCT studies showed that antegrade decreased AR compared to the retrograde direction (ES: -0.64, 95%CI: -1.94 to 0.67). However, the results of two RCTs indicated uncertainty about this issue. Two of the four studies suggested that a distance of 5 cm or more in arterial and venous needles had greater adequacy than a distance of less than 5 cm. However, other studies did not confirm this finding.

Conclusion

Overall comparison of the results qualitatively and quantitatively indicated uncertainty about the effects of direction and distance of AVF cannulation on HD adequacy outcomes. More studies with high-quality designs, such as RCTs, are required to better understand and adjudicate the effects of needle direction and distance of AVF cannulation on HD adequacy outcomes.

Quality and team care response to the pandemic stresses in high performing primary care practices: A qualitative study

OBJECTIVE

To learn how high performing primary care practices organized care for patients with diabetes during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted between August 10 and December 10, 2020 with 16 leaders from 11 practices that had top quartile performance measures for diabetes outcomes pre-COVID. Each clinic had completed a similar interview and a survey about the existence of care management systems associated with quality outcomes before the pandemic. Transcript analysis utilized a theoretical thematic analysis at the semantic level.

RESULTS

The pandemic disrupted the primary care practices' operations and processes considered important for quality prior to the pandemic, particularly clinic reliance on proactive patient care. Safety concerns resulted from the shift to virtual visits, which produced documentation gaps and led practices to reorder their use of proactive patient care processes. Informal interactions with patients also declined. These practices' challenges were mitigated by technical, informational and operational help from the larger organizations of which they were a part. Care management processes had to accommodate both in-person and virtual visits.

CONCLUSION

These high performing practices demonstrated an ability to adapt their use of proactive patient care processes in pursuing quality outcomes for patients with diabetes during the pandemic. Continued clinic transformation and improvements in quality within primary care depend on the ability to restructure the responsibilities of care team members and their interactions with patients.

Using a theoretical framework to inform implementation of the patient-centred medical home (PCMH) model in primary care: protocol for a mixed-methods systematic review

BACKGROUND

The patient-centred medical home (PCMH) was conceived to address problems that primary care practices around the world are facing, particularly in managing the increasing numbers of patients with multiple chronic diseases. The problems include fragmentation, lack of access and poor coordination. The PCMH is a complex intervention combining high-quality primary care with evidence-based disease management. Becoming a PCMH takes time and resources, and there is a lack of empirically informed guidance for practices. Previous reviews of PCMH implementation have identified barriers and enablers but failed to analyse the complex relationships between factors involved in implementation. Using a theoretical framework can help with this, giving a better understanding of how and why interventions work or do not work. This review will aim to refine an existing theoretical framework for implementing organisational change - the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) - to apply to the implementation of the PCMH in primary care.

METHODS

We will use the 'best-fit' framework approach to synthesise evidence for implementing the PCMH in primary care. We will analyse evidence from empirical studies against CFIR constructs. Where studies have identified barriers and enablers to implementing the PCMH not represented in the CFIR constructs, we will use thematic analysis to develop additional constructs to refine the CFIR. Searches will be undertaken in MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Web of Science Core Collection (including Science Citation Index and Social Science Citation Index) and CINAHL. Gaps arising from the database search will be addressed through snowballing, citation tracking and review of reference lists of systematic reviews of the PCMH. We will accept qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods primary research studies published in peer-reviewed publications. A stakeholder group will provide input to the review.

DISCUSSION

The review will result in a refined theoretical framework that can be used by primary care practices to guide implementation of the PCMH. Narrative accompanying the refined framework will explain how the constructs (existing and added) work together to successfully implement the PCMH in primary care. The unpopulated CFIR constructs will be used to identify where further primary research may be needed.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42021235960.

Person-centred care in primary care: What works for whom, how and in what circumstances?

This rapid realist review aims to explain how and why person-centred care (PCC) in primary care works (or not) among others for people with low health literacy skills and for people with a diverse ethnic and socioeconomic background, and to construct a middle-range programme theory (PT). Peered reviewed- and non-peer-reviewed literature (Jan 2013-Feb 2021) reporting on PCC in primary care was included. Selection and appraisal of documents were based on relevance and rigour according to the Realist And Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards (RAMESES) criteria. Data on context, mechanisms and outcomes (CMO) were extracted. Based on the extracted data, CMO configurations were identified per source publication. Configurations containing all three constructs (CMO) were included in the PT. The middle-range PT demonstrates that healthcare professionals (HCPs) should be trained and equipped with the knowledge and skills to communicate effectively (i.e. in easy-to-understand words, emphatically, checking whether the patient understands everything, listening attentively) tailored to the wishes, needs and possibilities of the patient, which may lead to higher satisfaction. This way the patient will be more involved in the care process and in the shared decision-making process, which may result in improved concordance, and an improved treatment approach. A respectful and empathic attitude of the HCP plays an important role in establishing a strong therapeutic relationship and improved health (system) outcomes. Together with a good accessibility of care for patients, setting up a personalised care plan with all involved parties may positively affect the self-management skills of patients. Good collaboration within the team and between different domains is desirable to ensure good care coordination. The coherence of items related to PCC in primary care should be considered to better understand its effectiveness.

Depression in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Depression is a common mental disorder and is a major cause of years lived with disability. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in the prevalence of depression worldwide. Our aim is to identify and synthesise the determinants of depression, the diagnostic assessment tools used to evaluate depression, and the interventions carried out since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the population aged 60 and older.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A systematic review of the literature will be conducted. The following databases will be searched: CINAHL Plus with Full Text, MedicLatina, MEDLINE with Full Text, and Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection. The search strategy will include the following Medical Subject Headings or similar terms: "Depression", "Depressive Disorder", "Depressive Symptoms", "Older Adults", "Aging", "Elderly", Pandemic" and "COVID-19". Two independent reviewers will ascertain whether the resulting articles meet inclusion and exclusion criteria, and perform the analysis of data quality. Disagreements will be resolved by a third reviewer. All studies reported between December 2019 and March 2022 meeting the following criteria will be included: studies in adults aged 60 and over, and articles written in English, Portuguese, Spanish or German. Information on determinants of depression, assessment instruments used to assess depressive symptoms and/or interventions to decrease depression are reported. Studies will not be excluded based on geographical area study context (eg, community, culture or specific environment). All studies related to diagnostic assessment, care planning and/or intervention strategies specifically for older adults with depression will be included.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

As only secondary data will be analysed, no ethical approval is required for this study. This scientific article is a systematic review protocol for which data have not yet been extracted or analysed. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42022299775.

Effect of Virtual Reality-Based Interventions on Pain During Wound Care in Burn Patients; a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction

Burn patients undergo daily painful wound care procedures, including washing, debridement, and dressing. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the effect of virtual reality (VR)-based interventions on pain during wound care in burn patients.

Methods

A comprehensive systematic search was conducted on international electronic databases such as Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science with keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings such as "Virtual reality", "Virtual reality therapy", "Virtual reality exposure therapy", "Virtual reality immersion therapy", "Exergaming", "Active-video gaming", "Burns", "Wound healings", "Pain", and "Pain management" from the earliest to May 6, 2022. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist was used to assess the quality of randomized control trials and quasi-experimental studies.

Results

1,293 patients with burns were included in 30 studies, and their mean age was 22.89 (SD=7.63) years. 70.72% of the participants were male, and 67.05% were in the intervention group. This meta-analysis showed that VR significantly decreased pain severity in the intervention group compared to the control group (standard mean difference (SMD): -0.70, 95%CI: -0.97 to -0.43, Z=5.05, P<0.001, I2:82.0%). Immersive VR intervention showed statistically significant effects in reducing pain intensity among the intervention group, compared to the control group (SMD: -0.73, 95%CI: -0.97 to -0.49, Z=5.88, P<0.001, I2:69.3%); however, this finding was not the same for non-immersive VR (SMD: -0.62, 95%CI: -1.43 to 0.19, Z=1.51, P=0.132, I2:91.2%).

Conclusion

It is suggested that health policymakers and managers equip burn wards with immersive VR devices to provide the basis for this intervention when caring for patients with burn wounds.

Organizational Factors Associated with Guideline Concordance of Chronic Disease Care and Management Practices

BACKGROUND

Guidelines for managing and preventing chronic disease tend to be well-known. Yet, translation of this evidence into practice is inconsistent. We identify a combination of factors that are connected to guideline concordant delivery of evidence-informed chronic disease care in primary care.

METHODS

Cross-sectional observational study; purposively selected 22 practices to vary on size, ownership and geographic location, using National Quality Forum metrics to ensure practices had a ≥ 70% quality level for at least 2 of the following: aspirin use in high-risk individuals, blood pressure control, cholesterol and diabetes management. Interviewed 2 professionals (eg, medical director, practice manager) per practice (n = 44) to understand staffing and clinical operations. Analyzed data using an iterative and inductive approach.

RESULTS

Community Health Centers (CHCs) employed interdisciplinary clinical teams that included a variety of professionals as compared with hospital-health systems (HHS) and clinician-owned practices. Despite this difference, practice members consistently reported a number of functions that may be connected to clinical chronic care quality, including: having engaged leadership; a culture of teamwork; engaging in team-based care; using data to inform quality improvement; empaneling patients; and managing the care of patient panels, with a focus on continuity and comprehensiveness, as well as having a commitment to the community.

CONCLUSIONS

There are mutable organizational attributes connected-guideline concordant chronic disease care in primary care. Research and policy reform are needed to promote and study how to achieve widespread adoption of these functions and organizational attributes that may be central to achieving equity and improving chronic disease prevention.

A Patient-Centred Medical Home Care Model for Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Singapore: A Mixed-Method Study on Patient's Care Experience

Patient-Centred Medical Home (PCMH) is a strategy to enhance patient-centredness to improve care experience. We aimed to understand patient experience of an integrated PCMH model for complex community-dwelling older adults in Singapore. We used a mixed-method design with a prospective single-group pre-post quantitative component and a concurrent qualitative component. Participants were administered the validated Consumer Assessment of Health Providers and Systems Clinician & Group Survey (CG-CAHPS) at baseline (N = 184) and 6-month (N = 166) post-enrolment. We conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) on a purposive sample of 24 participants. Both methods suggest better care experience in PCMH relative to usual care. There were improvements in the CG-CAHPS measures on patient–provider communication, care coordination, office staff interactions, support for patients in caring for their own health, and provider rating in PCMH relative to usual care. In the FGDs, participants reported benefits of consolidated appointments and positive experience in sustained patient–provider relationship, shared-decision making, and family/caregiver engagement in PCMH. Participants may not fully comprehend the concept of integrated care, hindering both the effective communication of the intended care model and perceived benefits such as the provision of multidisciplinary team-based care.

Importance of communication in medical practice and medical education: An emphasis on empathy and attitudes and their possible influences

BACKGROUND

Healthcare professionals need to be prepared to promote healthy lifestyles and care for patients. By focusing on what students should be able to perform one day as clinicians, we can bridge the gap between mere theoretical knowledge and its practical application. Gender aspects in clinical medicine also have to be considered when speaking of personalized medicine and learning curricula.

AIM

To determine sets of intellectual, personal, social, and emotional abilities that comprise core qualifications in medicine for performing well in anamnesis-taking, in order to identify training needs.

METHODS

An analysis of training clinicians’ conceptions with respect to optimal medical history taking was performed. The chosen study design also aimed to assess gender effects. Structured interviews with supervising clinicians were carried out in a descriptive study at the Medical University of Vienna. Results were analyzed by conducting a qualitative computer-assisted content analysis of the interviews. Inductive category formation was applied. The main questions posed to the supervisors dealt with (1) Observed competencies of students in medical history taking; and (2) The supervisor’s own conceptions of "ideal medical history taking".

RESULTS

A total of 33 training clinicians (n = 33), engaged in supervising medical students according to the MedUni Vienna’s curriculum standards, agreed to be enrolled in the study and met inclusion criteria. The qualitative content analysis revealed the following themes relevant to taking an anamnesis: (1) Knowledge; (2) Soft skills (relationship-building abilities, trust, and attitude); (3) Methodical skills (structuring, precision, and completeness of information gathering); and (4) Environmental/contextual factors (language barrier, time pressure, interruptions). Overall, health care professionals consider empathy and attitude as critical features concerning the quality of medical history taking. When looking at physicians’ theoretical conceptions, more general practitioners and psychiatrists mentioned attitude and empathy in the context of "ideal medical history taking", with a higher percentage of females. With respect to observations of students’ history taking, a positive impact from attitude and empathy was mainly described by male health care professionals, whereas no predominance of specialty was found. Representatives of general medicine and internal medicine, when observing medical students, more often emphasized a negative impact on history taking when students lacked attitude or showed non-empathetic behavior; no gender-specific difference was detected for this finding.

CONCLUSION

The analysis reveals that for clinicians engaged in medical student education, only a combination of skills, including adequate knowledge and methodical implementations, is supposed to guarantee acceptable performance. This study’s findings support the importance of concepts like relationship building, attitude, and empathy. However, there may be contextual factors in play as well, and transference of theoretical concepts into the clinical setting might prove challenging.

Effective interventions for reducing moral distress in critical care nurses

Moral distress (MD) has received considerable attention in the nursing literature over the past few decades. It has been found that high levels of MD can negatively impact nurses, patients, and their family and reduce the quality of patient care. This study aimed to investigate the potentially effective interventions to alleviate MD in critical care nurses. In this systematic review, a broad search of the literature was conducted in the international databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus, as well as Google Scholar search engine using keywords such as moral distress, intensive care unit, ICU, nurses, and critical care nurses from 1984, when the concept of MD was first introduced in the nursing literature, up to 29 October 2020. Studies focusing on the interventions for managing MD in critical care nurse were evaluated. The quality of eligible papers was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist. A total of 8 studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Three studies had RCT design and five studies had quasi-experimental design. All studies were conducted in the United States or Iran. Educational workshop, moral empowerment program, social work intervention, nursing ethics huddles, and multifaceted resiliency bundle intervention were effective interventions for managing of MD among critical care nurses. There is limited but promising research evidence evaluating the efficacy of educational interventions for managing of MD among critical care nurses. Although some positive results have been reported, there is limited generalizable evidence due to the variability of interventions. These findings highlight the need for further studies to validate the efficacy of these interventions or develop more potent and efficient interventions for reducing MD in critical care nurses.

[How to assess Person-Centered Care according to professionals? A Delphi study]

Objetivos

Conocer la perspectiva de profesionales sobre aspectos y dimensiones que deberían formar parte indispensable de la Atención Centrada en la Persona (ACP).

Diseño

Técnica Delphi.

Emplazamiento

Atención Primaria.

Participantes

Setenta y cuatro expertos médicos especialistas en medicina familiar y comunitaria (MF), tutores docentes, psicólogos y sociólogos distribuidos por todo el territorio nacional (enero-junio 2015).

Métodos

Respondieron a tres cuestionarios: primero sobre aspectos que debería tener en cuenta un MF para realizar ACP en todas sus dimensiones. En el segundo se preguntó sobre el grado de acuerdo con cada ítem y dimensión en que lo clasificaba. Las respuestas se priorizaron en un tercer cuestionario (escala Likert, rango de puntuación 1-10).

Resultados

La tasa de respuesta (TR) al primer cuestionario fue de 54,05%, obteniéndose 84 ítems, los más frecuentes Respeto y Atención Integral. El 2.° cuestionario con TR = 48,6%, obtuvo 52 ítems con acuerdo superior al 75%. La TR del tercer cuestionario fue de 52,7%, obteniendo 21 ítems con puntuación > 9. Los valores más altos correspondieron a aspectos esenciales de la ACP: respeto, atención integral, enfoque biopsicosocial, autonomía del paciente y participación en la toma de decisiones.

Conclusiones

Se identificaron nuevas dimensiones: Prevención y promoción de la salud, Gestión de Recursos y Competencia Clínica; añadidas a las previamente descritas: Perspectiva biopsicosocial, Médico como persona, Paciente como persona, Relación médico-paciente y Poder y Responsabilidad compartidas.

El respeto, la atención integral, el enfoque biopsicosocial, la autonomía del paciente y su participación en la toma de decisiones, son los aspectos más valorados entre los seleccionados por los profesionales participantes.

Early Implementation of a Patient-Centered Medical Home in Singapore: A Qualitative Study Using Theory on Diffusion of Innovations

Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) has been found to improve care for complex needs patients in some countries but has not yet been widely adopted in Singapore. This study explored the ground-up implementation of a PCMH in Singapore by describing change strategies and unpacking initial experience and perception. In-depth interviews were conducted for twenty-two key informants from three groups: the implementers, their implementation partners, and other providers. “Diffusion of innovations” emerged as an overarching theory to contextualize PCMH in its early implementation. Three core “innovations” differentiated the PCMH from usual primary care: (i) team-based and integrated care; (ii) empanelment; and (iii) shared care with other general practitioners. Change strategies employed to implement these innovations included repurposing pre-existing resources, building a partnership to create supporting infrastructure and pathways in the delivery system, and doing targeted outreach to introduce the PCMH. Initial experience and perception were characterized by processes to “adopt” and “assimilate” the innovations, which were identified as challenging due to less predictable, self-organizing behaviors by multiple players. To work with the inherent complexity and novelty of the innovations, time, leadership, standardized methods, direct communication, and awareness-building efforts are needed. This study was retrospectively registered (Protocol ID: NCT04594967).

Measuring care coordination in German primary care - adaptation and psychometric properties of the Medical Home Care Coordination Survey

BACKGROUND

Continuity of care is associated with many benefits for patients and health care systems. Therefore measuring care coordination - the deliberate organization of patient care activities between two or more participants - is especially needed to identify entries for improvement. The aim of this study was the translation and cultural adaptation of the Medical Home Care Coordination Survey (MHCCS) into German, and the examination of the psychometric properties of the resulting German versions of the MHCCS-P (patient version) and MHCCS-H (healthcare team version).

METHODS

We conducted a paper-based, cross-sectional survey in primary care practices in three German federal states (Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Baden-Württemberg) with patients and health care team members from May 2018 to April 2019. Descriptive item analysis, factor analysis, internal consistency and convergent, discriminant and predictive validity of the German instrument versions were calculated by using SPSS 25.0 (Inc., IBM).

RESULTS

Response rates were 43% (n = 350) for patients and 34% (n = 141) for healthcare team members. In total, 300 patient questionnaires and 140 team member questionnaires could be included into further analysis. Exploratory factor analyses resulted in three domains in the MHCCS-D-P and seven domains in the MHCCS-D-H: "link to community resources", "communication", "care transitions", and additionally "self-management", "accountability", "information technology for quality assurance", and "information technology supporting patient care" for the MHCCS-D-H. The domains showed acceptable and good internal consistency (α = 0.838 to α = 0.936 for the MHCCS-D-P and α = 0.680 to α = 0.819 for the MHCCS-D-H). As 77% of patients (n = 232) and 63% of health care team members denied to have or make written care plans, items regarding the "plan of care" of the original MHCCS have been removed from the MHCCS-D.

CONCLUSIONS

The German versions of the Medical Home Care Coordination Survey for patients and healthcare team members are reliable instruments in measuring the care coordination in German primary care practices. Practicability is high since the total number of items is low (9 for patients and 27 for team members).

A Systematic Review of Potentially Effective Nonpharmacological Interventions for Reducing Fatigue among Iranian Patients Who Receive Hemodialysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Fatigue control in hemodialysis (HD) patients requires a multidisciplinary approach. This study aimed to comprehensively review the available research literature regarding the nonpharmacological interventions used for reducing fatigue among Iranian HD patients.

METHODS

In this systematic review, an extensive search of the literature was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, using the keywords related to the purpose. Also, the Persian equivalent of these keywords was searched in Iranian databases, such as Iranmedex and Scientific Information Database (SID) from the inception to June 16, 2020.

RESULTS

Of 2,761 articles, 25 studies were included in the review. Among a total of 1,748 Iranian HD patients with a mean age of 54.17 (SD = 12.27) years, 61.38% were male. Interventions such as educational-based programs (n = 5), nutrition-based programs (n = 2), massage therapy (n = 3), exercise-based programs (n = 4), relaxation technique (n = 3), combination of relaxation technique and inhalation aromatherapy (n = 1), energy therapy (reflexology and acupressure) (n = 3), and mind-guided imagery (n = 1) were effective in reducing fatigue in Iranian HD patients.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

These simple, low-cost, and practical interventions can be used for the reduction of fatigue among HD patients by nurses. However, future well-designed studies are recommended to confirm the efficacy of these and other potentially effective interventions for reducing fatigue in HD patients.

Patient-Centered Care for Patients with Depression or Anxiety Disorder: An Integrative Review

People have specific and unique individual and contextual characteristics, so healthcare should increasingly opt for person-centered care models. Thus, this review aimed to identify and synthesize the indicators for the care process of the person with depression and/or anxiety disorders, based on patient-centered care, going through the stages of diagnostic assessment and care planning, including intervention. An integrative literature review with research in seven scientific databases and a narrative analysis were carried out. Twenty articles were included, with indicators for diagnostic evaluation and care/intervention planning being extracted. Care planning focused on people with depression and/or anxiety disorder must be individualized, dynamic, flexible, andparticipatory. It must respond to the specific needs of the person, contemplating the identification of problems, the establishment of individual objectives, shared decision making, information and education, systematic feedback, and case management, and it should meet the patient's preferences and satisfaction with care and involve the family and therapeutic management in care. The existence of comorbidities reinforces the importance of flexible and individualized care planning in order to respond to the specific health conditions of each person.

"This Graft-vs.-Host Disease Determines My Life. That's It."-A Qualitative Analysis of the Experiences and Needs of Allogenic Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplantation Survivors in Germany

Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) is the only curative treatment modality for many patients affected by hematologic malignancies. However, it can cause debilitating long-term effects. Understanding the impact of alloHSCT on all aspects of the patients' life is required for optimal survivorship management. Aim: To explore in-depth HSCT-survivors' experiences and needs post-transplant. Partners were included to provide further information on survivors' needs and how care could be improved in this area. Methods: We conducted semi-structured face-to-face and phone interviews with alloHSCT-survivors and their partners referred to a survivorship clinic in Germany. Theoretical sampling was used to recruit participants. Data were analyzed using framework analysis. Results: Thirty-two survivors (consent rate: 100%, response rate: 100%) and eighteen partners (consent rate: 84%, response rate: 72%) participated. Survivors were aged between 25 and 68 years (Median: 48, IQR: 25.3) and partners were aged between 26 and 64 years (Median: 54, IQR: 16, SD: 12.8). The themes emerging from the data involved survivors' needs included (i) the diversity of long-term treatment side-effects; and (ii) time post discharge as a dynamic process with individual peaks of burden. Survivors and their partners also suggested strategies for mitigating these unmet needs, i.e., (iii) transparent communication and patient empowerment; and (iv) improvement in continuity of care system and help with claiming social benefits as cornerstones of optimal survivorship care. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is one of the first qualitative studies focused on the views of German alloHSCT-survivors on the long-term effects of alloHSCT and the first study integrating the view of their partners. Healthcare providers could better support survivors with managing their symptoms and adhering to their prescribed care by ensuring comprehensive, transparent communication that helps increase survivors' understanding and involvement in their care. Further efforts should be made to provide patient-centered, continuous survivorship care that involves additional support with navigating the healthcare and social service system. Intervention studies are required to test the effectiveness of the suggested strategies.

Challenges of Research on Person-Centered Care in General Practice: A Scoping Review

Background: Delivering person-centered care is one of the core values in general practice. Due to the complexity and multifaceted character of person-centered care, the effects of person-centered care cannot be easily underpinned with robust scientific evidence. In this scoping review we provide an overview of research on effects of person-centered care, exploring the concepts and definitions used, the type of interventions studied, the selected outcome measures, and its strengths and limitations. Methods: Systematic reviews on person-centered care compared to usual care were included from Pubmed, Embase, and PsycINFO. The search was conducted in February 2021. Data selection and charting was done by two reviewers. Results: The literature search yielded 481 articles. A total of 21 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility for inclusion. Four systematic reviews, published between 2012 and 2018, were finally included in this review. All reviews used different definitions and models and classified the interventions differently. The explicit distinction between interventions for providers and patients was made in two systematic reviews. The classification of outcomes also showed large differences, except patient satisfaction that was shared. All reviews described the results narratively. One review also pooled the results on some outcome measures. Most studies included in the reviews showed positive effects, in particular on process outcomes. Mixed results were found on patient satisfaction and clinical or health outcomes. All review authors acknowledged limitations due to lack of uniform definitions, and heterogeneity of interventions and outcomes measures. Discussion: Person-centered care is a concept that seems obvious and understandable in real life but is complex to operationalize in research. This scoping review reinforces the need to use mixed qualitative and quantitative methods in general practice research. For spreading and scaling up person-centered care, an implementation or complexity science approach could be used. Research could be personalized by defining therapeutic goals, interventions, and outcome variables based on individual preferences, goals, and values and not only on clinical and biological characteristics. Observational data and patient satisfaction surveys could be used to support quality improvement. Integrating research, education, and practice could strengthen the profession, building on the fundament of shared core values.

Assessing Nurses' Satisfaction with Continuity of Care and the Case Management Model as an Indicator of Quality of Care in Spain

Chronic diseases are treated and cared for in different healthcare settings. Continuity of care and the case management model facilitate the integration of processes and care levels. However, there is little evidence regarding the satisfaction of nurses with this model. The purpose of this study was to examine nurses' satisfaction with continuity of care and the case management model. A cross-sectional study was conducted. An ad hoc questionnaire was administrated to 437 Spanish nurses from the three health care settings that responded. This included items on socio-demographics, employment relationship, and satisfaction with continuity of care and case management. Descriptive analysis and linear regression models were performed. In total, 96.1% of the nurses expressed a high level of satisfaction with continuity of care and 80.7% with the case management model. Nurses in a primary care setting reported the greatest satisfaction with the case management model (B = 0.146, 95% CI = 0.139-0.694, p = 0.003). The nurses' higher perception of patient satisfaction was associated with greater satisfaction with continuity of care (B = 0.466, 95% CI = -0.367-0.533, p < 0.000). Nurses identified the case management model as an optimal facilitator of continuity of care. While satisfaction with continuity is high, strategies are needed to improve it in primary care centers and aged care homes.

The Missed Opportunity of Patient-Centered Medical Homes to Thrive in an Asian Context

In recent years, there is growing interest internationally to implement patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs), and Singapore is no exception. However, studies understanding the influence of contextual policy factors on the implementation of PCMHs are limited. We conducted 10 semi-structured in-depth interviews with general practitioners working in seven out of the nine PCMHs. Audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed by two study team members in NVivo 12 Software using grounded theory techniques. Power dynamics between the stakeholders and lack of shared decision-making among them in selecting the locale of the PCMH and formulating the practice fee and pharmacy structure were the key factors which negatively affected the implementation of PCMHs on a larger scale. Over time, lack of funding to hire dedicated staff to transfer patients and misalignment of various stakeholders’ interest to other right-siting programs also resulted in low number of patients with chronic conditions and revenue. Countries seeking to implement a successful PCMH may benefit from building trust and relationship between stakeholders, engaging in shared decision-making, ongoing cost-efficiency efforts, and formulating a clear delineation of responsibilities between stakeholders. For a healthcare delivery model to succeed in the primary care landscape, policies should be developed keeping mind the realities of primary care practice.

Rural Homecare Nurses' Challenges in Providing Seamless Patient Care in Rural Japan

Homecare nurses manage patients with extreme homecare dependence through interprofessional collaboration. The quality of the collaboration depends on situations, and the difficulties of homecare nurses are complicated in rural settings because of a few healthcare resources. This study determined rural homecare nurses' difficulties during interprofessional collaboration in providing seamless patient care. Focus groups, followed by one-on-one interviews, were conducted with 13 rural homecare nurses working in rural Japan. Using thematic analysis, four themes were extracted: collaboration with physicians, the collaboration with the government, the collaboration with care workers, and the collaboration among hospital nurses. Rural homecare nurses have difficulties in their working relationships with other professionals, with vague definitions of each professional's roles and responsibilities, and with information-sharing. Interprofessional education and information-sharing should respect rural professional and cultural backgrounds. Respect can accomplish mutual understanding among professional care, leading to seamless patient care in rural home care.