Feasibility study of goal setting discussions between older adults and volunteers facilitated by an eHealth application: development of the Health TAPESTRY approach

Feasibility of Goal Attainment Scaling as a patient-reported outcome measure for older patients in primary care

BACKGROUND

Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) is an outcome measure that reflects the perspectives and experiences of patients, consistent with patient-centred care approaches and with the aims of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). GAS has been used in a variety of clinical settings, including in geriatric care, but research on its feasibility in primary care practice has been limited. The time required to complete GAS is a barrier to its use by busy primary care clinicians. In this study, we explored the feasibility of lay interviewers completing GAS with older primary care patients.

METHODS

Older adults were recruited from participants of a larger study in five primary care clinics in Alberta and Ontario, Canada. GAS guides were developed based on semi-structured telephone interviews completed by a non-clinician lay interviewer; goals were reviewed in a follow-up interview after six months.

RESULTS

Goal-setting interviews were conducted with 41 participants. GAS follow-up guides could be developed for 40 patients (mean of two goals/patient); follow-up interviews were completed with 29 patients. Mobility-focused goals were the most common goal areas identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Study results suggest that it is feasible for lay interviewers to conduct GAS over the telephone with older primary care patients. This study yielded an inventory of patient goal areas that could be used as a starting point for future goal-setting interviews in primary care. Recommendations are made for use of GAS and for future research in the primary care context.

Methods to elicit and evaluate the attainment of patient goals in older adults: A scoping review

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review aimed to identify patient goal elicitation and evaluation methods for older adults, and to investigate which methods can be used in medication optimization interventions for nursing home residents (NHRs).

METHODS

The Arksey and O'Malley framework guided the review. A search was launched in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science. Reference selection and data extraction were performed by three independent reviewers, followed by team discussions to solve discrepancies. Inductive thematic analysis was applied to synthesize the data. Included papers were reconsidered to identify methods for medication optimization interventions for NHRs.

RESULTS

Ninety-six references, encompassing 38 elicitation and 12 evaluation methods, were included. Elicitation methods differed in structure, content, and patient involvement levels. Qualitative and quantitative methods were found to assess goal attainment. Five elicitation and three evaluation methods were developed for NHRs, but none of these contained a medication-related assessment.

CONCLUSION

A variety of goal elicitation and evaluation methods for older adults was found, but none for medication optimization interventions in NHRs.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

A holistic approach seems important to integrate patient goals into medication optimization interventions, not limiting goal elicitation to a medication-related assessment. Also, the choice of assessor seems important to obtain patient goals.

Patient and provider perspectives on using goal attainment scaling in care planning for older adults with complex needs

BACKGROUND

Assess the feasibility of using goal attainment scaling (GAS) in care planning for older adults with complex needs. GAS is an individualized approach to goal setting and follow up using a quantified scale. To date, little is known about the feasibility of GAS among this population.

METHODS

We conducted a qualitative study with a sample of 28 older adults and 23 providers from diverse settings to evaluate the value and challenges of this approach. We conducted semi-structured interviews and iteratively coded and analyzed interview transcripts for themes related to value, challenges, and implementation.

RESULTS

Most older adults and providers reported that the GAS approach added value to the care encounter. GAS supported collaboration and patient accountability for their goals, though it could be demotivating to some patients. Some older adults and providers noted that GAS could be confusing and that it was uncomfortable to talk about negative outcomes (i.e., the - 2 and - 1 boxes of the scale). Factors that facilitated implementation included using visual copies of the GAS forms, having an established patient-provider relationship, practicing the approach, and having previous goal-related clinical training.

CONCLUSIONS

GAS was feasible to implement across diverse settings, and, despite challenges, both older adults and providers reported that it added value to care planning encounters with the potential to improve delivery of person-centered care. Further efforts to demonstrate the applicability and benefit of this method for older adults are warranted, particularly to address implementation of the approach.

A Web-Based Social Network Tool (GENIE) for Supporting Self-management Among High Users of the Health Care System: Feasibility and Usability Study

Background

Primary care providers are well positioned to foster self-management through linking patients to community-based health and social services (HSSs). This study evaluated a web-based tool—GENIE (Generating Engagement in Network Involvement)—to support the self-management of adults. GENIE empowers patients to leverage their personal social networks and increase their access to HSSs. GENIE maps patients’ personal social networks, elicits preferences, and filters local HSSs from a community service directory based on patient’s interests. Trained volunteers (an extension of the primary care team) conducted home visits and conducted surveys related to life and health goals in the context of the Health TAPESTRY (Teams Advancing Patient Experience: Strengthening Quality) program, in which the GENIE tool was implemented. GENIE reports were uploaded to an electronic medical record for care planning by the team.

Objective

This study aims to explore patients’, volunteers’, and clinicians’ perceptions of the feasibility, usability, and perceived outcomes of GENIE—a tool for community-dwelling adults who are high users of the health care system.

Methods

This study involved 2 primary care clinician focus groups and 1 clinician interview (n=15), 1 volunteer focus group (n=3), patient telephone interviews (n=8), field observations that captured goal-action sequences to complete GENIE, and GENIE utilization statistics. The patients were enrolled in a primary care program—Health TAPESTRY—and Ontario’s Health Links Program, which coordinates care for the highest users of the health care system. NVivo 11 (QSR International) was used to support qualitative data analyses related to feasibility and perceived outcomes, and descriptive statistics were used for quantitative data.

Results

Most participants reported positive overall perceptions of GENIE. However, feasibility testing showed that participants had a partial understanding of the tool; volunteer facilitation was critical to support the implementation of GENIE; clinicians perceived their navigation ability as superior to that of GENIE supported by volunteers; and tool completion took 39 minutes, which made the home visit too long for some. Usability challenges included difficulties completing some sections of the tool related to medical terminology and unclear instructions, limitations in the quality and quantity of HSSs results, and minor technological challenges. Almost all patients identified a community program or activity of interest. Half of the patients (4/8, 50%) followed up on HSSs and added new members to their network, whereas 1 participant lost a member. Clinicians’ strengthened their understanding of patients’ personal social networks and needs, and patients felt less social isolation.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the potential of GENIE, when supported by volunteers, to expand patients’ social networks and link them to relevant HSSs. Volunteers require training to implement GENIE for self-management support, which may help overcome the time limitations faced by primary care clinicians. Refining the filtering capability of GENIE to address adults’ needs may improve primary care providers’ confidence in using such tools.

Increasing Older Adult Involvement in Geriatric Assessment: A Mixed-Methods Process Evaluation

Objectives: Goal setting and motivational interviewing (MI) may increase well-being by promoting healthy behavior. Since we failed to show improved well-being in a proactive assessment service for community-dwelling older adults applying these techniques, we studied whether implementation processes could explain this. Methods: Goals set during the comprehensive geriatric assessment were evaluated on their potential for behavior change. MI and goal setting adherence wasassessed by reviewing audiotaped interactions and interviewing care professionals. Results: Among the 280 goals set with 230 frail older adults (mean age 77 ± 6.9 years, 59% women), more than 90% had a low potential for behavior change. Quality thresholds for MI were reached in only one of the 11 interactions. Application was hindered by the context and the limited proficiency of care professionals. Discussion: Implementation was suboptimal for goal setting and MI. This decreased the potential for improved well-being in the participating older adults.

Development of a symptom menu to facilitate Goal Attainment Scaling in adults with Down syndrome-associated Alzheimer's disease: a qualitative study to identify meaningful symptoms

Background

As life expectancy of people with Down syndrome (DS) increases, so does the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Identifying symptoms and tracking disease progression is especially challenging whenever levels of function vary before the onset of dementia. Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), an individualized patient-reported outcome, can aid in monitoring disease progression and treatment effectiveness in adults with DS. Here, with clinical input, a validated dementia symptom menu was revised to facilitate GAS in adults living with Down Syndrome-associated Alzheimer’s disease (DS-AD).

Methods

Four clinicians with expertise in DS-AD and ten caregivers of adults living with DS-AD participated in semi-structured interviews to review the menu. Each participant reviewed 9–15 goal areas to assess their clarity and comprehensiveness. Responses were systematically and independently coded by two researchers as ‘clear’, ‘modify’, ‘remove’ or ‘new’. Caregivers were encouraged to suggest additional items and recommend changes to clarify items.

Results

Median caregiver age was 65 years (range 54–77). Most were female (9/10) with ≥15 years of education (10/10). Adults with DS-AD had a median age of 58 years (range 52–61) and either a formal diagnosis (6/10) or clinical suspicion (4/10) of dementia. The initial symptom menu consisted of 67 symptoms each with 2–12 descriptors (589 total). The clinicians’ adaptation yielded 58 symptoms each with 4–17 descriptors (580 total). Of these 580 descriptors, caregivers identified 37 (6%) as unclear; these were reworded, and one goal area (4 descriptors) was removed. A further 47 descriptors and one goal area were added to include caregiver-identified concepts. The final menu contained 58 goal areas, each with 7–17 descriptors (623 total).

Conclusions

A comprehensive symptom menu for adults living with DS-AD was developed to facilitate GAS. Incorporating expert clinician opinion and input from caregivers of adults with DS-AD identified meaningful items that incorporate patient/caregiver perspectives.

Standardised approach to measuring goal-based outcomes among older disabled adults: results from a multisite pilot

BACKGROUND

Older adults with complex care needs face trade-offs in determining the right course of treatment. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services identified 'Care is personalized and aligned with patient's goals' as a key meaningful measures category, yet existing quality measures typically assess disease-specific care and may not effectively evaluate what is most important to older adults and family members. Measures based on individualised goals and goal-based outcomes have been proposed as an alternative but are not routinely assessed or implemented.

OBJECTIVES

We tested two approaches to assessing goal-based outcomes that allow individuals to set goals based on their own priorities and measure progress-(1) goal attainment scaling and (2) existing, validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROM).

METHODS

A prospective cohort study of feasibility in seven sites (33 clinicians) of the two approaches with 229 individuals. We calculated performance on a measure of achievement of individually identified goals.

RESULTS

Both approaches were successfully implemented in a non-randomly selected population, and a goal-based outcome could be calculated for 189 (82%) of participants. Most individuals met their goal-based outcome (73%) with no statistical difference between the goal attainment scaling approach (74%) and the patient-reported outcomes approach (70%). Goals were heterogeneous ranging from participating in activities, health management, independence and physical health. Clinicians chose to use goal attainment scaling (n=184, 80%) more often than PROMs (n=49, 20%) and rated the goal attainment scaling approach as useful for providing patient care.

CONCLUSION

Goal-based outcomes have the potential to both improve the way healthcare is provided and fill a critical gap in value-based payment.

What Role Can Trained Volunteers Add to Chronic Disease Care of Immigrants?

To help primary care teams improve patient-centered care, we elicited health and life goals of immigrants with a chronic disease. We conducted an exploratory study of the (1) acceptability of home visits by volunteers to collect health information and (2) content of health and life goals within a primary care program for immigrants with chronic disease. Pairs of trained community volunteers visited 23 patients in their homes and asked them to identify three life goals and three health goals. We conducted content analyses of written notes. Health goals were related to disease prevention and symptom control, family well-being, own quality of life, own or family members' work and/or financial situation. Life goals concerned family well-being, their own quality of life, work/financial situation and health. Given the limited time health professionals have with their patients, trained community volunteers could be important members of primary care teams caring for immigrants.

Pilot randomized controlled trial of a complex intervention for diabetes self-management supported by volunteers, technology, and interprofessional primary health care teams

Background

Most health care for people with diabetes occurs in family practice, yet balancing the time and resources to help these patients can be difficult. An intervention empowering patients, leveraging community resources, and assisting self-management could benefit patients and providers. Thus, the feasibility and potential for effectiveness of “Health Teams Advancing Patient Experience, Strengthening Quality through Health Connectors for Diabetes Management” (Health TAPESTRY-HC-DM) as an approach supporting diabetes self-management was explored to inform development of a future large-scale trial.

Methods

Four-month pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT), sequential explanatory qualitative component. Participants—patients of an interprofessional primary care team—were over age 18 years, diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension, and had Internet access and one of the following: uncontrolled HbA1c, recent diabetes diagnosis, end-stage/secondary organ damage, or provider referral. The Health TAPESTRY-HC-DM intervention focused on patient health goals/needs, integrating community volunteers, eHealth technologies, interprofessional primary care teams, and system navigation. Pilot outcomes included process measures (recruitment, retention, program participation), perceived program feasibility, benefits and areas for improvement, and risks or safety issues. The primary trial outcome was self-efficacy for managing diabetes. There were a number of secondary trial outcomes.

Results

Of 425 eligible patients invited, 50 signed consent (11.8%) and 35 completed the program (15 intervention, 20 control). Volunteers (n = 20) met 28 clients in 234 client encounters (home visits, phone calls, electronic messages); 27 reports were sent to the interprofessional team. At 4 months, controlling for baseline, most outcomes were better in the intervention compared to control group; physical activity notably better. The most common goal domains set were physical activity, diet/nutrition, and social connection. Clients felt the biggest impact was motivation toward goal achievement. They struggled with some of the technologies. Several participants perceived that the program was not a good fit, mostly those that felt they were already well-managing their diabetes.

Conclusions

Health TAPESTRY-HC-DM was feasible; a large-scale randomized controlled trial seems possible. However, further attention needs to be paid to improving recruitment and retention. The intervention was well received, though was a better fit for some participants than others.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02715791. Registered 22 March 2016—retrospectively registered.

Perceptions of older adults in Ontario, Canada on the implementation and impact of a primary care programme, Health Teams Advancing Patient Experience: Strengthening Quality (Health TAPESTRY): a descriptive qualitative study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of older adults on the implementation and impact of Health Teams Advancing Patient Experience: Strengthening Quality (Health TAPESTRY), a multicomponent primary care programme that seeks to improve care coordination for individuals through health-related goal-setting supported by trained lay volunteers who are an extension of an interprofessional team, and the use of technology to support communication among the team.

DESIGN

This study used a qualitative descriptive design.

SETTING

The setting for this study was two primary care practice sites located in a large urban area in Ontario, Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample consisted of community-dwelling older adults aged 70 years and older. Participants were recruited from a convenience sample obtained from 360 clients who participated in the 12-month Health TAPESTRY randomised controlled trial.

METHODS

Semistructured interviews were conducted with 32 older adults either face-to-face or by telephone. Interviews were transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using a constant comparative approach to develop themes.

RESULTS

Older adults' perceptions about the Health TAPESTRY programme included (1) the lack of a clear purpose and understanding of how information was shared among providers, (2) mixed positive and negative perceptions of goal-setting and provider follow-up after inhome visits by volunteers, (3) positive impacts such as satisfaction with the primary care team, and (4) the potential for the programme to become a regular programme and applied to other communities and groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults living in the community may benefit from greater primary care support provided through enhanced team-based approaches. Programmes such as Health TAPESTRY facilitate opportunities for older adults to work with primary care providers to meet their self-identified needs. By exploring perceptions of clients, primary care programmes can be further refined and expanded for various populations.

Combining volunteers and primary care teamwork to support health goals and needs of older adults: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The Health TAPESTRY (Health Teams Advancing Patient Experience: STRengthening QualitY) intervention was designed to improve primary care teamwork and promote optimal aging. We evaluated the effectiveness of Health TAPESTRY in attaining goals of older adults (e.g., physical activity, productivity, social connection, medical status) and other outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a pragmatic randomized controlled trial between January and October 2015 in a primary care practice in Hamilton, Ontario. Older adults were randomized (1:1) to Health TAPESTRY (n = 158) or control (n = 154). Trained community volunteers gathered information on people's goals, needs and risks in their homes, using electronic forms. Interprofessional primary care teams reviewed summaries and addressed issues. Participants reported goal attainment (primary outcome), self-efficacy, quality of life, optimal aging, social support, empowerment, physical activity, falls, and access to and comprehensiveness of the health system. We determined use of health care resources through chart audit.

RESULTS

There were no differences between groups in goal attainment or many other patient-reported outcome and experience assessments at 6 months. More primary care visits took place in the intervention versus control group over 6 months (mean ± standard deviation [SD] 4.93 ± 3.86 v. 3.50 ± 3.53; difference of 1.52 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84 to 2.19]). The odds of having 1 or more hospital admission were lower for the intervention group (odds ratio [OR] 0.44 [95% CI 0.20 to 0.95]).

INTERPRETATION

Health TAPESTRY did not improve the primary outcome of goal attainment but showed signals of shifting care from reactive to active preventive care. Further evaluation will help in understanding effective components, costs and consequences of the intervention. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, no. NCT02283723.