Designing Well-Being: A Qualitative Investigation of Young Patients' Perspectives on the Material Hospital Environment

BACKGROUND

Physical surroundings of healthcare facilities are suggested to influence young patients' well-being and hospitalization experiences.

PURPOSE

The current research seeks to understand young patients' views and perspectives of the hospital lobby and inpatient rooms. Thus, a qualitative study was carried out in a social pediatric clinic for young patients with disabilities, developmental delays, behavioral problems, and chronic health conditions, that is undergoing reconstruction.

METHOD

Operating from a critical realist position, the study employed arts-based methods in conjunction with semi-structured interviews. The data were explored by employing thematic analysis.

RESULTS

37 young people between the age of four and 30 years participated in the study. The analysis illustrates that the built environment should contain comforting and joyful elements, while enabling patients' autonomy. The ideal lobby was depicted as open and accessible and an ideal patient room as practical and adapted to personal needs.

CONCLUSION

It is suggested that disabling and medicalized spatial arrangements and features may restrict young people's sense of control and autonomy, while possibly posing a barrier to a health-promoting environment. Large and open spaces with comforting and distracting features are cherished by patients and may be embedded in a comprehensive, yet simple overall design and structural concept.

Methods of Cleaning Taps to Prevent Hospital-Associated Infections: An Environmental Survey-Based Study

In hospitals, outbreaks can occur due to pathogens accumulating in the areas around the wards' washbasins. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) was detected in an environmental survey in the high-care unit of a university hospital in Isehara, Japan, and effective cleaning methods were investigated. This study investigated methods of cleaning taps using commonly used detergents and disinfectants, and it assessed their effectiveness in removing hard scale and pathogens, including CRE. The taps were cleaned using various methods and cleaning agents, including environmentally neutral detergent, citric acid, baking soda, cleanser, 80% ethanol, 0.1% sodium hypochlorite, and a phosphoric acid-based environmental detergent (Space Shot). The cleaning effect was assessed based on the agent's effectiveness at removing hard scale from taps. Biofilms and scale were identified on taps, and several bacterial species were cultured. Only phosphoric acid-based detergent was effective at removing hard scale. After cleaning with the phosphoric acid-based detergent, the bacterial count decreased, and no CRE or other pathogens were detected. These results provide a reference for other facilities considering introducing this cleaning method.

Validation of Psychometric Properties of the Nursing Work Index-Revised Scale in Portugal

The use of instruments designed to assess the nursing practice environment is crucial to improve the quality of nursing care, to anticipate problems and difficulties that may arise in organizations, and allow nurse managers to implement changes and improvements in key areas. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Nursing Work Index—Revised Portuguese version (NWI-R-PT) scale. A quantitative, observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted. Methods: The sample consisted of 767 nurses from 4 public Portuguese hospitals. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis techniques were used to test the distinct structural models. The scale’s accuracy was evaluated through internal consistency, using Cronbach’s alpha. Results: NWI-R-PT internal consistency was 0.91. The NWI-R-PT model with six factors, namely “Management Support,” “Professional Development,” “Fundamentals of Nursing,” “Nurse–Physician Relationship,” “Endowments,” and “Organization of Nursing Care,” was supported by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The NWI-R-PT scale presents adequate goodness-of-fit indices concerning the final factorial model and the convergent validity. Conclusions: The NWI-R-PT scale has a competent and reliable structure. The scale’s validity is confirmed; therefore, it may be employed in all contexts in clinical practice, research, and nursing management. The NWI-R-PT is a useful and valid instrument to assess the nursing environment in hospitals, primary care, long-term care, and nursing homes. The scale has significance in improving the quality of nursing care and patient safety, the professional development of nurses, and organizational results.

The Effects of Virtual Reality-Based Education on Empathy and Understanding of the Physical Environment for Dementia Care Workers in Australia: A Controlled Study

BACKGROUND

There is support for the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) technology in dementia education. However, it is not yet known if VR is a useful tool for improving empathy and understanding of dementia care environments among dementia care workers.

OBJECTIVE

This study compared learning outcomes of VR versus non-VR (control) workshops for dementia care workers of different ages and English-speaking backgrounds.

METHODS

Dementia care workers enrolled in workshops on dementia care principles. Once participants were enrolled, workshops were assigned at random to deliver non-VR or VR-based education. Participants (N = 114, 91.8%female, mean age = 46.4; SD = 13.2; n = 60VR condition, 54control condition) completed self-report measures of empathy towards people living with dementia, understanding of dementia care environments, dementia knowledge, and attitudes towards dementia at pre- and post-workshop.

RESULTS

Significant pre-post main effects were observed for empathy, understanding of dementia care environments, and attitudes. Interaction effects were not found; improvements in outcomes were similar between conditions. However, interaction effects were observed for subgroups. Empathy improved significantly more in the VR condition for older participants. Understanding of dementia care environments improved more in the VR condition for younger and non-English-speaking background participants.

CONCLUSION

Using VR may not augment teaching outcomes for all learners. VR may differentially assist leaners of different ages and English-speaking backgrounds. More research is needed to understand for which variables and for whom VR is a useful teaching tool.

Examining the Relationship Between Environmental Factors and Inpatient Hospital Falls: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study

BACKGROUND

Patient falls are the most common adverse events reported in hospitals. Although it is well understood that the physical hospital environment contributes to nearly 40% of severe or fatal hospital falls, there are significant gaps in the knowledge about the relationship between inpatient unit design and fall rates. The few studies that have examined unit design have been conducted in a single hospital (non-Veterans Health Administration [VHA]) or a small number of inpatient units, limiting generalizability. The goal of this study is to identify unit design factors contributing to inpatient falls in the VHA.

OBJECTIVE

The first aim of the study is to investigate frontline and management perceptions of and experiences with veteran falls as they pertain to inpatient environmental factors. An iterative rapid assessment process will be used to analyze the data. Interview findings will directly inform the development of an environmental assessment survey to be conducted as part of aim 2 and to contribute to interpretation of aim 2. The second aim of this study is to quantify unit design factors and compare spatial and environmental factors of units with higher- versus lower-than-expected fall rates.

METHODS

We will first conduct walk-through interviews with facility personnel in 10 medical/surgical units at 3 VHA medical centers to identify environmental fall risk factors. Data will be used to finalize an environmental assessment survey for nurse managers and facilities managers. We will then use fall data from the VA Inpatient Evaluation Center and patient data from additional sources to identify 50 medical/surgical nursing units with higher- and lower-than-expected fall rates. We will measure spatial factors by analyzing computer-aided design files of unit floorplans and environmental factors from the environmental assessment survey. Statistical tests will be performed to identify design factors that distinguish high and low outliers.

RESULTS

The VA Health Services Research and Development Service approved funding for the study. The research protocol was approved by institutional review boards and VA research committees at both sites. Data collection started in February 2018. Results of the data analysis are expected by February 2022. Data collection and analysis was completed for aim 1 with a manuscript of results in progress. For aim 2, the medical/surgical units were categorized into higher- and lower-than-expected fall categories, the environmental assessment surveys were distributed to facility managers and nurse managers. Data to measure spatial characteristics are being compiled.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this study is the first to objectively identify spatial risks for falls in hospitals within in a large multihospital system. Findings can contribute to evidence-based design guidelines for hospitals such as those of the Facility Guidelines Institute and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The metrics for characterizing spatial features are quantitative indices that could be incorporated in larger scale contextual studies examining contributors to falls, which to date often exclude physical environmental factors at the unit level. Space syntax measures could be used as physical environmental factors in future research examining a range of contextual factors-social, personal, organizational, and environmental-that contribute to patient falls.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/24974.

Validation of the Psychometric Properties of the Practice Environment Scale of Nursing Work Index in Primary Health Care in Portugal

Studies related to the work environment in primary health care are scarce in the literature. The present study aimed to validate the psychometric properties of the Practice Environment Scale of Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI) in primary health care (PHC) and to evaluate its construct validity through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses in a sample of Portuguese nurses. A quantitative, cross-sectional, and validation study design was implemented. Methods: The sample consisted of 1059 nurses from the PHC units of all 55 health center groups (HCGs) in mainland Portugal, 15 health centers in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, and 6 health centers in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The study tested different structural models using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis techniques. The reliability of the scale was tested by determining Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Results: The internal consistency of the PES-NWI was 0.91. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed on the PES-NWI model in PHC with five factors: NPOA, NFQC, NMALSN, SRA, and CNPR. The results show that the scale presents acceptable fit quality indexes in the final factorial solution and adequate convergent validity. Conclusion: The PES-NWI in PHC has an adequate, robust, and reliable five-factor structure. The scale is valid and can be used in clinical practice, nursing management, and PHC research.

A Qualitative Study on Concerns, Needs, and Expectations of Hospital Patients Related to Climate Change: Arguments for a Patient-Centered Adaptation

This study explores the concerns, needs, and expectations of inpatients with the goal to develop a patient-centered climate change adaptation agenda for hospitals. Statements of patients from geriatrics, internal medicine, psychiatry, and surgery (N = 25) of a German tertiary care hospital were analyzed using semi-structured interviews and the framework method. Areas of future adaptation were elaborated in joint discussions with transdisciplinary experts. Concerns included the foresight of severe health problems. The requested adaptations comprised the change to a patient-centered care, infrastructural improvements including air conditioning, and adjustments of the workflows. Guidelines for the behavior of patients and medical services appropriate for the climatic conditions were demanded. The patient-centered agenda for adaptation includes the steps of partnering with patients, reinforcing heat mitigation, better education for patients and medical staff, and adjusting work processes. This is the first study demonstrating that hospital patients are gravely concerned and expect adjustments according to climate change. Since heat is seen as a major risk by interviewees, the fast implementation of published recommendations is crucial. By synthesizing inpatients’ expectations with scientific recommendations, we encourage patient-centered climate change adaptation. This can be the start for further collaboration with patients to create climate change resilient hospitals.

Nurse work environment and its impact on reasons for missed care, safety climate, and job satisfaction: A cross-sectional study

AIM

To describe the nurse work environment and its relation to reasons for missed nursing care, safety climate, and job satisfaction.

DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Two hundred and nineteen nursing professionals by a convenience sample from two teaching hospitals between April 2017 and October 2017. The variables nurse work environment, reasons for missed nursing care, safety climate, and job satisfaction were collected by measuring instruments, and a descriptive, correlation, and comparative analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The nurse work environment was classified as mixed, with three subscales of the instrument resulting in scores that represented a better nurse work environment, namely: nursing foundations for quality care; collegial nurse-physician relations; and nurse manager ability, leadership, and support. The most frequent reasons for missed care were related to labour and material resources. A better work environment was associated with a high level of work satisfaction, better perception of the safety climate, and fewer reasons for missed care.

CONCLUSION

Better nurse work environments can contribute to improving nurses' perception of job satisfaction and the safety climate, and to reducing reasons for missed care.

IMPACT

Authentic leadership in the nurse work environment has implications in terms of reducing the reasons for missed nursing care, improving the perception of the safety climate, and job satisfaction. Nurse managers should evaluate the nurse work environment and missed nursing care as an important predictors of the quality of patient care.

Feasibility Case Series of Environment and Sleep in Infants With Congenital Heart Disease

BACKGROUND

Developmental delay is a significant concern for infants born with complex congenital heart disease (CCHD). Environmental exposures (e.g., excessive light and sound exposure, sleep disruption) in neonatal intensive care are associated with poor developmental outcomes. However, the environmental experience of newborn infants in cardiac care is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to examine the feasibility of continuous environmental data collection (i.e., light and sound exposure, sleep pattern) in pediatric cardiac care units and describe the environmental experience of three hospitalized infants with CCHD.

METHODS

A case series of three infants undergoing cardiac surgery for CCHD within the first month of life was performed. Measures of light, sound, and sleep were collected in 24-hour periods on three to four separate hospital days. For each day, light and sound meters were attached to the hospital bed, and an actigraphy band was placed on the infant's lower leg to measure sleep/wake states. Feasibility of continuous environmental data collection was assessed through acceptability of data collection for families and clinical staff, usability of data collection equipment for research staff, and study protocol adherence. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the count and duration of episodes of excessive light and sound exposure, hourly levels of light and sound exposure, total sleep time, duration of individual sleep episodes, and number of arousals from sleep.

RESULTS

Although continuous environmental data collection was generally acceptable to families and clinical staff, multiple usability issues were identified by research staff, and study protocol adherence was variable. Missing data were a major limitation. User error during equipment setup was a main contributor to missing data. Infants experienced frequent episodes of sound exposure above recommended maximum levels, whereas light exposure generally remained below recommended maximum levels. Infant sleep patterns were highly fragmented, with frequent arousals and short duration of individual sleep episodes.

DISCUSSION

Lessons learned during preliminary data collection with the infants in this case series will inform methods and prevent missing data in future, large-scale studies of this vulnerable, hard-to-recruit population. Data reflect a cardiac care environment characterized by excessive sound exposure and highly disrupted sleep. These environmental stressors may affect developmental outcomes in infants with CCHD.

Analysis of the work environment and intention of perioperative nurses to quit work

OBJECTIVE

to investigate how the perioperative work environment affects work dissatisfaction, professional exhaustion and the perception of the quality of care about the intention of abandoning the work of perioperative nurses.

METHOD

cross-sectional study with 130 nurses working in the surgical area of a high-tech Spanish public university hospital. The scale of the nursing practice environment, Maslach's exhaustion inventory, the questions about job satisfaction, the perception of the care quality and intention to abandon work to collect data were used. Descriptive, inferential and logistic regression statistics were made.

RESULTS

in general, 20% of perioperative nurses would want to quit their work. The dimension of the work environment of staff and resources, dissatisfaction and emotional exhaustion in nurses were factors that indicated the intention of perioperative nurses to abandon work.

CONCLUSION

the implementation of strategies for the retention of perioperative nurses should be considered, improving the factors that indicate how the work environment, especially the allocation of personnel and resources, dissatisfaction and emotional exhaustion. Creating positive work environments based on magnetic values can be a key strategy.

The relationship between job satisfaction, burnout syndrome and depressive symptoms: An analysis of professionals in a teaching hospital in Brazil

Research shows an instability in the way workers in the healthcare field live, and a prevalence of an unhealthy lifestyle. Exhaustion, an overload of obligations and responsibilities and dissatisfaction are all factors that may result in both physical and mental disorders. The aim of our study is to analyze the association between individual and occupational aspects of hospital workers and their job satisfaction, burnout syndrome, and depressive symptoms, as well as the relationship between these 3 factors.A transversal study was carried out from August to November 2016 in a teaching hospital that is a reference in healthcare to 13 cities in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Workers with an employment relationship of a period of 3 months or longer were included in the study. Subjects for the study were recruited through random probability sampling. Data were collected using psychometric tools in order to analyze job satisfaction (Job Satisfaction Survey [JSS]), the presence of burnout syndrome (Maslach Burnout Inventory [MBI]) and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9). Adjusted analyses were conducted and the prevalence ratio (PR) was calculated using Poisson regression. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for the analyses.The final sample of this study comprised 271 professionals. Administrative workers or technical support workers from the hospital showed to be more satisfied in their jobs compared to the healthcare professionals (P = .02). Time of professional activity was also associated with job satisfaction (P = .03). Men displayed burnout syndrome approximately twice as often as women (PR = 1.98; 95% CI: 1.03-3.79; P = .04). Workers who had a low household income presented a predominance twice as high of depressive symptoms (PR = 2.84; 95% CI: 1.24-6.51; P = .01). PLS-SEM confirmed the causal and inverse relationship between burnout syndrome and job satisfaction (P < .001). Depressive symptoms were considered predictors for professional exhaustion (P < .001).Personal and occupational factors of hospital workers were associated with job satisfaction, burnout syndrome, and depressive symptoms. The absence of burnout was identified as a predictive aspect for job satisfaction, and depressive symptoms as a predictor for professional exhaustion.

Practice environment scale of the nursing work index: Portuguese version and psychometric properties

AIM

To assess the psychometric properties regarding the Portuguese version of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index.

BACKGROUND

The Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index is the most widely used measure for assessing the practice environment. A model with a higher number of factors appears to be more adequate to Portuguese settings.

METHOD

A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index using a sample of 850 Portuguese nurses. Three models were tested: the original model, a seven-factor model and a higher-order model. An analysis of invariance was performed in two subsets to confirm the stability of the solution.

RESULTS

The seven-factor model fit better to the data than the original model. After refinement, this solution showed suitability and a stable factor structure. Reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity were confirmed. A second-order factor solution also showed suitability.

CONCLUSION

The seven-factor structure of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index showed a better goodness-of-fit to Portuguese settings than the original structure. The second-order factor solution allows an overall assessment of practice environments.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

The Portuguese version of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index is a valuable tool for assessing Portuguese nursing practice environments. The seven-factor solution of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index showed high specificity.

The meaning of home at the end of life: A video-reflexive ethnography study

BACKGROUND

While 'home' is cited most frequently as being the preferred place of death, most people will die in institutions. Yet, the meaning and significance of home for people nearing the end of life has not been fully explored.

AIM

The aim of this article is to critically examine the meaning of home for dying patients and their families.

DESIGN

The qualitative study used video-reflexive ethnography methods. Data were collected and analysed over an 18-month period.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Participants were recruited from two Australian sites: a palliative care day hospital and an acute hospital. Participants included patients with a prognosis of 6 months or less (n = 29), their nominated family member(s) (n = 5) and clinicians (n = 36) caring for them. Patients and families were 'followed' through care settings including the palliative care unit and into their own homes.

RESULTS

Whether or not participants deemed space(s) safe or unsafe was closely related to the notion of home. Six themes emerged concerning this relationship: 'No place like home'; 'Safety, home and the hospital'; 'Hospital "becomes" home'; 'Home "becomes" hospital'; 'Hospital and "connections with home"'; and 'The built environment'.

CONCLUSION

Home is a dynamic concept for people nearing the end of life and is concerned with expression of social and cultural identity including symbolic and affective connections, as opposed to being merely a physical dwelling place or street address. Clinicians caring for people nearing the end of life can foster linkages with home by facilitating connections with loved ones and meaningful artefacts.

Improving Service Quality in Long-term Care Hospitals: National Evaluation on Long-term Care Hospitals and Employees Perception of Quality Dimensions

Objectives

To investigate predictors for specific dimensions of service quality perceived by hospital employees in long-term care hospitals.

Methods

Data collected from a survey of 298 hospital employees in 18 long-term care hospitals were analysed. Multivariate ordinary least squares regression analysis with hospital fixed effects was used to determine the predictors of service quality using respondents’ and organizational characteristics.

Results

The most significant predictors of employee-perceived service quality were job satisfaction and degree of consent on national evaluation criteria. National evaluation results on long-term care hospitals and work environment also had positive effects on service quality.

Conclusion

The findings of the study show that organizational characteristics are significant determinants of service quality in long-term care hospitals. Assessment of the extent to which hospitals address factors related to employeeperceived quality of services could be the first step in quality improvement activities. Results have implications for efforts to improve service quality in longterm care hospitals and designing more comprehensive national evaluation criteria.

Meanings of being critically ill in a sound-intensive ICU patient room - a phenomenological hermeneutical study

The aim of this study was to illuminate the meanings of being critically ill in a sound-intensive ICU patient room, as disclosed through patients’ narratives. Patient rooms in ICUs are filled with loud activity and studies have revealed sound levels comparable to those of a busy road above the patient’s head. There is a risk that the sound or noise is disturbing and at worst a major problem for the patient, but there is a lack of knowledge concerning the patients’ own experiences. Thirteen patients were asked to narrate their experiences of the sound environment in ICU patient rooms. The interviews were analyzed using a phenomenological- hermeneutical method inspired by the philosophy of Ricoeur. Six themes emerged from the analysis. Conclusion: The meanings of being a patient in a sound- intensive environment were interpreted as never knowing what to expect next regarding noise, but also of being situated in the middle of an uncontrollable barrage of noise, unable to take cover or disappear. This condition is not to be seen as static; for some patients there is movement and change over time. The meanings indicate that the unpredictable shifts between silence and disturbing sounds stress the critically ill patient and impede sleep and recovery. Our findings indicate the need to reduce disturbing and unexpected sounds and noise around critically ill patients in high-tech environments in order to facilitate wellbeing, sleep and recovery. Nurses have a vital role in developing such an environment.

Enhancing a primary care environment: a case study of effects on patients and staff in a single general practice

BACKGROUND

Few studies have examined the effect on patients and staff of the physical environment in primary care facilities.

AIM

To explore changes in patient and staff satisfaction, patient anxiety, and patient-doctor communication when a GP surgery moves from old premises to enhanced purpose-built accommodation.

DESIGN OF STUDY

Questionnaire surveys, interviews, and focus groups pre- and post move.

SETTING

An urban general practice in Bristol.

METHOD

Patient questionnaires assessed anxiety (Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; STAI), satisfaction with the environment, and communication during the consultation. Staff questionnaires assessed satisfaction with the environment and job satisfaction. Qualitative methods explored patient and staff views in more depth.

RESULTS

A total of 1118 pre-move and 954 post-move patient questionnaires showed significant increases in satisfaction scores for reception/waiting areas (mean 6.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]=5.97 to 6.95) and consulting rooms (mean 3.80, 95% CI=3.44 to 4.15) in the new premises. Patients' satisfaction with patient-doctor communication also increased (mean 0.88, 95% CI=0.30 to 1.46) and anxiety scores were significantly reduced before and after the consultation in the new premises compared with the old (STAI mean difference before consultation 0.72, 95% CI=0.37 to 1.08; mean after consultation 0.37, 95% CI=0.03 to 0.72). Patients highlighted the increased space and light, more modern appearance, greater comfort, and novel works of art in the new surgery. Staff workplace satisfaction increased significantly after moving and remained higher than in the old building.

CONCLUSION

This large-scale study examining the effects of a UK primary care environment on patients and staff shows that an enhanced environment is associated with improvements in patients' perception of patient-doctor communication, reduction in anxiety, and increases in patient and staff satisfaction.