Integrating Perspectives on Family Caregiving After Critical Illness: A Qualitative Content Analysis

BACKGROUND

To date, no intervention has definitively improved outcomes for families of critical illness survivors. An integrated perspective on caregivers' needs after critical illness could help identify high-priority intervention targets and improve outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

To obtain diverse perspectives on the needs, barriers and facilitators, and social determinants of health associated with family caregiving across the critical illness continuum and assess the extent to which successful caregiving interventions in other populations may be adapted to the critical illness context.

METHODS

This qualitative content analysis of 31 semistructured interviews and 10 focus groups with family caregivers, health care providers, and health care administrators explored family caregivers' needs during post- intensive care unit (ICU) transitions and the barriers and facilitators associated with addressing them. Trained coders analyzed transcripts, identified patterns and categories among the codes, and generated themes.

RESULTS

Caregivers have 3 instrumental needs: formal and informal support, involvement in care planning, and education and training. Only caregivers described their self-care and mental health needs. Social determinants of health are the key barriers and facilitators shaping the caregivers' journey, and caregiving as a social determinant of health was a prominent theme.

CONCLUSIONS

Caregivers have instrumental, self-care, and mental health needs after critical illness. Adapting hands-on and skills training interventions to the post-ICU setting, while tailoring interventions to caregivers' health-related social context, may improve caregiver outcomes.

Understanding the Experiences of Family Caregivers of Nursing Home Residents With Dementia: A Grounded Theory Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias progress over time and result in cognitive decline, loss of independence, and behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of dementia that can lead to nursing home placement. Research has focused on examining the effects of nursing home placement on the family caregiver; however, their experiences are less understood. We sought to investigate the experiences and perceptions of family caregivers of nursing home residents with dementia. The objective was to create a conceptual model that explains the complex nature of the family caregiver experience.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This study is part of a larger randomized controlled trial. Following a grounded theory approach, we completed 30 in-depth, one-on-one interviews with family caregivers of nursing home residents with dementia. Data analysis followed an iterative process that employed open, axial, and selective coding.

RESULTS

Our conceptual model depicts the interrelationship between contributing factors that interrelate and impact family caregiver satisfaction with nursing home care. Six factors contribute to family caregiver satisfaction: family caregiver interactions with nursing home staff; staff management of resident behavioral symptoms; nursing home context; family caregiver knowledge of dementia; family caregiver strain; and the resident experience.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Our findings revealed family caregiver experiences that are unique to the institutional nursing home setting and not reflected in prior work focusing on experiences within community-based settings. Understanding family caregiver experiences and the contributors to how satisfaction in care is perceived, may foster collaboration and teamwork among families and staff.

Differences in Home Health Services and Outcomes Between Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage

Importance

Private Medicare Advantage (MA) plans recently surpassed traditional Medicare (TM) in enrollment. However, MA plans are facing scrutiny for burdensome prior authorization and potential rationing of care, including home health. MA beneficiaries are less likely to receive home health, but recent evidence on differences in service intensity and outcomes among home health patients is lacking.

Objective

To examine differences in home health service intensity and patient outcomes between MA and TM.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2019 to December 2022 in 102 home health locations in 19 states and included 178 195 TM and 107 102 MA patients 65 years or older with 2 or fewer 60-day home health episodes. It included a secondary analysis of standardized assessment and visit data. Inverse probability of treatment weighting regression compared service intensity and patient outcomes between MA and TM episodes, accounting for differences in demographic characteristics, medical complexity, functional and cognitive impairments, social environment, caregiver support, and local community factors. Models included office location, year, and reimbursement policy fixed effects. Data were analyzed between September 2023 and July 2024.

Exposure

TM vs MA plan.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Home health length of stay and number of visits from nursing, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, social work, and home health aides. Patient outcomes included improvement in self-care and mobility function, discharge to the community, and transfer to an inpatient facility during home health.

Results

Of 285 297 total patients, 180 283 (63.2%) were female; 586 (0.2%) were American Indian/Alaska Native, 8957 (3.1%) Asian, 28 694 (10.1%) Black, 7406 (2.6%) Hispanic, 1959 (0.7%) Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 237 017 (83.1%) non-Hispanic White, and 678 (0.2%) multiracial individuals. MA patients had shorter home health length of stay by 1.62 days (95% CI, -1.82 to 1.42) and received fewer visits from all disciplines except social work. There were no differences in inpatient transfers. MA patients had 3% and 4% lower adjusted odds of improving in mobility and self-care, respectively (mobility odds ratio [OR], 0.97; 95% CI, 0.94-0.99; self-care OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.92-0.99). MA patients were 5% more likely to discharge to the community compared with TM (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08).

Conclusions and Relevance

The results of this cross-sectional study suggest that MA patients receive shorter and less intensive home health care vs TM patients with similar needs. Differences may be due to the administrative burden and cost-limiting incentives of MA plans. MA patients experienced slightly worse functional outcomes but were more likely to discharge to the community, which may have negative implications for MA patients, including reduced functional independence or increased caregiver burden.

The Impact of State Dementia Training Requirements for Nursing Homes on Antipsychotic Medication Use

OBJECTIVES

Nursing home (NH) staff often report not having adequate dementia-specific knowledge to effectively care for these residents. Between 2011 and 2019, 9 states in the United States implemented dementia training requirements for NH staff. This study evaluated whether the state-mandated dementia training for NH staff was associated with improving resident outcomes.

DESIGN

Compared trends in antipsychotic medication before and after implementation of state training requirements to trends in states without requirements.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

NHs.

METHODS

Data from Care Compare for NHs and LTCFocus were linked to state policy data. We excluded 14 states that had implemented training requirements before the start of the study period in 2011. We estimated difference-in-differences models that compared trends in antipsychotic medication use before and after implementation of training requirements in states that have newly implemented requirements to trends in states without requirements. We also investigated whether the impact of training was larger in states with more stringent training requirements (eg, specifying a minimum number of training hours) and in NHs with a special care unit for dementia and examined similar analyses for restraint use and falls.

RESULTS

We found that training requirements were associated with a 0.59-percentage point reduction (95% CI -0.91 to -0.27) in antipsychotics use. Effects were larger in NHs with a special care unit for dementia and in states that had stricter training requirements. We also found that training requirements were associated with a 0.17-percentage point reduction (95% CI -0.26 to -0.07) in restraint use measure and had no impact on falls.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

State requirements for NH staff dementia training were associated with a small, but significant, reduction in the use of antipsychotic medication and physical restraints.

Implementation of US Post-Acute Care Payment Reform and COVID-19 Policies: Examining Experiences of Health System Leaders, Staff, Patients, and Family Caregivers-A Protocol

In fiscal year 2020, new national Medicare payment models were implemented in the two most common post-acute care settings (i.e., skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and home health agencies (HHAs)), which were followed by the emergence of COVID-19. Given concerns about the unintended consequence of these events, this study protocol will examine how organizations responded to these policies and whether there were changes in SNF and HHA access, care delivery, and outcomes from the perspectives of leadership, staff, patients, and families. We will conduct a two-phase multiple case study guided by the Institute of Medicine's Model of Healthcare Systems. Phase I will include three cases for each setting and a maximum of fifty administrators per case. Phase II will include a subset of Phase I organizations, which are grouped into three setting-specific cases. Each Phase II case will include a maximum of four organizations. Semi-structured interviews will explore the perspectives of frontline staff, patients, and family caregivers (Phase II). Thematic analysis will be used to examine the impact of payment policy and COVID-19 on organizational operations, care delivery, and patient outcomes. The results of this study intend to develop evidence addressing concerns about the unintended consequences of the PAC payment policy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evaluating non-pharmacological approaches to nursing home dementia care: A protocol

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the daily challenges nursing home (NH) staff face caring for the residents living with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Non-pharmacological approaches are prioritized over off-label medication to manage the behavioral and psychological symptoms of ADRD. Yet, it is not clear how to best equip NH staff and families with the knowledge and strategies needed to provide non-pharmacological approaches to these residents.

Methods

This clustered randomized trial will compare team- and problem-based approaches to non-pharmacological ADRD care. The team-based approach includes core training for all NH staff using a common language and strategies to support continuity and sustainability. The problem-based approach capitalizes on the expertise of the professional healthcare providers to target issues that arise. A convergent mixed methods design will be used to examine (a) comparative effectiveness of the two approaches on long-term NH resident outcomes and (b) whether either approach is protective against the negative consequences of COVID-19. The primary outcome is the percentage of ADRD residents with off-label antipsychotic medication use, which will be evaluated with an intent-to-treat approach. Staff and family caregiver perspectives will be explored using a multiple case study approach.

Conclusion

This trial will be the first-ever evaluation of team- and problem-based approaches to ADRD care across multiple NHs and geographic regions. Results can provide health system leaders and policymakers with evidence on how to optimize ADRD training for staff in an effort to enhance ADRD care delivery.

Preferences on Delivery of Cancer Rehabilitation Services for Cancer-Related Disability Among Older Individuals Surviving Breast Cancer: A Qualitative Study

Background

Older individuals surviving breast cancer often encounter cancer-related disability as a short-term or long-term effect of cancer and related treatment. Cancer rehabilitation interventions have the potential to prevent, mitigate, or remediate cancer-related disability. However, use of these services remains limited. Understanding the priorities and perspectives of older individuals surviving breast cancer is key to developing effective and implementable cancer rehabilitation interventions. This qualitative descriptive study examined individuals' preferred and valued methods of cancer rehabilitation intervention delivery.

Methods

Using a qualitative descriptive design, older individuals surviving breast cancer (n=14) completed a single telephone-based semi-structure interview. Interviews explored survivors' preferences for cancer rehabilitation service delivery. Interview transcriptions were thematically analyzed. Open codes were inductively generated and reviewed for agreement by an independent reviewer. The codes were deductively organized. Differences were resolved through consensus meetings.

Results

Findings revealed preferred intervention delivery characteristics for intervention setting, mode of delivery, format, and timing. Participants predominantly preferred interventions delivered in community-based settings, with both in-person and remote components. Participants also appeared to value one-on-one interventions and those delivered post-treatment. Survivors' overarching preferences were based on desire for patient-centric care, one-on-one therapist time, complex medical schedules, and financial concerns.

Discussion

Study findings provide guidance on the modification of existing and creation of new cancer rehabilitation interventions addressing cancer-related disability in older individuals surviving breast cancer. Adoption of stakeholder-driven intervention delivery characteristics may improve value and acceptability of interventions. Future intervention research should incorporate and test these characteristics to ensure their effectiveness in real-world settings.

Examining Real-World Therapy Practice of Cognitive Screening and Assessment in Post-Acute Care

OBJECTIVES

Routine implementation of cognitive screening and assessment by therapy providers in post-acute settings may promote improved care coordination. This study examined the frequency of cognitive screening and assessment documentation across post-acute settings, as well as its relationship with contextual factors and outcomes.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional observational study using Medicare claims and electronic health record data from 1 large health system.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Older adults admitted to post-acute care after an acute hospitalization.

METHODS

Descriptive analysis examined documentation of cognitive screening and assessment. Logistic and hierarchical linear regression evaluated the relationship among patient factors, cognitive screening and assessment, and patient outcomes.

RESULTS

The most common admission diagnoses for the final sample (n=2535) were total hip or knee joint replacement (41.7%) and stroke (15.3%). Following acute hospitalization, patients were discharged to inpatient rehabilitation (22.6%), skilled nursing (9.3%), or home health (68.1%). During the post-acute care stay, 38% of patients had documentation of cognitive screening by any therapy discipline. Patterns of documentation varied across disciplines and post-acute settings. Documentation of standardized cognitive assessments was limited, occurring for less than 2% of patients. Admission for stroke was associated with significantly higher odds of cognitive screening or assessment [odds ratio (OR) 2.07, 95% CI 1.13, 3.82] compared to patients with other diagnoses. There was no significant relationship between documentation of cognitive screening or assessment and 30-day readmissions (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.53, 1.28).

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

The key finding was inconsistent documentation of cognitive screening and assessment across disciplines and post-acute settings, which could be in part due to variation in electronic health record platforms. Future work can expand on these results to understand the degree to which contextual factors facilitate or inhibit routine delivery and documentation of cognitive screening and assessment. Findings can support implementation of standardized data elements to lead to improved care coordination and outcomes.

Implementing an Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome and Decision Support Tool in Early Intervention

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to identify and prioritize early intervention (EI) stakeholders' perspectives of supports and barriers to implementing the Young Children's Participation and Environment Measure (YC-PEM), an electronic patient-reported outcome (e-PRO) tool, for scaling its implementation across multiple local and state EI programs.

METHODS

An explanatory sequential (quan > QUAL) mixed-methods study was conducted with EI families (n = 6), service coordinators (n = 9), and program leadership (n = 7). Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were used to share select quantitative pragmatic trial results (e.g., percentages for perceived helpfulness of implementation strategies) and elicit stakeholder perspectives to contextualize these results. Three study staff deductively coded transcripts to constructs in the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Data within CFIR constructs were inductively analyzed to generate themes that were rated by national early childhood advisors for their relevance to longer term implementation.

RESULTS

All three stakeholder groups (i.e., families, service coordinators, program leadership) identified thematic supports and barriers across multiple constructs within each of four CFIR domains: (1) Six themes for "intervention characteristics," (2) Six themes for "process," (3) three themes for "inner setting," and (4) four themes for "outer setting." For example, all stakeholder groups described the value of the YC-PEM e-PRO in forging connections and eliciting meaningful information about family priorities for efficient service plan development ("intervention characteristics"). Stakeholders prioritized reaching families with diverse linguistic preferences and user navigation needs, further tailoring its interface with automated data capture and exchange processes ("process"); and fostering a positive implementation climate ("inner setting"). Service coordinators and program leadership further articulated the value of YC-PEM e-PRO results for improving EI access ("outer setting").

CONCLUSION

Results demonstrate the YC-PEM e-PRO is an evidence-based intervention that is viable for implementation. Optimizations to its interface are needed before undertaking hybrid type-2 and 3 multisite trials to test these implementation strategies across state and local EI programs with electronic data capture capabilities and diverse levels of organizational readiness and resources for implementation.

Dual impacts of Medicare payment reform and the COVID-19 pandemic on therapy staffing in skilled nursing facilities

BACKGROUND

Implementation of new skilled nursing facility (SNF) Medicare payment policy, the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM), resulted in immediate declines in physical and occupational therapy staffing. This study characterizes continuing impacts of PDPM in conjunction with COVID-19 on SNF therapy staffing and examines variability in staffing changes based on SNF organizational characteristics.

METHODS

We analyzed Medicare administrative data from a national cohort of SNFs between January 2019 and March 2022. Interrupted time series mixed effects regression examined changes in level and trend of total therapy staffing minutes/patient-day during PDPM and COVID-19 and by type of staff (therapists, assistants, contractors, and in-house staff). Secondary analyses examined the variability in staffing by organizational characteristics.

RESULTS

PDPM resulted in a -6.54% level change in total therapy staffing, with larger declines for assistants and contractors. Per-patient staffing fluctuated during COVID-19 as the census changed. PDPM-related staffing declines were larger in SNFs that were: Rural, for-profit, chain-affiliated, provided more intensive therapy, employed more therapy assistants, and admitted more Medicare patients before PDPM. COVID-19 resulted in larger staffing declines in rural SNFs but smaller early declines in SNFs that were hospital-based, for-profit, or received more relief funding.

CONCLUSIONS

SNFs that historically engaged in profit-maximizing behaviors (e.g., providing more therapy via lower-paid assistants) had larger staffing declines during PDPM compared to other SNFs. Therapy staffing fluctuated during COVID-19, but PDPM-related reductions persisted 2 years into the pandemic, especially in rural SNFs. Results suggest specific organizational characteristics that should be targeted for staffing and quality improvement initiatives.

Alternative Designs for Testing Speech, Language, and Hearing Interventions: Cluster-Randomized Trials and Stepped-Wedge Designs

PURPOSE

Individual-randomized trials are the gold standard for testing the efficacy and effectiveness of drugs, devices, and behavioral interventions. Health care delivery, educational, and programmatic interventions are often complex, involving multiple levels of change and measurement precluding individual randomization for testing. Cluster-randomized trials and cluster-randomized stepped-wedge trials are alternatives where the intervention is allocated at the group level, such as a clinic or a school, and the outcomes are measured at the person level. These designs are introduced along with the statistical implications of similarities among individuals within the same cluster. We also illustrate the parameters that have the most impact on the likelihood of detecting intervention effects, which must be considered when planning these trials.

CONCLUSION

Cluster-randomized and stepped-wedge designs should be considered by researchers as experimental alternatives to individual-randomized trials when testing speech, language, and hearing care interventions in real-world settings.

Optimizing Post-Acute Care Patient Safety: A Scoping Review of Multifactorial Fall Prevention Interventions for Older Adults

Accidental falls are preventable adverse events for older post-acute care (PAC) patients. Yet, due to the functional and medical care needs of this population, there is little guidance to inform multidisciplinary prevention efforts. This scoping review aims to characterize the evidence for multifactorial PAC fall prevention interventions. Of the 33 included studies, common PAC intervention domains included implementing facility-based strategies (e.g., staff education), evaluating patient-specific fall risk factors (e.g., function), and developing an individualized risk profile and treatment plan that targets the patient's constellation of fall risk factors. However, there was variability across studies in how and to what extent the domains were addressed. While further research is warranted, health system efforts to prevent accidental falls in PAC should consider a patient-centered multifactorial approach that fosters a culture of safety, addresses individuals' fall risk, and champions a multidisciplinary team.

A Systematic Review of Tools Assessing the Perspective of Caregivers of Residents With Dementia

In collaboration with stakeholders, we conducted a systematic review of psychometric evidence for self-report tools measuring the perspective of family caregivers of nursing home residents with dementia. Our rationale for this review was based on evidence that nonpharmacological interventions can ameliorate dementia symptoms in nursing home residents. Such interventions require caregiver participation, which is influenced by perspectives. Yet, no existing tool measures the multidomain caregiver perspective. Our review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol. The final sample included 42 articles describing 33 tools measuring domains of nursing home dementia care such as behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, resident quality of life, dementia-specific knowledge, communication, and medication use. We uncovered evidence gaps for tools measuring dementia-specific knowledge, communication, and medication use, all of which were important to our stakeholders. Future research should focus on development of psychometrically sound tools in alignment with the multidomain caregiver perspective.

Exploring Occupational Therapists' Experiences in U.S. Primary Care Settings: A Qualitative Study

IMPORTANCE

Occupational therapy's scope of practice aligns with the goals of comprehensive primary care set forth by the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. 111-148). To successfully integrate occupational therapy into primary care, we must understand occupational therapy practitioners' experiences in this setting.

OBJECTIVE

To explore facilitators of, barriers to, and recommendations for integrating occupational therapy into primary care.

DESIGN

A descriptive qualitative design that incorporated semistructured interviews, member checking sessions, and deductive thematic analysis. Interviews were structured to capture occupational therapists' experiences of and recommendations for practicing in primary care.

SETTING

Primary care.

PARTICIPANTS

A purposive sample of licensed occupational therapists with at least 6 mo primary care experience in the United States.

RESULTS

Seven participants reported 1 to 8 yr of experience in primary care. Four themes emerged that contextualized the experiences of occupational therapists in primary care. The first theme captured the process of gaining entry onto the primary care team. Once structurally embedded on the team, the second and third themes, respectively, captured barriers and facilitators to navigating team-based care and providing patient-centered care. The fourth theme reflected participants' vision and ideas of how to expand reach nationally to promote consistent integration of occupational therapy into primary care. Conclusion and Relevance: Given the important role of an interprofessional primary care team in improving population health, this study is timely in that it explored occupational therapists' experiences in this emerging practice area. What This Article Adds: Occupational therapists in this study used their skills, resources, and networks to become part of a primary care team. They indicated that they contributed to positive outcomes through working with patients on self-management, functional problem solving, and behavior change.

The experiences, priorities, and perceptions of informal caregivers of people with dementia in nursing homes: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Person-centered care has been shown to increase desired outcomes for people with dementia, yet informal caregivers' dissatisfaction with care is often reported. For those living in a nursing home, informal caregivers are uniquely situated to provide key insights into the individual's care. However, little is known of the informal caregivers' perspective, which hinders efforts to improve their satisfaction with person-centered nursing home care. Thus, we examined the comprehensive experiences, priorities, and perceptions of informal caregivers of nursing home residents with dementia.

METHODS

In collaboration with stakeholders, a scoping review of Medline (Ovid), EMBASE.com, CINAHL (EBSCO), the Cochrane Library (Wiley), and PsycINFO (Ovid) databases from January 2000 to July 2020 was conducted. Data were extracted reflecting the experiences, priorities, and preferences of caregivers of people with dementia residing in nursing homes.

RESULTS

We identified 114 articles that revealed nine themes: (1) communication, (2) transition to nursing home, (3) quality of care, (4) quality of life, (5) informal caregiver role, (6) knowledge of dementia, (7) end-of-life preferences, (8) medication use to manage neuropsychiatric behaviors, and (9) finances.

CONCLUSION

Informal caregivers described aspects of care that led to both positive and negative experiences with and perceptions of nursing home care. The shortcomings in communication were discussed most frequently, indicating a high priority area. While researchers define the identified themes individually, informal caregivers perceive them to be interwoven as they relate to person-centered care delivery. Although we did not assess the quality of included articles, by identifying themes relevant to caregivers' perspectives of nursing home care, our findings may help to inform efforts to optimize caregivers' satisfaction with nursing home care for residents with dementia.

Exploring the first pressure injury and characteristics of subsequent pressure injury accrual following spinal cord injury

Context/Objective: Clinicians have guidance on prevention and treatment of pressure injuries, but little is known regarding characteristics of patients who develop additional pressure injuries. Thus, our objective was to explore the first pressure injury and characteristics of individuals who develop subsequent pressure injuries during acute care and inpatient rehabilitation following spinal cord injury.Design: Secondary analysis of longitudinal data from a cohort of adults following initial traumatic spinal cord injury.Setting: Urban acute care hospital and inpatient rehabilitation facilities.Participants: A convenience sample of adults (n = 38) who developed at least one pressure injury during acute care and inpatient rehabilitation.Interventions: Not applicable.Outcome Measures: The primary outcomes were number of additional pressure injuries and stage of care during which they occurred, prior to community discharge.Results: A covariate-adjusted model revealed that participants with ASIA D injury had a 67% decrease in the rate of additional pressure injury incidence compared to participants with ASIA A injury (Rate Ratio = .33, 95% CI [0.13, 0.88]). The severity of the first pressure injury had no significant association with subsequent pressure injury incidence (P = .10).Conclusion: These findings indicated that individuals with greater sensory and motor loss had an increased risk of developing additional pressure injuries compared to individuals with less impairment. These results are meaningful for stakeholders interested in understanding factors associated with developing subsequent pressure injuries during the index rehabilitation stay and provide a foundation for future research in this area.

Differences in functional improvement based on history of substance abuse and pain severity following spinal cord injury

Background: This study explored the relationship between history of substance abuse and pain severity during inpatient rehabilitation following traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Secondary analysis of a prospective longitudinal study. An adjusted general linear model was used to examine differences in functional improvement based on history of substance abuse and pain severity. Results: Over 50% of the sample had a history of substance abuse, and 94% reported moderate or severe pain. There was a significant interaction between the history of substance abuse and pain severity (p = 0.01, partial η² = 0.012). A difference in functional improvement was found among individuals who reported low pain; those with a history of substance abuse achieved less functional improvement than those without a history of substance abuse, M = 5.32, SE = 1.95, 95% CI 0.64-10.01. Conclusions: A history of substance abuse and post-injury pain are prevalent among individuals with SCI in rehabilitation, and there may be a meaningful relationship between these two patient characteristics and functional improvement. The results provide potential new insights into the characteristics of vulnerable subpopulations during SCI rehabilitation. Furthering our understanding of these results warrants future investigation to prevent and minimize poor outcomes among vulnerable SCI patients.

Evidence for the Effectiveness of Interventions for Caregivers of People With Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review

IMPORTANCE

Caregivers are pivotal in supporting the growing population of people with chronic conditions. Yet, engaging in the caregiver role involves the risk of poor outcomes. Caregiver interventions are needed that address poor outcomes while fostering engagement in role-related activities.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the evidence for interventions to support caregivers of adults with chronic conditions.

DATA SOURCES

Five databases were searched for studies of interventions for caregivers and patient-caregiver dyads published between 1995 and 2019. Study Selection and Data Collection: We reviewed the titles, abstracts, and full-text articles of the initial search results (N = 12,216 studies) according to a predetermined protocol.

FINDINGS

Forty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Psychoeducation and education with skills training were the two caregiver intervention themes. Studies evaluating psychoeducation (n = 28) provided low strength of evidence for improved psychosocial outcomes. Within this theme, problem-solving and coping skills training were common intervention components associated with significant improvements in depression and quality of life. Studies evaluating education with skills training (n = 20) provided moderate strength of evidence for improved knowledge and low strength of evidence for improved psychosocial outcomes. Dyadic self-management education and hands-on training were common components associated with significant improvements in knowledge, quality of life, and burden or strain.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

We found low strength of evidence to support the use of psychoeducation and education with skills training. Within these approaches, problem-solving and coping skills training, dyadic self-management education, and hands-on training show promise for improving caregiver outcomes. What This Article Adds: Findings of this systematic review are inconclusive with respect to psychoeducation and education with skills training leading to improved caregiver well-being. Within these broad approaches, the findings support the use of problem-solving and coping skills training, dyadic self-management education, and hands-on training to improve knowledge and well-being among caregivers of people with chronic conditions.

Therapy Staffing in Skilled Nursing Facilities Declined after Implementation of the Patient-Driven Payment Model

OBJECTIVE

The Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), a new reimbursement policy for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), was implemented in October 2019. PDPM disincentivizes provision of intensive physical and occupational therapy, however, there is concern that declines in therapy staffing may negatively impact patient outcomes. This study aimed to characterize the SNF industry response to PDPM in terms of therapy staffing.

DESIGN

Segmented regression interrupted time series.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

15,432 SNFs in the United States.

METHODS

Using SNF Payroll Based Journal data from January 1, 2019, through March 31, 2020, we calculated national weekly averages of therapy staffing minutes per patient-day for all therapy staff and for subgroups of physical and occupational therapists, therapy assistants, contract staff, and in-house employees. We used interrupted time series regression to estimate immediate and gradual effects of PDPM implementation.

RESULTS

Total therapy staffing minutes per patient-day declined by 5.5% in the week immediately following PDPM implementation (P < .001), and the trend experienced an additional decline of 0.2% per week for the first 6 months after PDPM compared with the negative pre-PDPM baseline trend (P < .001), for a 14.7% total decline by the end of March 2020. Physical and occupational therapy disciplines experienced similar immediate and gradual declines in staffing. Assistant and contract staffing reductions were larger than for therapist and in-house employees, respectively. All subgroups except for assistants and contract staff experienced significantly steeper declines in staffing trends compared with pre-PDPM trends.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

SNFs appeared to have responded to PDPM with both immediate and gradual reductions in therapy staffing, with an average decline of 80 therapy staffing minutes over the average patient stay. Assistant and contract staff experienced the largest immediate declines. Therapy staffing and quality outcomes require ongoing monitoring to ensure staffing reductions do not have negative implications for patients.

Evaluating Stakeholder Engagement: Stakeholder-Centric Instrumentation Process (SCIP)

Evaluating engagement in a research partnership can capture the success and impact of the research team-stakeholder partnerships. This article describes the Stakeholder-Centric Instrumentation Process (SCIP), an iterative method to develop an evaluation that reflects research team-stakeholder collective values, language, and priorities. We describe our implementation of the SCIP and provide the Stakeholder-Centric Engagement Evaluation, an evaluation developed in collaboration with our advisory committee. Mean scores across three administrations of the tool remained constant. We monitored responses received from our advisory committee during each administration for changes in scores that guided refinements to our stakeholder engagement strategy. Face validity and acceptability questions showed high satisfaction for the tool's time required to complete, (M = 4.50, SD = 0.86), clarity (M = 4.56, SD = 0.78), and relevance (M = 4.67, SD = 0.49) (maximum score = 5). The SCIP methodology and the Stakeholder-Centric Engagement Tool can be used during study planning and data collection to capture research team-stakeholder collaborations that reflect stakeholder priorities.

Making Functional Cognition a Professional Priority

Functional cognition is a critical domain of concern for occupational therapy practice. As the health care system moves to assessing value through achievement of quality outcomes, the field of occupational therapy must address the inclusion of functional cognition in evaluation and treatment. Evidence indicates that impaired cognition contributes to risk of hospital readmission and poor overall health outcomes across diagnostic groups. Moreover, expenditure on occupational therapy services that address functional cognition has been shown to lower hospital readmission rates. To improve client outcomes, occupational therapists must consistently screen for and, when appropriate, evaluate and treat functional cognition impairments and consider functional cognition in the discharge planning process. Occupational therapy professionals must make a proactive, coordinated effort to establish the profession's role in evaluating and treating clients' limitations in functional cognition as a means to achieving improved quality care and client outcomes.

Association of Length of Stay, Recovery Rate, and Therapy Time per Day With Functional Outcomes After Hip Fracture Surgery

IMPORTANCE

Medicare is shifting from payment for postacute care services based on the volume provided to payment based on value as determined by patient characteristics and functional outcomes. Matching therapy time and length of stay (LOS) to patient needs will be critical to optimize functional outcomes and manage costs.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association among therapy time, LOS, and functional outcomes for patients following hip fracture surgery.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This retrospective cohort study analyzed data on patients from 4 inpatient rehabilitation facilities and 7 skilled nursing facilities in the eastern and midwestern United States. Participants were patients aged 65 years or older who received inpatient rehabilitation services for hip fracture and had Medicare fee-for-service as their primary payer. Data were collected from 2005 to 2010. Analysis was conducted from November 2018 to June 2019.

EXPOSURE

Therapy minutes per LOS day.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Functional Independence Measure mobility and self-care measures at discharge. Patients were categorized into 9 recovery groups based on low, medium, or high therapy minutes per LOS day and low, medium, or high rate of functional gain per day.

RESULTS

A total of 150 patients (101 [67.3%] female; 148 [98.6%] white; mean [SD] age, 82.0 [7.3] years) met inclusion criteria. Participants in all gain and therapy minutes per LOS day trajectories were similar in function at rehabilitation admission (mean [SD] mobility, 16.2 [3.2]; F8,141 = 1.26; P = .27) but differed significantly at discharge (mean [SD] mobility, 23.9 [5.2]; F8,141 = 14.34; P < .001). High-gain patients achieved mobility independence by discharge; low-gain patients needed assistance on nearly all mobility tasks. Medium-gain patients with a mean LOS of 27 days were independent in mobility at discharge; those with a mean LOS less than 21 days needed supervision with toilet transfers and were dependent with stairs. Length of stay and functional gain rate explained much of the variance in mobility and self-care scores at discharge. Although medium- and high-therapy minutes per LOS day groups were statistically significant in the regression model (β = 6.99; P = .001; and β = 11.46; P = .007, respectively), they explained only 1% of the variance in discharge outcome. Marginal means suggest that medium-gain patients with shorter LOS would have achieved mobility independence if LOS had been extended.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this study, rate of recovery and LOS in skilled nursing and inpatient rehabilitation facilities were associated with mobility and self-care outcomes at discharge following hip fracture surgery, particularly for medium-gain patients. Therapy time per day explained only 1% of the variance in discharge outcome. Discharging medium-gain patients before 21 days LOS may transfer burden of care to family and caregivers, home health, and outpatient services.

Stakeholder engagement in research: a scoping review of current evaluation methods

Aim: Evaluating stakeholder engagement can capture what meaningful engagement in research entails, how it develops, and how it is experienced by all collaborators. We conducted a scoping review of recent approaches for evaluating engagement in research and present a descriptive overview of our findings. Methods: We searched peer-reviewed journal articles published worldwide in English between January 2013 and June 2018. Results: Our final sample consisted of 17 articles. Various approaches for evaluating stakeholder engagement were identified including qualitative approaches, surveys and engagement logs. Discussion & conclusion: We identified evaluation approaches that varied in quality, detail and methods. Valid, systematic and inclusive approaches that are developed with research partners and are inclusive of diverse perspectives are an important area for future research.

Care Transition Processes to Achieve a Successful Community Discharge After Postacute Care: A Scoping Review

Readmissions to health care facilities are undesirable outcomes that indicate the quality of the care transitions. Although there is a growing evidence-base for preventing readmissions, the focus has been on acute care. Postacute care (PAC) patients are often excluded from these studies, and thus there is limited evidence guiding practitioners' efforts to facilitate an effective community transition after PAC rehabilitation. To provide direction for PAC research and clinical practice, this scoping review summarizes current community transition interventions and identifies practices that facilitate successful community discharge. Thirteen care processes emerged from 35 studies, of which 5 were included in at least 60% of the studies, including coaching on the care transition process, medical self-management, medication self-management, scheduling follow-up medical services, and telephone follow-up. These findings can inform the development, evaluation, and implementation of PAC community transition interventions.

Occupational Therapy Practitioners' Perspectives on Occupation-Based Interventions for Clients With Hip Fracture

OBJECTIVE

Occupational engagement is the foundation of occupational therapy. We identified perspectives of 18 occupational therapy practitioners on integrating occupation-based interventions during postacute care (PAC) rehabilitation for persons with hip fracture to identify occupational therapy's distinct contribution.

METHOD

We conducted six focus groups derived from a purposive national sample of occupational therapy practitioners (N = 18). A secondary analysis was conducted to analyze the transcripts for major subthemes around occupation-based interventions.

RESULTS

Three major themes arose from practitioners' perspectives regarding the role of occupation in rehabilitation: (1) conducting an occupational profile, (2) integrating occupation-based intervention in the facility, and (3) identifying goals for occupational engagement after discharge. Challenges and strategies for integrating occupation-based interventions were also identified.

CONCLUSION

Identifying practitioners' perspectives on integrating occupation into rehabilitation may inform strategies to facilitate occupation-based interventions in PAC and define occupational therapy's role in this setting.

Occupational Therapy Fall Prevention Interventions for Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

Accidental falls among community-dwelling older adults are preventable and increase the risk of morbidity, hospitalization, and institutionalization. We updated and broadened a 2008 systematic review examining the evidence for the effectiveness of fall prevention interventions in improving fall-related outcomes, occupational performance, quality of life, and health care facility readmissions for community-dwelling older adults.

METHOD

We searched and analyzed literature published from 2008 to 2015 from five electronic databases.

RESULTS

Fifty articles met the inclusion criteria and were critically appraised and synthesized-37 provided Level I; 5, Level II; and 8, Level III evidence. Analysis was organized into four intervention themes: single component, multicomponent, multifactorial, and population based. Mixed evidence was found for single-component and multifactorial interventions, strong evidence was found for multicomponent interventions, and moderate evidence was found for population-based interventions.

CONCLUSION

These findings can inform the delivery and integration of fall prevention interventions from acute care to community discharge.

Understanding Communication Between Rehabilitation Practitioners and Nurses: Implications for Post-Acute Care Quality

Objective: This study examined post-acute care (PAC) rehabilitation practitioner's perspectives on communication. Method: This is a secondary data analysis of a larger qualitative study, which included PAC rehabilitation provider (n = 99) focus groups that were held in a purposive sample of 13 skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Results: Participants emphasized the importance of bidirectional communication between rehabilitation and nursing. Three themes were identified: (a) communication between rehabilitation practitioners and registered nurses or licensed practical nurses, (b) communication between rehabilitation practitioners and certified nursing assistants, and (c) communication between rehabilitation practitioners and nursing leaders. Two subthemes within each of the three themes were further characterized to understand how information was exchanged: (a) static communication and (b) action-oriented communication. Conclusion: Our findings highlight opportunities for better communication in PAC between rehabilitation practitioners and nursing and thus lay a foundation for future efforts to improve care coordination through enhancing interdisciplinary communication.

Occupational Therapy and Primary Care: Updates and Trends

As our health care system continues to change, so do the opportunities for occupational therapy. This article provides an update to a 2012 Health Policy Perspectives on this topic. We identify new initiatives and opportunities in primary care, explore common challenges to integrating occupational therapy in primary care environments, and highlight international works that can support our efforts. We conclude by discussing next steps for occupational therapy practitioners in order to continue to progress our efforts in primary care.

Clinicians' Perspectives of Patient Engagement in Post-Acute Care: A Social Ecological Approach

Aims

To identify rehabilitation providers' perspectives on barriers and facilitators of patient engagement in hip fracture patients in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) within the social ecological model.

Methods

We conducted 13 focus groups in SNFs throughout Los Angeles County comprised of rehabilitation staff (n=99). Focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed. A secondary analysis of themes related to patient engagement were identified and organized within the social ecological model.

Results

Clinicians identified barriers and facilitators of patient engagement across all levels of the social ecological model: public policy (e.g., insurance), organizational (e.g., facility culture), interpersonal (e.g., clinicians fostering self-reflection), and intrapersonal (e.g., patients' anxiety).

Conclusions

Examining barriers and facilitators to patient engagement has highlighted areas which need to be sustained and improved. Thus, these findings future efforts to enhance patient engagement in order can to optimize patient healthcare decisions.

Delivering high quality hip fracture rehabilitation: the perspective of occupational and physical therapy practitioners

AIM

The majority of post-acute hip fracture rehabilitation in the US is delivered in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Currently, there are limited guidelines that equip occupational and physical therapy practitioners with a summary of what constitutes evidence-based high quality rehabilitation. Thus, this study aimed to identify rehabilitation practitioners' perspectives on the practices that constitute high quality hip fracture rehabilitation.

METHODS

Focus groups were conducted with 99 occupational and physical therapy practitioners working in SNFs in southern California. Purposive sampling of facilities was conducted to capture variation in key characteristics known to impact care delivery for this patient population (e.g., financial resources, staffing, and patient case-mix). Questions aimed to elicit practitioners' perspectives on high quality hip fracture rehabilitation practices. Each session was audio-recorded and transcribed. Data were systematically analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach.

RESULTS

Seven themes emerged: objectives of care; first 72 h; positioning, pain, and precautions; use of standardized assessments; episode of care practices; facilitating insight into progress; and interdisciplinary collaboration.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical guidelines are critical tools to facilitate clinical decision-making and achieve desired patient outcomes. The findings of this study highlight the practitioners' perspective on what constitutes high quality hip fracture rehabilitation. This work provides critical information to advance the development of stakeholder-driven rehabilitation clinical guidelines. Future research is needed to verify the findings from other stakeholders (e.g., patients), ensure the alignment of our findings with current evidence, and develop measures for evaluating their delivery and relationship to desired outcomes. Implications for Rehabilitation This study highlights occupational and physiotherapy therapy practitioners' perspectives on the cumulative best practices that reflect high quality care, which should be delivered during hip fracture rehabilitation. While this study was limited to two professions within the broader interdisciplinary team, consistently occupational and physiotherapy therapy practitioners situated their role and practices within the team, emphasizing that high quality care was driven by collaboration among all members of the team as well as the patient and caregivers. Future research needs to evaluate the (a) frequency at which these practices are delivered and the relationship to patient-centered outcomes, and (b) perspectives of rehabilitation practitioners working in other PAC settings, patients, caregivers, as well as the other members of the interdisciplinary PAC team.

Occupational Therapy and Management of Multiple Chronic Conditions in the Context of Health Care Reform

One in four individuals living in the United States has multiple chronic conditions (MCCs), and the already high prevalence of MCCs continues to grow. This population has high rates of health care utilization yet poor outcomes, leading to elevated concerns about fragmented, low-quality care provided within the current health care system. Several national initiatives endeavor to improve care for the population with MCCs, and occupational therapy is uniquely positioned to contribute to these efforts for more efficient, effective, client-centered management of care. By integrating findings from the literature with current policy and practice, we aim to highlight the potential role for occupational therapy in managing MCCs within the evolving health care system.

Qualitative Experience of Sleep in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

Poor sleep contributes to adverse health outcomes making it important to understand sleep in medically vulnerable populations, including those with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, little attention has been paid to circumstances specific to SCI that may negatively affect sleep, or to consequences of poor sleep in this population. The objective of this study was to examine the experience of sleep among individuals with SCI. Secondary analysis using thematic coding of qualitative data from an ethnographic study of community-dwelling adults with SCI was conducted. Sleep-related data were found in transcripts for 90% of the sample. Participants described diminished sleep duration and irregular sleep patterns. Several factors contributing to poor sleep were identified, including SCI-related circumstances and sleep environment. Participants also discussed how poor sleep affected occupational engagement. This study highlights the extent of sleep disturbance experienced after SCI and the subsequent impact on occupational performance, and provides direction for clinical practice.

Effects of Postacute Settings on Readmission Rates and Reasons for Readmission Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

OBJECTIVES

Examine the effects of postacute discharge setting on unplanned hospital readmissions following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in older adults.

DESIGN

Secondary analyses of 100% Medicare (inpatient) claims files.

SETTING

Acute hospitals across the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries ≥66 years of age who were discharged from an acute hospital following TKA in 2009-2011 (n = 608,031).

MEASUREMENTS

The outcome measure was unplanned readmissions at 30, 60, and 90 days. The independent variable of interest was postacute discharge setting: inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF), skilled nursing facility (SNF), or community. Covariates included demographic, clinical, and facility-level factors. The top 10 reasons for readmission were tabulated for each discharge setting across the 3 consecutive 30-day time periods.

RESULTS

A total of 32,226 patients (5.3%) were re-admitted within 30 days. Compared with community discharge, patients discharged to IRF and SNF had 44% and 40% higher odds of 30-day readmission, respectively. IRF and SNF discharge settings were also associated with 48% and 45% higher odds of 90-day readmission, respectively, compared with community discharge. The largest increase in readmission rates occurred within the first 30 days of hospital discharge for each discharge setting. From 1 to 30 days, postoperative and post-traumatic infections were among the top causes for readmission in all 3 discharge settings. From 31 to 60 days, postoperative or traumatic infections remained in the top 5-7 reasons for readmission in all settings, but they were not in the top 10 at 61 to 90 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients discharged to either SNF or IRF, in comparison with those discharged to the community, had greater likelihood of readmission within 30 and 90 days. The reasons for readmission were relatively consistent across discharge settings and time periods. These findings provide new information relevant to the delivery of postacute care to older adults following TKA.

Nursing Homes That Increased The Proportion Of Medicare Days Saw Gains In Quality Outcomes For Long-Stay Residents

Nursing homes are increasingly providing rehabilitative care to short-stay residents under Medicare's skilled nursing facility coverage, which is much more generous than Medicaid's coverage for long-stay residents. This shift creates the potential for both beneficial and detrimental effects on outcomes for such residents. Examining nationwide facility-level nursing home data for the period 2007-10, we found that increasing the proportion of Medicare-covered patient days in a nursing home was significantly associated with improvements in the quality of the three outcomes we considered for long-stay residents. We saw significant decreases in the percentages of long-stay residents with daily pain (from 5.1 percent to 3.4 percent), with worsening pressure ulcers (from 2.5 percent to 2.0 percent), and with a decline in performing activities of daily living (from 15.9 percent to 14.9 percent). These findings reinforce previous research indicating that quality outcomes tend to be superior in nursing homes with greater financial resources. They also bolster arguments for financial investments in nursing homes, including increases in Medicaid payment rates, to support better care for long-stay residents.

Rehabilitation Practitioners' Prioritized Care Processes in Hip Fracture Post-Acute Care

AIMS

Occupational and physical therapy in post-acute care (PAC) has reached the point where quality indicators for hip fracture are needed. This study characterizes the practitioners' prioritized hip fracture rehabilitation practices, which can guide future quality improvement initiatives.

METHODS

Ninety-two practitioners participating in a parent mixed methods study were asked to rank a series of evidence-based best practices across five clinical domains (assessment, intervention, discharge planning, caregiver training and patient education).

RESULTS

Prioritized practices reflected patient-practitioner collaboration, facilitating an effective discharge, and preventing adverse events. The highest endorsed care processes include: developing meaningful goals with patient input (84%) in assessment, using assistive devices in intervention (75%) and patient education (65%), engaging the patient and caregiver (50%) in discharge planning, and fall prevention (60%) in caregiver education.

CONCLUSIONS

Practitioners identified key care priorities. This study lays the foundation for future work evaluating the extent to which these practices are delivered in PAC.

Napping and Nighttime Sleep: Findings From an Occupation-Based Intervention

OBJECTIVE

To describe sleeping behaviors and trends over time among an ethnically diverse group of community-living older adults.

METHOD

A descriptive secondary data analysis of a subsample (n = 217) from the Lifestyle Redesign randomized controlled trial was done to explore baseline napping and sleeping patterns as well as 6-mo changes in these outcomes.

RESULTS

At baseline, the average time sleeping was 8.2 hr daily (standard deviation = 1.7). Among all participants, 29% reported daytime napping at baseline, of which 36% no longer napped at follow-up. Among participants who stopped napping, those who received an occupation-based intervention (n = 98) replaced napping time with nighttime sleep, and those not receiving an intervention (n = 119) experienced a net loss of total sleep (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

Among participants who stopped napping, the occupation-based intervention may be related to enhanced sleep. More research examining the role of occupation-based interventions in improving sleep is warranted.

Non-Pharmacological Approaches to Reducing Negative Behavioral Symptoms: A Scoping Review

The management of negative behavioral symptoms among residents with dementia is a challenge that nursing homes face in delivering quality care. This study examines evidence documenting non-pharmacological interventions that reduce negative behavioral symptoms among nursing home residents with dementia and the role occupational therapy practitioners have in this area. A scoping review was completed for intervention studies published from 1987 to 2014, targeting negative behavioral symptoms among nursing home residents above 60 years of age with dementia. Interventions were categorized based on the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Occupational Therapy Practice Framework. Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Four types of interventions were identified: occupation-based interventions, context and environment interventions, exercise interventions, and daily routine-based interventions. The non-pharmacological interventions were found to align with the scope of occupational therapy. This suggests that occupational therapy practitioners can contribute to the development and evaluation of non-pharmacological interventions aimed to reduce negative behavioral symptoms.

Advancing the value and quality of occupational therapy in health service delivery

The authors set forth a foundation on which to build further dialogue and evidence to highlight occupational therapy’s distinctive contribution, significance, and viability as health care policies shift to focus on quality and value.

Volume Matters: Returning Home After Hip Fracture

OBJECTIVES

To examine the effect of the relationship between volume (number of hip fracture admissions during the 12 months before participant's fracture) and other facility characteristics on outcomes.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

SETTING

U.S. skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) admitting individuals discharged from the hospital after treatment for hip fracture between 2000 and 2007 (N = 15,439).

PARTICIPANTS

Community-dwelling fee-for-service Medi-care beneficiaries aged 75 and older admitted to U.S. hospitals for their first hip fracture and discharged to a SNF for postacute care from 2000 to 2007 (N = 512,967).

MEASUREMENTS

Successful discharge from SNF to community, defined as returning to the community within 30 days of hospital discharge to the SNF and remaining in the community without being institutionalized for at least 30 days, was examined using Medicare administrative data, propensity score matching, and instrumental variables.

RESULTS

The overall rate of successful discharge to the community was 31%. Of the 15,439 facilities, the facility interquartile range varied from 0% (25th percentile) to 42% (75th percentile). An important determinant of variation in discharge rate was SNF volume of hip fracture admissions. Unadjusted successful discharge from SNF to community was 43.7% in high-volume facilities (>24 admissions/year), versus 18.8% in low-volume facilities (1-6 admissions/year). This facility volume effect persisted after adjusting for participant and facility characteristics associated with outcomes (e.g., adjusted odds ratio = 2.06, 95% confidence interval = 1.91-2.21 for volume of 25 vs 3 admissions per year).

CONCLUSION

In community-dwelling persons with their first hip fracture, successful return to the community varies substantially according to SNF provider volume and staffing characteristics.

Client Centeredness and Health Reform: Key Issues for Occupational Therapy

Health reform promotes the delivery of patient-centered care. Occupational therapy's rich history of client-centered theory and practice provides an opportunity for the profession to participate in the evolving discussion about how best to provide care that is truly patient centered. However, the growing emphasis on patient-centered care also poses challenges to occupational therapy's perspectives on client-centered care. We compare the conceptualizations of client-centered and patient-centered care and describe the current state of measurement of client-centered and patient-centered care. We then discuss implications for occupational therapy's research agenda, practice, and education within the context of patient-centered care, and propose next steps for the profession.

Does Sleep Change After an Occupation-Based Lifestyle Intervention? A Pilot Study

Date Presented 4/16/2015

Sleep problems threaten occupational engagement in older adults. This pilot study suggests that occupational therapy may enhance sleep by targeting engagement in occupation. This study provides a structure for future researchers analyzing the role of occupational therapy in older adult sleep behaviors.

Compassion Fatigue: A Scoping Review of the Literature

Date Presented 4/17/2015

In interdisciplinary peer literature, compassion fatigue (CF) has been defined as the lessening of one’s ability to empathize due to exposure to trauma and suffering. A scoping review was conducted to fill the gap in occupational therapy literature on CF and health care professionals.

What happens to patients when they fracture their hip during a skilled nursing facility stay?

OBJECTIVES

To characterize outcomes of patients experiencing a fall and subsequent hip fracture while in a nursing home receiving skilled nursing facility (SNF) services.

DESIGN

Observational study.

PARTICIPANTS

Short-stay fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries who experienced their first hip fracture during an SNF stay.

MEASUREMENTS

Outcomes measured in the 90 days after the hip fracture hospitalization included community discharge (with a stay in the community <30 days), successful community discharge (in the community ≥30 days), death, and institutionalization.

RESULTS

Between 1999 and 2007, 27,305 hip fractures occurred among short-stay nursing home patients receiving SNF care. After surgical repair of the hip fracture, 83.9% of these patients were discharged from the hospital back to an SNF, with most (99%) returning to the facility where the hip fracture occurred. In the first 90 days after hospitalization, 24.1% of patients died, 7.3% were discharged to the community but remained fewer than 30 days, 14.0% achieved successful community discharge, and 54.6% were still in a health care institution with almost 46.4% having transitioned to long-term care.

CONCLUSION

SNF care aims to maximize the short-stay patient's independence and facilitate a safe community transition. However, experiencing a fall and hip fracture during the SNF stay was a sentinel event that limited the achievement of this goal. There is an urgent need to ensure the integration of fall prevention into the patient's plan of care. Further, falls among SNF patients may serve as indicator of quality, which consumers and payers can use to make informed health care decisions.

What is occupational therapy's role in addressing sleep problems among older adults?

Sleep problems, prevalent among older adults, are associated with poor outcomes and high health care costs. In 2008, rest and sleep became its own area of occupation in the American Occupational Therapy Association's Occupational Therapy Practice Framework. The current scoping review examined a broad context of sleep research to highlight efficacious interventions for older adults that fall within the occupational therapy scope of practice and present an agenda for research and practice. Four sleep intervention areas clearly aligned with the practice framework, including cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, physical activity, multicomponent interventions, and other interventions. Occupational therapy is primed to address sleep problems by targeting the context and environment, performance patterns, and limited engagement in evening activities that may contribute to poor sleep. Occupational therapy researchers and clinicians need to work collaboratively to establish the evidence base for occupation-centered sleep interventions to improve the health and quality of life of older adults.