Implementation, uptake and use of a digital COVID-19 symptom tracker in English care homes in the coronavirus pandemic: a mixed-methods, multi-locality case study

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 spread rapidly in UK care homes for older people in the early pandemic. National infection control recommendations included remote resident assessment. A region in North-West England introduced a digital COVID-19 symptom tracker for homes to identify early signs of resident deterioration to facilitate care responses. We examined the implementation, uptake and use of the tracker in care homes across four geographical case study localities in the first year of the pandemic.

METHODS

This was a rapid, mixed-methods, multi-locality case study. Tracker uptake was calculated using the number of care homes taking up the tracker as a proportion of the total number of care homes in a locality. Mean tracker use was summarised at locality level and compared. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals involved in tracker implementation and used to explore implementation factors across localities. Template Analysis with the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) guided the interpretation of qualitative data.

RESULTS

Uptake varied across the four case study localities ranging between 13.8 and 77.8%. Tracker use decreased in all localities over time at different rates, with average use ranging between 18 and 58%. The implementation context differed between localities and the process of implementation deviated over time from the initially planned strategy, for stakeholder engagement and care homes' training. Four interpretative themes reflected the most influential factors appearing to affect tracker uptake and use: (1) the process of implementation, (2) implementation readiness, (3) clarity of purpose/perceived value and (4) relative priority in the context of wider system pressures.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study findings resonate with the digital solutions evidence base prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting three key factors that can inform future development and implementation of rapid digital responses in care home settings even in times of crisis: an incremental approach to implementation with testing of organisational readiness and attention to implementation climate, particularly the innovation's fit with local contexts (i.e. systems, infrastructure, work processes and practices); involvement of end-users in innovation design and development; and enabling users' easy access to sustained, high-quality, appropriate training and support to enable staff to adapt to digital solutions.

‘Doing the best we can’: Registered Nurses' experiences and perceptions of patient safety in intensive care during COVID ‐19

Aims

To explore registered nurses' experiences of patient safety in intensive care during COVID‐19.

Design

A qualitative interview study informed by constructivism.

Method

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted and audio‐recorded with 19 registered nurses who worked in intensive care during COVID‐19 between May and July 2021. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed utilizing framework.

Results

Two key themes were identified. ‘On a war footing’—an unprecedented situation which describes the situation nurses faced, and the actions are taken to prepare for the safe delivery of care. ‘Doing the best we can’—Safe Delivery of Care which describes the ramifications of the actions taken on short‐ and long‐term patient safety including organization of care, missed and suboptimal care and communication. Both themes were embedded in the landscape of Staff Well‐being and Peer Support.

Conclusion

Nurses reported an increase in patient safety risks which they attributed to the dilution of skill mix and fragmentation of care. Nurses demonstrated an understanding of the holistic and long‐term impacts on patient safety and recovery from critical illness.

Impact

This study explored the perceived impact of COVID‐19 on patient safety in intensive care from a nursing perspective. Dilution of skill mix, where specialist critical care registered nurses were diluted with registered nurses with no critical care experience, and the fragmentation of care was perceived to lead to reduced quality of care and increased adverse events and risk of harm which were not consistently formally reported. Furthermore, nurses demonstrated a holistic and long‐term appreciation of patient safety. These findings should be considered as part of future nursing workforce modelling and patient safety strategies by intensive care leaders and managers. No public or patient contribution to this study. The study aims and objectives were developed in collaboration with health care professionals.