Family member presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a survey of US and international critical care professionals

OBJECTIVE: Recent international emergency cardiovascular care (ECC) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines have recommended that health-care professionals allow family members to be present during resuscitation attempts. To assess whether critical care professionals support these recommendations, we surveyed health-care professionals for their opinions regarding family-witnessed resuscitation (FWR). METHODS: We surveyed health-care professionals attending the International Meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians in San Francisco, CA, from October 23 to 26, 2000, about their CPR experience, their opinions on FWR, and demographic characteristics. The opinions of physicians, nurses, and other allied health professionals were compared, and differences in opinions based on demographics were examined. RESULTS: Five hundred ninety-two professionals were surveyed. Fewer physicians (20%) than nurses and allied health-care workers combined (39%) would allow family member presence during adult CPR (p = 0.0037 [chi(2) test]). Fourteen percent of physicians and 17% of nurses would allow a family presence during pediatric CPR. There was a significant difference among the opinions of US professionals, based on regional location. Professionals practicing in the northeastern states were less likely than other US professionals to allow FWR during adult or pediatric resuscitations (p = 0.016 and p < 0.001, respectively [chi(2) test]). Midwestern professionals were more likely than others to allow family members to be present during an adult resuscitation, when compared to professional in the rest of the nation (p = 0.002 [chi(2) test]). Health-care professionals disapproving of family member presence during CPR did so because of the fear of psychological trauma to family members, performance anxiety affecting the CPR team, medicolegal concerns, and a fear of distraction to the resuscitation team. CONCLUSIONS: Our evaluation indicated that the majority of critical care professionals surveyed do not support the current recommendations provided by the ECC and CPR guidelines of 2000.     

What physicians should know about consumer satisfaction

Physicians must recognize the contemporary role consumers play in the delivery process. Although it is common knowledge that without consumers there would be little need for the elaborate health systems in existence today, few physicians actively plan for, implement and systematically evaluate services delivered. The rising cost of malpractice insurance in this age of spiraling materials and equipment expense, is forcing more physicians to consider better ways of serving and keeping their patients. This article describes one approach, consumer satisfaction.     

The future history of gerontological nursing

Having established an academic and clinical infrastructure, geriatric nursing is well positioned to play a central role in improving the health of the nation's older adults now and in the future. Currently, whether working independently, in collaborative practice with physicians, or as members of geriatric teams, geriatric nurse practitioners and clinical specialists have been shown to improve care to older adults in the community, in hospitals, and in skilled nursing facilities. Sixty-three master's programs now prepare advanced practice geriatric nurses. Geriatric nurse researchers have contributed to our understanding of the most pressing problems that impact profoundly on the health and quality of life of older adults. Despite these advances, the number of geriatric nurse specialists remains small, with only 4200 certified specialists and a serious shortage of geriatric nursing faculty. Geriatric nursing is moving to ensure geriatric competency in all nurses who work with older adults in the future. The future should see the benefits of current efforts to infuse geriatric content into baccalaureate programs that prepare registered nurses, into master's programs that prepare adult and family nurse practitioners, and into the day-to-day practice of the nation's 2.2 million practicing registered nurses.     

Hypertension Canada’s 2020 Comprehensive Guidelines for the Prevention,Diagnosis, Risk Assessment,and Treatment of Hypertension in Adults and Children

Hypertension Canada’s 2020 guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment of hypertension in adults and children provide comprehensive, evidence-based guidance for health care professionals and patients. Hypertension Canada develops the guidelines using rigourous methodology, carefully mitigating the risk of bias in our process. All draft recommendations undergo critical review by expert methodologists without conflict to ensure quality. Our guideline panel is diverse, including multiple health professional groups (nurses, pharmacy, academics, and physicians), and worked in concert with experts in primary care and implementation to ensure optimal usability. The 2020 guidelines include new guidance on the management of resistant hypertension and the management of hypertension in women planning pregnancy.     

US nurses' perceptions of their role in diabetes care: results of the cross-national Diabetes Attitudes Wishes and Needs (DAWN) study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine nurse and physician perceptions of nurse involvement and roles in diabetes care. METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional design with face-to-face or telephone interviews of diabetes health care professionals in 13 countries from Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. This article focuses on the data from US health care providers. The US sample included 51 generalist nurses, 50 diabetes specialist nurses, 166 generalist physicians, and 50 diabetes specialist physicians. RESULTS: Nurses and physicians agreed that nurses should take a larger role in managing diabetes. Most common differences identified between nurses and physicians were that nurses provide better education, spend more time with patients, were better listeners, and knew their patients better than physicians. All nurses had a high perceived need for better understanding of psychosocial issues and were more likely than physicians to suggest helping patients to take responsibility for their care. Nurses more than physicians also said better communication was needed. Generalist nurses report that they act as intermediaries and facilitate patient appointment keeping. Specialist nurses talk to patients about self-management, teach medication management, have a higher level of involvement in medication prescribing, and are more willing to take on additional responsibilities than generalist nurses. CONCLUSIONS: There is an increased need for more involvement by nurses, particularly specialist nurses, in diabetes care.     

Patient safety perceptions: a survey of Iowa physicians, pharmacists, and nurses

BACKGROUND: Patient safety is of concern to consumers, health professionals, policymakers, insurers, and researchers. OBJECTIVE: Assess the perceptions of health care providers regarding the impact of parts of the health care system on patient safety, barriers to patient safety, and strategies to improve patient safety. METHODS: Statewide survey mailed in May 2001. Participants rated the impact of 10 parts of the health care system on patient safety, selected barriers to patient safety that they thought should be priorities, and selected the best strategies for improving patient safety. RESULTS: Of random samples of 1310 physicians, 1310 pharmacists, and 2620 nurses licensed by the state of Iowa, 5075 providers were eligible and 2388 responded (47%). Provider education, norms and values, patient and family characteristics, and continuity of care were rated as having a major impact on patient safety by at least 70% of each provider group. A general lack of consensus exists among providers about which barriers to patient safety should be priorities and which strategies would best improve the system. However, a majority of providers agreed that educating patients about their role in health care and sharing information between providers and across settings of care are important strategies for improving patient safety. CONCLUSION: In areas in which providers agree on the best strategies, broader, system-wide interventions that include physicians, pharmacists, and nurses in multiple settings may be implemented to improve patient safety. Health care organizations and providers must get patients more involved in their care by asking them to help define roles, design educational materials, and develop useful methods of sharing information across settings.     

Exchange of perspectives with other health care professionals.

The time has come for the PA profession to reach out and communicate with other health care providers--with physicians, nurses, health care administrators, and other allied health professionals. In addition, PAs must encourage these providers to share their vision of tomorrow's health care delivery system and the roles that they will play with PAs. A PA educator outlines a plan for starting the process.     

Satisfaction of health care professionals managing patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Background and aimsThe aim of the present study was to analyze the satisfaction of health care professionals who attend patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to determine the variables more related with satisfaction/dissatisfaction.MethodsCross-sectional, self-administered written 15-item questionnaire was evaluated using a Likert scale, completed by Spanish gastroenterologists and nurse practitioners specialized in IBD patient care.ResultsA total of 202 surveys, 133 physicians (65.8%) and 69 nurses (34.2%) were conducted. Global scoring of satisfaction was 54.0 for physicians and 64.2 for nurses (p < 0.001). In both groups the highest scores were achieved in those items related to their professional careers and management of personal and professional lives as well as those that refer to their interdisciplinary relationship with other medical units, management of patients within the hospital setting and finally communication with the patient. The items that attained the lowest score included those related to the length and staff available for the medical consult, work environment and the balance among health care provider needs for contribution, recognition and fulfillment. With regard to the variables involved with satisfaction, the results show that those physicians that only took care of IBD patients achieved a higher degree of satisfaction. This could be related with the fulfillment of their own professional expectations.ConclusionsThe level of satisfaction of health care professionals that take care of IBD patients is low and may impact on patient care. Therefore, new strategies to increase the degree of satisfaction of IBD health care providers should be implemented.     

Using a problem detection study (PDS) to identify and compare health care provider and consumer views of antihypertensive therapy

The objectives of this study were to ascertain consumer knowledge and behaviour about hypertension and treatment and to compare these with health care providers' perceptions (of 'most' consumers). The design for the study was a problem detection study (PDS): focus groups and then survey. Focus groups and survey participants were convenience samples of consumers, doctors, nurses and pharmacists. The main outcome measures were agreement on a 5-point Likert scale with statements about consumers' knowledge and behaviour about high blood pressure and medication. The survey identified areas of consensus and disagreement between consumers and health providers. While general knowledge and concordance with antihypertensive therapy among consumers was good, consequences such as eye and kidney disease, interactions with herbal medicines, and how to deal with missing a dose were less well known. Side effects were a problem for over one-quarter of participants, and cost was a problem in continuing therapy. Half the consumers had not received sufficient written information. Providers overall disagreed that most consumers have an adequate understanding of the condition. They agreed that most consumers adhere to therapy and can manage medicines; and about their own profession's role in information provision and condition management. Consumers confirmed positive provider behaviour, suggesting opportunities for greater communication between providers about actions taken with their consumers. In conclusion, the PDS methodology was useful in identifying consumer opinions. Differences between consumer and provider responses were marked, with consumers generally rating their knowledge and behaviour above providers' ratings of 'most' consumers. There are clear gaps to be targeted to improve the outcomes of hypertension therapy.     

Trajectory of care for an elderly stroke patient in the new EU member countries – based on CLESA project

BackgroundStroke is one of the most disabling conditions in old age. Good quality of care may prevent subsequent disability. Yet, recommendations for stroke care focus mainly on acute phase. Much less consistency exists in later phases when care is delivered by a wide spectrum of providers. The aim of the study was to map current trajectories of stroke patients through different health care settings in three European countries: Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Poland.MethodsThe research was conducted within the CLESA project (“Cross-National Determinants of Quality of Life and Health Services for the Elderly”) in 2003. It combined qualitative methods of case study questionnaire and expert consensus group. Existing standards of care, accessibility of health and social care services were compared cross-nationally focusing on time factor, professionals involved, administrative and financial components of services.ResultsApplication of international recommendations for acute care for stroke patients positively affected accessibility of acute care services in all the countries considered in the study. Differences between countries occurred mainly in the post-acute care in the type of institution, professionals involved, eligibility criteria for rehabilitation and financial resources for care. Home care was the most diverse and fragmented service in terms of provider type, organisation and payment system.ConclusionsThe evidence-based medicine shaped medical care during early stroke in the Eastern European countries into rather uniform performance resulting in development of acute stroke units. However, higher heterogeneity in the rehabilitation and home care services may come out of inaccuracies in the recommendations and standards of care in later stage after stroke.     

Comparison of perception of health status by physicians, nurses, and patients in the Dual-chamber And VVI Implantable Defibrillator (DAVID) trial

Previous studies have shown a poor correlation between health and quality-of-life assessments by patients, physicians, and nurses. Some have argued that patients are treated impersonally in clinical trials. Because one would expect that patient care would be compromised if this were the case, we used the Dual-chamber And VVI Implantable Defibrillator (DAVID) clinical trial setting to see if these assertions truly reflect the assessments of quality of life by health care professionals. Physicians, nurses, and patients in the DAVID trial had concordant assessments of the patients' perception of health status. The findings dispel assertions that patient concerns are not reliably assessed.     

Integrating mental health care into residential homes for the elderly: an analysis of six Dutch programs for older people with severe and persistent mental illness

Integrating mental health care into residential homes for the elderly is a potentially effective model to address the complex care needs of older chronically mentally ill people. Because no research was available on the implementation of such integrated care in practice, six programs already operating in the Netherlands were analyzed. At the administrative level, three types of cooperative arrangements existed: a psychiatric hospital renting a unit in a residential home for the elderly, a psychiatric hospital stationing mental health professionals in a residential home on a permanent basis, and a residential home employing its own psychiatrically trained staff. At the operational level, contrasting views emerged on the relation-ship between physical and mental health care; these were delivered separately or in integrated form. In either case, the employees trained as elder care workers or as psychiatric nurses had difficulties understanding each other because they held different ideas about good-quality care. These care visions can be characterized as the care-giving approach (care workers) versus the problem-oriented and the rehabilitation approaches (nurses). At the housing level, two models existed: mentally ill patients having apartments in a separate unit (concentrated housing) or located throughout the facility (dispersed housing). The most promising model appears to be the one in which a psychiatric hospital assigns mental health professionals to work in a residential home, where they remain administratively and operationally distinct from the standard residential services. Whether or not the psychiatric residents should be housed in separate units could not be decided based on this study.     

(In)accuracy of blood pressure measurement in 14 Italian hospitals

OBJECTIVES:: The diagnosis and control of hypertension depend on accurate measurement of blood pressure (BP). The literature on the accuracy of BP recording by health professionals is, however, limited, and no study directly interviewed patients in the hospital setting. This multicenter cross-sectional study aimed at evaluating the compliance to current recommendations on BP measurement by health professionals directly from patients and to investigate potential predictors of higher quality in BP recording. METHODS:: A trained nurse interviewed a random sample of adult patients hospitalized for an ordinary admission (except in the emergency room) lasting more than one night, without mental disorder, who had their BP routinely measured by the hospital personnel less than 3?h before. The questionnaire contained 15 items on the main procedures that are common to current guidelines. RESULTS:: Fourteen public hospitals from seven regions of Italy participated, and 1334 questionnaires were collected. Nine of the recommended practices were followed in the majority (>70%) of BP recordings, whereas some others were infrequent or rare: in 98.6, 82.2 and 81.1% of the participants, respectively, the arm circumference was never recorded, BP was measured only once, and BP was never recorded in both arms. Overall, 10 or more recommended procedures were followed during 33.4% recordings. At multivariate analysis, physicians were less likely than nurses to provide a more accurate BP measurement. CONCLUSIONS:: The operator's compliance to some recommendations in BP measurement is unacceptably low. This survey provides detailed indications for medical directors on the procedures and settings to prioritize in educational programs, which are definitely needed.     

The development of a multidisciplinary,evidence-based guideline for “HIV and employment”

The objective of this study was to develop a multidisciplinary guideline that supports the care and vocational rehabilitation of HIV-infected people with employment-related problems. The guideline was developed according to the “evidence-based guideline development” method developed by the Dutch Institute for Health Care Improvement. This method consists of the following steps: forming a multidisciplinary core group and an expert panel, formulating key questions, searching and appraising the available literature, formulating considerations and recommendations, peer reviewing the draft guideline, and authorizing the final guideline. All relevant professional associations were represented in the core group that was assembled to develop the guideline, i.e., HIV doctors, HIV nurses, general practitioners, occupational health physicians, psychologists, social workers, occupational health nurses, vocational experts, and insurance physicians. Five key questions for the guideline were formulated with the following themes: determinants of employment, disclosure and stigma, self-management, interventions, and the organization of care. In the literature review on these topics, 45 studies met the inclusion criteria. The methodological quality of the included articles was poor. Factors such as patient preferences and medical/ethical issues were considered. The recommendations in the guideline are a weighting of the scientific evidence and the considerations of the core group. The guideline, as well as its summary for daily practice, clarifies the most important barriers and facilitators to people with HIV either staying at work or returning to work, and it constitutes a clinical, easy-to-use guideline for health-care providers and how they can support people with HIV who want to work.     

Implementing a university-community-retail partnership model to facilitate community education on universal design

PURPOSE: A collaborative partnership model was used to develop and implement a state-wide community education program on universal design. DESIGN AND METHODS: University faculty, extension professionals, older adult service agencies, service learning students, and a community retail chain made up the original partnership. RESULTS: This collaboration resulted in a five-stage partnership model. The model was used to develop and disseminate a consumer education program to promote aging in place. The five stages include (a) identifying partner strengths and shared learning, (b) program development, (c) implementing the universal design program, (d) facilitating collaborative outreach, and (e) shifting toward sustainable outreach. IMPLICATIONS: A lack of knowledge exists among consumers, builders, and health care professionals regarding strategies for aging in place. Collaborations between educators, outreach professionals, students, and a retail partner resulted in increased interest and awareness about universal design changes that enable seniors to age in place.     

Setting Research Priorities for Patients on or Nearing Dialysis

With increasing emphasis among health care providers and funders on patient-centered care, it follows that patients and their caregivers should be included when priorities for research are being established. This study sought to identify the most important unanswered questions about the management of kidney failure from the perspective of adult patients on or nearing dialysis, their caregivers, and the health care professionals who care for these patients. Research uncertainties were identified through a national Canadian survey of adult patients on or nearing dialysis, their caregivers, and health care professionals. Uncertainties were refined by a steering committee that included patients, caregivers, researchers, and clinicians to assemble a short-list of the top 30 uncertainties. Thirty-four people (11 patients; five caregivers; eight physicians; six nurses; and one social worker, pharmacist, physiotherapist, and dietitian each) from across Canada subsequently participated in a workshop to determine the top 10 research questions. In total, 1570 usable research uncertainties were received from 317 respondents to the survey. Among these, 259 unique uncertainties were identified; after ranking, these were reduced to a short-list of 30 uncertainties. During the in-person workshop, the top 10 research uncertainties were identified, which included questions about enhanced communication among patients and providers, dialysis modality options, itching, access to kidney transplantation, heart health, dietary restrictions, depression, and vascular access. These can be used alongside the results of other research priority–setting exercises to guide researchers in designing future studies and inform health care funders.     

The Validity and Reliability of Two Asthma Knowledge Questionnaires

Background. This study aimed to develop and validate two asthma knowledge questionnaires, one for consumers (CQ) and one for health care professionals (HQ) to fill an existing gap in the literature. Methods. Following development and pilot testing, the revised CQ and HQ were administered to respiratory physicians, pharmacists and people with asthma and without asthma. Results. Both the CQ and HQ were shown to be reliable with Cronbach's alpha of 0.78 and 0.92 respectively. Both were also found to have good content, face, construct and discriminant validity. Conclusion. The CQ and HQ were shown to be simple, valid and reliable instruments for the assessment of asthma knowledge of consumers and health care professionals and to direct educational resources more appropriately. Future research will evaluate the utility of these instruments in clinical practice.     

Non-compliance to treatment: can professionals ethically refuse to treat?

Professionals who work in health care have long been aware of patients who continually fail to adhere to treatment regimes recommended to them by their nurses, doctors and dieticians. This is no less a problem within the field of renal medicine. In the current climate where who to treat often causes more of a dilemma than how to treat, professionals in renal care frequently deliberate the fairness of treating those who persistently "non-comply".     

Canadian Hypertension Education Program: the science supporting New 2011 CHEP recommendations with an emphasis on health advocacy and knowledge translation

This is a summary of the theme, key new recommendations, and supporting science of the 2011 Canadian Hypertension Education Program (CHEP). In 2011, the ACCORD trial challenged current blood pressure treatment targets for people with diabetes. After consideration of multiple factors relating to the ACCORD trial design and its reporting, the current treatment target of <130/80 mm Hg was not changed. A meta-analysis implicated angiotensin receptor blockers in causing cancer; however, weaknesses in the meta-analysis and ongoing close scrutiny of the issue by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration precluded any changes in current CHEP recommendations. New expert opinion-based recommendations were added to assist the management of hypertension in the setting of acute stroke. To promote healthier blood pressure in Canadians, CHEP emphasizes the need for all Canadians-in particular, health care professionals and their organizations-to more actively work with different levels of government to implement healthy public policies. These should build community capacity to promote healthy behaviours with the goal of the prevention of hypertension and its consequences. To aid a substantive knowledge translation gap, health care professionals and people with hypertension can now receive regular CHEP updates by signing up at the Web sites htnupdate.ca and www.myBPsite.ca.