Patient satisfaction in home health care

Aims and objectives. To assess the current use of patient satisfaction measures in home health care and to examine the reliability and validity of current measures of patient satisfaction in home health care. Background. Patient satisfaction has been one of the widely used measures in home health care as an indicator of quality of care. A few efforts have been made to develop psychometrically sound patient satisfaction scales for use in home health care. Design. A critical review of the literature. Methods. Electronic databases were systematically searched to identify the studies or publications that measured and addressed patient satisfaction and its measurement in home health care. Results. The review of the literature showed that patient satisfaction measures have been used in the evaluation of care programmes including rehabilitation programmes, discharge and home follow‐up programmes, care process and management practices. Also, patient satisfaction measures were used to evaluate new care protocols and treatments. Conclusions. Home healthcare agencies need valid and reliable patient satisfaction scales. Frameworks of patient satisfaction are still in their early developmental stage. Only some of the variables related to patient satisfaction are explained by many frameworks. Relevance to clinical practice. Home healthcare mangers and researchers need to take in consideration the reliability and validity of measures and tools of patient satisfaction.     

SpitexPlus: assessment of and specialised nursing care for elderly and their families living in the community

Current demographic developments and the high prevalence of chronic conditions require new approaches to nursing care of the elderly population in Switzerland. New care models need to be developed that go beyond traditional nursing practice with its focus on the individual. Existing preventive home visit and case management programmes have mostly focussed on the young old with the goal to maintain functional health and prevent institutionalisation. Families, who play a crucial role in the care of the elderly at home, were not included. The purpose of this article is to describe the development of the SpitexPlus Project, which is directed at people 80 years and older and their families, irrespective of their health status and social situation. It aims to improve self-care capabilities and quality of life in people 80+ and their families and to enable them to manage the challenges of daily life at home. Evidence based nursing interventions, based on the principles of health promotion, empowerment, family centeredness, and partnership were developed. The development of the programme phases, interventions, and the role of the advanced practice nurses are described in detail. Potential benefits for nursing practice are delineated.     

Factors associated with nursing home entry for older people in Taiwan,Republic of China

Taiwan is facing a rapid change in the composition of its population. As the population ages, a greater demand for long-term care services and, in particular, nursing homes is expected. Before deciding who really needs nursing home care, it is important for policy makers to understand the current pattern of utilisation and what factors are associated with entry. This research assesses the relative importance of predisposing, enabling and need factors that lie behind this. It is based on a survey of elderly people in registered nursing homes, a comparison with a national sample of elderly people in their own homes and interviews with the lucid elderly patients (i.e. could communicate with no problems) and their carers. It was found that nursing home entry was associated with advanced age, gender, educational level and dependency levels of elderly people. After controlling for age, need factors have the greatest impact on admission. Specific medical problems such as cardiovascular, neurological and skeletal muscular diseases were also major contributors. Although most elderly people in Taiwan are cared for in their own homes by their families, under certain circumstances entry to a nursing home seemed inevitable. Decisions about nursing home entry were mainly taken within a family context with adult children being the main players while professionals played a relatively minimal role.     

Associations with the Japanese Population's Preferences for the Place of End-of-Life Care and Their Need for Receiving Health Care Services

Abstract Purpose: The aims of this study were to identify the associations with the Japanese population's preferences for the place of end-of-life care and their need for receiving health care services. Methods: A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional nationwide survey was conducted for 2000 randomly selected Japanese people aged 40-79 years. Results: A total of 1042 people (55%) responded. Regarding preferred place of care, we set the place within the choices of "Home" (preferred by 44% of respondents), "Acute Hospital" (15%), "Palliative Care Unit" (19%), "Public Nursing Home" (10%), and "Private Nursing Home" (2%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that the people who preferred "Acute Hospital" tended to have the following need compared to those who preferred "Home," "Palliative Care Unit," or "Nursing Home": higher need for receiving end-of-life care not from its experienced professionals but from the same staff; higher need for using health care services in highly supported environment such as the need for being near health care staff whenever and for receiving treatment possibly until the end; and higher need for consulting nurses whenever. They had lower need for using home care services and daycare services and also lower need for instructing families about how to use insurance/public health services. Conclusions: The present findings may help to develop an effective end-of-life care system in Japan considering Japanese people's need for health care services. Also, the results of this study may underscore the importance of education on receiving home care services especially for the people who presently prefer the hospital for end-of-life care.     

La importancia de la longitudinalidad,integralidad, coordinación y continuidad de los cuidados domiciliarios efectuados por enfermería

Home care is essential for dependent persons, in order to support the high levels of morbidity, for the elderly as well as their caregivers, as it enables patients to remain in their familiar environment as long as possible, fulfilling the wish expressed by most of the population. Home care is the activity that best represents the essential attributes (longitudinality, comprehensiveness, continuity, coordination) of the primary, and that suffers most when these attributes are not included in the activities undertaken by primary care teams, or due to cuts in health-care.Home care requires highly skilled, versatile and committed nursing staff, with whom the population identifies as a source of care, and where they are assessed for their relevance and effectiveness. Nurses with wide clinical care skills, with a balanced content of treatment and prevention, and the freedom to develop their work, are needed in order to continuously monitor the health problems of their acute and chronic patients, in the family and community.     

中老年人养老意愿及影响因素调查

目的 研究中老年人养老意愿及影响因素。方法 利用课题组自行设计的调查表,随机抽取贵州省贵阳市五个社区进行调查,并进行统计学分析。结果 居家养老是首选,不同性别、年龄中老年人在养老意愿上差异无统计学意义。分析结果表明,影响中老年人养老意愿因素包括：文化程度、婚姻状况、子女人数、健康状况、月收入。结论 由于我国传统养老思想的影响,大多数中老年人在养老观念上比较传统,偏好居家养老的方式。现有养老机构不完善,养老服务体系亟待加强。     

Work Setting, Community Attachment, and Satisfaction Among Rural and Remote Nurses

ABSTRACT Objectives: To describe community satisfaction and attachment among rural and remote registered nurses (RNs) in Canada.
Design and Sample: Cross-sectional survey of rural and remote RNs in Canada as part of a multimethod study.The sample consisted of a stratified random sample of RNs living in rural areas of the western country and the total population of RNs who worked in three northern regional areas and those in outpost settings. A subset of 3,331 rural and remote RNs who mainly worked in acute care, long-term care, community health, home care, and primary care comprised the sample.
Measures: The home community satisfaction scale measured community satisfaction, whereas single-item questions measured work community satisfaction and overall job satisfaction. Community variables were compared across practice areas using analysis of variance, whereas a thematic analysis was conducted of the open-ended questions.
Results: Home care and community health RNs were significantly more satisfied with their work community than RNs from other practice areas. RNs who grew up in rural communities were more satisfied with their current home community. Four themes emerged from the open-ended responses that describe community satisfaction and community attachment.
Conclusions: Recruitment and retention strategies need to include mechanisms that focus on community satisfaction, which will enhance job satisfaction.     

北京市城乡结合地区老年人健康状况及居家护理服务需求调查

目的调查北京市城乡结合地区老年人的健康状况及居家护理服务需求。方法2018年12月—2019年9月采用分层随机抽样法,选取北京市良乡地区2个街道的常住老年人为研究对象,采用一般资料调查表、Barthel指数评定量表、自行编制的老年人居家护理服务需求调查问卷进行调查。共发放问卷1410份,均有效回收。结果1410名老年人中,1173名患有慢性病,患病率为83.2%;患病率居前3位的疾病分别为:高血压病(55.3%,780/1410)、糖尿病(22.7%,320/1410)、冠心病(22.3%,314/1410)。前3位居家护理服务需求依次是:心理慰藉与陪伴(92.3%,1301/1410)、日常生活照顾(82.0%,1156/1410)、用药指导(43.1%,608/1410)。不同年龄、家庭人均月收入和医疗费用报销方式的老年人护理需求差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论北京市城乡结合地区老年人慢性病患病率高,居家护理照护需求迫切。护理人员应根据老年人患病情况和居家护理服务需求提供更精准的护理服务,实施综合管理。     

城市生活自理及轻度失能老人居家养老服务需求属性分析

目的探讨南京城区生活自理及轻度失能老年人的居家养老服务需求的属性,为社区老人居家养老服务质量提升提供针对性的建议。方法便利选取320名南京市城区老年人进行问卷调查,采用Kano模型分析其居家养老服务需求属性。结果26项社区居家养老服务需求项目中,必备需求项目2个、一维需求项目4个、魅力需求项目5个、逆向需求项目1个,其余14项为无差异需求项目,有6个项目为居家养老服务关键服务项目。结论居家养老服务应以需求属性分类为指导,提供针对性的服务并持续改进,如积极改善老年食堂、短期托老等老人认为必备但目前满意度较低的关键服务项目,提升社区老人的居家养老服务质量。     

Experiencing SARS: perspectives of the elderly residents and health care professionals in a Hong Kong nursing home

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has affected many areas of the world recently and is becoming a global problem. Hong Kong and China have been most severely affected by this new infectious disease. The elderly population is highly vulnerable, and mortality in those older than 65 years is more than 50%. In our study, 27 health care workers and 40 elderly residents in a nursing home were interviewed to investigate their level of knowledge of SARS and its prevention. Most of the elderly residents knew little regarding SARS and prevention strategies, despite access to outside news by TV, radio, and visitors. Also, the worry and fear of an outbreak of SARS among staff working in the nursing home was considered to be high. Tailored education programs to promote awareness and prevention of SARS for the elderly are needed. Also, more in-service training, support, and counseling are strongly indicated for staff to promote disease prevention and improve quality of care.     

Evaluation of an Interagency Home Visiting Program to Reduce Postneonatal Mortality in Disadvantaged Communities

Abstract This paper describes an interagency home visiting program, Resources, Education and Care in the Home (REACH), designed to reduce preventable causes of morbidity among normal, socioeconomically disadvantaged infants at risk for adverse outcomes due to social factors. Home nursing visits by a trained nurse-community worker team were made throughout the first year of life to 1,269 infants from predominantly African American families. Results demonstrate that repeated home visits with ongoing infant health monitoring plus individualized and culturally sensitive teaching helped mothers maintain good health practices and identify illnesses early. Infants' outcomes during the neonatal period and at 12 months showed consistent, though statistically nonsignificant, positive effects on physical health. The postneonatal mortality rate among REACH infants was 4.7 deaths per 1000 live births in communities where rates for nonpar ticipants ranged from 5.2 to 10.9 per 100. The evaluation demonstrates a need in this population for more intensive services with greater continuity of care. Specific areas where more education is needed include home safety, skin care, and early identification and treatment of upper respiratory infections. Infants from communities with high infant mortality rates present numerous preventable morbidities requiring interventions, even when they are not considered medically high-risk at birth.     

Quality of elderly-patient care: An interrupted time series study

This study is part of a project that aimed to increase the participation of informal caregivers in the hospital care for elderly patients. The staff who worked in the wards that were studied created activity programmes for caregivers and changed their ward policies to encourage the participation of the caregivers. In addition, quality assurance programmes were developed and primary nursing was introduced to ensure individualized, need-based and family centred care. In order to explore the changes in perceived quality of care, and to test the differences in care quality between the study and the control wards (i.e. two wards in a university hospital, two wards in a geriatric unit and two wards of a nursing home), the interrupted time series with a non-equivalent control group time series design was used. During periods of 2 months in 1991, 1992 and 1993 the data were collected from elderly patients ( n = 97) and their informal caregivers ( n = 369) using a structured questionnaire based on need theories. The results indicated that the quality of care was improved, especially in the study wards of the university hospital and of the nursing home. This care quality measure was found to be a useful tool for getting feedback from patients and their caregivers concerning care given. Aspects of nursing practice that needed to be improved were identified (i.e. poor communication between the patient, their caregiver and staff, and lack of support to the patient and caregiver by staff).     

Developing a quality home care program for children

Many children who might have died or been institutionalized before can now be cared for in the home by their families with an increase in home care and high technology services. Home health agencies must respond to this need by initiating and developing quality pediatric home care programs.     

Home care personnel's perspectives on successful discharge of elderly clients from hospital to home setting

The successful discharge of elderly patients from hospital to home care is a process requiring co-operation between health and social care personnel in addition to their commitment and skills. During the discharge process it is important that health and social care professionals have a shared view of the health and mental status and needs of the patient so that appropriate plans for meeting these needs can be made. The aim of the study was to investigate home care personnel's (health and social care workers) views of which practices between the discharging hospital and home care are associated with the successful discharge of clients. Home care personnel in 22 Finnish municipalities (n = 1890, response rate 63%) received a questionnaire in spring 2001. When the respondents' background factors were standardized, the best predictors of successful discharge from the home care personnel's point of view were adequate information received about the treatment of the patient's illnesses and their functional ability and cognitive potentials, timely information about the discharge, and good co-operation between the discharging hospital, and the home care, social care and health care workers working in home care. There were differences in the opinions of social care workers and health care workers working in home care. From the home care personnel's point of view the most important correlates of an elderly client's discharge from hospital to a home setting were factors associated with how they can best plan their work. Their perspective on the discharge process may diverge from clients and their informal care givers point of view. To ensure the successful discharge process we must take them all into account.     

The home as a setting for care. Clarifying the boundaries of practice

This article has outlined the need for clarification of home care nursing practice to retain the elements essential to professional practice. Home care that is nursing focused, based on concepts of community health nursing, and client/family centered forms the core of professional home care nursing. Technical services that are provided in the home should be clearly delineated so that consumers, payors, and practitioners can determine the roles and functions of the various providers. Professional home care, practiced not just by nursing but by all licensed providers, is practice driven. The boundaries of practice are determined by professional standards with a basis in scientific theory and research. The foundation for this type of practice is strong and should continue to be practiced in the future. Technical house call services, on the other hand, are product driven, often with a zeal for the bottom line profits that does not take into account what is the best product for a specific patient situation or how well that product has been tested. There is definitely a need for both services in delivering health care to people in their homes. It is also hoped that both areas of service can work together to facilitate the management of patient and family needs. It is important, though, to fully define the type and substance of care that is provided in the home setting. Without this ongoing clarification, home care will continue to be fragmented and interpreted differently by everyone involved.     

The Albrecht Nursing Model for Home Health Care: Implications for Research, Practice, and Education

Home health care has become increasingly popular with consumers. Despite this movement of care away from the hospital, the literature does not contain a comprehensive nursing model of home health care. The need for a model to guide nursing research and ultimately, nursing practice and education is apparent. Four health service delivery models are available to be applied to home health care nursing; however, analysis of all four demonstrates a need for one specific to home care nursing.     

老年家庭护理服务的卫生经济学评价

我国人口年龄结构已进入老年型,高速发展的人口老龄化使得卫生资源的供需矛盾日益突出.如何合理配置老年家庭护理资源,优化家庭护理成本效益,促进我国家庭护理的进一步规范和发展,须从经济学角度对老年家庭护理进行卫生经济学评价.为了使人们对老年家庭护理的卫生经济学评价有更深入的理解和认识,对国内外卫生经济学评价方法以及该方法在老年家庭护理领域的应用等进行了综述.     

Questions of distributive justice: public health nurses' perceptions of long-term care insurance for elderly Japanese people

This study examines public health nurses' perceptions and concerns about the implications of Japan's new long-term care insurance law concerning care provision for elderly people and their families. Respondents voiced their primary concern about this law as access to services for all elderly people needing care, and defined their major responsibility as strengthening health promotion and illness prevention programmes. Although wanting to expand their roles to meet the health care, social and public policy advocacy needs of elderly persons and their families, respondents also stated their concern for the possible lack of enough resources for this expansion to support family caregivers adequately. They viewed their first function as developing collaborative relationships with local government officials to help to assure sufficient resources to provide the necessary foundation for long-term care programmes to deliver services to all those in need. These concerns fall within the larger ethical issue of distributive justice in a society based on the obligations of the state to citizens and the family to its members, especially elderly relatives, who, according to traditional Japanese values, retain respect.     

Why we need a teaching home care program

Reports of abuse and financial exploitation have focused attention on home care for the elderly and infirm. A Teaching Home Care Program, featuring collaboration between schools of nursing and home care agencies, could improve the quality of home care and increase the amount of data available on this growing segment of the health care system.     

Home care nursing in Japan: a challenge for providing good care at home

Home care in Japan has developed over the past 30 years. Nurses have taken leadership in promoting home care and at the same time have expanded their roles. The roles of Japanese nurses in the field of home care are presented in the context of the historical perspective and view for the future. Home care nurses have performed care management for their community as well as for individual older clients living in their community. Currently, nurses work as high-tech and personal care providers and are developing a new role in health care enterprises. The number of nurses working as clinical nurse specialists will increase consistently with the rapid increase of master's programs. In the future, nurses should take a lead in developing health policy. The purpose of the article is to describe the current situation of home care clients and home care nursing in Japan. In addition, four issues of home care in Japan are described related to home care for older persons, high-tech home care, terminal care, and home care for psychiatric patients.