The process of decision-making in home-care case management: implications for the introduction of universal assessment and information technology

Increasingly, jurisdictions are adopting universal assessment procedures and information technology to aid in healthcare data collection and care planning. Before their potential can be realised, a better understanding is needed of how these systems can best be used to support clinical practice. We investigated the decision-making process and information needs of home-care case managers in Ontario, Canada, prior to the widespread use of universal assessment, with a view of determining how universal assessment and information technology could best support this work. Three focus groups and two individual interviews were conducted; questioning focused on decision-making in the post-acute care of individuals recovering from a hip fracture. We found that case managers' decisional process was one of a clinician–broker, combining clinical expertise and information about local services to support patient goals within the context of limited resources. This process represented expert decision-making, and the case managers valued their ability to carry out non-standardised interviews and override system directives when they noted that data may be misleading. Clear information needs were found in four areas: services available outside of their regions, patient medical information, patient pre-morbid functional status and partner/spouse health and functional status. Implications for the use of universal assessment are discussed. Recommendations are made for further research to determine the impact of universal assessment and information technology on the process and outcome of home-care case manager decision-making.     

Guidance for community‐based caregivers in assisting people with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury with transfers and manual handling: evidence and key stakeholder perspectives

Adults with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) rely on assistance from paid and unpaid caregivers upon return to the community. An inability to move independently makes these adults highly dependent on caregivers for transfers and manual handling tasks. Evidence‐based guidelines are therefore important to ensure that caregivers and people in the community are protected and that practices are standard and consistent. This study commenced with a rapid review of evidence‐based recommendations between 2000 and 2015 pertaining to transfers and manual handling in people with TBI; and ended with a structured stakeholder dialogue that reflected upon this evidence and gathered perspectives on how to address key issues in community‐based manual handling following TBI. Three relevant guidelines were identified, providing nine recommendations encompassing assessment of the person's ability to assist caregivers, manual handling and appropriate equipment use. Due to the low number of recommendations and low level of supporting evidence, these recommendations alone could not provide comprehensive guidance. Three systematic reviews and two primary studies were also identified, and these suggest that comprehensive training programmes in transfers and manual handling tasks are effective. Further to this, a structured stakeholder dialogue was conducted, which revealed six major themes – (i) comprehensive risk assessment, (ii) presence of two caregivers, (iii) provision of training, (iv) home environment modification, (v) equipment, and (vi) policy implementation context. Recommendations for health professionals include providing information packs to caregivers, risk assessment and mitigation for those at high risk, and strategies to prevent and minimise injury in caregivers. Development of comprehensive guidance for caregivers in transfers and manual handling in people with moderate to severe TBI living in the community is a hidden but important priority.     

A study of the effectiveness of performance-focused methodology for improved outcomes in Alberta public healthcare

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a performance-focused methodology for engaging multidisciplinary, frontline healthcare teams in making behavioural changes that improve patient care and health system efficiency. Results include significant declines in average length of stay in hospital and waiting time for surgery, and a dramatic increase in early patient ambulation. Performance-focused methodology using key performance indicators, targets, measurement, and ongoing feedback, supported by non-monetary incentives, can quickly improve healthcare outcomes.     

Factors That Predict 1-Year Incident Hip and Non-Hip Fractures for Home Care Recipients: A Linked-Data Retrospective Cohort Study

ObjectivesThe purpose of our study was to identify factors that predict 1-year incident hip and major osteoporotic non-hip fractures (ie, wrist, spine, pelvis, humerus) for home care recipients while accounting for the competing risk of death.DesignWe conducted a retrospective cohort study with linked population data.Setting and ParticipantsAll home care recipients in Ontario, Canada, receiving services for more than 6 months with an admission assessment between April 1, 2011, and March 31, 2015, were included.MethodsClinical data from the Resident Assessment Instrument Home Care were linked to fracture data from the Discharge Abstract Database and the National Acute Care Reporting System. Competing risk proportional hazard regressions using the Fine and Grey method were performed to model the association between potential risk factors and fracture.ResultsPrevious fall, previous fracture, cognitive impairment, unsteady gait, alcohol use, tobacco use, and Parkinson disease were consistently associated with all fracture types. Cognitive impairment (hazard ratio 2.09; 95% confidence interval 1.86–2.36) and wandering [1.66 (1.06–1.27)] were most predictive of hip fractures and being female [1.86 (1.76–1.98)] and experiencing a previous fracture [1.86 (1.76–1.98)] were most predictive of non-hip fractures. Risk factors unique to non-hip fractures as compared with hip fractures were locomotion ability outdoors and psychotropic medication use.Conclusions and ImplicationsOur results indicate that, in addition to typical fracture risk factors, home care recipients have unique characteristics that increase their risk. Fracture risk assessment tools and subsequent prevention strategies should be modified to accurately identify home care recipients at risk for imminent 1-year fracture.     

Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial of an HIV/Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk-Reduction Intervention for South African Men

Objectives. We tested the efficacy of a sexual risk-reduction intervention for men in South Africa, where heterosexual exposure is the main mode of HIV transmission.Methods. Matched-pairs of neighborhoods in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, were randomly selected and within pairs randomized to 1 of 2 interventions based on social cognitive theory and qualitative research: HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk-reduction, targeting condom use, or attention-matched control, targeting health issues unrelated to sexual risks. Sexually active men aged 18 to 45 years were eligible. The primary outcome was consistent condom use in the past 3 months.Results. Of 1181 participants, 1106 (93.6%) completed the 12-month follow-up. HIV and STI risk-reduction participants had higher odds of reporting consistent condom use (odds ratio [OR] = 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03, 1.71) and condom use at last vaginal intercourse (OR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.08, 1.82) than did attention-control participants, adjusting for baseline prevalence. No differences were observed on unprotected intercourse or multiple partnerships. Findings did not differ for sex with steady as opposed to casual partners.Conclusions. Behavioral interventions specifically targeting men can contribute to efforts to reduce sexual risk behaviors in South Africa.South Africa has more HIV cases than any other country, and like other sub-Saharan countries, has a predominantly heterosexual epidemic.1 In such an epidemic, men have an especially critical role to play: they are the ones who don male condoms, a particularly effective and available means of prevention, and thus control their use. They have, it has been argued, more power than women in relationships2–4 and are responsible for infecting women in many contexts, including forced intercourse and violence.3 Although calls for male responsibility in sexual behavior related to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been made repeatedly,5–7 to our knowledge, only 1 study has evaluated an intervention created specifically for heterosexual men in South Africa.8 Men who received the gender-based-violence-and-HIV-risk-reduction intervention were more likely to report talking with a partner about condoms and using condoms consistently 1-month postintervention compared with men in an alcohol-and-HIV-risk-reduction control intervention.The present study evaluated an HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk-reduction intervention for South African men who have intercourse with women. We used a cluster-randomized design to reduce the potential for contamination between treatment arms that would be present if we were to randomize individuals. We randomized randomly selected neighborhoods (i.e., clusters) to a 3-session intervention based on social cognitive theory9 and extensive formative research10 and designed to reduce HIV/STI risk behavior or to a 3-session attention-control intervention designed to promote health by improving diet and physical activity. We hypothesized that the HIV/STI risk-reduction intervention would increase self-reported consistent condom use during vaginal intercourse in the postintervention period, the primary outcome, compared with the attention-control intervention, controlling for baseline condom use.     

No correlation between methotrexate serum level and histologic response in the pre-operative treatment of extremity osteosarcoma

Our objectives were to evaluate the behavior of different doses of pre-operative methotrexate (MTX) pharmacokinetics, and assess correlations between the osteosarcoma histologic response and MTX serum peak concentrations. In total, 336 patients with osteosarcoma of the extremities were treated with three neoadjuvant protocols of chemotherapy including high-dose MTX (different doses for each protocol), cisplatin and doxorubicin (same doses in all protocols). The doses of MTX were 8 g/m2 in 124 patients, 10 g/m2 in 110 patients and 12 g/m2 in 102 patients. The mean value of peak serum MTX was 801 micromol/l (range 298-1831) with significant intra- and inter-patient variability. For patients treated with 8, 10 and 12 g/m2 it was 587, 735 and 1114 micromol/l, respectively (P < 0.0001). The histologic response to pre-operative chemotherapy was 90% or above tumor necrosis in 62.8% of patients and less than 90% in 37.2%. The grade of histologic response significantly correlated with the histologic subtype of the tumor, whereas no significant association was found between the mean peak of serum MTX and the histologic response. Thus, increasing the dose of MTX increases the MTX serum peaks, but does not correlate with the histologic response of the tumor.     

Blood lead levels in the adult Victorian population: results from the Victorian Health Monitor

Objective : To estimate blood lead levels (BLLs) in the adult Victorian population and compare the distribution of BLLs with the current national reference level to better inform public health prevention and management of lead toxicity. Methods : Population‐based cross‐sectional health measurement survey of 50 randomly selected Census Collection Districts (CDs) throughout Victoria. The Victorian Health Monitor (VHM) was conducted over 12 months from May 2009 to April 2010. One eligible person (aged 18–75 years) from each household selected within each CD was randomly selected to participate. Persons with an intellectual disability and pregnant women were excluded from the sampling frame. BLLs were obtained from 3,622 of the 3,653 (99%) VHM participants. Results : The geometric mean and median BLLs from the adult sample were 0.070 μmol/L (95%CI, 0.068–0.073) and 0.05 μmol/L (range: 0.05 to 1.22 μmol/L), respectively. Elevated BLLs (≥0.483 μmol/L or ≥10 μg/dL) were identified in 19 participants (0.7%; 95%CI, 0.3–1.6). Additionally, 86 participants (1.8%; 95%CI, 1.3–2.4) were identified with BLLs between 0.242 and <0.483 μmol/L (5 to <10 μg/dL). The geometric mean BLL was significantly higher for males, compared with females (0.077 μmol/L vs 0.064 μmol/L; p<0.001). BLLs increased significantly with age for both sexes. Conclusions : The first population estimates of BLLs in Victorian adults indicate the average adult BLL to be well below the current national reference level. However, some groups of the population have BLLs at which adverse effects may occur. Implications : The results provide baseline estimates for future population health surveillance and comparison with studies of at‐risk groups.     

The school nurse, the school and HPV vaccination: a qualitative study of factors affecting HPV vaccine uptake

School nurses in the United Kingdom are largely responsible for delivering the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to 12-13 year old girls. In order to assess the impact of HPV vaccination on school nurses’ roles, we gave a questionnaire to all 33 school nurses who offered Cervarix ™ in two Primary Care Trusts one year ahead of the national vaccine programme. Key organisational issues raised by the school nurses were the size of the team and its skill mix. A few found their schools uncooperative and were dissatisfied with mechanisms for problem resolution. On average, nurses spent an additional 69 h (0.80 h per child) on vaccine-related activities. In semi-qualitative interviews (n = 17), school nurses complained of work overload and described the difficulties of establishing good relationships with some of their schools. Nurses expected schools to take some responsibility for ensuring good uptake and were frustrated when help was not forthcoming. We conclude that variation in uptake between schools in part reflects a difficult relationship with the school nurse which may be attributed to characteristics of the school, schools’ attitudes towards health interventions, organisational problems, multiple school nurse roles and/or personal ability. Some of these issues will need to be addressed to ensure continued high vaccine coverage as HPV vaccination becomes a less prioritised, routine activity.     

Incretin mimetics and DPP-IV inhibitors for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

Incretin mimetics are a new class of pharmacological agents with multiple antihyperglycemic actions that mimic the actions of incretin hormones such as glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1. Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP-IV) inhibitors suppress the degradation of many peptides, including GLP-1, thereby extending their bioactivity. Several incretin mimetics and DPP-IV inhibitors are undergoing late-stage clinical trials for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. These agents appear to have multiple mechanisms of action, including some or all of the following: enhancement of glucose-dependent insulin secretion; suppression of inappropriately elevated glucagon secretion; slowing of gastric emptying; and decreased food intake (i.e. appetite suppression). Based on preliminary clinical data, incretin mimetics and DPP-IV inhibitors show potential for treating type 2 diabetes.