A Tool to Assess Patient and Surrogate Knowledge About the POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) Program

ContextIt is especially important that patients are well informed when making high-stakes, preference-sensitive decisions like those on the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form. However, there is currently no way to easily evaluate whether patients understand key concepts when making these important decisions.ObjectivesTo develop a POLST knowledge survey.MethodsExpert (n = 62) ratings of key POLST facts were used to select items for a POLST knowledge survey. The survey was administered to nursing facility residents (n = 97) and surrogate decision-makers (n = 112). A subset (n = 135) were re-administered the survey after a standardized advance care planning discussion to assess the scale's responsiveness to change.ResultsThe 19-item survey demonstrated adequate reliability (α = 0.72.). Residents' scores (x = 11.4, standard deviation 3.3) were significantly lower than surrogate scores (x = 14.7, standard deviation 2.5) (P < 0.001). Scores for both groups increased significantly after administration of a standardized advance care planning discussion (P < 0.001). Although being a surrogate, age, race, education, cognitive functioning, and health literacy were significantly associated with higher POLST Knowledge Survey scores in univariate analyses, only being a surrogate (P < 0.001) and being white (P = 0.028) remained significantly associated with higher scores in multivariate analyses.ConclusionThe 19-item POLST Knowledge Survey demonstrated adequate reliability and responsiveness to change. Findings suggest the survey could be used to identify knowledge deficits and provide targeted education to ensure adequate understanding of key clinical decisions when completing POLST.     

北京市养老机构老年人营养状况调查及其影响因素研究

背景　在人口老龄化日益加剧的社会背景之下，家庭养老功能不断减弱，机构养老成为今后发展的必然趋势。据报道，很多养老机构的老年人营养不合理，严重影响老年人的健康状况与生活质量。目的　通过调查北京市养老机构老年人营养现状及其影响因素，为全科医师营养教育及老年人生活质量提升提供理论依据。方法　2014年10月-2015年12月，采用方便整群抽样的方法，抽取了北京市7家养老机构，对符合纳入标准的老年人进行面对面问卷调查，问卷内容包括：一般情况、微型营养评定量表（MNA）、日常生活活动能力指数（BI）、老年人抑郁量表（GDS）。采用二元Logistic回归分析养老机构老年人营养状况的影响因素。结果　本研究共发放问卷258份，回收有效问卷258份，有效回收率为100%。被调查的258例老年人中，存在营养不良及存在营养不良发生风险的老年人共计75例（29.1%）。不同年龄、性别、婚姻状况、体质指数（BMI）、医疗费用支付方式、生活自理能力及精神状态的老年人营养状况比较，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。二元Logistic回归分析结果显示：年龄〔OR（95%CI）=2.349（1.070，5.156）〕、BMI〔OR（95%CI）=0.092（0.036，0.239）〕、医疗费用支付方式〔OR（95%CI）=0.208（0.083，0.522）〕、日常活动能力〔OR（95%CI）=10.214（3.099，33.669）〕、患病种数〔OR（95%CI）=2.682（1.248，5.763）〕及精神状态〔OR（95%CI）=4.822（2.005，11.600）〕是老年人营养状况的影响因素（P<0.05）。结论　北京地区养老机构的老年人面临着营养不良及营养不良发生风险的健康威胁，高龄、低BMI、抑郁、合并多种疾病、日常活动能力低下及无医保是其独立危险因素，需要对老年人加强个性化营养教育和营养治疗。     

Evidence-based pediatric asthma interventions and outcome measures in a healthy homes program: An integrative review

Objective: Asthma disproportionately impacts and has poorer outcomes in low-income, minority, and inner-city children. The home environment has a profound impact on a child's asthma. Home-based asthma visits have the potential to positively impact a child's asthma, especially in targeted populations. The purpose of this integrative review is 1.) to explore the effectiveness of home-based education and environmental measures and 2.) to explore specific indicators and tools to measure pediatric asthma control and program effectiveness. Data Sources: Medline, CINHAL, and Ovid databases were searched from 2010 to 2017 utilizing the keywords healthy homes AND asthma and home based interventions AND asthma. Study Selections: A total of 71 articles were retrieved of which 27 articles met the inclusion criteria of English language, human subjects, and the inclusion of pediatric populations. Three additional articles were hand-searched from previous references. In total, 30 articles were reviewed. A quality appraisal was conducted utilizing standardized appraisal tools. Results: Home-based asthma education and environmental interventions have proven to be effective. The programs reviewed varied in types of interventions, intensity and duration, the type of provider, length of follow-up, and outcome measures. Successful programs were patient-centered, included a home assessment and individualized education and interventions, and were collaborative. Multiple outcome indicators such as health care utilization, asthma control, missed days of school or productivity, asthma symptoms, and verification of environmental remediation have been utilized. Conclusion: Home-based asthma programs can be beneficial to children with poorly controlled asthma and have the potential to be cost-effective.     

Are Medicare's Nursing Home Compare Ratings Accurate Predictors of 90-Day Complications,Readmission, and Bundle Cost for Patients Undergoing Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty?

Background

Nursing Home Compare (NHC) ratings, created and maintained by Medicare, are used by both hospitals and consumers to aid in the skilled nursing facility (SNF) selection process. To date, no studies have linked NHC ratings to actual episode-based outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether NHC ratings are valid predictors of 90-day complications, readmission, and bundle costs for patients discharged to an SNF after primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA).

Effect of group reminiscence therapy on depression and perceived meaning of life of veterans diagnosed with dementia at veteran homes

ABSTRACT

Most senior veterans who live in veteran homes in Taiwan have few interpersonal relationships. Aging is often accompanied by solitude and illness, which causes senior veterans to doubt the meaning of life and to lose confidence in the value of life. This study tested the effectiveness of a group reminiscence therapy protocol on the depression and meaning of life among elderly institutionalized veterans. A quasi-experimental design was applied. A convenience sample of older adults was drawn from two veteran homes in southern Taiwan. Participants were assigned to intervention or control groups based on the veterans' homes they attended. The participants in the intervention group carried out group reminiscence therapy for 8 weeks in addition to their daily activities. The participants in the comparison group maintained their daily activities. Both groups were evaluated using the GDS-SF and MLS scale including two aspects of depression mood and meaning of life in weeks 1 and 8. The overall life satisfaction increased significantly over time for the intervention group compared to the comparison group from week 1 to week 8. The group reminiscence therapy programs showed promising effects in improving the depression and meaning of life of older veterans living in veteran homes.