Assessing acute functional decline in older patients in home nursing care settings using the Modified Early Warning Score: A qualitative study of nurses' and general practitioners' experiences

The need for acute assessments in home healthcare - Swedish registered nurses' experiences

PURPOSE

The study aims to describe Swedish RNs' experiences of acute assessments at home. More patients with complex nursing needs are cared for at home due to an ageing population. Registered nurses (RNs) who work with home healthcare need a broad medical competence and clinical experience alongside adapted decision support systems for maintaining patient safety in acute assessments within home healthcare.

METHODS

A content analysis of qualitative survey data from RNs (n = 19) working within home healthcare in Sweden.

RESULTS

There were challenges in the acute assessments at home due to a lack of competence since several of the RNs did not have much experience working as an RN in home healthcare. Important information was missing about the patients, such as access to medical records due to organizational challenges and limited access to equipment and materials. The RNs needed support in the form of cooperation with a physician, support from colleagues, and a decision support system.

CONCLUSION

To increase the possibility of patient-safe assessments at home, skills development, collegial support, and an adapted decision support system are needed. Collaboration with primary healthcare, on-call physicians, and nursing staff, and having the opportunity to consult with someone also provide security in acute assessments.

Early warning scores and trigger recommendations must be used with care in older home nursing care patients: Results from an observational study

AIMS

To explore modified early warning scores (MEWSs) and deviating vital signs among older home nursing care patients to determine whether the MEWS trigger recommendations were adhered to in cases of where registered nurses (RNs) suspected acute functional decline.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study with a descriptive, explorative design.

METHODS

Participants were included from April 2018 to February 2019. Demographic, health-related and clinical data were collected over a 3-month period.

RESULTS

In all, 135 older patients participated. Median MEWS (n = 444) was 1 (interquartile range (IQR) 1-2). Frequently deviating vital signs were respiratory (88.8%) and heart rate (15.3%). Median habitual MEWS (n = 51) was 1 (IQR 0-1). Deviating vital signs were respiratory (72.5%) and heart rate (19.6%). A significant difference between habitual MEWS and MEWS recorded in cases of suspected functional decline was found (p = 0.002). MEWS' trigger recommendations were adhered to in 68.9% of all MEWS measurements.

Factors Associated With Care Trajectory Following Acute Functional Decline in Older Home Nursing Care Patients: A Prospective Observational Study

Health policies and previous research highlight the importance of early identification and treatment of clinical deterioration in older patients to prevent frailty, higher levels of care, and mortality. This study explores older home nursing care patients’ care trajectories and factors associated with clinical response (type and level of intervention) from the health care services, final level of community care and death within 3 months after an incidence of acute functional decline. This observational study with a prospective, descriptive design includes a sample of 135 older home nursing care patients with acute functional decline. Demographic, health-related, and clinical characteristics were analyzed and prediction models for care trajectories were fitted using Bayesian generalized mixed models. Age ranged from 65 to 100, with a median age of 85. Hospital admission were registered for 13.33% ( T1) and 8.77% ( T2) of the participants. Nine patients (6.7%) were transferred to a higher level of community care, and 11 patients (8.1%) died. Frequent transitions between levels of care characterized care trajectories for patients experiencing more severe functional decline. Age, living in a private home, and increased Modified Early Warning Scores (MEWS) were associated with level of clinical responses throughout the care trajectory. Living in a private home was associated with the patients’ final level of community care. Female gender, hospital admission, and increased MEWS scores were associated with death. Health care personnel must be vigilant when MEWS scores rise even slightly, as this might be an indication of acute functional decline with possible increased risk of mortality.