Patient and family views of team functioning in primary healthcare teams with nurse practitioners: a survey of patient-reported experience and outcomes

A global perspective of advanced practice nursing research: A review of systematic reviews

INTRODUCTION

The World Health Organization (WHO) called for the expansion of all nursing roles, including advanced practice nurses (APNs), nurse practitioners (NPs) and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs). A clearer understanding of the impact of these roles will inform global priorities for advanced practice nursing education, research, and policy.

OBJECTIVE

To identify gaps in advanced practice nursing research globally.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A review of systematic reviews was conducted. We searched CINAHL, Embase, Global Health, Healthstar, PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, DARE, Joanna Briggs Institute EBP, and Web of Science from January 2011 onwards, with no restrictions on jurisdiction or language. Grey literature and hand searches of reference lists were undertaken. Review quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP). Study selection, data extraction and CASP assessments were done independently by two reviewers. We extracted study characteristics, country and outcome data. Data were summarized using narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

We screened 5840 articles and retained 117 systematic reviews, representing 38 countries. Most CASP criteria were met. However, study selection by two reviewers was done inconsistently and language and geographical restrictions were applied. We found highly consistent evidence that APN, NP and CNS care was equal or superior to the comparator (e.g., physicians) for 29 indicator categories across a wide range of clinical settings, patient populations and acuity levels. Mixed findings were noted for quality of life, consultations, costs, emergency room visits, and health care service delivery where some studies favoured the control groups. No indicator consistently favoured the control group. There is emerging research related to Artificial Intelligence (AI).

CONCLUSION

There is a large body of advanced practice nursing research globally, but several WHO regions are underrepresented. Identified research gaps include AI, interprofessional team functioning, workload, and patients and families as partners in healthcare.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42021278532.

Evaluating the influence of primary healthcare nurse practitioners' interventions in home care on hospitalizations and emergency department transfers

RATIONALE

Home care allows patients with functional limitations to receive services at home and prevent health decline. Home care can reduce hospitalization and emergency department (ED) transfers. Integrating primary healthcare nurse practitioners (PHCNPs) in home care increases the supply of services, but little is known about their influence on patients' ability to remain at home.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the influence of PHCNPs' interventions on hospitalizations and ED transfers in patients receiving care from interprofessional home care teams with PHCNPs.

METHOD

The retrospective cohort study employed multiple logistic regression and Cox modelling techniques to assess the influence of PHCNP interventions on hospitalizations and ED transfers. Descriptive and bivariate analyses examined sample characteristics and variable associations. Four purposively selected sites in Québec, Canada, were included. Data were collected from electronic health records of all patients (n = 343) receiving home care from these teams.

RESULTS

The characteristics of the sites, sample, and PHCNP interventions were described. Planned interventions led to a 5.8% decrease in hospitalizations and ED transfers (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.058, p = 0.039), while unplanned interventions resulted in a 1.5-fold increase in this outcome (adjusted OR: 1.518, p < 0.001). The risk of hospitalization and ED transfers increased by 10.7 times with unplanned interventions (adjusted OR: 10.651, p = 0.002). Furthermore, imaging was associated with a 2-fold increased risk (adjusted OR: 1.954, p = 0.021), consultations with a 1.8-fold increased risk (adjusted OR: 1.849, p = 0.034), and laboratory test-related interventions after 30 or more days reduced the risk by 68.0% (adjusted OR: 0.320, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

PHCNPs in interprofessional home care teams show promise in reducing hospitalizations and ED transfers through planned visits. These findings provide valuable insights that can contribute to enhancing home care services for a population with limited access to healthcare and high healthcare needs. Further research is needed in other jurisdictions.

Optimizing rural healthcare through improved team function: a case study of the Rural Surgical Obstetrical Networks programme

We explored enablers and mechanisms of optimal team function within rural hospital teams, and the impact of these factors on health service sustainability in British Columbia. The data were drawn from interviews and focus groups with healthcare providers and administrators (n = 169) who participated in the Rural Surgical Obstetrical Networks (RSON) initiative to support low-volume rural surgical and obstetrical services in British Columbia, Canada. The 5-year programme (2018-2022) provided evidence-based system interventions across eight rural sites with the objective of providing sustainable, quality health services to meet population needs. To explore the impact of RSON interventions on local team function, we performed a scoping review, to assess the current literature surrounding enablers of effective rural hospital teamwork. Through inductive thematic analysis of interview data, we identified five enablers of good team function at RSON sites, including emphasis on local leadership, shared direction, commitment to sustainability, respect and solidarity among colleagues, and meaningful communication. The RSON project led to a shift in team culture in participating sites, improved team function, and contributed to improved clinical processes and patient outcomes. The findings have implications for rural health policy and practice in British Columbia and other jurisdictions with similar health service delivery models and geographic contexts.

Identifying indicators sensitive to primary healthcare nurse practitioner practice: A review of systematic reviews

AIM

To identify indicators sensitive to the practice of primary healthcare nurse practitioners (PHCNPs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A review of systematic reviews was undertaken to identify indicators sensitive to PHCNP practice. Published and grey literature was searched from January 1, 2010 to December 2, 2022. Titles/abstracts (n = 4251) and full texts (n = 365) were screened independently by two reviewers, with a third acting as a tie-breaker. Reference lists of relevant publications were reviewed. Risk of bias was examined independently by two reviewers using AMSTAR-2. Data were extracted by one reviewer and verified by a second reviewer to describe study characteristics, indicators, and results. Indicators were recoded into categories. Findings were summarized using narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

Forty-four systematic reviews were retained including 271 indicators that were recoded into 26 indicator categories at the patient, provider and health system levels. Nineteen reviews were assessed to be at low risk of bias. Patient indicator categories included activities of daily living, adaptation to health conditions, clinical conditions, diagnosis, education-patient, mortality, patient adherence, quality of life, satisfaction, and signs and symptoms. Provider indicator categories included adherence to best practice-providers, education-providers, illness prevention, interprofessional team functioning, and prescribing. Health system indicator categories included access to care, consultations, costs, emergency room visits, healthcare service delivery, hospitalizations, length of stay, patient safety, quality of care, scope of practice, and wait times.

DISCUSSION

Equal to improved care for almost all indicators was found consistently for the PHCNP group. Very few indicators favoured the control group. No indicator was identified for high/low fidelity simulation, cultural safety and cultural sensitivity with people in vulnerable situations or Indigenous Peoples.

CONCLUSION

This review of systematic reviews identified patient, provider and health system indicators sensitive to PHCNP practice. The findings help clarify how PHCNPs contribute to care outcomes.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020198182.

The transition to advanced practice nursing: A systematic review of qualitative studies

BACKGROUND

Advanced practice nurses have made important contributions to the tasks of stabilising the operation of the health system and improving the quality of care. However, taking on the role of an advanced practice nurse is always challenging and can even result in the intention to leave the profession. Insights into advanced practice nursing role transitions are important to implement effective interventions to help nurses cope with the corresponding turbulence and changes.

AIM

To explore the experiences of advanced practice nurses during their role transition from registered nurses to their current role.

DESIGN

A systematic review of qualitative studies.

DATA SOURCES

Five databases were searched from inception to August 2022: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase and CINAHL.

REVIEW METHODS

This review was reported in accordance with the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) guidelines. Two reviewers independently conducted study selection and data extraction, and quality appraisal was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal instrument for qualitative research. Data synthesis was conducted using thematic analysis.

FINDINGS

A total of 14 studies were included in this review. Three analytical themes emerged: (1) trudging along a narrow road, (2) driving and restraining forces in the transition, and (3) embracing the new identity. Four subthemes were graded as high confidence and the other four were moderate confidence. Establishing a new role was a priority and a significant challenge for advanced practice nurses. Beliefs regarding advanced practice, the attitudes of colleagues, and the support of mentors impacted the transition process. Advanced practice nurses expressed appreciation for their new role and developed new ambitions at the end of the transition.

CONCLUSIONS

Advanced practice nurses face a series of challenges during the process of role development, especially struggles with vague feelings and a lack of confidence in practice. These difficulties could be exacerbated without the support of team and organisational managers. The implementation of mentorship and the mediation of interprofessional conflicts are necessary to facilitate successful role transitions.

A structural equation modelling analysis: interprofessional team collaboration, organizational career management, and post competency of community nurses

BACKGROUND

With the advent of an ageing society and an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, the role of primary health care has become increasingly important and reliant on multidisciplinary collaboration. As members of this interprofessional cooperative team, community nurses play a dominant role. Thus, the post competencies of community nurses study deserve our attention. In addition, organizational career management can affect nurses in some ways. This study aims to examine the current situation and relationship among interprofessional team collaboration, organizational career management and post-competency of community nurses.

METHODS

A survey was conducted among 530 nurses in 28 community medical institutions from November 2021 to April 2022 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. Descriptive analysis was used for analysis, and a structural equation model was used to hypothesize and verify the model. A total of 88.2% of respondents met the inclusion criteria and did not meet the exclusion criteria. The main reason nurses gave for not participating was that they were too busy.

RESULTS

Among the competencies on the questionnaire, ensuring quality and helping roles scored the lowest. The teaching-coaching and diagnostic functions played a mediating role. Nurses with greater seniority and those who were transferred to administrative departments had lower scores, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). In the structural equation model, CFI = 0.992 and RMSEA = 0.049, which shows that the model fit well, suggesting that organizational career management had no statistically significant effect on post competency (β = -0.006, p = 0.932) but that interprofessional team collaboration had a statistically significant effect on post competency (β = 1.146, p < 0.001) and organizational career management had a statistically significant effect on interprofessional team collaboration (β = 0.684, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Attention should be given to the improvement of community nurses' post competency in ensuring quality and performing helping, teaching-coaching, and diagnostic roles. Moreover, researchers should focus on the decline in community nurses' abilities, particularly for those with greater seniority or in administrative roles. The structural equation model shows that interprofessional team collaboration is a complete intermediary between organizational career management and post competency.

A Systematic Review on Hospital’s Patient Satisfaction and Loyalty in Indonesia

Background: Customer loyalty is identified as a critical component of a company's success and profitability including in hospitals. Customer loyalty can only be accomplished if the company can provide high-quality services. The purpose of this study was to understand the influence or factors behind patient loyalty. Methods: Systematic literature review methods were used to process articles found in various journals and databases such as Elsevier, NCBI, Lancet, Springer, Nature, Taylor and Francis, ProQuest, Emerald, JSTOR, Web of Science, and GARUDA SINTA (the Science and Technology Index of expertise in Indonesia).  Results: The initial search resulted in 1.174 (1 duplicated) and 1.173 were screened based on title and abstract. Finally, 29 articles were included for review regarding inclusion and exclusion criteria. The finding shows that concern for medical staff, perceived value, price, trust, treatment effectiveness, Service Quality, Interaction, Infrastructure, Process, and brand image, consequently affect patient satisfaction and loyalty. Those factors as an intervening variable in patient loyalty. Conclusion: In general, hospital health workers' competency, tangible factors (facilities), communication, punctuality in work (responsiveness), patient waiting time (facility satisfaction and responsiveness), queuing system, drug availability (price factor, facility satisfaction), providing information to clients (trust and communication, guarantees), equal treatment for uninsured patients, and complaint system for clients (Hospital Image) impact patient loyalty directly or indirectly.