How to improve the quality of care for people on home mechanical ventilation from the perspective of healthcare professionals: a qualitative study

An investigation of the effect of the universal model of family-centered care on patient and family outcomes in patients under home invasive mechanical ventilation

BACKGROUND

The number of patients under home mechanical ventilation is increasing worldwide. The unique nature of these patients and their complex health needs exposes home caregivers to various needs and challenges regarding different dimensions of care.

OBJECTIVE

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of the universal model of family-centered care on the clinical outcomes of the patient and the family.

METHODS

This clinical trial was conducted between 2020 and 2021. A total of 60 patients under invasive mechanical ventilation was selected and divided into control (routine training that is usually given by hospital staff to families to care for patients) and intervention (comprehensive pre-discharge training program to post-discharge follow-up using the universal model of family-centered care) groups using random block design and universal model of family-centered care. Home caregivers' functional skills and burden, as well as patients' readmission and mortality rates, were compared in the two groups.

RESULTS

Implementing the intervention 1 and 3 months later effectively increased home caregivers' functional skills. Moreover, a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of the psychological burden of caregiving (P < .001); the implementation of the intervention could highly reduce the psychological burden of caregiving in the intervention group (EF = 0.94). The hospital readmission and mortality rate in the intervention group was significantly lower than in the control group (P = .02 and P = .03, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Given the significant impact of the universal model of family-centered care on the clinical outcomes of the patient and the family, pre-discharge training and its post-discharge follow-up and continuity of education with an active presence of nurses, as one of the main pillars of the treatment, seems essential.

Home care practice behavior and its influencing factors of primary care providers: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Sichuan Province, China

BACKGROUND

Primary care providers play an important role in home health care, and their practice behavior is significant for care quality and patient outcomes. This study aimed to assess the home care practice behavior of Chinese primary care providers and to explore the factors associated with the practice behavior.

METHODS

A multicenter cross-sectional design with a convenience sample was used to survey 863 registered primary care providers from 62 primary health care settings in Sichuan Province, China. Descriptive statistics, t-test or ANOVA for one-way analysis, and Pearson's correlation analyses were used to compare the differences and examine the relationships between participants' demographics and experience of home care services and practice behavior. Multiple linear regression models were performed to identify salient variables associated with the practice behavior from among demographic and home care experience.

RESULTS

The score of home care practice behavior questionnaire was 97.25 ± 21.05. The average scores for the dimensions of home visit preparation, assessment, medical care behavior and safety practice were 3.70 ± 0.95, 3.76 ± 1.02, 3.66 ± 1.03, and 3.20 ± 0.46, respectively. Home care practice behavior was associated with working years, working experience in general hospitals, work area, home care experience such as client types of home care, service frequency and willingness, explaining 21.5% of the total variance.

CONCLUSION

Chinese primary care providers had a medium to high level of home care practice behavior but poor implementation of safety practice. The results may provide clues to increased focus and implementation of safety practice, as well as providing targeted measures based on influencing factors.

ATME-Needs, requirements and cross-sectoral patient journeys of patients with out-of-hospital mechanical ventilation and intensive care in outpatient settings: study protocol for an observational study

INTRODUCTION

An increasing number of tracheotomised and/or ventilated patients with high-cost out-of-hospital intensive care needs and, at the same time, a decreasing number of healthcare professionals inevitably lead to challenges in the care of this patient population. In addition, little is known about this population, their health restrictions, needs, patient journeys, care structures and processes. The project 'Needs, requirements and cross-sectoral care pathways of out-of-hospital ventilated intensive care patients' (ATME) aims to analyse these aspects and explore current care structures to inform further development of care in line with patients' needs and requirements.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Qualitative and quantitative methods will be used. In preparation of a semistandardised survey, exploratory interviews will be conducted with tracheotomised and/or ventilated patients with out-of-hospital intensive care needs (TVPOI) (n=15), nursing care providers (n=30), outpatient medical centres, as well as outpatient medical, medical technology and therapeutic care providers (n=35). Three semistandardised survey questionnaires for TVPOI (n=2,000) will be developed and conducted with nursing care facilities (n=250) and outpatient medical centres for mechanical ventilation (n=25). Content analyses will be conducted for qualitative data; survey data will be analysed descriptively. In addition, healthcare claims data will be analysed descriptively to provide information on patient journeys. Three result workshops and one consensus conference will be carried out with representatives of the relevant target groups to analyse the suitability of care structures and to develop recommendations for action to improve TVPOI.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The ATME study received a positive vote from the Ethics Committee of the Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences and is registered in 'Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien (DRKS)' (registration number: DRKS00030891). The study results will be presented at national conferences and in relevant peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, study results will be published by the funding institution (the Innovation Committee of the Federal Joint Committee) on their website.

Nursing Interventions for Client and Family Training in the Proper Use of Noninvasive Ventilation in the Transition from Hospital to Community: A Scoping Review

Noninvasive ventilation is an increasingly disseminated therapeutic option, which is explained by increases in the prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases, life expectancy, and the effectiveness of this type of respiratory support. This literature review observes that upon returning home after hospital discharge, there are difficulties in adhering to and maintaining this therapy. The aim of this study is to identify nursing interventions for client and family training in the proper use of noninvasive ventilation in the transition from hospital to community. A scoping review was carried out by searching MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science. The articles were selected by two independent reviewers by applying the predefined eligibility criteria. Regarding transitional care, the authors opted to include studies about interventions to train clients and families during hospital stay, hospital discharge, transition from hospital to home, and the first 30 days after returning home. The eight included publications allowed for identification of interventions related to masks or interfaces, prevention of complications associated with noninvasive ventilation, leakage control, maintenance and cleaning of ventilators and accessories, respiratory training, ventilator monitoring, communication, and behavioral strategies as transitional care priority interventions to guarantee proper training in the transition from hospital to community.

Implementation of a high fidelity simulation based training program for physicians of children requiring long term invasive home ventilation: a study by ISPAT team

Introduction

The number of children requiring long-term invasive home ventilation (LTIHV) has increased worldwide in recent decades. The training of physicians caring for these children is crucial since they are at high risk for complications and adverse events. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a comprehensive high-fidelity simulation-based training program for physicians caring for children on LTIHV.

Methods

A multimodal training program for tracheostomy and ventilator management was prepared by ISPAT (IStanbul PAediatric Tracheostomy) team. Participants were subjected to theoretical and practical pre-tests which evaluated their knowledge levels and skills for care, follow-up, and treatment of children on LTIHV. Following the theoretical education and hands-on training session with a simulation model, theoretical and practical post-tests were performed.

Results

Forty-three physicians from 7 tertiary pediatric clinics in Istanbul were enrolled in the training program. Seventy percent of them had never received standardized training programs about patients on home ventilation previously. The total number of correct answers from the participants significantly improved after the theoretical training (p < 0.001). The number of participants who performed the steps correctly also significantly increased following the hands-on training session (p < 0.001). All of the 43 participants who responded rated the course overall as good or excellent.

Conclusion

The knowledge and skills of clinicians caring for children on LTIHV can be enhanced through a comprehensive training program consisting of theoretical training combined with hands-on training in a simulation laboratory.

Development and pilot-testing of an evidence-based quality indicator set for home mechanical ventilation care: the OVER-BEAS project

BACKGROUND

The number of patients depending on home mechanical ventilation (HMV) has increased substantially in Germany in recent years. These patients receive long-term care in different nursing facilities (nursing home, shared living community, private home). However, there are limited data available on the quality of care of HMV patients. The aim of the OVER-BEAS project was to identify quality indicators (QIs) of HMV care using an evidence-based approach.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary board consisting of professionals and experts of HMV provision compiled a set of QIs between March and September 2019. In a structured, transparent process a set of QIs covering structures, processes and outcome of HMV patient's care were proposed and evaluated based on the best available evidence. QIs were defined as relevant, reliable and valid measurements of the quality of HMV care and furthermore to be comprehensive and applicable in practice.

RESULTS

The experts proposed 40 QIs and consented a final set of 26 QIs. Based on the final set, questionnaires to document the QIs were developed: (1) to assess the quality and describe the structure of the nursing facility; and (2) to gather information on patient-related processes and outcomes. The feasibility of the questionnaires was tested in 5 nursing facilities treating HMV patients. The remarks from the nursing specialists were categorised in three groups: (1) term missing accuracy, (2) problem of understanding, and (3) not documented or documented elsewhere. Mean documentation time by the nursing specialists for one patient was 15 min. Based on this feedback, the questionnaires were finalised.

CONCLUSIONS

We proposed a set of QIs relating to long-term HMV care and developed two questionnaires to collect this information. In a pilot study, we found the set of questionnaires to be feasible in assessing the quality of HMV care according to current evidence. The development of standardised evidence-based QIs to evaluate HMV care is a step towards implementing a standardised quality assurance program to document the quality of care of HMV patients.

["Ensuring patient safety is one of our primary responsibilities." - Results of a qualitative study on maintaining safety in ventilation-associated technical aid supply]

BACKGROUND

Maintaining safety is critical in home mechanical ventilation (HMV). It is co-determined by the availability of reliable technical aids and their correct application. Ensuring safe aid supply is part of the aid providers'́ legal mandate. However, whether and how this is achieved is largely unknown. Therefore, the tasks of technical aid providers, associated requirements and challenges with special regards to educational and safety aspects were investigated.

METHODS

For this purpose, episodic interviews were conducted between July and December 2020 with a purposive sample of field representatives of eleven technical aid providers. Between one and six persons participated in each of the interviews, resulting in a total sample of 25 persons (14 field representatives without management function, ten with management function, one director). Given the conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, six interviews took place face-to-face and five as web meetings. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

From the interviewees'́ perspective, the most important safety-related measure is the legally required and individually tailored initial instruction in a safe aid application. Additional safety-related tasks comprise counselling, e. g. for prescribing physicians and users (patients, relatives, nursing service employees), regular home visits, and the provision of a technical emergency service. Interviewees indicate that safety risks emerge primarily from a lack of skills and a high staff turnover among professional caregivers. This, they state, challenges building up and maintaining competencies among nursing staff. Other safety risks arise from healthcare fragmentation, lacking coordination, cooperation, and accountability of the professionals involved. Respondents address these challenges pragmatically by providing additional services, like ongoing caregiver training, care coordination and support roles.

DISCUSSION

Maintaining safety in ventilation-associated technical aid supply must be considered a crucial component of the overall HMV care processes, in which safety currently cannot be taken for granted. Field representatives of technical aid providers address the existing challenges with selective and intuitive strategies, some of which exceed their legal mandate.

CONCLUSION

Improving safety in home care can be supported by establishing Advanced Nursing Practice roles in nursing services. The systematic further development of roles and tasks of staff of technical aid providers should be clarified within an overarching discourse on viable approaches to cross-sectoral and interprofessional HMV care.

Infrastructure- and workforce capacity for the provision of health care to people with invasive home mechanical ventilation: A scoping review of indicators and norms

INTRODUCTION

Both the availability and adequacy of infrastructure- and workforce capacity are critical to provide integrated and continuing care, especially to people with complex care needs such as those with invasive home mechanical ventilation (HMV). This review aims to synthesise indicators and norms that are available for assessing this infrastructure- and workforce capacity.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted by searching PubMed, Livivo, the grey literature, specific registries, and the websites of relevant professional societies for international publications on specific infrastructure- and workforce capacity indicators or norms on HMV from January 2000 up to and including March 2021. Exclusion criteria comprised missing indicator/norm information, differing populations/care settings, and secondary literature. Indicators and norms were extracted, clustered, and analysed by applying the WHO Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

Fifteen publications met the inclusion criteria. Forty-five indicators and 44 norms on HMV-related infrastructure- and workforce capacity were synthesised. The synthesis revealed a heterogeneous set of indicators and norms (mainly from cross-sectional surveys and guidelines). The methodological information on their definition, rationales, disaggregation, and evidence is scarce.

CONCLUSION

To enable integrated care in HMV and comparable populations with complex care needs, the identified limitations in assessing infrastructure- and workforce capacity should be addressed.

[Advanced Nursing Practice as a concept of care for people with outpatient ventilation in Germany: Results of a demand- and curriculum analysis]

INTRODUCTION

Outpatient intensive care for people on home mechanical ventilation (HMV) is a complex area of care with high demands on the nurses specialised in this field. Internationally, academic qualification as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) has become established in these fields of specialised care. Despite the large number of further training opportunities, there is no university qualification for home mechanical ventilation in Germany. Based on a demand- and curriculum analysis, this study therefore defines the role of an APN for home mechanical ventilation (APN-HMV).

METHODS

The study structure is based on the PEPPA framework (Participatory, Evidence-based and Patient-focused Process for the Development, Implementation and Evaluation of Advanced Practice Nursing). The need for a new model of care was determined with a qualitative secondary analysis based on interviews with health care professionals (n = 87) and a curriculum analysis (n = 5). Analyses were conducted using the Hamric model with a deductive-inductive approach. Subsequently, the main problems and objectives to improve the model of care were agreed upon in the research group, and the APN-HMV role was defined.

RESULTS

The qualitative secondary data analysis illustrates the need for APN core competencies, especially in the psychosocial area and in family-centred care. The curriculum analysis resulted in a total of 1,375 coded segments. The focus of the curricula was on the central competency "direct clinical practice" (1,116 coded segments) and thus on ventilatory and critical care measures. Based on the results, the profile of APN-HMV could be defined.

CONCLUSIONS

The introduction of an APN-HMV can usefully complement the skill and grade mix in outpatient intensive care and counteract care problems in this highly specialised area. The study provides a basis for the development of appropriate academic programmes or advanced training courses at universities.

[Complexity of outpatient intensive care for ventilated people: Cross-mapping into the standardised NNN-taxonomy]

Complexity of outpatient intensive care for ventilated people: Cross-mapping into the standardised NNN-taxonomy Abstract. Background: In Germany, free text is the preferred method for recording the nursing process in outpatient intensive care, although classification systems could enable a more precise description. Research question: How is nursing care for people with outpatient ventilation represented by the NNN-taxonomy and what are the recommendations for nursing practice? Methods: A qualitative "multiple case" design was applied. Using deductive content analysis (data sources: nursing documentation and secondary analysis of interviews with affected persons), several cases, both individually and across all cases were linked to the NNN-taxonomy (cross-mapping). Results: In total, the nursing documentation of 16 invasively ventilated persons with a mean age of 58.4 years (SD = 16.3) was analysed. Seven persons additionally contributed interview data. Documentation was mainly based on the "Strukturmodell" (14/16) with a moderate to high accuracy (D-Catch Score: 16.6; SD = 4.1). Cross-mapping resulted in 4016 codes: 618 nursing diagnoses, 1956 interventions and 1442 outcomes. Documentation was strongly measure-oriented, not very person-centred and with a lack of differentiation between diagnosis and intervention. Conclusions: To improve nursing practice, a person-centred attitude and the ability to differentiate between nursing diagnoses, interventions and outcomes should be promoted.

Comparing the quality of care for long-term ventilated individuals at home versus in shared living communities: a convergent parallel mixed-methods study

BACKGROUND

People on home mechanical ventilation (HMV) belong to a heterogeneous population with complex care needs. In Germany, outpatient intensive care is provided in people's private home (PH) or in shared living communities (SLC). Increasing patient numbers have led to criticism of the quality of care in recent years. Since quality deficits from the perspective of those affected are largely unclear, the following research question emerged: How do interviews with ventilated individuals and family caregivers explain any differences or similarities in the quality of care between PH and SLC?

METHODS

This study used a mixed-methods convergent parallel design, where quantitative and qualitative components were separately collected and analysed. The quantitative component (structured interviews and online survey) included ventilation characteristics, health-related resource use, health-related quality of life (HRQL) measured with the Severe Respiratory Insufficiency Questionnaire (SRI; range 0-100; higher scores indicated higher HRQL) and the Burden Scale of the Family Caregivers short version (BSFC-s; range 0-30; higher scores indicated higher burden). The qualitative component (semi-structured interviews) focused on people's experience of person-centred care. Data were merged using a weaving method and the Picker framework of Person-Centred Care.

RESULTS

The quantitative component revealed that ventilated individuals living in PHs were on average 20 years younger than participants living in SLCs (n = 46; PH: 46.86 ±15.40 years vs. SLC: 65.07 ±11.78 years; p = .001). HRQL (n = 27; PH: 56.62 ±16.40 vs. SLC: 55.35 ±12.72; p > .999) and the burden of family caregivers (n = 16; PH: 13.20 ±10.18 vs. SLC: 12.64 ±8.55; p > .999) were not significantly different between living situation. The qualitative component revealed that person-centred care is possible in both care settings (ventilated individuals: n = 13; family caregivers: n = 18).

CONCLUSION

This study describes a care situation that is as heterogeneous as the population of people with HMV. HRQL and the burden of family caregivers are highly individual and, like person-centred care, independent of the living situation. Policy decisions that facilitate person-centred care need to recognise that quality of care is highly individual and starts with the free choice of the care setting.

[Quality of Care in Home Mechanical Ventilation]

Home mechanical ventilation has developed rapidly over the last 20 years. Today's most common positive pressure ventilation can be performed either non-invasively via face masks or invasively via endotracheal intubation or tracheal cannula. Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in particular has gained in importance in recent years as positive evidence for a variety of indications for home mechanical ventilation has become increasingly available. In order to ensure a high quality of treatment for the steadily increasing number of patients, specific guidelines for different patient groups have been developed and regularly updated. The appropriate care structures for these partly multimorbid patient cohorts are strongly discussed, since the capacity limits of the existing care structure are reached by the rapid development in home mechanical ventilation. This development shows, that a critical evaluation of the existing care structures is necessary in order to develop a patient-centered, customized and resource-saving healthcare structure on the basis of the existing structures and taking into account the national characteristics of the German healthcare system.