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Wong SY, Teo YN, Wo YJ, Lim CW, Lai YF. Distilling lessons from home hospital implementation: a narrative scoping review. Singapore Med J 2024:00077293-990000000-00093. [PMID: 38363647 DOI: 10.4103/singaporemedj.smj-2020-478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Multiple Cochrane Reviews have demonstrated 'hospital at home' (HaH) as a promising healthcare model to be explored, with benefits such as higher care quality, reduced readmissions, shorter lengths of stay, lower cost and greater patient satisfaction. While there have been many reviews focusing on the quantitative clinical outcomes of HaH, there is generally a lack of collation of qualitative insights from stakeholders and lessons learnt from past HaH implementation. METHODS We performed a systematic literature search on four databases and included 17 papers involving the provision of acute and/or subacute care by healthcare professionals in patients' homes. Review characteristics and relevant outcomes were extracted from the reported findings and tables in the reviews, and these included stakeholder attitudes and factors contributing to the success of HaH implementation. RESULTS Factors relating to patients and caregivers included home setup, preference for care and death settings, and support for caregiver. Factors involving the healthcare professionals and intervention included a multidisciplinary care team, accessibility to emergency care and support, training of providers and patients, adequate manpower allocation, robust eligibility and referral criteria, sufficient awareness of the HaH referral pathway, communication and medication management. CONCLUSION HaH presents a promising alternative care model, and many of the success factors identified, including the strong push for multidisciplinary single care teams, existing frameworks for data sharing and strong community network, are already present today. As such, Singapore appears to be well positioned to adopt a new care model like HaH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Yin Wong
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yao Neng Teo
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yu Jun Wo
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Cher Wee Lim
- Office for Healthcare Transformation, Ministry of Health, Singapore
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yi Feng Lai
- Office for Healthcare Transformation, Ministry of Health, Singapore
- School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Foo CD, Yan JY, Chan ASL, Yap JCH. Identifying Key Themes of Care Coordination for Patients with Chronic Conditions in Singapore: A Scoping Review. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11111546. [PMID: 37297686 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11111546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
A projected rise in patients with complex health needs and a rapidly ageing population will place an increased burden on the healthcare system. Care coordination can bridge potential gaps during care transitions and across the care continuum to facilitate care integration and the delivery of personalised care. Despite having a national strategic vision of improving care integration across different levels of care and community partners, there is no consolidation of evidence specifically on the salient dimensions of care coordination in the Singapore healthcare context. Hence, this scoping review aims to uncover the key themes that facilitate care coordination for patients with chronic conditions in Singapore to be managed in the community while illuminating under-researched areas in care coordination requiring further exploration. The databases searched were PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Results from Google Scholar were also included. Two independent reviewers screened articles in a two-stage screening process based on the Cochrane scoping review guidelines. Recommendation for inclusion was indicated on a three-point scale and rating conflicts were resolved through discussion. Of the 5792 articles identified, 28 were included in the final review. Key cross-cutting themes such as having standards and guidelines for care programmes, forging stronger partnerships across providers, an interoperable information system across care interfaces, strong programme leadership, financial and technical resource availabilities and patient and provider-specific factors emerged. This review also recommends leveraging these themes to align with Singapore's national healthcare vision to contain rising healthcare costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan De Foo
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore 117549, Singapore
| | - Jia Yin Yan
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore 117549, Singapore
| | - Audrey Swee Ling Chan
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore 117549, Singapore
| | - Jason C H Yap
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore 117549, Singapore
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Ko SQ, Chua CMS, Koh SH, Lim YW, Shorey S. Experiences of Patients and Their Caregivers Admitted to a Hospital-at-Home Program in Singapore: a Descriptive Qualitative Study. J Gen Intern Med 2023; 38:691-698. [PMID: 36008593 PMCID: PMC9409616 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-022-07765-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hospital at Home (HaH) programs have been shown to improve clinical outcomes, quality of care, and patient satisfaction. However, how Asian patients experience HaH remained underexplored. OBJECTIVE To explore the perceptions and experiences of patients and caregivers admitted to a hospital-at-home program in Singapore. DESIGN Descriptive qualitative study design. PARTICIPANTS Purposive sampling was used to conduct 36 interviews with 13 patients, nine Legally Acceptable Representatives (LARs), and 14 caregivers until data saturation was achieved. INTERVENTIONS NUHS@Home is a HaH program providing care through a multi-disciplinary team, enabled by remote vital signs monitoring through a tablet and wireless blood pressure and oxygen meters. APPROACH This study used in-depth semi-structured individual interviews. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed using Braun and Clark's six-step inductive approach. KEY RESULTS The overarching theme identified was "Enablers, difficulties, and improvements to the HaH experiences" which was supported by three key themes: (1) Perceived better care at home, (2) Importance of social support, and (3) Organizational structures required to support HaH. Participants described overall HaH experiences around factors contributing to their impeding engagement, overall satisfaction, and quality of care. CONCLUSIONS Although HaH is unfamiliar to the Singapore population, most of the participants in this study had an overall positive experience. The key challenges found in this paper were the stress and inconvenience caused to caregivers. The enablers for positive HaH experiences were (1) consideration of patient's family members as key participants in the patients' therapeutic alliance; (2) the HaH care team must be accessible, approachable, and reassuring, and communicate frequently and timely with patients and their families; and (3) financing strategies to ensure HaH out-of-pockets costs remain affordable which are critical to keeping HaH as an option for patients and families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Qianwen Ko
- Division of Advanced Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
| | - Crystal Min Siu Chua
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Level 2, Clinical Research Centre, Block MD11, 10 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
| | - Shu Hua Koh
- CareHub, National University Hospital, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
| | - Yee Wei Lim
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119228, Singapore.,Medical Affairs - Research, Innovation & Enterprise, Alexandra Hospital, National University Health System, 378 Alexandra Road, Singapore, 159964, Singapore
| | - Shefaly Shorey
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Level 2, Clinical Research Centre, Block MD11, 10 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117597, Singapore.
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Ke Y, Cheng I, Tan GSH, Fok RWY, Chan JJ, Loh KWJ, Chan A. Development and pilot testing of a decision aid for navigating breast cancer survivorship care. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2022; 22:330. [PMID: 36522635 PMCID: PMC9753367 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-022-02056-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The predominant oncologist-led model in many countries is unsustainable to meet the needs of a growing cohort of breast cancer survivors (BCS). Despite available alternative models, adoption rates have been poor. To help BCS navigate survivorship care, we aimed to systematically develop a decision aid (DA) to guide their choice of follow-up care model and evaluate its acceptability and usability among BCS and health care providers (HCPs). METHODS We recruited BCS aged ≥ 21 years who have completed primary treatment and understand English. BCS receiving palliative care or with cognitive impairment were excluded. HCPs who routinely discussed post-treatment care with BCS were purposively sampled based on disciplines. Each participant reviewed the DA during a semi-structured interview using the 'think aloud' approach and completed an acceptability questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and directed content analysis were used. RESULTS We conducted three rounds of alpha testing with 15 BCS and 8 HCPs. All BCS found the final DA prototype easy to navigate with sufficient interactivity. The information imbalance favouring the shared care option perceived by 60% of BCS in early rounds was rectified. The length of DA was optimized to be 'just right'. Key revisions made included (1) presenting care options side-by-side to improve perceived information balance, (2) creating dedicated sections explaining HCPs' care roles to address gaps in health system contextual knowledge, and (3) employing a multicriteria decision analysis method for preference clarification exercise to reflect the user's openness towards shared care. Most BCS (73%) found the DA useful for decision-making, and 93% were willing to discuss the DA with their HCPs. Most HCPs (88%) agreed that the DA was a reliable tool and would be easily integrated into routine care. CONCLUSIONS Our experience highlighted the need to provide contextual information on the health care system for decisions related to care delivery. Developers should address potential variability within the care model and clarify inherent biases, such as low confidence levels in primary care. Future work could expand on the developed DA's informational structure to apply to other care models and leverage artificial intelligence to optimize information delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ke
- grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ivy Cheng
- grid.410724.40000 0004 0620 9745Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gretchen Ser Hua Tan
- grid.4280.e0000 0001 2180 6431Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rose Wai Yee Fok
- grid.410724.40000 0004 0620 9745Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jack Junjie Chan
- grid.410724.40000 0004 0620 9745Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kiley Wei-Jen Loh
- grid.410724.40000 0004 0620 9745Division of Supportive and Palliative Care, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alexandre Chan
- grid.410724.40000 0004 0620 9745Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore, Singapore, Singapore ,grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice, University of California Irvine, 515 Bison Modular 147B, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
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Wong PYA, Chan FYS, Ong L, Lee KH. A qualitative study of challenges and enablers faced by private general practitioners providing primary care to patients with complex needs in Singapore. BMC PRIMARY CARE 2022; 23:14. [PMID: 35172750 PMCID: PMC8767740 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-022-01625-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Singapore faces an ageing population with increasingly complex healthcare needs, a problem which could be addressed by high quality primary care. Many patients with complex needs are not managed by private general practitioners (GPs) who form the majority of the primary care workforce. Currently, there is paucity of literature describing the needs of these private GPs in providing such care.
Aim
Understand the challenges, enablers and possible solutions from the perspective of private GPs in providing primary care of patients with complex needs.
Method
We conducted a qualitative study using an inductive approach. Private GPs were interviewed using a semi-structured question guide with convenience sampling until thematic saturation was reached. These 12 interviewees were part of a network of clinics that provide primary care for complex patients who were recently discharged from a community hospital providing post-acute care. Data was transcribed prior to a process of familiarisation, coded and analysed using thematic analysis by three independent investigators.
Results
Three themes emerged in the analysis. From a micro-organizational standpoint, private GPs and patients with complex needs must be willing to accept each other to have a therapeutic encounter (e.g., patients’ multidimensional needs, GP clinic set-up is simple yet busy). Next, from a meso-organizational view, trust and good communication channels between the referring doctors and private GPs must exist for effective collaboration in managing complex care. Lastly, macro-organizationally, external stakeholders (e.g., policy-makers) should fund care models, which are financially viable to both patients, and private GPs (e.g., via adequate subsidies and renumeration respectively) as such complex care require many resources.
Conclusion
Multiple factors exist which influence the ability of private GPs in Singapore to care for patients with complex needs. Addressing these factors may reduce the over dependence on high-cost hospitals for care delivery in similar healthcare systems.
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Maria ARJ, Serra H, Castro MG, Heleno B. Interaction at the primary–secondary care interface: Patients’ and physicians’ perceptions of teleconsultations. Digit Health 2022; 8:20552076221133698. [PMCID: PMC9716594 DOI: 10.1177/20552076221133698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Previous qualitative research on teleconsultations has focused on synchronous communication between a patient and a clinician. This study aims to explore physicians' and patients' perceptions of the interaction on the interface between primary care and the Cardiology service of a referral hospital through teleconsultations. Methods This qualitative study was embedded in an organizational case study concerning the introduction and rollout of a new service model that took place at the point of care. The patients and physicians were recruited for semi-structured interviews until thematic saturation was achieved, between September 2019 - January 2020. The interviews were audiorecorded and anonymized. The transcribed interviews were stored, coded, and analyzed in MAXQDA, following the steps for conventional content analysis. Results A total of 29 participants were interviewed. Patients and physicians presented clear views about the role of the GP and the cardiologist and their function in overall structure of healthcare. GPs felt their role was to bring expertise in the patient which could supplement the cardiologists' expertise on the condition. However, GPs had to renegotiate roles in the teleconsultations when they saw themselves in a new situation, together with another physician and the patient. Conclusions Our findings suggest that joint teleconsultations can promote continuity of care for patients in the primary/secondary care interface. Active coordination between physicians with delineation of roles throughout primary-secondary care interface is needed to manage selected patients who may benefit the most from shared care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita J Maria
- Regional Health Administration of Lisbon and Tagus Valley, Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), Nova Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal,Ana Rita J Maria, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria 130, 1169–056, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Helena Serra
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences (CICS. NOVA), NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities
- Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria G Castro
- Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Bruno Heleno
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), Nova Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa; General Practitioner, Regional Health Administration of Lisbon and Tagus Valley, Lisbon, Portugal
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Wong GJ, Lau J, Chew E, Chow WM, Choo J, Tan KK. Patients’ perception of colorectal cancer surveillance in the community: an exploratory study. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2122. [DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14485-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
All patients who underwent curative resection for colorectal cancer (CRC) are frequently reviewed in tertiary institutions to ensure timely detection of any disease recurrence. There has been no local study that evaluated the feasibility of monitoring their condition in the community as a possible new model of care. This study henceforth seeks to understand CRC patients’ views and receptiveness of having their surveillance consultations conducted in a community setting.
Methods
We convenience sampled Stage I and II CRC patients who were within five years post-operation in the outpatient clinics. An open-ended questionnaire aimed at elucidating their perception towards cancer surveillance in a community setting was administered. Content analysis was used to group and quantify responses from participants.
Results
Twenty-five participants agreed to participate in the study. Only 48% of the participants felt that having phlebotomy procedures in a community or home setting was acceptable. Participants were less willing to be reviewed by a physician who is not their primary surgeon, with only 32% agreeable to seeing a different doctor for surveillance if given a choice. However, most participants were open to having a telephone consultation in place of a physical face-to-face consultation before (72%) and after (76%) going through medical imaging.
Conclusions
Participants remained keen to be managed by their primary surgeons and were hesitant towards having their follow-up surveillance consultations in community and primary care settings. Further studies should be conducted to understand whether these perceptions are generalisable, and if more can be done to change public perception towards the role of community and primary care institutions.
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Ko SQ, Goh J, Tay YK, Nashi N, Hooi BMY, Luo N, Kuan WS, Soong JTY, Chan D, Lai YF, Lim YW. Treating acutely ill patients at home: Data from Singapore. ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, SINGAPORE 2022; 51:392-399. [PMID: 35906938 DOI: 10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2021465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hospital-at-home programmes are well described in the literature but not in Asia. We describe a home-based inpatient substitutive care programme in Singapore, with clinical and patient-reported outcomes. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to a hospital-at-home programme from September 2020 to September 2021. Suitable patients, who otherwise required hospitalisation, were admitted to the programme. They were from inpatient wards, emergency department and community nursing teams in the western part of Singapore, where a multidisciplinary team provided hospital-level care at home. Electronic health record data were extracted from all patients admitted to the programme. Patient satisfaction surveys were conducted post-discharge. RESULTS A total of 108 patients enrolled. Mean age was 67.9 (standard deviation 16.7) years, and 46% were male. The main diagnoses were skin and soft tissue infections (35%), urinary tract infections (29%) and fluid overload (18%). Median length of stay was 4 (interquartile range 3-7) days. Seven patients were escalated back to the hospital, of whom 2 died after escalation. One patient died at home. There was 1 case of adverse drug reaction and 1 fall at home, and no cases of hospital-acquired infections. Patient satisfaction rates were high and 94% of contactable patients would choose to participate again. CONCLUSION Hospital-at-home programmes appear to be safe and feasible alternatives to inpatient care in Singapore. Further studies are warranted to compare clinical outcomes and cost to conventional inpatient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Q Ko
- Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore
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Chua CMS, Ko SQ, Lai YF, Lim YW, Shorey S. Perceptions of Stakeholders Toward "Hospital at Home" Program in Singapore: A Descriptive Qualitative Study. J Patient Saf 2022; 18:e606-e612. [PMID: 34406987 DOI: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Hospital at Home (HaH) programs have been shown to improve quality of care and patient satisfaction, and reduce bed occupancy rate in hospitals. Despite the prevalence of HaH in Western countries, studies in Asia are limited and the perception of HaH remains underexplored in Asian context. Understanding the perceptions of stakeholders is vital before implementing HaH in any new settings. Thus, the aim of this study is to explore the perceptions of referring physicians, care providers, patients, and caregivers on HaH programs in a multiracial country such as in Singapore. METHODS This study used a descriptive qualitative design. Participants from 2 tertiary hospitals in Singapore, including 13 referring physicians, 10 care providers, 15 patients, and 3 caregivers, were interviewed between June 2020 and September 2020. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS The overarching theme titled "The stakeholders' perception on HaH" was pillared by 4 main themes: (1) patients suitable for HaH; (2) perceived advantages and benefits of HaH; (3) perceived risks, anxiety, and concerns about HaH; and (4) potential enablers of HaH. Overall, the findings reported that most of the stakeholders embraced HaH. Timely medical interventions and support from care providers were reportedly important factors to maintain patient safety and quality of care. The importance of having adequate resources and sound financing mechanisms to develop a successful HaH program was also highlighted. CONCLUSIONS This study offered insights into HaH from the perspectives of stakeholders in Singapore and facilitate the planning of future HaH pilot programs in multiracial Singapore and other Asian countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal Min Siu Chua
- From the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
| | - Stephanie Qianwen Ko
- Division of Advanced Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital
| | | | | | - Shefaly Shorey
- From the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
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Lai YF, Lim YW, Kuan WS, Goh J, Soong JTY, Shorey S, Ko SQ. Asian Attitudes and Perceptions Toward Hospital-At-Home: A Cross-Sectional Study. Front Public Health 2021; 9:704465. [PMID: 34368067 PMCID: PMC8343062 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.704465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Hospital-at-Home (HaH) programmes are well-established in Australia, Europe, and the United States. However, there is limited experience in Asia, where the hospital is traditionally seen as a safe and trusted space for healing. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore attitudes and perceptions among patients and caregivers in Singapore toward this care model. Methods: A quantitative study design was adopted to collect data among patients and their caregivers from medical wards within two acute hospitals in Singapore. Using a series of closed-ended and open-ended questions, the investigator-administered survey aimed to explore barriers and facilitators determining patients' and caregivers' responses. The study questionnaire was pretested and validated. Data were summarised using descriptive statistics, and logistic regression was performed to determine key factors influencing patients' decisions to enrol in such programmes. Results: Survey responses were collected from 120 participants (101 patients, 19 caregivers; response rate: 76%), of which 87 respondents (72.5%) expressed willingness to try HaH if offered. Many respondents valued non-quantifiable programme benefits, including perceived gains in quality of life. Among them, reasons cited for acceptance included preference for the comfort of their home environment, presence of family members, and confidence toward remote monitoring modalities. Among respondents who were unwilling to accept HaH, a common reason indicated was stronger confidence toward hospital care. Discussion: Most patients surveyed were open to having acute care delivered in their home environment, and concerns expressed may largely be addressed by operational considerations. The findings provide useful insights toward the planning of HaH programmes in Singapore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Feng Lai
- Ministry of Health (MOH) Office for Healthcare Transformation, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Pharmacy, Alexandra Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Yee Wei Lim
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Win Sen Kuan
- Emergency Medicine Department, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joel Goh
- National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Global Asia Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Harvard Business School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Shefaly Shorey
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Stephanie Q. Ko
- Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
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Hartford W, Asgarova S, MacDonald G, Berger M, Cristancho S, Nimmon L. Macro and meso level influences on distributed integrated COPD care delivery: a social network perspective. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:491. [PMID: 34024272 PMCID: PMC8141100 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06532-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Care guidelines for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) recommend an integrated approach for holistic, flexible, and tailored interventions. Continuity of care is also emphasised. However, many patients with COPD experience fragmented care. Discontinuities in healthcare and related social services are likely to result in disjointed rather than integrated care which can negatively affect patient health outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative study was to improve our understanding of, and how, contextual features pertaining to structures and processes of COPD integrated care influence delivery of care within patients’ healthcare networks. Methods We conducted individual interviews with 28 participants (9 patients, 16 healthcare professionals, and 3 spousal caregivers). Participants were recruited through the lung clinic at a city hospital in western Canada. We employed a social network paradigm to analyse and interpret the data. Results The analysis revealed an overarching theme of fragmented COPD care with two sub-themes: (1) Funding shortfalls and availability of resources, and (2) Dis(mis)connected communication pathways. The overarching theme depicts variations, delays, and discontinuities in patient care. The sub-themes describe how macro level influences and meso level shortfalls were perceived to influence the availability of respiratory care resources that contributed to fragmented COPD care. Conclusions Employing a social network lens drew particular attention to family physicians’ pivotal role in delivering community-based COPD care. While an integrated approach to care is recommended by care guidelines, institutional and organizational structures and processes, such as financial and communication structures, may inhibit delivery of integrated care. Thus, macro and meso level structures and processes have the potential to shape patient care by constraining family physicians’ purposive and communication actions necessary for facilitating an integrated distributed approach to care. We propose a context of care which fosters a context for family physicians’ delivery of patient-centered care. Integrated care delivery may improve patients’ wellbeing and alleviate financial constraints on the healthcare system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Hartford
- Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall T325, BC, V6T 2B5, Vancouver, Canada.
| | - Sevinj Asgarova
- Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall T325, BC, V6T 2B5, Vancouver, Canada.,University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,Centre for Health Education Scholarship, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 429-2194, Health Sciences Mall, V6T 1Z3, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Graham MacDonald
- Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall T325, BC, V6T 2B5, Vancouver, Canada.,University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Mary Berger
- Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall T325, BC, V6T 2B5, Vancouver, Canada.,Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Sayra Cristancho
- Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall T325, BC, V6T 2B5, Vancouver, Canada.,Centre for Education Research and Innovation, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario Canada, Medical Sciences Building, Suite 100, N6G 2V4, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Laura Nimmon
- Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall T325, BC, V6T 2B5, Vancouver, Canada.,Centre for Health Education Scholarship, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 429-2194, Health Sciences Mall, V6T 1Z3, Vancouver, Canada
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He AJ, Tang VFY. Integration of health services for the elderly in Asia: A scoping review of Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia. Health Policy 2021; 125:351-362. [PMID: 33422336 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2020.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Against the backdrop of rapid ageing populations, there is an increasing recognition of the need to integrate various health services for the elderly, not only to provide more coordinated care, but also to contain the rapid cost inflation driven primarily by the curative sector. Funded by the Asia-Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, this scoping review seeks to synthesize the received knowledge on care integration for the elderly in four Asian societies representing varying socioeconomic and health-system characteristics: Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The search for English-language literature published between 2009 and 2019 yielded 67 publications in the final sample. The review finds that both research and practice regarding health service integration are at a preliminary stage of development. It notes a marked trend in seeking to integrate long-term elderly care with curative and preventive care, especially in community settings. Many distinctive models proliferated. Integration is demonstrated not only horizontally but also vertically, transcending public-private boundaries. The central role of primary care is highly prominent in almost all the integration models. However, these models are associated with a variety of drawbacks in relation to capacity, perception, and operation that necessitate further scholarly and policy scrutiny, indicating the robustness and persistence of siloed healthcare practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Jingwei He
- Department of Asian and Policy Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Vivien F Y Tang
- Department of Asian and Policy Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
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Holt JM, Brooke KL, Pryor N, Cohen SM, Tsai PY, Zabler B. Using the Omaha System to Evaluate the Integration of Behavioral Health Services into Nurse-Led Primary Health Care. J Community Health Nurs 2020; 37:35-46. [PMID: 31905304 DOI: 10.1080/07370016.2020.1693115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Integrating behavioral health services into nurse-led primary care at one location ensures that individuals receive a comprehensive array of preventive and restorative services, based on their varying needs. A formative program evaluation of a federally funded behavioral health integration (BHI) project in a small nurse-led clinic used the Omaha System taxonomy to explore the changes in the documented practice of providers due to the BHI implementation. The evaluation provided evidence of the benefits of a collaborative care model to urban low-income, underserved, adults who were predominantly African American/Blacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeana M Holt
- College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Kristie L Brooke
- College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Nicole Pryor
- College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - S Michele Cohen
- College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Pei-Yun Tsai
- College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Bev Zabler
- College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Mittal R, Wong ML, Koh GCH, Ong DLS, Lee YH, Tan MN, Allen PF. Factors affecting dental service utilisation among older Singaporeans eligible for subsidized dental care - a qualitative study. BMC Public Health 2019; 19:1075. [PMID: 31395045 PMCID: PMC6688284 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7422-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The World Health Organization has highlighted the paucity of research into the oral health needs of older adults. In Singapore, until recently, publically funded/subsidized oral health care for adults has been limited to basic primary care at government-funded polyclinics. Access to a more comprehensive range of subsidized care in the private sector was widened through the government-funded Community Health Assistance Scheme (CHAS) in 2012 and Pioneer Generation (PG) scheme in 2015. Little is known about the attitude to dental service utilization among older adults in Singapore since then. Methods We conducted semi-structured individual interviews with 25 participants above 65 years of age who were eligible for subsidized dental care plans. Participants were recruited from a public teaching hospital and a public primary care clinic in Singapore. The duration of each interview was 15–30 min. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and the transcripts were analyzed thematically using a phenomenological approach. Results Pertinent themes emerged related to four major areas: (a) general awareness towards oral health, (b) life course perspective of oral health, (c) barriers to visit the dentist, (d) shaping dental service utilisation behaviours through provision of financial subsidies for dental care. Most participants perceived a strong relationship between oral health and systemic health. However, there were erroneous traditional beliefs such as oral health is not part of physical health and edentulous participants did not need to visit a dentist. Fear, anxiety, previous negative experience and lack of knowledge were barriers to visiting the dentist. Trust and convenience were considerations for patients when deciding whether to switch from public to private dental services where CHAS/PG were only available. Conclusion Our study provided important insights regarding oral health perceptions and beliefs of older people residing in the community which may affect their dental service utilization. This further highlights the importance of understanding the concerns of this group when implementing healthcare policies for elderly in Singapore. The findings of our study will serve as a baseline for future studies in Singapore and inform studies in other countries that implement targeted schemes for older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakhi Mittal
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Mun Loke Wong
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gerald Choon-Huat Koh
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Yun Hui Lee
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mei Na Tan
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Abstract
Background: Integrated care that focuses on organising healthcare services around people and their communities rather than their diseases is promoted as the strategy to overcome the challenges associated with growing complexity in healthcare needs, demand for healthcare services and inadequate supply of services due to fragmentation in the provision of services. While conceptually appears to be simple, integrated care is made up of multicomponent delivery strategies targeting various levels of the healthcare system while engaging various stakeholders in their execution. Methods: We applied the complex adaptive system (CAS) perspective to two different initiatives that exemplify approaches towards integrating care in Singapore: the Regional Health System (RHS) model, implemented across healthcare institutions at the national level, and CARITAS Integrated Dementia Care implemented in the northern region of Singapore. We adopted an inductive approach in our analysis in which we studied the RHS and CARITAS Integrated Dementia Care according to the components of the CAS. We applied the typical characteristics of CAS: (i) diverse, interdependent and semi-autonomous actors (ii) self-organizing capacity and simple rules (iii) relationship with the bigger system, emergent behaviour and non-linearity in our analysis of key drivers behind the implementation of both the RHS and CARITAS integrated dementia care. Results: By considering the RHS and CARITAS as whole networks each comprising of interacting and adaptive components instead of separate entities within a bigger system, the CAS provided a new mind-set in surfacing issues associated to the implementation of these integrated care networks. In addition to important actors, systems, it informed understanding of relationships and dependencies between different parts of the network – revealing the lack of homogeneity, conformity and difficulties in designing any optimal system in advance given the many moving parts. Conclusions: Drawing on the two examples of integrated care networks, this paper highlights the significance of effective collaboration built on a common focus, responsiveness to emergent behaviours, simple rules, the ability to self-organize and adapt in response to unexpected situations in further development of integrated care in the Singapore context and beyond.
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