Healthcare professionals perspective of the facilitators and barriers to family engagement during patient-and-family-centered-care interdisciplinary rounds in intensive care unit: A qualitative exploratory study

OBJECTIVES

Family engagement in care for critically ill patients remains an inconsistent practice and an understudied area of nursing science. Rounds for this study is an interdisciplinary activity conducted at the bedside in partnership with patients, their families, and the health care professionals involved in providing the care. We sought to explore and describe the facilitators and barriers to family engagement during patient and family-centered interdisciplinary rounds in the intensive care unit.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY/DESIGN

This qualitative exploratory study is part of a multisite experimental study (#Pro2020001614; NCT05449990). We analyzed the narrative data from the qualitative questions added in the survey from 52 healthcare professionals involved in a multisite experimental study using Braun and Clarke's (2006) constructionist, contextualist approach to thematic analysis.

SETTING

The study was conducted in the intensive care unit of two medical centers.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The findings presented are themes illuminated from thematic analysis namely communication gaps, family's lack of resources, familial and healthcare providers' characteristics, lack of leadership, interprofessional support, policy, and guidelines.

FINDINGS

Family engagement in critical care during interdisciplinary rounds occurred within the intersectionality among families, healthcare professionals' practice, and organizational factors. The facilitators for family engagement include supported, championed, and advocated-for family adaptation, teams, and professional practice, and organizational receptivity, and support. Communication and leadership are the precursors to family engagement.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings added new knowledge for exploring the nature and scope of family engagement in critical care. Family engagement must be incorporated into the organizational vision and mission, and healthcare delivery systems.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

There is a need to further investigate the resources, organizational support mechanisms, and systems that affect patients, families, and healthcare professionals, and the establishment of policies that will aid in reducing barriers to family engagement in the intensive care unit.

Sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and symptoms associated with fluid overload among non-hospitalized and community-dwelling older adults with heart failure: A population-based approach

BACKGROUND

Fluid overload is a major complication in patients with heart failure (HF) and the main reason for hospitalization. The purpose of the study was to explore the associations of fluid overload with sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and symptoms among non-hospitalized and community-dwelling older adults with HF using large population data.

METHODS

Descriptive and multivariate analyses were conducted on the Health and Retirement Study 2016.

RESULTS

Fluid overload was prevalent in almost half of the sample. Female older adults with HF were more likely to have fluid overload (OR:1.43, p = 0.037) as well as being Black (OR:1.40, p = 0.041). Higher physical activity scores were associated with less likelihood of having fluid overload (OR:0.99, p = 0.025). Symptoms of shortness of breath (OR=2.18, p = 0.001), pain (OR=1.82, p < 0.001), and fatigue (OR=1.45, p = 0.025) were significantly associated with fluid overload.

CONCLUSION

Female and Black community-dwelling older adults with HF are at higher risk of fluid overload. Symptoms of shortness of breath, pain, and fatigue are significant manifestations of fluid overload. Effective patient-centered interventions to promote fluid flow via physical activity may help older adults with HF manage fluid overload and alleviate associated symptoms.

Associations of Insomnia Symptoms With Cognition in Persons With Heart Failure

Although cognitive impairment is common among persons with heart failure and negatively impacts self-care, hospitalization, and mortality, the associations between cognitive impairment and insomnia symptoms are not clearly understood. The purpose of this study was to explore these associations and examine if they are maintained after adjusting for relevant sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors. Guided by the Neurocognitive model of insomnia and sleep and the self-care conceptual model, a cross-sectional data analysis using parametric testing was conducted on the Health and Retirement Study wave 2016. Difficulty initiating sleep and early morning awakening, but not difficulty maintaining sleep were significantly associated with poorer cognitive performance in the bivariate and multivariate analysis. Our results are suggestive of different phenotypes of insomnia symptoms that may have different associations with cognition in persons with heart failure. Further research using objective measurements of insomnia symptoms and detailed neuropsychiatric testing of cognition is needed to confirm this conclusion.

Gender Differences in Acculturative Stress and Habitual Sleep Duration in Korean American Immigrants

Korean American immigrants (KAIs) face diverse sociocultural stressors in the acculturation process. While stress is known to cause short sleep, little is known about how acculturative stress affects sleep differently for KAI men and women. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine gender differences in the association between diverse domains of acculturative stress and sleep duration among KAIs. Middle-aged KAIs were recruited in community settings and online. KAIs completed validated measures of acculturative stress (homesickness, social isolation, employment barriers, discrimination, civic disengagement, and family problems) and sleep duration. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed and stratified by gender. 343 KAIs participated (mean age = 41 ± 10 years, 47% female, 11% short sleepers [< 6 h]). After adjustment for covariates, higher homesickness (β = - 23.19, p < 0.05) and lower civic disengagement (β = 17.75, p < 0.05) were associated with shorter sleep duration in women, while higher isolation was associated with shorter sleep duration in men (β = - 13.73, p < 0.05). Discussion: Results suggest gender-specific associations between acculturative stress and sleep duration. Future research should take into account gender differences in the experience and effects of acculturative stress when developing interventions to improve sleep health in KAIs.