Different Levels Of Care Research Articles

Pre-hospital emergency nurse specialist’s experiences in caring for patients with non-specific chief complaints in the ambulance – A qualitative interview study

BackgroundPre-hospital emergency nurse (PEN) specialists are faced with patients presenting with non-specific chief complaints (NSC) to the emergency medical service (EMS) on a daily basis. These patients are often elderly and one in three has a serious condition and their acuity is not recognized. ObjectiveThe aim of the current study was to explore PEN specialists’ experiences in caring for patients presenting with non-specific chief complaints. DesignA qualitative study design with eleven individual interviews of PENs, between 2018 and 2020. Qualitative content analysis was used. ResultsThe analyses generated three categories including subcategories. The categories were “Unexplained suffering”. “Systematic approach and experience enhances medical safety”. “Organizational processes can be optimized”. The relation between the categories compiled as ́In-depth systematic assessment is perceived to reduce suffering and increases patient safetý. ConclusionThe PENs experiences in caring for patients presenting with non-specific chief complaints show that an in-depth systematic assessment may lead to a meaningful caring encounter which enables the identification of the cause of the chief complaint. Experience and a systematic approach were considered as essential to enhance medical safety. This could be strengthened through feedback on the nurse's care provided by care managers and employers. To optimize organizational processes, the development of the opportunity to convey the patient to different levels of care can be an important component.

Análisis de la situación actual de la cefalea en Andalucía

Introduction and objectiveHeadache is a frequent reason for consultation between primary care physicians, emergency services physicians, and neurology specialists; however, it is not always well managed. The Andalusian Society of Neurology's Headache Study Group (SANCE) aimed to analyse headache management at different levels of care. Material and methodsWe conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study with data gathered through a retrospective survey in July 2019. Participants completed a series of structured questionnaires on different social and work-related variables from 4 different groups of healthcare professionals (primary care [PC], emergency departments, neurology departments, headache units). ResultsA total of 204 healthcare professionals completed the survey: 35 emergency department physicians, 113 PC physicians, 37 general neurologists, and 19 neurologists specialising in headache. Eighty-five percent of PC physicians reported prescribing preventive drugs, which were maintained for at least 6 months (59%), with flunarizine and amitriptyline being the most commonly used. Most patients attended at neurology consultations (65%) are referred by PC physicians, with changes in the headache pattern being the main reason for referral (74%). Healthcare professionals across all levels of care showed great interest in headache and in receiving training in headache management (97% of PC physicians, 100% of emergency services physicians, 100% of general neurologists). ConclusionsMigraine sparks great interest among healthcare professionals from different levels of care. Our results also reveal a lack of resources for headache management, which is reflected in the long waiting times. Other means of bilateral communication between different levels of care should be explored (e.g., e-mail).

Development of a web-based platform for the semi-structured record of the psychiatric interview during clinical practice: an opportunity to impact research and improve health care

IntroductionManaging healthcare data is a major challenge for today’s medicine. The use of artificial intelligence and big data tools has allowed solving questions related to this topic. However, the wide heterogeneity in the psychiatric consultation record makes the retrospective analysis of these data limited due to a lack of information or differences between specialists.ObjectivesWe aim to develop a platform that allows the structured record of medical care data (based on dementia) while maintaining flexibility and format for its usefulness during clinical practice in psychiatry.MethodsWe developed a web-based platform for the structured and semi-structured record of psychiatric evaluation. The instrument is diagnosed-oriented (for our version we used dementia). We used Core outcome sets and expert opinion to identify the relevant outcomes for the attention.ResultsA web-based platform is presented for the care of people with suspected dementia at different levels of care designed with the potential to record information of interest in research but also of clinical utility for closer follow-up.ConclusionsThis strategy allows developing the proposal towards other pathologies of interest. Also, with the integration of recommendation algorithms, a monitoring and recommendation system could be achieved to promote knowledge of psychiatric illness from routine practice. This proposal intends to have an impact by increasing the quality of care, reducing care times, and providing better approaches from primary care systems.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Relationships between reablement-embedded home- and community-based service use patterns and functional improvement among older adults in Taiwan.

For its second decade, Taiwan's National 10-Year Long-Term Care Plan launched a policy of reinforcing home- and community-based services (HCBSs) with a focus on reablement. This study aimed to (1) identify the distinct service use patterns of reablement-embedded HCBS and (2) examine the effects of these service patterns on functional improvements among older care recipients, including among groups with different levels of care needs. We collected 2018 data from the Long-Term Care Service Management System for care recipients in one county located in central Taiwan (N=4735). Three recipient groups were assigned based on level of care needs. We included data on use of the following services: reablement, home care, respite care, applications for assistive devices and home environmental modifications, transportation to medical appointments and community-based services. Outcome variables were measured by change scores between successive assessments of activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Latent class analysis and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to analyse relationships between use patterns, participant subgroups and outcomes. Four subgroups of HCBS use patterns were found. Care recipients with low care needs had greater potential to improve their physical function in ADL through reablement-embedded HCBS. Care recipients in the groups with low and high care needs showed overall benefits in functional improvements in ADL and IADL from personal care-based HCBS. Care recipients in the community-based and multiple services-based use pattern subgroups showed the least improvement in physical function. Our study indicates that the effects of reablement-embedded HCBS use strategies may vary among older adults with different levels of care needs. We recommend further research to examine how to design HCBS with a reablement focus to better fit the needs of those with moderate and high levels of care needs.

A proposed scoring system for fast triage of COVID 19 patients using basic clinical parameters: Simple Clinical Parameter (SCIP) Score

Abstract Introduction : Globally healthcare systems are jeopardized due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A fast and simple triage is very important for effective utilization of health care resources. We propose a new tool is for severity assessment of patients at the initial point of care. Objective: To propose a scoring method for fast triage of COVID 19 patients in predicting the level of care required by the patient Methods: The SCIP score is for patients who have been tested positive for COVID-19. This scoring system is useful to segregate the patients into different level of care based on values of clinical parameters like Pulse rate (PR), Respiratory rate (RR) and arterial blood oxygen saturation. The risk score ranges from 1 to 10. Lower the score more severe is the disease and hence more intense care is warranted. Result: Preliminary observation of SCIP scoring criteria is based on ten patients. On retrospective analysis it was observed that the level of care required by the patients was in correspondence with the score obtained by the SCIP formula. Conclusion: SCIP scoring system is an easy and rapid tool which may be helpful in early detection of severity and taking fast decision in the time of crisis due to COVID 19. Validation in more number of patients is required to establish the findings.

Does the Synergy Model Implementation Improve the Transition from In-Hospital to Primary Care? The Experience from an Italian Cardiac Surgery Unit, Perspectives, and Future Implications.

The demand for care services in the healthcare system has changed and is triggering a smooth transition from in-hospital to primary care. In this regard, patient-centered-care models of care delivery might provide a framework to follow patients’ journeys throughout their transition between different levels of care. Accordingly, an Italian research group at a cardiac hospital in Northern Italy implemented the Synergy Model in a Cardiac Surgery Unit, a patient-centered-care model, and is using the framework of the model to guide a smooth transition of patients towards rehabilitation and primary care after their hospitalization. This discursive paper is focused on the experience, perspectives, and future implications of adopting the Synergy Model to facilitate the transition from in-hospital to primary care. The presented experience and discussion might be helpful to the international debate regarding the strategies to boost a smooth transition from in-hospital to primary care.

Legionnaires' disease - a qualitative study on Swiss physicians' approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia.

The number of reported cases of Legionnaires' disease has increased significantly over the last decade in Switzerland and abroad. Along with the number of cases, the volume of testing has increased as well, which has been partially attributed to a change in awareness of the disease. Yet, while there are numerous guidelines and recommendations for the case management of community-acquired pneumonia, little is known about how physicians in Switzerland perceive and manage Legionnaires' disease. This study aimed to investigate physicians' awareness of Legionnaires' disease, their information resources and their approach to the diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia (and thus Legionnaires' disease). Using a semi-structured interview guide, we conducted in-depth interviews with physicians from different levels of care and from the German-, French- and Italian-speaking regions of Switzerland. We conducted 46 interviews with physicians from university, cantonal and regional hospitals as well as with general practitioners (GPs) from all three language regions. Overall, the physicians working in hospitals indicated a similar level of awareness of Legionnaires' disease, and comparable diagnosis and treatment approaches. The Legionella urine antigen test (UAT) was reported to be routinely performed in inpatients. In contrast, GPs indicated lower levels of awareness, reflecting the fact that they treat pneumonia cases empirically without identification of the causative agent, in accordance with current guidelines. The value of the diagnostic tests in general and the Legionella UAT in particular was considered to be dependent on the (preferred) antibiotic treatment approach. Some physicians saw the test as redundant, as its result would not influence treatment. This was tied to concerns about the UAT's sensitivity and its limited use for the detection of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. Lastly, extrinsic constraints, such as financial and time considerations also affected physicians' testing and treatment preferences. Awareness of Legionnaires' disease is overall high, yet cases are mainly diagnosed and reported by hospitals. Improved diagnostic tools are needed to support physicians in reducing underestimation of Legionnaires' disease and optimise antibiotic stewardship without compromising patient health outcomes.

Feasibility of a Complex Optimized Process for the Treatment of Patients Receiving Hip and Knee Endoprostheses in Most Different Settings in Germany—Results from the PROMISE Trial

Background: While there is evidence on the effectiveness of optimized treatment processes for patients receiving hip and knee endoprostheses, feasibility in various settings has not been adequately investigated. The multicenter PROMISE Trial (Process optimization by interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral care using the example of patients with hip and knee prostheses) was set up to fill this gap. Methods: A complex optimized process was implemented in three German hospitals offering different levels of care and five cooperating rehabilitation centers. For the feasibility question, data on 19 parameters characterizing the defined process were collected. The extent of cross-sectoral collaboration was a special focus. Results: The data show, for almost all parameters in all facilities, an implementation rate of more than 80% with missing data below 5%, n = 1887 study participants. A total of 96.8% attended a rehabilitation program, and for 29.2% rehabilitation took place in a PROMISE-collaborating facility. Conclusions: Adherence to the defined and well-documented process was very high in all three organizationally very different hospitals, so that feasibility is given and transferability of the concept can be assumed. An exception was the targeted integration of rehabilitation into the treatment process. The goal of cross-sectoral networking could only be partially achieved.

Discharge readiness versus discharge-Results of the PROMISE study

HintergrundFür Deutschland werden im Rahmen optimierter Behandlungsprozesse rund um die Implantation einer Knie- oder Hüftendoprothese stationäre Aufenthaltszeiten angegeben, die die international publizierten Zeiten deutlich übertreffen. Die vorliegende Analyse von Daten der PROMISE-Studie beschäftigt sich in diesem Zusammenhang mit dem Verhältnis von Entlassbarkeit und Entlassung.MethodeIn drei Krankenhäusern unterschiedlicher Versorgungsstufen wurde ein gemeinsam entwickelter, optimierter Versorgungsstandard etabliert und für eine weitgehend unselektionierte Patientenkohorte umgesetzt. Unter anderem wurden Daten zum Erreichen der Entlasskriterien (EK) und der tatsächlichen Entlassung erhoben. Univariate Vergleiche wurden durch Chi-Quadrat-Tests oder Mann-Whitney-U-Tests durchgeführt.ErgebnisseInsgesamt konnten 1782 Patienten eingeschlossen werden, von denen 85,3 % nach im Mittel (MW) 2,4 Tagen (Median 2) postoperativ alle zuvor definierten EK erreicht haben. Die Entlassung für diese Gruppe erfolgte nach 5,4 (MW) Tagen (Median 5). Die restlichen Probanden (14,7 %) hatten bei Entlassung nach 6,5 (MW) Tagen (Median 6) mindestens ein EK nicht erreicht. Für verschiedene Subgruppen konnten signifikante Unterschiede festgestellt werden.FazitDie sogenannten EK werden als relative Kriterien eingesetzt. Das Erreichen führt im Allgemeinen nicht zu einer zeitnahen Entlassung der Patienten aus dem Krankenhaus. Wäre dies der Fall, wären auch in Deutschland international übliche Aufenthaltszeiten Realität. Was die Entlassung tatsächlich bestimmt, bleibt offen. Eine Vielzahl von medizinischen, organisatorischen, strukturellen und finanziellen Einflussfaktoren könnten bedeutend sein.

Patterns of disease on admission to children’s wards and changes during a COVID-19 outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

Background. Major causes of under-5 child deaths in South Africa (SA) are well recognised, and child mortality rates are falling. The focus of child health is therefore shifting from survival to disease prevention and thriving, but local data on the non-fatal disease burden are limited. Furthermore, COVID-19 has affected children’s health and wellbeing, both directly and indirectly. Objectives. To describe the pattern of disease on admission of children at different levels of care, and assess whether this has been affected by COVID-19. Methods. Retrospective reviews of children’s admission and discharge registers were conducted for all general hospitals in iLembe and uMgungundlovu districts in KwaZulu-Natal Province, SA, from January 2018 to September 2020. The Global Burden of Disease framework was adapted to create a data capture sheet with four broad diagnostic categories and 37 specific cause categories. Monthly admission numbers were recorded per cause category, and basic descriptive analysis was completed in Microsoft Excel. Results. Overall, 36 288 admissions were recorded across 18 hospital wards, 32.0% at district, 49.8% at regional and 18.2% at tertiary level. Communicable diseases, perinatal conditions and nutritional deficiencies (CPNs) accounted for 37.4% of admissions, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) for 43.5% and injuries for 17.1%. The distribution of broad diagnostic categories varied across levels of care, with CPNs being more common at district level and NCDs more common at regional and tertiary levels. Unintentional injuries represented the most common cause category (16.6%), ahead of lower respiratory tract infections (16.1%), neurological conditions (13.6%) and diarrhoeal disease (8.4%). The start of the local COVID-19 outbreak coincided with a 43.1% decline in the mean number of monthly admissions. Admissions due to neonatal conditions and intentional injuries remained constant during the COVID-19 outbreak, while those due to other disease groups (particularly respiratory infections) declined. Conclusions. Our study confirms previous concerns around a high burden of childhood injuries in our context. Continued efforts are needed to prevent and treat traditional neonatal and childhood illnesses. Concurrently, the management of NCDs should be prioritised, and evidence-based strategies are sorely needed to address the high injury burden in SA.

A focus group interview with health professionals: establishing efficient transition care plan for older adult patients in Korea

Background Although transition care planning can affect the functional status and quality of life after acute hospitalization in older adults, little is known on problems associated with discharge planning in acute care hospitals in Korea. We aimed to investigate barriers and possible solutions on transfer planning of complex older patients in this study.MethodsWe used focus group interviews with the application of framework analysis. Twelve physicians providing inpatient care from 6 different institutions in Korea participated in the interview. Facilitating questions were extracted from 2 roundtable meetings prior to the primary interview. From transcribed verbatim, themes were constructed from corresponding remarks by participants.ResultsWe revealed two main domains of the barrier, which included multiple subdomains for each of them. The first domain was a patient factor barrier, a composite of misperception of medical providers’ intentions, incomprehension of the healthcare system, and communication failure between the caregivers or decision-makers. The second domain, institutional factors included different fee structures across the different levels of care, high barrier to accessing health service in tertiary hospitals or to be referred to, the hardship of communication between institutions, and insufficient subacute rehabilitation service across the country.ConclusionsThrough the interview, physicians in the field recognized barriers to a smooth transition care process from tertiary level hospitals to community care, especially for older adults. Participants emphasized both the patients and hospital sides of adjustment on behaviors, communication, and greater attention for the individuals during the transition period.

Prevalencia de síntomas depresivos y diagnóstico de sospecha de depresión en pacientes con EPOC

Objectiveto determine the prevalence of and predictive factors for depression in patients diagnosed with COPD and referred from primary care to pneumology departments, departments that share care for COPD patients. Designobservational, multicentric, prospective with non-probabilistic sample, transversal study. Settingtwo pneumology visit offices at two hospitals offering different levels of care. Participants293 patients diagnosed with COPD in a stable phase of the disease. InterventionsCarryng out common clinical questionnaires in COPD & HADS. Main measurementsDemographic, clinical, and functional variables of COPD, and HADS depression scale. ResultsIncluded were 229 men (78.16%) and 64 women (21.8%), with an average age of 68.2 ± 10.3 years of whom 93 (31.7%) were active smokers and 200 (68.3%) ex-smokers. 19.45% of patients had a previous diagnosis of clinical depression but the HADS test established a diagnosis of suspicion of depression in 32.6%. Predictive factors included: being female, living alone, and variables related to the severity of the disease (FEV1 postbronchodilator, being a high-risk patient, exacerbating phenotype criteria, and C and D GOLD criteria levels). ConclusionsThe prevalence of depression in patients with COPD is high and is infra-diagnosed. The HADS diagnostic test is useful for establishing a diagnosis of suspicion of depression at primary care and pneumology visit offices. There are personal and clinical factors that may be considered predictive and aid healthcare professionals in determining which patients should take the HADS test and, based on results, referring patients to the mental health department to confirm or reject the diagnosis.

The extrinsic factors affecting patient access, referral and treatment of lung cancer in selected oncology public health facilities in KwaZulu-Natal

Patients’ insights into the factors affecting access, referral and treatment of lung cancer in public healthcare facilities, are key to the fight against this disease. On the other hand, the lack of epidemiological information on the actual burden of lung cancer, makes it difficult for public healthcare facilities to be adequately equipped to deal with foreseeable challenges in the oncology units. In order to inform patientcentred interventions and lung cancer control programmes, this study explored extrinsic factors that affect lung cancer patients throughout the cancer care continuum in KwaZulu-Natal. Nineteen patients receiving care in the three public healthcare facilities providing oncology services in KwaZulu-Natal, were interviewed using an interview guide. Following data saturation, thematic analysis was used to develop the themes relating to the extrinsic factors affecting the provision of cancer care. Five themes emerged from the analysis, namely: geographical dynamics affecting patient access to a healthcare facility, lung cancer suspicion index in the diagnostic trail within the different levels of care, decision-making trail for the referral system, equipmentinduced delays and healthcare-patient communication. A number of lung cancer patients utilising oncology services in public healthcare facilities in KwaZulu-Natal, are often met with various extrinsic factors affecting their progression through different stages of cancer care continuum. Therefore, the results of the extrinsic factors explored in this paper through the lung cancer patients’ lenses may be used for designing mitigation plans to reduce delays in lung cancer care in KwaZulu-Natal.

A new tool to screen patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea in the primary care setting: a prospective multicenter study

BackgroundThe coordination between different levels of care is essential for the management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The objective of this multicenter project was to develop a screening model for OSA in the primary care setting.MethodsAnthropometric data, clinical history, and symptoms of OSA were recorded in randomly selected primary care patients, who also underwent a home sleep apnea test (HSAT). Respiratory polygraphy or polysomnography were performed at the sleep unit to establish definite indication for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). By means of cross-validation, a logistic regression model (CPAP yes/no) was designed, and with the clinical variables included in the model, a scoring system was established using the β coefficients (PASHOS Test). In a second stage, results of HSAT were added, and the final accuracy of the model was assessed.Results194 patients completed the study. The clinical test included the body mass index, neck circumference and observed apneas during sleep (AUC 0.824, 95% CI 0.763–0.886, P < 0.001). In a second stage, the oxygen desaturation index (ODI) of 3% (ODI3% ≥ 15%) from the HSAT was added (AUC 0.911, 95% CI 0.863–0.960, P < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 85.5% (95% CI 74.7–92.1) and specificity of 67.8% (95% CI 55.1–78.3).ConclusionsThe use of this model would prevent referral to the sleep unit for 55.1% of the patients. The two-stage PASHOS model is a useful and practical screening tool for OSA in primary care for detecting candidates for CPAP treatment.Clinical Trial Registration Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Name: PASHOS Project: Advanced Platform for Sleep Apnea Syndrome Assessment; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02591979; Identifier: NCT02591979. Date of registration: October 30, 2015.

Vertical integration in healthcare: What does literature say about improvements on quality, access, efficiency, and costs containment?

Vertical integration models involve integrating services from different levels of care (e.g., primary care, acute care, post-acute care). Therefore, one of their main objectives is to increase continuity of care, potentially improving outcomes like efficiency, quality, and access or even enabling cost containment. This study conducts a literature review and aims at contributing to the contentious discussion regarding the effects of vertical integration reforms in terms of efficiency, costs containment, quality, and access. We performed a systematic search of the literature published until February 2020. The articles respecting the conceptual framework were included in an exhaustive analysis to study the impact of vertical integration on costs, prices of care, efficiency, quality, and access. A sample of 64 papers resulted from the screening process. The impact of vertical integration on costs and prices of care appears to be negative. Decreases in technical efficiency upon vertical integration are practically out of the question. Nevertheless, there is no substantial inclination to visualise a positive influence. The same happens with the quality of care. Regarding access, the lack of available articles on this outcome limits conjectures. In summary, it is not clear yet whether vertically integrated healthcare providers positively impact the overall delivery care system. Nevertheless, the recent growing trend in the number of studies suggests a promising future on the analysis of this topic.

Merging existing practices with new ones: the adjustment of organizational routines to using cancer patient pathways in primary healthcare

BackgroundThe introduction of new tools can bring unintended consequences for organizational routines. Cancer Patient Pathways (CPP) were introduced into the Swedish healthcare system in 2015 to shorten time to diagnosis and treatment. Primary healthcare (PHC) plays a central role since cancer diagnosis often begins in PHC units. Our study aimed to understand how PHC units adjusted organizational routines to utilizing CPPs.MethodSix PHC units of varied size from both urban and rural areas in northern Sweden were included. Grounded theory method was used to collect and analyse group interviews at each unit. Nine group interviews with nurses and physicians, for a total of 41 participants, were performed between March and November 2019. The interviews focused on CPPs as tools, the PHC units’ routines and providers’ experiences with using CPPs in their daily work.ResultsOur analysis captured how PHC units adjusted organizational routines to utilizing CPPs by fusing existing practices with new practices to offer better quality of care. Specifically, three overarching organizational routines within the PHC units were identified. First, Manoeuvring diverse patient needs with easier patient flow, the PHC units handled the diverse needs of the population while simultaneously drawing upon CPPs to ease the patient flow within the healthcare system. Second, (Dis) integrating internal know-how, the PHC units drew upon internal competence even when PHC know-how was not taken into account by those driving the CPP initiative. Third, Coping with unequal relationships toward secondary care, the PHC units dealt with being in an unequal position while adopting CPPs instead further decreased possibilities to influence decision-making between care-levels.ConclusionAdopting CPPs as a tool within PHC units brought various unintended consequences in organizational routines. Our study from northern Sweden illustrates that the PHC know-how needs to be integrated into the healthcare system to improve the use of new tools as CPP. Further, the relationships between different levels of care should be taken in account when introducing new tools for healthcare. Also, when adopting innovations, unintended consequences need to be further explored empirically in diverse healthcare contexts internationally in order to generate deeper knowledge in the research area.

Perceptions of medication errors and factors contributing to it among health-care providers in a tertiary care hospital

Background: The use of drugs in the medical field (health care) to reduce the illness process and suffering in the patients is very common. The drugs used should not harm or introduce a new ailment in the patients, which will indirectly increase the burden to the patient, relatives, and also to the society in many ways. Aims and Objectives: The primary objective of the study is to assess the awareness about medication errors among various healthcare professionals – doctors, nurses, and pharmacist, also to spread the awareness on avoiding these medication error and suggest remedies to minimize these errors after analyzing the data. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study undertaken after ethical committee approval and conducted by self-reported questionnaires in health-care providers. The participants are grouped into three groups as: Group A: Postgraduates of clinical departments; Group B: Nurses in intensive care unit, casualty and OT; and Group C: Pharmacists. The responses are analyzed using SPSS 17 software. Results: The study shows all the three groups that are equally involved in the mediation errors in different levels of health administration starting from selection of drugs, prescription writing, dispensing of medicine, and also administration of drugs to the patients. Conclusion: Many issues are involved in medication errors done by the health-care providers in different levels of care giving which should be corrected and minimized using latest technologies, reducing the overworking, conducting the lectures, seminars regularly will reduce the occurrence of the incidence, and suffering in such patients.

CONTINUIDADE DO CUIDADO AO RECÉM-NASCIDO PRÉ-TERMO EGRESSO DA UNIDADE NEONATAL: VIVÊNCIAS DE FAMILIARES

ABSTRACT Objective: to investigate the continuity of care of preterm newborns discharged from the neonatal unit from the perspective of family members. Method: qualitative exploratory study, based on the conceptual perspective of continuity of care, developed with 16 relatives of preterm newborns discharged from a neonatal unit of a university hospital in the state capital of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Data collection occurred from August to November 2019, through semi-structured interviews conducted in the participants' homes and subsequently submitted to the content analysis technique. Results: the 16 family members reported their perspectives on the continuity of care for preterm newborns who graduated from the neonatal unit, revealing informational fragility in the scope of primary care and other health services; a satisfactory relationship through the link with the service in which the child was born, which is materialized by the access to the follow-up outpatient clinic; and difficulty access to care, lack of articulation and communication between the different levels of care, compromising the implementation of the reference and counter-reference between the services. Conclusion: the continuity of care after discharge is brokered by the family itself, due to its protagonism and autonomy when caring for the child in the neonatal unit. Regardless of whether health services act in an articulated way, families seek health spaces, information and sources of support to support care.

Coordination of clinical management between levels: the views of physicians in primary and specialized care in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil

This study analyzed the views of physicians towards coordination of clinical management between different levels of care. This was a cross-sectional quantitative study using data from a survey of 182 physicians in primary healthcare (PHC) and specialized care in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil, in 2017. The results revealed significant differences in the physicians' experience. Considering referrals, the majority (81.32%) felt that PHC physicians referred patients to specialized care when necessary, and the proportion was higher in PHC physicians themselves (92.73%). As for agreement, two-thirds of PHC physicians (67.27%) reported that they agreed with the treatment prescribed by the specialist, while only 33.86% of the specialists agreed with the PHC physician. Concerning clinical responsibility, 89.09% of PHC physicians reported that they were clinically responsible for the patient, compared to only 43.31% of the specialists. As for recommendations, most of the interviewees (63.19%) felt that the specialists did not issue recommendations, and this proportion was higher among PHC physicians (81.82%). For waiting time, the majority (82.42%) felt that patients waited too long for appointments in specialized care, and the proportion was higher among PHC physicians (98.18%) than among specialists (75.59%). Only 16.36% of PHC physicians felt that waiting time was too long in PHC, compared to 38.58% of the medical specialists. The study's results are consistent with similar studies and highlight the need to strengthen coordination between levels of care to achieve effective integration in healthcare networks.

Continuity and coordination of care: conceptual interface and nurses' contributions.

This is a theoretical-reflective study, with the objective of discussing the concepts of continuity and coordination of care, its conceptual interface and nurses' actions for its effectiveness in health services, based on international and national scientific publications. The concepts have been studied for decades and, although they are interrelated, they are used in a similar way, indicating a lack of conceptual understanding. The concept of continuity underwent paradigm shifts and began to adopt patients' perspectives. Currently, it involves interpersonal, longitudinal, management and informational domains. Coordination consists of establishing connections between the possible elements involved in care. It is classified as horizontal and vertical and is organized into categories: sequential, parallel and indirect. Nurses stand out through actions aimed at coordination and continuity at different levels of care, which contributes to strengthening a cohesive and people-centered care. The interface between concepts indicates that, in order to achieve integrated and continuous services, continuity and coordination of care need to be interconnected and act together.