Facilitate Patient Participation Research Articles

Healthcare provider communication and current contraceptive use among transgender men and gender-diverse people: Results from an online, cross-sectional survey in the United States.

To explore whether discussing contraceptive use with a healthcare provider is associated with current contraceptive use among transgender men and gender-diverse (TMGD) individuals. In 2019, we conducted a cross-sectional survey among transgender men and gender-diverse adults in the United States who were assigned female or intersex at birth. We measured whether respondents had ever discussed contraception with a healthcare provider as well as current use of contraception, reasons for use, and barriers to use. We described frequencies and ranges for key variables and implemented a series of nested logistic regression models to evaluate the association between ever having spoken to a provider about contraception and current use of contraception for any reason, overall and by method type. Among 1694 respondents, about half (48%) were currently using a method of contraception for any reason, most commonly barrier methods (17%) and long-acting-reversible-contraception (LARC) (17%). Compared to those who never had a conversation about contraception with a provider, respondents who spoke with a provider were more likely to be currently using contraception - particularly among those who self-initiated the conversation (aOR: 3.8, 95% CI: 2.5-5.6). Having discussed contraception with a healthcare provider was most strongly associated with current LARC use. Having had a conversation with a provider about contraception use was positively associated with current contraception use among a large, national sample of transgender men and gender-diverse people. Facilitating patient participation in contraception counseling for transgender and gender-diverse patients should be emphasized in provider training. Given formidable barriers to healthcare faced by TMGD people, training providers on how to initiate affirming and relevant conversations with TMGD patients about contraceptive needs and preferences is essential, as are efforts to educate and empower TMGD individuals to advocate for the information they need in these interactions.

Revisiting the hospital-issued gown in hospitalizations from a locus of control and patient-centered care perspectives: a call for design thinking.

Patient-centered care (PCC) is the preferred health policy approach that emphasizes responding to individual patient preferences, wishes, and needs. PCC requires active patient engagement. While there has been extensive research on physicians' robes, there is limited research on hospital-issued patient gowns during hospitalizations. How does the gown affect the cognitive-emotional experience of hospitalized patients? How is the gown associated with PCC? The sample of this cross-sectional study consisted of 965 patients who were hospitalized at least once during the past year in a tertiary hospital. Measures were previously published. The gown was strongly associated with lack of control and increased distress, and was negatively associated with patient proactiveness, engagement, and taking responsibility for self-management of chronic illness. Compared to male patients, female patients wearing the gown had stronger negative emotions and cognitively strong associations with the external locus of control, which inhibited engagement. The hospital gown is an unacknowledged barrier to achieving PCC, inhibits patient engagement, and reflects the paradoxes of inadvertently excluding patients' needs from hospital practice. The hospital gown must be modified to protect the patient's voice and enhance engagement. Policymakers are called to apply design thinking to facilitate patient participation in decision-making to accord hospital clothing to PCC and improve healthcare delivery.

Role of Nurse Practitioners in Shared Decision Making: Examples of Heart Failure Patients in Rural Hospital

<p>醫療自主權於現今醫療環境中日趨重要，以病人為中心照護的重要環節，就是鼓勵病患積極參與醫療決策，以提升照護品質與滿度度。台灣衛生福利部自2016年開始推行醫病共享決策（shared decision making, SDM），期望促使病人積極參與醫療決策，以提升醫病關係、醫療品質及病人安全。推動至今，共享決策已廣泛運用於臨床實務中。但是，偏鄉及高齡長者，其就醫習慣、喜好、價值觀和醫療新知取得與都市居民有極大的差異。傳統以「醫生」作決策的觀念深植，參與SDM之意願以及推廣策略，值得探討。因此，本文將從專科護理師之角色去探討共享決策於偏鄉醫院推動影響因素，推行過程所遇到困境與經驗，綜整考量偏鄉居民特質及觀念，因應出不同之SDM推行之道。</p> <p> </p><p>The importance of patient autonomy is increasing in current complex medical environment as well as the promotion of patient-centered care. One key aspect of patient-centered care is to encourage patients to actively participate in medical decision-making in order to improve the quality and sat-isfaction of care. Since 2016, the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan has promoted shared decision-making (SDM), aimed at facilitating patient participation in medical decision-making and enhancing doctor-patient relationships for medical quality and patient safety. Since then, SDM has been widely applied in clinical practice. However, rural and elderly patients have significant deviations from urban residents in their health-seeking habits, preferences, values and access to medical informa-tion. The traditional concept of “doctor” as sole decision maker is deeply rooted in rural and elderly patients’ mind, and their willingness to participate in SDM and how to promote it are worth exploring. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to discuss from nurse practitioners’ point of view of about the chal-lenges and factors that influence the experiences of the implementation of SDM in rural hospitals. The results of this synthesis will contribute to proper implementation of SDM in low health literacy areas in the future.</p> <p> </p>

Caregiver Support Role in Occupational Therapy Video Telehealth: A Scoping Review.

Caregiver involvement may facilitate patient participation in occupational therapy (OT) video telehealth. However, little is known about the extent to which caregivers participate and what they do. This scoping review aims to, 1) describe the caregiver role supporting patient participation in OT video telehealth, and, 2) identify barriers and facilitators to caregiver involvement. Findings reveal caregiver involvement in a range of OT evaluation and intervention processes, with details on what caregivers did overall lacking. Barriers and facilitators are also described. This study underscores the need for clear and robust descriptions of caregiver participation to increase best practices in video telehealth.

Physicians’ perceptions of patient participation in the myocardial infarction pathway

Myocardial infarction is an acute, frightening and life-threatening condition for patients who are affected. They need plain and simple information about the disease and the treatment, yet patient participation might be challenging in acute situations. Previous studies have shown that patient participation leads to improved patient satisfaction, cooperation with healthcare professionals and better management of the disease. Physicians have a key role in facilitating patient participation in the healthcare services. This study explores physicians’ perceptions of patient participation in the myocardial infarction pathway. In 2018 we interviewed nine experienced physicians in Norway working in different phases of the pathway. Hermeneutics was chosen as the underpinning analytical framework. Four themes illustrated patient participation in the myocardial infarction pathway. Paternalism characterised the acute phase. During hospitalisation the physicians perceived a lack of continuity in physician–patient communication. In the discharge phase, the physicians focused on strengthening health literacy. In the rehabilitation phase, dialogue and shared decision making was central to achieving treatment adherence. We found variations in the level of patient participation along the different phases of the myocardial infarction pathway. Strengthening continuity to ensure patient participation and collaboration between healthcare professionals is essential. The physicians proposed introducing checklists for patient information to enhance interprofessional collaboration and strengthen patient participation.

A web-based decision aid for shared decision making in pelvic organ prolapse: the SHADE-POP trial

Introduction and hypothesisAmong women worldwide, pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common problem. There are three different treatment options for POP: pelvic floor muscle therapy, pessary treatment and prolapse surgery. As none of the three treatment options is clearly superior, shared decision making (SDM) is very important. A decision aid (DA) is known to facilitate patient participation and SDM. We hypothesise that the use of a web-based DA for POP increases patients’ satisfaction with information and care and reduces decisional conflict.MethodsThis two-arm, multicentre, cluster randomised controlled trial was performed in women with POP in five different Dutch hospitals. The control group received usual care (UC) and the intervention group received the DA in addition to UC. Primary outcome measures were satisfaction with treatment decision making and satisfaction with information. Analyses were performed using independent sample t tests, Chi-squared tests, and multilevel linear regression analyses.ResultsBetween the DA group (n=40) and the UC group (n=56) no differences were found concerning patients’ satisfaction with information, with scores of 45.63 and 46.14 out of 50 respectively (p=0.67). Also, no differences were found concerning the perceived role in decision making, as patients scored 46.83 in the DA group and 46.41 in the UC group, out of a maximum of 54 (n=0.81).ConclusionsNo differences were found concerning patients’ satisfaction with information and treatment decision making between the DA and UC. However, both groups scored high on the questionnaires, which suggests that the decision process is already of high quality.

Abstract 13414: Promoting Health Equity Using a Hybrid Virtual Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an effective program for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Novel CR delivery methods are needed to increase access in an equitable and cost-effective manner. Herein, we present lessons learned in developing and implementing our hybrid CR program. Methods: We established a 5-step approach to increase engagement in CR using a hybrid in-center and virtual model: 1-Assemble a Team and Technology Platform Develop a team with diverse perspectives and integrate technology to facilitate patient participation. 2-Establish an Equitable Onboarding Process Combine patient navigators with video tutorials to support equitable access for patients at different levels of digital literacy. 3-Gather Feedback Conduct design sessions to elicit feedback. 4-Implement Feedback Use quality improvement (QI) protocols to iteratively improve onboarding and refine logistics. 5-Evaluate Clinical Efficacy Conduct studies to investigate the program's efficacy in improving outcomes. Results: In step 3, we used human centered design (HCD) to solicit feedback from patients, caregivers, and clinician stakeholders to influence the creation of our program. Our patient sample was 27% African American, 9% Asian, 18% Hispanic or Latino, 55% female, with a median (IQR) age of 63 (56-66) years. Feedback led to the creation of a video on CR benefits, the introduction of motivational coaches, and the creation of an EPIC order set. In step 4, using QI, we were successful in promoting equitable access as demonstrated by the fact that the patients had a mean age of 59.2 (SD: 10.4) years, 40% were female, 39% were of minority race/ethnicity, 58% were insured by Medicare/Medicaid. Conclusions: Our novel hybrid CR program shows promise for improving CR. Future directions (Step 5) include evaluation of the program in an mTECH REHAB Trial as part of AHA’s Strategic Focused Research Network.

MyStay – Development of nurse-facilitated condition-specific multimedia resources to facilitate patient participation in postoperative care

Improved postoperative outcomes and the global drive toward the provision of patient-centred care underpins efforts to enhance the nature and capacity of patient participation in acute postoperative hospital care. In this paper, we describe the design, framework and processes used to develop a modular, procedure-specific, digital health intervention platform aimed at improving the patient experience and patient participation in care following surgery. The intervention, a multimedia application MyStay, uses bedside delivery of audio-visual and text-based information to engage postoperative patients to better participate in their care. MyStay modules are developed using an iterative, multi-method approach intended to balance procedure-specific best evidence, current clinical practice, and patient preferences. Development involves six key elements: (1) Empathise with target users, (2) Ground in evidence and behavioural theory, (3) Specify target behaviours, (4) Integration of health service standards and clinical care pathways/guidelines, (5) Build and refine the multimedia product and, (6) Pilot implementation to assess potential effectiveness and usability. To-date, we have developed four procedure-specific MyStay modules and an additional three are under development. Initial patient usage data for the Total Knee Replacement (TKR) and cardiac surgery applications indicated that users accessed a wide range of text-based and audio-visual information, most frequently recovery goals and exercises following TKR, and postoperative recovery information for the intensive care unit following cardiac surgery. As previous research that tested MyStay indicated its efficacy in optimising clinical postoperative outcomes, this framework may be useful in the development of other digital health innovations. Further research is required to assess patient and clinician engagement and determine whether MyStay is associated with improved patient outcomes across varied clinical contexts.

Nursing staff facilitate patient participation by championing the patient's perspective: An action research study in spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

Persons with spinal cord injury have experienced a life-changing event, and they need to engage in the rehabilitation process to adjust to their current situation and future living conditions. Due to the highly contextual and varying psychological and physical ability to participate from patient to patient during rehabilitation, this is difficult for the injured person and for health professionals to support. Therefore, the aim of the study was to develop and facilitate patient participation by engaging nursing staff and from this engagement in the process, disclose methods to support participation. The processes conducted were based on an action research approach, from problem identification to the development, test and evaluation of four new nursing initiatives. The initiatives were developed by eight nursing staff members who participated actively as co-researchers in a 2-year study conducted at a Spinal Cord Injury Centre in Denmark from 2016 to 2018. Data evolved from workshops, transcriptions of meetings and written evaluations and was further analysed using Ricoeur's phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. Action research processes facilitated the development of four communicative initiatives and a shift in the nursing staff's support of the patient. In a collaborative process, the nursing staff acted as participants in the patient's rehabilitation. Awareness of the patient's perspective facilitated a caring, attentive and engaged approach from the nursing staff, which promoted rehabilitation tailored to the individual. Patient participation was enhanced when nursing staff actively participated in the development of initiatives and a culture supporting a person-to-person approach involving the patient and themselves as equal participants in the collaborative rehabilitation process. Eight nursing staff members from the rehabilitation centre participated throughout the study as co-researchers. Patients participated in observations and as informants in interviews during the first phase to identify challenges to patient participation. Patients also participated in testing the nursing initiatives during the action phase (Phase 3). Furthermore, a former patient was a member of the advisory board.

Assuring patient participation and care continuity in intermediate care: Getting the most out of family meetings using the four habits model.

As a transitional care intervention, intermediate care (IC) bridges the pathway for older patients from hospital to home. Within family meetings in IC, the older patient, his or her relatives, the interdisciplinary team and the municipal case manager come together to discuss goals and interventions during the IC stay, including follow-up services after discharge. Although family meetings are a common aspect of teamwork in IC, it is unclear how the voices of older people and their relatives are coming across. The aim of this study is to explore how patient participation is framed and negotiated within family meetings in IC. This study is based on qualitative data from the observation of 14 interdisciplinary family meetings in Norwegian IC services. As a theoretical framework, the authors have used the four habits model developed by Frankel and Steinas a lens to understand the interrelated sequence of events that typically takes place during a family meeting and the importance of communication skills to promote patient participation. The thematic analysis resulted in 16 categories and 4 main themes related to the 4 habits model: (i) grounding the family meetings, (ii) what matters to you?, (iii) being empathically present and (iv) the power of a final closure. There was considerable variation in the way current family meetings were conducted. It seemed crucial to start the meeting with a proper introduction and explanation of the purpose of the meeting to establish trust and to be able to successfully move to the next stage of eliciting the patients' preferences, views and goals via the 'what matters to you?' There were examples of empathetic communication among meeting participants perceived to facilitate patient participation. Finally, to successfully end the meeting and agree on a shared plan, it seemed crucial for case managers who held the decision-making power to attend the meetings. Framing family meetings in line with the four habits sequential approach may have the potential to assure patient participation and care continuity in IC services. This article is part of a larger project based on a James Lind Alliance process that brings patients, relatives, health care professionals and researchers together in priority setting partnerships to identify and prioritize evidence uncertainties that they agree are the most important. Accordingly, the design and content of this article have been initiated and discussed in the project's stakeholder group consisting of one patient representative, one relative representative, two health care professionals from IC settings, two representatives from the Norwegian Health Association and two representatives from the Agency of Health in Norway.

Nursing leadership to facilitate patient participation in fundamental care: An ethnographic qualitative study.

To explore and describe hospital nurses' perceptions of leadership behaviours in facilitating patient participation in fundamental care. An ethnographic interview study. Individual semi-structured interviews with 12 nurses with a bachelor's or master's degree working at a university medical centre were conducted between February and April 2021. The interview data were analysed using thematic analysis. Six themes were derived from the data: (1) nursing leadership; (2) patient participation; (3) using patients' preferences; (4) building relationships; (5) task-focused nursing; (6) need for role modelling. Nurses indicated leadership behaviour to facilitate patient participation in fundamental care as inviting patients to participate and eliciting and supporting patients' preferences. Although nurses also regarded leadership as motivating colleagues to act and enhancing evidence-based practice, they appeared not to practise this themselves about patient participation. Role modelling was indicated as a need for improvement. The findings established that not all leadership behaviours mentioned were used in practice about patient participation in fundamental care. Role modelling and the use of evidence-based practice are needed to increase patient participation. Further research will be necessary to develop and test leadership interventions to improve patient participation in fundamental care.

Research Application of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Assessing the Nutritional Status of Patients with Gastrointestinal Tumors

Objective: To investigate and analyze the changes of nutritional status in patients undergoing postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for gastrointestinal tumors based on patient-reported outcomes. Methods: From July 2020 to March 2021, 60 patients with gastrointestinal tumor who received adjuvant chemotherapy for the first time after surgery under the oncology department of a third-level, first-class hospital in Shaanxi Province were recruited by convenience sampling. The patient-reported nutritional evaluation outcomes within 24 hours after admission and during the fourth chemotherapy cycle incorporated nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS2002), Functional Assessment of Anorexia/Cachexia Therapy (FAACT), psychological pain screening, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to screen for depression, dietary self-assessment, health index scale (EQ-5D), and nutrition supervisor overall assessment scale. Results: The self-reported nutritional evaluation outcomes by adjuvant chemotherapy patients showed an upward trend along with their chemotherapy cycle. Their PG-SGA score, FAACT score, psychological pain score, and EQ-5D score during the fourth cycle were better than those during the first chemotherapy cycle (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the patient-reported nutritional evaluation outcomes, the nutritional status and quality of life of patients with gastrointestinal tumors during chemotherapy did not worsen. Medical staff should timely evaluate the nutritional status of patients with gastrointestinal tumors during chemotherapy and implement reasonable nutritional intervention to improve the quality of life of patients. In the future, patient-reported outcomes should be considered for integration into clinical practice in order to facilitate patient participation in decision-making and improve their medical experience.

Patient-Reported Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Can Lupus Patients Take the Driver's Seat in Their Disease Monitoring?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that has detrimental effects on patient’s health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Owing to its immense heterogeneity of symptoms and its complexity regarding comorbidity burden, management of SLE necessitates interdisciplinary care, with the goal being the best possible HRQoL and long-term outcomes. Current definitions of remission, low disease activity, and response to treatment do not incorporate self-reported patient evaluation, while it has been argued that the physician’s global assessment should capture the patient’s perspective. However, even the judgment of a very well-trained physician might not replace a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM), not only owing to the multidimensionality of self-perceived health experience but also since this notion would constitute a direct contradiction to the definition of PROMs. The proper use of PROMs is not only an important conceptual issue but also an opportunity to build bridges in the partnership between patients and physicians. These points of consideration adhere to the overall framework that there will seldom be one single best marker that helps interpret the activity, severity, and impact of SLE at the same time. For optimal outcomes, we not only stress the importance of the use of PROMs but also emphasize the urgency of adoption of the conception of forming alliances with patients and facilitating patient participation in surveillance and management processes. Nevertheless, this should not be misinterpreted as a transfer of responsibility from healthcare professionals to patients but rather a step towards shared decision-making.

군 병원 입원환자의 환자참여 의지 영향 요인

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting willingness of patient participation in ROK military hospitals. Methods: The study design was a descriptive correlational study. 133 patients participated in the study. Data were collected on patient safety knowledge, health-related self-efficacy, patient-provider relationship, and willingness to participate in patient safety using an internet survey. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and multiple regression using SPSS. Results: The patient''s willingness to participate was 3.63, and the factors affecting the patient’s willingness to participate were health-related self-efficacy and patient-provider relationship. When medical staff encouraged patient’s participation, the mean score of the patient''s willingness to participate was 3.69, and the factors affecting the patient’s willingness to participate were patient safety knowledge and patient-provider relationship. Conclusion: Building a good patient-provider relationship, enhancing patient education, and improving self-efficacy should be recommended to facilitate patient participation activities. Strategies to increase the opportunities for patient provider interaction, develop educational materials suitable for military hospital inpatients, and develop self-efficacy enhancement programs are suggested.

Shared decision-making in standardized cancer patient pathways in Norway-Narratives of patient experiences.

BackgroundCancer patient pathways (CPPs) were implemented in Norway in 2015–2017 to advance cancer diagnostics and treatment initiation. The aim of CPPs is to ensure standardized waiting times, but also to strengthen patient participation and shared decision‐making. This study investigates how patients enrolled in a CPP experienced shared decision‐making.MethodsThis study comprised of 19 individual semistructured interviews with patients who had been enrolled in a CPP at three hospitals in Norway. Twelve patients had breast cancer, four patients had prostate cancer and three patients had malignant melanoma. We analyzed their experiences using a narrative approach.FindingsThis study showed how participating in a standardized CPP provided different possibilities for shared decision‐making. The patients' narratives of shared decision‐making in CPPs included stories from the three cancer diagnoses through the following themes: (1) The predictable safeness of standardizations, (2) the ambivalence of making decisions and (3) opposing standardizations and pushing for action.ConclusionStandardized CPPs provided patients with predictability and safety. Shared decision‐making was possible when the cancer diagnoses supported preference‐sensitive treatment options. Balancing standardizations with individualized care is necessary to facilitate patient participation in CPPs, and the possibility of shared decision‐making needs to be discussed for each specific CPP.Patient or Public ContributionA service user representative from the Norwegian Cancer Society participated in designing this study.

The practice environment\u2019s influence on patient participation in intermediate healthcare services \u2013 the perspectives of patients, relatives and healthcare professionals

BackgroundIntermediate care (IC) bridges the clinical pathway of older patients transitioning from the hospital to home. Currently, there is a strong consensus that the practice environment is an important factor in helping older people overcome their limitations and regain function after illness or injury. Regardless of the arising attention related to person-centred care, the practice environment is yet to be recognised as a vital part of care, and a small extent of focus has been given the environmental dimensions of IC services. Thus, more research is required regarding the complex relationships between older people and the practice environment. This study explores the perspectives of older patients, their relatives and healthcare professionals related to the practice environment’s influence on patient participation among older people in the context of intermediate healthcare services.MethodsUsing purposive sampling and theoretical approaches, including frameworks of patient participation, the practices environment and person-centred care, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 older patients, 12 relatives and 18 healthcare professionals from three different IC institutions in Norway to discuss their experiences and preferences regarding patient participation. A thematic analysis was used to explore patterns across the interviews.ResultsThree main themes were identified: ‘location and access to physical facilities’, ‘symbolic expression of patients’ and professionals’ possibilities’ and ‘participating in meaningful activities’. The findings show that both the physical and the psychosocial environments influenced older patients’ various types of participation in IC services.ConclusionsTo optimise rehabilitation care for older people, the ward configuration should focus on supportive environments that facilitate patient participation and provide options for the patients and relatives to independently access the facilities, balancing the personal capabilities with the environmental demands. To foster patient participation, the practice environment should thus align with the model of person-centred rehabilitation.

Continuing Education Outcomes for Advance Care Planning: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Advance care planning (ACP) is a process of considering future health and care needs for a time when a person may be unable to speak for themselves. Health professional continuing education programs have been proposed for facilitating patient participation in ACP; however, their impacts on participants, patient and clinical outcomes, and organizational approaches to ACP are not well understood. This systematic literature review examined interventional studies of education programs conducted with health professionals and care staff across a broad range of settings. Five electronic databases were searched up to June 2020, and a manual search of reference lists was conducted. The quality of studies was appraised by the first, second, and third authors. Of the 7993 articles identified, 45 articles met the inclusion criteria. Program participants were predominantly medical, nursing, and social work staff, and students. Interventions were reported to improve participants' self-perceived confidence, knowledge, and skills; however, objectively measured improvements were limited. Multimodal programs that combined initial didactic teaching and role-play simulation tasks with additional activities were most effective in producing increased ACP activity in medical records. Evidence for improved clinical outcomes was limited. Further studies that use rigorous methodological approaches would provide further evidence about what produces improved patient and clinical outcomes. Needs analyses and quality indicators could be considered to determine the most appropriate and effective education resources and monitor their impacts. The potential contribution of a broader range of health professionals and interprofessional learning approaches could be considered to ultimately improve patient care.

Context Factors Facilitating and Hindering Patient Participation in Dialysis Care: A Focus Group Study With Patients and Staff.

Safe health care of good quality depends on structured and unceasing efforts to progress, promoting strategies tailored to the context, including elements such as patients' preferences. Although patient participation is a common concept in health care, there is yet limited understanding of the factors that facilitate and hinder it in a healthcare context. This paper identifies what patients and health professionals depict in terms of enablers and barriers for patient participation in dialysis care. An explorative qualitative design was applied with seven focus group discussions with patients, staff, and managers across different types of hospitals, with the texts analyzed with content analysis. The dialysis context represents three key elements-people, resources, and interactions-that can both enable and hinder patient participation. Both barriers and facilitators for patient participation were found to reside at individual, team, and organizational levels, with a greater number of enabling factors implied by both patients and staff. While the dialysis context comprises opportunities for progress in favor of patient participation, a shared understanding of the concept is needed, along with how contextual factors can facilitate conditions for participation by patient preferences. In addition, the most favorable strategy for implementing person-centered care is not yet known, but to facilitate patient participation from a patient perspective, creating opportunities to enable staff and patients to share a common understanding is needed, along with tools to facilitate a dialogue on patient participation.

Action research as a catalyst for change: Empowered nurses facilitating patient participation in rehabilitation.

Based on action research as a practitioner-involving approach, this article communicates the findings of a two-year study on implementing patient participation as an empowering learning process for both patients and rehabilitation nurses. At a rehabilitation facility for patients who have sustained spinal cord injuries, eight nurses were engaged throughout the process aiming at improving patient participation. The current practice was explored to understand possibilities and obstacles to patient participation. Observations, interviews and logbooks, creative workshops and reflective meetings led to the development and testing of four new rehabilitation initiatives aimed at enhancing patient participation. This study suggests that skills of critical reflection from action research toolbox shed light on both the notion of patient participation and caring in nursing rehabilitation. By actively involving nurses in research, the knowledge development stems from practice and the solutions therefore became practice-oriented. In addition, the personal and professional development experienced by the involved nurses points to a secondary gain in the form of an analytical and reflective approach to complex issues in relation to patient participation, rehabilitation in general and the individual nurses' sense of professional pride.

Self-rated worry is associated with hospital admission in out-of-hours telephone triage \u2013 a prospective cohort study

ObjectiveTelephone triage manages patient flow in acute care, but a lack of visual cues and vague descriptions of symptoms challenges clinical decision making. We aim to investigate the association between the caller’s subjective perception of illness severity expressed as “degree-of-worry” (DOW) and hospital admissions within 48 h.Design and settingA prospective cohort study was performed from January 24th to February 9th, 2017 at the Medical Helpline 1813 (MH1813) in Copenhagen, Denmark. The MH1813 is a primary care out-of-hours service.ParticipantsOf 38,787 calls received at the MH1813, 11,338 met the inclusion criteria (caller being patient or close friend/relative and agreement to participate). Participants rated their DOW on a 5-point scale (1 = minimum worry, 5 = maximum worry) before talking to a call handler.Main outcome measureInformation on hospitalization within 48 h after the call, was obtained from the Danish National Patient Register. The association was assessed using logistic regression in three models: 1) crude, 2) age-and-gender adjusted and 3) age, gender, co-morbidity, reason for calling and caller status adjusted.ResultsA total of 581 participants (5.1%) were admitted to the hospital, of whom 170 (11.3%) presented with a maximum DOW, with a crude odds ratio (OR) for hospitalization of 6.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.9 to 9.6) compared to minimum DOW. Estimates showed dose-response relationship between DOW and hospitalization. In the fully adjusted model, the ORs decreased to 3.1 (95%CI 2.0 to 5.0) for DOW = 5, 3.2 (2.0 to 5.0) for DOW = 4, 1.6 (1.0 to 2.6) for DOW = 3 and 0.8 (0.5 to 1.4) for DOW = 2 compared to minimum DOW.ConclusionPatients’ self-assessment of illness severity as DOW was associated with subsequent hospital admission. Further, it may be beneficial in supporting clinical decision making in telephone triage. Finally, it might be useful as a measure to facilitate patient participation in the triage process.