Inpatient Setting Research Articles

Treating Children and Adolescents with Aggressive Behaviors in the Inpatient Setting.

The mental health crisis in children and adolescents presents a unique challenge for pediatric providers in the inpatient setting. Patients are presenting to the emergency department in acute psychiatric crises, but the increased need for behavioral health services is met with an already limited supply of behavioral health services and facilities. As such, these patients are hospitalized on acute care floors, which can serve to exacerbate symptoms of aggression regardless of cause and complicates treatment and harm prevention strategies. We present a comprehensive management approach to the acutely agitated pediatric patient with aggressive behaviors, including prevention of symptoms in patients with risk factors; nonpharmacological approaches to de-escalation, including the use of restraint; and common oral and parenteral psychopharmacological agents. Such strategies are considered from a medical, ethical, and legal standpoint with the goal of maintaining safety and minimizing harm to patients, families, and staff. [Pediatr Ann. 2024;53(8):e293-e298.].

AB068. Psychiatric disorder in central nervous system tumor patients and its related factors.

Patients of central nervous system (CNS) tumors have a potential to develop psychiatric disorder. These may present resulting from tumor mass, edema, or patient's failure to adapt to their illness and treatment. The presence of psychiatric disorders may cause disability, decreased daily functioning, reduced quality of life, and even death. In order to provide adequate treatment to patients with CNS tumors, it's important to evaluate the type of psychiatric disorder in patients with spinal and brain tumors. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of psychiatric disorder dan related factors that exist in patients with brain and spinal tumors. In a study conducted at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital from January to December 2023, factors associated with psychiatric disorders in patients with CNS tumors were investigated. The analysis included a total of 161 subjects from inpatient settings. In depth interview was utilized to assess psychiatric disorder. Data analyses were carried out using the Chi-square and Fisher's exact test to assess the relationship between locations of tumor, neurological deficits, and psychiatric disorders. There were 161 subjects with mean age of 48.86±13.13 years, mostly women (59.0%). Patients with spinal tumor have more psychiatric disorders compared to their counterpart with intracranial tumor (79.1% and 76.3% respectively), while the most common psychiatric disorder was adjustment disorder. There is no significant relationship between tumor location and psychiatric disorder. In both patients with intracranial and spinal tumors, the most common neurological deficit was cancer pain (88.2%). However, bivariate analysis showed that among the neurological deficits found in the CNS tumor patients, dysphagia (P=0.02) and incontinence (P=0.02) have significant relationship with depression, while pain (P=0.02) and cognitive dysfunction (P=0.01) have significant relationship with adjustment disorder. It also showed that pain (P<0.001), cognitive dysfunction (P=0.002), and seizure (P=0.03) have significant relationship with organic mental disorder. Dysphagia, incontinence, pain, cognitive disfunction, and seizure were identified as risk factors for psychiatric disorders in intracranial and spinal tumor patients. The finding underscores the importance of screening and comprehensive psychiatric evaluations in patients with CNS tumors, as psychiatric symptoms may significantly impact their quality of life and treatment outcomes.

Real-Time Enterovirus D68 Outbreak Detection through Hospital Surveillance of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection, Senegal, 2023.

In December 2023, we observed through hospital-based surveillance a severe outbreak of enterovirus D68 infection in pediatric inpatients in Dakar, Senegal. Molecular characterization revealed that subclade B3, the dominant lineage in outbreaks worldwide, was responsible for the outbreak. Enhanced surveillance in inpatient settings, including among patients with neurologic illnesses, is needed.

AB069. Type of personality and cancer-related pain in central nervous system (CNS) tumor patients: a cross-sectional study.

Pain is the most common complaint experienced by central nervous system (CNS) tumor patients. Pain, especially cancer pain, involves the whole aspect of a person, such as personality, cognition, and behavior. Personality characteristics play an important role in how a person perceives pain rate and deals with painful situation. This study aimed to describe types of personality and investigate relationship between types of personality and cancer-related pain in CNS patients. This study was conducted at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital from January to December 2023, that was determined by random sampling. The analysis included a total of 99 subjects from inpatient settings. In depth interview was used to assess type of personality and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) was used to assess intensity of pain. Data analyses were carried out using the Chi-squared and Fisher's exact test to assess the relationship between types of personality and cancer-related pain in CNS patients. There were 99 subjects with mean age of 48.37±12.96 years, mostly women (60.6%). The results showed that in patients with CNS tumor, the most common neurological deficit was cancer pain (93.9%), consisting of no-mild pain (30.3%) and moderate-severe pain (69.7%). The prevalence of narcissistic personality was 73.7%, followed by histrionic personality 15.2%, and other personality (11.1%) such as borderline, obsessive-compulsive, and avoidant personality. Narcissistic personality traits were found in 48.5% of patients with moderate-severe pain. However, bivariate analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between types of personality and intensity of pain in CNS tumor patients (P=0.60). Although there was no significant relationship, cluster B personality (narcissistic, histrionic, and borderline) was found in a large percentage of CNS tumor patients. Research findings showed that intensity of pain was caused by biological components of pain and may be influenced by the patient's perception of pain itself, not solely due to personality. Therefore, it's important for health workers to pay attention and give optimal management to every patient's pain complaint, and not to ignore or minimize it. Psychiatrists can be involved by giving psychotherapy so that patients can deal with their pain in a more adaptive way.

Inpatient diabetes management.

Diabetes mellitus is currently approaching epidemic proportions and disproportionately affects patients in the hospital setting. In the United States, individuals living with diabetes represent over 17 million emergency department visits and 8 million admissions annually. The management of these patients in the hospital setting is complex and differs considerably from the outpatient setting. All patients with hyperglycemia should be screened for diabetes, as in-hospital hyperglycemia portends a greater risk for morbidity, mortality, admission to an intensive care unit, and increased hospital length of stay. However, the definition of hyperglycemia, glycemic targets, and strategies to manage hyperglycemia in the inpatient setting can vary greatly depending on the population considered. Moreover, the presenting illness, changing nutritional status, and concurrent hospital medications often necessitate thoughtful consideration to adjustments of home diabetes regimens and/or the initiation of new insulin doses. This review article will examine core concepts and emerging new literature surrounding inpatient diabetes management, including glycemic targets, insulin dosing strategies, noninsulin medications, new diabetes technologies, inpatient diabetes management teams, and discharge planning strategies, to optimize patient safety and satisfaction, clinical outcomes, and even hospital financial health.

Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance and Associated Cardiovascular Outcomes in a Hospital Setting-A Fresh Perspective.

There is a paucity of data on the cardiovascular implications of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, especially among hospitalized patients. Our study aimed to investigate the association between MGUS and cardiovascular outcomes in a hospital setting using the National Inpatient Sample database. MGUS patients were sampled using ICD-10 codes. The patients were stratified into two cohorts based on the presence or absence of MGUS. Comorbidities and cardiovascular outcomes were collected using ICD 10 DM codes. CV outcomes were evaluated before and after 1:1 matching for age, gender, and race. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was performed on the matched population, which excluded patients with diabetes mellitus, prior myocardial infarction, chronic kidney disease (stages 3-5), dialysis, hypertension, obesity, metabolic syndrome, cancer, antiplatelets, and oral anticoagulant use and was adjusted for smoking, dyslipidemia, and aspirin use to evaluate the cardiovascular outcomes. MGUS patients had more heart failure, atrial fibrillation, venous thromboembolism, aortic aneurysm, aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation, conduction disorder, cor pulmonale, peripheral vascular disease, and acute myocardial infarction. After matching, MGUS was associated with heart failure, atrial fibrillation, venous thromboembolism, aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, conduction disorder, cor pulmonale, and peripheral vascular disease. MGUS was linked to a wide spectrum of cardiovascular diseases in an inpatient setting. Further studies are needed to formulate appropriate recommendations for the screening and management of cardiovascular complications in individuals with MGUS.

Oncology stewardship practice in the United States: A Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association national survey.

The treatment of cancer is associated with high risk for toxicity and high cost. Strategies to enhance the value, quality, and safety of cancer care are often managed independently of one another. Oncology stewardship is a potential framework to unify these efforts and enhance outcomes. This landscape survey establishes baseline information on oncology stewardship in the United States. The Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) distributed a 38-item survey composed of demographic, institutional, clinical decision-making, support staff, metrics, and technology sections to 675 HOPA members between 9 September 2022 and 9 October 2022. Most organizations (78%) have adopted general pharmacy stewardship practices; however, only 31% reported having established a formalized oncology stewardship team. More than 70% of respondents reported implementation of biosimilars, formulary management, and dose rounding as oncology stewardship initiatives in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Frequently cited barriers to oncology stewardship included lack of clinical pharmacist availability (74%), lack of oncology stewardship training (62%), lack of physician/provider buy-in (32%), and lack of cost-saving metrics (33%). Only 6.6% of survey respondents reported their organization had defined "value in oncology." Lack of a formalized stewardship program was most often cited (77%) as the rationale for not defining value. Less than one-third of respondents have established oncology stewardship programs; however, most are providing oncology stewardship practices. This manuscript serves as a call to action for stakeholders to work together to formalize oncology stewardship programs that optimize value, quality, and safety for patients with cancer.

The new hospital discharge form for inpatient rehabilitation in Italy: a step forward to promote the role of rehabilitation in the healthcare system.

In Italy, longstanding limitations in the existing reporting system of the inpatient rehabilitation activities have been reported. The Hospital Discharge form (HDF) primarily uses ICD codes that inadequately capture the functional status and rehabilitation needs of patients, impacting equity of care and service evaluation. Therefore, the Italian Ministry of Health (IMH) launched an initiative aimed at developing a new reporting system to be specifically adopted in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. A working group (WG), lead by representatives of IMH, was established in 2019. It included members of scientific societies and professional associations in rehabilitation, administrators, policy makers, and other experts. Representatives of the Associations of Patients and Families were also consulted. The WG submitted the new version of the HDF to the political decision makers in early 2020. It includes detailed data on patients' functional levels before and after rehabilitation, and the complexity of clinical conditions. In using the ICD codes, priority is given to functional diagnoses. In 2023, after a period of interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a Ministry of Health Decree sanctioned the adoption of the new reporting system nationwide after a one-year trial period, starting on January 2024. The new HDF is expected to improve data collection, reduce local and regional disparities, allow better comparison of the performances of the structures, and ultimately enhance the quality and outcomes of rehabilitation care across the country. The Italian Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (SIMFER) gave an important contribution in the development of the system.

A Review of Trauma-Informed Care for Youth and Their Families in Inpatient Pediatric Settings.

Due to the pervasiveness of trauma, it is likely that many children and families seen in pediatric health settings have incurred traumatic experiences. These experiences can lead to a variety of negative medical, psychological, and social health outcomes. Therefore, a provider's focus on supporting resilience is integral. The use of trauma-informed care (TIC) is one way providers can work toward promoting a family's resilience. TIC is considered an organizational, attitudinal shift to understanding the broad impacts of trauma. This shift can contribute to changes in policies and procedures to make each system more welcoming to all those accessing the health system. This review will discuss the current pervasiveness of trauma, its associated impacts, the importance of TIC, and practical applications of TIC based on guiding principles provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. [Pediatr Ann. 2024;53(8):e299-e304.].

Impact Assessment of Patient Experience Capacity-Building Program Using Kirkpatrick Model for Program Evaluation at a Regional Healthcare System.

The patient experience (PX) is central to improving the quality of healthcare services. We launched a PX capacity- and capability-building program at the Armed Forces Hospitals Taif Region, which is integral to our regional healthcare cluster transformation plans and is an initial step toward developing a culture of improvement in human experience in healthcare. A multidisciplinary PX committee recruited five frontline interprofessional PX heads, one from each of our regional healthcare hospitals. The Kirkpatrick model for program evaluation was used to assess the impact on four key levels: reaction, learning, behavior, and results. A pre-program competency assessment was conducted to evaluate the level of expertise across various PX competencies, and a program curriculum was developed accordingly. Participants underwent an intensive workshop-based PX capacity-building training program. A post-program competency assessment was performed along with a post-program survey. The PX-related activities led by interprofessional frontline PX heads at their respective hospitals' post-programs were tracked. The impact on the regional PX mean score across various settings, including inpatient, outpatient, and emergency settings, was measured using Press Ganey PX surveys. Our work is reported in accordance with the SQUIRE-EDU guidelines of the EQUATOR network. The PX capacity-building program led to a significant improvement in participants' expertise across various PX competencies. Significant improvements beyond the strategic targets were observed in the PX mean score in inpatient departments pre-program (83.31) vs. post-program (86.34), with a p-value of < 0.001 across the regional healthcare system. The PX capacity-building program is a first step toward major cultural change amid the healthcare cluster transformation in our regional healthcare system. The Kirkpatrick model helps evaluate the impact of PX capacity- and capability-building training programs comprehensively through an organizational approach. Sustainable improvements in PX over a long period through a capacity-building program alone remain challenging.

Epidemiologic Analysis of a Postelimination Measles Outbreak in Central Ohio, 2022-2023

Postelimination outbreaks threaten nearly a quarter century of measles elimination in the US. Understanding these dynamics is essential for maintaining the nation's measles elimination status. To examine the demographic characteristics and transmission dynamics of the 2022 to 2023 central Ohio measles outbreak. This cross-sectional study used electronic medical records and publicly available measles reports within an extensive central Ohio primary care network involving inpatient and outpatient settings. Participants included 90 children in Ohio with confirmed measles cases in 2022. The exposure of interest was confirmed measles cases in Ohio in 2022. This included 5 internationally imported cases and 85 locally acquired cases. The primary outcome involved documenting and analyzing confirmed measles cases in Ohio in 2022, focusing on demographic characteristics, immunization status, and transmission links in outbreak-related cases. This study analyzed 90 measles cases (47 [52.2%] male participants) in Ohio during 2022. Most participants self-identified as African or American Black (72 [80.0%]), with additional race categories including Asian, Hispanic, multirace (6 [6.7%]), White, and unknown (6 [6.7%]). Most participants were of Somali descent (64 [71.1%]), with additional ethnicity categories including American (16 [17.8%]), Guatemalan, Nepali, and unknown (6 [6.7%]). Participants were predominantly younger than 6 years (86 [95.5%]), unimmunized (89 [98.9%]), and resided in Franklin County, Ohio (83 [92.2%]). Prior to November 20, 2022, all cases occurred among unimmunized children of Somali descent in the Columbus area. Nosocomial superspreading events expanded the outbreak beyond the initially affected community. This cross-sectional study of measles cases in Ohio during 2022 found that the outbreak primarily affected unimmunized children of Somali descent, highlighting the necessity for culturally tailored public health strategies to maintain measles elimination in the US. These findings underscore the importance of implementing targeted interventions and enhancing community engagement to increase vaccination rates.

Исследования динамики медицинской эффективности функционирования лечебно-профилактических учреждений региона с использованием индекса Малмквиста

The paper provides assessments of the dynamics of the medical efficiency of the functioning of medical institutions in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug in the period from 2013 to 2021 using the Malmquist index. Purpose of the study. The purpose of the study is to analyze the dynamics of the values of medical efficiency of the functioning of medical institutions of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Ugra, united on an administrative-territorial basis, using the Malmquist index together with shell data analysis. Materials and methods. Direct assessments of the medical effectiveness of these institutions were carried out using shell data analysis. The set of input and output data of the analyzed institutions characterized the effectiveness of the provision of medical services in inpatient and outpatient settings of the institutions. The multiplicative decomposition of the Malmquist index made it possible to analyze the nature and level of influence on its values of such factors as technological changes in the subject area, the efficiency of the management of medical institutions and changes in their scale, i.e. volumes of medical services provi¬ded. Results. Based on the results of the study, it was established that changes in the values of the technological component of the decomposition of the Malmquist index have the greatest influence on changes in the medical efficiency of the functioning of medical institutions. The decomposition component, which characterizes the efficiency of the management of these institutions, is practically neutral. This indicates that the management of regional medical institutions has accumulated quite a large and successful management experience. The influence of the scale component depends on fluctuations in both the volume of medical services provided and the number of medical personnel in institutions. This was especially evident during the pandemic, characterized by strict quarantine restrictions. Conclusion. The use of the Malmquist index and the component of its multiplicative decomposition allows external and internal stakeholders to not only assess the medical effectiveness of the functioning of medical institutions, which is important from he point of view of their use of allocated funding, but also to identify the bearers of “best practices” in terms of the development and implementation of technologies provision of medical services, management of a medical institution and adaptation to changing internal and external conditions of its functioning.

Effects of inadequate hospital clinical handover on metropolitan general practitioners in Queensland: A qualitative study.

Transition from hospital to community care is well established as a high-risk time for patients. Inadequate clinical handover to general practice puts patients at risk of medical error, adverse events and rehospitalisation. We sought to understand the effects on general practitioners (GPs) of poor clinical handover from the inpatient, outpatient and emergency department settings. Qualitative methodology was used through conducting semi-structured interviews with purposively selected GPs. Interviews were undertaken until data reached saturation and no new themes emerged. The interviews were thematically analysed and coded. Key themes emerging included poor communication leading to patient safety concerns, time taken away from patient care and GPs experiencing a lack of professional respect. Clinical handover from the hospital sector remains a source of frustration for GPs. Poor handover demonstrates a lack of appreciation for the important role of the GP in continuing the care of patients and puts patients at risk of poor outcomes.

Comparing physical therapist clinical specialists to experienced nonspecialists on physical activity education for patients with heart failure: A modified retrospective cohort study.

The purpose of this study was to compare the knowledge and practices of specialist and experienced nonspecialist physical therapists in performing patient education about physical activity with patients with heart failure (HF). Responses on a nationwide anonymous online survey were used to compare specialist and experienced nonspecialist physical therapists on knowledge and frequency of providing physical activity related education to patients hospitalized with acutely decompensated HF. Responses to survey items were scored on 5-point scales ranging from "Strongly agree" to "Strongly disagree" or "Always" to "Never."Mann-Whitney U statistics were used to compare specialist and experienced nonspecialist responses and Wilcoxon signed-ranks tests were used to examine the gap between knowledge and practice. Twenty-seven specialists and 43experienced nonspecialists completed the survey. Both groups were similar in age, and experience treating patients hospitalized with acutely decompensated HF. Both groups "strongly agree" that they had the required knowledge and skills to educate patients with HF on the physical activity topics. However, specialists more often than experienced nonspecialists provided education on topics such as how to monitor vital signs during physical activity ("most of the time" vs. "about half of the time") that promoted patient confidence and safety during exercise. Specialists demonstrated a smaller gap between knowledge and frequency of providing patient education than experienced nonspecialists on three of the four patient education topics. Specialist physical therapists treating patients with HF in the inpatient hospital setting provided patient education on physical activity at a level more closely matching their skills and the clinical practice guideline than did experienced nonspecialists. Physical therapy clinical specialists practicing in the inpatient hospital setting may improve patient outcomes and lower costs to the health care system by improving physical activity adherence and thereby may reduce avoidable hospital readmissions.

Implementation of a practice model for inpatient psychiatric clinical pharmacist practitioners with prescriptive authority at a veterans health care facility.

Clinical pharmacists play a valuable role on collaborative health care teams, especially in the field of mental health. However, there is a need to explore innovative practice models that optimize their potential in providing comprehensive medication management in inpatient psychiatric settings. This report aims to describe the implementation of a practice model using an inpatient psychiatric clinical pharmacist practitioner performing comprehensive medication management. The implementation of a practice model using a psychiatric clinical pharmacist practitioner was a feasible way to deliver comprehensive medication management and other clinical services in an inpatient psychiatric setting amid staffing challenges. Whereas limitations such as resource constraints must be considered, the success of this model highlights the value of a versatile psychiatric clinical pharmacist practitioner. These findings might offer insight to other health care facilities considering a similar approach to provide mental health care through the use of a psychiatric clinical pharmacist practitioner.

What do people with aphasia want in rehabilitation? Designing diagnostic materials that occupational therapists can use to assess the needs, values and preferences of people with aphasia

ABSTRACT Background Client-centred care and shared decision making are prevailing principles in healthcare. For people with aphasia (PWA) this is difficult. There is a need for diagnostic instruments that are accessible for PWA and capture their needs, values and preferences (NV&P) for rehabilitation. Aims This paper reports on a collaboration between occupational therapists (OTs), PWA and speech language therapists that aimed to investigate current barriers and facilitators that OTs experience in assessing the client’s NV&P and create and evaluate supportive tools to enable OTs to help PWA in formulating their NV&P. Methods The research consisted of two phases. Phase one: qualitative research was conducted with semi-structured interviews with OTs about their current approach and their needs in assessing clients’ NV&P. The interviews were transcribed, coded and themes were identified. Phase two: tools for the in-patient setting were developed together with PWA, based on the analysis from the first phase. These tools were piloted, and feedback groups were held, in order to further refine the materials. Results Results from interviews showed that there is a need for instruments to assess the clients’ NV&P for in-patient and out-patient settings. The clinical phase focusses on activities of daily living. In the out-patient phase the focus is on daily activities. For the clinical phase, a set of 55 photos in 8 categories was developed, with which the patient’s NV&P can be determined. Conclusion OTs need tools to support their conversation with PWA about their NV&P. In collaboration with OTs and PWA tools were developed.

Safety and tolerability of bronchoscopic and nebulised administration of bacteriophage

IntroductionPseudomonas aeruginosa is an organism well known for causing significant morbidity and mortality in people living with chronic lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis. We describe the safety, tolerability, and potential efficacy of bronchoscopic and nebulised bacteriophage administration, offering insights into a potential breakthrough for the treatment of chronic infections particularly in children and adolescents. MethodA 12-year-old female (F12) and a 17-year-old male (M17), both diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and chronic P. aeruginosa lung infection, underwent bacteriophage treatment (BT). The administration involved bronchoscopic instillation and subsequent nebulisation. This was performed concurrently with intravenous antibiotics and regular physiotherapy delivered in an in-patient setting for 14 days. Microbiological, clinical, and lung function assessments were conducted to assess this treatment modality. ResultsNo adverse events (fever, localised reaction, wheeze or bronchospasm) occurred during BT. F12 demonstrated a 4% increase, while M17 showed a 5% improvement in FEV1% from their best FEV1% over the past three years following BT. A 12% (F12) and an 8% (M17) improvement from baseline FEV1% was observed. For F12 P. aeruginosa was not isolated from her sputum despite 12 previous hospitalisations for intravenous antibiotics. ConclusionBronchoscopic and nebulised routes of bacteriophage administration were well-tolerated in these two adolescents. This early report underscores the potential of this treatment modality and encourages clinicians and researchers to actively explore this innovative approach.

Hospital and Patient Characteristics Associated with Neonatal Blood Stream Infection in Inpatient Care: Insights from the 2019 HCUP KID Database.

This study explores the associations between pediatric adverse events (PAEs) and both hospital and patient characteristics within the inpatient hospital setting, specifically focusing on Neonatal Blood Stream Infection (NBSI) as defined by pediatric quality indicators (PDIs) from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). This research aims to answer questions regarding the relationship between hospital characteristics and patient demographics with the occurrence of NBSI. This study utilized discharge data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kids' Inpatient Databases (KID) for the year 2019. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to analyze patient-level encounters of NBSIs. The analysis examined various factors including hospital size, location, and teaching status, as well as patient-specific variables such as gender, age, race, service lines, payment sources, and major operating room procedures. The results indicate that Public and Private not-for-profit hospitals showed significantly lower odds of experiencing NBSIs when compared to Private investor-owned hospitals, as did smaller, rural, and nonteaching hospitals when compared to large hospitals. Additionally, individual factors such as gender, age, race, service lines, payment sources, and types of major operating room procedures were found to have varying levels of significance in relation to NBSI. This study provides important insights into PAEs within the inpatient hospital setting, particularly focusing on NBSIs within the PDI framework. The findings highlight critical areas for the development of evidence-based interventions and guidelines, which are essential for clinicians and policymakers. Ultimately, this study contributes to the understanding and improvement of pediatric patient safety by emphasizing the necessity for targeted strategies to mitigate the risk of NBSI.

Socio-Cultural and Professional Integration of Foreign-Born and Foreign-Educated Physicians in German Outpatient Care: an Interview-Based Study in Baden-Württemberg and Hessen

Introduction In recent years, it has become increasingly hard to fill outpatient physician vacancies in all parts of Germany. This development is particularly pronounced in general practice. At the same time, the number of doctors trained abroad is increasing, predominantly in the inpatient sector. In the next few years, foreign-born and -trained physicians will presumably be increasingly active also in the field of family medicine. The aim of this study was to explore experiences, support needs and possible improvements from the perspective of such physicians in the outpatient sector with a focus on primary care.Method In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with physicians not raised and trained in Germany and working in the outpatient setting in Germany. The evaluation was carried out by means of qualitative content analysis. Categories were derived in a deductive-inductive manner.Results Thirteen physicians (of which nine were primary care physicians) were interviewed. Next to the deductively derived main categories (departure, des-orientation, adaptation) four subcategories as overarching problems emerged in the interviews: Administrative tasks, communication and professional as well as social adaptation / integration in Germany. Proposed solutions were categorized in structuring measures (official, easily accessible guidelines for physician migration, paid qualification period), specific preparatory courses for the outpatient sector, and personal support such as mentoring and networking of outpatient physicians in training.Conclusions Some of the problem areas mentioned were similar to those known from the inpatient setting. To support sustainable recruitment in the outpatient sector, specific preparatory courses and the promotion of networking among physicians appeared to be additional measures that would benefit physicians applying for positions in the outpatient sector and also easy to implement.

Clinical validation of "spiritual distress (00066)" in parents of children with chronic diseases.

This study aimed to determine the clinical validation of the nursing diagnosis (ND) of "spiritual distress (00066)" and the sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio, and predictive value in parents of children with chronic diseases. This cross-sectional study was conducted using the clinical diagnostic validity method proposed by Fehring. The data were collected through structured interviews and using a researcher-made list that included 5 parts of demographic information, parents' opinions about spiritual distress, the researcher's diagnosis, 74 defining characteristics (DCs) of the ND of spiritual distress, and the Spiritual Well-being Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio, and predictive value. The prevalence of diagnosis was 70% in a sample of 120 parents. Out of the 74 DCs, 39 criteria were validated. Questioning meaning of illness and suffering had the highest sensitivity (98.8%), the highest negative predictive value (88.88%), and the lowest negative likelihood ratio (0.05%). Expressing the lack of meaning in life demonstrated the highest specificity (97.22%), the highest positive predictive value (98.33%), and the highest positive likelihood ratio (25.26%). Parents who search for meaning of illness and suffering related to a lack of meaning in life are in spiritual distress. The ND was validated. These findings can empower clinical nurses to confidently assess and identify patients experiencing spiritual distress, bridging the gaps caused by the absence of standardized tools for assessing spiritual distress in the inpatient setting.