ABSTRACT
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate a behaviour change strategy to enhance the patient voice in the early post-operative setting. Methods: The Patient Power notepad was evaluated in an uncontrolled, single-group, mixed-methods trial including a patient evaluation survey and staff phone interviews. Results: Patients thought that the notepad was well-designed and prompted them to think of and ask questions. They strongly agreed that healthcare practitioners answered health-related questions fully and carefully. Staff reported that the notepad not only provided an easy mechanism through which patients and their families could communicate with their healthcare team, but it also created a permissive environment where questions were encouraged. Conclusion: The Patient Power notepad provided an easy, acceptable and scalable intervention to encourage patients to engage more in their healthcare and specifically to ask questions about their care. By providing a structured tool for capturing patient concerns, symptoms, and questions, this innovation holds the potential to enhance patient satisfaction, treatment adherence, and overall healthcare outcomes. Innovation: By facilitating comprehensive information exchange and the potential to promote shared decision-making, this innovation has the potential to improve patient satisfaction, treatment adherence, and overall healthcare outcomes.
ABSTRACT
AIM: This study aimed to explore the role and impact of advanced practice nurses (APNs) in care of patients following fragility hip fracture by systematically reviewing the available evidence. REVIEW DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCES: A search of the databases Ovid Medline, CINAHL, Embase, Emcare, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar was conducted from January-February 2019. METHOD: This systematic review adhered to The PRISMA Statement. Study selection was managed using the Covidence software platform and quality was assessed using JBI Critical appraisal tools. Studies included adults >18 years and described the role and impact of APNs in care of patients following fragility hip fracture on clinical and non-clinical outcomes. RESULTS: There were 19 papers identified that met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Quality was graded as moderate to low risk of bias. Six characteristics of APNs were identified: (1) coordination; (2) collaboration; (3) education; (4) assessment, investigation and treatment recommendations; (5) discharge planning, support and follow up; and (6) documentation. Overall mortality and LOS improved when characteristics of the APN role were present. CONCLUSION: Key findings from this systematic review showed: (1) The APN title and role are not clearly defined, but characteristics of the APN role are evident; (2) characteristics of APNs promote the delivery of best practice hip fracture care and have a positive impact on mortality and LOS; and (3) innovative service delivery models involving APNs should be considered to address future projections of hip fracture rates and improve outcomes. IMPACT: This systematic review provides evidence of the role characteristics of APNs in fragility hip fracture and the impact of the role on outcomes. Findings from this research could be used to develop service delivery models using APNs to care for patients following fragility hip fracture and to inform practice where APN roles may improve outcomes for other patient cohorts.
