Implementation fidelity of a nurse-led RCT-tested complex intervention, care coordination for health promotion and activities in Parkinson's disease (CHAPS) in meeting challenges in care management.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) complexity poses challenges for individuals with Parkinson's, providers, and researchers. A recent multisite randomized trial of a proactive, telephone-based, nurse-led care management intervention - Care Coordination for Health Promotion and Activities in Parkinson's Disease (CHAPS) - demonstrated improved PD care quality. Implementation details and supportive stakeholder feedback were subsequently published. To inform decisions on dissemination, CHAPS Model components require evaluations of their fidelity to the Chronic Care Model and to their implementation. Additionally, assessment is needed on whether CHAPS addresses care challenges cited in recent literature. METHODS: These analyses are based on data from a subset of 140 intervention arm participants and other CHAPS data. To examine CHAPS Model fidelity, we identified CHAPS components corresponding to the Chronic Care Model's six essential elements. To assess implementation fidelity of these components, we examined data corresponding to Hasson's modified implementation fidelity framework. Finally, we identified challenges cited in current Parkinson's care management literature, grouped these into themes using open card sorting techniques, and examined CHAPS data for evidence that CHAPS met these challenges. RESULTS: All Chronic Care Model essential elements were addressed by 17 CHAPS components, thus achieving CHAPS Model fidelity. CHAPS implementation fidelity was demonstrated by adherence to content, frequency, and duration with partial fidelity to telephone encounter frequency. We identified potential fidelity moderators for all six of Hasson's moderator types. Through card sorting, four Parkinson's care management challenge themes emerged: unmet needs and suggestions for providers (by patient and/or care partner), patient characteristics needing consideration, and standardizing models for Parkinson's care management. CHAPS activities and stakeholder perceptions addressed all these themes. CONCLUSIONS: CHAPS, a supportive nurse-led proactive Parkinson's care management program, improved care quality and is designed to be reproducible and supportive to clinicians. Findings indicated CHAPS Model fidelity occurred to the Chronic Care Model and fidelity to implementation of the CHAPS components was demonstrated. Current Parkinson's care management challenges were met through CHAPS activities. Thus, dissemination of CHAPS merits consideration by those responsible for implementing changes in clinical practice and reaching people in need. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT01532986 , registered on January 13, 2012.

Stakeholder perceptions of components of a Parkinson disease care management intervention, care coordination for health promotion and activities in Parkinson's disease (CHAPS).

BACKGROUND: A recent nurse-led proactive care management intervention, Care Coordination for Health Promotion and Activities in Parkinson Disease (CHAPS), improved care quality when compared to usual care in a randomized controlled trial. Therefore, stakeholder (patient participants, nurse care managers, and Parkinson disease (PD) specialists) perceptions of key intervention components merit evaluation to inform decisions about dissemination. METHODS: This multi-site study occurred in five southwest United States Veterans Health Administration medical centers. Stakeholders were surveyed on their perceptions of CHAPS including the CHAPS Assessment, CHAPS nurse care managers, the Siebens Domain Management Model™ (a practical clinical model), and the Siebens Health Care Notebook (Notebook) (self-care tool). Participants' electronic medical records were abstracted for perceptions of the Notebook. Statistical analysis software was used to provide summary statistics; open card sorting methodology was used to identify themes and attributes in qualitative data including usability of some components. RESULTS: Participants, overall, highly rated their medication self-management, acknowledged some challenges with the CHAPS self-care tools, reported knowledge of PD specialist follow-up and PD red flags, and rated CHAPS nurse care managers as helpful. Nurse care manager responses indicated the CHAPS Assessment and Program highly facilitated care of their patients. Most all PD specialists would refer other patients to CHAPS. Nurse care manager and PD specialist responses indicated improved participant management of their PD. Three themes emerged in participant perceptions of the Notebook: Notebook Assets (e.g., benefits and features-liked); Deferring Notebook Review (e.g., no time to review); and Reasons for Not Using (e.g., participant preference). Shared attributes regarding the Siebens Domain Management Model and Notebook usability, reported by nurse care managers, were user-friendly, person/patient-centered, and organized. Some challenges to their use were also reported. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, stakeholder perceptions of the proactive nurse-led CHAPS intervention indicated its value in the care of individuals with PD. Responses about the CHAPS Assessment, Siebens Domain Management Model, and Notebook self-care tool signified their usefulness. Stakeholders' constructive suggestions indicated their engagement in CHAPS. These findings support CHAPS dissemination and contribute to research in care management. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT01532986 , registered on January 13, 2012.

Quality and extent of implementation of a nurse-led care management intervention: care coordination for health promotion and activities in Parkinson's disease (CHAPS).

BACKGROUND: A recent nurse-led, telephone-administered 18-month intervention, Care Coordination for Health Promotion and Activities in Parkinson's Disease (CHAPS), was tested in a randomized controlled trial and improved care quality. Therefore, intervention details on nurse care manager activity (types and frequencies) and participant actions are needed to support potential dissemination. Activities include nurse care manager use of a holistic organizing framework, identification of Parkinson's disease (PD)-related problems/topics, communication with PD specialists and care coordination, participant coaching, and participant self-care actions including use of a notebook self-care tool. METHODS: This article reports descriptive data on the CHAPS intervention. The study setting was five sites in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. Sociodemographic data were gathered from surveys of study participants (community-dwelling veterans with PD). Nurse care manager intervention activities were abstracted from electronic medical records and logbooks. Statistical analysis software was used to provide summary statistics; closed card sorting was used to group some data. RESULTS: Intervention participants (n = 140) were primarily men, mean age 69.4 years (standard deviation 10.3) and community-dwelling. All received the CHAPS Initial Assessment, which had algorithms designed to identify 31 unique CHAPS standard problems/topics. These were frequently documented (n = 4938), and 98.6% were grouped by assigned domain from the Organizing Framework (Siebens Domain Management Model™). Nurse care managers performed 27 unique activity types to address identified problems, collaborating with participants and PD specialists. The two most frequent unique activities were counseling/emotional support (n = 387) and medication management (n = 349). Both were among 2749 total performed activities in the category Implementing Interventions (coaching). Participants reported unique self-care action types (n = 23) including use of a new notebook self-care tool. CONCLUSIONS: CHAPS nurse care managers implemented multiple activities including participant coaching and care coordination per the CHAPS protocol. Participants reported various self-care actions including use of a personalized notebook. These findings indicate good quality and extent of implementation, contribute to ensuring reproducibility, and support CHAPS dissemination as a real-world approach to improve care quality. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT01532986 , registered on January 13, 2012.

Defining attributes of patient safety through a concept analysis.

AIM: The aim of this study was to report an analysis of the concept of patient safety. BACKGROUND: Despite recent increase in the number of work being done to clarify the concept and standardize measurement of patient safety, there are still huge variations in how the term is conceptualized and how to measure patient safety data across various healthcare settings and in research. DESIGN: Concept analysis. DATA SOURCES: A literature search was conducted through PubMed and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Plus using the terms 'patient safety' in the title and 'concept analysis,' 'attributes' or 'definition' in the title and or abstract. All English language literature published between 2002-2014 were considered for the review. METHODS: Walker and Avant's method guided this analysis. RESULTS: The defining attributes of patient safety include prevention of medical errors and avoidable adverse events, protection of patients from harm or injury and collaborative efforts by individual healthcare providers and a strong, well-integrated healthcare system. The application of Collaborative Alliance of Nursing Outcomes indicators as empirical referents would facilitate the measurement of patient safety. CONCLUSION: With the knowledge gained from this analysis, nurses may improve patient surveillance efforts that identify potential hazards before they become adverse events and have a stronger voice in health policy decision-making that influence implementation efforts aimed at promoting patient safety, worldwide. Further studies are needed on development of a conceptual model and framework that can aid with collection and measurement of standardized patient safety data.

Substance abuse treatment processes and outcomes in day/outpatient health maintenance organization setting.

Previous research has determined that substance abuse treatment (SAT) is effective under managed care within residential treatment and outpatient treatment, but we have not followed patients after treatment completion. This study examined SAT in both an intensive day treatment and an outpatient treatment program in a large health maintenance organization, with mandatory 12-step participation. We conducted interviews (N = 72) at the beginning, upon completion, and 6 months after completion of treatment. Variables measured were substance use, quality of life, symptoms, functionality, and patient satisfaction as well as Drug Abuse Treatment and Assessment Resources (DATAR) score and treatment completion. Before treatment, DATAR scores were high: 7.68 on a scale of 1-9, indicating serious addictions. Patients showed significant improvement in all variables measured, upon completion of SAT, and additional improvement again 6 months later. Eighty-three percent of subjects completed treatment. Unique advantages of treatment in this setting were discussed, as well as the importance of referral and support from nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Nurse-physician teamwork in the emergency department: impact on perceptions of job environment, autonomy, and control over practice.

BACKGROUND: Teamwork is essential to safety. Few studies focus on teamwork between nurses and physicians in emergency departments (EDs). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine differences between staff in the interventional group EDs (IGEDs) and control group EDs (CGEDs) on perception of job environment, autonomy, and control over practice. METHODOLOGY: This was a comparative cross-sectional study of the impact of teamwork on perceptions of job environment, autonomy, and control over practice by registered nurses and physicians (MDs) in EDs. RESULTS: Staff in the IGEDs showed significant differences compared with staff who worked in the CGEDs on staff perception of job environment, autonomy, and control over practice. CONCLUSION: Active teamwork practice was associated with increased perceptions of a positive job environment, autonomy, and control over practice of both nurses and physicians.

An educational intervention to increase "speaking-up" behaviors in nurses and improve patient safety.

"Speaking up" is a critical component in improving patient safety. Studies indicate, though, that most registered nurses prefer using behaviors of avoidance or accommodation in conflict situations. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine whether an educational intervention using scenarios, personal reflection, and peer support in small groups could improve speaking-up behaviors in registered nurses. Results showed a significant difference in speaking-up behaviors and scores in the intervention group (P < .001).

Insight into dementia care management using social-behavioral theory and mixed methods.

BACKGROUND: For health organizations (private and public) to advance their care-management programs, to use resources effectively and efficiently, and to improve patient outcomes, it is germane to isolate and quantify care-management activities and to identify overarching domains. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to identify and report on an application of mixed methods of qualitative statistical techniques, based on a theoretical framework, and to construct variables for factor analysis and exploratory factor analytic steps for identifying domains of dementia care management. METHODS: Care-management activity data were extracted from the care plans of 181 pairs of individuals (with dementia and their informal caregivers) who had participated in the intervention arm of a randomized controlled trial of a dementia care-management program. Activities were organized into types, using card-sorting methods, influenced by published theoretical constructs on self-efficacy and general strain theory. These activity types were mapped in the initial data set to construct variables for exploratory factor analysis. Principal components extraction with varimax and promax rotations was used to estimate the number of factors. Cronbach's alpha was calculated for the items in each factor to assess internal consistency reliability. RESULTS: The two-phase card-sorting technique yielded 45 activity types out of 450 unique activities. Exploratory factor analysis produced four care-management domains (factors): behavior management, clinical strategies and caregiver support, community agency, and safety. Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha) of items for each factor ranged from.63 for the factor "safety" to.89 for the factor "behavior management" (Factor 1). DISCUSSION: Applying a systematic method to a large set of care-management activities can identify a parsimonious number of higher order categories of variables and factors to guide the understanding of dementia care-management processes. Further application of this methodology in outcome analyses and to other data sets is necessary to test its practicality.

Evaluation of a nurse practitioner-led care management model in reducing inpatient drug utilization and cost.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the economic impact of a collaborative nurse practitioner (NP) care management model on the use of pharmaceutical resources, with a focus on antibiotics, among general medicine inpatients. Although studies have shown the effectiveness of care management by NPs, especially as reflected on length of stay and hospital cost, little is known about their impact on drug cost. The researchers utilized pharmaceutical claims data of 1,200 subjects who participated in the Multidisciplinary, Physician, and Nurse Practitioner Study from 2000 to 2004 to assess the effect of the NP-led care management model on drug utilization outcomes. Study findings revealed that the intervention group was associated with significant reduction in drug cost and drug utilization; even though the intervention group was more likely to be given broad-spectrum or other antibiotics, its overall drug and antibiotic costs were lower than the control group. Drug management strategies such as de-escalation and intravenous-to-oral conversion facilitated by NPs may potentially produce both clinically and economically advantageous outcomes among general medicine inpatients.

Alcohol use reduction program in methadone maintained individuals with hepatitis C virus infection.

The purpose of this article was to investigate the personal and social barriers experienced by methadone maintained clients when seeking treatment for alcohol abuse along with strategies for engaging such clients in treatment programs. A qualitative design using semi-structured focus groups was used to obtain the perspectives of 41 methadone-maintained clients in Los Angeles, California. Sessions were recorded, transcribed, and content-analyzed. Attitudes of health care providers were considered critical factors for engaging clients in treatment programs. Other facilitators included incentives and forms of support (emotional, financial, or material aid), whereas barriers consisted of lack of provider knowledge and insensitivity to acquiring needed resources. Clients also discussed the importance of personal attributes in achieving successful behavioral change, such as personal motivation. The findings suggest that healthcare providers' strategies designed to boost motivation, combined with various types of support, may prove successful in alcohol reduction among methadone-maintained clients.

HIV knowledge improvement among nurses in India: using a train-the-trainer program.

Nurses play a major role in the health care delivery system; therefore, education of nurses is critical to successful prevention programs for persons with HIV. Little is known about nurses' knowledge of HIV in India. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a nurse-led train-the-trainer HIV education program on improving the HIV knowledge of nurses. A group of senior nurses (N = 10), were responsible for training a cohort of 10 nurses each, totaling 100 nurses. The 2-day training program included HIV epidemiology and etiology, infection control, psychosocial support, counseling, modes of transmission, natural history of the disease, symptoms of early and late disease, diagnostic testing, and legal and ethical issues. Pre- and posttest scores were calculated using a self-administered structured questionnaire that measured HIV-related knowledge in terms of cognitive and transmission knowledge. Paired t-tests indicated that both measures of HIV knowledge improved significantly from pretest to posttest.

A community-based parish nurse intervention program for Mexican American women with gestational diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of a Parish Nurse Intervention Program (PNIP) on maternal health behaviors, glycemic control, and neonatal outcomes among Mexican American women with gestational diabetes. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial comparing care as usual (CAU) with a supplementary 1-hour education session for diabetes education reinforcement by a Parish Nurse. SETTING: An outpatient treatment clinic for gestational diabetes within a 250-bed tertiary care, non-profit hospital with a Parish Nurse partnership. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred Mexican American women were included in the study with randomization into Parish Nurse Intervention Program (n=49) and care as usual (n=51) groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II) and two measures of glycemic control pre- and post-intervention, as well as newborn size, and days of maternal and neonatal hospitalization. RESULTS: Outcomes indicate significantly improved Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II scores in the Parish Nurse Intervention Program group post-intervention compared with the Care As Usual group. No significant differences between groups regarding glycemic control, macrosomia, or days of maternal or neonatal hospitalization were found. CONCLUSIONS: A Parish Nurse Intervention Program for pregnant women of Mexican descent with gestational diabetes is effective in leading to improved self-reported health promoting behaviors.

Determining care management activities associated with mastery and relationship strain for dementia caregivers.

OBJECTIVES: To identify specific care management activities within a dementia care management intervention that are associated with 18-month change in caregiver mastery and relationship strain. DESIGN: Exploratory analysis, using secondary data (care management processes and caregiver outcomes) from the intervention arm of a clinic-level randomized, controlled trial of a dementia care management quality improvement program. SETTING: Nine primary care clinics in three managed care and fee-for-service southern California healthcare organizations. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred thirty-eight pairs: individuals with dementia and their informal, nonprofessional caregivers. MEASUREMENTS: Care management activity types extracted from an electronic database were used as predictors of caregiver mastery and relationship strain, which were measured through mailed surveys. Multivariable linear regression models were used to predict caregiver mastery and relationship strain. RESULTS: For each care manager home environment assessment, caregiver mastery increased 4 points (range 0-100, mean+/-standard deviation 57.1+/-26.6, 95% confidence interval (CI)=2.4-5.7; P=.001) between baseline and 18 months. For every action linking caregivers to community agencies for nonspecific needs, caregiver mastery decreased 6.2 points (95% CI=-8.5 to -3.9; P<.001). No other care management activities were significantly associated with this outcome, and no specific activities were associated with a change in caregiver relationship strain. CONCLUSION: Home assessments for specific needs of caregivers and persons with dementia are associated with improvements in caregivers' sense of mastery. Future work is needed to determine whether this increase is sustained over time and decreases the need for institutionalization.

Processes and outcomes of substance abuse treatment between two programs for clients insured under managed care.

The purpose of this research (N = 160) was to describe and compare substance abuse treatment in two programs under managed care: one residential (RT) and one outpatient (OP). Clients in both settings improved significantly from before to after treatment in relation to substance use and quality of life. However, intensity of treatment (hours of care/week) was much greater in RT and days of sobriety were significantly higher after treatment in RT than in OP (p = .04). Intensity was negatively related to incidents of substance use during treatment (SUdT), which predicted substance use after treatment; SUdT averaged .2 for RT, and 1.6 for OP (p = .0001). Importantly, treatment was completed by 74 patients (over 90%) from RT, with 8 dropping out, and 53 (almost 70%) of those in OP completed treatment while 25 dropped out. Intensity, as seen in the RT program, rather than duration, was more effective in substance use reduction and treatment completion.

A model for bridging the gap: from theory to practice to reality.

A successful future for the nursing profession requires leaders who are willing and able to lead. The Graduate Nursing Administration Program at UCLA has developed a program to prepare these future leaders. Based on the leadership model of James Kouzes and Barry Posner, this program includes the 5 practices of exemplary leadership: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart.

Treatment for substance abuse in Australia: a comparison of public and private programs.

Alcohol and drug abuse is a major problem in Australia and caused over 4000 deaths in 1998 alone. The national policy for reducing the harmful consequences of drug and alcohol use focuses on decreasing the production and supply of drugs, reducing the demand for drugs including a focus on abstinence in treatment, and minimizing the harm to individuals and communities. This research examines substance abuse treatment in Australia, and identifies similarities and differences in funding, philosophy, purpose, and strategies between public and private treatment programs. Interviews of 21 treatment program directors in Sydney and Melbourne were done, using a valid and reliable semi-structured interview guide. Nine public, not-for-profit programs primarily focused on consultation to medical providers, detoxification, outpatient counseling, and harm minimization including methadone treatment and needle exchange. Rehabilitation, prevention, and/or research were objectives of a limited number. Twelve private, non-governmental programs primarily provided abstinence-based treatment in a variety of settings. Some for-profit programs, funded by insurance, provided three to four weeks inpatient care, usually with outpatient follow-up. Not-for-profit programs provided residential treatment in a therapeutic community over a period of 6 months to 2 years. Still others (both profit and not-for-profit) provided methadone treatment or outpatient treatment. Four were church related and six received funding through government contracts, social security illness benefits, and housing assistance. The general lack of structured rehabilitation programs seemed to be the greatest weakness of the Australian public programs. A low percentage of patients completing detoxification entered counseling, and studies were not available to show the outcomes of detoxification without follow-up. The availability of consultations to hospitals and health care practitioners seemed to be an excellent advantage, but the lack of structured SAT beyond detoxification may have minimized that advantage. Nurses were involved in a variety of roles in Australia, and six of the program directors or managers we interviewed were nurses. Nurses were usually in clinical roles or management roles, rather than counseling roles.

Nursing values and a changing nurse workforce: values, age, and job stages.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the extent values are associated with age group and job stage; job satisfaction, productivity, and organizational commitment; as well as education, generation, ethnicity, gender, and role. BACKGROUND: Values direct the priorities we live by and are related to employee loyalty and commitment. Lack of congruency between a nurse's personal values and those of the organization decrease satisfaction and effectiveness and may lead to burnout and turnover. Little research has been done on whether values differ by age, generations, or job stages. METHODS: Nurses in all roles (N = 412) in three hospitals in Los Angeles County were randomly surveyed, using valid and reliable instruments to measure the variables of interest. RESULTS: Nurses in the top third for job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and productivity showed higher scores for many values including their associates, creativity, esthetics, and management, while those in the bottom third scored higher in economic returns only. Nurses in different generations differed little; younger generations placed higher values on economic returns and variety. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATION: Management strategies to meet nurses' values and increase their satisfaction and retention are presented.