Usability of mobile technology to screen for drug-drug interactions in kidney transplant patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Kidney transplant recipients are at increased risk for adverse safety events related to reduced renal function and polypharmacy. Health information technology tools have a precautionary role in improving safety in patients with kidney transplants who are at risk of drug-drug interactions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Usability testing of a drug-drug interaction inquiry system on a convenience sample of kidney transplant patients and their family members was conducted between January and April 2013 by a single interviewer. Each participant was provided with 35 tasks to complete on a cell phone with a manual keypad. The tasks were classified according to how it was completed: easily completed, noncritical error, or critical error (where a participant was unable to complete the given task without intervention by the interviewer). The final task was timed using a stop watch. RESULTS: Out of a total of 16 volunteers, 15 completed the testing. The median time to complete the final task was 4 min (range: 2-9). In a cumulative total of 525 tasks, 33 critical errors were noted. Twelve participants had one or more critical errors. The most frequent critical errors were related to typing and spelling mistakes. Twelve out 15 participants were able to complete the final task without any critical errors. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding transplant patients' preference in technology use and adapting applications to a variety of technological portals will ensure the most effective use of targeted interventions in patient safety, particularly when applied to preventing drug-drug interactions.

Directed use of the internet for health information by patients with chronic kidney disease: prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Health information technology has become common in the care of patients with chronic diseases; however, there are few such applications employed in kidney disease. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of a website providing disease-specific safety information by patients with predialysis chronic kidney disease. METHODS: As part of the Safe Kidney Care (SKC) study, an educational website was designed to provide information on safety concerns in chronic kidney disease. Phase I study participants were provided a medical alert accessory with a unique ID number, the Safe Kidney Care website, and an in-person tutorial on the use of the Internet and accessing the SKC website at baseline. Participants were asked to visit the website and enter their unique ID as frequently as they desired over the next 365 days or until their annual follow-up visit, whichever occurred first. Participants' visits and dwell times on specific safety modules were tracked using embedded webpage PHP scripts linked to a MySQL database, enabling the collection of website usage statistics. RESULTS: Of 108 Phase I participants, 28.7% (31/108) visited the website from 1-6 times during the observation period (median follow-up 365 days). Median access time was 7 minutes per visit (range <1-46) and 13 minutes per person (range <1-123). The three most frequently visited pages were "Renal function calculator", "Pills to avoid", and "Foods to avoid". High school education and frequent Internet use were significantly associated with website entry (P=.02 and P=.03, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results show general interest in a Web-based platform designed to improve patient safety in chronic kidney disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01407367; http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01407367 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6KvxFKA6M).

A qualitative study to identify reasons for discharges against medical advice in the cardiovascular setting.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for the largest number of discharges against medical advice (AMA). However, there is limited information regarding the reasons for discharges AMA in the CVD setting. OBJECTIVE: To identify reasons for discharges AMA among patients with CVD. DESIGN: Qualitative study using focus group interviews (FGIs). PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of patients with a CVD-related discharge diagnosis who left AMA and providers (physicians, nurses and social workers) whose patients have left AMA. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: To identify patients' reasons for discharges AMA as identified by patients and providers. To identify strategies to reduce discharges AMA. APPROACH: FGIs were grouped according to patients, physicians and nurses/social workers. A content analysis was performed independently by three coauthors to identify the nature and range of the participants' viewpoints on the reasons for discharges AMA. The content analysis involved specific categories of reasons as motivated by the Health Belief Model as well as reasons (ie, themes) that emerged from the interview data. RESULTS: 9 patients, 10 physicians and 23 nurses/social workers were recruited for the FGIs. Patients and providers reported the same three reasons for discharges AMA: (1) patient's preference for their own doctor, (2) long wait time and (3) factors outside the hospital. Patients identified an unmet expectation to be involved in setting the treatment plan as a reason to leave AMA. Participants identified improved communication as a solution for reducing discharges AMA. CONCLUSIONS: Patients wanted more involvement in their care, exhibited a strong preference for their own primary physician, felt that they spent a long time waiting in the hospital and were motivated to leave AMA by factors outside the hospital. Providers identified similar reasons except the patients' desire for involvement. Additional research is needed to determine the applicability of results in broader patient and provider populations.

Usability of a CKD educational website targeted to patients and their family members.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Web-based technology is critical to the future of healthcare. As part of the Safe Kidney Care cohort study evaluating patient safety in CKD, this study determined how effectively a representative sample of patients with CKD or family members could interpret and use the Safe Kidney Care website (www.safekidneycare.org), an informational website on safety in CKD. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: Between November of 2011 and January of 2012, persons with CKD or their family members underwent formal usability testing administered by a single interviewer with a second recording observer. Each participant was independently provided a list of 21 tasks to complete, with each task rated as either easily completed/noncritical error or critical error (user cannot complete the task without significant interviewer intervention). RESULTS: Twelve participants completed formal usability testing. Median completion time for all tasks was 17.5 minutes (range=10-44 minutes). In total, 10 participants had greater than or equal to one critical error. There were 55 critical errors in 252 tasks (22%), with the highest proportion of critical errors occurring when participants were asked to find information on treatments that may damage kidneys, find the website on the internet, increase font size, and scroll to the bottom of the webpage. Participants were generally satisfied with the content and usability of the website. CONCLUSIONS: Web-based educational materials for patients with CKD should target a wide range of computer literacy levels and anticipate variability in competency in use of the computer and internet.

Reasons for discharges against medical advice: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: There is limited information in the literature about reasons for discharges against medical advice (DAMA) as supplied by patients and providers. Information about the reasons for DAMA is necessary for identifying workable strategies to reduce the likelihood and health consequences of DAMA. The objective of this study is to identify the reasons for DAMA based on patient and multicategory provider focus-group interviews (FGIs). METHODS: Patients who discharged against medical advice between 2006 and 2008 from a large, academic medical centre along with hospital providers reporting contact with patients who left against medical advice were recruited. Three patient-only groups, one physician-only group and one nurse/social worker group were held. Focus-group interviews were transcribed, and a thematic analysis was performed to identify themes within and across groups. Participants discussed the reasons for patient DAMA and identified potential solutions. RESULTS: Eighteen patients, five physicians, six nurses and four social workers participated in the FGIs. Seven themes emerged across the separate patient, doctor, nurse/social worker FGIs of reasons why patients leave against medical advice: (1) drug addiction, (2) pain management, (3) external obligations, (4) wait time, (5) doctor's bedside manner, (6) teaching hospital setting and (7) communication. Solutions to tackle DAMA identified by participants revolved mainly around enhanced communication and provider education. CONCLUSIONS: In a large, academic medical centre, the authors find some differences and many similarities across patients and providers in identifying the causes of and solutions to DAMA, many of which relate to communication.

Administrators' perceptions of medication management in assisted living facilities: results from focus groups.

OBJECTIVE: Assisted living (AL) residents are vulnerable to adverse events as a result of using numerous medications and frequently need assistance in administering medications. Very little is known, however, about the ways in which medications are managed within this level of care. DESIGN: AL administrators from the metropolitan Baltimore, Maryland area were invited to participate in focus groups to explore issues involved in medication management. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Four administrators from smaller (15 beds or fewer) and six larger (more than 15 beds) certified AL facilities serving primarily older residents participated. Administrators must have served in their position at least six months. RESULTS: Administrators described interactions with residents, physicians, and pharmacists as well as the issues of state regulations and their enforcement. We uncovered themes concerning the challenges faced in negotiating competing needs of residents, providers, and regulatory bodies. CONCLUSIONS: Administrators often feel torn between competing requirements of their position, and they experience some degree of conflict in allowing residents to retain autonomy in the face of demands of family, providers, and regulators. Small-facility administrators especially report being in a position to allow them to monitor residents' medication reactions and needs. Large-facility administrators sometimes find their actions hampered by decisions made at higher (ownership) levels. Administrators want AL facilities to remain at an intermediate level of care, with less stringent regulations than for those for nursing facilities, but would also like more consistency in enforcement of regulations. Qualitative assessment of medication-related issues in AL can help to guide policy in this area.