The resident assessment instrument-minimum data set 2.0 quality indicators : a systematic review

Background
The Resident Assessment Instrument-Minimum Data Set (RAI-MDS) 2.0 is designed to collect the minimum amount of data to guide care planning and monitoring for residents in long-term care settings. These data have been used to compute indicators of care quality. Use of the quality indicators to inform quality improvement initiatives is contingent upon the validity and reliability of the indicators. The purpose of this review was to systematically examine published and grey research reports in order to assess the state of the science regarding the validity and reliability of the RAI-MDS 2.0 Quality Indicators (QIs).

Methods
We systematically reviewed the evidence for the validity and reliability of the RAI-MDS 2.0 QIs. A comprehensive literature search identified relevant original research published, in English, prior to December 2008. Fourteen articles and one report examining the validity and/or reliability of the RAI-MDS 2.0 QIs were included.

Results
The studies fell into two broad categories, those that examined individual quality indicators and those that examined multiple indicators. All studies were conducted in the United States and included from one to a total of 209 facilities. The number of residents included in the studies ranged from 109 to 5758. One study conducted under research conditions examined 38 chronic care QIs, of which strong evidence for the validity of 12 of the QIs was found. In response to these findings, the 12 QIs were recommended for public reporting purposes. However, a number of observational studies (n=13), conducted in "real world" conditions, have tested the validity and/or reliability of individual QIs, with mixed results. Ten QIs have been studied in this manner, including falls, depression, depression without treatment, urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections, weight loss, bedfast, restraint, pressure ulcer, and pain. These studies have revealed the potential for systematic bias in reporting, with under-reporting of some indicators and over-reporting of others.

Conclusion
Evidence for the reliability and validity of the RAI-MDS QIs remains inconclusive. The QIs provide a useful tool for quality monitoring and to inform quality improvement programs and initiatives. However, caution should be exercised when interpreting the QI results and other sources of evidence of the quality of care processes should be considered in conjunction with QI results.

Statistical models for cancer screening

This paper reviews the application of statistical models to planning and evaluating cancer screening programmes. Models used to analyse screening strategies can be classified as either surface models, which consider only those events which can be directly observed such as disease incidence, prevalence or mortality, or deep models, which incorporate hypotheses about the disease process that generates the observed events. This paper focuses on the latter type. These can be further classified as analytic models, which use a model of the disease to derive direct estimates of characteristics of the screening procedure and its consequent benefits, and simulation models, which use the disease model to simulate the course of the disease in a hypothetical population with and without screening and derive measures of the benefit of screening from the simulation outcomes. The main approaches to each type of model are described and an overview given of their historical development and strengths and weaknesses. A brief review of fitting and validating such models is given and finally a discussion of the current state of, and likely future trends in, cancer screening models is presented.

The caregiving role following percutaneous coronary intervention

Aim.  The aim of this study is to describe the experience of caregivers of individuals who have had a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Background.  Decreased lengths of hospital stay and an increased emphasis on chronic disease self-management increase the importance of carers in assisting in recovery and lifestyle modification. Design.  Cross-sectional dual-moderated focus group design. Method.  Three focus groups using a dual facilitation approach were held in the cardiac rehabilitation setting of a tertiary referral hospital in metropolitan Sydney. All sessions were audio recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. Results.  Four themes emerged from the data: (1) a gendered approach to health, illness and caring; (2) shock, disbelief and the process of adjustment following PCI; (3) challenges and changes of the carer–patient relationship and (4) the needs of the carer for support and information. Issues emerging from this study parallel other findings describing the experience, yet provide new insights into the issues surrounding PCI. Conclusion.  These findings highlight the need for including carers in care planning and decision-making and providing them with support and resources. Relevance to clinical practice.  • Emphasises the importance of preparing carers of the likely experience following a PCI.• Demonstrates the degree to which vigilance, deferment of carer-health needs and role conflict impact on the carer’s personal relationship.• Demonstrates the need for formal support interventions for carers of patients who have had PCI.

Reduced emergency calls and improved weekend discharge after introduction of a new electronic handover system

Objectives: To measure the frequency and content of electronic handover before and after implementation of the Blue BARRWUE handover system, and to measure its effect on patient safety and hospital efficiency over weekends.

Design, setting and participants: Point-prevalence study comparing outcomes for general medical inpatients present over weekends before implementation (1 May 2008 to 30 April 2009) and after implementation (1 May 2009 to 30 April 2010) of the Blue BARRWUE handover system at Geelong Hospital.

Intervention: Implementation of the Blue BARRWUE handover system and its components (updated working diagnosis, background, alerts, resuscitation status, requests, who to do what and when, updates and executable discharge plan).
Main outcome measures: Presence of any written handover notes or updated working diagnoses in the BOSSnet clinical information system, content of handover notes, frequency of weekend discharges and medical emergency team (MET) calls before and after implementation.

Results: In the 12 months before implementation of the Blue BARRWUE handover system, 976 patients (47.98%) had a handover note in BOSSnet, versus 1646 patients (95.09%) in the 12 months after implementation (P< 0.001; rate ratio [RR], 20.75; 95% CI, 16.33–26.44). Before implementation, 289 patients (14.21%) were discharged over weekends, versus 353 patients (20.39%) after implementation, (P < 0.001; RR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.25–1.65). MET calls were made for 152 general medical patients before implementation (7.47%), versus 95 general medical patients (5.49%) after implementation (P= 0.01; RR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.57–0.94).

Conclusions: The Blue BARRWUE system has sustainably improved written handover in our organisation and was associated with improvement in both patient safety and hospital efficiency.

The timing of Rapid-Response Team activations: a multicentre international study

Background:
Most studies of Rapid-Response Teams (RRTs) assess their effect on outcomes of all hospitalised patients. Little information exists on RRT activation patterns or why RRT calls are needed. Triage error may necessitate RRT review of ward patients shortly after hospital admission. RRT diurnal activation rates may reflect the likely frequency of caregiver visits.

Objectives:
To study the timing of RRT calls in relation to time of day and day of week, and their frequency and outcomes in relation to days after hospital admission.

Methods:
We prospectively studied RRT calls over 1 month in seven hospitals during 2009, collecting data on patient age, sex, admitting unit, admission source, limitations of medical therapy (LOMTs), and admission and discharge dates. We assessed the timing of RRT calls in relation to hospital admission and circadian variation; and differences in characteristics and outcomes of calls occurring early (Days 0 and 1) versus late (after Day 7) after hospital admission.

Results:
There were 652 RRT calls for 518 patients. Calls were more likely on Mondays (P=0.018) and during work hours (P<0.0001) but less likely on weekends (P=0.003) or overnight (P<0.001). There were 177 early calls (27.1%) and 198 late calls (30.4%). Early calls involved younger patients (median ages, 67.5 years [early calls] v 73 years [late calls]; P= 0.01), fewer LOMTs (P=0.029), and lower in hospital mortality (12.8% [early calls] v 32.3% [late calls]; P<0.0001). The mortality difference remained in patients without LOMTs (5.6% [early calls] v 19.6% [late calls]; P=0.003).

Conclusions:
About one-quarter of RRT calls occurred shortly after hospital admission, and were more common when caregivers were around. Early calls may partially reflect suboptimal triage, though the associated mortality appeared low. Late calls may reflect suboptimal end-of-life care planning, and the associated mortality was high. There is a need to further assess the epidemiology of RRT calls at different phases of the hospital stay.

Handover of patient information from the crisis assessment and treatment team to the inpatient psychiatric unit.

Handover, or the communication of patient information between clinicians, is a fundamental component of health care. Psychiatric settings are dynamic environments relying on timely and accurate communication to plan care and manage risk. Crisis assessment and treatment teams are the primary interface between community and mental health services in many Australian and international health services, facilitating access to assessment, treatment, and admission to hospital. No previous research has investigated the handover between crisis assessment and treatment teams and inpatient psychiatric units, despite the importance of handover to care planning. The aim of the present study was to identify the nature and types of information transferred during these handovers, and to explore how these guides initial care planning. An observational, exploratory study design was used. A 20-item handover observation tool was used to observe 19 occasions of handover. A prospective audit was undertaken on clinical documentation arising from the admission. Clinical information, including psychiatric history and mental state, were handed over consistently; however, information about consumer preferences was reported less consistently. The present study identified a lack of attention to consumer preferences at handover, despite the current focus on recovery-oriented models for mental health care, and the centrality of respecting consumer preferences within the recovery paradigm.

Evolving epidemiology of injecting drug use-associated infective endocarditis: a regional centre experience

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Injecting drug use (IDU) is a major risk factor for infective endocarditis (IE). An understanding of the epidemiology of IE and IDU is vital for delivery of health care for this disease. Our aim was to examine the rates of IDU-associated IE (IDU-IE) in a single centre over the last 12 years. DESIGN AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of two cohorts of consecutive patients (n = 226) admitted with IE from 2002 to 2013. Numbers of cases and rates of IE were compared between two cohorts (2002-2006 and 2009-2013). Rate ratios were calculated using Poisson distributions. Poisson regression was used to examine relationship over time. RESULTS: One hundred thirty cases of endocarditis were seen in the first observation period (6 IDU-IE) and 96 in the second observation period (15 IDU-IE). The estimated incidence rate of IE had fallen from 10.1 to 6.45 per 100, 000 person-years [rate ratio 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48, 0.85]. In contrast, the estimated incidence rate of IDU-E has risen from 0.48 to 0.79 per 100, 000 person-years (rate ratio 1.65, 95% CI 0.59, 4.57). Incidence rate regression suggests that the number of IDU-IE cases is expected to increase by a factor of 1.25 (95%CI 1.09-1.44) for each increase of 1 year. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Over the last decade, there has been a decrease in incidence rate and total number of cases of IE but a rise in rate and number of cases of IDU-IE. This may indicate increasing IDU or increased rates of endocarditis in intravenous drug users in this region. This finding may inform health-care planning in the area.

Integridade tissular de pacientes com úlceras venosas: um estudo baseado na Classificação dos Resultados de Enfermagem

The venous ulcer is an epidemiological problem of high prevalence, causing disability and dependence. Assess the tissue impairment level of patients with venous lesions, within a nursing referential, is relevant for the implementation of a directed assistance to specific clientele. Thus, this work aims to characterize the health status regarding the integrity the lower limbs skin of patients with venous ulcers, according to the of tissue integrity outcome indicators from the Nursing Outcomes Classification. A cross-sectional study conducted in a university hospital in Natal - Rio Grande do Norte. The sample consisted of 50 participants, selected through consecutive sampling. Data collection occurred through a interview and physical examination form and a operational definitions tool for indicators of the nursing Tissue Integrity outcome directed to patients with venous ulcer, applied from February to June 2012. Data analysis was done by descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests (Spearman, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests). The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee with protocol 608/11 and Presentation Certificate to Ethical Consideration No. 0038.0.294.000-11. The results were presented using three scientific articles derivatives of research. It was found that the indicators show moderate impairment, light and not impaired, as the median. The respondents had an average of 59.72 years, 66% female, 50% were retired, 60% with a partner, 44% had arterial hypertension, 26% allergies, 20% diabetes mellitus, 96% were sedentary, 14% drank alcohol and 6% were smokers. There was a statistically significant correlation of low intensity between age and hydration (p=0.032; rs=-0.304) and skin desquamation (p=0.026; rs=-0.316), family income and necrosis (p=0.012; rs=-0.353); Ankle Brachial Index and tissue perfusion (p=0,044; rs=-0,329); Diabetes Mellitus and texture (p=0.015) and tissue perfusion (p=0.026); allergy and texture (p=0.034), physical activity and hydration (p=0.034), smoking and thickness (p=0.018), and alcohol consumption and exudate (p=0.045). We conclude that the patients had light to moderate impairment, indicating a good state of health on the integrity of the skin of the lower limbs, according to the indicators of the outcome of tissue integrity Classification Nursing Outcomes valued in the present study. It is believed that the evaluation of impairment tissue using a self-nursing system and its relation with socioeconomic, clinical and risk factors are unique tools in the care planning and in the wound healing

Ensino do processo de enfermagem: significados percepções docentes na formação do enfermeiro

The implementation of the nursing process should be experienced by all nurses during their formative years. However, the lack of implementation of the nursing process for care planning during the educational process and the existing disorder in the formation process prompted the following research questions: What is the meaning of teaching the nursing process to the nursing professors? Do nursing professors use strategies and methods that promote critical thinking in their students? The objective of the study was to analyze the meaning that teaching of the nursing process has for the nursing faculty of the bachalaureate nursing course. Qualitative descriptive study conducted with a sample of 30 faculty members that taught nursing care courses in the nursing program of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) in Natal, RN. Two instruments were used, a questionaire and an interview guide. The questionnaire was designed to obtain sociodemographic, educational and work information, of faculty activities and of the teaching of nursing care. The guide was composed of five open questions regarding the understanding and perceptions of the nursing process, its utilization in teaching, and the nursing care teaching strategies. Interview data were submitted to content analysis techniques and interpreted according to the principles of Symbolic Interactionism. Six categories related to the analytical themes were identified: the nursing process as the guide for the care actions; clinical rationality; use of the care activities; teaching relevance; teaching barreirs; teaching strategies with focus on the abilities and competencies of the clinical rationale. Faculty perceptions regarding the teaching of the nursing process; nursing care approach in the nurses‟ formation. The study indicates that the participants understand the relevance of the nursing process a work instrument and that the use of this method during the nurses‟ formation enhances the abilities and competencies for critical thinking that is essencial for care. The strategies for teaching of abilities and competencies were identified, however the nursing faculty should use codes, direction and the influence so that the students can Interact and therefore stimulate the use of the nursing process

Compreensão do típico ideal de técnicos de enfermagem acerca da sistematização da assistência de enfermagem

This study aimed to understand the typical ideal of the nursing technician about the systematization of nursing care in the light of the theoretical framework of Alfred Schutz. It is a comprehensive phenomenological research, using the theoretical framework of Alfred Schutz. For the unveiling of the phenomenon (the typical ideal of the nursing technician about the systematization of nursing care), the search process was configured from the proposed guiding principles for a research methodology based on the work itself of Schutz held by Zeferino (2010) in his PhD. For data collection, we used the focus group technique, counting on the collaboration of thirteen practical nurses working in a university hospital in Rio Grande do Norte, who responded positively to the inclusion criteria: working in the study hospital, performing care direct to patients. Forty-four subjects showed interest in participating, being held a draw for selection of the research sample, consisting of 14 professionals, one of whom did not attend the gathering of data collection. The focus group, entitled "What I think about the systematization of nursing care", took place on February 15th, 2013, totaling 101 minutes. It was performed according to the Experiential Education Humanescent using building posters as projective technique, from the key question: "What is the systematization of nursing care for you?". In order to understand some of the biographical situation of the participants, a questionnaire was administered to study participants. From the agreement of the subjects, the focus group was recorded and photographed with the cooperation of one reporter and two other employees. We used Microsoft Word 2010 to perform the transcript of the meeting and Microsoft Excel 2010 for synthesizing the results via a spreadsheet. The study followed the ethical and legal principles that govern scientific research on humans, recommended in Resolution nº 196/96, it was approved by Opinion Embodied Ethics Committee in Research of UFRN (Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte), nº 98 424, of August 31th, 2012, CAAE No. 05906912.0.0000.5537. The analysis of the nursing staff speeches, along with the contemplation of their posters and their written descriptions, allowed from the guiding principles of Zeferino (2010), in light of the reference of Alfred Schutz, unveiling the typical ideal of nursing technicians about the systematization of nursing care, passing four themes: typing of the concept of systematization of nursing care; benefits, which resulted in the reasons to believe in the positivity of this working tool; experienced problems, revealing the world of everyday life of nursing professionals, and possibilities for improvement. It was concluded that the nursing technicians are unaware of the systematization of nursing care. However, they typify a very positive perception about the same, especially with regard to improvements that may foster care

Entre o êxito e a frustração com a sistematização da assistência de enfermagem

Pesquisa qualitativa orientada pelos referenciais teórico-metodológicos: Interacionismo Simbólico e Grounded Theory para compreender o processo planejamento-implementação da Sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem (SAE), segundo dois grupos amostrais: enfermeiros e auxiliares/técnicos de enfermagem de um hospital universitário, e desenvolver uma síntese dos modelos teóricos representativos dessas experiências. A saturação teórica configurou-se mediante a análise da 24ª entrevista não diretiva de 12 enfermeiros e de 12 técnicos de enfermagem, lotados em unidades de internação. da análise emergiram dois modelos teóricos, cuja síntese originou o terceiro, intitulado Entre o êxito e a frustração com a operacionalização da SAE: recursos humanos como componente determinante para a visibilidade do enfermeiro no processo de trabalho. Este modelo desvela o déficit de recursos humanos, impulsionando o enfermeiro a realizar uma SAE ilusória, e perpetuando um processo cíclico de sofrimento, por vivenciar a invisibilidade de sua práxis no processo de trabalho.

Caracterização das atividades diárias do enfermeiro chefe de seção em um hospital universitário

Trata-se de um estudo descritivo com a finalidade de identificar se o planejamento da assistência de enfermagem faz parte das atividades diárias dos 19 enfermeiros chefes de seção de um Hospital Universitário, através da análise temática de suas entrevistas. Verificou-se que das 309 atividades relatada pelos entrevistados, 71,51% são administrativas, 19,43% delegáveis, 18,74% assistenciais e 0,32% relacionadas apenas ao ensino, visto que as atividades com pesquisas não foram relatadas por eles. Dentre as atividades administrativas, o planejamento formal da assistência de enfermagem não foi mencionado como atividade diária desses enfermeiros. Alicerçadas nos resultados, as autoras fazem recomendações à Instituição em estudo e aos Cursos de Graduação em Enfermagem.

Dentists' level of knowledge of the treatment plans for periodontal ligament injuries after dentoalveolar trauma

This study investigated the level of knowledge held by dentists about the possible treatment plan procedures for periodontal ligament injuries after dentoalveolar trauma. A 5-item self-applied questionnaire was prepared with questions referring to the professional profile of the interviewees and to the treatment plan they would propose for periodontal ligament injuries secondary to dentoalveolar trauma. The questionnaires were filled out by 693 dentists attending the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Society for Dental Research, and the data obtained were subjected to descriptive analysis. Either the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was applied to assess associations among variables, at a 5% level of significance. The results revealed that dentists experienced difficulty in establishing a treatment plan for subluxation, and for extrusive, lateral and intrusive luxations. In general, holding a dental specialty degree had no influence on the knowledge about treatment plan procedures for the most severe injuries. It could be concluded that the dentists participating in this study, whether specialists or not, did not have sufficient knowledge to treat most of the periodontal ligament injuries resulting from dentoalveolar trauma adequately.

Multidisciplinary approach for the treatment of a complicated crown-root fracture in a young patient: A case report

Crown-root fractures in permanent teeth cause esthetic and functional problems. This paper reports the case of a complicated crown-root fracture in the maxillary right central inc sor of a young patient who was treated with a multidisciplinary approach in two phases. A modified Widman flap, root canal therapy, glass fiber post cementation, and adhesive tooth fragment reattachment were performed shortly after an accident. Satisfactory esthetic and functional outcomes were obtained. However, the patient did not attend follow-up visits and returned after 7 years. During this second phase, the clinical and radiographic examination showed stability and adaptation of the fragment and good periodontal health conditions, but crown darkening and a radiolucent image associated with the root apex of the fractured tooth were also observed. The periapical lesion was surgically removed by apicoectomy, and the esthetics were recovered with a direct composite res n veneer on the traumatized tooth. (Quintessence Int 2011;42:729-735)

CPITN: time and cost estimates for periodontal prevention and treatment procedures.

The aim of this study was to estimate the necessary time and cost for periodontal prevention and treatment in a working population from sugar and alcohol refineries in Araraquara, SP, Brazil. A stratified sample of 528 employees aged 18-64 from administrative, industrial and agricultural staffs was examined by one examiner, previously trained, according to the community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN). The time required for procedures and the cost was extrapolated to the total worker population. The results showed that the estimated time required for periodontal prevention/treatment was 4527 hours. Of this time, 1783 hours were required for oral hygiene instruction, 2531 for scaling, 151 for surgery and 62 for maintenance. The cost would be US $17,655 for hiring a dentist for 8 hours/day to provide oral hygiene instruction, scaling, surgery and maintenance. However, the cost would be US $9,028 for hiring a dentist for 4 hours/day to provide surgery and maintenance and a dental hygienist for 8 hours/day to provide scaling and oral hygiene instruction. Taking into account epidemiologic, technical and economic aspects, the decision relating to manpower should be this second option.