Background: Optimizing transitional care by practicing family-centered care might reduce unplanned events for patients who undergo major abdominal cancer surgery. However, it remains unknown whether involving family caregivers in patients’ healthcare also has negative consequences for patient safety. This study assessed the safety of family involvement in patients’ healthcare by examining the cause of unplanned events in patients who participated in a family involvement program (FIP) after major abdominal cancer surgery. Methods: This is a secondary analysis focusing on the intervention group of a prospective cohort study conducted in the Netherlands. Data were collected from April 2019 to May 2022. Participants in the intervention group were patients who engaged in a FIP. Unplanned events were analyzed, and root causes were identified using the medical version of a prevention- and recovery-information system for monitoring and analysis (PRISMA) that analyses unintended events in healthcare. Unplanned events were compared between patients who received care from family caregivers and patients who received professional at-home care after discharge. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze data. Results: Of the 152 FIP participants, 68 experienced an unplanned event and were included. 112 unplanned events occurred with 145 root causes since some unplanned events had several root causes. Most root causes of unplanned events were patient-related factors (n = 109, 75%), such as patient characteristics and disease-related factors. No root causes due to inadequate healthcare from the family caregiver were identified. Unplanned events did not differ statistically (interquartile range 1–2) (p = 0.35) between patients who received care from trained family caregivers and those who received professional at-home care after discharge. Conclusion: Based on the insights from the root-cause analysis in this prospective multicenter study, it appears that unplanned emergency room visits and hospital readmissions are not related to the active involvement of family caregivers in surgical follow-up care. Moreover, surgical follow-up care by trained family caregivers during hospitalization was not associated with increased rates of unplanned adverse events. Hence, the concept of active family involvement by proficiently trained family caregivers in postoperative care appears safe and feasible for patients undergoing major abdominal surgery.
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ObjectiveWe designed a Patient and Family Participation Education Program (PFEP) with the aim of fostering a positive attitude and enhancing the competencies of hospital nurses required for effective patient and family participation in care.MethodsIn a Dutch university hospital, we conducted a before-after study. The PFEP comprising three courses: family conversation, supporting shared decision-making, and health literacy. We assessed nursing attitudes using the FINC-NA questionnaire and competencies with a separate questionnaire before and three months after the program. Changes in attitudes and competencies were analyzed using regression analysis.ResultsTwenty-two nurses participated in the education group, and 58 participated as controls.After three months, the change scores for the education group were statistically significantly higher on the total attitude score (FINC-NA) compared to the control group. Moreover, in six out of twelve competencies, the education group demonstrated significantly higher scores than the control group.ConclusionThe educational program appeared effective in promoting nurses' attitudes and feelings of competencies towards patient and family-centered care.InnovationA blended education program focusing on patient and family has potential value for implementation in hospital care settings, especially for hospitals aiming to cultivate a more patient- and family-centered environment.
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Background: Engaging families in postsurgical care is potentially beneficial for improving cancer patient outcomes and quality of care. The authors developed a family involvement program (FIP) and in this study, the authors aim to evaluate the impact of the FIP on family caregiver burden and well-being. Moreover, the authors aim to assess the fidelity of the program. Materials and methods: This is a preplanned subgroup analysis of a patient-preferred prospective cohort study that included family caregivers of patients who underwent major oncological surgery for gastrointestinal tumors. Only patient-nominated family caregivers could participate in the FIP. Caregivers received structured training in fundamental caregiving tasks from healthcare professionals and then actively participated in these tasks. Caregiver burden and well-being were measured four times (at hospital admission, at hospital discharge, and at 1 and 3 months posthospital discharge) using the Caregiver Strain Index+ (CSI+) and the Care-related Quality of Life instrument (CarerQoL-7D). The fidelity of the FIP was assessed by recording completion of care activities. In addition, family caregivers were asked whether they would participate in the FIP again. Results: Most of the 152 family caregivers were female (77.6%), and their mean age was 61.3 years (SD=11.6). Median CSI+ scores ranged between -1 and 0 and remained below the cutoff point of experiencing burden. CarerQoL-7D results indicated no significant differences in family caregivers' well-being over time. Upon discharge, over 75% of the family caregivers stated that they would recommend the FIP to others. The highest compliance with all fundamental care activities was observed during postoperative days 2-4. Conclusion: The family caregivers of oncological surgical patients who participated in the FIP exhibited acceptable levels of caregiver burden and well-being. These findings suggest that the FIP is a valuable intervention to equip family caregivers with the skills to navigate the uncertain period following a patient's hospital discharge.
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IC-verpleegkundigen van het Radboudumc, Ziekenhuis Gelderse Vallei in Ede en Rijnstate Arnhem hebben het lectoraat Acute Intensieve Zorg van de HAN gevraagd met hen een project te starten om familieparticipatie in de basiszorg vorm te geven. Het ontbreekt verpleegkundigen aan handvatten en ondersteunende tools hoe ze familie hierbij kunnen betrekken. Daar moet dit project een antwoord op geven. Het doel is te komen tot een werkwijze en tools die voor IC-verpleegkundigen en naasten ondersteunend zijn voor het betrekken van naasten bij de basiszorg voor de IC-patiënt en het praktisch handelen te verbeteren. In dit project wordt ontwerpgericht onderzoek toegepast om gedurende het onderzoekstraject met IC-professionals en naasten een geschikte tool en werkwijze te onderzoeken, zo nodig te ontwikkelen en deze te pilottesten op toepasbaarheid. Deelvraag 1 omvat een diagnosticerend deel met een kwalitatief explorerende studie. Deze fase bestaat uit focusgroepinterviews met professionals en individuele interviews met ex-IC-patiënten en hun naasten. Deelvraag 2 omvat een ontwerp-/ontwikkelgericht deel en is gericht is op “het ondersteunen van het professioneel handelen in kennisintensieve beroepen”. Het ontwerpgerichte deel bestaat uit het opstellen van ontwerpcriteria, een literatuurstudie naar beschikbare tools, ontwerpen van werkwijze en tools, testen van de werkwijze en tools, evalueren en zo nodig bijstellen van de werkwijze en tools. Deelvraag 3 omvat de testfase met voorlichting en scholing, het (pilot-)testen van de werkwijze en tools, analyse van de testresultaten, vragenlijstonderzoek en een focusgroepinterview. Dit project wordt gestart met consortiumpartners (HAN en 3 ziekenhuizen). Als niet-consortiumpartners zijn ervaringsdeskundigen (via Stichting Family and Patient Centered Intensive Care), professionals uit andere instellingen (Santeonziekenhuizen en het Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis), beroepsvereniging V&VN IC, en kennispartner IQ Healthcare betrokken. De ontwikkelde kennis en producten zullen via alle partners en hun netwerken verder worden verspreid om toepassing van familieparticipatie in de basiszorg aan IC-patiënten te vergroten.
