Background: There is a lack of evidence regarding the relationship between family involvement and outcomes in gastrointestinal oncology patients after surgery. To evaluate the effect of a family involvement program for patients undergoing oncologic gastrointestinal surgery on unplanned readmissions within 30 days after surgery. Methods: A multicenter patient-preference cohort study compared 2 groups: patients who participated in the family involvement program versus usual care. The program comprised involvement of family caregivers in care and training of health care professionals in family-centered care. Multivariable regression analyses were used to evaluate the effect of the FIP on the number of unplanned readmissions up to 30 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes included complications sensitive to fundamental care activities, emergency department visits, intensive care unit admissions, hospital length of stay, and the need for professional home care after discharge. Results: Of the 301 patients included, 152 chose the family involvement program, and 149 chose usual care. Postoperative readmissions occurred in 25 (16.4%) patients in the family involvement program group, and 15 (10.1%) in the usual care group (P = .11). A significant reduction of 16.2% was observed in the need for professional home care after discharge in the family involvement program group (P < .01). No significant differences were found between the 2 groups in the other secondary outcomes. Conclusion: The family involvement program did not reduce the number of unplanned readmissions, but it led to a substantial reduction in-home care, which suggests an economic benefit from a societal perspective. Implementation of the family involvement program should, therefore, be considered in clinical practice.
Non-pharmacological interventions such as mirror therapy are gaining increased recognition in the treatment of phantom limb pain; however, the evidence in people with phantom limb pain is still weak. In addition, compliance to self-delivered exercises is generally low. The aim of this randomised controlled study is to investigate the effectiveness of mirror therapy supported by telerehabilitation on the intensity, duration and frequency of phantom limb pain and limitations in daily activities compared to traditional mirror therapy and care as usual in people following lower limb amputation.
Background: To prevent deterioration after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), and to improve rehabilitation, the ICU team should use digital technologies to provide comprehensive and practical information alongside personalised support for survivors and their family members. However, a knowledge gap exists on the users’ preferences for such an e-health platform in ICU follow-up services. Objectives: This study aims to explore the opinions and priorities for an e-health platform, including choices in digital elements, according to survivors of critical illness and their family members. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was used among members and other interested individuals of the Dutch volunteer organisation ‘Foundation Family- and Patient-Centred Intensive Care’. An investigator-developed questionnaire was disseminated through the newsletter and social media channels of the Foundation Family- and Patient-Centred Intensive Care. The results of this member consultation were analysed and reported as descriptive statistics on demographic variables and outcome measures in opinions and priorities of the participants. Results: Most of the 227 participants were female (76%), aged 46–55 years (33%), and completed higher education (70%). The participants reported high confidence in advice delivered through an e-health platform (72%). They prioritised the provision of a guide including relevant professionals who may support them during their recovery when using an e-health platform. Conclusions: ICU survivors prioritised the provision of relevant professionals who may support them during their recovery when using an e-health platform; however, selection bias means the population studied is likely to be more digitally connected than the general ICU population. Digital solutions could cater to their information and support needs. For family members, the highest priority reported was receiving help in managing their emotional distress. The development of an e-health platform considering the opinions and priorities of this target group could contribute to a personalised recovery trajectory promoting self-management while including digital elements addressing relevant ICU follow-up services.
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.
