Patientens tillit till den prehospitala vårdkedjan : Ändamålsenlig vårdnivå för patienter med primärvårdsbehov

Aim: The overall aim of the thesis is to investigate whether a new care-model can be introduced – in which patients with primary care needs and not in need of hospital emergency department care can be referred directly to a healthcare centre – and respond to the patient’s need of trust and patient safety.   Methods: The four sub studies employ different methods: three are quantitative with varying approaches and one is qualitative. Sub study I is a retrospective explorative register study aimed to identify characteristics and frequency. Sub study II is an instrument development study aimed to measure patient trust. Sub study III is a randomized controlled trial, which compared the level of patient trust and patient-safety among low-priority ambulance patients who were randomized into two groups: the experimental group (care at the healthcare centre) and the control group (traditional care at Emergency department). Finally, sub study IV is a hermeneutic lifeworld study based on interviews with patients who participated in the new care model.   Main results: Sixteen percent of the patients to whom an ambulance was allocated could have received care at a healthcare centre instead of an emergency department. They were slightly younger and healthier as regards their histories, but were found at all priority levels and with almost all symptom codes. Patient trust in care did not differ regardless of whether they were cared for at a healthcare centre or at the emergency department. However, 59 patients of 188 overall (31%) fulfilled one or more of the given criteria for potentially reduced patient safety. The phenomenon of trust does not automatically involve medical care. However, attention to the patient’s lifeworld in a professional caring relationship enables the patient to trust the caregiver and the healthcare environment. It is clear that the “voice of lifeworld” enables the patient to feel trust.  Conclusion: One in six patients allotted an ambulance may get taken to primary care instead of the hospital emergency department. These patients are found at all priority levels and in most of the symptom codes.  An instrument has been developed that measures patient trust in the prehospital chain of care (Study I). The instrument has proved to be useful in this patient group and is based on two dimensions: Credibility and Accessibility (Study II). Patients’ trust in the prehospital care chain proved to be high and bore no relation to where they received care. Patient safety, on the other hand, appeared to be limited in view of the fact that an excessive proportion of patients were exposed to potential patient safety risks (Study III). Communication that appeals to a patient's lifeworld increases the opportunities for understanding and participation. In all, lifeworld communication creates trust in care at the right level of care as well as in care relationships and the healthcare environment (Study IV).

Simulation-based education as a provider of fieldwork insights – experiences of ambulance nurse specialist students

Abstract Background Medicine is facing a global shortage of nurses, including those with postgraduate education. One suggested educational method for undergraduate and postgraduate education, such as specialist ambulance nurse education, is simulation-based education (SBE). The implementation of SBE is motivated, in part, by the desire to attract and retain students, but also to contribute to student learning. Consequently, the use of SBE is increasing in specialist ambulance nurse education. The aim of this study was to explore how specialist ambulance nursing students experience SBE. Methods This qualitative survey study involved the collection of study data using a purposefully designed, paper-based survey comprising five open-ended questions that required participant free-text answers. The answers were analysed using inductive content analysis and searching for descriptions of the participants’ experiences. The survey was presented to 35 specialist ambulance nursing students. Results The results are presented in two themes: SBE as learning and SBE as an educational method. Participating in SBE during the programme provides students with a realistic understanding of their future profession and its expected demands. The learning experience disregards prior work experience in ambulance services. Conclusions Based on the findings, conclusions are that SBE is an appreciated educational method among nursing students, regardless of their prior experience in the field of prehospital care. To some extent, this differs from previous research findings related to this subject. Furthermore, SBE contributes to the provision of field work insights, preparing the ambulance nurse specialist students

Foreign movement in one's own body : Patients' experiences of being awake while treated with catheter ablation — a phenomenological study

PURPOSE: To address the consequences of living with supraventricular tachycardia and to improve the quality of treatment, there is a need to highlight patient experiences of treatment with catheter ablation. Therefore, the aim was to describe the phenomenon of catheter ablation, as it is experienced by patients being treated awake. METHODS: A descriptive design was applied based on a reflective lifeworld research founded on phenomenological epistemology. Interviews were conducted between December 2021 and Mars 2022 with seven women and five men, three to twelve months after they underwent catheter ablation. RESULTS: Patients undergoing catheter ablation while awake during treatment, which includes experiences of relying on others expertise, being actively passive, and striving to be cured. It entails experiences of having a foreign object moving in one's body and heart and can be endured through strategies of mainly shifted one's mental focus. CONCLUSIONS: The effort of undergoing a catheter ablation procedure is worthwhile as the confirmation of a physical curable condition that opens a future with possibilities instead of the obstacle in daily life that tachycardia entails. For the patients, an informative and caring conversation was needed that would have provided the support they lacked before and during the ablation.CC BY 4.0Taylor &amp; Francis Group an informa businessCONTACT Ann-Katrin Nordblom [email protected] Department of Cardiology, Skaraborgs Hospital Skövde, Skövde SE-541 85, SwedenThe study was conducted with support from the Research Fund at Skaraborg Hospital, Sweden [VGSKAS-930160] and the Skaraborg Institute [Dnr:19/1037].</p

Health care centre and emergency department utilization by patients with episodes of tachycardia

BACKGROUND: Outpatients seek to visit health care facilities for episodes of tachycardia-related signs and symptoms. The challenge for physicians is to balance a proper initial assessment and avoid overlooking a possible arrhythmia. This common clinical situation affects individuals and health care utilization, and effective management may substantially affect health care resources. This study aimed to explore health care utilization for outpatients with episodes of tachycardia visiting health care centres (HCCs) and/or emergency departments (EDs). METHOD: This retrospective study used data of adult outpatients (≥ 18 years) who were assessed by a physician as having a specific or nonspecific diagnosis of arrhythmia between 2017 and 2018, and data were retrieved from medical records and a regional registry database. Data was analysed with appropriate statistical analyses to identify disparities between sex, age and terms of search pattern for each health care facility. Analysis of variance was used to test disparities between the sexes, and one-factor ANOVA was used for the incidence of missed arrhythmias. RESULTS: A total of 2719 visits with 2373 outpatients were included in the study. The result showed a significant difference in the total number of visits (n = 2719) between female and male patients (68% vs. 32%, p &lt; .001). In the 60-69- and 70-79-year age groups, females had significantly higher frequencies of visits than males (p = .018). A significant difference was also observed between sexes in terms of which health care facility they tended to visit (p &lt; .001). Ninety-five percent of the outpatients visiting EDs were hospitalized. When estimating the incidence of missed arrhythmias (diagnoses) in relation to assessments, the results showed a 5% missed diagnosis involving potential atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia and atrioventricular re-entry tachycardia. Moreover, the referral rate was low, especially from HCCs to cardiologists. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a significant difference in total visits in HCCs and/or EDs by patients of different sexes and indicates the need for improved care for outpatients with episodes of tachycardia. Sex- and age-related differences must be addressed with an aim of providing equal care. Finally, the low rate of referral from HCCs to cardiologists compared to the high proportion of hospitalizations from EDs, deserves further investigation. CC BY 4.0This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License© 2022. The Author(s)© 2022 BioMed Central Ltd unless otherwise stated. Part of Springer Nature.Correspondence: ann‑[email protected] study was conducted with support from Research Fund at Skaraborg Hospital, Sweden [VGSKAS‑930160] and the Skaraborg Institute [Dnr:19/1037].</p

Hybrid emergency care at the home for patients - A multiple case study

Introduction Healthcare systems worldwide are facing numerous challenges, such as an aging population, reduced availability of hospital beds, staff reductions and closure of emergency departments (ED). These issues can exacerbate crowding and boarding problems in the ED, negatively impacting patient safety and the work environment. In Sweden a hybrid of prehospital and intrahospital emergency care has been established, referred to in this article as Medical Emergency Team (MET), to meet the increasing demand for emergency care. MET, consisting of physicians and nurses, moving emergency care from EDs to patients' home. Physicians and nurses may encounter challenges in their healthcare work, such as limited resources for example medical equipment, sampling and examination, in unfamiliar varying home environments. There is a lack of knowledge about how these challenges can influence patient care. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the healthcare work of the METs when addressing patients' emergency care needs in their homes, with a focus on the METs reasoning and actions. Methods Using a qualitative multiple case study design, two METs in southwestern Sweden were explored. Data were collected from September 2023 - January 2024 and consist of field notes from participant observations, short interviews and written reflections. A qualitative manifest content analysis with an inductive approach was used as the analysis method. Result The result of this study indicates that physicians and nurses face several challenges in their daily work, such as recurring interruptions, miscommunication and faltering teamwork. Some of these problems may arise because physicians and nurses are not accustomed to working together as a team in a different care context. These challenges can lead to stress, which ultimately can expose patients to unnecessary risks. Conclusion When launching a new service like METs, which is a hybrid of prehospital and intrahospital emergency care, it is essential to plan and prepare thoroughly to effectively address the challenges and obstacles that may arise. One way to prepare is through team training. Team training can help reduce hierarchical structures by enabling physicians and nurses to feel that they can contribute, collaborate, and take responsibility, leading to a more dynamic and efficient work environment

Trust in the early chain of healthcare : Lifeworld hermeneutics from the patient’s perspective

PURPOSE: Patients must be able to feel as much trust for caregivers and the healthcare system at the healthcare centre as at the emergency department. The aim of this study is to explain and understand the phenomenon of trust in the early chain of healthcare, when a patient has called an ambulance for a non-urgent condition and been referred to the healthcare centre. METHOD: A lifeworld hermeneutic approach from the perspective of caring science was used. Ten patients participated: seven female and three male. The setting is the early chain of healthcare in south-western Sweden. RESULTS: The findings show that the phenomenon of trust does not automatically involve medical care. However, attention to the patient's lifeworld in a professional caring relationship enables the patient to trust the caregiver and the healthcare environment. It is clear that the "voice of the lifeworld" enables the patient to feel trust. CONCLUSION: Trust in the early chain of healthcare entails caregivers' ability to pay attention to both medical and existential issues in compliance with the patient's information and questions. Thus, the patient must be invited to participate in assessments and decisions concerning his or her own healthcare, in a credible manner and using everyday language

Use of the Medical emergency services by patients with suspected acte primary healthcare problems : Developing av questionnaire measure patient trust in healthcare

Rationale aims and objectives: The objective of this study was to develop a questionnaire measuring the level of trust and its constituents in patients calling the Emergency Medicak Services (EMS) for suspected acute primary healthcare problems. The questionnaire is called the Patient Trust Questionnaire (PTQ). The following frontline service providers were involved: 1) The Dispatch Centre, 2) the Emergency Medical Services and 3) the recieving unit (the Emergency Department/Healthcare Centre) Method: Cross-sectional data were collected repeately and redundant items were discarded using a step-by-step approach. Based on litterature review, the PTQ was developed in line with the folowing 4-step procedure: 1) item construction, 2) a face-to-face evaluation of separate items, 3) an emerical pre-evaluation targeting each separate frontline service provider and 4) an emperical full-scale evaluation. The inclusion criteria for participating were that the patient must be 18 years of age or older and suspected having a suspected acute primary care problem when calling the EMS. In the finale full-scale evaluation of the questionnaire, 427 patients were included. Results: A set of 8 items with good phsycometric properties remained through the developing procedure. Two constituents of trust emerged (labelled credibility and accessibility), witch were robust across all fronline service providers. Conclusion: A new measuring instrument has been developed for this particular healthcare chain, for patients with suspected acute primary care problem calling the EMS. Althought not yet validated, the PTQ is a potentially usefull tool in future healthcare research with reference to the concept of patient trust.VRV projekte

Educational intervention in triage with the Swedish triage scale RETTS©, with focus on specialist nurse students in ambulance and emergency care – A cross-sectional study

AimTo determine the reliability of application of the RETTS© triage scale after an educational intervention using paper-based scenarios in emergency care education.BackgroundKnowledge about and education in triage are important factors in triagescale implementation. Presenting students with a large number of triage scenarios is a common part of triage education.MethodsIn this prospective cross-sectional study at two universities students undergoing education in emergency care used RETTS© to assess triage level in 46 paper-based scenarios.Results57 students in the study made 2590 final triage decisions. Fleiss Kappa for final triage was 0.411 which is in the lower range of moderate agreement. In 25 of 46 (53.4%) scenarios, final triage levels did not agree about whether the case was stable or unstable.Conclusion/ImplicationsApplication of the RETTS© triage scale after an educational intervention with paper-based simulation in emergency care education resulted in moderate agreement about the final levels of triage

Suboptimal prehospital decision- making for referral to alternative levels of care – frequency, measurement, acceptance rate and room for improvement

Background The emergency medical services (EMS) have undergone dramatic changes during the past few decades. Increased utilisation, changes in care-seeking behaviour and competence among EMS clinicians have given rise to a shift in EMS strategies in many countries. From transport to the emergency department to at the scene deciding on the most appropriate level of care and mode of transport. Among the non-conveyed patients some may suffer from “time-sensitive conditions” delaying diagnosis and treatment. Thus, four questions arise: 1) How often are time-sensitive cases referred to primary care or self-care advice? 2) How can we measure and define the level of inappropriate clinical decision-making? 3) What is acceptable? 4) How to increase patient safety? Main text To what extent time-sensitive cases are non-conveyed varies. About 5–25% of referred patients visit the emergency department within 72 hours, 5% are hospitalised, 1–3% are reported to have a time-sensitive condition and seven-day mortality rates range from 0.3 to 6%. The level of inappropriate clinical decision-making can be measured using surrogate measures such as emergency department attendances, hospitalisation and short-term mortality. These measures do not reveal time-sensitive conditions. Defining a scoring system may be one alternative, where misclassifications of time-sensitive cases are rated based on how severely they affected patient outcome. In terms of what is acceptable there is no general agreement. Although a zero-vision approach does not seem to be realistic unless under-triage is split into different levels of severity with zero-vision in the most severe categories. There are several ways to reduce the risk of misclassifications. Implementation of support systems for decision-making using machine learning to improve the initial assessment is one approach. Using a trigger tool to identify adverse events is another. Conclusion A substantial number of patients are non-conveyed, including a small portion with time-sensitive conditions. This poses a threat to patient safety. No general agreement on how to define and measure the extent of such EMS referrals and no agreement of what is acceptable exists, but we conclude an overall zero-vision is not realistic. Developing specific tools supporting decision making regarding EMS referral may be one way to reduce misclassification rates