Reasons why nurses decline influenza vaccination: a qualitative study

To explore reasons of non-vaccinated nursing staff for declining seasonal influenza vaccination. The annual influenza vaccination of healthcare workers reduces morbidity and mortality among vulnerable patients. Still, vaccination rates remain very low, particularly in nursing staff. While several studies have explored barriers for healthcare workers to get vaccinated, most have used a quantitative approach.; Data were collected by in-depth individual semi-structured interviews with 18 nurses from a range of fields, positions in organizational hierarchy, work experience and hospitals in two German-speaking cantons in Switzerland. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using conventional content analysis.; Three interconnected themes explaining why nurses decline influenza vaccination were identified: Firstly, the idea of maintaining a strong and healthy body, which was a central motif for rejecting the vaccine. Secondly, the wish to maintain decisional autonomy - especially over one's body and health. Thirdly, nurses' perception of being surrounded by an untrustworthy environment, which restricts their autonomy and seemingly is in opposition to their goal of maintaining a strong and healthy body.; Nurses tend to rely on conventional health beliefs rather than evidence based medicine when making their decision to decline influenza vaccination. Interventions to increase influenza vaccination should be tailored specifically for nurses. Empowering nurses by promoting decision-making skills and by strengthening their appraisal may be important factors to consider when planning future interventions to improve vaccination rates. The teaching of evidence-based decision-making should be integrated on different levels, including nurses' training curricula, their workspace and further education

Outcomes of Antiretroviral Therapy in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study: Latent Class Analysis

An in-depth understanding of the different groups that make up the HIV-infected population should inform prevention and care. Using latent class analysis (LCA) we identified seven groups with similar socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics at enrolment in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study: older gay men, younger gay men, older heterosexual men, injection drug users, single migrants, migrant women in partnerships and heterosexual men and women. Outcomes of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) were analyzed in 1,633 patients starting ART. Compared to older gay men, the probability of a virologic response to ART was reduced in single migrants, in older heterosexual men and in IDUs. Loss to follow-up was higher in single migrants and IDUs, and mortality was increased in older heterosexual men and IDUs. Socio-behavioral groups identified by LCA allow insights above what can be gleaned from traditional transmission groups, and may identify patients who could benefit from targeted intervention

Health Professionals’ Experience with the First Implementation of the Organizational Health Literacy Self-Assessment Tool for Primary Care (OHL Self-AsseT)—A Qualitative Reflexive Thematic Analysis

Organizational health literacy (OHL) is crucial for public health, in turn health care organizations play vital roles in improving populations’ health literacy. Therefore, the aim of this qualitative study was to explore how the organizational health literacy self-assessment tool (OHL Self-AsseT) was implemented, used, and understood by primary care teams from a network of general practices and a Home Care Service Organization in Zurich, Switzerland. Reflexive thematic analysis with a constructivist orientation was used to analyze data from 19 interviews pre- and post-OHL Self-AsseT use. Normalization Process Theory supported structuring of inductively developed themes. Findings show that the participants experienced working with the OHL Self-AsseT meaningful, as it helped with “Addressing OHL construction sites” so that they could “build momentum for change”. The experience of “Succeeding together in construction” led to a “feeling of team-efficacy during change”. Practical use of the tool and/or discussions about OHL led to a growing conceptual understanding, which was described as “Using a construction plan–making sense of ongoing OHL activities”. To conclude, the OHL Self-AsseT encouraged teams to initiate change, led to greater team-efficacy and supported the construction of OHL. Improved implementation strategies will support this intervention’s scale-up as a base for effectiveness testing. Keywords: organizational health literacy; implementation; Normalization Process Theory; self-assessment; primary care setting; reflexive thematic analysi

Validation of the newly developed Advanced Practice Nurse Task Questionnaire: A national survey.

AIM To describe psychometric validation of the newly developed Advanced Practice Nurse Task Questionnaire. DESIGN Cross-sectional quantitative study. METHODS The development of the questionnaire followed an adapted version of the seven steps described in the guide by the Association for Medical Education in Europe. A nationwide online survey tested the construct and structural validity and internal consistency using an exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and a Kruskal-Wallis test to compare the hypotheses. RESULTS We received 222 questionnaires between January and September 2020. The factor analysis produced a seven-factor solution as suggested in Hamric's model. However, not all item loadings aligned with the framework's competencies. Cronbach's alpha of factors ranged between .795 and .879. The analysis confirmed the construct validity of the Advanced Practice Nurse Task Questionnaire. The tool was able to discriminate the competencies of guidance and coaching, direct clinical practice and leadership across the three advanced practice nurse roles clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner or blended role. CONCLUSION A precise assessment of advanced practice nurse tasks is crucial in clinical practice and in research as it may be a basis for further refinement, implementation and evaluation of roles. IMPACT The Advanced Practice Nurse Task Questionnaire is the first valid tool to assess tasks according to Hamric's model of competencies independently of the role or the setting. Additionally, it distinguishes the most common advanced practice nurse roles according to the degree of tasks in direct clinical practice and leadership. The tool may be applied in various countries, independent of the degree of implementation and understanding of advanced nursing practice. REPORTING METHOD The STARD 2015 guideline was used to report the study. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION No patient or public contribution

Integration of an advanced practice nurse into a primary care practice: a qualitative analysis of experiences with changes in general practitioner professional roles in a Swiss multiprofessional primary care practice

The complex care needs of people with chronic illnesses and multimorbidity pose a significant challenge to the Swiss primary care system. Ensuring efficient, high-quality care will require new care models. Internationally, the integration of advanced practice nurses (APNs) into primary care models has shown promising results. The current study investigates how general practitioners (GPs) in Switzerland experience the integration of APNs into their primary care teams with respect to their own professional roles.; We used a qualitative, social-constructivist approach, focusing on six individual interviews with general practitioners within the frame of a larger study including GPs and APNs in a Swiss multiprofessional primary care practice. Data were analysed following Braun and Clarke's approach for reflexive thematic analysis.; The study took place between August 2019 and February 2020 in a Swiss multiprofessional primary care practice that had been working with APNs for nine years. Participants included six general practitioners.; We identified three main themes characterising Swiss GPs' experiences with the integration of APNs into their primary care team: (1) trust as foundation for collaboration with APNs; (2) build-up of the APN role by delegation, teaching, and supervision, investing time particularly at the beginning of their collaboration with the APN - a time investment that declined significantly as the APNs' competencies grew - and (3) synergies of partnership-based collaboration with APNs. Physicians who were experienced teachers and supervisors, and who delegated tasks based on who would be able to fulfil them most efficiently and effectively, experienced not only a broad range of synergies, but also possibilities to further develop the range of their own activities. Comprehensive, high-quality patient care was perceived as a particular added value.; Our analysis revealed that GPs experienced interprofessional synergies when working collaboratively with APNs. These were rooted in trust and relied on abilities in teaching, supervision and delegation to achieve maximum impact. Capitalising on the integration of APNs into primary care, this new care model can be adapted to diverse individual settings. We conclude this article by highlighting the potential of working collaboratively with APNs, who play increasingly important roles in the primary care of polymorbid patients with complex needs

Patient Assessment Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) and its associations with quality of life among Swiss patients with systemic sclerosis: a mixed methods study

BACKGROUND: The Chronic Care Model (CCM) is a longstanding and widely adopted model guiding chronic illness management. Little is known about how CCM elements are implemented in rare disease care or how patients' care experiences relate to health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We engaged patients living with systemic sclerosis (SSc) to assess current care according to the CCM from the patient perspective and their HRQoL. METHODS: We employed an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. First, we conducted a cross-sectional quantitative survey (n = 101) using the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) and Systemic Sclerosis Quality of Life (SScQoL) questionnaires. Next, we used data from individual patient interviews (n = 4) and one patient focus group (n = 4) to further explore care experiences of people living with SSc with a focus on the PACIC dimensions. RESULTS: The mean overall PACIC score was 3.0/5.0 (95% CI 2.8-3.2, n = 100), indicating care was 'never' to 'generally not' aligned with the CCM. Lowest PACIC subscale scores related to 'goal setting/tailoring' (mean = 2.5, 95% CI 2.2-2.7) and 'problem solving/contextual counselling' (mean = 2.9, 95% CI 2.7-3.2). No significant correlations were identified between the mean PACIC and SScQoL scores. Interviews revealed patients frequently encounter major shortcomings in care including 'experiencing organized care with limited participation', 'not knowing which strategies are effective or harmful' and 'feeling left alone with disease and psychosocial consequences'. Patients often responded to challenges by 'dealing with the illness in tailored measure', 'taking over complex coordination of care' and 'relying on an accessible and trustworthy team'. CONCLUSIONS: The low PACIC mean overall score is comparable to findings in patients with common chronic diseases. Key elements of the CCM have yet to be systematically implemented in Swiss SSc management. Identified gaps in care related to lack of shared decision-making, goal-setting and individual counselling-aspects that are essential for supporting patient self-management skills. Furthermore, there appears to be a lack of complex care coordination tailored to individual patient needs

Frequency and Determinants of Unprotected Sex among HIV-Infected Persons: The Swiss HIV Cohort Study

Background. Access to antiretroviral therapy may have changed condom use behavior. In January 2008, recommendations on condom use for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive persons were published in Switzerland, which allowed for unprotected sex under well-defined circumstances ("Swiss statement”). We studied the frequency, changes over time, and determinants of unprotected sex among HIV-positive persons. Methods. Self-reported information on sexual preference, sexual partners, and condom use was collected at semi-annual visits in all participants of the prospective Swiss HIV Cohort Study from April 2007 through March 2009. Multivariable logistic regression models were fit using generalized estimating equations to investigate associations between characteristics of cohort participants and condom use. Findings. A total of 7309 participants contributed to 21,978 visits. A total of 4291 persons (80%) reported sexual contacts with stable partners, 1646 (30%) with occasional partners, and 557 (10%) with stable and occasional partners. Of the study participants, 5838 (79.9%) of 7309 were receiving antiretroviral therapy, and of these, 4816 patients (82%) had a suppressed viral load. Condom use varied widely and differed by type of partner (visits with stable partners, 10,368 [80%] of 12,983; visits with occasional partners, 4300 [88%] of 4880) and by serostatus of stable partner (visits with HIV-negative partners, 7105 [89%] of 8174; visits with HIV-positive partners, 1453 [48%] of 2999). Participants were more likely to report unprotected sex with stable partners if they were receiving antiretroviral therapy, if HIV replication was suppressed, and after the publication of the "Swiss statement.” Noninjection drug use and moderate or severe alcohol use were associated with unprotected sex. Conclusions. Antiretroviral treatment and plasma HIV RNA titers influence sexual behavior of HIV-positive persons. Noninjection illicit drug and alcohol use are important risk factors for unprotected sexual contact

Patient and healthcare professional eHealth literacy and needs for systemic sclerosis support: a mixed methods study

OBJECTIVES: We engaged patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and healthcare professionals to assess electronic health (eHealth) literacy and needs relating to web-based support using internet-based information and communication technologies (ICT). METHODS: We employed an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. First, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in patients (n=101) and professionals (n=47). Next, we conducted three focus groups with patients, family members and professionals (n=17). RESULTS: Of patients, 89.1% used ICT at least weekly for private communication. Patients reported relatively high comprehension of eHealth information ([Formula: see text] =6.7, 95% CI: 6.2 to 7.3, range 1-10), yet were less confident evaluating information reliability ([Formula: see text] =5.8, 95% CI: 5.1 to 6.4) and finding eHealth apps ([Formula: see text] =4.8, 95% CI: 4.2 to 5.4). Patients and professionals reported little experience with web-based self-management support. Focus groups revealed 'considering non-ICT-accessible groups' and 'fitting patients' and professionals' technology' as crucial for acceptability. In relation to understanding/appraising eHealth, participants highlighted that general SSc information is not tailored to individual's disease course. Recommendations included 'providing timely, understandable and safe information' and 'empowering end-users in ICT and health decision-making skills'. Professionals expressed concerns about lacking resources. Patients were concerned about data security and person-centredness. Key eHealth drivers included 'addressing end-user perceptions' and 'putting people at the centre of technology'. CONCLUSIONS: Patients and professionals need education/training to support uptake of eHealth resources. Key elements include guiding patients to timely/reliable information and using eHealth to optimise patient-provider communication. Design that is responsive to end-users' needs and considers individuals with limited eHealth literacy and/or ICT access appears to be critical for acceptability