Thorne TE, Titley HK, Duan Y, Norton PG, Lanius RA, Estabrooks CA.
Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2022 Oct 2;37(11).
OBJECTIVE: To explore care aide perceptions of caring for residents who aides perceived had past psychological trauma. METHODS: Through cognitive interviews, we developed a definition of trauma for four survey questions about caring for residents with psychological trauma. We added these questions to our routine care aide survey in 91 care homes in Western Canada (September 2019 to February 2020). We asked if care aides perceived that they were caring for residents with trauma, how often, types of trauma experienced, and what indication led them to perceive a resident had experienced trauma. We analyzed data using content analysis (open-ended questions) and regression analyses (closed-ended questions). RESULTS: Three thousand seven hundred and sixty five care aides responded (70% response rate) to the survey, and 53% perceived caring for one or more residents with a history of psychological trauma in the previous 2 weeks. Within six categories of traumatic events, abuse (35%) and war exposure (26%) were most common. Most common indications of trauma reported by care aides (five categories) were reliving the experience or having intrusive symptoms (28%) and avoidant behaviors (24%). Care aides were more likely to report caring for a resident who they perceived had experienced past psychological trauma if they were younger, spoke English as their first language, self-reported experiencing more aggression from residents, or who worked in not-for-profit homes. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study supports the need for further study of care aides’ perceptions and experiences of caring for residents with past trauma, and the effects of caring for these residents on quality of work life.
Research and innovation are integral parts of the global response to dementia. Yet, the Global status report on the public health response to dementia shows that despite some encouraging efforts most countries are far from reaching the adopted targets of the Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017–2025.
This blueprint for dementia research summarizes the current state of dementia research across six broad themes, identifies existing knowledge gaps, and outlines 15 strategic goals with actions and timebound milestones to address these gaps. The blueprint also outlines drivers of research that together create an enabling research environment that is essential for accelerating dementia research globally.
Going forward, the blueprint will guide policymakers, funders, and the research community on future activities in dementia research, and contribute to making dementia research more efficient, equitable, and impactful.A blueprint for dementia research
The Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum (FPT Seniors Forum) has launched a consultation on ageism. We are looking to better understand and address the negative impacts of ageism towards older adults in Canada.
The World Health Organization defines ageism as:
the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) towards others or oneself based on age.
This consultation will focus on ageism towards older adults in Canada, how they experience it, and potential solutions to address it. This public consultation will be followed by FPT-led roundtables, community-led group discussions, as well as engagement with members of First Nations, Métis and Inuit groups that will take place in the fall of 2022. Feedback will be summarized in a What We Heard report. A final report will support FPT governments to consider how they may address this important issue.
On October 4th, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced an investment of $1.2 million for the Canadian Association for Long Term Care (CALTC) to work with the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) to customize and adapt The Working Mind program for managers, supervisors and frontline employees in LTC homes.
McCutcheon C, Reszel J, Kothari A, Graham ID, editors.
Ottawa: Integrated Knowledge Translation Research Network. 2022.
The Integrated Knowledge Translation Research Network (IKTRN) is proud to present the fifth volume of the integrated knowledge translation (IKT) casebook series. This volume includes nine cases that illustrate how researchers are partnering with knowledge users in the conduct of research, also known as coproduction. In the recently published book, titled Research Coproduction in Healthcare, the editors define research coproduction as “a model of collaborative research that explicitly responds to knowledge user needs in order to produce research findings that are useful, useable and used.” 1 (p.1) The premise underpinning this approach is that research that is relevant, useful and useable will be more readily and rapidly adopted to realize research-informed improvements and benefits. I belong to a partnership network comprising formalized partnerships between the Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation at Deakin University and six major health services in the state of Victoria, Australia. In each of the health services is a satellite centre of the larger Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research. Within and across the satellite centres, researchers work collaboratively with knowledge users to undertake locally relevant research that addresses key problems and questions and meets the health services’ priorities. The researchers also help build research capacity among knowledge users within the health services. This model promotes the conduct of mutually agreed and beneficial research, shared power, shared commitment, shared decision-making and shared knowledge. 2 It is nearly impossible to create a blueprint for this kind of work because it hinges on the quality of human relationships. The IKTRN cases are so valuable because they pull back the curtain on research partnerships, providing examples of how true collaboration is achieved. In the following pages, the authors share their pearls of wisdom in relation to research coproduction, providing a rich resource from which others can learn and draw.
Cole CS, Carpenter JS, Chen CX, Blackburn J, Hickman SE.
J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2022 Sep 24;S1525-8610(22)00642-9.
OBJECTIVES: To describe the pain prevalence in nursing home (NH) residents and the factors associated with the experience of pain. DESIGN: Systematic review of descriptive studies. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Three electronic databases were searched from 2010 to September 2020 in English. Descriptive studies that examined pain in NH residents, reported pain prevalence, and/or associated factors were included. Studies that focused exclusively on a specific disease or type of care such as cancer or hospice were excluded. METHODS: Two reviewers independently screened, selected, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias from included studies; narrative synthesis was performed. The review was guided by the Biopsychosocial Model of Chronic Pain for Older Adults. RESULTS: Twenty-six studies met our inclusion criteria. Overall, the prevalence of current pain ranged from 22.2% to 85.0%, the prevalence of persistent pain ranged from 19.5% to 58.5%, and the prevalence of chronic pain ranged from 55.9% to 58.1%. A variety of pain scales were used reporting higher pain prevalence for those using self-report measures (31.8% to 78.8%) or proxy measures (29.5% to 85.0%) compared with using chart review (22.2% to 29.3%) as the source of pain information. The studies reviewed provide support that certain diseases and clinical conditions are associated with pain. Impairment in activities of daily living (ADL) (12 studies), cognition (9 studies), depression (9 studies), and arthritis (9 studies) are the most widely studied factors, whereas depression, ADL impairment, arthritis, dementia, and cognitive impairment present the strongest association with pain. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: This review highlights the complexities of pain in NH residents and has implications for both clinical practice and future research. Understanding the factors that underlie the experience of pain, such as depression, is useful for clinicians evaluating pain and tailoring management therapies. In addition, the gaps in knowledge uncovered in this review are important areas for future research.
Connelly D, Hay M, Garnett A, Hung L, Yous ML, Furlan-Craievich C, et al.
Gerontologist. 2022 Oct 6;gnac154.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Government-mandated health and safety restrictions to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 intensified challenges in caring for older adults in long-term care (LTC) without family/care partners. This article describes the experiences of a multidisciplinary research team in implementing an evidence-based intervention for family-centred, team-based, virtual care planning – PIECES TM approach – into clinical practice. We highlight challenges and considerations for implementation science to support care practices for older adults in LTC, their families, and the workforce. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A qualitative descriptive design was used. Data included meetings with LTC directors and Registered Practical Nurses (i.e., licensed nurse who graduated with a 2-year diploma program that allows them to provide basic nursing care); one-on-one interviews with family/care partners, residents, Registered Practical Nurses, and PIECES mentors; and reflections of the academic team. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) provided sensitizing constructs for deductive coding, while an inductive approach also allowed themes to emerge. RESULTS: Findings highlighted how aspects related to planning, engagement, execution, reflection, and evaluation influenced the implementation process from the perspectives of stakeholders. Involving expert partners on the research team to bridge research and practice, developing relationships from a distance, empowering front-line champions, and adapting to challenging circumstances led to shared commitments for intervention success. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Lessons learned include the significance of stakeholder involvement throughout all research activities; the importance of clarity around expectations of all team members; and the consequence of readiness for implementation with respect to circumstances (e.g., COVID-19) and capacity for change.
Hardy MS, Fanaki C, Savoie C, Dallaire C, Wilchesky M, Gallani MC, et al.
Geriatr Nurs. 2022 Sep 22;48:65–73.
Visiting restrictions had to be imposed to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus and ensure the safety of long-term care home (LTCH) residents. This mixed method study aimed to explore residents’ and family caregivers’ acceptability of electronic tablets used to preserve and promote contact. Semi-structured individual interviews with 13 LTCH residents and 13 family caregivers were done to study their experiences, as well as the challenges and resources encountered in the implementation and use of videoconferencing. They had to rate, on a scale from 0 to 10, each of the 6 Theoretical Framework of Acceptability’ constructs of the acceptability of the intervention. The results confirm acceptability of videoconferencing, giving residents and caregivers the opportunity to talk to and see each other during the pandemic. Videoconferencing had some benefits, such as being less expensive, and taking less time and effort for family caregivers.
Davila H, Johnson DR.
Clin Gerontol. 2022 Dec;45(5):1155–66.
OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to investigate diversity in stakeholders’ perspectives on how best to maximize older adults’ well-being when they use long-term services and supports (LTSS). METHODS: We used Q methodology, an exploratory method, to investigate preference patterns among a purposive sample of older adults, family members, and leadership professionals (n = 57). Participants categorized 52 items related to 9 domains of LTSS quality relevant to well-being into categories of importance. We used factors analysis and qualitative methods to identify groups of individuals who identified similar priorities. RESULTS: The analysis identified four shared viewpoints, each prioritizing different aspects of well-being: 1) physical health and safety; 2) independence; 3) emotional well-being; and 4) social engagement. Individual and contextual factors, including stakeholder role, care needs, and expectations for LTSS, appeared to influence participants’ perspectives. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct viewpoints on how to maximize well-being when older adults use LTSS exist. Our results affirm the importance of person-centered care yet demonstrate that shared preference patterns LTSS exist. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Engaging with older adults’ values and preferences is critical to improving their experiences with LTSS. Better understanding common preference patterns could help providers deliver person-centered care more efficiently and effectively.
Dore DD, Myles L, Recker A, Burns D, Murray CR, Gifford D, et al.
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
Despite important advances in the linkage of residents? claims and Minimum Data Set (MDS) information, the data infrastructure for long-term care remains inadequate for public health surveillance and clinical research. It is widely known that the evidence base supporting treatment decisions for elderly nursing home residents is scant as residents are systematically excluded from clinical trials. Electronic health records (EHRs) hold the promise to improve this population’s representation in clinical research, especially with more timely and detailed clinical information lacking in claims and MDS. The COVID-19 pandemic shined a spotlight on the data gap in nursing homes. To address this need, the National Institute on Aging funded the Long-Term Care (LTC) Data Cooperative, a collaboration among providers and stakeholders in academia, government, and the private sector. The LTC Data Cooperative assembles residents? EHRs from the major specialty vendors and facilitates linkage of these data with Medicare claims to create a comprehensive, longitudinal patient record. These data serve 4 key purposes: (1) health care operations and population health analytics; (2) public health surveillance; (3) observational, comparative effectiveness research; and (4) clinical research studies, including provider and patient recruitment into phase 3 and phase 4 randomized trials. Federally funded researchers wanting to conduct pragmatic trials can now enroll their partnering sites in this Cooperative to more easily access the clinical data needed to close the evidence gap. Linkage to Medicare data facilitates tracking patients? long-term outcomes after being discharged back to the community. As of August 2022, nearly 1000 nursing homes have joined, feedback reports are being piloted, algorithms for identifying infections are being tested, and proposals for use of the data have been reviewed and approved. This emerging EHR system is a substantial innovation in the richness and timeliness of the data infrastructure of the nursing home population.
Heijkants CH, de Wind A, van Hooff MLM, Geurts SAE, Boot CRL.
J Occup Rehabil. 2022 Sep 23.
Purpose The sustainable employability of healthcare professionals in aged care is under pressure, but research into the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving employees’ sustainable employability is scarce. This review therefore aimed to investigate the effectiveness of workplace interventions on sustainable employability of healthcare professionals in aged care. Methods A systematic literature search was performed. Studies were included when reporting about the effect of an intervention at work in an aged care setting on outcomes related to one of the three components of sustainable employability (i.e. workability, vitality, employability). The methodological quality of each study was assessed and a rating system was used to determine the level of evidence. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was performed, accounting for the match between the intervention’s focus and the targeted component of sustainable employability. Results Current review includes 32 interventions published between 1996 and 2019. Interventions covered learning and improving skills, changing the workplace, and exercising or resting. The initial analysis showed a strong level of evidence for employability and insufficient evidence for workability and vitality. The sensitivity analysis revealed strong evidence for the effectiveness of interventions addressing either employability or workability, and insufficient evidence for vitality. Conclusions Evidence for workplace interventions on sustainable employability of healthcare professionals in aged care differed. We found strong evidence for effects of workplace interventions on employability and for those directly targeting workability. Evidence for effects of interventions on vitality was insufficient. The alignment of the interventions to the targeted component of sustainable employability is important for effectiveness.
Kennedy KA, Mohr DC.
Gerontologist. 2022 Oct 3;gnac134.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: High turnover and recruitment challenges of nursing home employees and managers are an ongoing concern. This study’s objective was to examine intent to quit among all staff and assess the roles of job characteristics and job satisfaction. Employees and managers within one nursing home chain working in direct patient care or nursing were compared. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Data came from the Work, Family, Health Network 18-month follow-up survey in 2012 (total = 1,000, managers = 101, employees = 899). A cumulative logit model controlling for demographics was estimated for intent to quit. Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory of Work Motivation guided the study. RESULTS: Employees scored significantly lower on family-supportive supervisor behaviors (FSSBs), schedule control, and decision authority than managers. Employees and managers did not differ on job satisfaction, intent to quit, or job demands. Satisfied workers had an 83% decrease in the odds of reporting an intent to quit compared to workers who were neutral or disagreed (odds ratio [OR] = 0.17, p < .0001). Decision authority (OR = 3.49) and schedule control (OR = 5.18) were independently related to greater odds of reporting an intent to quit. In contrast, FSSBs (OR = 0.69), safety compliance (OR = 0.71), and the combination of high decision authority with high schedule control (OR = 0.72) were related to lower odds of reporting an intent to quit. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Among nursing home staff, lower intent to quit may be achieved through improving job satisfaction, the quality of supervision, safety culture, and job enrichment through more schedule control and decision-making power.
King M, Steele Gray C, Kobewka D, Grudniewicz A.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2022 Sep 27;22(1):1204.
BACKGROUND: Continuity of care has been shown to improve health outcomes and increase patient satisfaction. Goal-oriented care, a person-centered approach to care, has the potential to positively impact continuity of care. This study sought to examine how a goal-oriented approach impacts continuity of care in a long-term care setting. METHODS: Using a case study approach, we examined what aspects of goal-oriented care facilitate or inhibit continuity of care from the perspectives of administrators, care providers, and residents in a long-term care centre in Ontario, Canada. Data was collected through documentary evidence and semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: We analyzed six internal documents (e.g., strategic plan, client information package, staff presentations, evaluation framework, program logic model), and conducted 13 interviews. The findings indicated that the care provided through the goal-oriented approach program had elements that both facilitated and inhibited continuity of care. These factors are outlined according to the three types of continuity, including aspects of the program that influence informational, relational, and management continuity. CONCLUSIONS: Aspects of the goal-oriented care approach that facilitate continuity can be targeted when designing person-centered care approaches. More research is needed on goal-oriented care approaches that have been implemented in other long-term care settings to determine if the factors identified here as influencing continuity are confirmed.
Martin N, Frank B, Farrell D, Brady C, Dixon-Hall J, Mueller J, et al.
J Nurs Care Qual. 2022 Sep 26.
PURPOSE: To identify leadership styles and staffing strategies in Missouri long-term care (LTC) facilities that stood out among their peers as “positive deviants” with regard to COVID-19 infections and staffing shortages. METHODS: Statewide survey of all LTC facilities to identify exemplar facilities with stable staffing and low rates of COVID-19. Interviews with senior leaders were conducted in 10 facilities in the state to understand the strategies employed that led to these “positive outliers.” A result-based educational program was designed to describe their actions and staff reactions. RESULTS: Exemplar leaders used transformational leadership style. Top reasons for their success were as follows: (1) trusting and supportive staff relationships; (2) positive presence and communication; and (3) use of consistent staffing assignments. Strong statewide participation was noted in the educational programs.
McConeghy KW, White EM, Blackman C, Santostefano CM, Lee Y, Rudolph JL, et al.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022 Sep 30;71(39):1235–8.
Nursing home residents continue to experience significant COVID-19 morbidity and mortality (1). On March 29, 2022, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended a second mRNA COVID-19 vaccine booster dose for adults aged ≥50 years and all immunocompromised persons who had received a first booster ≥4 months earlier.* On September 1, 2022, ACIP voted to recommend bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccine boosters for all persons aged ≥12 years who had completed the primary series using monovalent vaccines ≥2 months earlier (2). Data on COVID-19 booster dose vaccine effectiveness (VE) in the nursing home population are limited (3). For this analysis, academic, federal, and private partners evaluated routine care data collected from 196 U.S. community nursing homes to estimate VE of a second mRNA COVID-19 vaccine booster dose among nursing home residents who had received 3 previous COVID-19 vaccine doses (2 primary series doses and 1 booster dose). Residents who received second mRNA COVID-19 vaccine booster doses during March 29-June 15, 2022, with follow-up through July 25, 2022, were found to have 60-day VE of 25.8% against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19 infection), 73.9% against severe COVID-19 outcomes (a combined endpoint of COVID-19-associated hospitalizations or deaths), and 89.6% against COVID-19-associated deaths alone. During this period, subvariants BA.2 and BA.2.12.1 (March-June 2022), and BA.4 and BA.5 (July 2022) of the B.1.1.529 and BA.2 (Omicron) variant were predominant. These findings suggest that among nursing home residents, second mRNA COVID-19 vaccine booster doses provided additional protection over first booster doses against severe COVID-19 outcomes during a time of emerging Omicron variants. Facilities should continue to ensure that nursing home residents remain up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, including bivalent vaccine booster doses, to prevent severe COVID-19 outcomes.
Quail P.
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.
In 2003, medical leaders in Continuing Care in Calgary, Alberta, conducted a satisfaction survey of the 150 attending physicians working in the medium-sized Canadian city’s Long-Term Care (LTC) centers. Of the 43% responses, a sobering 69% expressed a strong intention to quit LTC work in the ensuing 5 years. Physicians reported that regardless of their level of satisfaction with practice, the top 3 reasons to leave were remuneration, time, and impact on office practice. A survey of Ontario physicians in 2008 found similar intentions; 46% of respondents had considered leaving LTC practice.
Raudasoja AJ, Falkenbach P, Vernooij RWM, Mustonen JMJ, Agarwal A, Aoki Y, et al.
Implement Sci. 2022 Oct 1;17(1):65.
BACKGROUND: Healthcare costs are rising, and a substantial proportion of medical care is of little value. De-implementation of low-value practices is important for improving overall health outcomes and reducing costs. We aimed to identify and synthesize randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on de-implementation interventions and to provide guidance to improve future research. METHODS: MEDLINE and Scopus up to May 24, 2021, for individual and cluster RCTs comparing de-implementation interventions to usual care, another intervention, or placebo. We applied independent duplicate assessment of eligibility, study characteristics, outcomes, intervention categories, implementation theories, and risk of bias. RESULTS: Of the 227 eligible trials, 145 (64%) were cluster randomized trials (median 24 clusters; median follow-up time 305 days), and 82 (36%) were individually randomized trials (median follow-up time 274 days). Of the trials, 118 (52%) were published after 2010, 149 (66%) were conducted in a primary care setting, 163 (72%) aimed to reduce the use of drug treatment, 194 (85%) measured the total volume of care, and 64 (28%) low-value care use as outcomes. Of the trials, 48 (21%) described a theoretical basis for the intervention, and 40 (18%) had the study tailored by context-specific factors. Of the de-implementation interventions, 193 (85%) were targeted at physicians, 115 (51%) tested educational sessions, and 152 (67%) multicomponent interventions. Missing data led to high risk of bias in 137 (60%) trials, followed by baseline imbalances in 99 (44%), and deficiencies in allocation concealment in 56 (25%). CONCLUSIONS: De-implementation trials were mainly conducted in primary care and typically aimed to reduce low-value drug treatments. Limitations of current de-implementation research may have led to unreliable effect estimates and decreased clinical applicability of studied de-implementation strategies. We identified potential research gaps, including de-implementation in secondary and tertiary care settings, and interventions targeted at other than physicians. Future trials could be improved by favoring simpler intervention designs, better control of potential confounders, larger number of clusters in cluster trials, considering context-specific factors when planning the intervention (tailoring), and using a theoretical basis in intervention design. REGISTRATION: OSF Open Science Framework hk4b2.
Voke D, Perry A, Bardach SH, Kapadia NS, Barnato AE.
Healthc (Amst). 2022 Sep 29;10(4):100660.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare systems rapidly responded to challenges in healthcare delivery with innovation. Innovations developed during the COVID-19 pandemic have filled needed gaps in medical care and many may be sustained long term. The unique conditions and processes that facilitated such rapid, successful, and collective innovation should be explored to support future change in healthcare. Decentralized decision making, crowdsourcing, and nontraditional information sharing may be valuable for ongoing innovation in healthcare delivery. Shared, collective purpose in solving challenges in healthcare appear critical to this work. Health care systems aiming to sustain rapid healthcare delivery innovation should consider these processes and focus on facilitating shared purpose to sustain ongoing innovation.
Roos C, Swall A, Marmstål Hammar L, Boström AM, Skytt B.
Working with Older People.
Purpose Dignity and well-being are key aspects of the legislation and policies that regulate care of older persons worldwide. In addition, care of older persons should be person-centred. Dignity and well-being are described as results of person-centred care (PCC). The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of important aspects for older persons to experience dignity and well-being in residential care facilities (RCFs). Design/methodology/approach This study had a qualitative approach, and individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 older persons living in RCFs. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis. Findings To experience dignity and well-being older persons emphasized the importance of preserving their identity. To do this, it was important to be able to manage daily life, to gain support and influence and to belong to a social context. However, the findings indicate a need for improvements. Practical implications Insights into older persons’ experiences of important aspects for experiencing dignity and well-being in RCFs can be used by first-line managers and registered nurses when designing improvement strategies to promote PCC. Originality/value Dignity and well-being are described as results of PCC. The findings provide an understanding of what older persons perceive as important for experiencing dignity and well-being in RCFs. The findings are useful when designing improvement strategies to promote PCC.
Boström AM, Lundgren D, Kabir ZN, Kåreholt I.
Health Soc Care Community. 2022 Sep 26.
Older persons in Sweden are increasingly encouraged to continue living at home and, if necessary, be supported by home care services (HCS). Studies have examined whether the work environment of staff has an impact on the experiences and well-being of older persons in residential care facilities, but few have examined such associations in HCS. This study examined associations between home care staff’s perceptions of their psychosocial work environment and satisfaction with care among older people receiving HCS. The setting was 16 HCS work units. Two surveys were conducted, one on psychosocial working conditions of staff, one on satisfaction of older persons receiving HCS. For each work unit, data on individual satisfaction were matched to average values concerning psychosocial work conditions. Outcomes analysed with linear regressions were overall satisfaction and indices regarding assessment of performance of services, contact with staff and sense of security. The index for treatment by staff was analysed with ordered logistic regressions. Cluster correlated-standard error clustering on work units was used. Results showed that good working conditions were important for satisfaction with care, specifically overall satisfaction, treatment by staff and sense of security. The most important psychosocial work factors were work group climate, sense of mastery, job control, overall job strain, frustrated empathy, balancing competing needs, balancing emotional involvement and lack of recognition. Receiving more HCS hours was associated with stronger relationships between working conditions and satisfaction with care, especially with overall satisfaction and treatment by staff as outcomes. Managers and policymakers for home care need to acknowledge that the working conditions of home care staff are crucial for the satisfaction of older persons receiving HCS, particularly those receiving many HCS hours. Psychosocial work factors together with job strain factors are areas to focus on in order to improve working conditions for staff and outcomes for older persons.
Elliott SA, Kreutz J, Wright KS, Di Lallo S, Scott SD, Hartling L.
JMIR Form Res. 2022 Oct 5;6(10):e36353.
BACKGROUND: Our research groups have developed a number of parental knowledge translation (KT) tools to help families understand common childhood illnesses and make informed decisions regarding when to seek urgent care. We have developed a series of videos to help parents understand how to manage common acute childhood illnesses at home and when to contact emergency health care services. It is unclear whether the videos in their current form and language are useful for a wider range of populations, including Indigenous groups. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore whether and understand how our KT tools could be adapted for use with Indigenous communities. METHODS: Health care providers (HCPs) serving Indigenous families in Alberta, Canada, were asked to review 2 of our KT tools (one on croup and one on acute otitis media), complete a demographic survey, and participate in a one-on-one semistructured interview. HCPs were asked to reflect on the usability of the KT tools within their practice and what cultural adaptation considerations they felt would be needed to develop KT tools that meet the needs of Indigenous clients. Audio recordings from the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed for relevant themes using thematic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 18 HCPs (n=15, 83% women and n=3, 17% men) from various health professions (eg, physician, registered nurse, and licensed practical nurse) were interviewed. Of these 18 HCPs, 7 (39%) self-identified as Indigenous. Four overarching themes were identified as important when considering how to adapt KT tools for use by Indigenous communities: accessibility, relatability, KT design, and relationship building. Access to tangible resources and personal and professional connections were considered important. Accessibility affects the types of KT tools that can be obtained or used by various individuals and communities and the extent to which they can implement recommendations given in those KT tools. In addition, the extent to which users relate to the depictions and content within KT tools must be considered. The environments, portrayals of characters, and cultural norms and values presented within KT tools should be relevant to users to increase the relatability and uptake of recommendations. Most importantly, fostering genuine and sustainable relationships with users and communities is a vital consideration for KT tool developers. CONCLUSIONS: These findings serve to cultivate a greater understanding of the various components that HCPs consider important when developing or culturally adapting KT tools for use by Indigenous families. This information will help support the effective adaptation and distribution of KT tools for use by a broad audience. Careful consideration of the themes identified in this study highlights the importance of working together with the knowledge users (health care consumers) when developing KT tools.