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  Prevalence and predictors of shared decision-making in goals-of-care clinician-family meetings for critically ill neurologic patients: a multi-center mixed-methods study

  Fleming, Victoria; Prasad, Abhinav; Ge, Connie; Crawford, Sybil; Meraj, Shazeb; Hough, Catherine L; Lo, Bernard; Carson, Shannon S; Steingrub, Jay; White, Douglas B; et al. (2023-10-21)

  Background: Shared decision-making is a joint process where patients, or their surrogates, and clinicians make health choices based on evidence and preferences. We aimed to determine the extent and predictors of shared decision-making for goals-of-care discussions for critically ill neurological patients, which is crucial for patient-goal-concordant care but currently unknown. Methods: We analyzed 72 audio-recorded routine clinician-family meetings during which goals-of-care were discussed from seven US hospitals. These occurred for 67 patients with 72 surrogates and 29 clinicians; one hospital provided 49/72 (68%) of the recordings. Using a previously validated 10-element shared decision-making instrument, we quantified the extent of shared decision-making in each meeting. We measured clinicians' and surrogates' characteristics and prognostic estimates for the patient's hospital survival and 6-month independent function using post-meeting questionnaires. We calculated clinician-family prognostic discordance, defined as ≥ 20% absolute difference between the clinician's and surrogate's estimates. We applied mixed-effects regression to identify independent associations with greater shared decision-making. Results: The median shared decision-making score was 7 (IQR 5-8). Only 6% of meetings contained all 10 shared decision-making elements. The most common elements were "discussing uncertainty"(89%) and "assessing family understanding"(86%); least frequent elements were "assessing the need for input from others"(36%) and "eliciting the context of the decision"(33%). Clinician-family prognostic discordance was present in 60% for hospital survival and 45% for 6-month independent function. Univariate analyses indicated associations between greater shared decision-making and younger clinician age, fewer years in practice, specialty (medical-surgical critical care > internal medicine > neurocritical care > other > trauma surgery), and higher clinician-family prognostic discordance for hospital survival. After adjustment, only higher clinician-family prognostic discordance for hospital survival remained independently associated with greater shared decision-making (p = 0.029). Conclusion: Fewer than 1 in 10 goals-of-care clinician-family meetings for critically ill neurological patients contained all shared decision-making elements. Our findings highlight gaps in shared decision-making. Interventions promoting shared decision-making for high-stakes decisions in these patients may increase patient-value congruent care; future studies should also examine whether they will affect decision quality and surrogates' health outcomes.
• Multicomponent Pharmacist Intervention Did Not Reduce Clinically Important Medication Errors for Ambulatory Patients Initiating Direct Oral Anticoagulants

  Kapoor, Alok; Patel, Parth; Mbusa, Daniel; Pham, Thu; Cicirale, Carrie; Tran, Wenisa; Beavers, Craig; Javed, Saud; Wagner, Joann; Swain, Dawn; et al. (2023-09-27)

  Background: Anticoagulants including direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are among the highest-risk medications in the United States. We postulated that routine consultation and follow-up from a clinical pharmacist would reduce clinically important medication errors (CIMEs) among patients beginning or resuming a DOAC in the ambulatory care setting. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention for reducing CIMEs. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Participants: Ambulatory patients initiating a DOAC or resuming one after a complication. Intervention: Pharmacist evaluation and monitoring based on the implementation of a recently published checklist. Key elements included evaluation of the appropriateness of DOAC, need for DOAC affordability assistance, three pharmacist-initiated telephone consultations, access to a DOAC hotline, documented hand-off to the patient's continuity provider, and monitoring of follow-up laboratory tests. Control: Coupons and assistance to increase the affordability of DOACs. Main measure: Anticoagulant-related CIMEs (Anticoagulant-CIMEs) and non-anticoagulant-related CIMEs over 90 days from DOAC initiation; CIMEs identified through masked assessment process including two physician adjudication of events presented by a pharmacist distinct from intervention pharmacist who reviewed participant electronic medical records and interview data. Analysis: Incidence and incidence rate ratio (IRR) of CIMEs (intervention vs. control) using multivariable Poisson regression modeling. Key results: A total of 561 patients (281 intervention and 280 control patients) contributed 479 anticoagulant-CIMEs including 31 preventable and ameliorable ADEs and 448 significant anticoagulant medication errors without subsequent documented ADEs (0.95 per 100 person-days). Failure to perform required blood tests and concurrent, inappropriate usage of a DOAC with aspirin or NSAIDs were the most common anticoagulant-related CIMEs despite pharmacist documentation systematically identifying these issues when present. There was no reduction in anticoagulant-related CIMEs among intervention patients (IRR 1.17; 95% CI 0.98-1.42) or non-anticoagulant-related CIMEs (IRR 1.05; 95% CI 0.80-1.37). Conclusion: A multi-component intervention in which clinical pharmacists implemented an evidence-based DOAC Checklist did not reduce CIMEs. Nih trial number: NCT04068727.
• Evaluating nursing students’ outcomes in an educational escape room: Escape a night of rapids!

  Malatesta, Thin Zar; Hebert, Danielle; Cornine, Amanda; Amoah, Rita (2023-09-19)

  An educational escape room (EER) was developed as an innovative strategy for summative evaluation at the end of the first semester in a medical/surgical course within an accelerated nursing program. Learning outcomes were focused on recognizing abnormal vital signs of a decompensating patient, prioritizing nursing interventions, role-playing as a rapid response nurse, collaborating with peers to complete each puzzle, interpreting findings, and discovering medication errors. Debriefing allowed faculty to provide feedback on the achievement of the learning outcomes. Most students agreed that the EER allowed them to meet each learning outcome. This project supported the usefulness of EERs for the evaluation of student learning outcomes in a fast-paced program that may be similar to the speed at which associate degree programs prepare students.
• Prognostic Language in Critical Neurologic Illness: A Multicenter Mixed-Methods Study

  Goss, Adeline; Ge, Connie; Crawford, Sybil; Goostrey, Kelsey; Buddadhumaruk, Praewpannanrai; Hough, Catherine L; Lo, Bernard; Carson, Shannon; Steingrub, Jay; White, Douglas B; et al. (2023-06-08)

  Background and objectives: There are no evidence-based guidelines for discussing prognosis in critical neurologic illness, but in general, experts recommend that clinicians communicate prognosis using estimates, such as numerical or qualitative expressions of risk. Little is known about how real-world clinicians communicate prognosis in critical neurologic illness. Our primary objective was to characterize prognostic language clinicians used in critical neurologic illness. We additionally explored whether prognostic language differed between prognostic domains (e.g., survival, cognition). Methods: We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional mixed-methods study analyzing deidentified transcripts of audio-recorded clinician-family meetings for patients with neurologic illness requiring intensive care (e.g., intracerebral hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, severe stroke) from 7 US centers. Two coders assigned codes for prognostic language type and domain of prognosis to each clinician prognostic statement. Prognostic language was coded as probabilistic (estimating the likelihood of an outcome occurring, e.g., "80% survival"; "She'll probably survive") or nonprobabilistic (characterizing outcomes without offering likelihood; e.g., "She may not survive"). We applied univariate and multivariate binomial logistic regression to examine independent associations between prognostic language and domain of prognosis. Results: We analyzed 43 clinician-family meetings for 39 patients with 78 surrogates and 27 clinicians. Clinicians made 512 statements about survival (median 0/meeting [interquartile range (IQR) 0-2]), physical function (median 2 [IQR 0-7]), cognition (median 2 [IQR 0-6]), and overall recovery (median 2 [IQR 1-4]). Most statements were nonprobabilistic (316/512 [62%]); 10 of 512 prognostic statements (2%) offered numeric estimates; and 21% (9/43) of family meetings only contained nonprobabilistic language. Compared with statements about cognition, statements about survival (odds ratio [OR] 2.50, 95% CI 1.01-6.18, p = 0.048) and physical function (OR 3.22, 95% 1.77-5.86, p < 0.001) were more frequently probabilistic. Statements about physical function were less likely to be uncertainty-based than statements about cognition (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.17-0.66, p = 0.002). Discussion: Clinicians preferred not to use estimates (either numeric or qualitative) when discussing critical neurologic illness prognosis, especially when they discussed cognitive outcomes. These findings may inform interventions to improve prognostic communication in critical neurologic illness.
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  Matching medical staff to long term care facilities to respond to COVID-19 outbreak

  Zarei, Hamid Reza; Ghanbarpour Mamaghani, Mahsa; Ergun, Ozlem; Yu, Patricia; Winchester, Leanne; Chen, Elizabeth (2023-06-07)

  Background: Staff shortage is a long-standing issue in long term care facilities (LTCFs) that worsened with the COVID-19 outbreak. Different states in the US have employed various tools to alleviate this issue in LTCFs. We describe the actions taken by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to assist LTCFs in addressing the staff shortage issue and their outcomes. Therefore, the main question of this study is how to create a central mechanism to allocate severely limited medical staff to healthcare centers during emergencies. Methods: For the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, we developed a mathematical programming model to match severely limited available staff with LTCF demand requests submitted through a designed portal. To find feasible matches and prioritize facility needs, we incorporated restrictions and preferences for both sides. For staff, we considered maximum mileage they are willing to travel, available by date, and short- or long-term work preferences. For LTCFs, we considered their demand quantities for different positions and the level of urgency for their demand. As a secondary goal of this study, by using the feedback entries data received from the LTCFs on their matches, we developed statistical models to determine the most salient features that induced the LTCFs to submit feedback. Results: We used the developed portal to complete about 150 matching sessions in 14 months to match staff to LTCFs in Massachusetts. LTCFs provided feedback for 2,542 matches including 2,064 intentions to hire the matched staff during this time. Further analysis indicated that nursing homes and facilities that entered higher levels of demand to the portal were more likely to provide feedback on the matches and facilities that were prioritized in the matching process due to whole facility testing or low staffing levels were less likely to do so. On the staffing side, matches that involved more experienced staff and staff who can work afternoons, evenings, and overnight were more likely to generate feedback from the facility that they were matched to. Conclusion: Developing a central matching framework to match medical staff to LTCFs at the time of a public health emergency could be an efficient tool for responding to staffing shortages. Such central approaches that help allocate a severely limited resource efficiently during a public emergency can be developed and used for different resource types, as well as provide crucial demand and supply information in different regions and/or demographics.
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  Using Simulation-Based Learning with Standardized Patients (SP) in an Implicit Bias Mitigation Clinician Training Program

  Tjia, Jennifer; Pugnaire, Michele; Calista, Joanne; Eisdorfer, Ethan; Hale, Janet; Terrien, Jill; Valdman, Olga; Potts, Stacy E; Garcia, Maria; Yazdani, Majid; et al. (2023-06-05)

  Objectives: To describe the development and refinement of an implicit bias recognition and management training program for clinical trainees. Methods: In the context of an NIH-funded clinical trial to address healthcare disparities in hypertension management, research and education faculty at an academic medical center used a participatory action research approach to engage local community members to develop and refine a "knowledge, awareness, and skill-building" bias recognition and mitigation program. The program targeted medical residents and Doctor of Nursing Practice students. The content of the two-session training included: didactics about healthcare disparities, racism and implicit bias; implicit association test (IAT) administration to raise awareness of personal implicit bias; skill building for bias-mitigating communication; and case scenarios for skill practice in simulation-based encounters with standardized patients (SPs) from the local community. Results: The initial trial year enrolled n = 65 interprofessional participants. Community partners and SPs who engaged throughout the design and implementation process reported overall positive experiences, but SPs expressed need for greater faculty support during in-person debriefings following simulation encounters to balance power dynamics. Initial year trainee participants reported discomfort with intensive sequencing of in-person didactics, IATs, and SP simulations in each of the two training sessions. In response, authors refined the training program to separate didactic sessions from IAT administration and SP simulations, and to increase safe space, and trainee and SP empowerment. The final program includes more interactive discussions focused on identity, race and ethnicity, and strategies to address local health system challenges related to structural racism. Conclusion: It is possible to develop and implement a bias awareness and mitigation skills training program that uses simulation-based learning with SPs, and to engage with local community members to tailor the content to address the experience of local patient populations. Further research is needed to measure the success and impact of replicating this approach elsewhere.
• From COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy to Vaccine Acceptance: Results of a Longitudinal Survey

  Fisher, Kimberly A; Nguyen, Ngoc; Fouayzi, Hassan; Crawford, Sybil; Singh, Sonal; Dong, May; Wittenberg, Ruth; Mazor, Kathleen M (2023-05-27)

  Objectives: COVID-19 vaccines are widely available, but uptake is suboptimal. To develop strategies to increase vaccination rates, we sought to (1) characterize adults initially hesitant to be vaccinated for COVID-19 who later received the vaccine and (2) identify factors associated with their vaccination decision. Methods: In January 2021, we conducted an online survey of US adults via Prolific that assessed vaccination intent, COVID-19-related knowledge and attitudes, and demographic characteristics. In May 2021, we recontacted respondents to assess vaccination status and factors influencing their vaccination decision. We used χ2 statistics and t tests to examine associations between respondents' vaccination status and their characteristics, knowledge, and attitudes. We analyzed reasons for vaccination using thematic analysis. Results: Of 756 initially vaccine-hesitant respondents, 529 (70.0%) completed the follow-up survey. Nearly half of those initially not sure about vaccination (47.3%, 112 of 237) were vaccinated at follow-up, while 21.2% (62 of 292) of those initially planning not to be vaccinated were vaccinated at follow-up. Of those initially not sure, higher educational attainment, greater knowledge of COVID-19, and a doctor's recommendation were associated with vaccination. Of those initially intending not to be vaccinated, male sex, Democratic political affiliation, receipt of an influenza shot within 5 years, being more worried about COVID-19, and having greater COVID-19 knowledge were associated with increased likelihood of being vaccinated. Of 167 respondents who gave reasons for vaccination, protecting oneself and others (59.9%), practical issues (29.9%), social influences (17.4%), and vaccine safety (13.8%) were the main reasons. Conclusion: Providing information on the protective value of vaccination, implementing rules that make remaining unvaccinated burdensome, making vaccination easy, and providing social support may influence vaccine-hesitant adults to accept vaccination.
• Population-level policy recommendations for the prevention of disordered weight control behaviors: A scoping review

  Raffoul, Amanda; Turner, Samantha L; Salvia, Meg G; Austin, S Bryn (2023-04-25)

  Objective: The aim of this scoping review was to identify recommendations and gaps in knowledge surrounding the prevention of disordered weight control behaviors (DWCBs) through policy. Method: A search was conducted in several databases to identify English language articles that described an active policy, recommendation, guideline, or educational curriculum that could be implemented by governments or regulatory bodies to prevent DWCBs or related constructs (e.g., weight stigma, body dissatisfaction). Two researchers independently screened articles with oversight from a third researcher. Data were extracted from the final sample (n = 65) and analyzed qualitatively across all articles and within the domains of education, public policy, public health, industry regulation, and media. Results: Only a single empirical evaluation of an implemented policy to reduce DWCBs was identified. Over one-third of articles proposed recommendations relating to industry regulation and media (n = 24, 36.9%), followed by education (n = 21, 32.3%), public policy (n = 19, 29.2%), and public health (n = 10, 15.4%). Recommendations included school-based changes to curricula, staff training, and anti-bullying policies; legislation to ban weight discrimination; policies informed by strategic science; collaboration with researchers from other fields; de-emphasizing weight in health communications; diversifying body sizes and limiting modified images in media; and restricting the sale of weight-loss supplements. Discussion: The findings of this review highlight gaps in empirically evaluated policies to reduce DWCBs but also promising policy recommendations across several domains. Although some policy recommendations were supported by empirical evidence, others were primarily based on experts' knowledge, highlighting the need for greater research on population-level DWCBs prevention through policy. Public significance: Our scoping review of the evidence on policies for the prevention of disordered weight control behaviors identified several recommendations across the domains of education, public policy, public health, and industry regulation and media. Although few empirical investigations of implemented policies have been conducted, expert recommendations for policies to prevent disordered weight control behaviors among populations are plentiful and warrant future consideration by researchers and policymakers alike.
• Implementation of educational escape rooms in a nurse practitioner doctoral curriculum

  Hebert, Danielle (2023-01-26)

  Escape rooms have gained popularity as a means for team building while working to accurately complete challenging puzzles to 'escape' the room. The use of escape rooms is starting to emerge in healthcare education, including nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacology, and psychology. An escape room intensive was created and piloted using the Educational Escape Room Development Guide during the second year of the DNP program. The objective was to challenge their clinical judgment and critical thinking as they solved a series of puzzles created to provide hints for resolving a complex patient scenario. All faculty (n = 7) and most students (96 %, n = 26/27) felt the activity contributed to students' learning process while all students and the majority of faculty (86 %, 6/7) strongly agreed that content was relevant to develop decision making skills. Educational escape rooms can provide engaging, innovative learning to support development of critical thinking and clinical judgment.
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  Managing broken expectations after a diagnosis of fetal anomaly

  Theroux, Rosemary T.; Hersperger, Cheryl L. (2022-12-31)

  The prenatal diagnosis of a fetal anomaly is unexpected, and for many parents it is devastating. It is considered a traumatic perinatal event that presents a crisis for parents. Expectant parents dealing with a lethal anomaly are particularly at increased risk for perinatal depression, anxiety, and traumatic stress. A growing number of qualitative researchers have examined the experience of fetal anomaly. Despite the accumulating knowledge, theory has not been developed. The purpose of this study is to analyze and synthesize evidence drawn from grounded theory research in order to develop a theory that describes and explains the process parents use to manage the diagnosis and predict their needs. A systematic search was conducted in 5 databases. Fourteen grounded theory research articles were chosen and were analyzed with grounded theory methods. Parents' expectations about pregnancy and future parenting were broken with the diagnosis of a fetal anomaly. Parents use a six-stage process of Repositioning to work through the problem and direct their course on the best new pathway for their family. Both personal and situational conditions influenced the decisions and management strategies used by the family. The factors that enhance parents’ repositioning can facilitate the development of interventions to improve the care for these families.
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  Expanding Latent Tuberculosis Infection Testing and Treatment in Massachusetts Primary Care Clinics via the ECHO Model

  Szkwarko, Daria; Urbanowski, Michael E; Thal, Rebecca; Iyer, Patricia; Foley, Susan; Randall, Liisa M; Bernardo, John; Savageau, Judith A.; Cochran, Jennifer (2022-12-01)

  Introduction/objectives: In the US, reactivation of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) accounts for 80% of new cases. In 2016, the US Preventive Services Task Force provided a new recommendation that primary care providers (PCPs) should conduct LTBI screening, whereas in the past, LTBI cases were evaluated and treated by specialty providers. This shift in care revealed knowledge gaps surrounding LTBI treatment among PCPs. This study assessed changes in PCPs' confidence for performing key aspects of LTBI care before and after participation in an LTBI Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) course. Methods: The ECHO Model™ is an evidence-based telementoring intervention. Participants were primary care team members from clinics throughout Massachusetts who voluntarily enrolled in the ECHO course. In this mixed-methods evaluation, primary outcomes were PCP self-reported confidence changes by pre- and post-course surveys and post-course semi-structured interviews. Results: Twenty PCPs (43% of registered PCPs) attended at least 3 of the 6 sessions and 24 PCPs (31% of registered PCPs) completed at least one survey. Confidence increased in selecting a test (P = .004), interpreting tuberculosis infection test results (P = .03), and selecting a treatment regimen (P = .004). Qualitative interviews with 3 PCPs revealed practice changes including switching to interferon gamma release assays for testing and using rifampin for treatment. Conclusions: Use of the ECHO model to train PCPs in LTBI management is feasible and efficacious. For continuing medical education, ECHO courses can be leveraged to reduce health disparities in settings where PCPs' lack of familiarity about a treatment topic contributes to poor health outcomes.
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  The Impact of COVID-19 on the Behavioral Health of Massachusetts Tribal Communities

  Aronowitz, Teri; Woods, Cedric; Kim, BoRam; Frisard, Christine F.; Beatriz, Elizabeth; Cardoso, Lauren; Lin, Ta-Wei; Stack, Caroline; Lemon, Stephenie C. (2022-11-07)

  Background: American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) individuals were 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized from the virus compared to other race/ethic groups (CDC, 2021). Despite being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, the experiences of the AI/AN population during the pandemic have not been documented. There are approximately 93,123 individuals in Massachusetts (MA) that identify as AI/AN (U.S. Census, 2020). This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on the behavioral health of the MA AI/AN population. Methods: A web-based survey was completed by 452 AI/ANs. A focus group with members of the AN/AI/AN (n=10) community was conducted to provide insights into the survey results. Individuals were recruited through the Institute of New England Native American Studies research team’s Community Advisory Board. Results: Forty-two percent of sample were between 45-64 years of age, female (77.2%), and identified as AN/AN in combination with another race (85%). Almost half of AI/AN participants had 15 or more days of poor mental health in the past month with rates highest among younger individuals. Forty-four percent reported that their substance use was a lot or somewhat more than pre-pandemic. Focus group findings indicated that the pandemic exacerbated (1) behavioral health challenges; (2) isolation from others and from AI/AN organizations; (3) telehealth was helpful to some; but (4) 30% had limited broadband access. Conclusion & Implications: The AI/AN community in MA has experienced devastating behavioral health outcomes during the pandemic. Urgent action is needed to address with crisis. Funding for risk-reducing programs and culturally specific treatment interventions are needed.
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  Use of a Rapid Qualitative Method to Inform the Development of a Text Messaging Intervention for People With Serious Mental Illness Who Smoke: Formative Research Study

  Nagawa, Catherine S; Lane, Ian A; McKay, Colleen E; Kamberi, Ariana; Shenette, Lisa L; Kelly, Megan M; Davis, Maryann; Sadasivam, Rajani S (2022-11-07)

  Background: People with serious mental illness are disproportionately affected by smoking and face barriers to accessing smoking cessation treatments in mental health treatment settings. Text-based interventions are cost-effective and represent a widely accessible approach to providing smoking cessation support. Objective: We aimed to identify key factors for adapting text-based cessation interventions for people with serious mental illness who smoke. Methods: We recruited 24 adults from mental health programs who had a serious mental illness and currently smoked cigarettes or had quit smoking within the past 5 years. We then conducted virtual qualitative interviews between November 2020 and August 2021. Data were analyzed using the rapid thematic analytic approach. Results: We identified the following 3 major themes: (1) interplay between smoking and having a serious mental illness, (2) social contextual factors of smoking in adults with serious mental illness, and (3) smoking and quitting behaviors similar to the general population. Participants reported barriers and facilitators to quitting across the 3 themes. Within the "interplay between smoking and having a serious mental illness" theme, barriers included smoking to manage stress and mental health symptoms, and facilitators to quitting included the awareness of the harm of smoking on mental health and patient-provider discussions on smoking and mental health. In the "social contextual factors of smoking in adults with serious mental illness" theme, barriers included high social acceptability of smoking among peers. Positive support and the combined social stigma of smoking and having a mental health condition outside of peer groups motivated individuals to quit. Some participants indicated that low exposure to other smokers during the COVID-19 pandemic helped them to engage in cessation efforts. In the "smoking and quitting behaviors similar to the general population" theme, barriers included smoking after eating, having coffee, drinking alcohol, and experiencing negative social support, and facilitators included health concerns, improvement in the general quality of life, and use of evidence-based tobacco treatments when available. Conclusions: People with serious mental illness often smoke to cope with intense emotional states, manage mental health symptoms, or maintain social bonds. Text message content emphasizing equally effective and less harmful ways for stress reduction and mental health symptom management may improve quit rates in individuals with serious mental illness.
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  Non-COVID-19 hospitalizations: patients’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

  Patrick, Julia (2022-11-02)

  The purpose of this Qualitative Descriptive study was to describe the experience of hospitalized adults during the pandemic who did not have COVID-19. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 English-speaking adults who were hospitalized on a medical or surgical floor after April 1, 2020 and were negative for COVID-19 throughout their entire hospital stay. The interview questions focused on the overall hospital experience, the nurse’s role in their experience, comfort needs, and the experience of having comfort needs met during the hospitalization. Conventional content analysis of the transcribed transcripts revealed five main themes related to the hospital experience: I don’t expect the hospital to be comfortable; I was always tense; Wanting human connection; Communication is important; and Nurses are busy. An unpleasant environment, longing for comfort from family and nurses, a perception that the nurses were too busy, feelings of being isolated from others and the world, and experiencing fear and anxiety were all elements of the hospital experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings identified a need for targeted practice, research, and education to improve patient comfort in the physical, psycho-spiritual, sociocultural, and environmental contexts. This is important as we look toward improving the overall patient experience during hospitalization.
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  COVID-19 Test Us: A Case for Embedding Ethics and Regulatory Expertise

  Taylor, Holly A.; Hale, Janet F.; Centola, Michael; Blodgett, Allison (2022-11-01)

  A key aspect of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) Tech program was an active Clinical Studies Core including Committees with unique expertise to facilitate the development and implementation of studies to test novel diagnostic devices for Covid-19. The Ethics and Human Subjects Oversight Team (EHSO) was tasked to provide ethics and regulatory expertise to stakeholders in the RADx Tech effort. The EHSO developed a set of Ethical Principles to guide the overall effort and provided consultation on a wide range of ethical and regulatory concerns. Having access to a pool of experts with ethical and regulatory knowledge who met weekly to tackle issues of importance to the investigators was critical to the overall success of the project.
• Ubiety in nursing practice: Making each patient the star of the minute

  Amoah, Rita K.; Sullivan-Bolyai, Susan L; Pagano-Therrien, Jesica (2022-10-29)

  Nurses work in a fast-paced environment with increased expectations and distractions. Ubiety is a new concept that describes how nurses care for one patient at a time amid distractions. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of exemplar registered nurses (Daisy Award nurse nominees) in practicing ubiety when caring for patients in an acute care setting. Qualitative data was collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed. "Making each patient the star of the minute" emerged as the main theme and included five subthemes which highlight how nurses practice ubiety: (1) anticipating and managing distractions, (2) putting my whole self in, (3) nurse self-preservation, (4) my nursing identity, and (5) favorable practice environment. Results of this study highlight the importance of developing skills to anticipate patient care needs and supporting individual self-preservation strategies for nurses.
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  Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease Using SBAR as a Communication Tool: A Pilot Study

  Jean-Baptiste, Deborah M.; Wassef, Maureen E.; Sullivan-Bolyai, Susan L; Coretta, Jenerette (2022-10-24)

  Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hemoglobinopathy that causes debilitating pain. Patients often report dissatisfaction during care seeking for pain or a sickle cell crisis (SCC). The Theory of Self-Care Management for SCD conceptualizes assertive communication as a self-care management resource that improves healthcare outcomes. Objectives: This pilot study aimed to determine whether adults with SCD could learn to use the Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) communication method using a web-based trainer, and it aimed to determine their perceptions of the training. Methods: The participants included n = 18 adults with SCD. Inter-rater reliability (IRR) among three reviewers was used to evaluate the participants’ ability to respond as expected to prompts using SBAR communication within the web-based platform. Content analysis was used to describe the participants’ perspectives of the acceptability of using the SBAR patient–HCP communication simulation. Results: The SBAR IRR ranged from 64 to 94%, with 72% to 94% of the responses being evaluated as the using of the SBAR component as expected. The predominant themes identified were (1) Patient–Provider Communication and Interaction; (2) Patients want to be Heard and Believed; (3) Accuracy of the ED Experience and Incorporating the Uniqueness of each Patient; and (4) the Overall Usefulness of the Video Trainer emerging. Conclusions: This pilot study supported the usefulness and acceptability of a web-based intervention in training adults with SCD to use SBAR to enhance patient–HCP communication. Enhancing communication may mitigate the barriers that individuals with SCD encounter during care seeking and improve the outcomes. Additional studies with larger samples need to be conducted.
• Experiences With a Distant Reiki Intervention During the COVID-19 Pandemic Using the Science of Unitary Human Beings Framework

  DiBenedetto, Jennifer (2022-10-01)

  An increasing number of individuals are reporting increased stress and anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. A feasibility, mixed-method design was conducted to investigate distant Reiki as a virtual healing modality within Rogers' framework of the Science of Unitary Human Beings. Data were collected using pre- and post-distant Reiki session interviews and 2 surveys. Study findings demonstrated changes in participant pattern manifestation and statistically significant reductions in perceived stress and anxiety (P &lt; .001). The preliminary findings support the feasibility of distant Reiki and suggest that nurses, who are Reiki practitioners, may influence the human-environmental field to foster healing.
• Facilitators and Inhibitors of LPN-to-RN Student Transition: A Cross-Sectional National Survey

  Cornine, Amanda E.; Crawford, Sybil L.; Sullivan-Bolyai, Susan L (2022-09-26)

  AIM The aim of the study was to describe the transition conditions (facilitators and inhibitors) encountered by licensed practical nurses in registered nurse educational programs (LPN-to-RN students). BACKGROUND LPN-to-RN students are important because they may increase diversity and numbers of RNs. However, no prior study has examined transition experiences of LPN-to-RN students across the United States. METHOD A cross-sectional survey of LPN-to-RN students was conducted using Meleis et al.’s transition theory. RESULTS Students (n = 873) from 131 nursing programs responded. The most common facilitators were personal motivation and believing the content taught was valuable; the most common inhibitors were juggling multiple responsibilities and personal stress levels. Several significant relationships between transition conditions and program/student characteristics were identified. CONCLUSION Faculty in LPN-to-RN programs can increase support for students by refining their own actions and addressing potential challenges when LPN and non-LPN nursing students share classes.
• The Buddy System: An Intervention to Reduce Distress and Compassion Fatigue and Promote Resilience on a Palliative Care Team During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  McCool, Nancy; Reidy, Jennifer; Steadman, Shawna; Nagpal, Vandana (2022-09-21)

  The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (COVID-19) dramatically increased the number of stressors on healthcare workers, including palliative care practitioners. Restrictions and increased demands on time made it difficult for the UMass Memorial Health palliative care team to utilize preexisting wellness strategies. In response to team members' stress reactions, a buddy system intervention was conceived and implemented to restore a sense of connection and self-efficacy (Phase 1). Our objective with this quality improvement project was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the buddy system and evaluate staff attitudes toward this intervention. After four months, feedback from team members informed redesign to a more structured buddy system (Phase 2). A mixed-methods design of this project included a qualitative online survey along with quantitative data collection with the Professional Quality of Life Scale V (ProQOL V) and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) during Phase 1. Phase 2 was also evaluated quantitatively with ProQOL V and BRS. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at the end of this project to enhance qualitative data on staff attitudes and beliefs. Of the 12 study participants, 10 completed all phases of the study. Participants reported the buddy system was a useful, easy-to-implement intervention for mitigating personal distress and compassion fatigue (CF) by providing a strong sense of support and connection to team members.

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