How is the audit of therapy intensity influencing rehabilitation in inpatient stroke units in the UK? An ethnographic study.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Taylor E
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6303655 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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How is the audit of therapy intensity influencing rehabilitation in inpatient stroke units in the UK? An ethnographic study.
Taylor Elizabeth E Jones Fiona F McKevitt Christopher C
BMJ open 20181214 12
<h4>Objectives</h4>Occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy are central to rehabilitation after a stroke. The UK has introduced an audited performance target: that 45 min of each therapy should be provided to patients deemed appropriate. We sought to understand how this has influenced delivery of stroke unit therapy.<h4>Design</h4>Ethnographic study, including observation and interviews. The theoretical framework drew on the work of Lipsky and Power, framing therapists ...[more]
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Project description:ObjectiveEffective stroke care does not end with acute treatment during hospitalization, but extends through rehabilitation and secondary stroke prevention. In transitions across care environments, stroke patients are vulnerable to errors in communication of diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to demonstrate that formalized communication between the neurology team and the rehabilitation medicine team would promote secondary stroke prevention and minimize interruptions during rehabilitation.MethodsThe intervention was a standardized verbal handoff by phone between the discharging neurology resident and the admitting rehabilitation resident regarding each patient at transfer. This retrospective cohort study compared a pre-intervention control group (September 2012 to February 2013) and a post-intervention group transferred with the handoff (September 2013 to January 2014). The outcomes measured included errors in communication of stroke severity, stroke mechanism, medications, and recommended follow-up (appointments and tests) as well as emergent brain imaging, return to the acute care facility, and readmission.ResultsThe pre- and post-intervention groups were similar with respect to number of patients (50 vs. 52) and demographics including gender (52 vs. 54% female), age (65.8 vs. 64.0?years), severity of illness as measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (10 vs. 6.5), and stroke type (84 vs. 77% ischemic). Implementation of the handoff decreased errors in communication of diagnosis (NIHSS 92 vs. 74%, p?=?0.02; stroke mechanism 54 vs. 30%, p?=?0.02). Furthermore, the handoff decreased the proportion with errors in reconciliation of critical medications (42 vs. 23%, p?=?0.04). However, the intervention did not significantly reduce interruptions of the rehabilitation program, such as emergent brain imaging (8 vs. 12%, p?=?0.55), or transfers back to the acute care hospital (26 vs. 21%, p?=?0.56).ConclusionStandardized handoffs decreased errors in communication of diagnosis and critical medications for secondary stroke prevention.
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Project description:BACKGROUND:Despite increasing evidence regarding the benefit of intensive task-specific practice and aerobic exercise in stroke rehabilitation, implementation remains difficult. The factors influencing implementation have been explored from therapists' perspectives; however, despite an increased emphasis on patient involvement in research, patients' perceptions have not yet been investigated. OBJECTIVE:The study aimed to investigate factors influencing implementation of higher intensity activity in people with stroke and to compare this with therapists' perspectives. DESIGN:The design was a cross-sectional qualitative study. METHODS:The study used semistructured interviews with people with stroke who were part of a randomized clinical trial, the Determining Optimal post-Stroke Exercise study, which delivered a higher intensity intervention. An interview guide was developed and data analyzed using implementation frameworks. Factors emerging from interviews with people with stroke were compared and contrasted with factors perceived by rehabilitation therapists. RESULTS:Ten people with stroke were interviewed before data saturation was reached. Participants had a positive attitude regarding working hard and were satisfied with the graded exercise test, high intensity intervention, and the feedback-monitoring devices. Therapists and patients had contrasting perceptions about their beliefs regarding intensive exercise and the content of the intervention, with therapists more focused on the methods and patients more focused on the personal interactions stemming from the therapeutic relationship. CONCLUSIONS:People with stroke perceived no barriers regarding the implementation of higher intensity rehabilitation in practice and were positive towards working at more intense levels. Contrastingly, from the therapists' perspective, therapists' beliefs about quality of movement and issues around staffing and resources were perceived to be barriers. In addition, therapists and people with stroke perceived the contents of the intervention differently, highlighting the importance of involving patients and clinicians in the development and evaluation of rehabilitation interventions.
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Project description:BackgroundStroke has a major impact on survivors and their social environment. Care delivery is advocated to become more client-centered and home-based because of their positive impact on client outcomes. The objective of this study was to explore professionals' perspectives on the provision of Home-Based Stroke Rehabilitation (HBSR) in the Netherlands and on the barriers and facilitators influencing the implementation of HBSR in daily practice.MethodsSemi-structured focus groups were conducted to explore the perspectives of health and social care professionals involved in stroke rehabilitation. Directed content analysis was performed to analyze the transcripts of recorded conversations.ResultsFourteen professionals participated in focus groups (n = 12) or, if unable to attend, an interview (n = 2). Participants varied in professional backgrounds and roles in treating Dutch clients post stroke. Barriers and facilitators influencing the implementation of HBSR in daily practice were identified in relation to: the innovation, the user, the organization and the socio-political context. Participants reported that HBSR can be efficient and effective to most clients because it facilitates client- and caregiver-centered rehabilitation within the clients' own environment. However, barriers in implementing HBSR were perceived in a lack of (structured) inter-professional collaboration and the transparency of expertise of primary care professionals. Also, the current financial structures for HBSR in the Netherlands are viewed as inappropriate.DiscussionIn line with previous studies, we found that HBSR is recognized by professionals as a promising alternative to institution-based rehabilitation for clients with sufficient capabilities (e.g. their own health and informal support).ConclusionMultiple factors influencing the implementation of HBSR were identified. Our study suggests that, in order to implement HBSR in daily practice, region specific implementation strategies need to be developed. We recommend developing strategies concerning: organized and coordinated inter-professional collaboration, transparency of the expertise of primary care professionals, and the financial structures of HBSR.
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