Tag: Clinical-Nursing

  • Week 9: Men and Women’s Health – community-acquired pneumonia Case study

    Week 9: Men and Women’s Health – community-acquired pneumonia Case study

    Week 9: Men and Women’s Health

    Class, this week we will be covering a variety of men and women’s health issues. Again, as in many of our previous weeks, there is more to this topic than what may first come to mind. For example, we will learn more about birth control and benign prostatic hyperplasia. These two topics will introduce you to several new pharmacological classes.

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    For the discussion this week, you will post a brief description of your patient’s health needs from the patient case study attached below. Explain the type of treatment regimen you would recommend for treating your patient, including the choice or pharmacotherapeutics you would recommend and explain why. Also, explain a patient education strategy you might recommend for assisting your patient with the management of their health needs. You will respond to your peers in week 10. Week 9: Men and Women’s Health – community-acquired pneumonia Case study.

    Patient Case Study 1:

    HH is a 68 yo M who has been admitted to the medical ward with community-acquired pneumonia for the past 3 days. His PMH is significant for COPD, HTN, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. He remains on empiric antibiotics, which include ceftriaxone 1 g IV qday (day 3) and azithromycin 500 mg IV qday (day 3). Since admission, his clinical status has improved, with decreased oxygen requirements. He is not tolerating a diet at this time with complaints of nausea and vomiting.

    Ht: 5’8”  Wt: 89 kg

    Allergies: Penicillin (rash) Week 9: Men and Women’s Health – community-acquired pneumonia Case study

  • Assessing a Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Essay

    Assessing a Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Essay

    Assessing a Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation

    To Prepare:

    • Select an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation

    • Review the healthcare program or policy evaluation and reflect on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program or policy described.

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    The Assignment: (2pages)

    Based on the program or policy evaluation you selected, address the following questions. Make sure you have answers to each of the questions. Let the answers follow each of the questions.

    • Describe the healthcare program or policy outcomes.

    • How was the success of the program or policy measured? Assessing a Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Essay

    • How many people were reached by the program or policy selected?

    • How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?

    • At what point in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted?

    • What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?

    • What specific information on unintended consequences was identified?

    • What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples.

    • Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?

    • Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?

    • Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after 1 year of implementation. Assessing a Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Essay

    RESOURCES:

    Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

    • Chapter 7, “Health Policy and Social Program Evaluation” (pp. 116–124 only)

    Glasgow, R. E., Lichtenstein, E., & Marcus, A. C. (2003). Why don’t we see more translation of health promotion research to practice? Rethinking the efficacy-to-effectiveness transition. American Journal of Public Health, 93(8), 1261–1267.

    Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

    Shiramizu, B., Shambaugh, V., Petrovich, H., Seto, T. B., Ho, T., Mokuau, N., & Hedges, J. R. (2016). Leading by success: Impact of a clinical and translational research infrastructure program to address health inequities. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 4(5), 983–991. doi:10.1007/s40615-016-0302-4

    Williams, J. K., & Anderson, C. M. (2018). Omics research ethics considerations. Nursing Outlook, 66(4), 386–393. doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2018.05.003

    Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases Assessing a Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Essay

  • The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy Evaluation Essay

    The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy Evaluation Essay instructions:

    Review the Resources below and reflect on the role of professional nurses in policy evaluation.

    Post an explanation of at least two opportunities that currently exist for RNs and APRNs to actively participate in policy review. Explain some of the challenges that these opportunities may present and describe how you might overcome these challenges. Finally, recommend two strategies you might make to better advocate for or communicate the existence of these opportunities. Be specific and provide examples.

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    REASOURCES

    Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

    • Chapter 7, “Health Policy and Social Program Evaluation” (pp. 116–124 only)

    Glasgow, R. E., Lichtenstein, E., & Marcus, A. C. (2003). Why don’t we see more translation of health promotion research to practice? Rethinking the efficacy-to-effectiveness transition. American Journal of Public Health, 93(8), 1261–1267.

    Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases. The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy Evaluation Essay

    Shiramizu, B., Shambaugh, V., Petrovich, H., Seto, T. B., Ho, T., Mokuau, N., & Hedges, J. R. (2016). Leading by success: Impact of a clinical and translational research infrastructure program to address health inequities. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 4(5), 983–991. doi:10.1007/s40615-016-0302-4

    Williams, J. K., & Anderson, C. M. (2018). Omics research ethics considerations. Nursing Outlook, 66(4), 386–393. doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2018.05.003

    Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases The Role of the RN/APRN in Policy Evaluation Essay

  • Research Critique 3 Sample Essay – N5366: Principles of Research in Nursing

    Research Critique 3 Sample Essay – N5366: Principles of Research in Nursing

    Ethical Issues in Research

    The authors (Zilberman-Kravits, Meyerstein, Abu-Rabia, Wiznitzer, & Harman-Boehm, 2018) state that the study protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the Soroka University Medical Center and by the National Ethics Committee.  It is also registered as a Clinical Trial, presumably in Israel.  The authors also state that all women gave written informed consent to participate in the study.  Unfortunately, there are no details reported about how consent was done.  For example, the women were recruited from either a medical center or medical clinic where clinicians and others could observe them.  They should have been taken to a private room for the entire informed consent process, and for any intervention or data collection.  Their identities should have been kept anonymous.  Likewise all data should have been kept separate from clinic medical data, in an encrypted computer that only the investigators had access to (Gray, Grove, & Sutherland, 2017). Research Critique 3 Sample Essay – N5366: Principles of Research in Nursing

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    Although the authors do not mention a benefit-risk evaluation, the reader could assume that it was a low risk intervention since it included lifestyle changes in diet and physical activity.  The only invasive part of the study was blood draws, which are a fairly routine or normal part of clinical care, so they pose no extra risk.  The potential benefits of improving metabolic outcomes would outweigh any risks due to blood draws.  Since the women had already given birth and should not be pregnant at this time, they were not a vulnerable population.  Currently being pregnant should actually have been an exclusion criterion, but the authors do not mention this.

     
    Measurement Tools

    Name of Tool

    (Author, year)

    Level of

    Measurement

    Reliability

    reported

    Validity

    reported

    Insulin (uU/ml)

    (laboratory)

    Ratio

    Not reported

    Not reported

    Glucose (mg%)

    (laboratory)

    Ratio

    Not reported

    Not reported

    HOMA-IR

    (Calculated from insulin & glucose measures)

    Ratio

    Not reported

    Not reported

    Cholesterol

    (laboratory)

    Ratio

    Not reported

    Research Critique 3 Sample Essay – N5366: Principles of Research in Nursing

    Not reported

    LDL-C

    (laboratory)

    Ratio

    Not reported

    Not reported

    HDL-C

    (laboratory)

    Ratio

    Not reported

    Not reported

    VLDL-C

    (laboratory)

    Ratio

    Not reported

    Not reported

    Triglycerides

    (laboratory)

     

    Ratio

    Not reported

    Not reported

     

    Although the main study variables were all measured from blood samples, even laboratory machines have specificity and sensitivity data (Gray et al., 2017).  In other words, the authors could have reported on how accurate the laboratory machines were to accurately measure these variables.  The authors did not describe the measures at all for accuracy.

    Data Collection

    Data collection procedures are barely mentioned in this study, another major study weakness.  On page 805, the authors briefly mention that blood was drawn at baseline, and one and two years postpartum.  Other demographic and extraneous variables were also collected at those time points.  There is no mention of who drew the blood or their qualifications for doing that task (Gray et al., 2017).  There is no explanation of where the subjects were when blood was drawn, although the reader could assume it was at the medical center or medical clinic where the subjects were recruited.  There is no explanation of how the blood was stored to both maintain its integrity, and to protect the subjects’ privacy.  Research-related blood samples must be kept in separate refrigerators or freezers from clinical samples, and should be kept locked for privacy. Research Critique 3 Sample Essay – N5366: Principles of Research in Nursing.

    No mention is made of how many data collectors worked on this project, how they were trained, or how inter-rater reliability was maintained throughout the study.  Given the sample size and the two-year length of the study, there had to have been multiple people drawing blood, running analyses, and entering data.  None of this is reported.

     

    References

    Gray, J. R., Grove, S. K., & Sutherland, S. (2017).
    Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence
    (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

    Zilberman-Kravits, D., Meyerstein, N., Abu-Rabia, Y., Wiznitzer, A., & Harman-Boehm, I. (2018). The impact of a cultural lifestyle intervention on metabolic parameters after gestational diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled trial.
    Maternal and Child Health Journal, 22
    , 803-811. doi:10.1007/s10995-018-2450-0 Research Critique 3 Sample Essay – N5366: Principles of Research in Nursing

  • Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter

    Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter

    Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter.

    To prepare for this Discussion:

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    Review this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the insights they provide.

    Go to the Stahl Online website and examine the case study you were assigned.

    Take the pretest for the case study.

    Review the patient intake documentation, psychiatric history, patient file, medication history, etc. As you progress through each section, formulate a list of questions that you might ask the patient if he or she were in your office.

    Based on the patient’s case history, consider other people in his or her life that you would need to speak to or get feedback from (i.e., family members, teachers, nursing home aides, etc.) Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter.

    Consider whether any additional physical exams or diagnostic testing may be necessary for the patient.

    Develop a differential diagnoses for the patient. Refer to the DSM-5 in this week’s Learning Resources for guidance.

    Review the patient’s past and current medications. Refer to Stahl’s Prescriber’s Guide and consider medications you might select for this patient.

    Review the posttest for the case study.

     

    To prepare for this Discussion:

    Note: To access the following case studies, click on the Case Studies tab on the Stahl Online website and select the appropriate volume and case number. (Already attached with this posting)

     

    Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter

     

    Review this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the insights they provide. Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter.

    Go to the Stahl Online website and examine the case study you were assigned.

    Take the pretest for the case study.

    Review the patient intake documentation, psychiatric history, patient file, medication history, etc. As you progress through each section, formulate a list of questions that you might ask the patient if he or she were in your office.

    Based on the patient’s case history, consider other people in his or her life that you would need to speak to or get feedback from (i.e., family members, teachers, nursing home aides, etc.).

    Consider whether any additional physical exams or diagnostic testing may be necessary for the patient.

    Develop a differential diagnoses for the patient. Refer to the DSM-5 in this week’s Learning Resources for guidance.

    Review the patient’s past and current medications. Refer to Stahl’s Prescriber’s Guide and consider medications you might select for this patient.

    Review the posttest for the case study.

     

    By Day 3

    Post a response to the following:

    Provide the case number in the subject line of the Discussion.

    List three questions you might ask the patient if he or she were in your office. Provide a rationale for why you might ask these questions.

    Identify people in the patient’s life you would need to speak to or get feedback from to further assess the patient’s situation. Include specific questions you might ask these people and why.

    Explain what physical exams and diagnostic tests would be appropriate for the patient and how the results would be used.

    List three differential diagnoses for the patient. Identify the one that you think is most likely and explain why. Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter.

    List two pharmacologic agents and their dosing that would be appropriate for the patient’s ADHD therapy based on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. From a mechanism of action perspective, provide a rationale for why you might choose one agent over the other.

    If your assigned case includes “check points” (i.e., follow-up data at week 4, 8, 12, etc.), indicate any therapeutic changes that you might make based on the data provided.

    Explain “lessons learned” from this case study, including how you might apply this case to your own practice when providing care to patients with similar clinical presentations.

     

    Learning Resources

    Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

    Required Readings

    Note: All Stahl resources can be accessed through the Walden Library using this link. This link will take you to a log-in page for the Walden Library. Once you log into the library, the Stahl website will appear.

    Clancy, C.M., Change, S., Slutsky, J., & Fox, S. (2011). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Effectiveness of treatment in at-risk preschoolers; long-term effectiveness in all ages; and variability in prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment.  Table B. KQ2: Long-term(>1 year) effectiveness of interventions for ADHD in people 6 years and older.

    Stahl, S. M. (2013). Stahl’s essential psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific basis and practical applications (4th ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

     

    To access the following chapters, click on the Essential Psychopharmacology, 4th ed tab on the Stahl Online website and select the appropriate chapter. Be sure to read all sections on the left navigation bar for each chapter.

    Chapter 12, “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Its Treatment”

    Stahl, S. M., & Mignon, L. (2012). Stahl’s illustrated attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

     

    To access the following chapter, click on the Illustrated Guides tab and then the ADHD tab.

    Chapter 4, “ADHD Treatments”

    Stahl, S. M. (2014b). The prescriber’s guide (5th ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

     

    To access information on the following medications, click on The Prescriber’s Guide, 5th ed tab on the Stahl Online website and select the appropriate medication.

     

    Review the following medications:

    For ADHD

    armodafinil

    amphetamine (d)

    amphetamine (d,l)

    atomoxetine

    bupropion

    chlorpromazine

    clonidine

    guanfacine

    haloperidol

    lisdexamfetamine

    methylphenidate (d)

    methylphenidate (d,l)

    modafinil

    reboxetine

     

    American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

     

    Optional Resources

    Hodgkins, P., Shaw, M., McCarthy, S., & Sallee, F. R. (2012). The pharmacology and clinical outcomes of amphetamines to treat ADHD: Does composition matter? CNS Drugs, 26(3), 245–268. doi:10.2165/11599630-000000000-00000

    Psychiatric Times. (2016). A 5-question quiz on ADHD. Retrieved from http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/adhd/5-question-quiz-adhd?GUID=AA46068B-C6FF-4020-8933-087041A0B140&rememberme=1&ts=22072016 Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter

     

    Course Texts

    These course texts are available through Stahl Online Resources http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://stahlonline.cambridge.org/

    Stahl, S. M. (2013). Stahl’s essential psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific basis and practical applications (4th ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

    Stahl, S. M. (2014b). The prescriber’s guide (5th ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

    American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

     

    Table B. KQ2: Long-term (>1 year) effectiveness of interventions for ADHD in people 6 years and

    older Conclusion

    Medication Treatment

    Level of EvidenceIntervention SOE: Low Very few studies include untreated controls.

    Studies were largely funded by industry. SMD: -0.54 (95% Cl, -0.79 to -0.29)

    MPH:

    Psychostimulants continue to provide control of ADHD symptoms and are generally well tolerated for months to years

    ATX: at a time. The evidence for MPH use in the context of careful SMD: -0.40 (95% medication monitoring shows good evidence for benefits for Cl, -0.61 to -0.18) symptoms for 14 months.

    ATX is effective for ADHD symptoms and well tolerated over 12 months.

    SOE: Insufficient Only one study of GXR monotherapy is available. It reports reduced ADHD symptoms and global improvement, although less than a fifth of participants completed 12 months.

    Monitoring of cardiac status may be indicated since approximately 1% of participants showed EGG changes judged clinically significant.

    Combined The results from 2 cohorts indicate both medication (MPH) and Psychostimulant

    SOE: Low combined medication and behavioral treatment are effective in

    Medication and SMD: -0.70 (95% treating ADHD plus ODD symptoms in children, primarily boys Behavioral ages 7-9 years of nomnal intelligence with combined type of Treatment

    Cl, -0.95 to -0.46) ADHD, especially during the first 2 years of treatment.

    Several reports from one high-quality study suggest that combined medication and behavioral treatment improves outcomes more than medication alone for some subgroups of children with ADHD combined type and for some outcomes.

    Behavioral/ There is not enough evidence to draw conclusions for persons Psychosocial

    SOE: Insufficient 6 years and older with a diagnosis of ADHD.

    Parent Behavior There is not enough evidence to draw conclusions for persons Training

    SOE: Insufficient 6 years and older with a diagnosis of ADHD.

    Academic Interventions One good-quality study and its extension showed that classroom-based programs to enhance academic skills are effective in improving achievement scores in multiple domains, but following discontinuation, the benefits for sustained growth in academic skills are limited to the domain of reading fluency. All other domains show skill maintenance but not continued growth.

    SOE: Insufficient

    .. Note: ADHD- attention defictt hyperactlvtty dtsorder, ATX- atomoxetine, ECG- electrocardiOgram, GXR- guanfacme extended release; KQ =Key Question; MPH= methylphenidate; ODD= oppositional defiant disorder; SMD =standardized mean difference; SOE =strength ofevidence.

    ES-15

    Pharmacological Interventions Multiple short-term studies document that psycho stimulant medications, either MPH,

    dextroamphetamine (DEX), or mixed amphetamine salts (MAS), effectively decrease the core symptoms of ADHD and associated impairment. 10 A review of the mechanisms of action of pharmacological interventions for ADHD is beyond the scope of this report. Some preparations last only a few hours, with symptoms returning as the medication wears off. Many families choose to use medication primarily on school days, and these medications have primarily been studied in school-aged children and youth aged 6 years and older. Psychostimulants, most connnonly MPH and DEX, are generally safe and well tolerated. Common side effects include poor appetite, insomnia, headaches, stomachaches, and increased blood pressure and heart rate. Prolonged use may result in a decreased rate of growth, generally considered clinically insignificant.n8 Concerns have been raised from postmarketing surveillance suggesting a rare incidence of sudden death, perhaps associated with pre-existing cardiac defects, however, the rate does not appear to exceed that of the base rate of sudden death in the population. 118 As noted earlier, approximately 2.5 million children in the United States, ages 4 to 17 years with a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or ADHD, cunently take medication.4

    Several extended release preparations of psychostimulants have been developed in recent years aimed at improved adherence and symptom control throughout the day as well as decreased abuse potential. 120 Non-stimulants (e.g., alpha adrenergic agents and atomoxetine (A TX)) have also been developed and found to be helpful in controlling symptoms with few adverse events. 121 However, in general, the benefits ofmedications wear offwhen they are discontinued. Since ADHD is a chronic disorder, many children, teens, and adults stay on medications for years at a time. Given the possibility of cumulative effects over time, a review of evidence regarding benefits and risks ofprolonged medication use for ADHD is indicated.

    Nonpharmacological Interventions In the area of nonpharmacologic interventions, behavior training has been found to be

    helpful, primarily for disruptive behaviors that frequently coincide with ADHD. 122 Since ADHD may begin before school age, using the precedent of older children, increasing numbers of preschoolers are being identified and treated, sometimes with medications. However, the most commonly used psychostimulant, MPH, does not yet have government regulatory approval for use in children less than 6 years of age, while MAS has been granted aEproval by the FDA in the United States for children under 6 years, but older than 3 years of age. 2 Recent reviews of treatments for preschoolers with ADHD emphasize the use ofparenting interventions prior to medication based on general clinical consensus. 124 Indeed, the Preschool ADHD Treatment Study (PATS), funded by the U.S. National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH), included parent behavior training (PBT) as the first phase for all children recruited into the study prior to randomization for the purpose of evaluating efficacy and safety ofpsychostimulant medication.125 While the few studies available suggest stimulant medications are effective for the core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness in very young children, psychostimulants also appear to cause more adverse events in preschool children than in older children.54 Beyond the PATS, little information exists to document effectiveness of either medication or non-medication interventions specifically for ADHD in this age group. Part ofthe difficulty has been lack of clarity regarding reliability and validity of diagnostic criteria and therefore lack ofwidespread application of the ADHD diagnosis for children under 6 years.n 9

     

    PATIENT FILE

    The Case: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter

    The Question: How often does ADHD run in families?

    The Dilemma: When you see a child with ADHD should you also evaluate the parents and siblings?

    Pretest Self Assessment Question (answer at the end of the case)

    Patients with comorbid ADHD and anxiety should in general not be prescribed stimulants

    A. True B. False

    Patient Intake • 26-year-old woman • Has a daughter with ADHD • Psychiatrist noted symptoms in the mother and suggested she come

    in for her own evaluation • See the previous Case 13, p 133 for presentation of the daughter’s

    case

    Psychiatric History • During interviews with the patient’s daughter (also attended by the

    patient) over the past several months, it was not only noted that the daughter has ADHD with comorbid ODD, but that the mother also exhibited multiple symptoms consistent with lifelong and undiagnosed ADHD including

    – Mother misses appointments or is late for appointments – Often appears disorganized – Did not fi ll out her child’s forms on time – Did not deliver forms to her child’s teacher, forgot, lost them – Admits being very disorganized since her second child started

    school – Feels overwhelmed by two children and her life circumstances – Could also have some signs of depression – Can’t get organized to take her child to CBT – Has a hard time keeping a regular schedule and also keeping her

    daughter on a regular schedule of going to bed and waking up – Was unable to remember to remove the daughter’s skin patch

    unless she set a cell phone alarm – All these suggest further evaluation of the mother is indicated

    since ADHD commonly runs in families and has a very high genetic contribution

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    PATIENT FILE

    152

    • Has always done poorly academically • Has always felt intimidated by any type of testing • In addition, reports that she has always been worried about the future

    and fi nancial stability of her family • Says she sometimes mentally “freezes when it gets to be too much” • When her eight year old daughter was diagnosed with ADHD, she

    suddenly realized that she had similar problems as a child • The psychiatrist explained to her that ADHD was highly heritable and

    that there was a 75% chance of having a child with ADHD if both parents have ADHD and thus was asked to fi ll out an Adult ADHD screening form

    Social and Personal History • High school drop out, age 17 after getting pregnant • Married age 17, divorced 2 years later • Two children, ages 8 and 6 • Smoker • No drug or alcohol abuse • Single mother works full time in retail • Father not much involved with his children

    Medical History • None notable • BP normal • BMI normal • Normal lab tests

    Family History • 8-year-old daughter: recently diagnosed with ADHD • Other family history unknown as the patient was adopted • See the previous Case 13, p 133 for presentation of the daughter’s

    case

    Patient Intake • The last time the patient brought her child to see the psychiatrist, the

    mother was asked to fi ll out her own checklist, the Adult ADHD Self Report Scale Symptom Checklist

    – She endorsed many items, mostly inattentive but not really hyperactive or impulsive such as:

    – Having trouble wrapping up the fi nal details of a project once the challenging parts have been done

    – Diffi culty getting things in order – Diffi culty remembering appointments or obligations

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    PATIENT FILE

    153

    – Making careless mistakes on diffi cult projects – Diffi culty keeping attention on repetitive work – Misplacing things at home and work – Distracted by activity around her – Diffi culty unwinding and relaxing when having time to herself – Diffi culty focusing/listening during conversations

    • Earlier, the mother was also requested to obtain copies of her report cards from fi rst and second grade

    – Her own mother had kept these in storage – Showed grades that were quite low – Her teachers had commented on some of the problems endorsed

    in the adult ADHD checklist that she continues to experience as an adult

    • Asked how these problems affect her life, she states that: – They cause great diffi culty managing family matters – She used to be unable to stay focused in conversations with her

    ex-husband, which made him feel she did not care about him • Additional complaints include:

    – Constantly feeling overwhelmed with taking care of the two children while working fulltime

    – Blaming herself for her daughter’s academic diffi culties – Feeling very emotional and overwhelmed

    – “I’m sorry, doctor, but two kids are just too much for this single mom”

    • Having diffi culty sleeping and being irritable with the children at night, which she regrets later on

    • Has many worries, about fi nances, about the future, about her children’s futures, about getting a better job, about getting her own education, about fi nding a new partner

    Based on just what you have been told so far about this patient’s history and symptoms, what do you think is her diagnosis?

    • Appropriate response to her circumstances with her severe psychosocial stressors

    • Mostly just stress and anxiety • ADHD • ADHD and stress • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) • Major depressive episode • ADHD and GAD • Other

    Downloaded from http://stahlonline.cambridge.org by IP 192.168.60.239 on Wed Jul 26 03:25:23 BST 2017 Stahl Online © 2017 Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution.

    PATIENT FILE

    154

    Attending Physician’s Mental Notes: Initial Psychiatric Evaluation • Here is a case that indeed is ADHD, but her symptoms also suggest

    that she suffers from GAD – Constant worry – Feeling on edge – Fatigue – Diffi culty concentrating and her mind going blank – Irritability – Trouble sleeping

    • Most adults with ADHD are comorbid for a second psychiatric disorder, and the most common is GAD

    • Also, this patient is a smoker which may be related to her ADHD since a disproportionate number of ADHD patients smoke, perhaps because of the therapeutic effects of nicotine on ADHD symptoms

    How would you treat her?

    • Stimulant for her ADHD • SSRI/SNRI for her GAD • Benzodiazepine as need for GAD and insomnia • Stimulant plus an SSRI/SNRI or benzo for both ADHD and GAD • CBT for both ADHD and GAD • Other

    Attending Physician’s Mental Notes, Initial Psychiatric Evaluation, Continued • It seems as though the primary disorder is ADHD and it will be

    simplest if this is treated fi rst, with a single drug, probably a stimulant • An SSRI/SNRI and/or benzodiazepine can be added at a later time

    once the actions of the stimulant are evident • Even though patients with GAD alone or even normal controls may be

    “over stimulated” by a stimulant, in many cases of ADHD comorbid with GAD, the stimulant is paradoxically calming and well tolerated and even works for GAD symptoms as well as ADHD symptoms without having to prescribe a second medication for the GAD

    • Any stimulant could be chosen but not all are explicitly approved for treatment of ADHD in adults

    • She was started on mixed salts d,l amphetamine XR (Adderall XR) • She was referred to a local mental health training program where she

    could possibly get CBT for free or for a reduced rate from a trainee receiving supervision

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    Case Outcome: First, Second, and Third Interim Followup Visits, Weeks 4, 8 and 12 • Due to scheduling issues, by the time the patient had her fi rst CBT

    session, she had already been titrated to 20 mg of mixed salts of d,l – amphetamine XR

    • She thought that the medication had already started to help her and in fact that she would not have been able to cooperate with the CBT assignments had she not been on the medication

    • Because of lack of side effects but continuing ADHD and GAD symptoms, the dose of d,l-amphetamine XR increased to 30 mg (off label since the maximum approved dosage for adults is 20 mg)

    • Her BP and pulse were stable on the 30 mg dose but she felt jittery particularly in the morning and around noon; she also felt very anxious about her job situation and being able to provide for her family

    • Dose lowered to 25 mg, but the jitteriness persisted so the dosage was further lowerd to 20 mg

    • The jitteriness abated but her ADHD symptoms were not well controlled on the 20 mg dose anymore

    • Instructed to stay on 20 mg for two more weeks as she is going on vacation and not to change the dose until after her vacation and then retry the 25 mg dose again

    • Complained of feeling overwhelmed and irritable • For most patients, a week between dosing adjustments for a stimulant

    being used to treat ADHD is quite adequate • Weekly intervals give patients and clinicians a chance to see the way

    that the dosage is working though the spectrum of challenges that occur in a typical week

    • As vacations do not represent typical activities for a week, special consideration must be given to the effectiveness of medication changes that are done while a patient is on vacation

    – Many adults with ADHD may relax on vacation and not challenge themselves with cognitive loads and multitasking so may appear to be better even without a medication change

    – Other adults with ADHD, especially women with young children, may actually fi nd vacation more challenging

    – For example, a parent with ADHD taking a family vacation with several children in tow may fi nd the planning and organization for the trip more taxing than anything encountered at work or during the normal routine at home

    – It can also be diffi cult to manage timing the medication appropriately when traveling to different time zones

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    Case Outcome: Fourth Interim Followup, Week 16 • “Glad to be back from vacation” • “I don’t think I could have even got through our vacation without my

    medication, but I still have a hard time holding things together” • On at least 20 mg/day dosage of d,l-amphetamine XR combined with

    CBT for 12 weeks, including a couple of weeks back from vacation, the patient still has problems with

    – Organizing her day – Procrastinating – Following instructions – Losing items such as her keys which make her late for

    appointments/activities • On the few days that the patient missed, and thus skipped, her

    medication inadvertently she realized that the medication was really helping her concentrate and get through the day even though she remains symptomatic

    • Knowing that she could achieve better functioning on medication she asked if other medications might accomplish this without the jittery and anxious feelings

    • While other medication options were discussed, the CBT was continued which was slightly less helpful

    How would you treat her now?

    • Start lisdexamfetamine 30 mg once in the morning and titrate the dosage by 20 mg each week until an optimal dosage is achieved

    • Start d-methylphenidate XR 10 mg once in the morning and titrate the dosage by 10 mg each week until an optimal dosage is achieved

    • Start OROS methylphenidate 18 mg once in the morning and titrate the dosage by 18 mg each week until an optimal dose is achieved

    • Start atomoxetine 40 mg a day and increase to 80 mg after one week

    Attending Physician’s Mental Notes: Fourth Interim Followup, Week 16 • Lisdexamfetamine, d-methylphenidate XR, OROS methylphenidate,

    and atomoxetine are all FDA-approved for the treatment of adults with ADHD

    • On the one hand, the patient found her amphetamine-based stimulant to be very effective, and thus another long-acting stimulant would be reasonable

    • On the other hand, she had jitteriness with the stimulant, and thus a non-stimulant would be equally reasonable

    • After explaining the options, the patient elected to try another long- acting stimulant

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    • d-methylphenidate uses a bead-based technology similar to the mixed salts amphetamine XR in that 50 percent of the beads are immediate- release and 50 percent delayed-released

    • Methylphenidate LA and d-methylphenidate XR employ the same patented SODAS technology in their delivery systems, but other long- acting forms of stimulants with beaded delivery systems vary due to proprietary differences in their manufacturing processes

    • For instance, one formulation of methylphenidate utilizes a capsule that contains a ratio of 30 percent immediate-release beads and 70 percent delayed-released beads

    • Although the different technologies used in beaded forms of stimulants can have clinical implications in individual cases, they all follow a similar design scheme:

    – A bolus of stimulant medication becomes bioavailable rather quickly as the immediate-release beads dissolve

    – Over time, the coating on the delayed-release beads deteriorates, allowing the stimulant contained within the bead to be released

    – The medication within the delayed-release bead becomes bioavailable about four hours after the patient swallows the capsule

    • Lisdexamfetamine is the only stimulant preparation that is a prodrug: – In its prodrug form, a lysine molecule is attached to

    dextroamphetamine – Dextroamphetamine will not be active until the lysine is cleaved

    from it – Cleaved lysine is an amino acid that does not contribute to the

    clinical effi cacy of this medication • Lisdexamfetamine could be a good choice for multiple reasons:

    – It uses a different delivery system that appears to have a more consistent interval to maximum concentration (Cmax)

    • It is conceivable that the jitteriness this patient was experiencing was related more to the l-isomer than to the d-isomer

    • A nonstimulant such as atomoxetine may be particularly useful in a patient who has stimulant related side effects, because atomoxetine does not cause these side effects

    • Also, atomoxetine may be particularly useful in patients with comorbid anxiety

    Case Outcome: Fourth Interim Followup, Week 16, Continued • In the end, the patient and the attending physician agreed upon a trial

    of OROS methylphenidate (Concerta) • Main reasons for this choice:

    – To be able to compare the benefi ts the patient experienced on an amphetamine preparation with those of a methylphenidate

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    PATIENT FILE

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    preparation since patients may experience differing tolerabilities as well as effi cacies on methylphenidate versus amphetamine

    – To be able to test the uniqueness of the OROS delivery system in terms of attained effi cacy with better tolerability

    • OROS methylphenidate uses a delivery system that is quite different from beaded delivery systems:

    – Coating of OROS methylphenidate contains 32 percent of the medication

    – Remainder of medication is contained within a permeable membrane that allows water from the gut to enter once the coating of methylphenidate dissolves away

    – Different concentrations of methylphenidate in gel form are contained in two compartments

    – A push compartment absorbs water and expands like a sponge does, pushing the methylphenidate gel out of the hole at the opposite end

    Case Outcome: Fifth Interim Followup, Week 20 • The patient’s dose was titrated from 18 mg to 72 mg over the course

    of four weeks • Although she did not feel jittery, OROS methylphenidate 72 mg once a

    day did not seem to work as well as the mixed salts amphetamine at 30 mg a day

    • She voiced concerns that the dosage was more than double that of the mixed salts amphetamine dosage that was tried

    • The psychiatrist explained that methylphenidate compounds are half as potent as amphetamine ones, and that 72 mg/day is an approved dose in adults

    • She was reminded that her blood pressure and pulse had remained in the normal range throughout the titration, and she was told that some of the methylphenidate gel may remain inside the delivery system and not be bioavailable (inherent properties of OROS technology)

    • After documenting that information about off-label use was given to the patient, the psychiatrist recommended to further increase the dose of OROS methylphenidate to 90 mg

    Case Outcome: Sixth Interim Followup, Week 24 • The patient felt that 90 mg of OROS methylphenidate worked at least as

    well as 30 mg of the mixed salts of d,l amphetamine XR • Her blood pressure and pulse increased a bit from baseline, but they

    were still in the middle of the normal range

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    PATIENT FILE

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    • She still has some problems with organization and losing items, but she indicates she would continue CBT to address these

    • Similar to when she was on the amphetamine compound, once her ADHD symptoms abated, her anxious feelings became more prominent Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter

    – “It’s like now that I can concentrate on my daily tasks, I also feel much more anxious about the fi nancial security of my children, and I often feel my throat tighten when I think about the fi nancial impact of the girls going to college”

    – “The thought of losing my job or getting sick frightens me . . . what would happen to the girls?”

    – She has trouble falling asleep at night, as her mind does not shut off

    ADHD is often comorbid with other psychiatric disorders and one disorder can mask the symptoms of another. In the present case, this patient exhibits symptoms of anxiety, probably generalized anxiety disorder, especially more prominent every time her ADHD symptoms abate. How would you address the patient’s anxiety at this point?

    • Augment with a benzodiazepine • Augment with buspirone • Augment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or SNRI • Incorporate techniques to resolve anxiety into ongoing CBT Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter

    Case Outcome: Seventh and Eighth Interim Followup, Weeks 24 and 36 • Incorporating techniques to resolve anxiety into the patient’s ongoing

    CBT would likely be most appropriate, prior to attempting to add a medication

    • A letter was sent suggesting this to the CBT therapist, but after 12 weeks, this led to limited benefi t, and thus medication augmentation was considered

    • Benzodiazepines, buspirone, and SSRIs/SNRIs can all be used to treat generalized anxiety disorder and are not contraindicated with stimulants

    • After discussion of the options, paroxetine was prescribed to augment her stimulant and her CTB

    Case Outcome: Ninth Interim Followup, Week 48 • After three months on OROS methylphenidate and paroxetine, while

    continuing her CBT, at fi rst the patient stated that she “had her life back” • Then, after thinking back over the past year of treatment, and to how

    she had been since childhood she stated, “No, I don’t have my life back – I fi nally have a life!”

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    PATIENT FILE

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    Case Debrief • It took a long time to get both the ADHD and GAD recognized • It took over a year of trial and error and combination treatment to

    attain a remission of symptoms • Real remission will come when sustained improvement of symptoms

    leads to better functional outcomes, not only less subjective distress, but now perhaps the chance for an education, a better job, and having enough emotional reserve to develop another relationship

    • Stopping smoking might be a goal to tackle in the next year as well Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter

    Take-Home Points • ADHD is highly heritable • It is not uncommon for adults with previously undiagnosed ADHD to

    recognize their own symptoms once their child is diagnosed • A multigenerational approach should be considered for parents who

    have ADHD and who care for children with ADHD • In the patient’s case, by addressing her own ADHD issues, she also

    felt she could be a better parent to her daughter with ADHD

    Performance in Practice: Confessions of a Psychopharmacologist • What could have been done better here?

    – Perhaps ADHD could have been recognized earlier – Perhaps CBT could have been implemented earlier – Perhaps she should have been more actively engaged or have had

    more serious discussions about smoking cessation already • Possible action item for improvement in practice

    – Make a concerted effort to keep contact with low cost CBT resources in the community

    – Make a more concerted effort to encourage smoking cessation

    Tips and Pearls • Prescribing stimulants to an ADHD patient is very much like tailoring a

    “bespoke” treatment, one case at a time • That is, some patients respond very differently to amphetamine than

    they do to methylphenidate • Many patients respond very differently to one controlled dosage

    pattern versus another • Look for comorbidities in adult ADHD, including both anxiety

    disorders and substance dependence/abuse (especially smoking) • True remission means reduction not just in symptoms of ADHD, but

    in the comorbid conditions as well

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    PATIENT FILE

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    Two-Minute Tute: A brief lesson and psychopharmacology tutorial (tute) with relevant background material for this case – ADHD rating scales for adults – Contributions of genetics to ADHD

    Table 1: Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom Checklist Instructions

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    162

    PATIENT FILE

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    163

    PATIENT FILE

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    PATIENT FILE

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    Figure 1: Average Genetic Contribution of ADHD Based on Twin Studies

    ADHD is one of the most genetically loaded medical or psychiatric conditions, higher than schizophrenia, asthma or breast cancer.

    Posttest Self Assessment Question: Answer

    Patients with comorbid ADHD and anxiety should in general not be prescribed stimulants Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter

    A True B False Answer: B

    References 1. Franke B, Neale BM, and Faraone SV. Genome-wide association

    studies in ADHD. Hum Genet 2009; 126(1): 13–50 2. Haberstick BC, Timberlake D, Hopfer CJ et al. Genetic and

    environmental contributions to retrospectively reported DSM-IV childhood attention defi cit hyperactivity disorder. Psychol Med 2008; 38(7): 1057–66

    3. McLoughlin G, Ronald A, Kuntsi J et al. Genetic support for the dual nature of attention defi cit hyperactivity disorder: substantial genetic overlap between the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive components. J Abnorm Child Psychol 2007; 35(6): 999–1008

    4. Todd RD, Rasmussen ER, Neuman RJ et al. Familiality and heritability of subtypes of attention defi cit hyperactivity disorder in a population sample of adolescent female twins. Am J Psychiatry 2001; 158(11): 1891–8

    5. Faraone SV, Advances in the genetics and neurobiology of attention defi cit hyperactivity disorder, Biol Psychiatry 2006; 60: 1025–7

    Twin studies: ADHD is genetic

    Hudziak, 2000 Nadder, 1998

    Levy, 1997 Sherman, 1997

    Silberg, 1996 Gjone, 1996

    Thapar, 1995 Schmitz, 1995

    Edelbrock, 1992 Gillis, 1992

    Goodman, 1989 Willerman, 1973

    Breast cancer Asthma Schizophrenia Height

    Average genetic contribution of ADHD based on twin studies

    ADHD mean

    0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

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    PATIENT FILE

    165

    6. Stahl SM, Stahl’s Illustrated Attention Defi cit Hyperactivity Disorder, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2009

    7. Stahl SM, Attention Defi cit Hyperactivity Disorder and its Treatment, in Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology, 3rd edition, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2008, pp 863–98

    8. Stahl SM, Atomoxetine, in Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology The Prescriber’s Guide, 3rd edition, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2009, pp 51–5

    9. Stahl SM, d,l methylphenidate, in Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology The Prescriber’s Guide, 3rd edition, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2009, pp 329–35

    10. Stahl SM, Mixed Salts of d,l Amphetamine, in Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology The Prescriber’s Guide, 3rd edition, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2009, pp 39–44

    11. Stahl SM, Paroxetine, in Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology The Prescriber’s Guide, 3rd edition, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2009, pp 409–15

    Downloaded from http://stahlonline.cambridge.org by IP 192.168.60.239 on Wed Jul 26 03:25:23 BST 2017 Stahl Online © 2017 Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution. Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter

     

     

    Week 9 discussion

    Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14

    Presentations of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD)

    According to Stahl (2013) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is increasingly being seen not just as a disorder of attention, nor just as a disorder of children. Paradigm shifts are altering the landscape for treatment options across the full range of ADHD symptoms, from inattention to impulsivity. ADHD is noted for a trio of symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It is currently hypothesized that all these symptoms arise in part from abnormalities in various circuits involving the prefrontal cortex. Specifically, the most prominent symptoms of inattention in ADHD, better known as executive dysfunction and as the inability to sustain attention and thus to solve problems, are hypothetically linked to inefficient information processing in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). DLPFC is activated by a cognitive task known as the 
    n
    -back test, which can be monitored in living patients doing it while in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scanner.

     

    Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: 
    The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter. 26-year-old woman has a daughter with ADHD, Psychiatrist noted symptoms in the mother and suggested she come in for her own evaluation.

    Question
    : How often does ADHD run in the families?
     

    The Dilemma:
     When you see a child with ADHD, should you also evaluate the parents and siblings?

     

    Question to ask my Patient/Diagnostic Interview

     

    Belirgan, Ersoy and Ersoy (2018) explained that diagnosis of ADHD in adults involves determining the presence of ADHD symptoms during both childhood and adulthood. The DIVA only asks about the core symptoms of ADHD required to make the DSM-IV diagnosis of ADHD, and does not ask about other co-occurring psychiatric symptoms, syndromes or disorders. However, comorbidity is commonly seen in both children and adults with ADHD, in around 75% of cases. For this reason, it is important to complete a general psychiatric assessment to enquire about commonly co-occurring symptoms, syndromes and disorders. The most common mental health problems that accompany ADHD include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, substance abuse disorders and addiction, sleep problems and personality disorders, and all these should be investigated. This is needed to understand the full range of symptoms experienced by the individual with ADHD; and also for the differential diagnosis, to exclude other major psychiatric disorders as the primary cause of ‘ADHD symptoms’ in adults. DIVA is a semi-structured diagnostic interview covering the childhood and adulthood DSM symptom list for ADHD, and providing examples of impairments commonly associated with the symptoms in five areas of everyday life for each age group: work and education; relationships and family life; social contacts; free time and hobbies; self-confidence and self-image. (Belirgan, Ersoy and Ersoy, 2018)

     

     

    Gathering of Information

    Feedback from people in the patient’s life is very important to further assess the patient’s situation. I will interview the Husband, siblings, the Mother and the Father if they are still alive. Her teachers. I will also interview her childhood close friends and her adult friends and any family member living in the same house with her. I will ask about her general behavior in school and at home, also her grades and gather other information that will help to further assess the patient condition. Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter

    Physical Exams and Diagnostic Test

    Stahl (2013) further explained that ADHD diagnosis is made by a trained clinician after an extensive evaluation and physical examination rules out other possible causes for the symptoms, and a thorough series of interviews with the child, parents, spouse or teachers is conducted. ADHD experts include child psychiatrists, some pediatricians, a behavioral neurologist or possibly a clinical social worker trained to recognize ADHD. I will still recommend Physical exams, Laboratory test, Urine test, CT scan. A doctor can usually tell if a patient has ADHD by asking the patient specific questions and doing a physical exam.  I may, however, ask for lab tests to rule out other diagnoses, will likely do blood tests to check for medical conditions that may cause depressive symptoms. He or she will use the blood tests to check for such things as anemia as well as thyroid or possibly other hormones, and sometimes calcium and vitamin D levels
    . Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter
     

     

    Differential Diagnosis

    Differential diagnosis helps to ensure that a working diagnosis is, in fact, the best diagnostic fit for your patient’s clinical presentation.

     

    Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)

    APA (2013) explained that Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsive that are inconsistent with developmental level and that negatively impact social and academic/occupational activities. ADHD is often associated with children, this disorder is diagnosed in clients across the lifespan. While many individuals are properly diagnosed and treated during childhood, some individuals who have ADHD only present with sub-syndromal evidence of the disorder. These individuals are often undiagnosed until they reach adulthood and struggle to cope with competing demands of running a household, caring for children, and maintaining employment. Based on just what the patient present at the clinic and what provider have been told so far about this patient’s history and symptoms, here is a case that indeed is ADHD, but her symptoms also suggest that she suffers from GAD- Constant worry – Feeling on edge – Fatigue – Difficulty concentrating and her mind going blank – Irritability – Trouble sleeping. Most adults with ADHD are comorbid for a second psychiatric disorder, and the most common is GAD. Also, this patient is a smoker which may be related to her ADHD since a disproportionate number of ADHD patients smoke, perhaps because of the therapeutic effects of nicotine on ADHD symptoms

    Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

    According to APA (2013) Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry lasting at least six months. Although the core symptoms of anxiety disorders (anxiety and worry) differ from the core symptoms of major depression (loss of interest and depressed mood), there is considerable overlap among the rest of the symptoms associated with these disorders (compare the “anxiety disorders” puzzle on the right to the “MDD” puzzle on the left). For example, fatigue, sleep difficulties, and problems concentrating are common to both types of disorders. These disorders all seem to maintain the core features of some form of anxiety or fear coupled with some form of worry, but their natural history over time shows them to morph from one into another, to evolve into full syndrome expression of anxiety disorder symptoms and then to recede into sub-syndromal levels of symptoms only to reappear again as the original anxiety disorder. (Stahl, 2013) Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter

     

    Major Depressive Disorder

    APA (2013) further explained that Major Depressive Disorder is characterized by the absence of both Manic Episodes and Hypomanic Episodes. Episodes of depressed mood or diminished interest or pleasure that last at least 2 weeks and that are accompanied by characteristically associated symptoms such as changes in sleep, appetite, or activity level, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, suicidal ideation or behavior. Given that the presence of some manic or hypomanic symptoms (fewer symptoms or a shorter duration than required for mania or hypomania) may still be compatible with a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (and would warrant the use of the With Mixed Features specifier), it is important to ascertain whether the symptoms meet criteria for a Hypomanic Episode to determine whether it is more appropriate to make the diagnosis of Bipolar II Disorder. (Stahl, 2013)

     

    Pharmacological Intervention/Dosage

    It seems as though the primary disorder is ADHD and it will be simplest if this is treated first, with a single drug, probably a stimulant. An SSRI/SNRI and/or benzodiazepine can be added at a later time once the actions of the stimulant are evident. Even though patients with GAD alone or even normal controls may be “overstimulated” by a stimulant, in many cases of ADHD comorbid with GAD, the stimulant is paradoxically calming and well tolerated and even works for GAD symptoms as well as ADHD symptoms without having to prescribe a second medication for the GAD. Any stimulant could be chosen but not all are explicitly approved for treatment of ADHD in adults. (Stahl, 2013)

     

    Methylphenidate
    .

    The racemic form of methylphenidate includes both the 
    d
    – and the 
    l
    -isomers. 
    d
    ,
    l
    -Methylphenidate will lead to increased release of DA in the nucleus accumbens and NE and DA in the prefrontal cortex by blocking the reuptake pumps, DAT and NET. The same effects are caused by 
    d
    -methylphenidate. Methylphenidate comes in many different formulations, such as regular and chewable immediate-release tablets, new and old sustained-release tablets, new sustained-release capsules, and oral solutions, as well as a transdermal patch. The transdermal formulation may not only confer lower abuse potential but may also enhance adherence. She was started on mixed salts d,l amphetamine XR (Adderall XR). She was referred to a local mental health training program where she could possibly get CBT for free or for a reduced rate from a trainee receiving supervision (Stahl, 2014b)

     

    Amphetamine

    Oral administration of clinically approved doses of the stimulant amphetamine, like methylphenidate, also blocks the transporters both for NE and DA (NET and DAT), but in a different manner, unlike methylphenidate and antidepressants, amphetamine is a competitive inhibitor and pseudosubstrate for NET and DAT, binding at the 
    same
    site that the monoamines bind to the transporter, thus inhibiting NE and DA reuptake. At the doses of amphetamine used for the treatment of ADHD, the clinical differences in the actions of amphetamine versus methylphenidate can be relatively small. However, at the high doses of amphetamine used by stimulant addicts, additional pharmacologic actions of amphetamine are triggered. (Stahl, 2014b) Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter

     

    Atomoxetine

    Stahl, (2014b) found that Atomoxetine is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor or selective NRI. Sometimes called NET inhibitors, the selective NRIs have known antidepressant properties. In terms of their mechanism of therapeutic action in ADHD, since the prefrontal cortex lacks high concentrations of DAT, DA is inactivated in this part of the brain by NET. Thus, inhibiting NET increases both DA and NE in the prefrontal cortex. However, since there are few NE neurons and NETs in nucleus accumbens, inhibiting NET does not lead to an increase in either NE or DA there. For this reason, in ADHD patients with weak NE and DA signals in the prefrontal cortex, a selective NRI such as atomoxetine increases both NE and DA in the prefrontal cortex, enhancing tonic signaling of both, but increases neither NE nor DA in accumbens. Therefore, atomoxetine has no abuse potential. Atomoxetine is the only such agent approved for use in ADHD, but several other agents have NRI actions, including the approved (outside of the US) antidepressant and selective NRI reboxetine, and the various SNRIs, which not only have NRI actions but also serotonin reuptake inhibiting properties. (Stahl, 2013)

     

     

     

    Follow-up Data at Week 4, 8, 12

    According to Stahl (2013), the client had already been titrated to 20 mg of mixed salts of d,l – amphetamine XR. She thought that the medication had already started to help her and in fact that she would not have been able to cooperate with the CBT assignments had she not been on the medication. Because of the lack of side effects but continuing ADHD and GAD symptoms, the dose of d,l-amphetamine XR increased to 30 mg (off label since the maximum approved dosage for adults is 20 mg). Her BP and pulse were stable on the 30 mg dose but she felt jittery particularly in the morning and around noon; she also felt very anxious about her job situation and being able to provide for her family. Dose lowered to 25 mg, but the jitteriness persisted so the dosage was further lowered to 20 mg. The jitteriness abated but her ADHD symptoms were not well controlled on the 20 mg dose anymore. I will instruct to stay on 20 mg for two more weeks as she is going on vacation and not to change the dose until after her vacation and then retry the 25 mg dose again. The patient complained of feeling overwhelmed and irritable. For most patients, a week between dosing adjustments for a stimulant being used to treat ADHD is quite adequate. Weekly intervals give patients and clinicians a chance to see the way that the dosage is working through the spectrum of challenges that occur in a typical week. As vacations do not represent typical activities for a week, special consideration must be given to the effectiveness of medication changes that are done while a patient is on vacation – Many adults with ADHD may relax on vacation and not challenge themselves with cognitive loads and multitasking so may appear to be better even without a medication change – Other adults with ADHD, especially women with young children, may actually find vacation more challenging – For example, a parent with ADHD taking a family vacation with several children in tow may find the planning and organization for the trip more taxing than anything encountered at work or during the normal routine at home – It can also be difficult to manage timing the medication appropriately when traveling to different time zones. (Stahl, 2013) Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter

     

    Lisdexamfetamine

    Hodgkins, Shaw, McCarthy and Sallee (2012) found that Lisdexamfetamine, d-methylphenidate XR, OROS methylphenidate, and atomoxetine are all FDA-approved for the treatment of adults with ADHD. On the one hand, the patient found her amphetamine-based stimulant to be very effective, and thus another long-acting stimulant would be reasonable. On the other hand, she had jitteriness with the stimulant, and thus a non-stimulant would be equally reasonable. After explaining the options, the patient elected to try another long-acting stimulant d-methylphenidate uses a bead-based technology similar to the mixed salts amphetamine XR in that 50 percent of the beads are immediate release and 50 percent delayed-released. Methylphenidate LA and d-methylphenidate XR employ the same patented SODAS technology in their delivery systems, but other long-acting forms of stimulants with beaded delivery systems vary due to proprietary differences in their manufacturing processes. For instance, one formulation of methylphenidate utilizes a capsule that contains a ratio of 30 percent immediate-release beads and 70 percent delayed-released beads. The medication within the delayed-release bead becomes bioavailable about four hours after the patient swallows the capsule. Lisdexamfetamine is the only stimulant preparation that is a prodrug: – In its prodrug form, a lysine molecule is attached to dextroamphetamine – Dextroamphetamine will not be active until the lysine is cleaved from it – Cleaved lysine is an amino acid that does not contribute to the clinical efficacy of this medication. Lisdexamfetamine could be a good choice for multiple reasons: – It uses a different delivery system that appears to have a more consistent interval to maximum concentration (Cmax). It is conceivable that the jitteriness this patient was experiencing was related more to the l-isomer than to the d-isomer. A non-stimulant such as atomoxetine may be particularly useful in a patient who has stimulant-related side effects, because atomoxetine does not cause these side effects. Also, atomoxetine may be particularly useful in patients with comorbid anxiety. (Hodgkins, Shaw, McCarthy & Sallee., 2012)

     

    Nonpharmacological Interventions

    Hodgkins, Shaw, McCarthy and Sallee (2012) further explained that behavior training has been found to be helpful, primarily for disruptive behaviors that frequently coincide with ADHD. Since ADHD may begin before school age, using the precedent of older children, increasing numbers of preschoolers are being identified and treated, sometimes with medications. However, the most commonly used psychostimulant, MPH, does not yet have government regulatory approval for use in children less than 6 years of age, while MAS has been granted approval by the FDA in the United States for children under 6 years, but older than 3 years of age. Recent reviews of treatments for preschoolers with ADHD emphasize the use of parenting interventions prior to medication based on general clinical consensus. (Stahl, 2013)

    Reason for Selection

    The Preschool ADHD Treatment Study (PATS), funded by the U.S. National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH), included parent behavior training (PBT) as the first phase for all children recruited into the study prior to randomization for the purpose of evaluating efficacy and safety of psychostimulant medication. While the few studies available suggest stimulant medications are effective for the core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness in very young children, psychostimulants also appear to cause more adverse events in preschool children than in older children. Due to scheduling issues, by the time the patient had her first CBT session, (Hodgkins, Shaw, McCarthy & Sallee., 2012)

     

    Lessons Learned

    According to Stahl (2013) it took a long time to get both the ADHD and GAD recognized. Real remission will come when sustained improvement of symptoms leads to better functional outcomes, not only less subjective distress, but now perhaps the chance for an education, a better job, and having enough emotional reserve to develop another relationship. ADHD is highly heritable. It is not uncommon for adults with previously undiagnosed ADHD to recognize their own symptoms once their child is diagnosed. A multigenerational approach should be considered for parents who have ADHD and who care for children with ADHD. In the patient’s case, by addressing her own ADHD issues, she also felt she could be a better parent to her daughter with ADHD Performance in Practice. Providers should make a concerted effort to keep contact with low cost CBT resources in the community and also encourage smoking cessation. Some patients respond very differently to amphetamine than they do to methylphenidate. Many patients respond very differently to one controlled dosage pattern versus another. Look for comorbidities in adult ADHD, including both anxiety disorders and substance dependence/abuse (especially smoking). True remission means reduction not just in symptoms of ADHD, but in the comorbid conditions as well. Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter

     

    References:

    American Psychiatric Association. (2013). 
    Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

    (5
    th
     ed.). Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

     

    Belirgan, S., Ersoy, M. A., & Ersoy, H. T. (2018). Prevalence of adult attention deficit

    hyperactivity disorder and comorbid axis-I disorders among first time applied cases of a

    general psychiatry outpatient clinic and a private psychotherapy centre.
     Klinik

    Psikofarmakoloji Bulteni, 28
    (1), 25-35.

    doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1080/24750573.2017.1384194

     

    Hodgkins, P., Shaw, M., McCarthy, S., & Sallee, F. R. (2012). The pharmacology and clinical

    outcomes of amphetamines to treat ADHD: Does composition matter? CNS Drugs, 26(3),

    245–268. doi:10.2165/11599630-000000000-00000

     

    Stahl, S. M. (2013). 
    Stahl’s essential psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific basis and practical

    applications
     (4th ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

     

    Stahl, S.M. (2014b). 
    The prescriber’s guide 
    (5
    th
    ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press Presentations of ADHD – Case 2: Volume 1, Case #14: The scatter-brained mother whose daughter has ADHD, like mother, like daughter

  • N5366: Principles of Research in Nursing

    N5366: Principles of Research in Nursing

    Instructions:

    Write your evaluation as a Word document per APA format.  Use full sentences, with paragraph breaks, to describe each point.  Double space all writing; number pages.

    Use the Level 1 headings provided in the outline below. Level 2 headings can be used, but are optional, not required.  Please see the APA Manual for how to format those.

    Provide rationales for your decisions (citing sources). For example, if you write that the theory framework is strong, describe how it is strong with at least one citation (Author, year) to a theory book, research book,  or article. N5366: Principles of Research in Nursing.

    It is acceptable to refer to page numbers from the article being critiqued without giving a full citation. For example, you could write, “On page 996 the authors list the statistical tests used to analyze the data.”  We can assume you are referring to the assigned research article that you are evaluating.

    Title page and reference list should be on separate pages from the body of the critique. Use the 
    Page Break
    command in Word to separate them.

    The template for the title page is 
    at the end
    of the Critique 1 outline.

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    Legal & Ethical Issues

    Briefly discuss institutional review board approval for the study.

    Explain how ethical principles of research (beneficence, justice, & respect for human dignity) were followed to protect subjects’ rights (freedom from harm, privacy, autonomy, & disclosure), if that was explained or implied. N5366: Principles of Research in Nursing

    If the study included subjects from a vulnerable population, describe any additional safeguards used to protect them. (10 pts)

    Measurement Tools

    Fill out the table below for the major variables in the study (NOT demographic variables).  You can add rows as needed, depending on how many measurement tools were used.  Boxes can be expanded for more content.  
    (20 pts)

    Name of Tool

    (Author, year)

    Level of 

    Measurement

    Reliability 

    reported

    Validity

    reported

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Data Collection

    Describe data collection procedures described in the study, and how clear and complete they were.

    If more than one data collector was used for the study, describe the training of the data collectors, and how/whether interrater reliability was adequately assessed?

    (10 pts)

    Writing Style & Format

    Grammar: full sentences, precision, clarity, spelling, and punctuation.

    Use APA format throughout this paper, including citations and a reference list. N5366: Principles of Research in Nursing

    Up to 0.5 points will be deducted for each grammar, punctuation, or format error. (10 pts)

     

    Grade Sheet for Critique 3

    CONTENT

    Possible Points

    Your Points

    Legal & Ethical Issues

     

    10

    Measurement Tools

     

    20

    Data Collection

     

    10

    Writing Style & Format

     

    10

    TOTAL

    50/50 X 25% = 25

      /50 X 25% =

    .

    Student Name:

     

    Research Article Critique 3

     

     

    Legal & Ethical Issues

    Briefly discuss institutional review board approval for the study.

     

    Explain how ethical principles of research (beneficence, justice, & respect for human dignity) were followed to protect subjects’ rights (freedom from harm, privacy, autonomy, & disclosure), if that was explained or implied.

     

     

    If the study included subjects from a vulnerable population, describe any additional safeguards used to protect them.

     

    Measurement Tools

    Fill out the table below for the major variables in the study (NOT demographic variables).  You can add rows as needed, depending on how many measurement tools were used. 
    Boxes can be expanded
    for more content.

    Name of Tool

    (Author, year)

    Level of

    Measurement

    Reliability

    reported

    Validity

    reported

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Data Collection

    Describe data collection procedures described in the study, and how clear and complete they were. N5366: Principles of Research in Nursing.

     

    If more than one data collector was used for the study, describe the training of the data collectors, and how/whether interrater reliability was adequately assessed? N5366: Principles of Research in Nursing

     

    Reference List

  • Discussion: Women’s and Men’s Health, Infectious Disease, and Hematologic Disorders

    Discussion: Women’s and Men’s Health, Infectious Disease, and Hematologic Disorders

    As an advanced practice nurse, you will likely experience patient encounters with complex comorbidities. For example, consider a female patient who is pregnant who also presents with hypertension, diabetes, and has a recent tuberculosis infection. How might the underlying pathophysiology of these conditions affect the pharmacotherapeutics you might recommend to help address your patient’s health needs? What education strategies might you recommend for ensuring positive patient health outcomes?

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    For this Discussion, you will be assigned a patient case study and will consider how to address the patient’s current drug therapy plans. You will then suggest recommendations on how to revise these drug therapy plans to ensure effective, safe, and quality patient care for positive patient health outcomes. Discussion: Women’s and Men’s Health, Infectious Disease, and Hematologic Disorders

    Photo Credit: Getty Images

    To Prepare

    Review the Resources for this module and reflect on the different health needs and body systems presented.

    Review the complex case asisgned by your Instructor for this Discussion.

    Consider how you will practice critical decision making for prescribing appropriate drugs and treatment to address the complex patient health needs in the patient case study you selected.

    By Day 3 of Week 9

    Post
    a brief description of your patient’s health needs from the patient case study you assigned. Be specific. Then, explain the type of treatment regimen you would recommend for treating your patient, including the choice or pharmacotherapeutics you would recommend and explain why. Be sure to justify your response. Explain a patient education strategy you might recommend for assisting your patient with the management of their health needs. Be specific and provide examples. Discussion: Women’s and Men’s Health, Infectious Disease, and Hematologic Disorders

  • Effective Communication on Patient safety at Healthcare Centers Essay assignments and case studies

    Effective Communication on Patient safety at Healthcare Centers Essay assignments and case studies

    Abstract

    The main aim of this work is to investigate the impact of effective communication on patient safety on the Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC) in Jeddah province.  To achieve this objective study adopted the descriptive analytical approach. The data needed to achieve this objective is obtained by distribution a survey questionnaire to the sample of the study represented by healthcare providers working in these centers. After survey questionnaire returned, the researcher was able to collect a round (150) valid questionnaire form. The data collected is entered and treated by using (SPSS). The results of analysis of data concluded with number of findings, the most important ones are: The study established there was a statistically significant positive relationship between the core elements of effective communication and patient safety. In particularly the study revealed that patient safety had a significant high positive correlation with the two-core element of effective communication (cultural difference, and sharing decision making) at the significant level (0.01), whereas, the other result proved that there is a significant association between patient safety and empathy and establish relationship at the significant level (0.05). Based on the findings of this study, the recommendation made from those results are the following: In order to the required patient safety in Primary Healthcare centers in Jeddah province, effective communication practicing should be given valued importance, to make more improvement in patient safety in Primary Healthcare Centers in Jeddah province,  the PHC management should sustain and give more importance to cultural difference and sharing decision making, It was very important for PHC, management to improve the practicing empathy and establish relations as ones of the most important elements of effective communication. That can be reached through planning for comprehensive training programs in work for all staff, and finally it was very important of PHC, management to study the status of information gathering as one of the core elements of effective communication as the analysis of multiple regression confirmed that gathering of information has no significant effect on patient safety. Effective Communication on Patient safety at Healthcare Centers Essay assignments and case studies

     

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    تأثير التواصل الفعال على سلامة المرضى في مراكز الرعاية الصحية

    بمحافظة جدة في المملكة العربية السعودية دراسة تحليلية

    امال الصومالي

    المستخلص

     

    الهدف الرئيسي من هذه الدراسة هو دراسة تأثير التواصل الفعال على سلامة المرضى في مراكز الرعاية الصحية الأولية في محافظة جدة. ولتحقيق هذه الدراسة الموضوعية اعتمدنا المنهج الوصفي التحليلي. ويتم الحصول على البيانات اللازمة لتحقيق هذا الهدف من خلال توزيع استبيان وعينة الدراسة ممثلة من قبل مقدمي الرعاية الصحية العاملين في هذه المراكز. وبعد الانتهاء من الاستبيان، تمكن الباحث من جمع (150) استبانة صالحة. وتم إدخال البيانات ومعالجتها باستخدام (SPSS). وعند تحليل نتائج البيانات توصلت الدراسة إلى: وجود ارتباط إحصائي هام وإيجابي بين العناصر الأساسية للاتصال الفعال وسلامة المرضى. وقد أظهرت الدراسة بشكل خاص وجود علاقة ارتباط معنوي وإيجابي للغاية بين سلامة المرضى والعنصرين الأساسيين في التواصل الفعال (الاختلاف الثقافي وتقاسم اتخاذ القرار) عند مستوى معنوي (0.01)، في حين أثبتت النتيجة الأخرى أن هناك ارتباط كبير بين سلامة المرضى والتعاطف وإقامة علاقة عند مستوى معنوي (0.05). وبناء على النتائج التي توصلت إليها هذه الدراسة، نجد أن التوصيات على النحو التالي: من أجل ضمان سلامة المرضى المطلوبة في مراكز الرعاية الصحية الأولية في محافظة جدة، ينبغي إعطاء أهمية فعالة لممارسة التواصل، من أجل زيادة تحسين سلامة المرضى في مراكز الرعاية الصحية الأولية في محافظة جدة، يجب على إدارة الرعاية الصحية الأولية الحفاظ على الاختلاف الثقافي ومشاركة القرار وتمكين أهمية كبيرة لهما، ومن المهم ايضاَ على إدارة الرعاية الصحية الأولية تحسين الممارسة في التعاطف مع المرضى والعلاقات  بين المرضى والكادر الصحي باعتبارهما من أهم عناصر الاتصال الفعال. ويمكن الوصول إلى ذلك من خلال التخطيط لبرامج التدريب الشاملة في العمل لجميع الموظفين، وأخيرا كان على إدارة الرعاية الصحية الأولية، دراسة حالة جمع المعلومات باعتبارها واحدة من العناصر الأساسية للاتصال الفعال كما أكد تحليل الانحدار المتعدد أن جمع المعلومات ليس له تأثير كبير على سلامة المرضى.

     

     

    Table of Contents

    Dedication………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. II

    Acknowledgement………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. III

    Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… IV

    Chapter one: Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2

    1.1 Background of the study
    …………………………………………………………………………………….. 2

    1.2 Research Problem
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 4

    1.3
    Research Gap
    …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4

    1.4
    Rationale of the Research
    ………………………………………………………………………………….. 4

    1.5
    Research Objectives
    ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5

    1.6 Research Model and Dimensions
    …………………………………………………………………………. 5

    1.7
    Research Hypothesis
    …………………………………………………………………………………………. 5

    1.8
    Research Methodology
    ………………………………………………………………………………………. 6

    1.9
    Research Scope
    …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6

    1.10
    Research
    Structure
    ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6

    Chapter Two:  Literature Review and Previous Studies…………………………………………………………… 8

    2.1
    Introduction
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8

    2.2
    Literature Review
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 8

    2.2.1
    Communication and patient safety
    …………………………………………………………… 8

    2.2.2
    Establish relationship
    ……………………………………………………………………………. 11

    2.2.3
    Empathy
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 12

    2.2.4
    Gathering information
    ………………………………………………………………………….. 12

    2.2.5
    Shared decision making
    …………………………………………………………………………. 13

    2.2.6
    Cultural differences
    ………………………………………………………………………………. 14

    2.2.7
    Patient safety management
    ……………………………………………………………………. 15

    2.2.8
    Management of patient safety in Saudi Arabia
    ………………………………………… 16

    2.2.9
    Essential safety standards requirements
    …………………………………………………. 16

    2.3
    Previous studies
    ………………………………………………………………………………………. 17

    3.1
    Introduction
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 28

    3.2
    The Research Methodology:
    …………………………………………………………………………….. 28

    3.3
    The Research Approach and Design
    ………………………………………………………………….. 28

    3.4
    Population and Sampling Techniques:
    ………………………………………………………………… 28

    3.5
    Data Collection Tool
    ………………………………………………………………………………………… 30

    3.6
    Survey Questionnaire Reliability
    ………………………………………………………………………. 30

    3.7
    Survey Questionnaire Validity
    ………………………………………………………………………….. 31

    3.8
    Statistical Techniques for Data Analysis
    …………………………………………………………….. 32

    Chapter Four: Data Analysis and Interpretations………………………………………………………………….. 35

    4.1
    Introduction
    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 35

    4.2
    Section One
    …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 35

    4.3
    Section Two: The Descriptive Analysis of the Sample Response.
    …………………………… 37

    4.4
    Section Three: Examining Significant Differences Related to Demographic Characteristics.
              52

    4.5
    Summary of Results
    …………………………………………………………………………………………. 55

    Chapter Five: Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation………………………………………………….. 59

    5.1 Summary of Results
    …………………………………………………………………………………………. 59

    References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 63

    Appendix………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 69

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Chapter One
    :

    Introduction

     

     

     

    Chapter one: Introduction

     1.1  
    Background of the study

    Patients safety is at the core of health services provision and is considered as one of crucial issues in health research, having ranked as one of the significant global public health concern (Vincent, 2011; p2). The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified patient safety as one of the challenges in healthcare provision and has went ahead to set up guidelines to improve patient safety. Patient safety issues affect all countries irrespective of their economic development. The WHO (2007) has set six international safety goals to achieve patient safety. The safety goals to attain patient safety include reducing the risk of reducing nosocomial infections, improving patients identification, effective communication, improving the safety of high-alert medications, safe surgery and reducing patients falls.

     

    Patient safety encompasses avoiding and preventing harm to the patients or injuries or any adverse resulting from the health care delivery process (Patient Safety Group, 2012). According to WHO, patient safety is described as an event or circumstance that could have resulted, or did result, in unnecessary harm to a patient. It includes harmful incidents (formerly adverse or sentinel), no harm incidents (that reach the patient but did not cause harm), and near miss (also known as close calls).

     

    Nadzam (2009) underlines the significance of effective communication in the countless interactions that between healthcare workers in the workplace. This suggests that staff must communicate effective and enhance collaboration in healthcare teams to ensure accurate and timely delivery of information. A dearth of effective communication in health care teams may compromise patients safety and negate the health outcomes.

     

    Public health care requires establishing and/or building community relationship in public health as a significant aspect in healthcare practice. Community relationships are important in ensuring public participation in healthcare provision. Partnering with community in the provision of healthcare enables the identification of health problems accurately as well as developing more holistic and effective solutions (Minnesota Department of health office of performance improvement, 2014).

     

    Empathy, a constituent of cognitive, emotional and executive syndrome is an emotional reaction in social communication that perceives meaningful cues from the surrounding by which it aligns the abilities of correctly interpreting the meaning of stimuli to human emotions. It is the ability to accept another individual’s perspective. Getting insight on empathy as a dimension of social communication will assist in understanding emotions; improve social abilities and communication with significant greater sensitivity to patient’s feelings and the consequences of an individual behavior (Jemczura, 2004).

     

    According to WHO (2012), individual health information must accompany the patient when receiving care from healthcare providers. This calls for data interoperability as a prerequisite to effective utilisation of health information. Information and communication technology (ICT) has  enormous potential in delivering improvement in healthcare systems in both the developed and the developing countries through enhancement of access to patients’ health information, in essence making healthcare delivery not only effective, but efficient. ICT also improves the quality of health services while ensuring it is relatively cost-effective. For instance, tracking specific health problems and their management over time, may assist in developing optimal diagnosis and therapy that can lead to improved health outcomes.

     

    According to Margot (2006), data gathering is a crucial nursing role that is fundamental in provision of optimum patient care. Data collected from patients can be used in the evaluation of the patient condition and planning the optimal treatment. Data collection is a first step in clinical care that enables the nurse to accurately identify symptoms and diagnosis for appropriate interventions.

     

    Effective physician-patient communication helps in the decision-making process and is the single most significant enabler of delivery of quality care in the physician-patient dyad. It is therefore to have clear, empathetic and respectful communication that supports information exchange in the shared decision-making as well in patients’ self-management (Huy & Kristiana, 2014, p.7). According to Tereza and Fleury (1999, p.110), cultural difference is an aspect that arises from the mixture of people of different group identities within the social system. On the other hand, Mannix and Neals (2005) and Jackson, Joshi, and Erhardt (2003) have argued that cultural difference is just one of the aspect that a person uses to uncover personal differences. Cultural differences include variations in the population such as gender, age, race, culture, and physical adequacies. Other definitions of cultural differences include ethnic and nationality, social class as well as religion and ways of communication and learning.

     

     1.2  
    Research Problem

    The research problem revolves around investigating the impact of effective communication in healthcare clinical centers on patient safety. The current research is significant since it seeks the positive impact of effective communication on patient safety which has a direct role on collect the needed information to attend the patient professionally.

     

     1.3  
    Research Gap

    The need for reducing patients harm resulting from lack of patient safety in the clinical settings motivates the need for this study. There is a dearth of research on the impact of effective communication in improving patient safety in the context of Saudi Arabia. The study is relevant for various stakeholders in the healthcare sectors including health practitioners and patients. The outcome of the study seeks to contribute to the current body of knowledge on the impact of effective communication in the healthcare settings in the context of Saudi Arabia. From the recommendations of this study, suggestions will be availed on a suitable framework for improving the quality of care through effective communication.

     

     1.4  
    Rationale of the Research

    This research has a valuable significance to the patients, the healthcare providers and the community at large. For the community it raises the community awareness about the issue of patient safety, and the importance of effective communication between patients and healthcare providers. For healthcare providers, this research will seek to increase awareness on the importance of healthcare information as an ethical attribute of protecting patients from preventable harm in the healthcare setting. For the patient safety, this research will contribute in proposing workable recommendations that can contribute to the achievement of patient safety through provision of high-quality care.

     

     1.5  
    Research Objectives

    This research attempts to achieve the following objectives:

    To assess the role of effective communication on patients’ safety.

    To examine how the healthcare staff give high rate for the effectiveness of communication on patient safety.

     

     1.6  
    Research Model and Dimensions

    The research model is illustrated in the following diagram:

     

     

     

     

    Independent Variable

                                   Dependent Variables

    Independent Variable:
    effective communication includes the following:

    Establish relationship

    Empathy

    Gathering information

    Share decision making

    Cultural differences

    Dependent Variables:
    patient safety

     

     1.7  
    Research Hypothesis

    H1: A significant relationship exists between establish relationship and patient safety.

    H2: There is a positive and significant relationship between empathy and patient safety.

    H3: There is a significant relationship between gathering information and patient safety.

    H4: There is a significant relationship between share decision making and patient safety.

    H5: There is a significant relationship between cultural differences and patient safety.

     

     1.8  
    Research Methodology

    Research methodology embodies a systematical organization and completion of research to unravel a research problem. The method applied in this study is a descriptive analytical approach. The researcher defines the type of method applied, the methods of data collection, target population and an appropriate sample for the study. In addition, the methods for data collection and the research strategy as well as data analysis approach are determined. This study will include all professionals’ health care (physicians-nurses and other healthcare providers) and managerial employees working in the healthcare field. Therefore, the total population in the four healthcare centers will be 150 subjects. The research will take all number of healthcare providers in the selected four healthcare centers due to their small population.

     

     1.9  
    Research Scope

    Place
    : This study will be applied in primary health care centers in Alhamra, Bryman, Almahjar and Khalid alnamodagi healthcare centers, Jeddah province – MOH.

    Time
    : January –February –March 2018

    Subject
    : The Impact of Effective communication on Patient safety

     

     1.10  
    Research
    Structure

    Chapter One:
    Introduction

    Chapter Two:
    Literature Review and Previous Studies

    Chapter Three:
    Research Methodology

    Chapter Four:
    Data Analysis and Interpretation

    Chapter Five:
    Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Chapter Two:

    Literature Review and Previous
    Studies

     

     

    2

    Chapter Two:
     Literature Review and Previous Studies

     2.1  
    Introduction

    Responsibility of ensuring patient safety in healthcare institutions in any given society is connected with the roles and responsibilities of various parties including nurses, physicians, and the management of the healthcare institutions, in addition to the patient family. In this regard, the accessibility and provision of flexible communication tools, is considered to have much importance, and an essential element which can effectively contribute to achievement of high-quality care for the patient.

     

    In this chapter, patient safety, and effective communication are the major issues of the subject of the study which will be discussed in detail. The literature reviewed will cover the two concepts, patient safety, and effective communication within the frame of this chapter. Patient safety would be defined by the principles of management of patient safety, and how to assess patient safety as well as the role of nurses in patient safety. Formal aspect of communication, strategies for effective communication, in addition to barriers to effective communication.

     

     2.2  
    Literature Review

    The following sections present Communication and patient safety, Establish relationship, Empathy, Gathering information, Share decision making, Cultural differences, Patient safety management, Management of patient safety in Saudi Arabia and Essential safety standards requirements.

     

     2.2.1  
    Communication and patient safety

    Effective communication is an essential life skill that requires continuous development and improvement. Individuals with good communication skills develop empathy and trust from other easily. Good communicators are able to align their communication to align with the audience situation. Communication is a complex two-way process that is characterized by much iteration that focuses on developing mutual understanding between parties to the communication. Communication encompasses different aspects including words, facial expression, voice, pictures, tones, body languages as well as clothing and graphics (Team FME, 2013, p.4).

     

    Communication is defined by two approaches namely the social construction approach and the information engineering approach. Social construction approach underlies the creation of a dynamic context in team communication while information engineering approach entails the linear transmission of messages via a conduit which guarantee effective communication through an accurate and unbroken transmission. In essence, information engineering results in the receiver understanding the message by decoding the messages. The information engineering framework is hindered by psychological and physical noise in the system. On the other hand, social construction framework of communication does not have a neutral conduit; rather it considers communication as a social process where meaningful common environment is constructed. The social construction approach is limited in the sense that it does not address how communication patterns generate and sustain team communication. In team communication, there is both social construction of reality and transmission that include implicit and explicit frameworks that a team develops in order to fit certain roles, goals and behavior (MPH, 2011; p2).

     

    According to the WHO report (2009; p18) regarding the human factors in patient safety, efficiency and high-quality output in the workplace relies on effective communication. It is through good communication in the workplace that knowledge is transferred, predictable behavior patterns and relationships established as well as establishment of effective team coordination and leadership. According to the report, the standard model of communication entails the sender encoding an idea into a message, which is then transformed to one or more receivers who then decode it back to the original idea.

     

    The report categorized communication problems as system failures, message and reception failures. Common communication failures include:

    Organizational system failures where channels of communication are non-existent, rarely used or in some cases are malfunctioning.

    Transmission failures, where communication channels exist, but information is not transmitted.

    Reception failures occurs when communication channels exists and the information is sent, but it is misinterpreted by the recipient or there are delays such that communication is not effective. Reception failures are mostly caused by equipment failures or physiological problems.

    Lastly, there is failure occasioned by interference between rational and emotional context such as communication failures due to an argument.

     

    According to the National Health Service (NHS, 2010; p8) in the UK, national benchmarks for communication require communication needs to be assessed and appropriate methods applied to enable effective communication between the patients and carers. These national benchmarks patient to the accessibility of information, acceptable and accurate information which should be actively and consistently shared to meet the needs of the patients. Effective communication among the staff in the healthcare settings ensures that staff are able to maintain safety and quality of patient and continuity in their service for all.

     

    Several studies have demonstrated that ineffective communication among healthcare practitioners as a leading factor in medical errors occurrence and patients harm (Woolf, 2004; Lingard, 2004, P.330; Leonard, 2004, P.68). A review of reports from the joint commission also corroborates the findings from these studies where it reveals that failures in communication being implicated in over 60 percent of sentinel events. In another study by Zwarenstein and Reeves (2002; p243), ineffective communication in medical teams is linked to adverse patients outcome associated with low safety standards and compromised error prevention mechanism. Moreover, in the acute healthcare settings failures in communication  result in lengthy hospital stays and patients harm as well as increased cost of healthcare ,  caregiver low satisfaction that leads to high turnover in healthcare facilities.

     

    Patient safety research developed as intellectual history of patient safety accumulated (Linda, 2008, p6). Initially there were debates on whether patients safety can be considered as a risk in healthcare delivery, a philosophy that encompasses explanatory frameworks, ethical principles as well as methods or as a discipline or an attribute with its own goals.

     

    There are several definition of patient safety including the Institute of Medicine in the USA which defines patient safety as freedom from accidental injury, while the National Patient Safety Foundation defined patient safety as a key aspect emerging from the appropriate interaction of components of the healthcare system with a for patient safety.

     

    According to Linda (2008; p1), patient safety is a health care discipline that utilises safety science approaches towards achieving a trustworthy system of health care delivery. Patient safety seeks to reduce the incidence of adverse events or their impacts and maximise recovery from such events. It has also been defined as the prevention, avoidance and improvement from recovery adverse events in occurring in healthcare settings (Vincent, 2011, p1). Patient safety calls for rapid intervention in case patient safety is infringed and supporting staff in erecting measures to guarantee patient safety in the healthcare settings. 
     

     

     2.2.2  
    Establish relationship

    The quality of care for the patient depends on effective communication that seeks a patient-centered care based on a sound therapeutic relationship between the physician and the patient. Effective communication is a vehicle towards which healthcare is optimized through the facilitation of a therapeutic relationship. For instance, the cornerstone of the nursing practice rests on the registered nurses’ ability to build therapeutic relationships with the patients. A successful doctor-patient relationship develops under an environment of shared perceptions and knowledge regarding the disease as well as the nature of the treatment and the underlying treatment goals (Razzaghi & Afshar, 2016). Through shared knowledge settings, the patient can effectively participate in the decision-making process regarding his or her health. The importance of establishing a relationship between the patient and the physician is underpinned by the need to understand patients’ experiences and interpret the negative impact on patients’ health outcomes (Razzaghi & Afshar, 2016). In most cases, patients are not in a position to make informed decisions without having relevant information regarding the disease and therapeutic management. Effective communication enables the physician to develop a sound and effective relationship with the patient such that the patients can receive quality care and understand the goal of the care.

     

    Effective communication in the physician-patient interaction is a core element of patient-centered care since it facilitates the provision of quality care and influences patient outcome. It leads to the development of the shared perception of the patient condition and helps in effective participation of the patients in the decision-making process regarding their health. Insight into the patient’s experiences ensures the patient can make relevant and informed decisions towards the improvement of the therapeutic care (Begum, 2015)
    .

     

     2.2.3  
    Empathy

    Effective communication is shaped by basic techniques such as assertiveness, listening, and empathy (Begum, 2015). In the context of health care, one of the most important social factors a physician should possess is professional empathy. Physician’s empathy is a critical component of effective communication in doctor-patient communication (Jani, Blane, & Mercer, 2012). The physician should possess professional empathy involving three attributes that include (1) understanding the experiences and concerns of the patients, and (2) emotional awareness. These help in contextualizing patient’s own feelings and (3) being able to communicate the understanding of the patient with the intention of assisting (Cánovas et al., 2017). The level of physician professional empathy has a far-reaching impact on the therapeutic outcome. Jani, Blane, and Mercer (2012) have recognized the role of physician’s professional empathy in determining the patient’s clinical outcome. Empathy is important in the healthcare in promoting meaning and reducing stress and compassion fatigue. Fostering physician professional empathy has the effect of reducing patients’ stigmatization. Empathy, for instance, can reduce stigmatization since it prevents the adoption of common culturally negative stereotypes towards the patient’s conditions. Empathy also helps in earning patients’ trust and satisfaction, helping to eliminate ambiguity and uncertainties about the nature of the symptoms the patients are presenting (Cánovas et al., 2017). Empathy leads to the generation of dispositional optimism which can improve the patient outcome though it is not a coping strategy. Dispositional optimism precedes motivational aspects and the adoption of an active and adaptive approach towards one health. This optimism contributes to the psychosocial factors that are important in determining the positive outcome of the patients in improving the quality of life for the patients (Cánovas et al., 2017). Empathy promotes meaning to the therapy and mitigates against compassion fatigue and stress.

     

     2.2.4  
    Gathering information

    A core skill enshrined in medical practice is the physician’s ability to effectively communicate with the patients by developing good interpersonal skills in gathering information from the patients. The ability to obtain information from the patient through effective communications promotes precise diagnosis of the patients and also allows the physician to give therapeutic instructions to the patients. Ultimately, information gathering is a critical component of medical practice that helps in achieving therapeutic goals (Giroldi et al., 2015). Gathering information as an aspect of effective communication in the physician-patient relationship leads to reduction of iatrogenic harm in health care delivery (Kelley et al., 2014). The fundamental principle in gathering information from patients helps in the mitigation of systemic errors and when objectively utilized they assist in incident reporting. In gathering information from patients, physicians’ communication strategies are key, such as the empathic interruption so as to furnish the physician with the necessary information while meeting the patient’s need for social closeness (Giroldi et al., 2015). Gathering information helps in proper diagnosis of the patients and improves the efficiency of a patient-centered approach to healthcare, which ultimately improves patient satisfaction. Gathering information as a strategy for effective communication is linked to the traditional paternalistic model that acknowledges the significance of the patient’s story in the course of the provision of healthcare (Kelley et al., 2014). Gathering information can be viewed as part of cognitive and emotional care offered to the patient which enhances physician-patient relationship. In gathering information from patients, physicians are argued to ask open-ended questions and resist the urge to interrupt patients such that they are able to identify and respond to patients’ concerns and expectations, and appropriately diagnose the patient and offer appropriate therapy (Giroldi et al., 2015). These techniques serve as factors that improve the quality of information exchange and produce a richer interpersonal interaction in the healthcare settings.

     

     2.2.5  
    Shared decision making

    The pinnacle of patient-centered care rests in a shared decision-making process that involves   physicians and patients jointly participating in making health care decisions (Barry & Edgman-Levitan, 2012). Effective communication between physicians and patients as well as the shared decision-making process takes into consideration the patient’s circumstances, informed preferences, and the associated uncertainties related to the intervention. Shared decision making goes beyond identifying the risk and benefits of the intervention strategy to provide informed consent. In the framework of effective physician-patient communication shared decision making takes into consideration the patient circumstances, informed preferences and the associated uncertainties related to the intervention (Elwyn, 2014). Traditional, the decision-making process rested on the clinicians making decisions for the patients. However, in a patient-centered care, shared decision making recognizes the difference between the patient and the physicians and puts the consideration of the expertise such that the decision made resonates along a continuum of two extremes, a patient-driven and a physician-driven decision-making process (Guyatt et al., 2014).

     

    Shared decision making is only attainable in an environment of effective physician-patient communication. The quality of communication within the physician-patient dyad is the most significant determining factor of the quality of care delivered to the patients. Shared decision making as an aspect of effective communication between the physician and the patient supports and enhances patient empowerment, better management of emotions, and improves the social support offered to the patient. Moreover, shared decision making contributes to higher quality decision making and greater knowledge of the patient concerning the disease such that there is improved adherence to treatment and better self-management (Legare et al., 2012). It is important to mention that the lapse in communication between the patient and the physician compromises the shared decision-making process, creating room for medical errors and undesirable patient health outcomes (Legare et al., 2012).

     

     2.2.6  
    Cultural differences

    Cultural differences have been attributed as barriers or enablers of an effective and satisfying physician-patient relationship (Schouten et al., 2007). In contemporary multicultural society, health care practitioners are increasingly confronted with patients from different cultural backgrounds. These affect the effectiveness of interpersonal relationship and communication between the patients and the doctor. Linguistic barriers exist between different cultures and affect the delivery of good quality care in a wider diversity of patients. In the context of cultural differences between the physician and the patients, patients find it emotionally demanding and may compromise the quality of healthcare (Almutairi, 2015). These differences affect the inter-cultural medical communication between the physician and patients’ interactions. Cultural differences add one more dimension to an already complex communication between the doctor and the patient. Healthcare providers’ knowledge and patients’ acculturation and good exchange between the physician and the patients impacts effective communication in the physician-patient relationship. The actual participative behaviors of the patients and the disentanglement of the concept of the patient participation are influenced by cultural differences (Schouten et al., 2007).

    Cultural differences act as barriers or enablers of an effective and satisfying physician-patient relationship (O’Malley et al., 2016). In a multicultural society, health care practitioners are increasingly confronted with patients from different cultural backgrounds who compromise interpersonal relationships and effective communication in the doctor-patient interactions. Cultural differences include linguistic barriers which make the interactions between the patients and their physicians emotionally demanding. It complicates an already complex relationship between the physicians (Schouten & Meeuwesen, 2006).

     

     2.2.7  
    Patient safety management

    According to Emanuel (2008; p17) patient safety is one of the main concerns overwhelming healthcare administrators and system planners, since harm to patient often comes from a failing system (not and individual) that lacks the human and /or non-human resources necessary to provide patients with the proper level of care. As reported by Alkorashy (2013; p1376) managing patient safety needs to start with evaluation the degree of harm and concludes with the plan of action for maintaining patient safety. In this context, WHO, (2012; p2) has published a comprehensive guide on patient safety. It is evident that patient safety is a leading cause of negative outcomes on patient’s health including in the Eastern Mediterranean region where an unacceptable number of patients have been reported to experience harm in the course of health care delivery. Since patient safety is a global public health concern, there is a need to get more insight on the problem with the aim of improving patient safety.

     

    For effective management of patient safety, The Joint Commission International, has published International patient safety goals (IPSG) in the year 2013, to be applied and followed by all member countries, and to be effective from 1, April 2014, and each goal is compound with its standard, intent, and measurable elements. (JCI, 2013; p.22-28). These six goals are as follows:

    Correctly identification of patients.

    Improving effective communication

    Ensuring the safety of higher-alert medications.

    Ensuring safe surgery.

    Minimizing hospital-associated infections.

    Reducing patients harm due to falls.

     

     2.2.8  
    Management of patient safety in Saudi Arabia

    The Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions (CBAHI) role is to grant healthcare accreditation to all governmental and private healthcare facilities within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to manage patient safety. CBAHI was originally a non-profit organization referred as Saudi Health Council. The board is responsible for setting standards for quality and safety to ensure guarantee improved and safe healthcare outcomes. CBAHI was set through a ministerial decree, number 144187/11 on October, 2005 as the Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare institutions. Initially it was tasked with initiation of a national voluntary healthcare accreditation program. Later in 1434/2013, the Council of Ministers mandated accreditation by CBAHI and gave it its current name (CBAHI, 2016).

     

    The mission of the Saudi Central Board is to advance healthcare quality and patient safety by encouraging healthcare facilities to continually abide by accreditation standards. The vision of the Saudi Central Board is to be the regional leader in improving healthcare quality and patient safety. Therefore, within the third edition of CBAHI updated standards have been renewed and revised for hospitals to advance quality care and patient safety. The standards were updated with four goals in mind: (CBAHI, 2016; p19)

    Develop new standards related to patient safety.

    Refine existing standards.

    Improve the clarity and applicability of standards, and

    Update the terminology to reflect current contexts.

     

     2.2.9  
    Essential safety standards requirements

    To manage effective patient safety program, CBAHI, confirms that the compliance with the standards did not guarantee a safe environment. Different strategies and tools have been introduced to enhance patient safety and reduce the risk of adverse effects. Having a patient safety program and a system for incidents reporting are just few examples, but also the concept of Essential Safety Requirements (ESRs). There are (16) essential safety requirements distributed in this updated copy of (CBAHI, 2016; p20). These ESRs include the following:

    The hospital has a process for proper credentialing of staff members licensed to provide patient care.

    Medical staff members have current delineated clinical privileges.

    Policies and procedures guidelines on the handling, use and administration of blood products.

    Patients at risk for developing venous thromboembolism are identified and managed.

    The hospital has a process to ensure correct identification of patients.

    The hospital has a process to prevent wrong patient, wrong site, and wrong surgery/ procedure.

    Anesthesia staff members have the appropriate qualifications.

    Qualified staff perform moderate and deep sedation/ analgesia.

    There is a designated multidisciplinary committee that provides oversight of the infection prevention and control program.

    Facility design and available supplies support isolation practices.

    The hospital has a system for the safety of high alert medication.

    The hospital has a system for the safety of look-alike and sound-alike (LASA) medications.

    The hospital has a process for monitoring, identifying, and reporting significant medication errors, including near misses, hazardous conditions, and at-risk behaviors that have the potential to cause patient harm.

    The blood bank develops a process to prevent disease transmission by blood/ patient transfusion.

    The hospital ensures that all its occupants are safe from radiation hazards.

    The hospital ensures proper maintenance of the medical gas system.

     

     2.3  
    Previous studies

    Dingley (2008) conducted a study on the role of provider communication strategy enhancement in the improvement of patient safety. The fundamental aim of the study was to create, apply, and appraise comprehensive provider/team communication strategy, leading to a toolkit generalizable to other care settings. The specific objectives of the study included implementing a structured communication tool, a standardized escalation procedure as well as conducting multidisciplinary patient-centered rounds using a daily goals sheet and having team handles.  The study was carried at Denver Health and Hospital Authority in its 477-bed capacity medical center which was integrated in an urban safety net system. The study was based on a pre-test/post-test study design, with baseline and post-intervention data which was gathered on pilot units in Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), Acute Care Unit (ACU) as well as Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit (IBHU). Upon analysis of the 495 communication events after implementation of the toolkit, the study reported a reduced treatment period, increased satisfaction of nurses and increased resolution of post-intervention patient issues. From the results, the toolkit is applicable in healthcare facility since it avails a framework for implementing communication strategies and teamwork tailored to the facility settings. Most of communication events on MICU, 74.6 percent, were face-to-face verbal communication while 61.6 percent communication events on ACU entailed numeric pagers complemented by follow-up or return phone calls.

     

    Caprice (2007) studied patterns of communication failure leading to injury in surgical patients. This study aimed to propose possible intervention methods that could control or impede communication breakdown in surgical patients. The data collected by reviewing 444 surgical malpractices from 4 liability insurers. 60 cases were identified as resulting from communication breakdown leading to patient harm. Upon analysis for common characteristics, the two surgeon-reviewers identified patterns and potential intervention strategies for mitigating communication breakdown and evaluation of their potential effect. Over 81 communications breakdown were reported in 60 cases, broken down in cases occurring at 38 percent, 30 percent and 32 percent in preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative periods, respectively. Only 72 percent of the cases reported a single communication breakdown. Most of the communication breakdown were in verbal communication constituting 92 percent and entailed one transmitter and one receiver at 64 percent. Most of the communication breakdown in the teams implicated surgeons. The nature of communication breakdown was in the areas of responsibilities ambiguity at 73 percent and status symmetry at 74 percent. Other communication breakdowns were in hand-offs, 43% and transfers in patient’s location at 39 percent. From the study, most of the communication breakdowns were characterized by failures to notify the surgeon in attendance regarding critical events and also failure to attend hand-off. The proposed intervention could prevent communication breakdown by 45-73 percent in the study cases series. In conclusion, the study observed that throughout the continuum of care, serious communication breakdowns are prevalent and are characterized by verbal communication failures between the attending surgeon and other caregivers. The communication breakdowns are typified by lack of clarity in the team responsibilities. Proposed interventions measure should involve defining the triggers for verbal communication failures between attending surgeons and other caregivers in the aspects of structured hand-offs, transfer procedures as well as standardized use of read-backs.

     

    Donna (2008) studied the improvement of clinical communication and patient safety resulting from clinician-recommended solutions. This study explored the perspectives of clinicians on clinician-clinician communication to ensure pediatric safety based on 90 minutes focus group interviews. The focus groups included physicians, pharmacists and nurses selected from the Pediatric Patient Safety Consortium in 5 Chicago area hospitals. The study participants were required to address issues related to effective communication and the associated safety risks to the patients and recommendations to avert the risks. In particular, the study focused on patients safety solutions recommended by clinicians. Overall, the study had 65 focus groups with the study identifying solutions that were categorized in seven key themes. The themes included   electronic medical records, use of technology in managing health information, round care plans  for coordinating care and effective communication, management of communication during the transition period, identification of knowledge and gaps in experience, organization role in  communication, team-based solutions, as well as orders and consultations.

     

    In a study by Ruane (2016) on building a culture of patient safety focused on defining patient safety culture. The study also seeks to provide the best practices of cultivating a culture of patient safety in healthcare facilities. The study used a documentary approach that reviewed  literature sources on teamwork and employees engagement, patient safety culture, role of the leadership, best practices in enhancing patient safety, enshrining a culture of patient safety and enhancing best practices in patient safety Ruane (2016) established that a majority of patients experience harm in healthcare institutions across the United States. Patients safety is a prominent concern for health practitioners where healthcare leaders pride themselves in delivering safe and highly effective patient care in order to build a culture of patient safety. Several recommendation are made in the study includes the need to shift focus from blame to a culture of accountability and empowerment that facilitates healthcare staff to have the necessary resources to deliver safe and effective care to patients.

     

    The study of Smith (2016) under the title “Reducing Medical Errors and Increasing Patient Safety in Healthcare
    ”
    . The aim of this study was to explore effective patient safety practices to reduce and prevent medical errors in health care. The researcher depended on the documentary approach which based on reviewing a number of literatures that address Patient Safety Culture, Medical Errors and Strategies to Reduce Medical Errors, Reporting, Increased Education, Communication, Disclosure of Medical Errors, Communication Solutions and Electronic Health Records. The study found many findings, including: The patient safety movement has been a major focus for nearly 20 years. The unnecessary harm to patients in health care and the failure to apply patient safety practices resulted in increased medical errors and harm to patients. Practices such as disclosure of medical errors, open communication, and transparency from leaders provided healthcare professionals with the essential skills required to apply patient safety practices that reduced medical errors. Some patient safety practices included disclosing medical errors, increased education, safety checklists, hand-off bundles, and electronic medical records. Implementation of patient safety practices resulted in a reduction of medical errors and an improvement of the quality of care for the patient. The study recommended several recommendations, including: It is essential to provide healthcare professionals with the skills required to influence change in patient safety practices.

     

    The study of Weller et al. (2014) under the title “Teams, tribes and patient safety: overcoming barriers to effective teamwork in healthcare”. The aim of this study was to explore challenges exist in the healthcare environment in a framework of educational, psychological and organizational challenges to the development of effective healthcare teams. The researcher depended on the documentary approach which was based on a literature review on information sharing, team effectiveness, the challenge of information sharing in teams, and measures to improve information sharing. The study also focused on strategies for overcoming educational, psychological and organizational barriers, with the aim creating a culture that supports healthcare team communication. Among the findings from the study, the study noted that there was increased complexity and the need for specialized skills to meet the current needs in the healthcare sector, including effective communication in teamwork as well as best practices in patient care. In order to overcome these barriers, the study established the need to redefine healthcare teams from just a collection of individuals coming from different disciplines to ensuring cohesiveness in teams. In addition, the effectiveness of sharing information may require support from the organization, for example in setting up communication protocols. The study also identified structured operating room briefings timetabled into the activities of the day as being important in sharing the mental model as well as enhancing the safety of the patient. For instance, structure operating room briefings timetabled to the day’s activities can ensure timely antibiotic administration, thereby averting patient harm. Other recommendations made by the study include the need for more studies to assess intervention measures that can enhance effective communications and aid sharing of information. Interventions may be the next significant step in improving patients health outcomes.

     

    The study of Doyle et al. (2013) under the title “A systematic review of evidence on the links between patient experience and clinical safety and effectiveness”. This study aimed to explore evidence on the links between patient experience and clinical safety and effectiveness outcomes. The researcher based the systematic review approach which based on reviewing 55 literature sources that address a broad range of patient safety and clinical effectiveness outcomes including mortality, physical symptoms, length of stay and adherence to treatment. Findings from the study included the establishment of harmonious positive relationship between patient safety, patient experience and clinical effectiveness for different settings, diseases areas and outcome measures. There was a affirmative relationship between patient experience and self-rated, objectively measured health outcomes. In addition, adhering to the recommended clinical practice and medication as well as preventative care was linked to patient experience. Aspects of preventative care include the use of screening services, adopting health-promoting behavior as well as immunization. Other patient experience related aspects in patient safety include resources that determine length of hospital stays, patients hospitalization as well as primary care visits. From the study, it is evident that there are positive relationships between patient’s experience and the measures of technical quality of patient care as well as adverse effects.  Positive associations between patient experience and safety of the patient as well as clinical effectiveness were prevalent. The study recommended the need for clinicians not to ignore patient experience and terms as mood-oriented or subjective since patient experience cannot be separated the safety and effectiveness of clinical practice.

     

    The study of Brock et al. (2013) under the title “Inter-professional education in team communication: working together to improve patient safety”. This study aimed to report the effectiveness of a simulation-based inter-professional Team STEPPS training in impacting student attitudes, knowledge and skills around inter-professional communication. The study includes 3 acute cases in adults to establish that communication in a healthcare team should be developed collaboratively. The healthcare team comprised 9 inter-professional faculty members, 19 volunteers and 6 staff members. The Inter-Professional Team Capstone experience was structured to train students pooled from 4 healthcare professional programmes to practice as a team. The volunteers could opt to participate in any of the three focal area of training namely, obstetric, pediatric and adult acute are cases. The study applied 2 instruments for both pre- and post-training sessions. Th aim was to evaluate attitudes in team communications using the Team STEPPS Teamwork Attitudes Questionnaire (TAQ). TAQ is a validated instrument made up 30 Likert-type items that evaluates attitudes based on five dimensions namely, communication, leadership, mutual support, situational awareness and team. A 21-item instrument AMUSE (Attitudes, Motivation, Utility and Self-Efficacy) was used to evaluate attitudes. Among the study findings were the significant of team structure, mutual support, situation monitoring, attitudinal shift in team performance. Other significant aspects identified by the Team STEPPS tool included patients advocacy, and inter-professional team communication in ensuring patient safety. The study demonstrated that positive attitudinal and knowledge effects and positive attitudinal shifts are relevant in a large-scale inter-professional Team STEPPS-based training. The study recommended several recommendations, including: inter-professional teams simulation-based training as a first step towards ameliorating communication skills in clinical teams practice.

     

    The study of Künzle et al. (2010) under the title “Ensuring patient safety through effective leadership behavior: A literature review”. This study aimed to provide a systematic review on the findings of effective leadership strategies in critical care teams. The researcher depended on the documentary approach which based on reviewing a number of literatures that address defining leadership in critical care teams, Findings on input factors, Findings on leadership processes and Findings on leadership outcomes. The study found many findings, including: Leadership behavior in critical care teams could be defined as a fluid process among team members dependent upon the interplay between discrete individual behaviors and group behavior. Most of the literature reviewed agrees on two critical functions of leadership: (1) to help the team to complete a task and (2) to keep team members maintained and functioning. For medical organizations as well as critical care teams, it is important to know how they perform and how team performance can be assessed and influenced. Within the studies reviewed above, leadership behavior was measured either by external ratings of leadership behavior (e.g. LBDQ, OTAS), self-assessment (e.g. ORMAQ, interviews), or clinical outcomes (e.g. classification of morbidities, length of hospital stay). The findings of this review imply that leadership training may be one of the crucial factors enhancing team performance. Experiences from aviation settings demonstrate the importance of teamwork training (also known as crew resource management training) for team performance and safety improvements. The study recommended several recommendations, including: One important area for future research is to examine the link between leadership behavior and team effectiveness.

     

    The study of Nadzam (2009) titled “Nurses’ role in communication and patient safety”. This study aimed to find out Nurses’ role in communication and patient safety. The researcher depended on the documentary approach which based on reviewing a number of literatures that address communication and teamwork, Disruptive and intimidating behaviors, strategies to improve communication, System wide communication strategies, Structured communication techniques, Nurse-physician communication strategies and General communication strategies. The study found many findings, including: As the frontline deliverers of patient care, nurses have the opportunity to make effective and lasting improvements in communication. Strategies for promoting effective communication among all healthcare providers include Look for systems problems, not people problems. Do not allow staff to play the blame game. Also, explore the way staff members think. There are many types of tests to explore the ways people communicate. Other strategies for promoting effective communication among all healthcare providers include Promote listening skills, consider education on effective listening, and allow that listening without agreeing is acceptable. As well as encouraging staff participation in education of their peers. For example, case presentations given by nurses to their peers are a good way to get nurses on separate shifts to work on a common problem. The study recommended several recommendations, including: To successfully implement a communication initiative – whether it is a cultural shift, a process change, or a new system that promotes communication as a fundamental component of patient safety— organizations should take an organized approach that involves stakeholders in every step.

     

    The study of Tjia (2009) under the title “Nurse-physician communication in the long-term care setting: perceived barriers and impact on patient safety”. This study aimed to describe nurses_ perceptions of nurse-physician communication in the long-term care (LTC) setting. It was a mixed method study including a self-administered questionnaire and qualitative semi structured telephone interviews of licensed nurses from 26 LTC facilities in Connecticut. The questionnaire measured perceived openness to communication, mutual understanding, language comprehension, frustration, professional respect, nurse preparedness, time burden, and logistical barriers. Qualitative interviews focused on identifying barriers to effective nurse-physician communication that may not have previously been considered and eliciting nurses_ recommendations for overcoming those barriers. The study found many findings, including: Nurses identified several barriers to effective nurse-physician communication: lack of physician openness to communication, logistic challenges.  Other barriers identified by nurses were the lack of professionalism, and language barriers. Feeling hurried by the physician was the most frequent barrier (28%), followed by finding a quiet place to call (25%), and difficulty reaching the physician (21%). The study recommended several recommendations, including: there was consensus that nurses needed to be brief and prepared with relevant clinical information when communicating with physicians and those physicians needed to be more open to listening.

     

    The study of Manser (2009) under the title “Teamwork and patient safety in dynamic domains of healthcare: a review of the literature”. This study aimed to examine current research on teamwork in highly dynamic domains of healthcare such as operating rooms, intensive care, emergency medicine, or trauma and resuscitation teams with a focus on aspects relevant to the quality and safety of patient care. The researcher depended on the documentary approach which based on reviewing a number of literatures that address teamwork and patient safety in dynamic domains of healthcare. The study found many findings, including: Studies investigating the factors contributing to critical incidents and adverse events have shown that teamwork plays an important role in the causation and prevention of adverse events. Research focusing on healthcare providers‟ perceptions of teamwork demonstrated that (a) staff ‟s perceptions of teamwork and attitudes toward safety-relevant team behavior were related to the quality and safety of patient care and (b) perceptions of teamwork and leadership style are associated with staff wellbeing, which may impact clinician‟ ability to provide safe patient care. Observational studies on teamwork behaviors related to high clinical performance have identified patterns of communication, coordination, and leadership that support effective teamwork. The study recommended several recommendations, including: future research needs to further develop and validate instruments for team performance assessment and to develop sound theoretical models of team performance in dynamic medical domains integrating evidence from all three areas of team research identified in this review.

     

    The study of Rosenstein & O’Daniel (2008) under the title: “A survey of the impact of disruptive behaviors and communication defects on patient safety”. This study aimed to review the results of a recent survey that was conducted to assess the significance of disruptive behaviors and their effect on communication and collaboration and impact on patient care. VHA West Coast administered a 22-question survey instrument—Nurse Physician: Impact of Disruptive Behavior on Patient Care—to a convenience sample. Of the 388 members hospitals (in four VHA regions) invited, 102 hospitals participated in the survey (26% response rate). Results from surveys received from January 2004 through March 2007 are represented. Of the 4,530 participants, 2,846 listed their titles as nurses, 944 as physicians, 40 as administrative executives, and 700 as “other.” The study found many findings, including: 77% of the respondents reported that they had witnessed disruptive behavior in physicians— 88% of the nurses and 51% of the physicians. Sixty-five percent of the respondents reported witnessing disruptive behavior in nurses at their hospitals—73% of the nurses and 48% of the physicians. Also, Sixty-seven percent of the respondents agreed that disruptive behaviors were linked with adverse events; the result for medical errors was 71%, and patient mortality, 27%. Disruptive behaviors lead to potentially preventable adverse events, errors, compromises in safety and quality, and patient mortality. The study recommended several recommendations, including: There should be strategies to address disruptive behaviors that should (1) prevent disruptive events from occurring, (2) deal with events in real time to prevent staff or patient harm, and (3) initiate post-event review, actions, and follow-up.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Chapter Three
    :

    Research Methodology

     

     

    Chapter Three: Research Methodology

    3

     3.1  
    Introduction

    This chapter is devoted to discuss the research methodology adopted in the current study. That is in this chapter the focus is on explaining the research methods, and methodology, beside that the tools and techniques used for data collection and analysis. In addition to that population and sample of the study are to be determined on a scientific basis. The reliability and validity statistics for the data collection tools should be assessed.

     

     3.2  
    The Research Methodology:

    The research methodology is about how the research would conduct his/ her research taking the main objectives of the study into consideration. The research methodology is defined by Kothari (2004) as a way of to systematically solve the research problem; in addition to that it may be understood as a science of studying how research is done scientifically, and the logic behind using the different methods. Maylor & Blackmon (2005) argued that the research methodology was implemented through several different designs, the plan for conducting the study, through translating the research methodology into specific research methods, and techniques used to collect and analyze the data.

     

     3.3  
    The Research Approach and Design

    There are two main approach designs, the quantitative and qualitative research design. However, Kothari (2004), stated that the research design should include a research problem, protocols as well as techniques for data collection. In addition, the target population should be identified and methods for data processing and analysis. Based on the research objective of the current study, which investigates the impact of effective communication on patient safety, a quantitative research design will be applied.

     

     3.4  
    Population and Sampling Techniques:

    The population of the current study includes all professional healthcare providers in healthcare centers. They are physicians, nurses, administrators, pharmacists, dental technician, laboratory technician and x-ray technician because of a limited number of populations. There are 214 healthcare centers in Jeddah province. The researcher selected four healthcare government centers in Jeddah province which were obtained national accreditation CBAHI with different locations. The first healthcare center selected is in the north Jeddah (Khaled alnamodage), the second seleted center is in the south Jeddah (Almihjar), the third selected center is in the east Jeddah (Alhamra) and the fourth selected center is in the west Jeddah (Bryman). After the survey questionnaire distributed to the target participants in these four healthcare centers in Jeddah province, the researcher was able to collect around (150) questionnaire forms which valid for data analysis. The details of the questionnaires collected were presented in the table below:

     

    Table No. (3-1) showed the distribution of healthcare provider’s participants of the study in the four centers

    Healthcare centers

    Categories

    Number of participants

    Total

    Percent %

    Alhamra healthcare center

    Physician

    10

    40

    26.7

    Dental technician

    3

    Pharmacist

    3

    Nurse

    13

    Administrative

    6

    x-ray technician

    3

    Lab technician

    2

    Bryman healthcare center

    Physician

    8

    35

    23.7

    Dental technician

    2

    Pharmacist

    3

    Nurse

    12

    Administrative

    5

    x-ray technician

    3

    Lab technician

    2

    Almihjar healthcare center

    Physician

    3

    41

    27.3

    Dental technician

    2

    Pharmacist

    1

    Nurse

    20

    Administrative

    11

    x-ray technician

    2

    Lab technician

    2

    Khaled healthcare center

    Physician

    6

    34

    22.7

    Dental technician

    3

    Pharmacist

    2

    Nurse

    13

    Administrative

    10

    x-ray technician

    Service not available

    Lab technician

    Service not available

    Total

    150

    100.0

     3.5  
    Data Collection Tool

    To collect the primary data in this study, the survey questionnaire method was prepared. The survey questionnaire method was designed to include the three sections as follows:

    Section one: the demographic characteristics of the participants of the study, they include five variables: gender, age, position, education level, and years of experiences.

    Section two: include the independent variable which effective communication, the effective communication dimension is divided into five sub-dimensions, and each one contains a set of statement. The sub-dimensions include: establish relationship, empathy with patients, gathering information, share decision making and cultural differences.

    Section Three: This section includes the dependent variable which is patient safety, and it was include a set of items.

     

     3.6  
    Survey Questionnaire Reliability

    To measure the internal consistency of the survey questionnaire method, and to make sure that it was efficient to collect the needed data, a pilot study was conducted by distributed a limited number of questionnaire forms to the target population of the study. Around (34) questionnaires obtained. To measure the reliability statistics. Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient was used, and the results are presented in table No. (3-2) below:

     

    Table No. (3-2) shows the reliability statistics of the questionnaire method.

    Dimensions

    No. of items

    Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient first round

    Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient second round

    Dimension one: effective communication

    Establish relationship

    6

    0.789

    0.746

    Empathy with patient

    6

    0.891

    0.901

    Gathering information

    6

    0.929

    0.935

    Share decision making

    4

    0.828

    0.809

    Cultural differences

    5

    0.897

    0.898

    Dimension two : patient safety

    patient safety

    8

    0.958

    0.940

    Overall reliability

    35

    0.969

    0.967

     

    It was noticed from the statistics in the above table, that the overall Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient for the survey questionnaire method was reaching (0.969), which is considered as a very high value indicating that the survey method has achieved a very high level of reliability. This means that the survey questionnaire method was efficient to be used for data collection. In addition to that all dimensions have achieved also very high reliability statistics.

     

    The results in the above table, showed that in post-test to examine the reliability of the survey questionnaire, it was noticed that the overall reliability of the survey questionnaire has achieved a very high reliability as Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient is reaching (0.967). This guarantee that the method is efficient to collect the data needed. In addition to that, it was noticed all dimension have scored high values, confirming the suitable of the survey questionnaire method reliability.

    Furthermore, the survey questionnaire reliability was examined by using the Split-half techniques by using Person’s correlation coefficient, and corrected by Spearman’s correlation coefficient and the results are demonstrated in the table below:

     

    Table No. (3-3) shows the survey questionnaire reliability by Split-half method.

    Correlation

    P-value

    Person’s Correlation

    0.832**

    0.00

    Spearman correlation coefficient

    0.908**

    0.00

    * indicated that correlation is significant at the (0.01) significant level

     

    The results in the above table, revealed that Person’s Correlation and Spearman’s Brown correlation coefficients, are very high indicating that the survey questionnaire method has achieved a very high reliability what guaranteed that the method is well prepared and constructed, therefore, it will contribute in gathering the suitable data to achieve the research objectives.

     

     3.7  
    Survey Questionnaire Validity

    The survey questionnaire validity was measured through using Person’s correlation coefficient to find the relationship between each dimension and sub-dimension to which it belongs, and the results have been demonstrated as in the table below:

     

    Table No. (3-4) survey questionnaire method validity by Person’s Correlation coefficient

     Sub-dimension 2 : Establishing relationship

    Sub-dimension 2: empathy with patients

    Sub-dimension3: gathering information

    Item No.

    Correlation coefficient

    Item No.

    Correlation coefficient

    Item No.

    Correlation coefficient

    1

    0.576**

    7

    0.735**

    13

    0.860**

    2

    0.765**

    8

    0.765**

    14

    0.918**

    3

    0.609**

    9

    0.860**

    15

    0.842**

    4

    0.638**

    10

    0.836**

    16

    0.897**

    5

    0.554**

    11

    0.846**

    17

    0.893**

    6

    0.633**

    12

    0.824**

    18

    0.731**

     

    Sub-dimension4: share decision making

    Sub-dimension5: cultural differences

    Dimension two: patient safety

    19

    0.874**

    23

    0.761**

    28

    0.705**

    20

    0.527**

    24

    0.822**

    29

    0.856**

    21

    0.883**

    25

    0.794**

    30

    0.893**

    22

    0.801**

    26

    0.919**

    31

    0.837**

    27

    0.937

    32

    0.773**

    33

    0.876**

    34

    0.873**

    35

    0.859**

    *indicated that the correlation coefficient is statistically significant at the (0.01) significant level

     

    The results in the above table, confirmed that all correlation coefficients values were statistically significant at the (0.01), which indicated that each item is positively correlated with the dimension to which it belongs. This means that all items will achieve the objective of measurement in the dimension to which it related. Therefore, this evidence support that the survey questionnaire method has a very good validity indicator.

     

     3.8  
    Statistical Techniques for Data Analysis

    To analyze and interpret the data collected in a well scientific form, the researcher uses various statistical methods including the descriptive and inferential statistical methods. the descriptive statistical methods include: frequencies, percentages, and that is to describe the participants of the study according to the demographic characteristics, while the means and standard deviation were used to assess the participants responses with regard to the survey questionnaire items in order to evaluate the impact of effective communication on patient safety. In addition, the research hypotheses and validity of the questionnaire was tested using the Person’s Correlation coefficient. The reliability of the survey questionnaire was tested using the Cronbach’s Alpha .

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Chapter Four:

    Data Analysis and Interpretations

     

     

    Chapter Four: Data Analysis and Interpretations

    4

     4.1  
    Introduction

    The main objectives of this study are to assess the role of effective communication on patient’s safety in governmental healthcare centers in Jeddah city, and addition to that the study will examine how healthcare staff give high rate for the effectiveness of communication safety in these public health institutions. Therefore, the data analysis in this chapter will concentrate to answer the research questions, and testing the research hypotheses through the employment of suitable statistical techniques, which would include descriptive analytical methods, and correlation. Based on the previous introduction, the data analysis will proceed as follow:  Section one: The participants of the study demographic characteristics analysis, Section two: the descriptive analysis of the sample responses and Section three: testing the research hypotheses.

     

     4.2  
    Section One

    The participants of the study demographic characteristics analysis. The participants of the study profile will include five demographic characteristics, (gender, age, job position, education level, and years of experience), and the results are displayed in the following table:

     

    Table No. (4-1)
    Frequency and percentage for demographic information

    Frequency

    Percent %

    Gender

    Male

    50

    33.3

    Female

    100

    66.7

    Total

    150

    100.0%

    Age

    Less than 30 years

    16

    10.7

    30- to less than 40

    104

    69.3

    40- to less  than 50

    23

    15.3

    50 years and over

    7

    4.7

    Total

    150

    100.0%

    Position

    Administrative

    33

    22.0

    Nursing

    57

    38.0

    Physician

    27

    18.0

    X-ray

    8

    5.3

    Laboratory

    6

    4.0

    Dental

    10

    6.7

    Pharmacy

    9

    6.0

    Total

    150

    100.0%

    Education level

    High school/Diploma

    52

    34.7

    College Diploma/Community

    43

    28.7

    University Degree

    44

    29.3

    Postgraduate

    11

    7.3

    Total

    150

    100.0%

    Years of experience

    1-to less than 5 years

    17

    11.3

    5-To less than 10

    50

    33.3

    10-to less than15

    41

    27.3

    15 years and over

    42

    28.0

    Total

    150

    100.0%

     

    The outcomes in the above table No. (4-1) shows that

    Indicated that the female participants of this research comprised the majority with (66.7%) that two thirds of the total healthcare providers, whereas the male represent just one third (33.3%). Therefore, this result might be a direct result of the easiness to the researcher to contact more female, and this trend actually is possible as most of the nursing jobs in KSA, were occupied by females.

    The distribution of healthcare providers in Jeddah health centers sample of the study according to age, it was noticed that the majority of the participants’ ages with 69.3% between (30- to less than 40) years, while 10.7% their ages are less than 30 years, whereas 15.3% their ages between (40- to less than 50) years, where only 4.7% their ages at 50 years and over. Thus, it could be concluded that all healthcare providers working in the government healthcare centers are at the age of youth, which indicated that most participants are in the productive age.

    The distribution of healthcare providers by job position, according the nursing position comprised the majority with 38.0%, followed by administrative and physician by 22.0% and 18% successively, whereas other positions have less percent the highest is dental by 6.7%, laboratory by 4.0%. Thus, it could be concluded that, there are three job position including (nursing, administrative, and physician) comprised the majority of participants by 68.0% of the total sample. Effective Communication on Patient safety at Healthcare Centers Essay assignments and case studies

    Which demonstrates the participants of the study depending on their standard of education. The participants as healthcare providers who hold High School/Diploma represents the majority with 34.7%, while those who hold university degree constitute 29.3%, while the participants who hold college diploma/community represent about 28.7%, whereas postgraduate constitute just 7.3%.

    Demonstrated the Participants of the study according to years of experience. It was noticed that there are about 33.3% of the participants have experience between (5-to less than 10) years, while 28.0% of the healthcare providers have experience 15 years and over, whereas 27.3% of the participants have between (10-to less than 15) years, whereas only 11.3% who have experience between (1- to less than 5) years.

    Thus, it can be said the years of experienced for most participants would enable the healthcare providers to assess fairly the effectiveness of communication on patient safety.

     

     4.3  
    Section Two: The Descriptive Analysis of the Sample Response.

    The main aim of this section is to provide answer to the research main questions, which have been set as follows:

    How can effective communication contribute positively on the achievement of patient safety?

    What are the core elements of effective communication that enhance patient safety in public healthcare institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?

    What are the main barriers of effective communication and its effect on patient safety?

     

    To answer the previous research questions, descriptive statistics through employment of the means and standard deviation was run and the results would be presented in the following tables. In the first part, the analysis would cover the participant’s responses with regard to variables of effective communication including (establishing relationship, empathy with patient, gathering information, share decision making, and cultural differences). These variables are expected to significant effect on patient safety in healthcare centers in Jeddah. Therefore, the results of descriptive statistics are conducted as will be shown in the following tables:

     

    Table No. (4-2) the participant’s responses with regard to the impact of establish relationship on patient safety.

    Item No.

    Establish relationship

    Mean

    Standard deviation

    Chi. Square

    P. Value

    Ranking

    1

    PHC staff speak with patients in an acceptable speed to enable them to understand the conversation

    4.29

    0.95

    154.2**

    0.00

    6

    2

    PHC staff speak to patients with interest and activity

    4.65

    0.50

    96.16**

    0.00

    2

    3

    PHC staff focus on patients when speaking without distraction and interruption

    4.69

    0.53

    198.11**

    0.0

    1

    4

    PHC staff talk with patients patiently and endure their questions

    4.63

    0.55

    88.84**

    0.0

    4

    5

    PHC staff respond to patients’ needs quickly and calm down their anxiety.

    4.64

    0.51

    92.16**

    0.00

    3

    6

    Workers seek to build good relationships with patients to improve their impressions.

    4.58

    0.58

    75.72**

    0.00

    5

    Overall mean

    4.58

    0.44

     

    **indicated that Chi-Square test is statistically significant at the (0.01) significant level

     

    The statistics in table No. (4-2) demonstrated the participants of the current study perceptions with regard to the impact of establish relationship on patient safety, it was obvious that all participants have strongly agreed that, establish relationship has a very strongly impact on patient safety in the government healthcare centers in Jeddah province. In addition to that it was noticed that all values of Chi-Square test are statistically significant at the (0.01) significant level. This means the establish relationship has a significant impact on patient safety.

    To assess how establish relationship have a significant effect on patient safety, the detailed healthcare providers perceptions about that, have to conduct as in the following paragraphs: Effective Communication on Patient safety at Healthcare Centers Essay assignments and case studies

    When participants of the study were being asked to show their perceptions with regard to the statement No.3, stated that 🙁 PHC staff focus on patients when speaking without distraction and interruption), it was noticed that the majority of participants of the study strongly agreed that Public health centers staff focus on patients when speaking without distraction and interruption. This very high response was supported by the mean value equal to (4.69) with standard deviation (0.53). Hence it could be concluded that the most obvious impact of establish relationship is within staff focusing on patient when speaking without distraction and interruption.

     

    While when healthcare providers participants of the study were being required to provide their through with regard to the statement No.2, stated that (PHC staff speak to patients with interest and activity), the results in table No. (4-2) revealed that the majority of participants strongly agreed that PHC staff speak to patient with interest and activity, which has a very considerable effect on patient safety. This very high response was supported by the mean value equal to (4.65) with standard deviation (0.50). This result confirmed that the majority of healthcare providers working in healthcare centers always are keen to speak with patients with interest and actively.

    Whereas, when participants of the study were being asked to present their perceptions with regard to the statement No.6, stated that: (Workers seek to build good relationships with patients to improve their impressions), the results in table No. (4-2) showed that the majority of participants strongly agreed that workers in PHC, always seek to build good relationship with patients to improve their impressions. This very high response was supported by the mean value to participants responses equal to (4.58) with standard deviation (0.58). So this result proved that one of the most important advantages of establish relationship with patient is to improve patient’s impressions about the staff, and the healthcare center. Effective Communication on Patient safety at Healthcare Centers Essay assignments and case studies

     

    In last, when participants of the study were being required to show their perceptions with regard to the statement No.1, stated that: (PHC staff speak with patients in an acceptable speed to enable them to understand the conversation), the results in table No. (4-2) showed that the majority of participants strongly agreed that workers in PHC, always speak with patients in an acceptable speed to enable them understand the conservation. The high rating to this response was supported by the mean value equal to (4.29) with standard deviation (0.95).

     

    In conclusion to participants perceptions with regard to establish relationship impact on patient safety, it could be concluded that, establishment of relationship has a very considerable impact on patient safety, in particularly, the most important ways to do that include: focusing of PHC staff on patient when speak without distraction and interruption, speaking with patients with interest and activity, responding to patients needs quickly and calm down their anxiety, in addition to that staff talking with patients patiently and endure their questions.

     

    Table No. (4-3) the participant’s responses with regard to the impact of empathy with patient on patient safety.

    Item No.

    Empathy with patients

    Mean

    Standard deviation

    Chi. Square

    P. Value

    Ranking

    7

    PHC staff select the right time to talk to patients

    4.46

    0.63

    120.67**

    0.00

    6

    8

    PHC staff answer the patients’ questions with a warm welcome

    4.57

    0.52

    75.88**

    0.00

    2

    9

    PHC staff consider the psychological state of the patients during the conversation

    4.62

    0.50

    87.24**

    0.00

    1

    10

    PHC staff respond to patients and listen to them without interruption

    4.53

    0.55

    68.32**

    0.00

    3

    11

    PHC staff direct his/her eyes to the patients’ faces while talking to them

    4.53

    0.63

    135.07**

    0.00

    5

    12

    PHC staff are smiling while directing attention to patients

    4.53

    0.59

    63.88**

    0.00

    4

    Overall mean

    4.54

    0.46

    **indicated that Chi-Square test is statistically significant at the (0.01) significant level

     

    The results in table No. (4-3) showed the participants of the current study perceptions with regard to the impact of empathy with patients on patient safety, it was noticed from the statistics in table above that the majority of participants have strongly agreed that, empathy with patients is one of the core components of effective communication that has a strong impacted on patients’ safety in the public healthcare centers in Jeddah city. Furthermore, it could be noticed that all values of Chi-Square test indicated that, there is a significant impact of empathy with patient on patient safety.

     

    To examine how empathy with patients has significant impact on patient safety, the detailed healthcare provider’s perceptions about that, was conducted as in the following:

    When participants of the study were being asked to show their perceptions with regard to the statement No.9, stated that 🙁 PHC staff consider the psychological state of the patients during the conversation), it was noticed that the majority of participants strongly agreed that PHC staff have the knowledge to consider the psychological state of the patient during the conservation with him This very high response was supported by the mean value equal to (4.62) with standard deviation (0.50). Therefore, this indicated that the majority of staff working in PHC, have been well trained to take the psychological state of the patient when trying to get the needed information from him.

     

    While when healthcare providers participants of the current study were being required to provide their perceptions with regard to the statement No.8, stated that (PHC staff answer the patients’ questions with a warm welcome), the results in table No. (4-3) confirmed that the majority of participants strongly agreed that PHC staff answer the patients’ questions with a warm welcome. The existence of a warm welcome by PHC staff was supported by the mean value equal to (4.57) with standard deviation (0.52). This result confirmed that the majority of healthcare providers working in healthcare centers always keep in mind the importance of being welcome with their patients, because this will have a great effect on the psychological state of the patients.

     

    It has noticed that, when participants of the current study were being required to present their perceptions with regard to the statement No.11, stated that (PHC staff direct his/her eyes to the patients’ faces while talking to them), the results in table No. (4-3) confirmed that the majority of participants strongly agreed that PHC staff usually direct his/her eyes to the patients’ facers while talking to them. This positive state of dealing with patients by healthcare providers in PHC was supported by the mean value equal to (4.53) with standard deviation (0.63).

     

    Whereas, when participants of the current study were being asked to show their perceptions with regard to the statement No.7, stated that (PHC staff select the right time to talk to patients), the results in table No. (4-3) confirmed that the majority of participants strongly agreed that PHC staff always select the right time to talk to patients. This positive state of dealing with patients by healthcare providers in PHC was supported by the mean value equal to (4.46) with standard deviation (0.63).

     

    In conclusion, with regard to the effect of empathy with patient practiced by healthcare providers in PHC, it could be observed that, the majority of participants strongly agreed that this empathy has a very strong impact on patient safety, which means that all staff have a great knowledge about how to deal with patients with empathy, which would affect positively on patients’ treatment and medication. It was noticed that, the most importance practices of empathy with patients that have positively impact on patients’ safety are: considering the psychological state of the patients during conservation, answering the patients’ questions with a warm welcome, responding to patients and listen to patients without interruption, smiling while directing attention to patient.

     

    Table No. (4-4) the participant’s perceptions with regard to the impact of gathering information on patient safety.

    Item No.

    Gathering information

    Mean

    Standard deviation

    Chi. Square

    P.

    Value

    Ranking

    13

    PHC staff use clear and appropriate words to express what the patient wants

    4.62

    0.54

    86.52**

    0.00

    3

    14

    PHC staff must direct the patient to their correct destinations in a fast and fast manner to carry out the necessary tests

    4.62

    0.53

    86.52**

    0.00

    4

    15

    PHC staff use a clear and understandable voice when collecting information from the patient

    4.63

    0.52

    90.28**

    0.00

    2

    16

    PHC staff use facial expressions are used during conversation and good listening when the patient is asked for information about him.

    4.55

    0.59

    143.60**

    0.00

    5

    17

    PHC staff should keep the patient information updated in a special place.

    4.49

    0.69

    130.69**

    0.00

    6

    18

    PHC staff are confirmed patient information for medicines and medical devices.

    4.65

    0.50

    96.16**

    0.00

    1

    Overall mean

    4.59

    0.49

    **indicated that Chi-Square test is statistically significant at the (0.01) significant level

     

    The results in table No. (4-4) showed the participants’ perceptions with regard to the impact of gathering information as one of the core elements of effective communication on patient safety, it was observed that as indicated by the statistics in table above that the majority of participants strongly agreed that, gathering information is one of the core components of effective communication has strong impact on patients’ safety in PHC in Jeddah city.

     

    The results in the above table, also showed that all values of Chi-Square test are statistically significant at the (0.01) significant level, which proved that gathering information has a significant impact on patient safety.

     

    To examine how gathering information has a significant impact on patient safety, the detailed perceptions of participants are conducted as in the following:

     

    When participants of the current study were being asked to provide their perceptions with regard to the statement No.18, stated that 🙁 PHC staff are confirmed patient information for medicines and medical devices), it could be observed that, the majority of participants strongly agreed that PHC staff are confirmed patient information for medicines and medical devices.  This positive practice was supported by the mean value equal to (4.65) with standard deviation (0.50). Therefore, these results proved that one of the most elements of gathering information by healthcare providers is that, at the first step PHC staff have to confirm patient information for medicines and medical devices as well.

     

    Whereas, when participants of the current study were being required to provide their perceptions with regard to the statement No.15, stated that (PHC staff use a clear and understandable voice when collecting information from the patient), the results in table No. (4-4) revealed that the majority of participants strongly agreed that PHC staff use a clear and understandable voice when collecting information from the patient. The positive a warm welcome provided by PHC staff was supported by the mean value equal to (4.63) with standard deviation (0.52). This result confirmed that using a clear and understandable voice when collecting information from patients, has a very positive impact on patient safety.

     

    On the other hand, when participants of the current study were being asked to provide their perceptions with regard to the statement No.16, stated that (PHC staff use facial expressions are used during conversation and good listening when the patient is asked for information about him), the results in table No. (4-4) showed that the majority of participants strongly agreed that PHC staff use facial expressions during conservation and good listening when the patient is asked for information about him. The positive state of expression of healthcare providers was supported by the mean value equal to (4.55) with standard deviation (0.59). Effective Communication on Patient safety at Healthcare Centers Essay assignments and case studies

     

    Whereas, when healthcare providers as participants in this study when they were being asked to show their perceptions with regard to the statement No.17, which stated that: (PHC staff should keep the patient information updated in a special place), the results in table No. (4-4) revealed that, the majority of participants strongly agreed that PHC staff should keep the patient information updated in a special place. This very positive perceptions was supported by the mean value (4.49) with standard deviation equal to (0.69). Hence, it could be concluded that staff usually are accustomed to keep the patient information updated in a special place, as a feed back to follow his medication situation on a professional way.

     

    In conclusion to participant’s responses with regard to the importance, and impact of gathering information as one of the tools of effective communication for patient safety, the results confirmed that the majority of participants strongly agreed that gathering information about the patient has a very positive impact on patients’ safety. In addition to that the results confirmed that the most important indication behind that include: PHC staff are usually confirmed patient information for medicines and medical devices, and they use a clear and understandable voice when collecting information about the patient, and use clear and appropriate words to express what the patient wants, in addition to that they must direct the patient to their correct destinations in a fast manner to carry out the necessary tests.

     

     

    Table No. (4-5) the participant’s perceptions with regard to the impact of share decision making on patient safety.

    Item No.

    Share decision making

    Mean

    Standard deviation

    Chi. Square

    P.

    Value

    Ranking

    19

    PHC staff explains medical terminology to patients and share their information

    4.52

    0.61

    61.32**

    0.00

    1

    20

    PHC staff take the benefit from the proposed ideas offered by the patient

    4.38

    0.69

    101.89

    0.00

    2

    21

    Patients are given details of their illness if you are authorized

    4.31

    0.75

    84.13**

    0.00

    4

    22

    All the details of patient given to his family if you are authorized

    4.31

    0.74

    83.23**

    0.00

    3

    Overall mean

    4.38

    0.57

    **indicated that Chi-Square test is statistically significant at the (0.01) significant level

     

    The results in table No. (4-5) showed the participants’ perceptions with regard to the impact of share decision making as one of the core elements of the impact of effective communication on patient safety, it was noticed that the statistics in table No. (4-5) showed that the majority of participants strongly agreed that, share decision making is one of the most important elements of effective communication to impact on patient safety. In addition to that, the results showed that, all values of Chi-Square test are statistically significant at the (0.01) significant level. This indicated that, share decision making has a significant impact on patient safety.

     

    To assess how sharing decision making has a significant impact on patient safety, the detailed perceptions of participants are carried out as follows:

    When participants of the study were being asked to provide their perceptions with regard to the statement No.19, stated that 🙁 PHC staff explains medical terminology to patients and share their information), it could be noticed that, the majority of participants strongly agreed that PHC staff explains medical terminology to patients and share their information.  This positive practice was supported by the mean value equal to (4.52) with standard deviation (0.61). Therefore, these results confirmed that, most staff usually explains medical terminology to patients in a positive way, which contributed in the improvement of the effective communication on patient safety.

     

    Whereas, when participants of the current study were being required to provide their perceptions with regard to the statement No.20, stated that (PHC staff take the benefit from the proposed ideas offered by the patient), the results in table No. (4-5) revealed that the majority of participants strongly agreed that PHC staff take the benefit from the proposed ideas offered by the patient. This positive indication was supported by the mean value equal to (4.38) with standard deviation (0.69). This result confirmed that usually PHC staff take the benefit from the proposed ideas offered by the patient in order to make good decision for his medication on a professional manner.

     

    While, when participants of the current study were being asked to show their perceptions with regard to the statement No.22, stated that (All the details of patient given to his family if you are authorized), the results in table No. (4-5) confirmed that the majority of participants strongly agreed that all details of patient given to his family if the healthcare provider is authorized by the patient to do that. This positive perception was supported by the mean value equal to (4.31) with standard deviation (0.74). This means that if healthcare providers as employees don’t have the light from the patient to give any details about his disease or medication, he can’t do that, which indicated that healthcare providers they deal with the patient in a trustful manner, and keeping everything about him secret, unless the patient authorized him.

     

    In conclusion, when participants of the current study were being required to show their perceptions with regard to the statement No.21, stated that (Patients are given details of their illness if you are authorized), the results in table No. (4-5) confirmed that the majority of participants strongly agreed patients are given details of their illness if the healthcare provider is being authorized. This positive perception was supported by the mean value equal to (4.31) with standard deviation (0.75), which indicated that all healthcare providers understand that they will not spread the details of the patients’ illness unless they were being authorized officially either by patient himself or the medication physician who is only responsible to speak with the patient directly and not with any other one if not authorized by the patient.

     

    Therefore, based on the previous analysis of the participants perceptions with regard to the impact of share decision making as one of the main elements of effective communication to impact on patient safety, it could be noticed that sharing of decision making has a strong impact on patient safety. The results have shown that the most important effect of sharing decision making have come through staff explaining medical terminology to patient and share their information, and staff taking of the benefit from the proposed ideas offered by the patient, and keep secret of the details of patient illness if not authorized.

     

    Table No. (4-6) the participants perceptions with regard to the impact of cultural difference on patient safety.

    Item No.

    Cultural difference

    Mean

    Standard deviation

    Chi. Square

    P.

    Value

    Ranking

    23

    PHC staff accept constructive criticism offered by patients without anger

    4.36

    0.59

    52.68**

    0.00

    5

    24

    PHC staff demonstrate Policies and procedures for the patient in an acceptable manner

    4.54

    0.57

    67.1**

    0.00

    3

    25

    PHC staff shake hands with patients to calm their mental state

    4.40

    0.75

    164.53**

    0.00

    4

    26

    PHC staff take care that your sitting position is appropriate when dealing with the patient

    4.56

    0.54

    73.56**

    0.00

    2

    27

    PHC staff use a quiet and comfortable tone of voice during dealing with patient

    4.58

    0.52

    78.12**

    0.00

    1

    Overall mean

    4.49

    0.51

    **indicated that Chi-Square test is statistically significant at the (0.01) significant level

     

    The results in table No. (4-6) showed the participants’ perceptions with regard to the impact of cultural differences as one of the main elements of the impact of effective communication on patient safety, it was noticed that the statistics in table above showed that the majority of participants strongly agreed that, cultural differences is considered as of the elements of effective communication to impact on patient safety. Furthermore, the results in the above table, showed that all values of Chi-Square test are statistically significant, indicating that, cultural differences have a significant impact on patient safety. To assess how cultural differences has a significant impact on patient safety, the detailed perceptions of participants are carried out as follows:

    When participants of the study were being asked to provide their perceptions with regard to the statement No.27, stated that 🙁 PHC staff use a quiet and comfortable tone of voice during dealing with patient), it could be noticed that, the majority of participants strongly agreed that PHC staff use a quiet and comfortable tone of voice during dealing with patient.  This positive practice was supported by the mean value equal to (4.58) with standard deviation (0.52). Therefore, this result support that most staff usually use quiet and comfortable tone of voice during dealing with patients in order to let them to have a complete rest, which will contribute in the achievement of patient safety.

     

    Based on the statistics in table No. (4-6), when participants of the current study were being required to provide their perceptions with regard to the statement No.26, stated that (PHC staff take care that your sitting position is appropriate when dealing with the patient), the results in table No. (4-10) showed that the majority of participants strongly agreed that PHC staff take care that their sitting position is appropriate when dealing with the patient. This positive practice of sitting was supported by the mean value equal to (4.56) with standard deviation (0.54). This result confirmed that usually PHC staff take care of their sitting position when dealing with the patient to let him to be in a comfortable situation. Effective Communication on Patient safety at Healthcare Centers Essay assignments and case studies

     

    On the other hand, when participants were being asked to present their thoughts and opinion with regard to the statement No.25, which stated that: (PHC staff shake hands with patients to calm their mental state), it could be confirmed that the majority of healthcare providers working in PHC, who participate in this study strongly agreed that, PHC staff shake hands with patients to calm their mental state. The positive effect of this practice was supported by the mean value equal to (4.40) with standard deviation (0.75).

     

    In last, when participants were being asked to present their thoughts and opinion with regard to the statement No.23, which stated that: (PHC staff accept constructive criticism offered by patients without anger), it could be observed that the majority of healthcare providers working in PHC, who participate in this study strongly agreed that, PHC staff accept constructive criticism offered by patients without anger. The positive effect of this practice was supported by the mean value equal to (4.36) with standard deviation (0.59). Therefore, the acceptance of PHC staff for constructive criticism from patients without anger, indicate that all staff are well trained to deal with patients as customers.

     

    In conclusion to the analysis of the participants perceptions with regard to the impact of take care of cultural differences by healthcare providers in PHC in Jeddah, the results found that most participants strongly agreed that cultural difference has to impact on patient safety effectively. The results found that the most important indications supporting that include: staff use a quiet and comfortable tone of voice during dealing with patient, staff taking care of their sitting position is appropriate when dealing with the patient, in addition to that staff acceptance of constructive criticism offered by patient without anger.

     

    Table No. (4-7) the participants perceptions with regard to patient safety in PHC in Jeddah.

    Item No.

    Patient safety

    Mean

    Standard deviation

    Chi. Square

    P.

    Value

    Ranking

    28

    PHC staff trained on different aspects of international patient safety goals (IPSGs).

    4.60

    0.53

    81.48**

    0.00

    3

    29

    PHC staff are aware about there is monitoring of IPSGs evidenced in reports, meeting minutes, and action plans for improvements.

    4.55

    0.62

    141.52**

    0.00

    7

    30

    PHC staff are aware of applying the policy of patient identifiers and when to be used.

    4.58

    0.56

    154.59**

    0.00

    6

    31

    PHC staffs are aware about there is the policy for effective identification of patients who are at risk for falling.

    4.58

    0.56

    75.96**

    0.00

    4

    32

    PHC staff are aware about the hand hygiene policy is properly implemented.

    4.69

    0.46

    22.43**

    0.00

    1

    33

    PHC staff are aware about there is a process for preventing medications errors.

    4.65

    0.53

    94.84**

    0.00

    2

    34

    PHC staff are aware of a list of cases involving sentinel events

    4.58

    0.58

    153.20**

    0.00

    5

    35

    PHC staff are aware of applying the process of handling sentinel events includes reporting within 24 hours, formation of a team for studying the causes of the event (root cause analysis) within 10 working days.

    4.54

    0.61

    139.97**

    0.00

    8

    Overall mean

    4.60

    0.49

    The results in table No. (4-7) showed the participants’ perceptions with regard to the actual situation of patients’ safety in PHC in Jeddah city, it was noticed that the statistics in table above confirmed that the majority of participants strongly agreed that, there are much care was taken towards the patient safety.

     

    To assess the most important indications which present the patient safety situation in PHC in Jeddah city, the detailed analysis of participants’ perceptions are carried out as follows: When participants of the study were being asked to provide their thoughts with regard to the statement No.32, which stated that 🙁 PHC staff are aware about the hand hygiene policy is properly implemented), the results in the above table showed that, the majority of participants strongly agreed that PHC staff usually aware that the hand hygiene policy is properly implemented. The highly positive perceptions of the participants were supported by the mean value equal to (4.69) with standard deviation (0.49). Hence, this result support that the majority of staff usually aware that the hand hygiene policy is properly implemented.

     

    Whereas, when participants of the study were being asked to present their opinions with regard to the statement No.33, which stated that 🙁 PHC staff are aware about there is a process for preventing medications errors), the results in table No. (4-7) showed that, the majority of participants strongly agreed that PHC staff usually are aware about the process for preventing medications errors). The highly positive perceptions of the participants were supported by the mean value equal to (4.65) with standard deviation (0.53). Therefore, this result support that the majority of staff always put high value to the awareness about the process for preventing mediations errors.

     

    While, when participants of the study were being required to show their perceptions with regard to the statement No.29, which stated that: (PHC staff are aware about there is monitoring of IPSGs evidenced in reports, meeting minutes, and action plans for improvements), the results in table No. (4-7) revealed that, the majority of participants strongly agreed that PHC staff are aware about monitoring of IPSGs in reports, meeting minutes, and action plans for improvement. So, these positive perceptions of the participants were supported by the mean value equal to (4.55) with standard deviation (0.62).

     

    At last, when participants of the study were being asked to show their perceptions with regard to the statement No.35, which stated that 🙁 PHC staff are aware of applying the process of handling sentinel events includes reporting within 24 hours, formation of a team for studying the causes of the event (root cause analysis) within 10 working days), the results in table No. (4-7) revealed that, the majority of participants strongly agreed that PHC staff are aware of applying the process of handling sentinel events includes reporting within 24 hours, formations of a team for studying the causes of the event (root cause analysis).

     

    Therefore, based on data analysis of the participants as healthcare providers in PHC in Jeddah, with regard to patients’ safety, it could be concluded that most participants strongly agreed that, all staff are well aware about patients’ safety, in particularly they are aware about hand hygiene policy is properly implemented, and they are aware about the process for preventing medications errors, and in addition to that in order to achieve patients’ safety staff trained on different aspects of international patient safety goals, and also they are aware about the policy for effective identification of patients who are at risk for falling.

     

    Table No. (4-8) shows overall participants responses with regard to impact of effective communication dimensions of patient safety.

    Overall

    Independent variables

    Mean

    Standard deviation

    Chi. Square

    P.

    Value

    Ranking

    Establish relationship

    4.58

    0.44

    149.73**

    0.00

    2

    Empathy with patients

    4.54

    0.46

    150.00**

    0.00

    3

    Gathering information

    4.59

    0.49

    336.64**

    0.00

    1

    Share decision making

    4.38

    0.57

    152.40**

    0.00

    5

    Cultural difference

    4.49

    0.51

    141.72**

    0.00

    4

    **indicated that Chi-Square test is statistically significant at the (0.01) significant level

     

    The statistics in table No. (4-8) revealed that the most important effect on patient safety has resulted from gathering information as one of the core elements of effective communication, followed by establish relationship at the second level, while empathy with patient safety has come at the third level among the factors that impact patient safety, where cultural difference has come at the fourth level in terms of impacting the patient safety, where share decision making has the a significant impact also, as the last elements of effective communication.

     

     4.4  
    Section Three: Examining Significant Differences Related to Demographic Characteristics.

    To examine whether there are significant differences in healthcare providers perceptions with regard to the impact of effective communication on patient safety, related to the demographic characteristics including (gender, age, position, education level, and experiences) analysis of variances techniques have been performed. To examine if there are statistically significant difference related to gender, T-test statistics was run, whereas to examine if there are significant differences related to (age, position, education level, and years of experience) One-Way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed. Effective Communication on Patient safety at Healthcare Centers Essay assignments and case studies

     

    The results of the previous tests are presented as in the following tables:

    Table No. (4-9) results of testing the significant differences in the impact of effective communication on patient safety related to gender.

    Main variables

    Gender

    Sample size

    Mean

    Standard deviation

    T-test

    df

    P-value

    Establish relationship

    Female

    50

    4.59

    0.44

    0.198

    148

    0.84

    Male

    100

    4.58

    0.43

    Empathy with patient

    Female

    50

    4.57

    0.46

    0.521

    148

    0.60

    Male

    100

    4.53

    0.46

    Gathering information

    Female

    50

    4.63

    0.53

    0.632

    148

    0.53

    Male

    100

    4.58

    0.46

    Share decision making

    Female

    50

    4.42

    0.62

    0.607

    148

    0.55

    Male

    100

    4.36

    0.54

    Cultural difference

    Female

    50

    4.52

    0.56

    0.478

    148

    0.63

    Male

    100

    4.47

    0.48

    Patient safety

    Female

    50

    4.66

    0.51

    1.042

    148

    0.30

    Male

    100

    4.57

    0.48

     

    The results in table No. (4-9) found that, there are no statistically significant differences between healthcare providers’ perceptions in PHC in Jeddah, towards the effective communication impact on patient safety related to gender. This means that gender was not regarded as an independent variable that have no effect on the participant’s perceptions with regard to the impact of effective communication on patient safety in Jeddah healthcare institutions.

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    Table No. (4-10) showed the results of analyzing the impact of effective communication on patient safety related to age.

    Mean values by age group

    F

    P-value

    Less than 30

    30-to 40

    40-to 50

    50+

    Establish relationship

    4.44

    4.60

    4.62

    4.45

    .927

    .429

    Empathy with patients

    4.40

    4.58

    4.55

    4.26

    1.618

    .188

    gathering information

    4.46

    4.60

    4.62

    4.79

    .793

    .500

    share decision making

    4.27

    4.40

    4.41

    4.18

    .589

    .623

    cultural differences

    4.33

    4.51

    4.57

    4.29

    1.146

    .333

    patient safety

    4.47

    4.63

    4.61

    4.41

    .811

    .490

     

    The results of analysis of variances in table No. (4-10) showed that, there are no statistically significant differences between participants perceptions with regard to the impact of effective communication on patient safety, as all P-values of the F-statistics are greater than the (0.05) significant level. This means age variations of the respondents as an independent demographic variable would not be considered as a factor that effect on participant’s attitudes towards the impact of effective communication through all its core elements on patient safety. This indicated that all participants strongly agreed that effective communication has a significant impact on patient safety.

     

    Table No. (4-11) showed the results of analyzing the impact of effective communication on patient safety related to job position.

    Mean values by job

    F

    P-value

    Admin.

    nursing

    physician

    X-ray

    Lab.

    dental

    Pharm.

    Establish relationship

    4.39

    4.66

    4.73

    4.35

    4.47

    4.37

    4.85

    3.548**

    .003

    Empathy with patients

    4.33

    4.63

    4.67

    4.42

    4.28

    4.40

    4.80

    3.044**

    .008

    gathering information

    4.50

    4.66

    4.64

    4.38

    4.33

    4.48

    4.91

    1.716

    .121

    share decision making

    4.26

    4.43

    4.62

    4.06

    3.96

    4.30

    4.47

    2.260*

    .041

    cultural differences

    4.41

    4.57

    4.57

    4.35

    4.20

    4.26

    4.58

    1.309

    .257

    patient safety

    4.39

    4.68

    4.75

    4.34

    4.46

    4.54

    4.75

    2.466*

    .027

    The results of analysis of variance in table No. (4-11) found that there are statistically significant differences between participants’ perceptions regarding the impact of establish relation, empathy with patient, share decision making, and patient safety, related to Job position of participants of the study. This mean participants have different opinions towards the impact of establish relationship, empathy with patient, and share decision making on patient safety. Effective Communication on Patient safety at Healthcare Centers Essay assignments and case studies

     

    Table No.  (4-12) showed the results of analyzing the impact of effective communication on patient safety related to education level.

    Mean values by educational level

    F

    P-value

    High school/diploma

    College/ diploma community

    University degree

    postgraduate

    Establish relationship

    4.54

    4.60

    4.56

    4.71

    .511

    .675

    Empathy with patients

    4.53

    4.56

    4.50

    4.64

    .289

    .833

    gathering information

    4.60

    4.62

    4.53

    4.70

    .472

    .703

    share decision making

    4.35

    4.31

    4.43

    4.64

    1.131

    .338

    cultural differences

    4.53

    4.42

    4.46

    4.64

    .742

    .529

    patient safety

    4.53

    4.59

    4.62

    4.82

    1.063

    .367

     

    The results of analysis of variances in table No. (4-12) showed that there are no statistically significant differences between participants perceptions towards the impact of the core elements of effective communication on patient safety related to educational level. This indicated the variation of education level was not considered as an independent variable that has an effect on participant’s attitudes towards the impact of effective communication on patient safety.

     

    Table No. (4-13) showed the results of analyzing the impact of effective communication on patient safety related to years of experience.

    Mean values by years of experience

    F

    P-value

    1-to less than 5

    5- to less than 10

    10- to less than 15

    15 years and over

    Establish relationship

    4.52

    4.57

    4.61

    4.59

    .172

    .915

    Empathy with patients

    4.33

    4.60

    4.60

    4.49

    1.877

    .136

    gathering information

    4.32

    4.60

    4.65

    4.65

    2.129

    .099

    share decision making

    4.07

    4.47

    4.43

    4.35

    2.284

    .081

    cultural differences

    4.26

    4.50

    4.56

    4.49

    1.479

    .223

    patient safety

    4.35

    4.61

    4.74

    4.54

    2.945*

    .035

    *indicated that the difference is significant at the (0.05) significant level.

    The results in the above table No. (4-13), showed that there are no statistically significant differences between participants attitudes regarding the impact of effective communication on patient safety related to years of experience. This means that all participants strongly agreed that all core elements of effective communication have an impact on patient safety. While the result found that there is a significant difference between participant’s attitudes towards the patient safety.

     

     4.5  
    Summary of Results

    Based on data analysis and testing the research hypotheses, the study concluded with the following outcomes:

    With regard to establish relationship impact on patient safety, the concluded that establish relationship has a very considerable impact on patient safety, in particularly, the most important ways to do that include: focusing of PHC staff on patient when speak without distraction and interruption, speaking with patients with interest and activity, responding to patients needs quickly and calm down their anxiety.

    Concerning the effect of empathy with patient practiced by healthcare providers in PHC, the study revealed that, the majority of participants strongly agreed that empathy has a very strong impact on patient safety, which means that all staff have a great knowledge about how to deal with patients with empathy, which would affect positively on patients’ treatment and medication.

    The study found that, the most importance practices of empathy with patients that have positively impact on patients’ safety are: considering the psychological state of the patients during conservation, answering the patients’ questions with a warm welcome, responding to patients and listen to patients without interruption, smiling while directing attention to patient.

    The study showed that, with regard to the importance, and impact of gathering information as one of the tools of effective communication for patient safety, the results confirmed that the majority of participants strongly agreed that gathering information about the patient has a very positive impact on patients’ safety. Effective Communication on Patient safety at Healthcare Centers Essay assignments and case studies

    With regard to the impact of share decision making as one of the main elements of effective communication to impact on patient safety, it could be noticed that sharing of decision making has a strong impact on patient safety. The results have shown that the most important effect of sharing decision making have come through staff explaining medical terminology to patient and share their information, and staff taking of the benefit from the proposed ideas offered by the patient, and keep secret of the details of patient illness if not authorized.

    The study found that most participants strongly agreed that cultural difference has to impact on patient safety effectively. The results found that the most important indications supporting that include: staff use a quiet and comfortable tone of voice during dealing with patient, staff taking care of their sitting position is appropriate when dealing with the patient, in addition to that staff acceptance of constructive criticism offered by patient without anger.

    The study explored that, all staff are well aware about patients’ safety, in particularly they are aware about hand hygiene policy is properly implemented, and they are aware about the process for preventing medications errors, and in addition to that in order to achieve patients’ safety staff trained on different aspects of international patient safety goals, and also, they are aware about the policy for effective identification of patients who are at risk for falling.

    The results of T-test to examine whether there are significant differences between healthcare providers in PHC in Jeddah with regard to the impact effective communication on patient, the results don’t find any significant differences related to gender of participants.

    The study showed that there are no statistically significant differences between healthcare providers perceptions towards the impact of effective communication on patient safety in PHC, in Jeddah city related to age, educational level, and years of experiences of the participants.

    The study detected that, there are statistically significant difference between healthcare providers perceptions with regard to the impact of effective communication within establish relationship, empathy with patient and gathering information related to job position.

    The study found that, there is a significant difference between participants attitudes towards the patient safety related to years of experience, and it was concluded that the significant difference are positive to the health care providers who have years of experience between (10- to less than 15) years. Effective Communication on Patient safety at Healthcare Centers Essay assignments and case studies

     

    Chapter Five:

    Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

     

     

    Chapter Five: Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

     5.1  
    Summary of Results

    This chapter presents the summary of findings, conclusions and recommendation of the study. The study variables are categorized into dependent and independent variables. The dependent variable in this study is patient safety, whereas the independent variable is effective communication, which is represented by five variables including (establish or building relationship, empathy with patient, gathering information, share decision making, and cultural difference).

     

    2
    Research Summary

    In Chapter one, the impact of effective communication in the healthcare setting in on patient safety is examined. The study is justified in that it seeks to identify how effective communication can have a positive impact on patient safety by providing the needed information to the practitioners. The study seeks to raise awareness of the need for patient safety and the precise contribution of effective communication.

     

    In the second chapter, the researcher assesses the role of effective communication on patient’s safety and investigates the perception of healthcare staff on the contribution of effective communication to the overall patient safety. Five independent variables were identified as playing a critical role in effective communication and ensuring the safety of the patients. These included effective contribution assisted in establishing a relationship in the healthcare settings and empathy as well as helping in gathering information, contributed to the shared decision-making process, and also played significant roles in bridging cultural differences. The five independent factors were investigated for their impact on patient safety. Effective Communication on Patient safety at Healthcare Centers Essay assignments and case studies

     

    The third chapter describes the methodology utilized in the research process. The study relied on a descriptive analytical approach in the research design. A population of 150 research subjects was selected from the target population that included staff from four healthcare centers in Jeddah province, Saudi Arabia. The study employs a survey questionnaire in the data collection. The chapter also presents the reliability as well as the validity of the survey questionnaire used in the study as well as the statistical techniques that data is analyzed for descriptive statistics to present the demographics of the research participants. Pearson correlation coefficient is used to test the five hypotheses proposed in chapter one. The reliability of the questionnaire items is tested using the Cronbach’s alpha. This chapter number four of the study is specified for data analysis and interpretations, and mainly it concentrated to find answer to the research questions.

     

    Chapter four describes the data analysis and interpretation process and mainly it concentrated to find answer to the research questions. The chapter has provided a summary of the key findings from the data collected in the methodology section including the demographic data grouping the research subjects based on gender, age and position in the healthcare center. Six issues emerge from the data collection process. The six issues affect the relationship between PHC staff and the patients. The six issues are; establish relationship, empathy, gathering information, share decision making, cultural differences, and demographic characteristics. The independent variables are analyzed in the chapter and their mean, standard deviation, and chi-square as well as the p-value for their confidence level provided in this chapter. In addition, questionnaire’s items related to patient safety have also been analyzed with all items demonstrating high significance based on their p-value which is below 0.05. Overall, all the independent variables, establish a relationship with patients, and empathy with patients helped in gathering information and assisted the shared decision-making process as well as bridged the cultural differences were significant in influencing patient safety since they all reported a p-value of zero from the analysis based on 95% confidence level. Based on ANOVA the demographics of gender did not have any significant influence on the five independent factors that affect patient safety in effective communication. This was also similar to the age of the research participants; however, the position of the research subjects influenced their perception of the independent factors on patient safety in view of effective communication.

     

    3
    Research Conclusion

    PHC has applied a set of establish relationship technique which positively affected on patient safety services, in particularly, that a set of techniques like the focusing on a patient when speaking without distraction and interruption. Also responding to patients needs quickly and calm down their anxiety.

    PHC took into consideration publish of communication culture process that strongly appropriate of empathy with the patient which has a very strong impact on patient safety through the applied a good dealing art with the patient. It means that all staff has a great knowledge about how to deal with patients, their treatment, and their medication.

    PHC has provided policies of gathering health information which positively affected patient safety. It is usually confirmed patient information for medicines and medical devices, PHC staff use a clear, understandable voice when collecting information about the patient. Effective Communication on Patient safety at Healthcare Centers Essay assignments and case studies

    PHC has applied sharing decision mechanism which positive effect on patient safety through explaining medical terminology to the patient that help them to choose the right health path, share their information and keep the details of the patient illness secret.

    PHC is keeping indicators of culture difference supporting patient safety services positively like staff use a quiet and comfortable tone of voice during dealing with patients, staff acceptance of constructive criticism offered by patient without anger.

    In the analysis of demographic characteristic for the five independent variables, none of the variables demonstrated any significant differences between  groups since p-value was not significant (p>0.05) for the average scores for “establish  relationship”, “empathy  with patients”, “gathering information”, “share decision making”, “cultural  differences”, and the averages scores for patient safety. It means all healthcare provider given a high rate for the effectiveness of communication on patient safety.

     

    4
    Research Recommendation

    Improve the PHC services and continuously for the process of the special procedures of establishing relationships with patients by updating the policies and procedures of PHC continuously and commensurate with the current situation.

    Setting regular meetings among staff to develop the process of empathy with patients for attained great treatments and services with appropriate methods.

    Trying to increase staff knowledge of gathering information mechanism by apply training courses to reduce medical errors. Also, ensure that there are patients’ rights and responsibilities approved.

    Determining regular revision of PHC sharing decision rules through insert patients for sharing decision as PHC priority service.

    Develop PHC indicators plans annually by documenting performance indicators for different cultures.

    Provide training sessions to improve effective communication skills with patients. Also, motivate staff who work at PHC to do their work by following PHC rules and regulations. Moreover, motivate staff morally and through promotions and bonuses.

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    Appendix

    King Abdulaziz University

    College of Economics and Administration

    Dears,   Health Care Provider

    I am in a process to complete my Executive Master degree in Health management from Health Service and Hospital Administration Department in College of Economics and Administration at the University of King Abdulaziz, Jeddah, by conducting this current research with the title:

    The Impact of Effective communication on Patient safety in primary health care center in KSA

    I have the pleasure, to introduce this Questionnaire for your consideration, I hope that you will give it part of your precious time to read all items, and provide the answer by checking (√) at the levels that match your opinion in the accurate and serious way that contributed in the achievement of research objectives.

    I assured to you that, all information will be in highly confidential, and only will be used for scientific research.

     

    Researcher

    Amal Alsomali

     

    PART 1

    Personal Information

    Please tick
    (×) in
    the appropriate box that applies to you

     

    Gender
    : Male Female

    Age
    : Less than 30 30- Less than 40

    40- Less than 50                 50 and over

    Position
    : Administrative Nursing

    Physician                            X-ray

    Laboratory                          Dental

    Pharmacy

    Education
    : High school/diploma College diploma/Community Effective Communication on Patient safety at Healthcare Centers Essay assignments and case studies

    University degree                   Postgraduate

    Years of Experience
    : Less than a year 1- Less than 5

    5- Less than 10            10- Less than 15

    15 and over

    PART 2

    This section contains a set of questions that measure the level of effective communication skills with patients in your primary health care center. Please tick (√ ) in the appropriate box that applies to you

    No.

    Item

    Strongly Agree

    Agree

    Neutral

    Disagree

    Strongly Disagree

    Establish relationship

    1.

    PHC staff speak with patients in an acceptable speed to enable them understand the conversation

    2.

    PHC staff speak to patients with interest and activity

    3.

    PHC staff focus on patients when speaking without distraction and interruption

    4.

    PHC staff talk with patients patiently and endure their questions

    5.

    PHC staff respond to patients’ needs quickly and calm down their anxiety.

    6.

    Workers seek to build good relationships with patients to improve their impressions.

    Empathy with patients

    1.

    PHC staff select the right time to talk to patients

    2.

    PHC staff answer the patients’ questions with a warm welcome

    3.

    PHC staff consider the psychological state of the patients during the conversation

    4.

    PHC staff respond to patients and listen to them without interruption

    5.

    PHC staff direct his/her eyes to the patients’ faces while talking to them

    6.

    PHC staff  are smiling while directing attention to patients

    Gathering information

    1.

    PHC staff use clear and appropriate words to express what the patient wants

    2.

    PHC staff must direct the patient to their correct destinations in a fast and fast manner to carry out the necessary tests

    3.

    PHC staff  use a clear and understandable voice is used when collecting information from the patient

    4.

    PHC staff use facial expressions are used during conversation and good listening when the patient is asked for information about him.

    5.

    PHC staff should keep the patient information updated in a special place.

    6.

    PHC staff are confirmed patient information for medicines and medical devices.

    Share decision making

    1.

    PHC staff explains medical terminology to patients and share their information

    2.

    PHC staff  take the benefit from the proposed ideas offered by the patient

    3.

    Patients are given details of their illness if you are authorized

    4.

    All the details of patient given to his family if you are authorized

    Cultural differences

    1.

    PHC staff accept constructive criticism offered by patients without anger

    2.

    PHC staff demonstrate Policies and procedures for the patient in an acceptable manner

    3.

    PHC staff shake hands with patients to calm their mental state

    4.

    PHC staff take care that your sitting position is appropriate when dealing with the patient

    5.

    PHC staff use a quiet and comfortable tone of voice during dealing with patient

     

     

     

    PART 3

    This section contains a set of questions that measure the patient safety Aspects in primary health care centers. Please tick (√ ) in the appropriate box that applies to you. Effective Communication on Patient safety at Healthcare Centers Essay assignments and case studies

    No.

    Item

    Strongly Agree

    Agree

    Neutral

    Disagree

    Strongly Disagree

    Patient safety

    1.

    PHC staff trained on different aspects of international patient safety goals (IPSGs).

    2.

    PHC staff are aware about there is monitoring of IPSGs evidenced in reports, meeting minutes, and action plans for improvements.

    3.

    PHC staff are aware of applying the policy of patient identifiers and when to be used.

    4.

    PHC staffs are aware about there is the policy for effective identification of patients who are at risk for falling.

    5.

    PHC staff are aware about the hand hygiene policy is properly implemented.

    6.

    PHC staff are aware about there is a process for preventing medications errors.

    7.

    PHC staff are aware of a list of cases involving sentinel events

    8.

    PHC staff are aware of applying the process of handling sentinel events includes reporting within 24 hours, formation of a team for studying the causes of the event (root cause analysis) within 10 working days.

     

    Thank you for your cooperation

    Yours sincerely,

  • Assessing and Treating Clients With ADHD Decision tree case study

    To prepare for this Assessing and Treating Clients With ADHD Decision tree case study Assignment:

    This case study will serve as the foundation for this week’s Assignment.

    Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

    A Young Girl With ADHD

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    BACKGROUND

    Katie is an 8 year old Caucasian female who is brought to your office today by her mother & father. They report that they were referred to you by their primary care provider after seeking her advice because Katie’s teacher suggested that she may have ADHD. Katie’s parents reported that their PCP felt that she should be evaluated by psychiatry to determine whether or not she has this condition. Assessing and Treating Clients With ADHD Decision tree case study.

    The parents give the PMHNP a copy of a form titled “Conner’s Teacher Rating Scale-Revised”. This scale was filled out by Katie’s teacher and sent home to the parents so that they could share it with their family primary care provider. According to the scoring provided by her teacher, Katie is inattentive, easily distracted, forgets things she already learned, is poor in spelling, reading, and arithmetic. Her attention span is short, and she is noted to only pay attention to things she is interested in. The teacher opined that she lacks interest in school work and is easily distracted. Assessing and Treating Clients With ADHD Decision tree case study. Katie is also noted to start things but never finish them, and seldom follows through on instructions and fails to finish her school work.

    Katie’s parents actively deny that Katie has ADHD. “She would be running around like a wild person if she had ADHD” reports her mother. “She is never defiant or has temper outburst” adds her father.

    SUBJECTIVE

    Katie reports that she doesn’t know what the “big deal” is. She states that school is “OK”- her favorite subjects are “art” and “recess.” She states that she finds her other subjects boring, and sometimes hard because she feels “lost”. She admits that her mind does wander during class to things that she thinks of as more fun. “Sometimes” Katie reports “I will just be thinking about nothing and the teacher will call my name and I don’t know what they were talking about.” Assessing and Treating Clients With ADHD Decision tree case study

    Katie reports that her home life is just fine. She reports that she loves her parents and that they are very good and kind to her. Denies any abuse, denies bullying at school. Offers no other concerns at this time.

    MENTAL STATUS EXAM

    The client is an 8 year old Caucasian female who appears appropriately developed for her age. Her speech is clear, coherent, and logical. She is appropriately oriented to person, place, time, and event. She is dressed appropriately for the weather and time of year. She demonstrates no noteworthy mannerisms, gestures, or tics. Self-reported mood is euthymic. Affect is bright. Katie denies visual or auditory hallucinations, no delusional or paranoid thought processes readily appreciated. Attention and concentration are grossly intact based on Katie’s attending to the clinical interview and her ability to count backwards from 100 by serial 2’s and 5’s. Insight and judgment appear age appropriate. Katie denies any suicidal or homicidal ideation. Assessing and Treating Clients With ADHD Decision tree case study

    Diagnosis: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, predominantly inattentive presentation

    RESOURCES

    § Conners, C. K., Sitarenios, G., Parker, J. D. A., & Epstein, J. N. (1998). Revision and restandardization of the Conners’ Teacher Rating Scale (CTRS-R): Factors, structure, reliability, and criterion validity. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 26, 279-291.

    The Assignment:

    Examine Case Study: A Young Caucasian Girl With ADHD You will be asked to make three decisions concerning the medication to prescribe to this client Assessing and Treating Clients With ADHD Decision tree case study. Be sure to consider factors that might impact the client’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes.

    At each decision point stop to complete the following:

    Decision #1

    Which decision did you select?

    Why did you select this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.

    What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.

    Explain any difference between what you expected to achieve with Decision #1 and the results of the decision. Why were they different?

    Decision #2

    Why did you select this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.

    What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.

    Explain any difference between what you expected to achieve with Decision #2 and the results of the decision. Why were they different?

    Decision #3

    Why did you select this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.

    What were you hoping to achieve by making this decision? Support your response with evidence and references to the Learning Resources.

    Explain any difference between what you expected to achieve with Decision #3 and the results of the decision. Why were they different?

    Also include how ethical considerations might impact your treatment plan and communication with clients Assessing and Treating Clients With ADHD Decision tree case study

  • Dashboard Benchmark Evaluation

    Dashboard Benchmark Evaluation

    Professional Context

    In the era of health care reform, many of the laws and policies set by government at the local, state, and federal levels have specific performance benchmarks related to care delivery outcomes that organizations need to achieve. It is critical for organizational success that the interprofessional care delivery team to be able to understand reports and dashboards that display the metrics related to performance and compliance benchmarks.

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    Scenario

    This assignment can be based on the dashboard presented in the Dashboard and Health Care Benchmark Evaluation simulation. The writing that you did as part of that simulation could serve as a starting point to build upon for this assignment, or you may instead choose another setting from your professional practice. (Bear in mind that if you choose to use another setting for this assignment, you will need to include the health care setting size and its specific type of care delivery, as well as diversity, ethnicity, and socioeconomic demographics for the population served by your chosen organization or setting.) Dashboard Benchmark Evaluation

    Instructions

    Review the simulation dashboard, as well as relevant local, state, and federal law and policy. Consider the metrics that are falling short of the prescribed benchmarks. For this assignment, you will create a report for a senior leader that communicates your evaluation of the current state of organizational performance. You will also advocate for a metric to target improvement and explain its potential to improve the overall quality of the care and performance of the organization or team relevant to the dashboard.

    If you have a sophisticated understanding of dashboards that are relevant to your own personal practice, you may use a hypothetical dashboard from that setting (be sure your data complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); do not use any easily identifiable organization or patient information) Dashboard Benchmark Evaluation. These hypothetical dashboards must present at least four different metrics, of which at least two must be underperforming the relevant benchmark set forth by a federal, state, or local policy or law. Along with the dashboard, you should also provide a brief description of the health care organization that the dashboard is reporting on, including the information noted above.

    Structure your report so that it will be easy for a colleague or supervisor to locate the information they need. You will want to be sure that you are citing relevant local, state, or federal health care policies or laws when evaluating metric performance toward benchmarks. Additionally, cite 2–4 outside sources to support your analysis of challenges, evaluation of potential for improvement, and your advocacy for ethical action.

    While creating your report it is important to address the following. Note: The bullet points below correspond to grading criteria in the scoring guide. Be sure your report is, at minimum, addressing each of the bullets. You may also want to read the Guiding Questions: Dashboard Benchmark Evaluation (linked in Resources) and review the Dashboard Benchmark Evaluations Scoring Guide to better understand how each criterion will be assessed:

    Evaluate dashboard metrics with regard to benchmarks set by local, state, or federal health care policies or laws.

    Analyze challenges that meeting prescribed benchmarks can pose for a heath care organization or an interprofessional team.

    Evaluate a benchmark underperformance in a heath care organization or an interprofessional team that has the potential for greatly improving overall quality or performance Dashboard Benchmark Evaluation.

    Advocate for ethical action in addressing a benchmark underperformance, directed toward an appropriate group of stakeholders.

    Communicate evaluation and analysis in a professional and effective manner, writing content clearly and logically with correct use of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.

    Integrate relevant sources to support arguments, correctly formatting citations and references using APA style.

    Submission Requirements

    Length of report: 2–4 double-spaced, typed pages. Your report should be succinct yet substantive.

    Please include a title page and a reference list in addition to your 2–4 page report.

    Number of references: Cite a minimum of 2–4 sources of scholarly, professional, or policy evidence to support your analysis and advocacy.

    APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to current APA style.

    Resources

    Dashboard Benchmark Evaluation Scoring Guide.

    Guiding Questions: Dashboard Benchmark Evaluation [DOC].

    APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX].

    APA Style Paper Template [DOCX].

    Dashboard and Health Care Benchmark Evaluation Dashboard Benchmark Evaluation.