To develop and pilot test the AdvantAGE transitional care model at a Swiss geriatric hospital.
Multi-method design.
The study progressed in three stages from January 2021 to December 2023: (1) contextual analysis using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, incorporating qualitative interviews, (2) development and pilot testing of transitional care interventions on three acute geriatric wards using a descriptive explorative study design and (3) development and validation of a logic model using an iterative approach involving project interest groups and researchers.
We identified central challenges and needs related to transitions from hospital to home, including insufficient information flow, patient and caregiver insecurities and lacking adherence to recommended treatment. The newly developed transitional care model comprised five core elements: continuous support for patients and caregivers, care coordination with primary care providers, comprehensive health management at home, medication- and self-management with patients and caregivers and advance care planning. Of 137 eligible patients, 62 participated in the 10-month pilot test of the preliminary transitional care intervention, with an average participation duration of 69 days. Findings from the pilot informed the refinement of the intervention elements and the development of a preliminary logic model.
Employing an implementation science approach facilitated the development and refinement of the AdvantAGE model, ensuring alignment with the needs of project interest groups and the specific implementation context.
This study demonstrates the development of a transitional care model tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of the local healthcare context. Findings provide valuable insights for healthcare practitioners, researchers and policymakers, offering implications for developing transitional care practices and policies.
Limited patient and public involvement was incorporated, focusing on the interpretation of the findings of the first step of this study. Further contributions included providing feedback on the development of the elements of the AdvantAGE transitional care model, ensuring the research addressed priorities relevant to patients and primary health care providers in Basel-Stadt.
To explore levers and barriers to providing culturally responsive care for general practice nurses (GPNs) using normalization process theory.
A self-administered online cross-sectional survey.
A participatory co-designed adapted version of the normalization of complex interventions measure (NoMAD) validated tool was distributed to a convenience sample of GPNs between December 2022 and February 2023. The sample comprised of GPNs working in general practice services in Ireland (n = 122). Data were analysed using descriptive and analytical statistics (Pearson correlations) and principles of content analysis. This study was conducted and reported in line with the Consensus-Based Checklist for Reporting of Survey Studies (CROSS).
GPNs in this study indicated their familiarity with, acknowledged the importance of and were committed to, providing culturally responsive care. However, implementing culturally responsive care in daily practice was problematic due to insufficient education and training, scarcity of resources and supports and a lack of organizational leadership. Subsequently, GPNs experience difficulties adapting everyday practices to respond appropriately to the care needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) patients.
This analysis highlights the necessity of exploring the intricacies of factors that influence capabilities and capacity for providing culturally responsive care. Despite demonstrating awareness of the importance of providing nursing care that responds to the needs of CaLD patients, GPNs do not have full confidence or capacity to integrate culturally responsive care into their daily work practices.
Using normalization process theory, this study elucidates for the first time how GPNs in Ireland make sense of, legitimize, enact and sustain culturally responsive care as a routine way of working. It illuminates the multitude of micro-level (individual), meso-level (organizational) and macro-level (structural) factors that require attention for normalizing culturally responsive care in general practice services.
The study question was identified in a participatory research prioritization for Irish research about migrant health that involved migrants in the process.
To understand the experiences and decision-making practices of registered nurses when assessing acuity at triage in emergency departments.
The study utilised a qualitative exploratory-descriptive design.
Purposive sampling recruited 11 registered nurses with triage experience from across the United Kingdom. Semi-structured online interviews, incorporating practice-based vignettes, were conducted between April and November 2024. Thematic analysis was selected to analyse the data.
Three themes were identified: (1) Pressurised decisions, highlighting the effects of overcrowding, staffing shortages and operational burdens; (2) Holistic assessments, revealing the shift from structured to intuitive decision-making as nurses gain experience; and (3) Confidence, competence and emotional wellbeing, illustrating the psychological impacts of triage and the importance of experience and support.
This study provides novel insight into how triage nurses navigate acuity assessment in high-pressure environments. It shows how experience, training and institutional culture influence decision-making and wellbeing. It identifies key areas for targeted intervention.
Triage nurses face substantial cognitive and emotional strain, which may compromise assessment quality and safety. Findings highlight the urgent need for structured triage training, protected time for assessment and access to wellbeing and peer support systems.
What problem did the study address?: A need for current literature exploring the practices and experiences of triage nurses. What were the main findings?: Triage nurses experience significant environmental and emotional pressures, develop decision-making strategies through experience and require enhanced training and support to ensure safe, effective care. Where and on whom will the research have an impact?: Findings are relevant to emergency departments internationally, triage nurses, nurse educators and healthcare leaders.
This study adheared to COREQ reporting guidelines, and a copy of the checklist is attached as Data S1.
This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting.
To describe nurses' roles in transitional care planning during intensive care unit (ICU) family meetings for patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV).
A qualitative descriptive study.
Using secondary data from a trial of a decision aid about PMV, transcripts from 19 unstructured ICU family meetings were purposively sampled and analysed using directed content analysis.
Among 76 recorded ICU family meetings where nurses engaged and spoke at length beyond introduction, nurses spoke at length in 19 (25%) of them. These 19 family meetings were analysed in depth. Three themes were identified describing the roles nurses served: (1) Transitional care liaisons (e.g., introducing next levels of care, identifying/engaging family members, providing patient/family education, managing medications, planning for discharge, assessing patient/family needs, coordinating care, setting goals, providing care continuity, offering provider guidance and referring to resources); (2) information and communication facilitators (e.g., moderating family meetings, facilitating family understanding and serving as communication intermediaries) and (3) family support providers (e.g., providing emotional support, describing expectations and advocating for patients/families).
Although nurses play a central role in patient care, they engage in only a minority of ICU family meetings addressing transitional care planning. Increased nursing involvement in these discussions may enhance care coordination and better support families navigating complex care transitions.
Findings suggest that more consistent engagement of nurses in ICU family meetings has the potential to support transitional care planning and family-centred care for patients with PMV and their families.
This work adds to a growing body of knowledge about nurses' role in ICU transitional care planning. These findings provide valuable guidance for future research and development of transitional care standards to guide nurses in ICU transitional care planning.
The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research Checklist (COREQ).
No patient or public contribution.