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Managing patients' mental state deterioration in acute hospital settings is a critical challenge, requiring prompt specialised intervention to mitigate adverse outcomes. Current responses vary widely across health systems. Integrating rapid response systems that incorporate mental health expertise offers a promising approach to reduce risks and adverse outcomes.
To evaluate how a response system manages patient mental state deterioration in acute hospital settings, focusing on the mechanisms driving system effectiveness, for whom it works and under what circumstances, using a realist-informed theory-testing approach with field observation.
We conducted non-participant field observations in one trauma and one surgical unit over 4 months to examine the contexts, mechanisms and outcomes shaping a mental state deterioration response system. Observations captured multidisciplinary interactions, escalation processes and decision-making. Structured field notes were thematically coded using a realist framework to refine program theories and identify key factors influencing timely intervention.
Twenty responses were observed, most in the trauma unit. The system worked best when bedside nurses escalated early signs of deterioration, prompting timely intervention. Multidisciplinary collaboration involving nurse unit managers, liaison psychiatry, doctors and allied health professionals activated mechanisms of integrated assessment and coordinated care, enabling both medical and mental health needs to be addressed. Competing medical acuity demands at times reduced system availability. Teleconferencing supported specialist input when in-person attendance was not possible, ensuring person-centred care.
System functioning depended on early risk communication by bedside nurses and proactive multidisciplinary collaboration. Organisational support and staff training are essential to address operational challenges. Findings provide evidence for strengthening response systems to deliver timely, comprehensive interventions that improve physical and mental health outcomes.
DIvERT (De-escalation, Intervention, Early, Response, Team) is a proactive rapid response model of care piloted to improve the management and outcomes of patients experiencing mental state deterioration in acute hospital settings. The model achieves this through structured escalation pathways, proactive interventions and coordinated multidisciplinary collaboration to integrate medical and mental health care. Strengthening organisational support and staff training further reduces reliance on restrictive practices and promotes safer, person-centred care.
What problem did the study address? Acute hospitals face persistent challenges in responding to patient mental state deterioration alongside medical acuity, with existing rapid response systems often insufficiently integrated with mental health expertise. What were the main findings? Field observations of the DIvERT model demonstrated that proactive integration of mental health expertise, supported by organisational investment in training, clear escalation protocols and multidisciplinary collaboration, enabled earlier intervention and more coordinated responses. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? These findings have implications for acute hospital services, informing system-level improvements to rapid response models that support patient safety, reduce adverse events and improve staff wellbeing.
This study adhered to the relevant EQUATOR guidelines. Specifically, reporting followed the RAMESES II (Realist And Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards II) reporting standards, which provide criteria for transparent and rigorous reporting of realist evaluation methodology.
No patient or public contribution.
To co-develop storyboards and scripts for multimedia resources to support the information needs of informal carers (carers) of older adults from Greek, Italian and Chinese (Cantonese- and Mandarin-speaking) Australian backgrounds during hospital-to-home transitions.
A modified experience-based co-design methodology was used to co-develop four storyboards and scripts with Greek, Italian and Chinese Australian carers and advocates from multicultural community-aged care organisations. To promote relevance, a Carer Advisory Group guided the research. The Carer Advisory Group, comprising 10 people, included carers and advocates from participating multicultural community-aged care organisations, a social worker from a large public health service, and policy representatives. Twenty-nine participants took part from June 2023 to April 2024. Data collection involved two rounds of co-development including 2 workshops, 9 small group interviews and 11 individual interviews. Round 1 focused on understanding participants' experiences of older adult care transitions, information needs and advice for other carers. This information was used to develop categories and example quotes to draft four storyboards reflecting participants' descriptions of the carer and patient journey during care transitions. Round 2 involved draft storyboards being presented to the same participants who advised on their acceptability. Certified interpreters and translators were used throughout data collection.
The co-developed categories, four storyboards and scripts are presented. Participants and the Carer Advisory Group agreed that the findings would be used to develop multimedia resources to support the information needs of carers and older adults from Greek, Italian and Chinese Australian backgrounds in care transitions.
The storyboards and scripts for multimedia resources are expected to improve access to information and services for carers and older adults from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The storyboards and scripts are examples to guide policymakers and leaders in improving transitional care in Australia and internationally.
The reporting of the study has adhered to the COREQ guidelines.
Informal carers were involved in the Carer Advisory Group which provided guidance and consultation to each phase of the project. Their contributions included reviewing the ethics application prior to submission for ethical review, and reviewing storyboards and scripts to optimise the relevance for informal carers and older adults.
To explore patient and family narratives about their recognition and response to clinical deterioration and their interactions with clinicians prior to and during Medical Emergency Team (MET) activations in hospital.
Research on clinical deterioration has mostly focused on clinicians' roles. Although patients and families can identify subtle cues of early deterioration, little research has focused on their experience of recognising, speaking up and communicating with clinicians during this period of instability.
A narrative inquiry.
Using narrative interviewing techniques, 33 adult patients and 14 family members of patients, who had received a MET call, in one private and one public academic teaching hospital in Melbourne, Australia were interviewed. Narrative analysis was conducted on the data.
The core story of help seeking for recognition and response by clinicians to patient deterioration yielded four subplots: (1) identifying deterioration, recognition that something was not right and different from earlier; (2) voicing concerns to their nurse or by family members on their behalf; (3) being heard, desiring a response acknowledging the legitimacy of their concerns; and (4) once concerns were expressed, there was an expectation of and trust in clinicians to act on the concerns and manage the situation.
Clinical deterioration results in an additional burden for hospitalised patients and families to speak up, seek help and resolve their concerns. Educating patients and families on what to be concerned about and when to notify staff requires a close partnership with clinicians.
Clinicians must create an environment that enables patients and families to speak up. They must be alert to both subjective and objective information, to acknowledge and to act on the information accordingly.
The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines were used for reporting.
The consumer researcher was involved in design, data analysis and publication preparation.
To explore nurses' perceptions of using point-of-care ultrasound for assessment and guided cannulation in the haemodialysis setting.
Cannulation of arteriovenous fistulae is necessary to perform haemodialysis. Damage to the arteriovenous fistula is a frequent complication, resulting in poor patient outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Point-of-care ultrasound-guided cannulation can reduce the risk of such damage and mitigate further vessel deterioration. Understanding nurses' perceptions of using this adjunct tool will inform its future implementation into haemodialysis practice.
Descriptive qualitative study.
Registered nurses were recruited from one 16-chair regional Australian haemodialysis clinic. Eligible nurses were drawn from a larger study investigating the feasibility of implementing point-of-care ultrasound in haemodialysis. Participants attended a semistructured one-on-one interview where they were asked about their experiences with, and perceptions of, point-of-care ultrasound use in haemodialysis cannulation. Audio-recorded data were transcribed and inductively analysed.
Seven of nine nurses who completed the larger study participated in a semistructured interview. All participants were female with a median age of 54 years (and had postgraduate renal qualifications. Themes identified were as follows: (1) barriers to use of ultrasound; (2) deficit and benefit recognition; (3) cognitive and psychomotor development; and (4) practice makes perfect. Information identified within these themes were that nurses perceived that their experience with point-of-care ultrasound was beneficial but recommended against its use for every cannulation. The more practice nurses had with point-of-care ultrasound, the more their confidence, dexterity and time management improved.
Nurses perceived that using point-of-care ultrasound was a positive adjunct to their cannulation practice and provided beneficial outcomes for patients.
Haemodialysis clinics seeking to implement point-of-care ultrasound to help improve cannulation outcomes may draw on these findings when embarking on this practice change.
This study is reported according to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ).
Patients were not directly involved in this part of the study; however, they were involved in the implementation study.
The larger study was registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12617001569392 (21/11/2017) https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=373963&isReview=true
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