Patient participation in transitional care of older patients

Abstract

Background: Older patients often have several health challenges, with multiple medications, which leads to a need of treatment and care from diverse healthcare services. These patients are often in need of transitions from different levels of care, specifically during hospital admission and discharge. Patient participation is highlighted and stated in patients’ rights and healthcare directives, with patients being informed and involved in all treatment and care processes. Nevertheless, literature reveals a lack of patient participation, with minimal information in transitional care. Aims: The overall aims of this thesis were 1) to give an overview of the research literature on older patients’ participation in transitional care, 2) to explore older patients’ perspectives on participation during hospital admission and discharge, 3) to explore healthcare professionals’ perspectives on patient participation and identify factors influencing older patients’ participation during hospital admission, and 4) to conduct and describe interprofessional simulation to improve competencies about patient participation in transitional care.

Methods: The study comprises several qualitative methods, applied in four partial studies. First, a literature review was written involving 30 studies, 15 exploring older patients’ participation in transitional care and 15 studies on experiences with tools to support patient participation. In 2012, 41 older patients were included in participant observations, 21 in hospital admission and 20 in hospital discharge. Further, 27 personal interviews with different healthcare professionals (ambulance workers, nurses, doctors) were conducted. In November 2013, interprofessional simulation was carried out.

Results: Paper 1 reveals variable information and patient participation among older patients during hospital discharge in the literature review. Results show that older patients often were excluded and not participating in discussions about discharge. When present, they often felt they were not being seen or heard by healthcare professionals, and a paternalistic approach was revealed. Several tools to support patient participation in transitional care have been implemented, with variable results. Most successful were family meetings, checklists and education programs. Paper 2 identifies variable degrees of information exchange between healthcare professionals and patients, and a lack of involvement of the patient in decision- making were observed and experienced by the patients. Next of kin appeared to be important advocates for the patients in admission and provided practical support both during hospital admission and discharge. Data suggests that patient participation in admission and discharge is influenced by time constraints and heavy workloads of healthcare professionals. Patients’ health conditions also influenced participation. Paper 3 shows the interviews with healthcare professionals, wherein it was found that patient participation in hospital admissions was influenced by five main factors: routine treatment and care during hospital admission, particularly procedures like medical examinations; the frail and thankful older patients, with the compound picture of their medical needs; hospital resources, such as available staff and beds; healthcare professionals’ attitude towards patients’ experiences; and the presence of a supportive and demanding next of kin, acting as an advocate for the patient. Paper 4 describes interprofessional simulation focusing patient participation of older patients in transitional care. Healthcare professionals from one hospital and one municipality participated in the simulation, with a film scenario, which was based on findings from the observational study. Results show that healthcare professionals did not have any common arenas to meet and discuss work issues and specific or general challenges related to transitions. The film scenario emotionally affected several participants, revealing a lack of information and lack of care, with decisions taken by healthcare professionals. Log reports show that all participants were concerned to provide sufficient information to patients and next of kin and vice versa, as well as involving the patient in treatment, care and discharge planning. Several suggestions came up and the follow-up meetings showed that some wards had continued their work to improve the quality of transitional care.