Background: Overtreatment of localized prostate cancer (PCa) is a concern as many men die of other causes prior to experiencing a treatment benefit. This dissertation characterizes the need for assessing other cause mortality (OCM) risk in older men with PCa and informs efforts to identify patients most likely to benefit from definitive PCa treatment. Methods: Using the linked Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare Health Outcomes Survey database, 2,931 men (mean age=75) newly diagnosed with clinical stage T1a-T3a PCa from 1998-2009 were identified. Survival analysis methods were used to compare observed 10-year OCM by primary treatment type. Age and health factors predictive of primary treatment type were assessed with multinomial logistic regression. Predicted mortality estimates from Social Security life tables (recommended for life expectancy evaluation) and two OCM risk estimation tools were compared to observed rates. An improved OCM prediction model was developed fitting Fine and Gray competing risks models for 10-year OCM with age, sociodemographic, comorbidity, activities of daily living, and patient-reported health data as predictors. The tools’ ability to discriminate between patients who died and those who did not was evaluated with Harrell’s c-index (range 0.5-1), which also guided new model selection. Results: Fifty-four percent of older men with localized PCa underwent radiotherapy while 13% underwent prostatectomy. Twenty-three percent of those treated with radiotherapy and 12% of those undergoing prostatectomy experienced OCM within 10 years of treatment and thus were considered overtreated. Health factors indicative of a shorter life expectancy (increased comorbidity, worse physical health, smoking) had little to no association with radiotherapy assignment but were significantly related to reductions in the likelihood of undergoing prostatectomy. Social Security life tables overestimated mortality risk and discriminated poorly between men who died and those who did not over 10 years (c-index=0.59). Existing OCM risk estimation tools were less likely to overestimate OCM rates and had limited but improved discrimination (c-index=0.64). A risk model developed with self-reported age, Charlson comorbidity index score, overall health (excellent-good/fair/poor), smoking, and marital status predictors had improved discrimination (c-index=0.70). Conclusions: Overtreatment of older men with PCa is primarily attributable to radiotherapy and may be reduced by pretreatment assessment of mortality-related health factors. This dissertation provides a prognostic model which utilizes a set of five self-reported characteristics that better identify patients likely to die of OCM within 10 years of diagnosis than age and comorbidity-based assessments alone.

Since the Institute of Medicine highlighted the devastating impact of medical errors in their seminal report, “To Err is Human” (2000), efforts have been underway to improve patient safety. A portion of medical errors are due to medication errors, and a large portion of these can be attributed to inadequate laboratory monitoring. In this thesis, I attempt to address this small but important corner of this patient safety endeavor. Why are patients not getting their laboratory monitoring tests? Do they fail to complete them or do doctors not order the tests in the first place? Which prescribers and which patients are least likely to do what is needed for testing to happen and what interventions would be most promising? To address these questions, I conducted a systematic review of existing interventions. I then proceeded with three aims: 1) To identify reasons that patients give for missing monitoring tests; 2) To identify patient and provider factors associated with monitoring test ordering; and 3) To identify patient and provider factors associated with completion of ordered testing. To achieve these aims, I worked with patients and data at the Fallon Clinic. For aim 1, I conducted a qualitative analysis of their reasons for missing tests as well as reporting completion and ordering rates. For aims 2 and 3, I used electronic medical record data and conducted a regression with patient and provider characteristics as covariates to identify factors contributing to test ordering and completion. Interviews revealed that patients had few barriers to completion, with forgetting being the most common reason for missing a test. The quantitative studies showed that: older patients with more interactions with the health care system were more likely to have tests ordered and were more likely to complete them; providers who more frequently prescribe a drug were more likely to order testing for it; and drug-test combinations that were particularly dangerous, indicated by a black box warning, were more likely to have appropriate ordering, though for these combinations, primary care providers were less likely to order tests appropriately, and patients were less likely to complete tests. Taken together, my work can inform future interventions in laboratory monitoring and patient safety.

Background: Guideline-concordant therapies for survivors of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) hospitalization require healthcare access, something that millions of Americans lack. Methods and Results: Using data from a prospective cohort study of over 2,000 survivors of a hospitalization for an ACS in central Massachusetts and Georgia from 2011 to 2013, the first two aims of this thesis sought to identify the post-discharge consequences for survival and health status of having: 1) financial barriers to healthcare, 2) no usual source of care, and 3) transportation barriers. We found that patients lacking a usual source of care and having a transportation barrier were more likely to have died within two years following hospital discharge compared to those without such barriers. Also, patients with financial barriers to healthcare were more likely to experience clinically meaningful declines in physical and mental health-related quality of life over the six months after hospital discharge. The third aim sought to better understand factors influencing the success of care transitions home after an unplanned hospitalization through a qualitative study of 22 patients. Participants described how adequate healthcare access, particularly having insurance and transportation to clinical appointments, facilitated the receipt of follow-up care and adherence to treatments. Conclusions: Limitations in healthcare access may contribute to poorer survival, health-related quality of life, and survival. Additional research is needed to identify interventions to improve healthcare access and test whether improved access leads to better patient outcomes.

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) has promoted implementing a RRS to provide safer care for hospitalized patients. Additionally, the Joint Commission made implementing a RRS a 2008 National Patient Safety Goal. Although mandated, the evidence to support the effectiveness of a RRS to reduce cardiac arrests on hospital medical or surgical floors and un-anticipated ICU transfers remains inconclusive, partly because of weak study designs and partly due to a failure of published studies to report all critical aspects of their intervention. This study attempted to evaluate the effectiveness and the implementation of a RRS on the two campuses of the UMass Memorial Medical Center (UMMMC). The first study presented was an attempt to identify the preventability and timeliness of floor to ICU transfers. This was done using 3 chief residents who reviewed 100 randomly selected medical records. Using Cohen’s kappa to assess the inter-rater reliability it was determined that 13% of the cases could have possibly been preventable with earlier intervention. The second study was an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Rapid Response System. Outcomes were cardiac arrests, code calls and floor to ICU admissions. There were two study periods 24 months before the intervention and 24 months after. A Spline regression model was used to compare the two time periods. Though there was a consistent downward trend over all 4 years there were no statistically significant changes in the cardiac arrests and ICU transfers when comparing the before and after periods. There was a significant reduction in code calls to the floors on the University campus. The third study was a modified process evaluation of the Rapid Response intervention that will assess fidelity of RRS implementation, the proportion of the intended patient population that is reached by the RRS, the overall number of RRS calls implemented (dose delivered) and the perceptions of the hospital staff affected by the RRS with respect to acceptability and satisfaction with the RRS and barriers to utilization. The process evaluation showed that that the Rapid Response System was for the most part being used as it was designed, though the nurses were not using the specific triggers as a deciding factor in making the call. Staff satisfaction with the intervention was very high. Overall these studies demonstrated the difficulty in clearly defining outcomes and data collection in a large hospital system. Additionally the importance of different study designs and analysis methods are discussed.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health problem in the United States. Acute exacerbations of COPD are primarily responsible for the physical, psychological and economic burden of this disease. Early identification and treatment of exacerbations is important to improve patient and healthcare outcomes. Little is known about how patients with COPD recognize an impending exacerbation and subsequently decide to seek treatment. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore and describe symptom recognition and treatment delay in individuals experiencing an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Leventhal’s Common Sense Model of illness representation undergirded this study. Using semi-structured interviews, adults hospitalized with an acute exacerbation of COPD were asked to describe their symptom experience and self care behaviors, including treatment seeking, in the days to weeks prior to hospitalization. Data analysis revealed one main theme: Recognizing, responding and reacting to change, and six subthemes: Something’s coming, Here we go again, Seeking urgent treatment, Riding it out, Not in charge anymore and My last day that richly described the COPD exacerbation experience. The study revealed that patients experience an illness prodrome prior to exacerbation and have a recurrent exacerbation symptom pattern that was self-recognized. Treatment seeking was most influenced by the speed and acuity of exacerbation onset, severity of breathlessness, fears of death, nature of patient-provider relationship and the perception of stigmatization during prior healthcare encounters. These findings are important for the development of interventions to improve patient recognition and management of COPD exacerbations in the future.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of distracted practice across the healthcare team. Definition: Distracted practice is the diversion of a portion of available cognitive resources that may be needed to effectively perform/carry out the current activity. Background: Distracted practice is the result of individuals interacting with the healthcare team, the environment and technology in the performance of their jobs. The resultant behaviors can lead to error and affect patient safety. Methods: A qualitative descriptive (QD) approach was used that integrated observations with semi-structured interviews. The conceptual framework was based on the distracted driving model and a completed concept analysis. Results: There were 22 observation sessions and 32 interviews (12 RNs, 11 MDs, and 9 Pharmacists) completed between December, 2014 and July 2015. Results suggested that distracted practice is based on the main theme of cognitive resources which varies by the subthemes of individual differences; environmental disruptions; team awareness; and “rush mode”/time pressure. Conclusions and Implications: Distracted practice is an individual human experience that occurs when there are not enough cognitive resources available to effectively complete the task at hand. In that moment an individual shifts from thinking critically, being able to complete their current task without error, to not thinking critically and working in an automatic mode. This is when errors occur. Additional research is needed to evaluate intervention strategies to reduce and prevent distracted practice.

Thesis (M. A. (Nursing)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Background: Long patient waiting time for services is demonstrated by daily long queues of patients in Primary Health Care (PHC) and hospitals Outpatients departments. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the factors contributing to long waiting time at Blouberg Health Centre (BHC), Capricorn District, Limpopo Province. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional research design was used to describe factors contributing to long waiting time. The study population consisted 31356 patients in the financial year 2017/2018. Simple random probability sampling was used to select 395 respondents. Data were collected using self-developed questionnaire. All questionnaires were completed and returned. The 395 questionnaires were then analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 25). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze and describe and summarized data. Findings: The findings were presented in the form of distribution graphs and tables. Inferential statistics were used based on probability and allowed judgement to be made about variables. The study revealed factors considered most important were lack of commitment; full time study leaves at the same year; workshops; sick leaves; increased population; sitting in tearoom for hours; many foreign national without passports; staff shortages; laissez faire working style and transfers or escorting patients, while the nearby Hellen Franz Hospital (HFH) also transfer to the same hospitals, leading to mismanagement of budget reduced manpower and increased death rate. Recommendations: The study recommends that all Primary Health Care (PHC) settings should use numbers for patients when entering facilities to monitor the queuing and prevent dissatisfaction that can result from long waiting. Conclusion: It is of paramount importance to provide clearer, transparent information to the recipients of the Primary health care services that they might receive. The provincial coordinators are accountable to the waiting time management with the assistance of the PHC specialist nurse and Nursing Management.

MPH / Department of Public Health / This study was aimed at gaining an in-depth understanding into the managerial factors that are associated with hospital performance. Out of all the contributing factors, managerial factors have the greatest impact on hospital performance. In South Africa, despite the availability of policies and guidelines and adequate funding, hospital performance is still poor. This study investigates the different aspects of managerial performance, looking specifically at organisational factors such as organisational culture, available resources, and performance monitoring methods; as well as personal factors of the managers; namely, their focus on quality, and personal leadership styles and skills. The study is a quantitative cross-sectional descriptive survey, utilising questionnaires distributed at the two largest district hospitals in Vhembe District. The study was aimed at a total population sample of managers, doctors and professional nurses in the two hospitals. The study highlighted areas of management in the two hospitals studied that were commendable, as well as those needing urgent attention. There was a statistically significant association between managerial factors associated with hospital performance, and better perceptions of hospital performance. In particular, leadership skills such as motivation and dedication, methodical and logical management styles, and a hands-on approach had a significant contribution to perceptions of hospital performance. The study also highlighted the importance of good communication between senior management and subordinates. / NRF

This applied research study was designed to examine hospital employees’ perceptions of safety as it relates to error reporting. Data from safety culture surveys at the research site showed a clear trend of a perception of a punitive environment for error reporting. Hospital administrators depend on error-report data to create safe and reliable systems for care; therefore, a safe reporting environment is a critical component of a safe and just culture. A recently developed instrument was used to survey the 1,730 employees at the northeastern community hospital regarding their perception of just culture and safety in the error-reporting process. No significant relationships were established between survey scores (perceptions of just culture) and the variables of age, gender, experience, and degree of training in just culture principles for the overall study population. However, significant differences were identified when comparing groups consisting of specific positions or specialties. Notably, administration and management had a more optimistic viewpoint of just culture than other groups, particularly technologists and technicians, who had a somewhat diminished perception of just culture. The findings of this applied research study have implications for hospital leaders seeking strategies to improve the safety cultures within their organizations. Measurement of specific dimensions of just culture may be valuable in these settings; particularly, stratification of survey results by position with analysis of gaps between leaders and frontline staff may provide a clue to the maturity of the safety culture. The study is a valuable addition to the safety culture research community as it aligns with and extends findings from previous research.

Background: Shared decision-making (SDM) counseling for lung cancer screening is recommended by multiple professional societies and mandated by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services since lung cancer screening has both benefits and risks. However, uptake of SDM counseling as well as lung cancer screening itself remain low. We sought to develop educational text messages about lung cancer screening as an innovative implementation intervention tool to promote patient-provider discussion about lung cancer screening. Methods: After the study team drafted educational text messages about lung cancer screening, informed by existing decision aids, participants who had had lung cancer screening were recruited and asked to review and edit text messages. After that, participants eligible for lung cancer screening without the previous screening experience were recruited and were asked to select the messages to be included in this text message intervention. The final set of 14 text messages were delivered to the participants both with and without the previous lung cancer screening over a period of 14 days. Participants completed a telephone survey assessing their reactions to the messages after receiving the last message. Results: We successfully involved twelve participants with lung cancer screening experience and eleven lung cancer screening eligible participants without previous screening experience in the development of educational text messages about lung cancer screening. After one participant withdrew, 22 participants received text messages and completed the survey regarding the messages. Most participants (18 of 22) reported reading all 14 text messages, however most recommended sending fewer messages (median recommended number of messages = 10). Participants found the educational text messages informative. Only four participants reported the text messages triggered anxiety and two reported text messages disrupted their daily activities. Participants perceived the text messages would empower patients to discuss lung cancer screening with their providers. Conclusion: Participants generally supported the use of educational text messages about lung cancer screening to increase patients’ awareness and promote patient-provider discussion. Engaging patients in the development and evaluation of text messages elicited helpful feedback that will inform the content of the messages to be delivered via this lung cancer screening text messages intervention.