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Importance: Early recognition of cognitive impairment is key to optimal dementia care. No previous research has examined the probability of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) at 5-year follow-up among older adult Medicare beneficiaries by receipt of an annual wellness visit (AWV)., Objective: To assess the association of incident AWV with the first ADRD or MCI diagnosis among older adults with Medicare fee-for-service benefits., Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective population-based cohort study used 100% Texas fee-for-service Medicare data from 2015 to 2022. Participants comprised 549 516 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries aged 68 years or older in 2018, with complete Medicare fee-for-service Parts A and B and no Medicare Advantage plan enrollment for 2015 to 2018., Exposure: Medicare AWVs., Main Outcomes and Measures: The first MCI or ADRD diagnosis (reported as MCI or ADRD diagnosis, MCI diagnosis, and ADRD diagnosis) from the AWV index date in 2018 through December 31, 2022., Results: In this cohort study of 549 516 Medicare beneficiaries with no diagnosis of MCI or ADRD in 2015 to 2017 (mean [SD] age, 76.7 [6.6] years; 289 932 women [52.8%]), 66 433 (12.1%) had an incident AWV in 2018. Annual wellness visit recipients were more likely than those who did not receive an AWV to be female, to be non-Hispanic White (followed by Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and other), to have more education, to reside in a metropolitan area, to have more comorbidities, and to have a primary care professional in the 12 months before the AWV index date. After propensity score matching, AWV receipt was associated with a 21% increase in MCI diagnosis (hazard ratio, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.16-1.27]) and a 4% increase in ADRD diagnosis (hazard ratio, 1.04 [95% CI, 1.02-1.06]). The increase in MCI diagnosis associated with AWV was larger when the AWV was censored or treated as a time-dependent covariate in the follow-up period., Conclusions and Relevance: These findings indicate that AWV recipients had a timelier first MCI diagnosis than those who did not receive an AWV, but first ADRD diagnosis differed little. This study suggests that the Medicare AWV health policy may increase MCI identification, prompting more specialized care.

Background: This scoping review explored the evidence in the peer-reviewed published journal literature to identify the facilitators and barriers to implementing the 4Ms Framework of Age-Friendly Health Systems in inpatient and outpatient clinical settings., Methods: Our search strategy focused on primary and secondary data sources that described the barriers and facilitators of incorporating the 4Ms Framework in clinical settings. We focused on older adults 65 years and older and followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-SCR)., Results: The evidence analyses of the 19 identified articles revealed six facilitator themes and five barrier themes to implementing the 4Ms Framework of Age-Friendly Health Systems in inpatient and outpatient clinical settings. The most recurring facilitator theme was embedding the 4Ms Framework into routine clinical practice with clinical pathways and designated personnel. The most frequently reported barrier theme was the lack of clinicians' buy-in., Conclusions: Future research may translate the findings of this scoping review into a facilitator and barrier checklist or a "reality-check" measure to monitor the progress of the journey of embracing the 4Ms Framework in outpatient or inpatient clinical settings. This study was not registered.

Purpose: Nurses increasingly use mindfulness as an effective mental health intervention to reduce psychological distress. The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions remains inconclusive, which may lead to implementation of interventions in an inefficient or ineffective manner. This study aimed to examine the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on reducing stress, anxiety, and depression among nurses., Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis., Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched using six databases published through May 20, 2023, which evaluated the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on reducing psychological distress among nurses. To assess the quality of methodology included in the RCTs, version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias instrument for RCTs with five domains was used. Standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using the random-effects model in the meta-analyses. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's regression test. Further, the robustness effect size of the pooled analysis was assessed using leave-one-out sensitivity analysis., Findings: A total of 16 RCTs were included in the final analysis. Overall, the modalities appeared to alleviate stress (pooled SMD: -0.50 [95% CI: -0.82 to -0.18]; p < 0.001) and depression (pooled SMD: -0.42 [95% CI: -0.78 to -0.06]; p = 0.02) among nurses., Conclusion: Mindfulness-based interventions appear to alleviate stress and depression in nurses. Future research evaluating mindfulness-based interventions among working nurses with more rigorous methodological and larger sample size., Clinical Relevance: Support for nurses' mental health must be included while implementing personal and professional development plans., (© 2023 Sigma Theta Tau International.)

Background: Robot-assisted therapy (RAT) could address an unmet need to relieve the strain on healthcare providers and intensify treatment in the context of an increasing stroke incidence. A comprehensive meta-analysis could provide firmer data about the topic by considering methodology limitations discovered in previous reviews and providing more rigorous evidence., Objective: This meta-analysis study identifies RAT's efficacy for patients with stroke., Methods: A systematic search of the 7 databases from January 10 to February 1, 2022, located relevant publications. We used the updated Cochrane risk-of-bias checklist for 52 trials to assess the methodologic quality of the included studies. The efficacy of RAT for patients with stroke was estimated using a pooled random-effects model in the Stata 16 software application., Results: The final analysis included 2774 patients with stroke from 52 trials. In those patients, RAT was proven to improve quality of movement (mean difference, 0.15; 95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.28) and to reduce balance disturbances (mean difference, -1.28; 95% confidence interval, -2.48 to -0.09) and pain (standardized mean difference, -0.34; 95% confidence interval, -0.58 to -0.09)., Conclusions: Robot-assisted therapy seems to improve the quality of mobility and reduce balance disturbances and pain for patients with stroke. These findings will help develop advanced rehabilitation robots and could improve health outcomes by facilitating health services for healthcare providers and patients with stroke., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background Many Americans are informal caregivers providing unpaid care for their loved ones living with chronic conditions, such as dementia and heart failure. As the US population continues to age and live longer with more complex chronic conditions, informal caregivers play an increasingly important role in the care of older adults with functional impairment and multiple comorbidities. Caregivers face many challenges in managing the health of themselves and their loved ones, including physical, emotional, and financial burdens, which may potentially vary by race and ethnicity. Therefore, it is critical to develop culturally tailored solutions, such as smart technology, aimed at improving the quality of life of informal caregivers and care recipients from diverse backgrounds. Methods Data were collected from a convenient sample of 69 informal caregivers in Texas who were members or volunteers for either the International Buddhist Progress Society-Dallas (IBPS Dallas) or University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). Caregivers answered questions about their caregiving experiences, including the type of care they provided, challenges they faced, and lessons learned. Responses were stratified by race/ethnicity (White, Hispanic, or Asian American) to assess for potential cultural differences in caregiving experiences. A chi-squared test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted. Results White, Hispanic, and Asian American caregivers all reported high non-medical related needs. White, Hispanic, and Asian American care recipients all had a high degree of neurological disease and functional impairment. White and Hispanic caregivers were also more likely to offer emotional support ( p =0.007) and financial support ( p =0.025) than Asian American caregivers. Asian American caregivers reported greater worry about the health-related knowledge of their family members ( p =0.040) than White and Hispanic caregivers. Hispanic (18.8%) and Asian American caregivers (12.5%) reported the least knowledge of caregiving-related government policies than White caregivers (43.2%) ( p =0.025). Hispanic (18.8%) and Asian American caregivers (18.8%) also reported the least knowledge of available support programs and services for care recipients ( p =0.001). Conclusions White, Hispanic, and Asian American informal caregivers vary in their types of worries, care provided, and challenges faced. Our study found that Asian American caregivers reported greater worry about the health-related knowledge of their family members than White and Hispanic caregivers. White caregivers were better at navigating government resources and caregiver support programs than Hispanic and Asian American caregivers. While race and ethnicity are potential factors for these observed differences, several other factors may have played a role, including age, gender, income, education, patient diagnosis, and disease severity. Future research should consider these factors and evaluate a larger and more diverse sample for more definitive racial and ethnic comparisons. Understanding disparities in caregiving experiences is a critical initial step to developing culturally appropriate interventions to reduce caregiving burden and promote the health and well-being of both patients and their informal caregivers from diverse backgrounds., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Tran et al.)

Background: Videoconferencing has been proposed as an innovative telerehabilitation approach for stroke survivors, demand for which is growing., Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of a videoconferencing intervention for stroke survivors., Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis., Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the literature in the databases Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed, Ovid (and its companion UpToDate), and Web of Science published from January 1, 2002, to May 27, 2021. The methodologic quality of the included studies was evaluated using version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. A meta-analysis using a random-effects model calculated the pooled standardised mean difference (SMD) for using a videoconferencing intervention with stroke survivors and for the ability of survivors to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) and to maintain balance. The Stata software application (version 16.0: StataCorp LP) was used for the statistical analysis., Results: Nine studies with 603 participants were included in the analysis. Videoconferencing interventions were observed to be effective in improving the ability of stroke survivors to carry out their ADLs (SMD: 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.13 to 1.01) and to recover their balance (SMD: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.27 to 2.66)., Conclusions: Stroke survivors were able effectively to improve their ADL and balancing abilities. Further studies could consider the frequency, duration, and standard protocol for videoconferencing interventions., Relevance to Clinical Practice: This study could change the approach to patient support in future clinical practice and might constitute an alternative for improving care for stroke survivors in their homes or in long-term care facilities., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Repeat fractures contribute substantially to fracture incidents in older adults. We examined the association between cognitive impairment and re-fractures during the first 90 days after older adults with hip fractures were discharged home from a skilled nursing facility rehabilitation short stay., Methods: Multilevel binary logistic regression was used to analyze 100% of U.S. national postacute-care fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries who had a hospital admission for hip fracture from January 1, 2018, to July 31, 2018; were admitted for a skilled nursing facility stay within 30 days of hospital discharge; and were discharged to the community after a short stay. Our primary outcome was rehospitalization for any re-fractures within 90 days of skilled nursing facility discharge. Cognitive status assessed at skilled nursing facility admission or before discharge was classified as either intact or having mild or moderate/severe impairment., Results: In 29 558 beneficiaries with hip fracture, odds of any re-fracture were higher in those with minor (odds ratio: 1.48; 95% confidence interval: 1.19-1.85; p < .01) and moderate/major cognitive impairment (odds ratio: 1.42; 95% confidence interval: 1.07-1.89; p = .0149) than in those classified as intact., Conclusions: Beneficiaries with cognitive impairment were more likely than their counterparts with no cognitive impairment to experience re-fractures. Community-dwelling older adults with minor cognitive impairment may experience a higher likelihood of experiencing a repeat fracture leading to rehospitalization., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Introduction: Aging is associated with significant alterations in physical, cognitive, and emotional functions, predisposing older adults to multimorbidity and functional dependence that necessitate assistance with the activity of daily living (ADL) and medical care from caregivers. With a substantial increase in the aging population comes a growing demand for caregivers, particularly informal caregivers who provide unpaid care to older adults with complex needs. However, they face substantial physical, emotional, and financial burdens as they balance caregiving with their family and job demands., Aim: This study aimed to explore key challenges faced by caregivers and the resources they need to address their caregiving burden. Additionally, we wanted to identify whether the number of years of caregiving is associated with their burden. These study findings will inform the design and development of our smartphone app which aims to alleviate the burden of diseases for older adults and the burden of caregiving for caregivers., Methods: From October to December 2022, we invited 80 self-reported caregivers for an anonymous online survey. The caregivers were located in three cities (Galveston, Houston, and Dallas in Texas) and were affiliated with the International Buddhist Progress Society-Dallas (IBPS Dallas) and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). The collected data were subjected to content analysis through systematic examination for meaningful patterns, themes, and insights. Individual characteristics and caregiving experiences were divided by years of care: 0-4 vs. 5+ years to investigate whether the caregiving burden was affected by the duration of caregiving., Results: The results showed several important insights, including gender dynamics and traditional norms, the advanced age of caregivers, and the prevalent health conditions they are managing. Caregivers' roles ranged from medical (insurance and medication assistance, etc.) at 63.8% to the provision of non-medical related resources (basic needs, utility, transportation, financial assistance, etc.) at 96.3%. Caregiving is also associated with some positive outcomes, such as changes in knowledge and skills (77.5%) with more confidence in ADL support tasks and a deepening of caregiver/care recipient dyad relationships (56.3%). Some faced challenges in navigating complex healthcare and social service systems and others experienced neglect and received inadequate support from the government-supported social services (33.8%). However, there is no significant variation between those with 0-4 and 5+ years of experience across all identified themes, suggesting that the burdens and resource needs of caregivers can manifest early on and are likely to persist beyond the five-year mark., Conclusion: Our findings reveal that the number of caregiving years does not significantly influence the types of caregiving burden experienced by caregivers or the resources they require. This indicates the need for providing long-term support to older adults with chronic conditions from the early stage, while also emphasizing the critical role of immediate assistance for caregivers to alleviate caregiving burden. A free-of-charge technology like our smartphone app has the potential to effectively reduce stress for caregivers, offering them support at any time and place. Future studies will focus on evaluating the outcomes of caregivers after utilizing our app., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Theng et al.)

Background: The use of smartphones and other digital devices (such as tablets and smartwatches) is important for the aging population to enhance and optimize communications with caregivers, families, friends, and providers. It also provides a platform for app-based activities to promote mental, physical, spiritual, and social well-being and virtual social connectedness. We, therefore, examined types of digital devices and categories of smartphone functions used by caregivers and care recipients in comparison to those without any caregiving roles., Method: The project team has developed a smartphone app based on Buddhist meditative practice principles for the enhancement of the physical, mental, cognitive, and emotional well-being of older adults and their caregivers and tested it in Galveston, Houston, and Dallas, TX. The study comprised a convenient sample of older adults, including members or volunteers of the International Buddhist Progress Society-Dallas (IBPS Dallas) and the University of Texas Medical Branch Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (UTMB OLLI). The survey focused on people who were 55 years and older (n = 219), with 177 valid responses (~80.8%) meeting the study's inclusion criteria. The survey collected data on (1) caregiving role, (2) demographic characteristics and caregiving concerns, and (3) types of devices, functions, and utilization. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were used to describe and compare patterns of smartphone function/use by the different groups, i.e., caregivers, care recipients, and neither., Results: All of our survey respondents were 55 years and older, and among them, 17.5% were caregivers, 9.1% were care recipients, and 73.4% did not have any role. The majority of the caregivers were females (80.6%), and the average age of their care recipients was 66 years. The care recipients in our sample reported that the average age of their caregiver is only 55 years. Around three-fourths of caregivers reported that they have an app related to health or they are willing to use a health-related app, 32% of them use smart home appliances, whereas only 16% of people who are neither caregivers nor care recipients use such apps. Approximately 42% of caregivers reported taking care of their parents or parents-in-law, and their major concerns are about maintaining their income, scheduling tasks, and updating their knowledge as needed to better care for their loved ones. People use texting or messaging the most. However, the second and third highest utilization are different. The "neither" group significantly spends more time checking email and watching TV; the care recipients spend more time reading and watching TV (sedentary activities); the caregiver group spends more time on phone calls and listening to music., Conclusions: Findings of different patterns of digital device use exist between caregivers, care recipients, and the "neither" group, with 75% of caregivers using a digital device app related to health or reporting willingness to use a health-related app developed from our study. Our findings of their caregiving experiences might also inform the design of different intervention programs aimed at promoting mental, physical, and social well-being, improving quality of life while reducing disease/disability burden for older adults, and preventing burnout among caregivers., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Shih et al.)

Fall-related injuries contribute to increased frailty, disability, and premature death in older adults (≥65 years). The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began reimbursing annual wellness visits (AWVs) in 2011. In the present study, we assessed the effect of AWV receipt in 2017 on fall and fracture prevention through December 31, 2018. Using Texas Medicare data for 2014-2018, we identified cohorts of Medicare beneficiaries ≥68 years, matched for the presence/absence of an AWV in 2017 by propensity score, and observed two outcomes: fracture as a primary diagnosis, and fall occurrences. Rates of each outcome were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Of the 2017 beneficiaries, 32.2% received an AWV. For the 742,494 beneficiaries in the matched cohort, conditional Cox proportional hazards models revealed that receiving an AWV in 2017 was associated with reduced risks for future falls (3.9%) and fractures (4%). The effect of the AWV was stronger on fall reduction in rural residents (HR: 0.799; 95% CI: 0.679 to 0.941) and on fracture reduction in beneficiaries with ≥4 morbidities (HR: 0.918; 95% CI: 0.867 to 0.972). Receipt of an AWV in three consecutive years (2015-2017) further lowered the risk of future falls. We conclude that the risks for future falls/fractures are lower in older adults receiving AWVs. Our study underscores the need for expanded public education programs that raise awareness about AWVs and the potential for AWV data to inform fall prevention interventions and other health promotion practices., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: During COVID-19, stigmatization and violence against and between professional healthcare workers worldwide are increasing. Understanding the prevalence of such stigmatization and violence is needed for gaining a complete picture of this issue. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to update estimates of the prevalence of stigmatization and violence against healthcare workers during the pandemic., Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted., Methods: This review followed PRISMA guidelines and encompassed these databases: PubMed, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, Web of Science, MEDLINE Complete, OVID (UpToDate), and Embase (from databases inception to September 15, 2021). We included observational studies and evaluated the quality of the study using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Further, a random effects model was used to synthesis the pooled prevalence of stigmatization and violence in this study., Findings: We identified 14 studies involving 3452 doctors, 5738 nurses, and 2744 allied health workers that reported stigmatization and violence during the pandemic. The pooled prevalence was, for stigmatization, 43% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 21% to 65%) and, for violence, 42% (95% CI: 30% to 54%)., Conclusions: Stigmatization and violence during the COVID-19 pandemic were found to have affected almost half the studied healthcare workers. Healthcare professionals are more prone to be stigmatized by the community and to face workplace violence., Clinical Relevance: Health administrators and policymakers should anticipate and promptly address stigmatization and violence against and between healthcare workers, while controlling the spread of COVID-19. Health care systems should give serious attention to the mental health of all health providers., (© 2022 Sigma Theta Tau International.)

Background: Stroke is one of the most common causes of disability worldwide. In recent years, diverse telehealth programmes for stroke survivors have suggested that this mode of rehabilitation could improve stroke survivors' abilities to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) and maintain balance. Although increasingly utilised in clinical and community settings, the effectiveness of telehealth interventions in stroke survivors remains inconclusive. This warrants investigation so that telehealth interventions are evidence-based and are not merely modalities of convenience., Aim: To identify the effects of telehealth interventions on the ability to perform ADLs and maintain balance in stroke survivors., Design: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines., Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using seven databases for literature dated up to April 25, 2021. The revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomised trials was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. A meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model to calculate the pooled effects of telehealth interventions. Stata 16.0 was used for the statistical analyses., Results: A total of 14 studies with 1,367 participants were included in the analysis. Overall, telehealth interventions were effective in improving stroke survivors' abilities to carry out their ADLs (standardised mean difference: .45; 95% confidence interval: .12 to .78); however, no significant effects were found on balance., Conclusion: Telehealth interventions are beneficial for improving stroke survivors' performance of their ADLs. Future telehealth intervention trials should focus on identifying essential intervention delivery components that facilitate intervention adoption by clinicians and stroke survivors and sustain the positive effects on stroke survivors' performance of their ADLs in different settings., Relevance to Clinical Practice: It is essential to build flexibility in the telehealth-based intervention delivery protocol to meet individual stroke survivors' needs to motivate and enhance their ADL performance., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) is used to identify delirium and needed supports in patients living in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and long-term care facilities (LTCFs). We analyzed 3,537,404 patients discharged from acute hospitals to SNFs or LTCFs with factor and Rasch analyses to examine the clinical utility of the BIMS. More than 40% of the sample had maximum scores, indicating a ceiling effect. "Repetition of three words" was the easiest and the only misfit item (Outfit = 3.14). The ability of the BIMS to distinguish individuals into two cognitive levels (with person strata of 1.48) was limited. Although the BIMS is a widely used screening tool for cognitive impairment, we found it lacked sensitivity for approximately one half of patients admitted to SNFs/LTCFs. Our results suggest the BIMS should be interpreted with caution, particularly for patients with mild cognitive impairment. [ Research in Gerontological Nursing, 15 (3), 124-130.].

Background: Community-dwelling adults who can perform self-care behaviors related to making treatment decisions and participating in treatment have been found to use less emergency care. In this exploratory study, we examined the relationships in older adults between five social determinants (urban/rural residence, sex, age, marital status, and education) and the perceived importance, desirability, and ability to perform 11 self-care behaviors related to making good treatment decisions and participating in treatment. Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed 123 community-dwelling older adults living in the southern United States in 2015-2016. All participants were 65 years or older. Data were collected using the Patient Action Inventory for Self-Care and analyzed using descriptive, univariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: The social determinants (identified as barriers) of self-care behaviors related to making good treatment decisions and participating in treatment were: having less than a high school education, being 75 years or older, and being separated from a spouse. Sex and residence were found to be neither barriers nor facilitators. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that, in older adults, attending to the needs related to health literacy education and improving social support might increase self-care behaviors related to making good treatment decisions and participating in treatment. Future research will compare the differences across diverse populations to validate our study findings.

In interactions with caregivers, patients with dementia have communication challenges that are common and worrisome to families. Family and professional caregivers find it challenging to "guess" or "interpret" what their patients with dementia are trying to tell them. In this creative controversy article, we discuss how family and professional caregivers can seek to understand and correctly interpret the nonverbal communications of patients with dementia (behaviors, actions, facial expressions, and vocal sounds). Equipping family and professional caregivers with the resources to interpret the nonverbal communications of patients with dementia requires a commitment to in-service and family education in healthcare facilities. Nurses could play a critical role in raising the awareness among the public about the potential changes and declines in verbal communications of the patients with dementia., (© 2021 The Authors. Nursing Forum published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: To examine the relationship between cognitive status and falls with and without injury among older adults during the first 18 days of a skilled nursing facility (SNF) and determine if this association is mediated by limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) and impaired balance., Design: Cohort study of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries admitted to an SNF between October 1, 2016, and September 31, 2017., Settings and Participants: 815,927 short-stay nursing home residents admitted to an SNF within 3 days of hospital discharge., Methods: Cognitive status at SNF admission was classified as intact, mild, moderate, or severe impairment. Residents were classified as having no falls, a fall without injury, and a fall with a minor or major injury. We used ordinal logistic regression to model the association between cognitive status and falls adjusting for resident and facility characteristics. A causal mediation analysis was used to test for the mediating effects of ADL limitations and impaired balance on the association between cognitive status and falls with an injury., Results: Mild, moderate, and severe cognitive impairment were associated with 1.72 (95% CI: 1.68-1.75), 2.72 (95% CI: 2.66-2.78), and 2.61 (95% CI: 2.48-2.75) higher odds of being in a higher fall severity category, respectively, compared to being cognitively unimpaired. Greater ADL limitations and impaired balance were significantly associated with falls, but each mediated the association between cognitive status and falls by less than 2%., Conclusions and Implications: Older adults with cognitive impairment are more likely to experience a fall during an SNF stay. ADL limitations and impaired balance are risk factors for falls but may not contribute to the increased fall risk for SNF residents with cognitive impairment. Continued research is needed to better understand the risk factors for falls among SNF residents with cognitive impairment., (Copyright © 2021 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The American Geriatrics Society regularly updates the Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication (PIM) to improve prescribing safety., Purpose: This study assessed the impact of nurse practitioner (NP) practices on PIM prescribing across states in the United States and compared the change in PIM prescribing rates between 2016 and 2018., Methods: We used data from a random selection of 20% of Medicare beneficiaries (66 years or older) from 2015 to 2018 to perform multilevel logistic regression. A PIM prescription was classified as initial or refill on the basis of medication history 1 year before a visit. PIM use after an outpatient visit was the primary study outcome., Results: We included 9 000 224 visits in 2016 and 9 310 261 in 2018. The PIM prescription rate was lower in states with full NP practice and lower among NPs than among physicians; these rates for both physicians and NPs decreased from 2016 to 2018., Conclusions: Changes could be due to individual state practices., Competing Interests: All authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Low-vision rehabilitation (LVR) has significant benefit in improving the quality of life of visually impaired patients. However, these services are highly underutilized in ophthalmology practices. A quality improvement study was performed to investigate barriers to LVR services for patients at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) between 2010 and 2020. Low vision was defined as the best corrected visual acuity of 20/70 or worse in the better-seeing eye or a visual field less than 20 degrees. Potential subjects were screened ( n  = 577) from the electronic medical record using International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes for legal blindness, impaired vision, and low vision. Chart review identified 190 subjects who met criteria for low-vision analysis. Patients who received LVR referrals to attend at least one LVR service visit from the eligible subjects were contacted for participation in phone interviews regarding their LVR experience. Practicing eye care providers (ECPs) at UTMB completed a questionnaire to capture their referral patterns. Of the eligible subjects, 64% were referred to LVR services by ECPs. Reported patient barriers included mental health issues (76%), denial of need for low-vision aid (71%), poor physical health (67%), lack of transportation (57.1%), and lack of referrals (36%). EPCs reported patient's overall health (67%), older age (44%), lack of social support (44%), poor cognitive function (44%), and low likelihood of follow-up (44%) as barriers to referring patients to LVR. This study identified several modifiable barriers that can be addressed to access LVR services for low-vision patients. Changing referral patterns, eliminating variations in referral criteria, and increasing patient awareness and knowledge of LVR resources may tremendously improve the quality of life of low-vision patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Karima S. Khimani et al.)

Purpose: To identify factors that contribute to adverse events among older adults during short stays at skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) for rehabilitation (ie, up to 100 resident days). Adults aged 65 years and older are at serious risk for adverse events throughout their continuum of care. Over 33% of older adults admitted to SNFs experienced an adverse event (eg, falls) within the first 35 days of their stay., Design: A scoping review., Setting and Participants: Older adults admitted for short stays in SNFs., Methods: Eligibility criteria were peer-reviewed original articles published between 1 January 2015 and 30 May 2021, written in English, and containing any of the following key terms and synonyms: "skilled nursing facilities", "adverse events", and "older adults". These terms were searched in PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EBSCOHost, and the ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health Database. We summarized the findings using the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. We also used the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behavior (COM-B) model of health behavioral change as a framework to guide the content, thematic, and descriptive analyses of the results., Results: Eleven articles were included in this scoping review. Intrinsic and extrinsic contributors to adverse events (ie, falls, medication errors, pressure ulcers, and acute infections) varied for each COM-B domain. The most frequently mentioned capacity-related intrinsic contributors to adverse events were frailty and reduced muscle strength due to advancing age. Inappropriate medication usage and polypharmacy were the most common capacity-related extrinsic factors. Opportunity-related extrinsic factors contributing to adverse events included environmental hazards, poor communication among SNF staff, lack of individualized resident safety plans, and overall poor care quality owing to racial bias and organizational and administrative issues., Conclusion: These findings shed light on areas that warrant further research and may aid in developing interventional strategies for adverse events during short SNF stays., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2021 Okpalauwaekwe and Tzeng.)

Background: Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations and deaths among older adults globally., Local Problem: About 24% of Canadian nursing home residents fall annually. This quality improvement project evaluated the impact of the Fall Tailoring Interventions for Patient Safety (TIPS) program on preventing falls and fall-related injuries among older adult nursing home residents in a subacute care unit in Canada., Methods: We used the Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRE) 2.0 guidelines for reporting. The intervention site is a 15-bed subacute care unit within a government-funded nursing home., Intervention: The Fall TIPS program was adapted to a nursing home setting to prevent falls. It provides fall prevention clinical decision support at the bedside., Results: The rates of falls and injuries decreased after implementing the Fall TIPS intervention., Conclusion: Engaging nursing home older adult residents in fall prevention is crucial in translating evidence-based fall prevention care into clinical practice., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

This discussion article highlights the challenges of providing hospice care in nursing homes since the start of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic and illuminates practice changes needed in nursing homes. The article provides an overview of the expectations of hospice care, explains the differences in delivering hospice care during the COVID-19 pandemic, examines social isolation and emotional loneliness and the role of familial caregivers, and describes policy changes related to the COVID-19 affecting hospice care delivery in nursing homes. This article answers the following questions: (1) How did residents receiving hospice care have their needs met during the COVID-19 pandemic? (2) What areas of nursing home care need to be improved through governmental policy and restructuring? This article also summarized the lessons learned as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and provided practical implications for nursing, specific to changes in hospice care deliveries for nursing home residents., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 by The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association. All rights reserved.)

Background: Patient-centered outcomes research seeks to answer patient-centered questions. The process includes varied locations and individuals throughout the care continuum to address individual differences and constraints in implementation and dissemination., Problem: This paper intends to answer this question: do academic nurses practice what they preach by assisting patient-centered outcomes research and researchers through their engagement with patients, caregivers, and other community stakeholder partners in nursing research?, Approach: This paper provides an overview of how academic nurses in a single institution (the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston School of Nursing) began to embrace patient-centered outcomes research., Conclusion: Whether academic nurses are practicing what they preach in terms of patient-centered outcomes research remains uncertain. More examples from academia are required to make that determination. Academic nurses worldwide have embarked on a steep learning curve to embrace patient-centered outcomes research. This journey will require patience and a systematic strategy.

Background: This exploratory survey study examined the relationship between older adults' five socio-demographic determinants (urban/rural residence, gender, age, marital status, and education) and their self-reported perception of importance, desire to perform, and ability to perform nine self-care behaviors related to promoting health and getting preventive health care., Methods: We reported a secondary analysis of a dataset from an exploratory survey project; we analyzed 2015-2016 retrospective data collected from a cross-sectional survey study, includ-ing 123 adults aged 65 years and older living in southern United States. Data were collected from the Patient Action Inventory for Self-Care and a demographic questionnaire and analyzed using binary and multiple logistic regression analyses., Results: Advancing age, marital separation, and holding less than a high school education were significantly associated with at least one of the unfavorable perceptions of the importance, the desire to perform, and the ability to perform three self-care behaviors. These three behaviors were: (1) creating habits that will improve health and prevent disease, (2) discussing the use of health screening tests with healthcare pro-viders, and (3) joining in local health screening or wellness events. Gender and urban/rural res-idence were not significant. Conclusions: Comprehensive health care should include an indi-vidual's socio-demographic context and self-care perception of importance, desire, and ability., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Introduction: Hospital patient satisfaction has been a salient policy concern. We examined rurality's impact on patient satisfaction measures., Methodology: We examined patients (age 50 and up) from 65 rural and urban hospitals in Massachusetts, using the merged data from 2007 American Hospital Association Annual Survey, State Inpatient Database and Survey of Patients' Hospital Experiences, utilizing Hierarchical binary logistic regression analyses to examine the rural disparities in patient satisfaction measures., Results: Relative to the urban location, rurality reduced the likelihood of cleanliness of environment (odds ratio = 0.66, 95% confidence interval: [0.63-0.70]); but increased the likelihood of staff responsiveness and quietness. Compared to Caucasian counterparts, Hispanic patients were less likely to reside in a quiet hospital. Compared to other payments, Medicare or Medicaid coverage each reduced the likelihood of staff responsiveness and cleanliness. Compared to other diagnoses, depressive or psychosis disorders predicted smaller odds in responsiveness and cleanliness. Anxiety diagnosis reduced the likelihood of cleanness and quietness. At the facility level, higher registered nurse full-time equivalent (FTE)s or being a teaching hospital increased the likelihood of all measures., Conclusion: Relative to the urban counterparts, rural patients experienced lower likelihood of staff responsiveness after adjusting for other factors. Compared to Caucasian patients, Hispanic patients were less likely to reside in quiet hospital environment. Research is needed to further explore the basis of these disparities. Mental health diagnoses in depressive and psychosis disorders also called upon further studies in special care needs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2019.)

Purpose: Approximately, 14% of older adults aged 65 years and over experience a fall within 1 month post-hospital discharge. Adequate self-management may minimize the impact of these falls; however, research is lacking on why some older adults engage in self-management to prevent falls while others do not., Methods: We conducted a scoping review to identify barriers and facilitators to older adults participating in fall-prevention strategies after transitioning home from acute hospitalization. Eligibility criteria were peer-reviewed journal articles published during 2009-2019 which were written in English and contained any of the following keywords or their synonyms: "fall-prevention," "older adults," "post-discharge" and "transition care." We systematically and selectively summarized the findings of these articles using the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and the PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. Seven bibliographic databases were searched: PubMed/MEDLINE, ERIC, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. We used the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behavior (COM-B) model of health behavior change as a framework to guide the content, thematic analysis, and descriptive results., Results: Seventeen articles were finally selected. The most frequently mentioned barriers and facilitators for each COM-B dimension differed. Motivation factors include such as older adults lacking inner drive and self-denial of being at risk for falls (barriers) and following-up with older adults and correcting inaccurate perceptions of falls and fall-prevention strategies (facilitators)., Conclusion: This scoping review revealed gaps and future research areas in fall prevention relative to behavioral changes. These findings may enable tailoring feasible fall-prevention interventions for older adults after transitioning home from acute hospitalization., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© 2020 Tzeng et al.)

Background: The postural stability is a major factor that helps prevent developing knee osteoarthritis with aging. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Baduanjin qigong on postural control and physical function in older adults with knee osteoarthritis., Methods: Fifty-six individuals over 60 years of age with knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to either an experimental group ( n  = 28) or a control group ( n  = 28). Participants in the experimental group received a 12-week Baduanjin training, while those in the control group did not receive any additional physical exercise during the study period. The postural control was quantified by perimeter and ellipse area of center of pressure movement trajectory. The assessments were conducted three times (baseline, week 8, and week 12)., Results: The perimeter and ellipse area with both open- and closed-eyes conditions and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) function were significantly improved at week eight in the experimental group ( p < 0.005). The ellipse area with open-eyes condition, WOMAC index, and stiffness and physical function domains were significantly decreased after the 12 weeks of Baduanjin training compared to the control group ( p < 0.005). Only the perimeter area with both open- and closed-eyes conditions was not statistically significant at week 12 in the intervention group ( p > 0.005)., Conclusions: Baduanjin is an effective and adjuvant therapy for older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Regular Baduanjin training can improve postural control and WOMAC function of old individuals with knee osteoarthritis. More advanced techniques and biopsychological measurements are required for further understanding of Baduanjin exercise in this population. The trial was registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IOR-16010042)., Competing Interests: The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article., (Copyright © 2020 JiaJia Ye et al.)

This brief essay begins the conversation of whether self-healing and self-care, terms that have been used independently and together, do indeed mean the same thing. To support a holistic approach to nursing and patient-centered care, nursing professionals and educators should be familiar with self-healing processes and self-care acts.

Background: Demographic characteristics play a role in influencing the decision to make end-of-life (EOL) directives among older adults living in the United States., Aims: To examine the associations between older adults' demographic characteristics (age, sex, marital status, residential site, and educational level) and their perceived importance of four self-care actions for EOL planning, as well as their desire and ability to perform these actions., Settings: A cross-sectional survey study of community-dwelling adults living in the southern United States from 2015 to 2016., Participants: Community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older (N = 123)., Methods: A self-administered tool, the Patient Action Inventory for Self-Care and a demographic questionnaire were used. Multiple logistic regression was performed., Results: Forty-seven of (38.2%) participants lived in an urban community and 76 (61.8%) in a rural community. Demographic variables that were significant across the predictive models were older adults' residence, education levels, age, and marital status. Four demographic characteristics of living in rural areas, without a high school education, being 75 years or older, and married could be social determinants of EOL planning., Conclusions: Older adults may need community-based support to address their end-of-life needs, especially those elders who want to remain independent in their home environment., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Limited research has explored the associations between the US Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) ratings data and hospital-acquired pressure ulcer (HAPU) occurrences., Purpose: We examined the associations between the hospital-level patient satisfaction HCAHPS scores with hospital care experience reported by Medicare patients 65 years or older and the occurrence of HAPUs among Medicare patients with stroke., Methods: A matched case-control design was used. Patients with a history of stroke were identified using the 2011 Medicare fee-for-service patient data. Medicare Beneficiary Summary and Medicare Provider Analysis and Review files processed by the Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse were analyzed. Conditional logistic regression was used., Results: HAPUs occur less frequently among Medicare patients with stroke who received inpatient care at hospitals with higher patient satisfaction HCAHPS scores for nurses' communication skills and quietness at night for the areas around patient rooms., Conclusions: Using hospital-level patient satisfaction HCAHPS scores to monitor and project HAPU occurrences is recommended.

Aims: This study examined associations between older adults' demographic factors and their perceived importance of, desire to and ability to perform seven self-care behaviours for communicating with healthcare professionals., Design: This cross-sectional survey study analysed subset data of 123 older adults 65 years and older, living in southern United States., Methods: The Patient Action Inventory for Self-Care (57 items, grouped into 11 categories) was used to collect self-reported self-care data. Demographic characteristics were also collected. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were used to tests for relationships between the variables relevant to the research objective., Results: Regression findings showed that separated older adults felt less able to share ideas about their healthcare experiences compared to married older adults. Male older adults reported less desire to list issues to discuss and less desire to share ideas about their care experience with their healthcare professionals compared to their female counterparts., Competing Interests: No conflict of interest has been declared by the authors.

Background: Nurses and other health care providers need to ensure that patients receive care that addresses their specific needs and wants., Purpose: This exploratory study examined the associations between patients' self-reported positive and negative affect, the perceived importance of 57 self-care actions, the desire and ability to perform them, and emergency department use in the past 3 months., Methods: A secondary analysis from a cross-sectional survey project that surveyed 250 community-dwelling adults living in the southern United States, 2015-2016. Independent t tests and the χ test were used., Results: Positive affect was associated with positive perceptions of self-care actions and having no emergency department visit. Patients with a more negative affect perceived finding and using services that support their health behaviors as being important and expressed a desire to participate in local health screening or wellness events., Conclusions: Patients' perceptions of their self-care actions could lead to better outcomes.

Aim: This qualitative study reports identified themes from suggestions made by 533 Canadian older adults, aged ≥65 years in response to the open-ended question contained in a Saskatchewan Telephone Survey: "What suggestions can you make to engage someone in their health and healthcare?"., Background: In 2016, seniors accounted for 16.9% of the Canadian population. As Canadians age over the next 30 years, emergency room visits are predicted to increase by 40%, outpacing the expected 30% population growth. Avoiding this increase could save the nation about $210 million annually. A recent US study reported that the ability of seniors to carry out self-care actions predicted lower likelihood of emergency department use within 3 months., Materials and Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis based on a province-wide, cross-sectional Saskatchewan (Canada) Telephone Survey of seniors' self-care needs conducted in March-June 2018 (N=1,000). Results were analyzed using qualitative thematic content analysis. Data were charted and coded separately by two researchers; coding conflicts were resolved by consensus., Results: A total of 533 seniors answered the open-ended question. Content analysis resulted in 11 contextual content areas with 956 total suggestions. Five key themes emerged, which included the following: feasible healthcare access, being proactive toward healthy living, having social support systems, being more open to alternative medicine, and other self-care options, and having more trained healthcare professionals to care for seniors., Conclusion: This study reveals facilitators and challenges that currently face seniors. Seniors want equitable access to professional healthcare services and an environment that fosters self-care actions in everyday living. There is a gap in supports that would assist seniors to engage in their health and healthcare. Additional research on this issue could further inform health and human service providers to develop patient-centered strategies for promoting self-care among seniors., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Aim(s): This exploratory study examined the relationship of five patient demographic characteristics (residence in an urban or rural site, gender, age group, marital status, and education level) with the patients' (1) perceived importance of, (2) desire to, (3) ability to perform four patient engagement self-care actions that result in finding safe and decent care., Background: Equitable access to health care is essential in a humanized health care system. Healthcare providers must engage patients in discussions about their desires for their care to create person-centered care plans reflecting patient values and wishes., Methods: This secondary data analysis from a cross-sectional survey project surveyed community-dwelling adults living in the southern United States, 2015-2016. This paper only includes responses of participants aged 65 years and older (N = 123). Data collected in The Patient Action Inventory for Self-Care and demographic questions were used. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were used., Results: As revealed in the Chi-square and logistic regression findings, self-care actions of "finding a doctor or practitioner who meets your needs," "using available information to choose a doctor or practitioner," and "using data to choose a hospital or clinic" showed some associations with whether seniors resided in an urban or rural community, age group, and marital status (P < 0.05). No significant associations between these four self-care actions with gender or education were found., Conclusions: A community-based solution is warranted to leverage between patient demographic characteristics and their perceived self-care actions by harnessing local factors in collaboration with identified patient needs., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Despite policy efforts to reduce unwanted nursing home (NH) admissions, NH residents increasingly are being admitted from hospitals, with a significant share diagnosed with mental health disorders., Objectives: We examined interactive effect of Black race and mental health disorder's impact on older patients' (age 65 and older) NH admission upon hospital discharge., Material and Methods: We analyzed 186,646 older patients using pooled data from the 2007 through 2010 National Hospital Discharge Survey. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the risk factors for NH admission., Results: Diagnosis of mental health disorders increased the odds of NH admission among the older sample patients (OR = 1.15, 95%CI[1.04,1.28]). Black race was not associated with higher odds, whereas black patients experienced higher odds if they were diagnosed with mental health disorders (OR = 1.60, 95%CI[1.43,1.79]). Medicare as primary payer was associated with greater odds of NH admission. Admission from nursing facilities substantially increased the odds of NH admission upon hospital discharge. Patients discharged with diagnoses of stroke, lower-limb fractures, and a chronic ulcer, as well as those with a longer length-of-stay (> 5 days) experienced increased odds of NH admission. Being discharged from a larger hospital (with >200 beds) decreased the odds for NH admission; as did being discharged from a government-owned hospital., Conclusions: Older Black patients with mental health disorder experienced significantly greater odds of NH admission after adjusting for other factors. Public policy initiatives are needed to address the specific needs in the vulnerable population to avoid unwanted NH admission., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objective : We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression to determine if mind⁻body movements (MBM) could be effective in rehabilitating balance function among stroke survivors. Methods : A literature search was conducted using major Chinese and English electronic databases from an inception until January 2018. Randomized controlled studies were included in our meta-analysis. Data was independently extracted by two review authors using a pre-developed table and confirmed by a third party to reach a consensus. Pooled effect size (Hedge&rsquo;s g ) was computed while the random-effect model was set. Results : The meta-analytic results showed a significant benefit of the MBM intervention on increased balance function compared to the control groups (Hedge&rsquo;s g = 1.59, CI 0.98 to 2.19, p < 0.001, I ² = 94.95%). Additionally, the meta-regression indicated that the total number of sessions (&beta; = 0.00142, 95% CI 0.0039 to 0.0244, p = 0.0067) and dose of weekly training (&beta; = 0.00776, 95% CI 0.00579 to 0.00972, p = 0.00) had significantly positive effects on balance function. Conclusions : The study encouraging findings indicate the rehabilitative effect of a MBM intervention for balance function in stroke survivors. However, there were significant limitations in the design among several of the included trials. Additional studies with more robust methodologies are needed to provide a more definitive conclusion., Competing Interests: No conflict of interest existed in this study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore how non-nurses and nurses differ regarding the perceived images and expected roles of Indonesian nurses., Design: A cross-sectional survey study., Methods: An online tool shared via email was used to collect data in March 2014, from a convenient sample of 1,228 employees of a private university located in Karawaci, Indonesia. An English/Indonesian version of the survey was developed: 19 perception items and 19 expectation items using a 5-point Likert scale. Independent sample t tests were used to compare groups., Results: One hundred and forty-three people completed the survey; a response rate of 11.6%. Thirteen were nurses and 130 were non-nurses. Compared with nurses, non-nurses were less likely to agree with statements that Indonesian nurses are self-sacrificing, provide help to others, are devoted to caring, perform housekeeping duties and are knowledgeable. Monitoring nurses' image on a regular basis is essential. A public education campaign could focus on selected positive characteristics to improve the image of Indonesian nurses.

Aim(s): This study identified patient healthcare engagement behaviours that are important to community-dwelling adult patients living in the southern region of the USA., Background: Patient engagement has been identified as a key driver for containing healthcare costs, but the public and healthcare professionals lack a scientific understanding of patient engagement. A valid tool is needed for prompting patients to discuss health activities with their healthcare providers and to obtain support., Design: This exploratory cross-sectional survey study used a quantitative research design. It was conducted in seven senior centres in the southern region of the USA in 2015., Methods: This project used convenience sampling to recruit subjects. Subjects were community-dwelling adult patients older than 18 years and living in the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee. Individuals who had taken the survey previously were excluded. The survey tool, Patient Involvement Behaviors in Health Care, was developed by the authors and used for data collection., Results: Ninety-two participants completed or partially completed the survey. The response rate was 74·8%. Among the 51 identified behaviours, 17 were identified as being important by less than 95% of participants; eight of these 17 behaviours were important to less than 90% of participants., Conclusions: We identified 34 behaviours that at least 95% of the participants indicated were important. Nurses may use this tool to help individual patients identify engagement behaviours that are important to them, to respect their personal preferences and thus improve their engagement in health care., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aim: This exploratory survey study aimed to identify patient engagement actions that are the most frequently named as being highly important (top 30 by importance) or ones that they want to do (top 30 by desire) for community-dwelling adult patients living in the southern United States. Items not making the list of the top 30 by ability were also identified., Background: Patient engagement is still an ambiguous term among population health and health care professionals in the United States as we lack a clear understanding of what it entails., Methods: This 2015-2016 study used convenience sampling to recruit subjects in a university's student health service department and in eight senior centers. Two hundred and fifty adult patients older than 18 years in the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee participated in the study (82% response rate). A 57-item inventory, "The Patient Action Inventory for Self-Care," was developed and used to ascertain patients' self-designated preferences and capabilities in order to understand their needs for education and support., Results: Respondents included 159 (63.6%) women, 62 (24.8%) men, and 29 (11.6%) who did not indicate their gender. Combining the list of the top 30 importance items and the list of the top 30 desired items yielded a list of 35 items; noteworthy is the fact that the list of the top 30 ability actions contained nine items that were not found in a previously mentioned list of 35 high-ranking importance and desired items. This study validated the necessity of analyzing patient engagement actions by importance, desirability, and ability to accomplish it. These three levels are distinct from each other., Conclusion: Nurses may use future versions of the inventory to assist patients in identifying self-care actions to engage in. Use of the inventory will demonstrate respect for patients' preferences and may thus improve engagement., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

This research studied 12,507 residents in 1174 nursing homes from the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to predict risk-adjusted probabilities of pressure ulcers with 4 stages. A medical director or a director of nursing on board reduced the odds of ulcers. Facilities offering clusters of beds for rehabilitation and special care programs for hospice care or behavior problems reduced the odds of stage IV ulcers.

Injurious falls are the most prevalent in-hospital adverse event, and hospitalized patients are at a greater risk of falling than the general population. Patient engagement in hospital fall prevention could be a possible approach to reducing falls and fall-related injuries. To engage patients, bedside nursing staff must first understand the concept of patient centeredness and then incorporate patient centeredness in clinical practice. Clinicians should move from being experts to being enablers. To conceptualize the knowledge gaps identified, a conceptual model was developed to guide future research and quality improvement efforts in hospital settings. This model could be used as a guide to advance nursing leadership in hospital fall prevention via promoting patient engagement (e.g., developing patient-centered fall prevention interventions with patients' input).

This user-testing study assessed the feasibility of the functional prototype of an innovative fall prevention intervention, i Engaging, to engage patients in their own fall prevention care during hospital stays. The i Engaging application as well as its approaches to engage patients in fall prevention care during hospital stays was perceived as being easy to use, effective, and practical. The user-testing study consisted of adults 65 years of age or older and health care providers.

Problem: Could engaging patients in their care be a means to oppose obscurantism? Obscurantism is defined by Merriam-Webster as "the practice of keeping knowledge or understanding about something from people"., Methods: This paper discusses the importance of promoting patient engagement and emphasizes that patients and healthcare providers are equally important stakeholders in health care., Findings: The discussion occurs in the context of hospital inpatient care as nurses play a critical role in patients' hospitalization experience, including engaging patients in their own care during hospital stays. Paternalism of healthcare providers is recognized as one of the main barriers to integrating the concepts of patient engagement and patient centeredness into every aspect of the care system. Promoting patient engagement is a two-way responsibility, and it requires the cooperation of both patients and healthcare providers., Conclusions: As scientists and healthcare providers, we have the duty to counter obscurantism by promoting understanding of the health of individual citizens and society at large. A culture change in healthcare systems toward being patient-centric and placing value on patient engagement is warranted, and this change must come from healthcare providers. Patient-centered tools that support patient engagement, patient portals, or personal health records are still needed., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

This retrospective, descriptive, chart review study was done to demonstrate one strategy for communicating aggregated and actionable fall data to bedside nurses. It was conducted at a nonprofit acute care hospital in the northwestern United States to analyze the quantitative data captured in post-fall audit reports of patient falls (March 1-December 31, 2012, N = 107 falls). Descriptive and binary statistical analyses were used. The quarterly National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators 2011 and 2012 reports showed that implementation of post-fall audit reports can lead to a lower overall fall rate and a lower fall-injury rate. Increased nursing hours could be a confounding factor of the positive impact of conducting post-fall audits in this study. It is concluded that timely and systematic reporting, analysis, and interpretation of fall data in an electronic format can facilitate prevention of falls and fall injuries., (© The Author(s) 2014.)

Purpose: This study identified the perceived top 10 highly effective interventions to prevent fall injuries of adult inpatients based on the perceptions of RN staff by specialty area in acute hospital settings., Background: The fall prevention precautions to focus on may vary by patients' medical problems and thus by specialty area., Methods: This cross-sectional nurse survey was conducted at five U.S. health systems (July 2011-February 2012, 68 study units, 10 specialty areas). 560 staff participants completed the survey, yielding an overall response rate of 25.81%. This work is part of a larger project. Descriptive statistics were used., Results: Each specialty area had its own top 10 effective interventions identified by RNs. The complexity and differences in the top 10 highly effective interventions by the 10 included specialty areas are apparent. For example, only one common intervention (keeping hospital bed brakes locked) appeared in the lists from the medical units and surgical units., Conclusion: Addressing the unique needs of the patient population by specialty area is essential. Adopting the perceived top 10 highly effective interventions for preventing injurious falls by specialty area with staff consensus might be more feasible for staff buy-in and compliance in inpatient acute care settings. Since patients' characteristics may change over time and the science in fall prevention is advancing, re-prioritizing effective interventions as needed every 2 years is recommended., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This perspective paper was intended to raise awareness and the urgency of needing additional evacuation-related, hospital building design policies. We addressed the challenges to maintain the integrity of exits and inadequate hospital design considerations for individuals with restricted mobility. Hospitals are occupied by people who may have restricted mobility and visitors who are likely unfamiliar with their surroundings. A hospital fire threatens all people in the building, but especially patients in the intensive care unit who are frail and have limited mobility. Evacuating immobile patients is complex, involving horizontal and vertical evacuation approaches. Hospital design must consider the needs of individuals with restricted mobility, who are the most vulnerable in case of a hospital fire. Consequently, we urge that acutely ill patients and others with restricted mobility should occupy units located on the ground floor or Level 2. In addition, when configuring the physical environment of hospitals, providing step-free ground floor access (indoor or outdoor ramps) and evacuation aids for vertical evacuation is crucial. Step-free ground floor access between Level 2 and the ground floor should be wide enough to allow transporting patients on their beds. A standard revision to include these recommendations is desperately needed., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Decreasing patient fall injuries during hospitalization continues to be a challenge at the bedside. Empowering patients to become active participants in their own fall prevention care could be a solution. In a previous study, elderly patients recently discharged from a United States hospital expressed a need for nurses to give and repeat directives about fall prevention; when the nurse left a brochure on the topic, but did not provide any (or limited) verbal explanations about the content or the importance of the information, the patient felt that the information was insufficient. To address patients' needs, we developed "i Engaging", a Web-based software application for use at the bedside. i Engaging is an innovative approach that is used to engage patients in their own fall prevention care during hospital stays. The application was designed based on the assumption that patients are the best and most critical sources of information about their health status. i Engaging has not yet been tested in clinical trials.