Search

Background and Aim of the Work: Empowerment is very important to keep high staff motivation and attention on patient safety. The aim of this study was to produce a "Charter of Rights-Duties for Patients' Empowerment", by developing empowerment both of patients and professionals of the Hematology and Bone marrow transplant center Unit of Parma University Hospital., Methods: The professionals were actively involved in meetings to complete the Italian version of the SESM Empowerment Questionnaire, draft the Charter and produce some communication tools to be implemented in the Unit., Results: All professionals had participated to the research. The level of empowerment in the unit, both for doctors and non-medical staff, is very high. This result, the Charter and the others communication tools are now known and shared by all., Conclusions: Stimulating empowerment seems to be a winning choice. It is important to involve professionals right away in the process because a high level of staff empowerment can generate a good field for high degree of patients' empowerment, that can increase patient safety and reduce the risk of dangerous health choices. This approach aims to increase patient safety through the collaboration of patients, volunteer associations and professionals. Communication programs must include the development of empowerment: it motivates citizens to engage and the literacy enables them to make informed and reasoned choices. General Management is now evaluating how to realize the program in each ward, discussing the importance of carefully conceptualizing this approach for the design of health interventions.

The aim of this study was to obtain baseline data on doctors' and nurses' work activities and rates of interruptions and multitasking to improve work organisation and processes. Data were collected in six surgical units with the WOMBAT (Work Observation Method by Activity Timing) tool. Results show that doctors and nurses received approximately 13 interruptions per hour, or one interruption every 4.5 min. Compared to doctors, nurses were more prone to interruptions in most activities, while doctors performed multitasking (33.47% of their time, 95% CI 31.84-35.17%) more than nurses (15.23%, 95% CI 14.24-16.25%). Overall, the time dedicated to patient care is relatively limited for both professions (37.21%, 95% CI 34.95-39.60% for doctors, 27.22%, 95% CI 25.18-29.60% for nurses) compared to the time spent for registration of data and professional communication, that accounts for two-thirds of doctors' time and nearly half of nurses' time. Further investigation is needed on strategies to manage job demands and professional communications. Practitioner Summary: This study offers further findings on the characteristics and frequency of multitasking and interruptions in surgery, with a comparison of how they affect doctors and nurses. Further investigation is needed to improve the management of job demands and communications according to the results.

Quality management (QM) is a key issue for the Italian National Health System (NHS). Regione Toscana is currently undertaking a pilot programme to promote QM in Prevention Departments (PD). An introductory training to such programme was devised in the PD of the Local Health Unit no.11 Empoli, since the management was persuaded that all staff should be provided with basic knowledge concerning quality before being enrolled in QM programmes. Managers in charge of PD Units were offered a one-day training,focused on their role in promoting and achieving a QM culture, as an opportunity to be directly involved in the drafting of the DP quality handbook and in improving working procedures. The whole staff took part in a more extensive two-days course, including the basic concepts about QM in health systems, and the illustration of the programme in Regione Toscana; they were also asked to draw up some working procedures according to the draft already used in the Local Health Unit no.11, to be included in the DP quality handbook. The goal of this training programme was to implement a process capable of improving integrated working procedures through the competence, autonomy and responsibility of PD professionals.