Antibiotics have contributed to the decline in mortality and morbidity caused by infections, but overuse may weaken effectiveness resulting in a worldwide threat. Antibiotic overuse is correlated with adverse events like Clostridium difficile infection, antimicrobial resistance, unnecessary healthcare utilization and poor health outcomes. Long term care facility (LTCF) residents are vulnerable targets for this phenomenon as antibiotics are one of the most commonly prescribed medications in this setting. Consequently, multiple organizations mandate strategies to promote antibiotic stewardship in all healthcare sites particularly LTCFs.
To address this global issue, this doctoral project utilized the Outcomes-Focused Knowledge Translation intervention framework to provide sepsis education, promoted use of an established clinical algorithm, and engaged a communication tool for nurses and the certified nursing assistants (CNAs) thus, improving antibiotic stewardship. The project was conducted in a 5-star Medicare-rated LTCF in Mesa, AZ with a convenience sample of 22 participants. The participants received a knowledge questionnaire and Work Relationship Scale pre- and post- intervention to determine improvement.
The results show that the education provided did not improve their knowledge with a p = 0.317 for nurses while p = 0.863 for CNAs over 8 weeks. Lastly, education provided did not improve the nurses’ Work Relationship p = 0.230 or for the CNAs p = 0.689. Though not statistically significant, the intervention tools are clinically significant. Additional research is needed to identify ways to determine barriers in implementing an antibiotic stewardship program.
Background and Purpose: The lack of an advance directive (AD) can predispose a person to an aggressive course of treatment despite their wishes. When AD’s are incomplete, the chances of unwanted procedures, such as tube feedings and repeated transitioning between nursing homes and hospitals often result in the risk of increased mortality and morbidity, especially for older adults. Making end-of-life decisions can improve the quality of death by allowing individuals to make decisions to die in a dignified manner. The purpose of this project was to improve AD completion rates by implementing “Five Wishes” (FW) into the admission process in a long-term care facility (LTCF).
Methods: The project took place on the skilled nursing units at a LTCF in Southwestern Arizona over a 2-month period of time. Twenty random charts were assessed before the start of the project to determine the residents AD status. Those 20 were then informed about FW’s and encouraged to complete one, along with all newly admitted residents to the skilled nursing units. Logs were used for data collection and each participating resident signed a HIPPA document. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample and outcome variables.
Outcomes Of the 20 current residents included in the quantitative chart assessment, 6 (30%) residents completed a FW’s document. Fifty residents were admitted during the project span and 21 (42%) of them completed FW’s.
Conclusions: The FW’s completion rates were lower than expected. None of the residents had an AD more detailed than a basic full code or do not resuscitate (DNR) status before being informed of FW’s. It is recommended that the facility social workers would have implemented the intervention to increase the likelihood of adherence.