Hospital visiting hours - do they need to be revised?

ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the number of visitors to an acute hospital, the time of visit, destination, and details of parking over the same period.MethodsA prospective observational pilot study in a large metropolitan public hospital in Australia was performed. The research team observed all visitors over a 14-day period between 17 and 30 October 2022 counting the people visiting relatives or friends of admitted hospital patients as well as those visiting outpatient clinics during the observation period.

Implementing a Hospital-Wide Programme Using iPARiHS to Prevent and Manage Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis and Improve Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries.

Unlabelled: Incontinence-associated dermatitis poses a significant risk for sacral pressure injuries, infection and morbidity in healthcare settings. Despite the availability of best practice guidelines, implementation remains a challenge.

Aim: To outline the implementation of a hospital-wide programme using the Integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework to prevent and manage incontinence-associated dermatitis and improve hospital-acquired pressure injuries.

Nursing management of catheter-related non-infectious complications of PD: Your questions answered.

A review from the last seven years (August 2016-July 2023) of questions posted to the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) website "Questions about PD" by nurses and physicians from around the world revealed that 19 of the questions were associated with optimal approaches for preventing, assessing, and managing issues related to PD catheter non-infectious complications. Our review focused on responses to these questions whereby existing best practice recommendations were considered, if available, relevant literature was cited and differences in international practices discussed. We combined similar questions, revised both the original questions and responses for clarity, as well as updated the references to these questions.

Developing a haemodialysis acuity tool (the HAT study): A qualitative study.

Background: Haemodialysis units are now managing an increasing number of patients with varying needs and levels of acuity. To maintain safety, haemodialysis patients must be placed in the most appropriate dialysis unit that has the required human and physical resources to care for them. The first step towards achieving these goals is to develop a tool specific to haemodialysis units to effectively measure patient acuity.

Longitudinal symptom profile of palliative care patients receiving a nurse-led end-of-life (PEACH) programme to support preference to die at home.

Objectives: Tailored models of home-based palliative care aimed to support death at home, should also ensure optimal symptom control. This study aimed to explore symptom occurrence and distress over time in Palliative Extended And Care at Home (PEACH) model of care recipients.

Design: This was a prospective cohort study.

Multi-center, pragmatic, cluster-randomized, controlled trial of standardized peritoneal dialysis (PD) training versus usual care on PD-related infections (the TEACH-PD trial): trial protocol.

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related infections, such as peritonitis, exit site, and tunnel infections, substantially impair the sustainability of PD. Accordingly, PD-related infection is the top-priority research outcome for patients and caregivers. While PD nurse trainers teach patients to perform their own PD, PD training curricula are not standardized or informed by an evidentiary base and may offer a potential approach to prevent PD infections.

The ACCELERATE Plus (assessment and communication excellence for safe patient outcomes) Trial Protocol: a stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial, cost-benefit analysis, and process evaluation.

Background: Nurses play an essential role in patient safety. Inadequate nursing physical assessment and communication in handover practices are associated with increased patient deterioration, falls and pressure injuries. Despite internationally implemented rapid response systems, falls and pressure injury reduction strategies, and recommendations to conduct clinical handovers at patients' bedside, adverse events persist.

Factors Associated With Mode of Separation for People With Palliative Diagnoses With Preference for Home Death Receiving Care From a Nurse-Led End of Life (Palliative Extended and Care at Home) Program.

Palliative Extended and Care at Home (PEACH) is a rapid response nurse-led package of care mobilized for palliative care patients who have an expressed preference to die at home. This study aimed to identify the demographic and clinical predictors of home death for patients receiving the package. Deidentified data were used from administrative and clinical information systems.

A descriptive study of the clinical impacts on COVID-19 survivors using telemonitoring (The TeleCOVID Study).

Background: There is increasing evidence that COVID-19 survivors are at increased risk of experiencing a wide range of cardiovascular complications post infection; however, there are no validated models or clear guidelines for remotely monitoring the cardiac health of COVID-19 survivors.

Objective: This study aims to test a virtual, in-home healthcare monitoring model of care for detection of clinical symptoms and impacts on COVID-19 survivors. It also aims to demonstrate system usability and feasibility.

Telemonitoring for health education and self-management in South Western Sydney.

Background: Telemonitoring (TM) plays an important role in the self-management of chronic diseases. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of TM in early stages of chronic care for self-management and recognition of signs and symptoms of exacerbation, with a view to completing the TM program in an optimal timeframe to encourage independence and self-management.

Methods: This study was conducted from 2019 to 2020.

Curious thing, an artificial intelligence (AI)-based conversational agent for COVID-19 patient management.

There are no clear guidelines or validated models for artificial intelligence (AI)-based approaches in the monitoring of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients who were isolated in the community, in order to identify early deterioration of their health symptoms. Developed in partnership with Curious Thing (CT), a Sydney-based AI conversational technology, a new care robot technology was introduced in South Western Sydney (SWS) in September 2021 to manage the large numbers of low-to-medium risk patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis and who were isolating at home. The CT interface made contact with patients via their mobile phone, following a locally produced script to obtain information recording physical condition, wellness and support.

PD effluent specimen collection: Your questions answered.

When a patient on peritoneal dialysis (PD) presents with suspected PD-related peritonitis (e.g. cloudy PD fluid and abdominal pain), one of the most important initial aspects of management is for the nephrology nurse/home dialysis nurse to collect PD effluent specimens for white blood cells count, Gram stain, culture and sensitivity for inspection and to send for laboratory testing before antibiotics are started.

Health workers' Perceptions and REsponses in implementing COVID-19 Immunisation StratEgy in South Western Sydney (PRECISE): an observational study.

Objectives: To understand the views and motivations of healthcare workers at a vaccination hub who received a COVID-19 vaccination in March-May 2021.

Study Design: This is an observational study via an anonymous electronic survey of seven questions focus on where survey recipients received information about the vaccine roll-out, their motivations for receiving the vaccine and their level of comfort in receiving the vaccine.

Setting: The Liverpool Vaccination Hub is located in South Western Sydney.

Teleworking from home experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic among public health workers (TelEx COVID-19 study).

Background: When working from home (WFH) became temporarily necessary for staff as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it had to be implemented without significant organisational experience or understanding of WFH and its complexities. This study aims to determine the impacts experienced by staff who have undertaken WFH during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study using survey with a purposive sampling strategy for staff from corporate and non-clinical departments.

Understanding the general practice of telemonitoring integrated care: a qualitative perspective.

Developed in partnership with GPs, a new telehealth model of care using remote monitoring, known as telemonitoring (TM), was introduced in South Western Sydney (SWS) in 2015, transmitting clinical readings taken at home to telehealth coordinators. This study explored the experiences, beliefs and attitudes of general practice staff to identify barriers to and facilitators of the SWS TM model. Responses were collected from a purposive sample of 10 participants via semistructured interviews (n = 9 interview sessions) and the resulting transcripts were analysed thematically.

Palliative Care Home Support Packages (PEACH): a carer cross-sectional survey.

Background: In December 2013, a partnership between five local health districts and a non-governmental organisation implemented the Palliative Care Home Support Packages (PEACH) Program. The PEACH Program aims to support palliative care clients in their last days of life at their own home. This study sought to evaluate the quality of care delivered by the service from the perspective of clients' primary carers.

An Intervention Design: Supporting Skills Development for Peritoneal Dialysis Trainers.

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a home-based therapy where nurses train patients in its use. There has been no published randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating any specific protocol for nurses delivering PD training. A standardized education package based upon the best available evidence and utilizing modern educational practices may lead to improved patient outcomes.

Practice of Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Flushing in Australia and New Zealand: Multi-Center Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: Evidence of effective interventions to prevent peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter malfunction before first use is presently insufficient to guide clinical care. Regular flushing of the PD catheter (e.g.

Change process during synchronised conversion to a once-monthly erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) administration at a single satellite haemodialysis unit.

Background: There are currently no published data on the impact of changes to practice caused by introducing coordinated once-monthly erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) administration.

Objective: This study aimed to measure staff satisfaction during and after ESA synchronisation within a single satellite haemodialysis unit.

Design: A quantitative survey using a Likert scale was distributed to dialysis nurses pre-synchronisation and during follow-up at three and nine months post-synchronisation.

Review: anticoagulation for haemodialysis.

The coagulation cascade is complex but well studied. Dialysis membranes and lines are inherently pro-coagulant and activate both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of coagulation, as well as platelets and other circulating cellular elements. To provide safe and effective dialysis, appropriate anticoagulant measures must be applied.

Acute vascular access catheters for haemodialysis: complications limiting technique survival.

The use of acute vascular access catheters (AVACs) has facilitated the delivery of haemodialysis to patients lacking functioning access. A review of the experience of a tertiary Australian renal treatment centre, consisting of 205 sequential AVACs in 93 patients, was undertaken over 1 year, to identify issues limiting technique survival. Acute vascular access catheters were inserted as acute dialysis access for patients with chronic renal failure (CRF; 21%), failed grafts or fistulae (18%), acute renal failure (12%), failed chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD; 8%) or failed prior AVACs (37%).