Hanan Aboumatar - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Hanan Aboumatar

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of a Hospital-Initiated Program Combining Transitional Care and Long-term Self-management Support on Outcomes of Patients Hospitalized With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

JAMA, 2019

IMPORTANCE Patients hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations h... more IMPORTANCE Patients hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations have high rehospitalization rates and reduced quality of life. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether a hospital-initiated program that combined transition and long-term self-management support for patients hospitalized due to COPD and their family caregivers can improve outcomes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Single-site randomized clinical trial conducted in Baltimore, Maryland, with 240 participants. Participants were patients hospitalized due to COPD, randomized to intervention or usual care, and followed up for 6 months after hospital discharge. Enrollment occurred from March 2015 to May 2016; follow-up ended in December 2016. INTERVENTIONS The intervention (n = 120) involved a comprehensive 3-month program to help patients and their family caregivers with long-term self-management of COPD. It was delivered by nurses with special training on supporting patients with COPD using standardized tools. Usual care (n = 120) included transition support for 30 days after discharge to ensure adherence to discharge plan and connection to outpatient care. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was number of COPD-related acute care events (hospitalizations and emergency department visits) per participant at 6 months. The co-primary outcome was change in participants' health-related quality of life measured by the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) at 6 months after discharge (score, 0 [best] to 100 [worst]; 4-point difference is clinically meaningful). RESULTS Among 240 patients who were randomized (mean [SD] age, 64.9 [9.8] years; 61.7% women), 203 (85%) completed the study. The mean (SD) baseline SGRQ score was 62.3 (18.8) in the intervention group and 63.6 (17.4) in the usual care group. The mean number of COPD-related acute care events per participant at 6 months was 1.40 (95% CI, 1.01-1.79) in the intervention group vs 0.72 (95% CI, 0.45-0.97) in the usual care group (difference, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.22-1.15]; P = .004). The mean change in participants' SGRQ total score at 6 months was 2.81 in the intervention group and −2.69 in the usual care group (adjusted difference, 5.18 [95% CI, −2.15 to 12.51]; P = .11). During the study period, there were 15 deaths (intervention: 8; usual care: 7) and 339 hospitalizations (intervention: 202; usual care: 137). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In a single-site randomized clinical trial of patients hospitalized due to COPD, a 3-month program that combined transition and long-term self-management support resulted in significantly greater COPD-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits, without improvement in quality of life. Further research is needed to determine reasons for this unanticipated finding.

Research paper thumbnail of Patient engagement strategies for adults with chronic conditions: an evidence map

Systematic Reviews, 2022

Background Patient and family engagement (PFE) has been defined as a partnership between patients... more Background Patient and family engagement (PFE) has been defined as a partnership between patients, families, and health care providers to achieve positive health care outcomes. There is evidence that PFE is critical to improving outcomes. We sought to systematically identify and map the evidence on PFE strategies for adults with chronic conditions and identify areas needing more research. Methods We searched PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Cochrane, January 2015 to September 2021 for systematic reviews on strategies for engaging patients with chronic conditions and their caregivers. From each review, we abstracted search dates, number and type of studies, populations, interventions, and outcomes. PFE strategies were categorized into direct patient care, health system, and community-policy level strategies. We found few systematic reviews on strategies at the health system, and none at the community-policy level. In view of this, we also searched for original studies that focused on PFE ...

Research paper thumbnail of Strategies for Patient, Family, and Caregiver Engagement

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), through its Evidence-based Practice Center... more The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), through its Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPCs), sponsors the development of evidence reports and technology assessments to assist public-and private-sector organizations in their efforts to improve the quality of healthcare in the United States. The reports and assessments provide organizations with comprehensive, science-based information on common, costly medical conditions and new healthcare technologies and strategies. The EPCs systematically review the relevant scientific literature on topics assigned to them by AHRQ and conduct additional analyses when appropriate prior to developing their reports and assessments. This EPC evidence report is a Technical Brief. A Technical Brief is a rapid report, typically on an emerging medical technology, strategy or intervention. It provides an overview of key issues related to the intervention-for example, current indications, relevant patient populations and subgroups of interest, outcomes measured, and contextual factors that may affect decisions regarding the intervention. Although Technical Briefs generally focus on interventions for which there are limited published data and too few completed protocol-driven studies to support definitive conclusions, the decision to request a Technical Brief is not solely based on the availability of clinical studies. The goals of the Technical Brief are to provide an early objective description of the state of the science, a potential framework for assessing the applications and implications of the intervention, a summary of ongoing research, and information on future research needs. In particular, through the Technical Brief, AHRQ hopes to gain insight on the appropriate conceptual framework and critical issues that will inform future research. AHRQ expects that the EPC evidence reports and technology assessments will inform individual health plans, providers, and purchasers as well as the healthcare system as a whole by providing important information to help improve healthcare quality. If you have comments on this Technical Brief, they may be sent by mail to the Task Order

Research paper thumbnail of Enabling patient-centered care through health information technology

Evidence report/technology assessment, 2012

The main objective of the report is to review the evidence on the impact of health information te... more The main objective of the report is to review the evidence on the impact of health information technology (IT) that supports patient-centered care (PCC) on: health care processes; clinical outcomes; intermediate outcomes (patient or provider satisfaction, health knowledge and behavior, and cost); responsiveness to needs and preferences of patients; shared decisionmaking and patient-clinician communication; and access to information. Additional objectives were to identify barriers and facilitators for using health IT to deliver PCC, and to identify gaps in evidence and information needed by patients, providers, payers, and policymakers. MEDLINE®, Embase®, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, INSPEC, and Compendex databases through July 31, 2010. Paired members of our team reviewed citations to identify randomized controlled trials of PCC-related health IT interventions and studies that addressed barriers and facilitators for he...

Research paper thumbnail of The benefits and challenges of established peer support programmes for patients, informal caregivers, and healthcare providers

Family Practice, 2022

Purpose Peer support programmes that provide services for various health conditions have been in ... more Purpose Peer support programmes that provide services for various health conditions have been in existence for many years; however, there is little study of their benefits and challenges. Our goal was to explore how existing peer support programmes help patients with a variety of health conditions, the challenges that these programmes meet, and how they are addressed. Methods We partnered with 7 peer support programmes operating in healthcare and community settings and conducted 43 semi-structured interviews with key informants. Audiorecordings were transcribed and qualitative analysis was conducted using grounded theory methods. Results Peer support programmes offer informational and psychosocial support, reduce social isolation, and connect patients and caregivers to others with similar health issues. These programmes provide a supportive community of persons who have personal experience with the same health condition and who can provide practical information about self-care and g...

Research paper thumbnail of Contextualizing Patient-Centered Care to Fulfill Its Promise of Better Health Outcomes: Beyond Who, What, and Why

Annals of Internal Medicine, 2013

Efforts to improve patient outcomes have focused, in large part, on technical processes of health... more Efforts to improve patient outcomes have focused, in large part, on technical processes of health care, which are ideally informed by the most up-to-date evidence on effective care practices. Technical quality is often viewed as the "science" of medicine as opposed to its "art," which involves such less tangible and potentially harder to capture aspects of care as the interpersonal and cognitive processes underlying patient-physician communication and decision making. Yet, as Donabedian said more than 2 decades ago, "The interpersonal process is the vehicle by which technical care is implemented and on which its success depends" (1). Therefore, to achieve desired health outcomes, it is essential to focus on optimizing both the technical and the interpersonal processes in care (1). Optimizing interpersonal care, however, requires the ability to rigorously study and measure its core elements, a matter that may be even more challenging than measuring technical care, which may be captured via medical record reviews. The past 2 decades have seen great strides toward improving our ability to measure the elements of interpersonal care. Several objective methods of analyzing patient-physician communication and describing the interpersonal process have been developed and are widely used in research settings (2). For example, the Roter Interaction Analysis System provides a quantitative analysis of patientphysician dialogue. It codes "utterances" in the dialogue into categories of talk that are combined into such composites as information exchange, rapport building, and facilitation or patient activation. A measure of patient-centered communication can be calculated as the ratio of psychosocial, rapport-building, and facilitative utterances to utterances that further only the biomedical agenda of the dialogue. There is ample evidence that patient-centered processes of communication can influence patient satisfaction, perceptions of care, shared

Research paper thumbnail of Comparing Self-management Programs with and without Peer Support Among Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Annals of the American Thoracic Society, Apr 20, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Helping Patients with COPD Transition from Hospital to Home—The BREATHE Study

What was the research about? Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a lung disease th... more What was the research about? Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. When patients with COPD leave the hospital, they risk having more breathing problems that can bring them back to the hospital. Helping patients learn how to manage COPD at home may reduce this risk.

Research paper thumbnail of Hypertension knowledge, heart healthy lifestyle practices and medication adherence among adults with hypertension

European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare, Apr 30, 2018

Objective: To assess patients' knowledge about hypertension and its association with heart health... more Objective: To assess patients' knowledge about hypertension and its association with heart healthy lifestyle practices and medication adherence. Methods: We conducted a cross sectional survey of 385 adults with hypertension treated at 2 primary care clinics in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. We used an 11-item measure to assess hypertension knowledge and obtained self-reports on dietary changes, engagement in aerobic exercise and medication adherence. Results: Approximately 85% of patients properly identified high blood pressure, but more than two-thirds were unaware that hypertension lasts a lifetime once diagnosed; one-third were unaware that hypertension could lead to renal disease. Patients with low hypertension knowledge were less likely to reduce their salt intake (OR=0.44 [95% CI: 0.24-0.72]) and eat less to lose weight (OR=0.48 [95% CI: 0.26-0.87]) than patients with high hypertension knowledge. Conclusion: In general, patients were knowledgeable about hypertension, but most were unaware that hypertension is a lifelong condition and could lead to kidney disease. High knowledge of hypertension was associated with healthy lifestyle practices including eating less to lose weight and dietary salt reduction. Practice Implications: Intensifying education strategies to improve patients' knowledge of hypertension may enhance their engagement in heart healthy lifestyle practices for optimal blood pressure control.

Research paper thumbnail of 2294 Do patient comorbidities impact the effectiveness of a COPD self-management program?

Journal of Clinical and Translational Science

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of both... more OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of both hospitalizations and readmissions in the United States, and about 1 in 5 hospitalized patients with COPD will be readmitted within 30 days. COPD-focused self-management programs are frequently used to help patients better manage their symptoms and prevent hospitalization. However, while the majority of patients with COPD have at least one comorbidity, most trials of COPD self-management programs either excluded patients with significant comorbidities or did not analyze the impact of comorbidities on patient outcomes. Using data from the BREATHE trial of a COPD self-management program, this study aims to determine if patient post-intervention outcomes differ based on the intensity and type of patient comorbidities. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: In total, 240 patients hospitalized for COPD were randomly assigned to either a comprehensive self-management intervention or usual transitional care...

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of a Program Combining Transitional Care and Long-term Self-management Support on Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial

JAMA, Jan 12, 2018

Patients hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations have high re... more Patients hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations have high rehospitalization rates and reduced quality of life. To evaluate a hospital-initiated program that combined transition and long-term self-management support for patients hospitalized due to COPD and their family caregivers. This single-site randomized clinical trial was conducted in Baltimore, Maryland, with 240 participants. Participants were patients hospitalized due to COPD, randomized to intervention or usual care, and followed up for 6 months after hospital discharge. Enrollment occurred from March 2015 to May 2016; follow-up ended in December 2016. The intervention (n = 120) was a comprehensive 3-month program to help patients and their family caregivers with long-term self-management of COPD. It was delivered by COPD nurses (nurses with special training on supporting patients with COPD using standardized tools). Usual care (n = 120) included transition support for 30 days after disc...

Research paper thumbnail of Better Respiratory Education and Treatment Help Empower (BREATHE) study: Methodology and baseline characteristics of a randomized controlled trial testing a transitional care program to improve patient-centered care delivery among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Contemporary Clinical Trials

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of hospitalizations. Intervention... more Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of hospitalizations. Interventional studies focusing on the hospital-to-home transition for COPD patients are few. In the BREATHE (Better Respiratory Education and Treatment Help Empower) study, we developed and tested a patient and family-centered transitional care program that helps prepare hospitalized COPD patients and their family caregivers to manage COPD at home. In the study's initial phase, we co-developed the BREATHE transitional care program with COPD patients, family-caregivers, and stakeholders. The program offers tailored services to address individual patients' needs and priorities at the hospital and for 3months post discharge. We tested the program in a single-blinded RCT with 240 COPD patients who were randomized to receive the program or 'usual care'. Program participants were offered the opportunity to invite a family caregiver, if available, to enroll with them into the study. The primary outcomes were the combined number of COPD-related hospitalizations and Emergency Department (ED) visits per participant at 6months post discharge, and the change in health-related quality of life over the 6months study period. Other measures include 'all cause' hospitalizations and ED visits; patient activation; self-efficacy; and, self-care behaviors. Unlike 1month transitional care programs that focus on patients' post-acute care needs, the BREATHE program helps hospitalized COPD patients manage the post discharge period as well as prepare them for long term self-management of COPD. If proven effective, this program may offer a timely solution for hospitals in their attempts to reduce COPD rehospitalizations.

Research paper thumbnail of 1503Individual Accountability and Direct Feedback to Achieve and Sustain Good Hand Hygiene Performance

Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Balancing digital information-sharing and patient privacy when engaging families in the intensive care unit

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA, Sep 16, 2016

Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) may lack decisional capacity and may depend on proxy deci... more Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) may lack decisional capacity and may depend on proxy decision makers (PDMs) to make medical decisions on their behalf. High-quality information-sharing with PDMs, including through such means as health information technology, could improve communication and decision making and could potentially minimize the psychological consequences of an ICU stay for both patients and their family members. However, alongside these anticipated benefits of information-sharing are risks of unwanted disclosure of sensitive information. Approaches to identifying the optimal balance between access to digital health information to facilitate engagement and protecting patient privacy are urgently needed. We identified eight themes that should be considered in balancing health information access and patient privacy: 1) potential benefits to patients from PDM data access; 2) potential harms to patients from such access; 3) the moral status of families within the patie...

Research paper thumbnail of Communication at Pediatric Rapid Response Events: A Survey of Health Care Providers

The objective of this study was to explore perceptions of communication quality at pediatric rapi... more The objective of this study was to explore perceptions of communication quality at pediatric rapid response events and to determine whether these perceptions differed between rapid response team (RRT) members (RRTm) and floor providers (FP). This survey study was conducted of clinical providers involved in RRT events at a tertiary care children's hospital. Perceptions of RRT communication were assessed by using a 5-point Likert scale, and qualitative comments were collected. Responses were compared between RRTm (responder nurses and intensive care fellows) and FP (floor nurses and resident physicians). Survey response was 64% (18 of 28) for RRTm and 70% (194 of 278) for FP. RRTm gave lower ratings than FP for communication of: (1) the purpose of the call; (2) airway and breathing; (3) circulation; (4) background information; and (5) possible diagnosis and treatment. RRTm were more likely than FP to indicate that description of background information delayed communication of crit...

Research paper thumbnail of Applying Lean Sigma solutions to mistake-proof the chemotherapy preparation process

Joint Commission journal on quality and patient safety / Joint Commission Resources, 2010

Errors related to high-alert medications, such as chemotherapeutic agents, have resulted in serio... more Errors related to high-alert medications, such as chemotherapeutic agents, have resulted in serious adverse events. A fast-paced application of Lean Sigma methodology was used to safeguard the chemotherapy preparation process against errors and increase compliance with United States Pharmacopeia 797 (USP 797) regulations. On Days 1 and 2 of a Lean Sigma workshop, frontline staff studied the chemotherapy preparation process. During Days 2 and 3, interventions were developed and implementation was started. The workshop participants were satisfied with the speed at which improvements were put to place using the structured workshop format. The multiple opportunities for error identified related to the chemotherapy preparation process, workspace layout, distractions, increased movement around ventilated hood areas, and variation in medication processing and labeling procedures. Mistake-proofing interventions were then introduced via workspace redesign, process redesign, and development o...

Research paper thumbnail of The perioperative handoff protocol: evaluating impacts on handoff defects and provider satisfaction in adult perianesthesia care units

Journal of clinical anesthesia, Jan 22, 2014

To evaluate a new perioperative handoff protocol in the adult perianesthesia care units (PACUs). ... more To evaluate a new perioperative handoff protocol in the adult perianesthesia care units (PACUs). Prospective, unblinded cross-sectional study. Perianesthesia care unit in a tertiary care facility serving 55,000 patients annually. One hundred three surgery patients. During a 4-week preintervention phase, 53 perioperative handoffs were observed, and data were collected daily by a trained observer. Educational sessions were conducted to train perioperative practitioners on the new protocol. Two weeks after implementation, 50 consecutive handoffs were observed, and practitioners were surveyed with the same methodology as in the preintervention phase. Type of information shared, type and duration of procedure, total duration of handoff, number and type of providers at the bedside, number of report interruptions, environmental distractions, and any other disruptive events. Observers also tracked technical/equipment problems to include malfunctioning or compromised operation of medical equ...

Research paper thumbnail of ABC-SBAR" training improves simulated critical patient hand-off by pediatric interns

Pediatric emergency care, 2012

This study was done to assess whether a modified "ABC-SBAR" mnemonic (airway, breathing... more This study was done to assess whether a modified "ABC-SBAR" mnemonic (airway, breathing, circulation followed by situation, background, assessment, and recommendation) improves hand-offs by pediatric interns in a simulated critical patient scenario. Each of 26 interns reviewed a scenario involving a decompensating pediatric patient and gave a simulated hand-off to a responder. They received a didactic session on ABC-SBAR, then performed a second hand-off using another scenario. Two blinded reviewers assessed 52 video-recorded hand-offs for inclusion, order, and elapsed time to essential hand-off information using a scoring tool. Mean score of hand-offs increased after ABC-SBAR training (preintervention: 3.1/10 vs postintervention: 7.8/10, P < 0.001). In hand-offs after ABC-SBAR training, the reason for the emergency call was more often prioritized before background information (preintervention: 4% vs postintervention: 81%, P < 0.001) and stated earlier (elapsed time ...

Research paper thumbnail of Improving urban African Americans' blood pressure control through multi-level interventions in the Achieving Blood Pressure Control Together (ACT) study: A randomized clinical trial

Contemporary Clinical Trials, 2014

Given their high rates of uncontrolled blood pressure, urban African Americans comprise a particu... more Given their high rates of uncontrolled blood pressure, urban African Americans comprise a particularly vulnerable subgroup of persons with hypertension. Substantial evidence has demonstrated the important role of family and community support in improving patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; management of a variety of chronic illnesses. However, studies of multi-level interventions designed specifically to improve urban African American patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; blood pressure self-management by simultaneously leveraging patient, family, and community strengths are lacking. We report the protocol of the Achieving Blood Pressure Control Together (ACT) study, a randomized controlled trial designed to study the effectiveness of interventions that engage patient, family, and community-level resources to facilitate urban African American hypertensive patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; improved hypertension self-management and subsequent hypertension control. African American patients with uncontrolled hypertension receiving health care in an urban primary care clinic will be randomly assigned to receive 1) an educational intervention led by a community health worker alone, 2) the community health worker intervention plus a…

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring the nature of interprofessional collaboration and family member involvement in an intensive care context

Journal of Interprofessional Care, 2014

Little is known about the nature of interprofessional collaboration on intensive care units (ICUs... more Little is known about the nature of interprofessional collaboration on intensive care units (ICUs), despite its recognition as a key component of patient safety and quality improvement initiatives. This comparative ethnographic study addresses this gap in knowledge and explores the different factors that influence collaborative work in the ICU. It aims to develop an empirically grounded team diagnostic tool, and associated interventions to strengthen teambased care and patient family involvement. This iterative study is comprised of three phases: a scoping review, a multi-site ethnographic study in eight ICUs over 2 years; and the development of a diagnostic tool and associated interprofessional intervention-development. This study's multi-site design and the richness and breadth of its data maximize its potential to improve clinical outcomes through an enhanced understanding of interprofessional dynamics and how patient family members in ICU settings are best included in care processes. Our research dissemination strategy, as well as the diagnostic tool and associated educational interventions developed from this study will help transfer the study's findings to other settings.

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of a Hospital-Initiated Program Combining Transitional Care and Long-term Self-management Support on Outcomes of Patients Hospitalized With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

JAMA, 2019

IMPORTANCE Patients hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations h... more IMPORTANCE Patients hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations have high rehospitalization rates and reduced quality of life. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether a hospital-initiated program that combined transition and long-term self-management support for patients hospitalized due to COPD and their family caregivers can improve outcomes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Single-site randomized clinical trial conducted in Baltimore, Maryland, with 240 participants. Participants were patients hospitalized due to COPD, randomized to intervention or usual care, and followed up for 6 months after hospital discharge. Enrollment occurred from March 2015 to May 2016; follow-up ended in December 2016. INTERVENTIONS The intervention (n = 120) involved a comprehensive 3-month program to help patients and their family caregivers with long-term self-management of COPD. It was delivered by nurses with special training on supporting patients with COPD using standardized tools. Usual care (n = 120) included transition support for 30 days after discharge to ensure adherence to discharge plan and connection to outpatient care. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was number of COPD-related acute care events (hospitalizations and emergency department visits) per participant at 6 months. The co-primary outcome was change in participants' health-related quality of life measured by the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) at 6 months after discharge (score, 0 [best] to 100 [worst]; 4-point difference is clinically meaningful). RESULTS Among 240 patients who were randomized (mean [SD] age, 64.9 [9.8] years; 61.7% women), 203 (85%) completed the study. The mean (SD) baseline SGRQ score was 62.3 (18.8) in the intervention group and 63.6 (17.4) in the usual care group. The mean number of COPD-related acute care events per participant at 6 months was 1.40 (95% CI, 1.01-1.79) in the intervention group vs 0.72 (95% CI, 0.45-0.97) in the usual care group (difference, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.22-1.15]; P = .004). The mean change in participants' SGRQ total score at 6 months was 2.81 in the intervention group and −2.69 in the usual care group (adjusted difference, 5.18 [95% CI, −2.15 to 12.51]; P = .11). During the study period, there were 15 deaths (intervention: 8; usual care: 7) and 339 hospitalizations (intervention: 202; usual care: 137). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In a single-site randomized clinical trial of patients hospitalized due to COPD, a 3-month program that combined transition and long-term self-management support resulted in significantly greater COPD-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits, without improvement in quality of life. Further research is needed to determine reasons for this unanticipated finding.

Research paper thumbnail of Patient engagement strategies for adults with chronic conditions: an evidence map

Systematic Reviews, 2022

Background Patient and family engagement (PFE) has been defined as a partnership between patients... more Background Patient and family engagement (PFE) has been defined as a partnership between patients, families, and health care providers to achieve positive health care outcomes. There is evidence that PFE is critical to improving outcomes. We sought to systematically identify and map the evidence on PFE strategies for adults with chronic conditions and identify areas needing more research. Methods We searched PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Cochrane, January 2015 to September 2021 for systematic reviews on strategies for engaging patients with chronic conditions and their caregivers. From each review, we abstracted search dates, number and type of studies, populations, interventions, and outcomes. PFE strategies were categorized into direct patient care, health system, and community-policy level strategies. We found few systematic reviews on strategies at the health system, and none at the community-policy level. In view of this, we also searched for original studies that focused on PFE ...

Research paper thumbnail of Strategies for Patient, Family, and Caregiver Engagement

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), through its Evidence-based Practice Center... more The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), through its Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPCs), sponsors the development of evidence reports and technology assessments to assist public-and private-sector organizations in their efforts to improve the quality of healthcare in the United States. The reports and assessments provide organizations with comprehensive, science-based information on common, costly medical conditions and new healthcare technologies and strategies. The EPCs systematically review the relevant scientific literature on topics assigned to them by AHRQ and conduct additional analyses when appropriate prior to developing their reports and assessments. This EPC evidence report is a Technical Brief. A Technical Brief is a rapid report, typically on an emerging medical technology, strategy or intervention. It provides an overview of key issues related to the intervention-for example, current indications, relevant patient populations and subgroups of interest, outcomes measured, and contextual factors that may affect decisions regarding the intervention. Although Technical Briefs generally focus on interventions for which there are limited published data and too few completed protocol-driven studies to support definitive conclusions, the decision to request a Technical Brief is not solely based on the availability of clinical studies. The goals of the Technical Brief are to provide an early objective description of the state of the science, a potential framework for assessing the applications and implications of the intervention, a summary of ongoing research, and information on future research needs. In particular, through the Technical Brief, AHRQ hopes to gain insight on the appropriate conceptual framework and critical issues that will inform future research. AHRQ expects that the EPC evidence reports and technology assessments will inform individual health plans, providers, and purchasers as well as the healthcare system as a whole by providing important information to help improve healthcare quality. If you have comments on this Technical Brief, they may be sent by mail to the Task Order

Research paper thumbnail of Enabling patient-centered care through health information technology

Evidence report/technology assessment, 2012

The main objective of the report is to review the evidence on the impact of health information te... more The main objective of the report is to review the evidence on the impact of health information technology (IT) that supports patient-centered care (PCC) on: health care processes; clinical outcomes; intermediate outcomes (patient or provider satisfaction, health knowledge and behavior, and cost); responsiveness to needs and preferences of patients; shared decisionmaking and patient-clinician communication; and access to information. Additional objectives were to identify barriers and facilitators for using health IT to deliver PCC, and to identify gaps in evidence and information needed by patients, providers, payers, and policymakers. MEDLINE®, Embase®, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, INSPEC, and Compendex databases through July 31, 2010. Paired members of our team reviewed citations to identify randomized controlled trials of PCC-related health IT interventions and studies that addressed barriers and facilitators for he...

Research paper thumbnail of The benefits and challenges of established peer support programmes for patients, informal caregivers, and healthcare providers

Family Practice, 2022

Purpose Peer support programmes that provide services for various health conditions have been in ... more Purpose Peer support programmes that provide services for various health conditions have been in existence for many years; however, there is little study of their benefits and challenges. Our goal was to explore how existing peer support programmes help patients with a variety of health conditions, the challenges that these programmes meet, and how they are addressed. Methods We partnered with 7 peer support programmes operating in healthcare and community settings and conducted 43 semi-structured interviews with key informants. Audiorecordings were transcribed and qualitative analysis was conducted using grounded theory methods. Results Peer support programmes offer informational and psychosocial support, reduce social isolation, and connect patients and caregivers to others with similar health issues. These programmes provide a supportive community of persons who have personal experience with the same health condition and who can provide practical information about self-care and g...

Research paper thumbnail of Contextualizing Patient-Centered Care to Fulfill Its Promise of Better Health Outcomes: Beyond Who, What, and Why

Annals of Internal Medicine, 2013

Efforts to improve patient outcomes have focused, in large part, on technical processes of health... more Efforts to improve patient outcomes have focused, in large part, on technical processes of health care, which are ideally informed by the most up-to-date evidence on effective care practices. Technical quality is often viewed as the "science" of medicine as opposed to its "art," which involves such less tangible and potentially harder to capture aspects of care as the interpersonal and cognitive processes underlying patient-physician communication and decision making. Yet, as Donabedian said more than 2 decades ago, "The interpersonal process is the vehicle by which technical care is implemented and on which its success depends" (1). Therefore, to achieve desired health outcomes, it is essential to focus on optimizing both the technical and the interpersonal processes in care (1). Optimizing interpersonal care, however, requires the ability to rigorously study and measure its core elements, a matter that may be even more challenging than measuring technical care, which may be captured via medical record reviews. The past 2 decades have seen great strides toward improving our ability to measure the elements of interpersonal care. Several objective methods of analyzing patient-physician communication and describing the interpersonal process have been developed and are widely used in research settings (2). For example, the Roter Interaction Analysis System provides a quantitative analysis of patientphysician dialogue. It codes "utterances" in the dialogue into categories of talk that are combined into such composites as information exchange, rapport building, and facilitation or patient activation. A measure of patient-centered communication can be calculated as the ratio of psychosocial, rapport-building, and facilitative utterances to utterances that further only the biomedical agenda of the dialogue. There is ample evidence that patient-centered processes of communication can influence patient satisfaction, perceptions of care, shared

Research paper thumbnail of Comparing Self-management Programs with and without Peer Support Among Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Annals of the American Thoracic Society, Apr 20, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Helping Patients with COPD Transition from Hospital to Home—The BREATHE Study

What was the research about? Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a lung disease th... more What was the research about? Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. When patients with COPD leave the hospital, they risk having more breathing problems that can bring them back to the hospital. Helping patients learn how to manage COPD at home may reduce this risk.

Research paper thumbnail of Hypertension knowledge, heart healthy lifestyle practices and medication adherence among adults with hypertension

European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare, Apr 30, 2018

Objective: To assess patients' knowledge about hypertension and its association with heart health... more Objective: To assess patients' knowledge about hypertension and its association with heart healthy lifestyle practices and medication adherence. Methods: We conducted a cross sectional survey of 385 adults with hypertension treated at 2 primary care clinics in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. We used an 11-item measure to assess hypertension knowledge and obtained self-reports on dietary changes, engagement in aerobic exercise and medication adherence. Results: Approximately 85% of patients properly identified high blood pressure, but more than two-thirds were unaware that hypertension lasts a lifetime once diagnosed; one-third were unaware that hypertension could lead to renal disease. Patients with low hypertension knowledge were less likely to reduce their salt intake (OR=0.44 [95% CI: 0.24-0.72]) and eat less to lose weight (OR=0.48 [95% CI: 0.26-0.87]) than patients with high hypertension knowledge. Conclusion: In general, patients were knowledgeable about hypertension, but most were unaware that hypertension is a lifelong condition and could lead to kidney disease. High knowledge of hypertension was associated with healthy lifestyle practices including eating less to lose weight and dietary salt reduction. Practice Implications: Intensifying education strategies to improve patients' knowledge of hypertension may enhance their engagement in heart healthy lifestyle practices for optimal blood pressure control.

Research paper thumbnail of 2294 Do patient comorbidities impact the effectiveness of a COPD self-management program?

Journal of Clinical and Translational Science

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of both... more OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of both hospitalizations and readmissions in the United States, and about 1 in 5 hospitalized patients with COPD will be readmitted within 30 days. COPD-focused self-management programs are frequently used to help patients better manage their symptoms and prevent hospitalization. However, while the majority of patients with COPD have at least one comorbidity, most trials of COPD self-management programs either excluded patients with significant comorbidities or did not analyze the impact of comorbidities on patient outcomes. Using data from the BREATHE trial of a COPD self-management program, this study aims to determine if patient post-intervention outcomes differ based on the intensity and type of patient comorbidities. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: In total, 240 patients hospitalized for COPD were randomly assigned to either a comprehensive self-management intervention or usual transitional care...

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of a Program Combining Transitional Care and Long-term Self-management Support on Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial

JAMA, Jan 12, 2018

Patients hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations have high re... more Patients hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations have high rehospitalization rates and reduced quality of life. To evaluate a hospital-initiated program that combined transition and long-term self-management support for patients hospitalized due to COPD and their family caregivers. This single-site randomized clinical trial was conducted in Baltimore, Maryland, with 240 participants. Participants were patients hospitalized due to COPD, randomized to intervention or usual care, and followed up for 6 months after hospital discharge. Enrollment occurred from March 2015 to May 2016; follow-up ended in December 2016. The intervention (n = 120) was a comprehensive 3-month program to help patients and their family caregivers with long-term self-management of COPD. It was delivered by COPD nurses (nurses with special training on supporting patients with COPD using standardized tools). Usual care (n = 120) included transition support for 30 days after disc...

Research paper thumbnail of Better Respiratory Education and Treatment Help Empower (BREATHE) study: Methodology and baseline characteristics of a randomized controlled trial testing a transitional care program to improve patient-centered care delivery among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Contemporary Clinical Trials

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of hospitalizations. Intervention... more Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of hospitalizations. Interventional studies focusing on the hospital-to-home transition for COPD patients are few. In the BREATHE (Better Respiratory Education and Treatment Help Empower) study, we developed and tested a patient and family-centered transitional care program that helps prepare hospitalized COPD patients and their family caregivers to manage COPD at home. In the study&#39;s initial phase, we co-developed the BREATHE transitional care program with COPD patients, family-caregivers, and stakeholders. The program offers tailored services to address individual patients&#39; needs and priorities at the hospital and for 3months post discharge. We tested the program in a single-blinded RCT with 240 COPD patients who were randomized to receive the program or &#39;usual care&#39;. Program participants were offered the opportunity to invite a family caregiver, if available, to enroll with them into the study. The primary outcomes were the combined number of COPD-related hospitalizations and Emergency Department (ED) visits per participant at 6months post discharge, and the change in health-related quality of life over the 6months study period. Other measures include &#39;all cause&#39; hospitalizations and ED visits; patient activation; self-efficacy; and, self-care behaviors. Unlike 1month transitional care programs that focus on patients&#39; post-acute care needs, the BREATHE program helps hospitalized COPD patients manage the post discharge period as well as prepare them for long term self-management of COPD. If proven effective, this program may offer a timely solution for hospitals in their attempts to reduce COPD rehospitalizations.

Research paper thumbnail of 1503Individual Accountability and Direct Feedback to Achieve and Sustain Good Hand Hygiene Performance

Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Balancing digital information-sharing and patient privacy when engaging families in the intensive care unit

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA, Sep 16, 2016

Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) may lack decisional capacity and may depend on proxy deci... more Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) may lack decisional capacity and may depend on proxy decision makers (PDMs) to make medical decisions on their behalf. High-quality information-sharing with PDMs, including through such means as health information technology, could improve communication and decision making and could potentially minimize the psychological consequences of an ICU stay for both patients and their family members. However, alongside these anticipated benefits of information-sharing are risks of unwanted disclosure of sensitive information. Approaches to identifying the optimal balance between access to digital health information to facilitate engagement and protecting patient privacy are urgently needed. We identified eight themes that should be considered in balancing health information access and patient privacy: 1) potential benefits to patients from PDM data access; 2) potential harms to patients from such access; 3) the moral status of families within the patie...

Research paper thumbnail of Communication at Pediatric Rapid Response Events: A Survey of Health Care Providers

The objective of this study was to explore perceptions of communication quality at pediatric rapi... more The objective of this study was to explore perceptions of communication quality at pediatric rapid response events and to determine whether these perceptions differed between rapid response team (RRT) members (RRTm) and floor providers (FP). This survey study was conducted of clinical providers involved in RRT events at a tertiary care children's hospital. Perceptions of RRT communication were assessed by using a 5-point Likert scale, and qualitative comments were collected. Responses were compared between RRTm (responder nurses and intensive care fellows) and FP (floor nurses and resident physicians). Survey response was 64% (18 of 28) for RRTm and 70% (194 of 278) for FP. RRTm gave lower ratings than FP for communication of: (1) the purpose of the call; (2) airway and breathing; (3) circulation; (4) background information; and (5) possible diagnosis and treatment. RRTm were more likely than FP to indicate that description of background information delayed communication of crit...

Research paper thumbnail of Applying Lean Sigma solutions to mistake-proof the chemotherapy preparation process

Joint Commission journal on quality and patient safety / Joint Commission Resources, 2010

Errors related to high-alert medications, such as chemotherapeutic agents, have resulted in serio... more Errors related to high-alert medications, such as chemotherapeutic agents, have resulted in serious adverse events. A fast-paced application of Lean Sigma methodology was used to safeguard the chemotherapy preparation process against errors and increase compliance with United States Pharmacopeia 797 (USP 797) regulations. On Days 1 and 2 of a Lean Sigma workshop, frontline staff studied the chemotherapy preparation process. During Days 2 and 3, interventions were developed and implementation was started. The workshop participants were satisfied with the speed at which improvements were put to place using the structured workshop format. The multiple opportunities for error identified related to the chemotherapy preparation process, workspace layout, distractions, increased movement around ventilated hood areas, and variation in medication processing and labeling procedures. Mistake-proofing interventions were then introduced via workspace redesign, process redesign, and development o...

Research paper thumbnail of The perioperative handoff protocol: evaluating impacts on handoff defects and provider satisfaction in adult perianesthesia care units

Journal of clinical anesthesia, Jan 22, 2014

To evaluate a new perioperative handoff protocol in the adult perianesthesia care units (PACUs). ... more To evaluate a new perioperative handoff protocol in the adult perianesthesia care units (PACUs). Prospective, unblinded cross-sectional study. Perianesthesia care unit in a tertiary care facility serving 55,000 patients annually. One hundred three surgery patients. During a 4-week preintervention phase, 53 perioperative handoffs were observed, and data were collected daily by a trained observer. Educational sessions were conducted to train perioperative practitioners on the new protocol. Two weeks after implementation, 50 consecutive handoffs were observed, and practitioners were surveyed with the same methodology as in the preintervention phase. Type of information shared, type and duration of procedure, total duration of handoff, number and type of providers at the bedside, number of report interruptions, environmental distractions, and any other disruptive events. Observers also tracked technical/equipment problems to include malfunctioning or compromised operation of medical equ...

Research paper thumbnail of ABC-SBAR" training improves simulated critical patient hand-off by pediatric interns

Pediatric emergency care, 2012

This study was done to assess whether a modified "ABC-SBAR" mnemonic (airway, breathing... more This study was done to assess whether a modified "ABC-SBAR" mnemonic (airway, breathing, circulation followed by situation, background, assessment, and recommendation) improves hand-offs by pediatric interns in a simulated critical patient scenario. Each of 26 interns reviewed a scenario involving a decompensating pediatric patient and gave a simulated hand-off to a responder. They received a didactic session on ABC-SBAR, then performed a second hand-off using another scenario. Two blinded reviewers assessed 52 video-recorded hand-offs for inclusion, order, and elapsed time to essential hand-off information using a scoring tool. Mean score of hand-offs increased after ABC-SBAR training (preintervention: 3.1/10 vs postintervention: 7.8/10, P < 0.001). In hand-offs after ABC-SBAR training, the reason for the emergency call was more often prioritized before background information (preintervention: 4% vs postintervention: 81%, P < 0.001) and stated earlier (elapsed time ...

Research paper thumbnail of Improving urban African Americans' blood pressure control through multi-level interventions in the Achieving Blood Pressure Control Together (ACT) study: A randomized clinical trial

Contemporary Clinical Trials, 2014

Given their high rates of uncontrolled blood pressure, urban African Americans comprise a particu... more Given their high rates of uncontrolled blood pressure, urban African Americans comprise a particularly vulnerable subgroup of persons with hypertension. Substantial evidence has demonstrated the important role of family and community support in improving patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; management of a variety of chronic illnesses. However, studies of multi-level interventions designed specifically to improve urban African American patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; blood pressure self-management by simultaneously leveraging patient, family, and community strengths are lacking. We report the protocol of the Achieving Blood Pressure Control Together (ACT) study, a randomized controlled trial designed to study the effectiveness of interventions that engage patient, family, and community-level resources to facilitate urban African American hypertensive patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; improved hypertension self-management and subsequent hypertension control. African American patients with uncontrolled hypertension receiving health care in an urban primary care clinic will be randomly assigned to receive 1) an educational intervention led by a community health worker alone, 2) the community health worker intervention plus a…

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring the nature of interprofessional collaboration and family member involvement in an intensive care context

Journal of Interprofessional Care, 2014

Little is known about the nature of interprofessional collaboration on intensive care units (ICUs... more Little is known about the nature of interprofessional collaboration on intensive care units (ICUs), despite its recognition as a key component of patient safety and quality improvement initiatives. This comparative ethnographic study addresses this gap in knowledge and explores the different factors that influence collaborative work in the ICU. It aims to develop an empirically grounded team diagnostic tool, and associated interventions to strengthen teambased care and patient family involvement. This iterative study is comprised of three phases: a scoping review, a multi-site ethnographic study in eight ICUs over 2 years; and the development of a diagnostic tool and associated interprofessional intervention-development. This study's multi-site design and the richness and breadth of its data maximize its potential to improve clinical outcomes through an enhanced understanding of interprofessional dynamics and how patient family members in ICU settings are best included in care processes. Our research dissemination strategy, as well as the diagnostic tool and associated educational interventions developed from this study will help transfer the study's findings to other settings.