Julia Lukewich1, Dana S Edge2, Elizabeth VanDenKerkhof3, Tyler Williamson4, Joan Tranmer5. 1. 1Assistant Professor,School of Nursing,Memorial University of Newfoundland,Newfoundland,Canada. 2. 2Associate Professor,School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences,Queen's University,Kingston,Ontario,Canada. 3. 3Professor and Sally Smith Chair in Nursing,School of Nursing and Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences,Queen's University,Kingston,Ontario,Canada. 4. 4Assistant Professor,Department of Community Health Sciences,Cumming School of Medicine,University of Calgary,Calgary,Alberta,Canada. 5. 5Professor,School of Nursing and Department of Public Health Sciences,Faculty of Health Sciences,Queen's University,Kingston,Ontario,Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Various organizational-level attributes are being implemented in primary healthcare to improve healthcare delivery. There is a need to describe the distribution and nature of these attributes and explore differences across practices.AimThe aim of this study was to better understand organizational attributes of primary care teams, focusing specifically on team composition, nursing roles, and strategies that support chronic disease management. METHODS: We employed a cross-sectional survey design. Team composition, nursing roles, availability of health services, and chronic disease management activities were described using the 'Measuring Organizational Attributes of Primary Health Care Survey.'FindingsA total of 76% (n=26 out of 34) of practice locations completed the survey, including family health teams (FHT; n=21) and community health centers (CHC; n=4). Nurse practitioners (NPs) and registered nurses (RNs) were the most common non-physician providers, and CHCs had a greater proportion of non-physician providers than FHTs. There was overlap in roles performed by NPs and RNs, and registered practical nurses engaged in fewer roles compared with NPs and RNs. A greater proportion of FHTs had systematic chronic disease management services for hypertension, depression and Alzheimer's disease compared with CHC practices. The 'Measuring Organizational Attributes of Primary Health Care Survey' was a useful tool to highlight variability in organizational attributes across PHC practices. Nurses are prominent within PHC practices, engaging in a wide range of roles related to chronic disease management, suggesting a need to better understand their contributions to patient care to optimize their roles.
BACKGROUND: Various organizational-level attributes are being implemented in primary healthcare to improve healthcare delivery. There is a need to describe the distribution and nature of these attributes and explore differences across practices.AimThe aim of this study was to better understand organizational attributes of primary care teams, focusing specifically on team composition, nursing roles, and strategies that support chronic disease management. METHODS: We employed a cross-sectional survey design. Team composition, nursing roles, availability of health services, and chronic disease management activities were described using the 'Measuring Organizational Attributes of Primary Health Care Survey.'FindingsA total of 76% (n=26 out of 34) of practice locations completed the survey, including family health teams (FHT; n=21) and community health centers (CHC; n=4). Nurse practitioners (NPs) and registered nurses (RNs) were the most common non-physician providers, and CHCs had a greater proportion of non-physician providers than FHTs. There was overlap in roles performed by NPs and RNs, and registered practical nurses engaged in fewer roles compared with NPs and RNs. A greater proportion of FHTs had systematic chronic disease management services for hypertension, depression and Alzheimer's disease compared with CHC practices. The 'Measuring Organizational Attributes of Primary Health Care Survey' was a useful tool to highlight variability in organizational attributes across PHC practices. Nurses are prominent within PHC practices, engaging in a wide range of roles related to chronic disease management, suggesting a need to better understand their contributions to patient care to optimize their roles.
Authors: Julia Lukewich; Michelle Allard; Lisa Ashley; Kris Aubrey-Bassler; Denise Bryant-Lukosius; Treena Klassen; Tanya Magee; Ruth Martin-Misener; Maria Mathews; Marie-Eve Poitras; Josette Roussel; Dana Ryan; Ruth Schofield; Joan Tranmer; Ruta Valaitis; Sabrina T Wong Journal: West J Nurs Res Date: 2020-07-03 Impact factor: 1.967
Authors: Julia Lukewich; Shabnam Asghari; Emily Gard Marshall; Maria Mathews; Michelle Swab; Joan Tranmer; Denise Bryant-Lukosius; Ruth Martin-Misener; Allison A Norful; Dana Ryan; Marie-Eve Poitras Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2022-04-04 Impact factor: 2.655