TY - JOUR
T1 - Orthopaedic trauma patients’ experiences with emergency department care and follow-up through Virtual Fracture Care review
T2 - a qualitative study
AU - Willinge, Gijs
AU - Spierings, Jelle
AU - Mathijssen, Elke
AU - Goslings, Carel
AU - Twigt, Bas
AU - van Veen, Ruben
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
PY - 2024/2/21
Y1 - 2024/2/21
N2 - Objectives This study aimed to identify factors influencing orthopaedic trauma patients’ experiences and satisfaction with emergency department (ED) care and follow-up through Virtual Fracture Care (VFC) review workflow. Design This study employed an explorative, descriptive, qualitative design using individual, semistructured interviews. Setting An urban level 2 trauma centre and teaching hospital in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Participants Eligible patients were Dutch-speaking or English-speaking orthopaedic trauma patients, aged 18 years or above, who visited the hospital’s ED between June and September 2022, and were treated through VFC review workflow. Exclusion criteria were: reason for follow-up other than injury, eye/motor/verbal score <15 at ED admission, follow-up treatment in another hospital, treatment initiated in another hospital, acute hospital admission (<24 hours). Twenty-three patients were invited for participation, of whom 15 participated and were interviewed. Results Several influential factors contributed to seven generic themes: (1) waiting times, (2) information provision, (3) healthcare professional communication, (4) care expectations, (5) care coordination, (6) care environment and (7) patient condition. Overall, participants were satisfied with received care. Interpersonal skills of healthcare professionals, and timing and content of provided information were specifically valued. Additionally, patients stated that their needs in the ED differed from those after ED discharge, and appreciated the way the VFC review workflow addressed this. Points of improvement included more active involvement of patients in the care process and prevention of inconsistent instructions by different healthcare professionals. Conclusions Patient experiences with ED care and VFC review follow-up are influenced by factors categorised into seven themes. The VFC review workflow effectively addresses these factors, leading to positive feedback. Recommendations for healthcare professionals include anticipating evolving post-ED information needs, engaging patients early to provide clarity about the care process, involving them in treatment decisions and expanding information provision across the entire care pathway.
AB - Objectives This study aimed to identify factors influencing orthopaedic trauma patients’ experiences and satisfaction with emergency department (ED) care and follow-up through Virtual Fracture Care (VFC) review workflow. Design This study employed an explorative, descriptive, qualitative design using individual, semistructured interviews. Setting An urban level 2 trauma centre and teaching hospital in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Participants Eligible patients were Dutch-speaking or English-speaking orthopaedic trauma patients, aged 18 years or above, who visited the hospital’s ED between June and September 2022, and were treated through VFC review workflow. Exclusion criteria were: reason for follow-up other than injury, eye/motor/verbal score <15 at ED admission, follow-up treatment in another hospital, treatment initiated in another hospital, acute hospital admission (<24 hours). Twenty-three patients were invited for participation, of whom 15 participated and were interviewed. Results Several influential factors contributed to seven generic themes: (1) waiting times, (2) information provision, (3) healthcare professional communication, (4) care expectations, (5) care coordination, (6) care environment and (7) patient condition. Overall, participants were satisfied with received care. Interpersonal skills of healthcare professionals, and timing and content of provided information were specifically valued. Additionally, patients stated that their needs in the ED differed from those after ED discharge, and appreciated the way the VFC review workflow addressed this. Points of improvement included more active involvement of patients in the care process and prevention of inconsistent instructions by different healthcare professionals. Conclusions Patient experiences with ED care and VFC review follow-up are influenced by factors categorised into seven themes. The VFC review workflow effectively addresses these factors, leading to positive feedback. Recommendations for healthcare professionals include anticipating evolving post-ED information needs, engaging patients early to provide clarity about the care process, involving them in treatment decisions and expanding information provision across the entire care pathway.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85185796780&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076040
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076040
M3 - Article
C2 - 38387990
SN - 2044-6055
VL - 14
JO - BMJ Open
JF - BMJ Open
IS - 2
M1 - e076040
ER -