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Adherence to a prescribed medication regimen is influenced not only by characteristics of the individual patient, but also by factors within the patient's environment, or so-called system level factors. Until now, however, health care system factors have received relatively little attention in explaining medication non-adherence. Ecological models might serve as a framework to help explain the influence of health care system factors on patient behavior (e.g., adherence). In an ecological model, different levels of factors influence patients' behavior, i.e. factors at the patient-level, micro-(provider and social support), meso-(health care organization), and macro (health policy) -levels. In order to understand medication adherence and implement interventions to improve medication adherence, factors at these different levels should be taken into consideration. This paper describes an ecological model compromised of the most important factors at the patient-, micro-, meso-and macro-levels.

Clinically significant reductions in urinary incontinence are achievable with behavioral therapies in many cognitively intact homebound older adults despite high levels of co-morbidity and functional impairment.

BackgroundParents facing the death of their child have a strong need for compassionate professional support. Care services should be based on empirical evidence, be sensitive to the needs of the families concerned, take into account the heterogeneity within the medical field of paediatrics, and fit into the local health care system. We need to better understand the perspectives of parents facing the death of their child in order to guide further development and evaluation of specialised paediatric palliative and end-of-life (EOL) care services.MethodsQuestionnaire survey to assess the EOL care perspectives of a Swiss population-based sample of bereaved parents who had lost a child due to a cardiac, neurological or oncological condition, or during the neonatal period in the years 2011 or 2012. The parental perspective was assessed with a newly developed and tested instrument that was structured according to six evidence-based quality domains. Responses regarding parental experiences and perceived satisfaction are described. Differences between the four diagnostic groups are analysed using a generalized estimation equation to account for the dyadic data structure.ResultsOf 307 eligible families, 267 could be contacted and 135 (51 %) consented to participate in this questionnaire survey. Our findings show positive parental experiences of their child’s EOL care and high perceived satisfaction with the care their child received. Parents of a child with cancer rated their experiences highest in most of the six quality domains and reported the highest satisfaction with care. The lowest scores were mainly reported by parents from the neurology group, with the exception of the shared decision making domain, where parents of neonates reported significantly less positive experiences.ConclusionsAlthough positive in general, our study results suggest some areas for improvement. The integration of specialised paediatric palliative care has the potential to minimise lost opportunities to support and assist parents.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12904-016-0098-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Work environment factors and organizational processes are vital to provide high quality of care. The improvement of work environment, support in handling work stressors, and reduction of rationing of nursing care might be intervention points to promote high quality of care in nursing homes.

This is the first multi-centre, multi-continental study examining healthcare system and heart transplant centres chronic illness management practice patterns and potential correlates of immunosuppressive medication non-adherence. The knowledge gained will inform clinicians, researchers and healthcare policy makers at which level(s) interventions need to be implemented to improve long-term outcomes for transplant recipients.

BackgroundWhile the relationship between nurses’ job satisfaction and their work in hospital environments is well known, it remains unclear, which factors are most influential in the nursing home setting. The purpose of this study was to describe job satisfaction among care workers in Swiss nursing homes and to examine its associations with work environment factors, work stressors, and health issues.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used data from a representative national sample of 162 Swiss nursing homes including 4,145 care workers from all educational levels (registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants and aides). Care worker-reported job satisfaction was measured with a single item. Explanatory variables were assessed with established scales, as e.g. the Practice Environment Scale – Nursing Work Index. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models were used to examine factors related to job satisfaction.ResultsOverall, 36.2 % of respondents reported high satisfaction with their workplace, while another 50.4 % were rather satisfied. Factors significantly associated with high job satisfaction were supportive leadership (OR = 3.76), better teamwork and resident safety climate (OR = 2.60), a resonant nursing home administrator (OR = 2.30), adequate staffing resources (OR = 1.40), fewer workplace conflicts (OR = .61), less sense of depletion after work (OR = .88), and fewer physical health problems (OR = .91).ConclusionsThe quality of nursing home leadership–at both the unit supervisor and the executive administrator level–was strongly associated with care workers’ job satisfaction. Therefore, recruitment strategies addressing specific profiles for nursing home leaders are needed, followed by ongoing leadership training. Future studies should examine the effects of interventions designed to improve nursing home leadership and work environments on outcomes both for care staff and for residents.