Improving the quality of self-management in discharged patients with multiple sclerosis: a best practice implementation project

Abstract

Objectives: This project determined current compliance with best practice recommendations for self-management in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and used a web-based intervention to implement strategies to improve the quality of self-management in discharged patients with MS. Methods: Guided by the JBI Evidence-based Model of Healthcare, this project applied the 7 phases of the JBI Evidence Implementation Framework to improve the quality of self-management in MS patients. Results: After implementation, compliance significantly improved across all criteria compared with the baseline audit. All patients were assessed to determine their ability to self-manage (Criterion 1). All health care providers were trained to facilitate self-management and behavioral change (Criterion 2). All patients had self-management goals and action plans that were set together by both health care providers and patients (Criteria 3, 5, 6, 7). All patients received education through online patient education courses and were given an education handbook (Criterion 4). The agreed action plan was documented (Criterion 8). All members of the multidisciplinary team coordinated the services required by the patients (Criterion 9) and provided appropriate support to help patients achieve their goals and solve problems through a WeChat group and the communication module on the self-management online platform (Criterion 10). Conclusion: This implementation project effectively promoted practice change by enhancing patients’ knowledge of self-management and staff awareness of delivering self-management support to MS patients.

Facilitation: a crucial catalyst for evidence implementation in health care

“…Recognizing the indispensable role of facilitators in effecting successful change, JBI emphasizes their centrality to the implementation process. Significant applications of the JBI 7-phase approach in various clinical domains worldwide 10–12 demonstrate the use of internal facilitators, who play a supportive role by aiding in the formulation of action plans, guiding the change process, fostering communication and team relationships, and acting as an ongoing resource for the EI initiative. The internal facilitators work closely with the external facilitators, who provide technical implementation research support to create facilitation capacity within the organization.…”