Complete an evidence-based patient-centered needs assessment of prospective health care technology

Complete an evidence-based patient-centered needs assessment of prospective health care technology that will improve patient engagement. You will write a 4-5 page paper explaining the process and considerations that went into completing the patient needs assessment.

Introduction
Evidence-based practice is a key skill in the toolkit of the master's-prepared nurse. Its goal is that health care practitioners use the best available evidence to improve population health outcomes and make the best clinical decisions (Gallagher et al., 2020). In essence, evidence-based practice is all about ensuring quality care.
For this assessment will begin to apply some of the evidence-based practice strategies you have learned to ensure quality care for an individual patient. The primary strategy that you will utilize to accomplish this is an evidence-based patient-centered needs assessment. A patient-centered needs assessment can help you organize the relationships between ideas, challenges, or terms to utilize the best evidence to plan interventions. The overall goal of the resources and this assessment is to allow you the opportunity to apply evidence-based practice and personalized care concepts in order to improve the health of a single patient.
Reference
Gallagher, F. L., Koshy Thomas, B., Connor, L., Sinnott, L. T., & Melnyk, B. M. (2020). The effects of an intensive evidence‐based practice educational and skills building program on EBP competency and attributes. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 17(1), 71–81.
Professional Context
Patient-centered needs assessment is a critical element in nursing care. The findings from the needs assessment can be effective tools for organizing a plan of action, prioritizing patient care strategies, and developing personalized care approaches that improve patient engagement. In addition to organizing care, they can aid in ensuring that the patient's care is individualized to their health conditions as well as familial, cultural, and environmental circumstances.
Scenario
The purpose of a needs assessment is to identify priorities of a community or patient population. The findings of a needs assessment can be an extremely useful tool to help organize and plan care decisions for a specific patient or group. By conducting a needs assessment, a nurse can then use the best evidence to guide the interventions selected to meet the identified needs and improve patient engagement.

Full Answer Section

       

Process of the Patient-Centered Needs Assessment

The process of conducting an evidence-based patient-centered needs assessment for health care technology to improve patient engagement involves several key steps:

  1. Patient Identification and Goal Definition: The first step involves identifying a specific patient or a representative patient profile for whom improved engagement through technology is desired. It is crucial to define the overarching goal of enhanced engagement. This might include improved adherence to treatment plans, increased participation in self-management, better communication with the healthcare team, or enhanced access to health information. The goal should be patient-centered and aligned with their overall health objectives.  

  2. Gathering Patient Information: This is the most critical step and requires a multi-faceted approach to understand the patient's current situation, needs, preferences, and barriers related to engagement and technology use. This involves:

    • Direct Patient Interview: A comprehensive, open-ended interview is essential to elicit the patient's perspective on their health, their experiences with current engagement strategies, their comfort level with technology, their access to technology (devices, internet), their preferred modes of communication, and their perceived needs for improved engagement. Questions should be tailored to the individual and encourage them to articulate their challenges and desires. For instance, asking about their current methods for managing their medications, how they communicate with their healthcare providers between appointments, and what tools or resources they find helpful or would like to have.  
    • Review of Medical Records: Examining the patient's medical history, current health conditions, treatment plans, past engagement behaviors (e.g., appointment adherence, participation in educational programs), and any documented barriers to care can provide valuable context and identify areas where technology might be beneficial.
    • Input from Family and Caregivers (with patient consent): For certain patients, especially the elderly or those with cognitive impairments, input from family members or caregivers can provide crucial insights into their needs, preferences, and technology use patterns.
    • Assessment of Health Literacy and Digital Literacy: Understanding the patient's ability to comprehend health information and their comfort and proficiency in using digital technologies is paramount in selecting appropriate and effective tools. Standardized assessments for health literacy and digital literacy can be utilized.
  3. Identifying Needs and Barriers: Based on the gathered information, the next step is to identify specific patient needs and barriers related to engagement. This involves analyzing the data for recurring themes, discrepancies between desired and current engagement levels, and factors hindering active participation in their care. For example, a patient with a chronic condition might express difficulty remembering medication schedules (a need) and lack access to a smartphone (a barrier).

  4. Evidence-Based Exploration of Technological Solutions: Once the needs and barriers are identified, the next crucial step is to explore the available evidence regarding health care technologies that have demonstrated effectiveness in addressing similar needs and improving patient engagement in comparable populations. This involves:

    • Literature Review: Conducting a systematic search of relevant databases (e.g., PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library) for research articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses evaluating the impact of various technologies (e.g., mobile health apps, patient portals, telehealth platforms, wearable devices, automated messaging systems) on patient engagement outcomes for the specific health condition and patient demographics. The search should focus on studies that report patient-centered outcomes, usability, and feasibility.
    • Guideline Review: Examining clinical practice guidelines and recommendations from professional organizations that address patient engagement strategies and the use of technology in managing the specific health condition.
    • Evaluation of Existing Technologies: Investigating the features, functionalities, and evidence supporting commercially available health care technologies relevant to the identified needs. This includes considering user reviews, implementation costs, and integration capabilities with existing systems.

Sample Answer

     

Evidence-Based Patient-Centered Needs Assessment for Health Care Technology to Improve Patient Engagement

Introduction

Evidence-based practice (EBP) forms the cornerstone of high-quality nursing care, empowering master's-prepared nurses to leverage the best available evidence for optimal population health outcomes and informed clinical decision-making (Gallagher et al., 2020). At its core, EBP is about ensuring that care is not only effective but also tailored to the individual needs of the patient. A crucial strategy in achieving this is the evidence-based patient-centered needs assessment. This assessment serves as a systematic process to identify a patient's unique challenges, preferences, and goals, thereby guiding the selection of appropriate interventions. This paper will detail the process and considerations involved in completing an evidence-based patient-centered needs assessment focused on identifying prospective health care technology that can enhance patient engagement.