Title
Healthcare Professionals’ Competencies for Delivering Safe and High-Quality Hospital-at-Home
Background
In June 2024, the Danish government’s Health Structure Commission recommended strengthening primary care. One way to contribute to this goal is by shifting a portion of hospital treatment to patients’ homes. This concept is known as “Hospital-at-Home” or home-based treatment, and initiatives related to this are beginning to emerge in various places in Denmark. However, transitioning treatment from hospital settings to home care is not always straightforward. The normal roles and environments of doctors and nurses expand, and no one has yet investigated and described how to prepare them for this in Denmark. This Ph.D. study examines the competencies required of healthcare professionals when delivering hospital treatment at home, as well as how these professionals experience this transition. Ultimately, the study aims to develop recommendations for the future education of healthcare professionals who will handle this task.
The Ph.D. study is a subproject of “AT FOREFRONT,” a collaboration between University Hospital of Southern Denmark, the four Southern Danish municipalities (Tønder, Sønderborg, Haderslev, and Aabenraa), general practitioners in these municipalities, and several research groups at the University of Southern Denmark.
Aim
To explore what is required with respect to healthcare professionals to provide safe and high-quality healthcare when delivering Hospital at Home
Research Objectives
- Experiences with competencies, staff-to-staff relations and tools when healthcare professionals deliver Hospital-at-Home
- Healthcare Professionals’ perspectives on professional identity, facilitators and barriers when delivering Hospital-at-Home.
- Assessment and development of recommendations with respect to Healthcare Professionals delivering Hospital-at-Home in relation to competencies, staff-to-staff relations, tools and professional identity.
Methods
The overall methodological approach for this Ph.D. study is qualitative. In addition to a literature review, the study will involve semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, and workshops.
Results
The project’s findings will be communicated continuously within closed forums to the steering group and dialogue forum of “AT FOREFRONT.” The results will be published in at least three scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals with open access, focusing on the study’s outcomes. Additionally, presentations are planned at relevant conferences related to prevention, interdisciplinary collaboration, and Hospital-at-Home.
Timeline
November 2022 – December 2026
Supervisors
Main supervisor: Professor Pernille Tanggaard Andersen, PhD, Unit for Health Promotion Research, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark
Co-supervisor: Professor Jens Søndergaard, PhD, Cand. med.; Research manager, general practitioner, clinical pharmacologist, Research Unit of General Practice, University of Southern Denmark.
Co-supervisor: Postdoc Mette Elkjær, Emergency Department, Hospital Sønderjylland and Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark.
Co-supervisor: Head nurse Mette Maria Skjøth, PhD, HD(O), RN Skin Department I and the Allergy Centre, Odense University Hospital and specialist advisor at Sundhed.dk