Meppel – Organizations that work together in Zorgalliantie Meppel and / or often do not know from each other what they are doing about preventive interventions for patients, in other words if and how to direct them towards a healthy lifestyle.
The use of a prevention card and increased contact between care providers around a care recipient could improve this, advise students at Regiocampus Hogeschool Viaa and Hogeschool Windesheim, who have conducted research on the matter. Their study revealed that many Meppel Healthcare Alliance employees do not see the urgency of preventive interventions, while this is important for limiting healthcare costs and using resources.
Students from Viaa University of Applied Sciences examined how it is possible to increase the understanding and transmission of advice on a healthy lifestyle, in the fields of smoking, problematic drinking and loneliness, among care providers. Windesheim University of Applied Sciences students did the same, but focused on care recipients with skin problems and overweight. In order to raise awareness of the usefulness of preventive intervention among the employees of care organizations, it is important to discuss the visions and obstacles with the use of prevention, the students advise.
Researchers find it surprising that several health professionals refer to self-management and a lack of intrinsic motivation as an obstacle to the use of preventive interventions. This usually concerns whether to smoke or not. Can you take it away from an 80-year-old? The researchers say that tailored advice is needed in the interests of the care provider and the recipient of care. ‘Indicate what are the disadvantages of smoking. Also remember, for example, that if you don’t smoke, wounds heal faster. ‘
Prevention card
The use of a prevention card can provide health professionals from different organizations with a deeper insight into preventive interventions. This map describes several initiatives in the field of smoking prevention, problem alcohol use and loneliness that other organizations can use. Although knowledge has increased through the prevention map, the disadvantages are that it takes a long time to write and update.
Another way to get a better understanding of everyone’s approach is to meet more often as healthcare professionals. Structural case discussions with employees in the workplace can help increase mutual understanding of each other’s approach to preventative interventions and promote cooperation. Additionally, Alliance organizations should communicate more with each other about what they are doing with regards to preventative interventions, students advise.
