Family nurses' perceptions of proactive management of high-risk patients and identification of pertinent training needs

Primary care is the basic level of care, where patients start their treatment journey. Proactive management at primary care level improves health access and quality of care through proactive approach for specific patient sub-groups, improves integration of care at different levels of the health care system, and improves patient outcomes. The aim of the study was to describe family nurses' perceptions of high-risk patients' proactive management and identify further training needs; therefore, a descriptive and empirical two-stage study design was used. A convenience sample of 16 family nurses was recruited in the first stage. The study was conducted at five Estonian primary health centers. Data were collected by Modified Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (MPACIC) online questionnaire between September and December 2020. Ethical approval was obtained. The nurses evaluated their proactive management of high-risk patients positively. Higher results were related to patient support, encouragement, involvement in everyday care, and individual goal setting questions. Lower results were related to referral to professionals, follow-up visits, and suggesting specific health related programs and events from which the patients could benefit. As a second stage of the study, a training program was developed based on the acquired results and training was conducted for 18 nurses at one primary health center, where care management has been used since 2017. The training program was found to be useful. Nurses need specific knowledge about the proactive management and care plan of high-risk patients, which can be ensured through systematic training. The subject of nurses' perceptions could benefit from further study by qualitative methods.