Development of a Care Model for Community-Acquired Pneumonia Patients in Kwang Hospital, Kwang District, Yasothon Province

Abstract

This action research aimed to develop and assess a model for managing community-acquired pneumonia in adult patients. The research involved two groups: model developers, selected through purposive sampling (19 individuals), and evaluators meeting specified criteria. These evaluators included practitioners (31 individuals) and 144 patient records. The research was conducted from September 15 to December 31, 2023, comprising two development cycles of planning, action, observation, and reflection. Data collection methods included document analysis, questionnaires, and group interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequency and percentage, while qualitative data were categorized and summarized to identify key issues.

Analysis revealed that despite the existence of clinical practice guidelines, their implementation was lacking, resulting in a variety of patient care approaches and elevated rates of sepsis, respiratory failure, and mortality. Consequently, a team was established to develop care guidelines, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to refine them. Training sessions were conducted to ensure understanding and implementation of the guidelines, with ongoing supervision for adherence. The development result demonstrated that all key performance indicators met established criteria, with practitioners expressing high levels of satisfaction. The implementation of the guidelines led to increased practitioner adherence, reductions in infection and respiratory failure rates, and ensured compliance with referral criteria, resulting in no reported fatalities. In summary, the developed care model embodies the 6Cs: (1) Core team, (2) Clinical Practice Guideline, (3) Competency, (4) Communication, (5) Check, and (6) Continuous. Overall, the model resulted in improved patient outcomes.