Bridges research and development projects
Implementing a shared, integrated approach to self-management support in an acute major trauma centre
Can we integrate self-management support for people with multiple injuries, on an acute major trauma ward? A project with practitioners at St George’s hospital major trauma centre, UK
The aim of this project was to evaluate for the first time, the adaptation and implementation of the Bridges self-management programme, in the acute major trauma setting. Twenty-two clinicians from a major trauma centre in London, UK, took part in bespoke three part training to enhance the self-management support they delivered. This project builds on our work in traumatic brain injury.
Data were collected over a five month period. All clinicians changed their knowledge, attitudes and beliefs to align with the key principles of Bridges self-management programme. 100% rated the training as good or excellent. Through written case reflection forms, clinicians described scenarios in which they had successfully applied self-management principles in challenging clinical presentations (physical, social and psychological) and clinical settings (ward and intensive care). Clinician feedback during training part three identified barriers and successes to self-management support in this setting, with possible solutions and plans for sustainability.
In conclusion, it is feasible to adapt and integrate Bridges self-management programme into the acute major trauma setting, for patients with complex multiple injuries. We believe the key success factors were: considered engagement of clinicians, through the application of normalisation process theory to the project design; and multidisciplinary training, enabling the team to build a shared understanding of self-management support in the acute major trauma setting.
We aim to build on this project in two ways: to extend training to the whole multi-disciplinary team; and to co-produce a new self-management tool specifically for the needs of people with multiple injuries.
