Care Agencies Research Articles

Study of fractional order rabies transmission model via Atangana–Baleanu derivative

In this work, we aim at disentangling the theoretical contribution through mathematical modeling approach to advance the understanding of rabies dynamics and control in livestock population. A fractional order model of rabies, using Atangana–Baleanu fractional operator is created. The analysis of suggested system and its application are both conducted. The capacity of proposed model to forecast the disease can help researchers and livestock health care agencies to take preventive actions.

Patterns of care contacts in the final year of life among opioid overdose fatalities in southern Sweden: a latent class analysis

BackgroundUnderstanding the heterogeneity of opioid overdose fatalities is critical to developing effective preventive interventions. This study examines patterns of care contacts among people who subsequently died from opioid overdose. The aim was to identify distinct groups of deceased individuals, based on their contacts with different care agencies in their last year of life.MethodsA retrospective registry study was conducted in Skåne, Southern Sweden. All recorded opioid overdose fatalities during the study period were included, n = 191. Latent class analysis was used to identify patterns of care contacts in the last year of life.ResultsThree distinct classes were identified: “Few care contacts,” with limited interaction with any services; “Social service contacts,” comprising individuals who predominantly had contacts with the social services and, to a lesser extent, with prison and probation services; and “Numerous care contacts,” with extensive contacts with both healthcare and social services. The “few care contacts” class comprises about half of the population. This is an important finding, since this group has not been clearly visible in previous research. The analysis indicates significant gaps in service provision, particularly regarding substance use treatment and mental health support.ConclusionsUsing a person-centred approach, this article offers a novel way of analysing care contacts among people who subsequently died from opioid overdose. The identification of distinct groups, particularly a large group of people with minimal contact with the community care system, highlights the need for more targeted outreach and support work. Developing targeted interventions in emergency and inpatient care settings may provide an opportunity to reach the group with few care contacts.

Exploring Nursing Professionalism: A Focused Ethnography of Community Nurses in Slovakia.

Background: Professionalism is a multidimensional and dynamic concept that is a fundamental requirement to providing safe, quality nursing care. In the Slovak sociocultural context, professionalism is given only limited attention, and research in this area is completely lacking in community nursing. Purpose: To explore how community nurses (CNs) working in home care agencies understand professionalism in the context of their practice in Slovakia. Methods: This focused ethnography involved 10 CNs working in home care in two Slovak regions. The study was conducted between January and July 2022 and employed semistructured interviews, field notes, and reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: In this specific group and setting, understanding of professionalism was reflected through four themes: professional socialization, community service provision, job satisfaction, and professionalism in danger. Conclusions: The findings showed the need to improve the conditions of the working environment of nurses in the community setting. Implications for practice: The findings have implications for local policy, home care agency management, and nursing education in terms of strengthening professionalism in this specific nursing setting and cultural context.

Faktor Yang Mempengaruhi Kinerja Pegawai Dilihat Dari Disiplin dan Motivasi Kerja (Studi Pada Kantor Dinas Sosial Kabupaten Solok)

Well-performing personnel are a major source of motivation for social care agencies. Employee motivation and discipline are good indicators of this. Finding out how work motivation and discipline affected employees' performance at the Solok Regency Social Service Office was the aim of this study. This research falls under the category of quantitative research. The primary data that was used was gathered by having respondents fill out questionnaires. The study's population comprised all 39 employees who worked at the Solok Regency Social Service Office. Total sampling was the method employed for sampling in this investigation. 39 persons were the total number of samples that were to be used. Multiple linear regression analysis, determination coefficient testing, hypothesis testing, and research instrument testing were all used in the data analysis technique. The study's findings showed that work motivation affected employee performance, work discipline had no effect on employee performance, and work motivation and discipline had an impact on employee performance at the same time.

Undergraduate nursing student's perception toward the nursing profession in Iraqi-Kurdistan. An exploratory study

Nursing students' perception towards the nursing profession is vital and has a positive impact on the successful recruitment, retention, and attrition of staff from the health care agencies. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of undergraduate nursing students toward the nursing profession in Iraq, particularly in the Kurdistan region. The study was conducted at the University of Duhok, a college of nursing in the Kurdistan Region. The researcher of the current study used Nursing Image as a Profession Questionnaire (NIPQ) for the purpose of data collection. Based on the analysis of the participant's responses, the results revealed that in general students have positive perceptions towards the nursing profession. The early twentieth age group students were more satisfied in nursing than the late twentieth age group. High school grades were regarded as the main reason for joining the faculty of nursing. Having a nurse friend or relative and a positive family reaction was perceived as positive influential factors for student enrollment in the nursing program. Few students had a very negative attitude and they attacked the nursing profession when talking with others. The current study concluded that students have positive perceptions towards the nursing profession in the four aspects of the description of the profession, social view perspectives, benefits of the nursing profession, and students' satisfaction in nursing.

Three exemplars of Church and agency partnerships growing hope in uncertain times: a practical theology conversation

ABSTRACT Disruptive social, health and environmental changes are currently creating global uncertainty. In response, the two authors – an ordained Minister and a Christian social worker – undertook a multidisciplinary cooperative inquiry into the research question: With a focus on three exemplars, how do churches and associated care agencies create communities of hope in the current uncertain times? This research involved reflecting on three case studies, from two Anglican Dioceses of Australia. The case studies illustrate the practical and transformational nature of church and agency partnerships that can create Christian communities of hope. The key themes regarding creating communities of hope are sacrificial volunteering that promotes the well-being of others, engaging First Nations people’s leadership and local knowledge, and hearing the need and partnering to equally promote physical and spiritual flourishing. We propose creating inclusive, loving and kind communities of hope for every individual that holistically meets the needs of people, to be consistent with Christ’s ministry in these current times. Hope can grow when people have the option of an empowering community space where they can choose or be invited to explore questions regarding faith in Jesus and identity whilst having their practical needs fully met.

How High-Performing Personal Support Workers Set and Maintain Boundaries When Providing Care: A Case Study in Ontario, Canada

Personal support workers (PSWs) provide a large proportion of in-home care services for Canadians. PSWs must negotiate with clients and their family on how prescribed care is delivered. How PSWs set and maintain professional and personal boundaries during care is poorly understood, and failure to manage boundaries can expose both PSWs and clients to risk. High-performing PSWs ( n = 9) and supervisors ( n = 4) within an Ontario, Canada, home care agency were engaged in workshops ( n = 3) to identify field-tested strategies and tactics for identifying, managing, and supporting PSW boundaries. A boundary-management framework was generated, including types of boundary challenges; decision-making principles (e.g., consider the purpose of home care); response strategies (e.g., work with the client on an alternative solution); and tactics for action (e.g., use proactive reminders). Supervisory and organizational supports (e.g., enabling “shop-talk”) were identified. The framework can inform teaching and practice materials for PSWs in Canada and other countries.

Storying hopeful resistances to datafication: Cracks, spacetimematterings and figurations of agency within the more-than-human ecologies of early childhood education and care

In this paper, we ponder the ecologies of spacetimematterings folded into resistance practices and their relationality with figurations of agency outside and beyond datafication agendas. Accountability cultures bound up with datafication have consequences that include a diminished agency for both children and educators. We take inspiration from the idea that enactments of resistance can cause cracks to appear that forge creative spaces where different kinds of doings related to agency emerge. The context, potentiality and storyings of cracking encounters is where our interest lies. To ponder crackings, we play with feminist posthuman and materialist theorising with research-creation approaches to notice resistances as material-discursive intra-actions amongst the lively materiality of educational life. From there we notice resistance practices as ecologies. Those ecologies are complex and lively yet often concealed in more-than-human cracks by the grand narrative of datafication. Through storytelling, we reimagine these cracks as dynamic resistances, often unresolving the relationality between power and the collective more-than-human modes of resistance we witnessed. Different kinds of noticing mattered and amplifying the sharing of resistance stories brings attention to hopeful agencies already and always at work. Sharing stories can strengthen the connectivity of resistances to datafication and build a stronger autonomy and agency for early childhood education and care. Our provocation is to pay attention to the spacetimematterings of ecologies where resistance practices are already at work cracking cracks for different doings. From there, further activisms can mobilise a larger fracturing to the dominance of datafication narratives.

Edukasi Kesehatan Gigi dan Mulut Melalui Media Pembelajaran Berbasis Interaktif pada Siswa SDN Inpres Tamamaung 4 Kota Makassar

Background: Children who experience dental and oral health problems can experience a decline in quality. At the age of elementary school children, it is necessary for business actors to maintain dental and oral health regularly, both in counseling, examinations and dental and oral health care, by parents, schools and related government agencies. Elementary school age is the ideal time to train children's motor skills, including brushing their teeth. In addition, school age has shown learning sensitivity according to children's curiosity. Objective: To provide dental and oral health education through interactive learning media to students of SDN Inpres Tamamaung 4, Makassar City in 2022. Method: This community service is carried out by providing counseling, using media, namely back and forth worksheets, animated films, and puzzle games that aim to create two-way communication and make students active. Respondents in this community service were 3rd grade students of SDN Inpres Tamamaung 4, Makassar City in 2022. Results: There were 5 respondents (25%) with a good level of knowledge before being given facilities increasing to 14 (70%), there were 5 respondents (25%) with a sufficient level of knowledge before being given facilities decreasing to 4 (20%), and there were 10 respondents (50%) with a level of knowledge before being given facilities decreasing to 2 respondents (10%). Conclusion: Community service activities with the theme "Dental and Oral Health Education Through Interactive-Based Learning Media for Students of SDN Inpres Tamamaung 4, Makassar City in 2022" have been carried out well and received a positive response from the 3rd grade students that we have filtered through screening. It was found that many students have dental and oral problems such as cavities and their lack of knowledge about how to maintain dental and oral health is due to the lack of health socialization held by the school and local health centers.

Grief and Loss: Supporting Foster Carer Families Through Placement Terminations

ABSTRACT The importance of acknowledging the grief and loss integral to the experiences of foster carers, has long been understood. However, in a complex area of practice and an increasingly pressured out-of-home care sector, there is a need to refocus foster care program and practitioner attention on supporting carers and their families with the difficult experience of placements ending. This article reports on findings from research that aimed to understand current carer experiences of grief and loss, their coping strategies, their support needs, and the implications for a foster care agency’s duty of care towards its workforce. Through a mixed-methods exploratory methodology, data were collected through an online survey and semistructured interviews with carers affiliated with a foster carer provider operating across three Australian jurisdictions. Carers called for acknowledgement of the deep feelings they develop for the children they look after and help for the grieving process, through training, preparation, and tailored support based on authentic relationships with professionals. The need for well-trained and strongly supported agency workers was emphasised. IMPLICATIONS Providing updates to carers about foster children who have left their care can alleviate the pain of grief and loss. Training, preparation, and step-by-step support for carers can promote healthy grieving processes. Tailored support for grieving carers needs to be founded on authentic relationships with foster care professionals and open and honest communication.

EHR Solutions for Information Transfer Deficits During Transitions in Care for Sepsis Survivors.

In a previous study, sepsis was noted as a diagnosis on the home health record only 4% of the time for 165,000 sepsis survivors transitioning from hospital to home health care in America. If sepsis and other conditions are not clearly documented in the transitional care record this can lead to unpreparedness, missed, care, and poor patient outcomes. Our implementation science study discovered a source of this problem regarding the sepsis documentation in 16 hospitals referring to five home care agencies. Together, researchers, hospital, and home care personnel developed and implemented two information technology solutions to address this deficit in seven hospitals. The automated method was more readily adopted and effective in improving information transfer between hospital and home health care.

VPExam in Heart Failure Innovating Virtual Cardiac Care

Telehealth and Virtual care are growing fields of importance, but the loss of comprehensive physical exam creates barriers to managing complex patients especially those with heart failure. Disruptive digital tools such as VPExam virtual care combine augmented reality instruction of visuals with bluetooth stethoscopes and ECGs to improve accuracy by assessing volume status, cardiopulmonary auscultation, arrythmia detection, and providing structured data including remote patient monitoring (RPM) data, vitals, medication reconciliation, and labs. VPExam intervention has significantly improved outcomes for high-risk and underserved populations with heart failure discharged to Skilled Nursing Facilities and Home Care. VPExam QI revealed workflows for both routine and urgent cardiology consultation following heart failure hospitalizations resulted in moderate significance modification in clinical management in 84% of encounters, while being associated with a 40% relative risk reduction in 30-day hospital readmission rate and a 56% relative risk reduction in 30-day mortality rate. The review summarizes both challenges to cardiac transitions of care and the evolution of cardiac virtual care with actionable physical exam data to optimize readmissions and mortality that is especially relevant to the underserved populations of skilled nursing facilities and home bound patients served by home care agencies.

Ngulluk Moort, Ngulluk Boodja, Ngulluk Wirin (our family, our country, our spirit): An Aboriginal Participatory Action Research study protocol.

Globally, Indigenous children have historical and contemporary connections with government child protection services that have caused significant harm to their long-term health and wellbeing. Innovative, culturally secure and recovery focussed service provision is required. This paper describes a research protocol that has been designed by Indigenous researchers led by Indigenous Elders, to explore culturally secure care planning and service delivery in out-of-home care agencies in Australia. Using participatory action research methods, we will collect data using a variety of forums, including focus groups and semi-structured interviews. These data will explore the challenges for out-of-home care agencies in providing culturally secure care-planning, cultural activity and resources, and explore solutions to address factors that influence health and can assist to redress social inequities for Indigenous children. We aim to recruit approximately 100 participants for the qualitative study and 40 participants for the quantitative survey. Study participants will initially be recruited using purposive sampling, and as the study progresses will be recruited using a mixture of purposive and convenience sampling techniques. The rich data that this study is expected to yield, will inform ways to collect cultural information about Indigenous children and ways to provide cultural connections and activities that will have benefit to Indigenous children and families, and a broad range of social services.

Visible and invisible factors affecting the job satisfaction of agency home caregivers in the UK

This qualitative study investigates the factors that affect the job satisfaction of home caregivers. It draws upon a thematic analysis of data from in-depth interviews with home caregivers in the UK and finds that both visible and invisible factors have an effect. Overall factors pertaining to the way the caregiving agencies are run and behave have a significant influence on caregivers’ job satisfaction. Identifying these factors will assist both policymakers and professional care agencies to be aware of the needs of caregivers in practice. These experiences can be used as references to handle the challenges of an ageing society in other countries with similar care industry characteristics.

Update: The 2024 Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice.

The Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice provide evidence-based recommendations for infusion and access device related care in any healthcare setting. Developed and published by the Infusion Nurses Society, the Standards have increased the frequency of the revision process from an every 5-year cycle to a 3-year cycle due to the growing base of literature and to deliver the most updated and current practice recommendations. This article provides an overview of the development process and a brief description of selected standards. Notably, a new standard entitled Home Infusion Therapy was added in this latest edition. The Standards are an essential reference that should be available to every home care agency that provides home infusion therapy.

Ending the HIV Epidemic in Metropolitan Atlanta: a mixed-methods study to support the local HIV/AIDS response.

Four counties within the Atlanta, Georgia 20-county eligible metropolitan area (EMA) are currently prioritized by the US "Ending the HIV Epidemic" (EHE) initiative which aims for a 90% reduction in HIV incidence by 2030. Disparities driving Atlanta's HIV epidemic warrant an examination of local service availability, unmet needs and organizational capacity to reach EHE targets. We conducted a mixed-methods evaluation of the Atlanta EMA to examine geographic HIV epidemiology and distribution of services, service needs and organization infrastructure for each pillar of the EHE initiative. We collected 2021 county-level data (during June 2022), from multiple sources including: AIDSVu (HIV prevalence and new diagnoses), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web-based tools (HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis [PrEP] locations) and the Georgia Department of Public Health (HIV testing, PrEP screenings, viral suppression and partner service interviews). We additionally distributed an online survey to key local stakeholders working at major HIV care agencies across the EMA to assess the availability of services, unmet needs and organization infrastructure (June-December 2022). The Organizational Readiness for Implementing Change questionnaire assessed the organization climate for services in need of scale-up or implementation. We found racial/ethnic and geographic disparities in HIV disease burden and service availability across the EMA-particularly for HIV testing and PrEP in the EMA's southern counties. Five counties not currently prioritized by EHE (Clayton, Douglas, Henry, Newton and Rockdale) accounted for 16% of the EMA's new diagnoses, but <9% of its 177 testing sites and <7% of its 130 PrEP sites. Survey respondents (N = 48; 42% health agency managers/directors) reported high unmet need for HIV self-testing kits, mobile clinic testing, HIV case management, peer outreach and navigation, integrated care, housing support and transportation services. Respondents highlighted insufficient existing staffing and infrastructure to facilitate the necessary expansion of services, and the need to reduce inequities and address intersectional stigma. Service delivery across all EHE pillars must substantially expand to reach national goals and address HIV disparities in metro Atlanta. High-resolution geographic data on HIV epidemiology and service delivery with community input can provide targeted guidance to support local EHE efforts.

EP 59 - Evolution of Infection Prevention and Control Policies and Processes in U.S. Home Health Care Agencies

EP 59 - Evolution of Infection Prevention and Control Policies and Processes in U.S. Home Health Care Agencies

Factors influencing self-reported facial-protective equipment adherence among home care nurses and personal support workers: A multisite cross-sectional study

Facial-protective equipment (FPE) use increased during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This study explored factors influencing home care personal support workers' (PSWs) and nurses' self-reported adherence to FPE. A cross-sectional, electronic, survey was distributed to PSWs and nurses (1,108 complete responses) at 3 home care agencies in Ontario, Canada, in May to June 2022. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable analysis were used to assess individual, environmental, and organizational factors influencing adherence. Among participants (786 PSWs, 322 nurses), 64% reported being adherent to both respiratory and eye FPE (Respiratory: 96%, Eye: 64%). Higher adherence was associated with facility-based work; better knowledge of FPE; prepandemic FPE use; good availability and convenient access; strong organizational support for health and safety; and Caribbean identity. Lower adherence was found for men; nurses with 2-year diplomas; shorter length of employment; communal transportation; and experiencing negative mental health effects from workplace infectious disease exposure. Agencies should prioritize increasing providers' knowledge of FPE, supporting mental well-being, fostering a supportive culture, and ensuring availability of FPE. The influences of gender, ethnicity, and role require further exploration. FPE adherence may be improved by addressing modifiable factors and developing population-specific strategies.

The relationship of blood pressure and self care behavior on the quality of life in elderly

Background: Several factors, including blood pressure and self-care behavior, influence quality of life in the elderly. Self-care behavior involves taking action to improve and maintain one's health. This study aimed to determine whether there was a relationship between blood pressure and self-care behavior on the quality of life of the elderly in Bali. Methods: This study used an analytical observational design with a cross-sectional approach. The sampling technique used was consecutive sampling. Data was collected by measuring blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer, while self-care behavior and quality of life were measured using a questionnaire instrument WHO Quality of Life-BREF for quality of life and exercise self care agency scale for self care. This study was conducted in Pejeng Village, Tampaksiring District, Gianyar Regency, on April 7, 2023, in the Pejeng 1 State Elementary School classroom. Results: Based on the non-parametric Spearman rho analysis test, the values obtained were p = 0.016 and 0.018 (p&lt;0.05) and the coefficient r = 0.361 and 0.356. Based on the R test, the values obtained are r = 0.612 and r square = 0.375. Based on the T-test, the values of t = 2.180 and 3.331, t table = 2.01954, and p = 0.035 and 0.002. Based on the multicollinearity test, the variance inflation factor value is 1.159. The tolerance value in this study is 0.863. Conclusion: There was a relationship between blood pressure and self-care behavior on the quality of life of the elderly in Bali.

The All4Children project to assess the initial implementation of the Integrated Model of Family Foster Care in Portugal: A description of the study protocol.

The All4Children project addresses the urgent need to transition from institutionalization to family-based care for out-of-home children in Portugal. Despite evidence highlighting the detrimental effects of institutionalization, only a small percentage of children (less than 4%) are currently placed in family foster care in the country. In response to European directives for deinstitutionalization, Portuguese legislation now prioritizes non-kinship family foster care as the preferred alternative for young children in need of care. To facilitate this transition, the Integrated Model of Family Foster Care (MIAF) was developed, offering a comprehensive framework covering the entire spectrum of family foster care. This research aims to investigate the initial implementation stage of the MIAF to promote high-quality family foster care in Portugal. The study will conduct a mixed-method and longitudinal research project in family foster care agencies across different regions of Portugal, focusing on evaluating the implementation and outcomes of the MIAF model using a multi-informant and multi-method approach. The participants will include caseworkers, children aged 0-9 years entering foster care, and their respective foster families enrolled in the MIAF program. Process evaluation will assess fidelity, feasibility, appropriateness, and acceptability of MIAF modules, while outcome evaluation will examine child safety, stability, well-being, as well as foster family well-being and quality of relational care. The insights gained from this research initiative will serve as a foundation for the ongoing enhancement of MIAF. Consequently, this project has the capacity to advance evidence-based child welfare practices by refining processes and strategies to better serve vulnerable children and youth. Facilitated by a multidisciplinary team, this project will contribute to advancing research in the field, enhancing practice, and informing policy during a pivotal stage of deinstitutionalization in Portugal.