Direct Service Research Articles

Youth with disabilities in residential care in the community: Perceptions and experiences in the transition period

IntroductionYouth with disabilities who accumulate a history of residential care face additional challenges transitioning to an independent life out of care. They usually do not receive the same family support as their non-institutionalized peers, experiencing multiple adversities that increase the risk of adverse outcomes in their adult lives. ObjectiveThis qualitative study focused on understanding the lived experiences of youth with disabilities in residential apartments in the community and their vision for future lives. MethodologyThrough two focus groups, qualitative data were collected on a sample of 12 youth with disabilities aged between 16 and 23 (M = 19.7; SD = 1.9). FindingsFindings of key themes included: (a) skills development; (b) plans for the future; (c) relationships with direct service professionals; and (d) peer support. ConclusionFrom the youth perspective, this study reveals that these residential responses help mitigate the consequences of prolonged institutionalization by promoting a context that supports self-determination and creating new and more positive perspectives for the future. Suggestions are made about future studies and intervention recommendations.

Immaterial intimacy: The neoliberal entanglement of digital technologies in social movement volunteer work

Outside of visible moments of mass mobilization, ongoing latent work, such as direct service and mutual aid, is a long-standing tradition in social movements. Yet, like all labor, personal digital devices have changed the norms and practices of direct service social movement work. In this article, as situated in the technology–media–movement complex (TMMC), I analyze qualitative interview data ( N = 26) with volunteers from a yearlong ethnographic project at an abortion fund hotline in the reproductive justice movement in the US South. To name hotline volunteers’ digital care labor, I offer the term immaterial intimacy to describe its ubiquitous, ephemeral, and intimate nature. I argue immaterial intimate labor enabled the organization to provide a responsive service, but relied on individualized digital volunteer work, existing within gendered and neoliberal norms. I discuss and question the use of personal digital technologies for direct service volunteer work in contemporary social movements.

Perspectives from the pandemic epicenter: Sexual and reproductive health of immigrant women in New York City.

The United States' response to COVID-19 created a policy, economic, and healthcare provision environment that had implications for the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of racialized and minoritized communities. Perspectives from heterogenous immigrant communities in New York City, the pandemic epicenter in the United States (US), provides a glimpse into how restrictive social policy environments shape contraception, abortion, pregnancy preferences, and other aspects of SRH for marginalized immigrant communities. We conducted in-depth interviews in 2020 and 2021 with 44 cisgender immigrant women from different national origins and 19 direct service providers for immigrant communities in New York City to explore how immigrants were forced to adapt their SRH preferences and behaviors to the structural barriers of the COVID-19 pandemic. We coded and analyzed the interviews using a constant comparative approach. Pandemic-related fears and structural barriers to healthcare access shaped shifts in contraceptive use and preferences among our participants. Immigrant women weighed their concerns for health and safety and the potential of facing discrimination as part of their contraceptive preferences. Immigrants also described shifts in their pregnancy preferences as rooted in concerns for their health and safety and economic constraints unique to immigrant communities. Understanding how immigrant women's SRH shifted in response to the structural and policy constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic can reveal how historically marginalized communities will be impacted by an increasingly restrictive reproductive health and immigration policy landscape.

Operationalizing the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to build and support the lived experience workforce in direct health service provision.

The involvement of people with lived experience (LEX) workers in the development, design, and delivery of integrated health services seeks to improve service user engagement and health outcomes and reduce healthcare gaps. Yet, LEX workers report feeling undervalued and having limited influence on service delivery. There is a need for systematic improvements in how LEX workforces are engaged and supported to ensure the LEX workforce can fully contribute to integrated systems of care. This study aimed to operationalize the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) using a rigorous scoping review methodology and co-creation process, so it could be used by health services seeking to build and strengthen their LEX workforce. A systematic literature search of four databases was undertaken to identify peer-reviewed studies published between 2016 and 2022 providing evidence of the inclusion of LEX workers in direct health service provision. A descriptive-analytical method was used to map current evidence of LEXworkers onto the CFIR. Then, co-creation sessions with LEX workers (n = 4) and their counterparts-nonpeer workers (n = 2)-further clarified the structural policies and strategies that allow people with LEX to actively participate in the provision and enhancement of integrated health service delivery. Essential components underpinning the successful integration of LEX roles included: the capacity to engage in a co-creation process with individuals with LEX before the implementation of the role or intervention; and enhanced representation of LEX across organizational structures. The adapted CFIR for LEX workers (CFIR-LEX) that was developed as a result of this work clarifies contextual components that support the successful integration of LEX roles into the development, design,and delivery of integrated health services. Further work must be done to operationalize the framework in a local context and to better understand the ongoing application of the framework in a health setting. People with LEX were involved in the operationalization of the CFIR, including contributing their expertise to the domain adaptations that were relevant to the LEX workforce.

Diagnosing and characterizing inflammatory myopathies at an Australian tertiary public hospital: Resource utilization and direct healthcare costs.

To determine the direct health service costs and resource utilization associated with diagnosing and characterizing idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), and to assess for limitations and diagnostic delay in current practice. A retrospective, single-center cohort analysis of all patients diagnosed with IIMs between January 2012 and December 2021 in a large tertiary public hospital was conducted. Demographics, resource utilization and costs associated with diagnosing IIM and characterizing disease manifestations were identified using the hospital's electronic medical record and Health Intelligence Unit, and the Medicare Benefits Schedule. Thirty-eight IIM patients were identified. IIM subtypes included dermatomyositis (34.2%), inclusion body myositis (18.4%), immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (18.4%), polymyositis (15.8%), and anti-synthetase syndrome (13.2%). The median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 212 days (IQR: 118-722), while the median time from hospital presentation to diagnosis was 30 days (8-120). Seventy-six percent of patients required emergent hospitalization during their diagnosis, with a median length of stay of 8 days (4-15). The average total cost of diagnosing IIM was $15 618 AUD (STD: 11331) per patient. Fifty percent of patients underwent both MRI and EMG to identify affected muscles, 10% underwent both pan-CT and PET-CT for malignancy detection, and 5% underwent both open surgical and percutaneous muscle biopsies. Autoimmune serology was unnecessarily repeated in 37% of patients. The diagnosis of IIMs requires substantial and costly resource use; however, our study has identified potential limitations in current practice and highlighted the need for streamlined diagnostic algorithms to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare-related economic burden.

Effects of pesticides on soil bacterial, fungal and protist communities, soil functions and grape quality in vineyards

Abstract Pesticides can have unintentional effects on non‐target organisms and change biotic communities. Such changes might be particularly important in soil microbial communities, which drive many ecosystem functions and may affect crop quality. Here, we investigated, in a three‐year study, how vegetation control (by herbicide application) and soil copper content (from long‐term copper‐based fungicide application) affect biodiversity and the community structure of soil bacteria, fungi and protists, and associated soil functions (respiration, decomposition) in Swiss vineyards. Furthermore, we determined the effects of these two management practices on grape quality as the most direct ecosystem service to farmers. Across all study years, the community composition of microorganisms was affected by herbicide application, however, a significant loss of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was only observed in fungi and protists. Soil copper content reduced OTU richness of bacteria and protists in some years but had no significant effect on fungal richness. Copper changed the community composition in all three groups of soil microorganisms. While we found no effect of copper on soil functions, herbicide application reduced microbial respiration and biomass by about 39% and 45%, respectively. However, decomposition rates remained virtually unchanged by any pesticide. Yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN) levels in grape were below the critical threshold of 140 mg/L in 40% of the vineyards without herbicide application and the variety Chasselas, whereas in vineyards with herbicide application, it was only 20%. Application of pesticides led to changes in richness and composition of soil microbial communities and directly reduced some soil functions (microbial biomass and respiration) but not all (decomposition). Some grape quality parameters can be indirectly enhanced by pesticide application, highlighting the trade‐off between the interests of nature conservation and the interests of the farmer. Balancing these two diverging interests requires the establishment of alternative vineyard management allowing reduced pesticide application.

Evolving from public health libraries as a place to focus on public health librarian expertise.

This article describes the evolution of academic public health library services from standalone academic public health libraries in 2004 to centralized services by 2021. Five public health libraries serving public health graduate programs (SPH) at public and private institutions were visited in 2006-07. Visits comprised tours, semi-structured interviews with librarians and local health department staff, and collecting of contemporary print documents. We compiled and compared visit notes across libraries. In 2022, we reviewed online materials announcing library closure or transition for timing and how services were to be subsequently provided. Libraries and SPH were co-located and most librarians maintained public health expertise though they did not have faculty appointments in their SPHs. Specialized statistical and geographic information systems (GIS) software and data were provided in partnership, often with other system libraries. Only two libraries had strong connections to health departments-one with direct service agreements and another engaged in public health training. Academic public health libraries' relationships with SPHs and health departments did not ensure their existence as standalone entities. Following a national trend for branch libraries, public health information services were centralized into larger health or science libraries. The scope and specialization of librarian expertise continues to be valued with several institutions having librarians dedicated to public health.

Quality of Pharmacological Services at Jasem Sidoarjo General Hospital

Pharmaceutical service is a direct service that is responsible for patients regarding pharmaceutical preparations to achieve definite results in order to improve the patient's quality of life. Pharmacists must understand and be aware of the possibility of errors occurring in the service process and even in medication (medication errors). Medication errors are events that cause harm to patients due to the use of medication while being treated by health workers that could have been prevented. Therefore, pharmacists in carrying out their practices must comply with existing standards to avoid this happening. Pharmacists must be able to communicate with other health professionals in determining therapy to support rational drug use. In the residency assignment, the author has written about various strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the quality of pharmacological services at the Jasem Sidoarjo General Hospital. In this study there are several strategies to improve the handling of health services for pregnant women and toddlers. Based on the conditions above, the author wants to implement a strategy to improve the quality of pharmacological services at the Jasem Sidoarjo General Hospital. This activity begins by collecting data on drugs that run out quickly and those that are slow, as well as creating a return/compensation system for unused drugs, and recommending to management to spend the majority of the budget to replenish drug stocks at the pharmacy depot to make things easier for patients. Create standard operating procedures down to every little thing and distribute them to every room, even to the pharmacy depot. Updating the integrated computer system using the latest SIM-RS to synchronize data. Conduct training for all employees in stages. And evaluate patient satisfaction once a month. It is hoped that health workers will routinely supervise and monitor the reliability and ability of staff in the quality of pharmacological services at the Jasem Sidoarjo General Hospital so that the quality of service at the hospital can be sustainable and increase patient satisfaction.

Abstract 1009: Direct partnering with employers and unions diversifies cancer center access

Abstract Treatment at academic cancer centers can further research and improve patient outcomes. Interventions improving access to treatment across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic boundaries might increase the generalizability of studies conducted at such centers and reduce healthcare inequities. Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) is an academic cancer center based in New York and New Jersey (NY/NJ). Like many other NCI-designated cancer centers, it has historically served a population within its geographic catchment, with limited diversity. MSK Direct is a national cancer benefits program that partners with employers and unions to provide a direct referral service for their employees or members and their families, including in-person care and remote second opinions outside NY/NJ. Whether such programs diversify access to academic cancer care is understudied. To evaluate whether the service diversifies access to academic cancer care, we examined the self-identified race and ethnicity, geographic composition, and imputed socioeconomic status (Yost Index) of MSK Direct and non-MSK Direct (Control) patients with at least one assessment note at MSK since program inception in 2016 until September 21, 2023. We further stratified MSK Direct patients based on referral by employers vs. unions. Groups were compared using Chi-square or Student T tests. The MSK Direct patient population (N=8,604) was more racially diverse than the Control population (N=283,434), with 9.0% Black/African American patients compared to 6.9% Control (p<0.001) patients and 9.3% Asian-Far East/Indian Subcontinental patients compared to 7.5% Control patients (p<0.001). Of MSK Direct patients, 10.5% identified as Hispanic or Latino vs. 7.5% of Control patients (p<0.001). Among MSK Direct patients, 14.2% of union-member patients self-identified as Black vs. 6.1% of non-union members, while Asian patients comprised 12.1% of company-referral patients vs. 5.8% of union patients. Hispanic patients represented 17.4% of union-referral patients vs. 6.5% of company referrals. The median Yost Index of union MSK Direct patients was 25 vs. 12 (non-union) and 17 (Control, p<0.001), signifying a less privileged socioeconomic status for union-referred patients. A total of N=336 MSK Direct patients received guidance through remote second opinions across 41 states, with the most common home states being Georgia, Arizona, and Florida. Addressing healthcare disparities in diverse populations is a complex and systemic challenge. Direct partnerships with employers and unions are a new paradigm that may expand access to academic cancer care outside a center’s usual geographic and sociodemographic catchment. Different partnering strategies may enhance the representation of specific patient populations. Citation Format: Michele Waters, Greg Crewse, Cole Manship, Abigail Baldwin-Medsker, Chris Fong, Nikolaus Schultz, Sergio Giralt, Benjamin Roman, Michelle Johnson, Francesca Gany, Carol Brown, Bob T. Li, Justin Jee. Direct partnering with employers and unions diversifies cancer center access [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1009.

Abstract 2152: Evaluating beliefs and perceived competence about tobacco cancer prevention practices in Texas local mental health authorities

Abstract Tobacco use is causally associated with 18 cancers and is a leading cause of preventable death. Individuals experiencing mental illness use tobacco at an elevated rate and consequently suffer from greater cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, local mental health authorities (LMHAs), a common setting to receive mental health services, do not prioritize tobacco dependence treatment despite robust evidence that tobacco cessation can enhance mental health in addition to reducing cancer incidence. Beliefs (Health Belief Model) and competence (Self Determination Theory) both play an integral role in shaping behavior. Consequently, this study examined employee and provider tobacco-related beliefs and competence in LMHAs to contextualize their tobacco intervention practices. The frequency of beliefs and competence related to provision of evidence-based tobacco cessation care was collected by e-survey from organizational representatives of 30 of the 39 LMHAs in Texas in 2021. Queries included if respondents agreed that patients should concurrently quit drugs/alcohol and tobacco (N=30 employees) and if they believed patients want to quit cigarette and non-cigarette (i.e., other) tobacco products (n=16 direct service providers). Providers were also asked if they thought that they had the competence to help patients quit smoking and other tobacco use, if they could tailor cessation treatment to patient needs, and about their intervention practices. Only 40% of LMHA representatives endorsed that patients should quit tobacco at the same time as other drugs. Furthermore, only 50% of providers believed that patients want to quit smoking and other tobacco use, respectively. About 70% of providers believed that they have the skills to help patients quit smoking and other tobacco use, respectively, but only 56% reported that they can tailor treatment. Finally, only 56% and 38% of providers recommend that patients stop smoking or other tobacco use, respectively, with 25% recommending smokers switch to vapes or smokeless tobacco products. Contrary to LMHA employee and provider beliefs, research indicates that most patients want to quit tobacco use and that concurrent tobacco use treatment can enhance patient sobriety for non-nicotine substance use disorders. Results demonstrate high levels of misinformation on concurrent tobacco and substance use treatment in LMHAs, which can subvert the provision of evidence-based cessation care. Educational interventions are needed to shift these beliefs, increase competence, and increase tobacco use intervention provision. This will not only help to address cancer disparities among patients but also improve mental health- a critical goal of LMHAs. Future research should investigate how to target tobacco-related beliefs, competence, and intervention behavior in LMHAs to broaden the reach of cancer prevention strategies. Citation Format: Ammar D. Siddiqi, Maggie Britton, Tzuan A. Chen, Isabel Martinez Leal, Anastasia Rogova, Midhat Z. Jafry, Bryce Kyburz, Teresa Williams, Lorraine R. Reitzel. Evaluating beliefs and perceived competence about tobacco cancer prevention practices in Texas local mental health authorities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2152.

Healthcare Professionals Perspectives on Discharge Planning for Patients with Mental Illness

Introduction: Discharge planning is transferring a patient to a different level of care to improve continuity of care by bridging the gap between hospital and community care. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of healthcare professionals involved in discharge planning for patients with mental illness. Method: This research used qualitative methods with a phenomenological approach. Ten participants were selected using a purposive sampling method, with inclusion criteria healthcare professionals involved in the discharge planning process for patients in psychiatric hospitals, had worked in the service for at least 5 years, and provided direct or indirect services to patients. Data were collected through in-depth interviews using interview guides, recording devices, and field notes. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: The study identified four themes related to discharge planning preparation for patients with mental illness perceptions of roles and experiences in discharge planning, internal and external barriers in discharge planning, internal and external support in discharge planning and expectations for the continuity of discharge planning. Conclusions: The findings indicate that there are still significant disparities in the way that discharge planning for patients with mental illness is implemented in different mental health service settings. These study findings are intended to serve as a further source of information to develop a discharge planning system that integrates patients with mental illnesses from the hospital into the community.

Improving Health Professional Recognition and Response to Child Maltreatment and Intimate Partner Violence: Protocol for Two Mixed Methods Pilot Randomized Controlled Trials.

The optimal educational approach for preparing health professionals with the knowledge and skills to effectively recognize and respond to family violence, including child maltreatment and intimate partner violence, remains unclear. The Violence, Evidence, Guidance, and Action (VEGA) Family Violence Education Resources is a novel intervention that can be completed via self-directed learning or in a workshop format; both approaches focus on improving health professional preparedness to address family violence. Our studies aim to determine the acceptability and feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the self-directed (experimental intervention) and workshop (active control) modalities of VEGA, as an adjunct to standard education, to improve learner (Researching the Impact of Service provider Education [RISE] with Residents) and independent practice (RISE with Veterans) health professional preparedness, knowledge, and skills related to recognizing family violence in their health care encounters. The RISE with Residents and RISE with Veterans research studies use embedded experimental mixed methods research designs. The quantitative strand for each study follows the principles of a pilot randomized controlled trial. For RISE with Residents, we aimed to recruit 80 postgraduate medical trainees; for RISE with Veterans, we intended to recruit 80 health professionals who work or have worked with Veterans (or their family members) of the Canadian military or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in a direct service capacity. Participants complete quantitative assessments at baseline, after intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. A subset of participants from each arm also undergoes a qualitative semistructured interview with the aim of describing participants' perceptions of the value and impact of each VEGA modality, as well as research burden. Scores on potential outcome measures will be mapped to excerpts of qualitative data via a mixed methods joint display to aid in the interpretation of findings. We consented 71 individuals to participate in the RISE with Residents study. Data collection was completed on August 31, 2023, and data are currently being cleaned and prepared for analysis. As of January 15, 2024, we consented 34 individuals in the RISE with Veterans study; data collection will be completed in March 2024. For both studies, no data analysis had taken place at the time of manuscript submission. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications; academic conferences; and posting and sharing of study summaries and infographics on social media, the project website, and via professional network listserves. Reducing the impacts of family violence remains a pressing public health challenge. Both research studies will provide a valuable methodological contribution about the feasibility of trial methods in health professions education focused on family violence. They will also contribute to education science about the differences in the effectiveness of self-directed versus facilitator-led learning strategies. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05490121, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05490121; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05490004, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05490004. DERR1-10.2196/50864.

Pekan Sagu Innovation Regains the Public Service Moment of Truth

The digital era has influenced public service innovation. Many districts/cities in Indonesia use digital service innovation to overcome the maladministration problem in civil registration services, however, Seluma regency government has chosen to maintain physical moment of truth through the Pekan Sagu innovation. This innovation is in the form of increasing service hours on Saturdays and Sundays through door-todoor service. The researcher chose a qualitative paradigm in order to reveal the natural conditions of the unit of analysis with a case study design. Primary and secondary data were collected through interviews, observation, and documentation studies, with triangulation of sources, time, and methods. The research results show that Pekan Sagu has the dimensions of compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability. This innovation maintains the public service moment of truth which is actually the weak point of previous problems of public service because of maladministration. A direct in-touch service policy with an extension of service time can be a short-term solution to overcome some target groups’ problem who are not yet technologically literate, however, the government still has to educate citizens and prepare the need for digital-based services to meet the demands of long-term civil registration services.
 Keywords: innovation, public service

Addressing infection prevention and control in Alabama through the long-term care strike team.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the lack of infection prevention and control (IPC) infrastructure among long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in the United States; the situation in Alabama is particularly dire with LTCFs receiving some of the lowest quality ratings in the country. Alabama's LTCFs continue to be challenged by frequent staff turnover, vaccine hesitancy, and reluctance to embrace new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations such as enhanced barrier precautions. However, the American Rescue Plan of 2021 made funds available to states through a CDC Epidemiology and Laboratory (ELC) Cooperative Agreement to promote IPC system improvement, including the creation of the Alabama Nursing Home and Long-Term Care Strike Team (LTC Strike Team). In this article, we reviewed preliminary data from Alabama for the first year of the 2-year cooperative agreement cycle (2022--2023). Data included activity tracking by Infection Preventionists (IPs) and evaluations submitted voluntarily by LTCFs upon completion of trainings and/or direct services provided by the LTC Strike Team. Results indicated a significant need for IPC training among LTCFs and a high level of satisfaction with the services provided by IPs. Despite successes, it is unclear if future funding will be available to support long-term sustainability efforts.

Impact of COVID-19 on people living with HIV and HIV care: A qualitative study in the Volta Region of Ghana.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant social changes and challenges globally, including economic slowdown and limitation of essential services. Our study explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the HIV treatment experiences and lives of people living with HIV in Ghana. Between October 2021 and January 2022, we conducted four focus group discussions with 24 people living with HIV and six in-depth interviews with healthcare providers to understand the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on their lives and HIV treatment and care. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. The COVID-19 pandemic most impacted people living with HIV economically and psychosocially. Economic challenges included loss of income/economic support, financial hardship, and material insecurities. The psychosocial impact included fear of the health impact of COVID-19 on people living with HIV and social isolation. The pandemic also impacted participants' HIV treatment and care services including change in their site of care and non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Clinics in particular modified HIV care services to maintain treatment and care during the pandemic. Healthcare providers also implemented direct antiretroviral therapy service delivery to clients, which reduced patient overcrowding but increased providers' workload and expenses. The COVID-19 pandemic caused economic hardship, social isolation, and changes in HIV treatment and care services for people living with HIV. It also imposed a work and financial burden on healthcare providers. However, service changes made by providers helped sustain HIV care and treatment for clients and should inform future pandemic responses in HIV services.

Benefits and barriers for researcher-practitioner collaboration on marine and coastal management issues

The complex management problems facing marine and coastal systems require diverse, multidisciplinary perspectives to inform more holistic, sustainable management. Collaboration between researchers and practitioners is needed to maximise the utility of research to management and ensure management is informed by the best available scientific advice. However, collaboration across the research-policy interface is notoriously difficult. Here, using results from two online surveys, we explore the benefits and barriers for UK-based researchers and practitioners when collaborating with each other. We found complimentary motivations for collaboration: researchers were most often motivated to collaborate in order to have impact and for their research to be used, while practitioners wanted to gain access to expertise and deliver on evidence needs. For both groups the most common barrier to collaboration was time constraints. For researchers these time constraints were compounded by a lack of recognition for practitioner-focused research activity, while practitioners faced compounding issues around poor delivery or low utility of research outputs. There was also recognition of the differing agendas between the groups and how this can impede collaboration. With the exception of early-career researchers, both groups relied heavily on existing contacts when initiating collaborations and results highlight the importance of ongoing investment by both groups in relationship development, knowledge exchange and networking opportunities. Alongside that, we argue a major perception shift is needed with academia, such that (applied) science in the direct service of society has the same prestige as (blue-sky) science in the service of curiosity.

Unveiling the Hidden Dynamics: exploring causative factors and impact of employee turnover on organisational performance.

Employee turnover is a widely recognised subject in an organisational setting. Although academics and organisational human resource departments have accepted the fact that employee turnover can have a disastrous impact on the organisation, there are limited studies conducted on the causative factors and effects of employee turnover in organisations. Therefore, this study helped to highlight some of the causative factors triggering employee turnover and their impact on an organisation. In addition, the study also suggests vital strategies for mitigating and reducing employee turnover. In line with the preceding assertion, the cross-sectional qualitative study taking into consideration conference papers, government periodicals, chronological documents, and mainly secondary and primary sources were used. Online search engines such as Scopus, EBSCO, Emerald, science direct, and unrestricted web service search engines such as google scholar and Mendeley demonstrated to be valuable database resources. The finding indicated that performance appraisal feedback, job insecurity, stress and work overload, death, and compensation are significant factors responsible for employee turnover was also deduced that employee turnover can affect organisational performance through ineffectuality in the delivery of service, increase in workload, errors in work processes and reduction in sense of loyalty. However, findings also postulated that training and development, competitive benefits and compensation, effective leadership, and job satisfaction are key procedures that help in reducing and mitigating employee turnover.

Understanding uptake of COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and boosters among Spanish-speaking Latines in the United States: Qualitative insights from Spanish speakers and key informants.

Latine communities in the United States have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. It is critical to gain a better understanding of the sociocultural determinants that challenge and facilitate COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and booster uptake within these vulnerable communities to inform culturally congruent strategies and interventions. In summer 2022, our community-based participatory research partnership conducted 30 key informant interviews and 7 focus groups with 64 Spanish-speaking Latine participants in North Carolina. Interviewees consisted of representatives from health and service organizations, most of whom were engaged with direct service to Spanish speakers. Interviews were conducted in either English or Spanish, depending on the preference of the participant; all focus groups were conducted in Spanish. Interviews and focus groups were conducted in person or by videoconference. Twenty themes emerged that we organize into four domains: general perceptions about COVID-19; barriers to COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and booster uptake; facilitators to COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and booster uptake; and recommendations to promote testing, vaccination, and booster uptake. Results underscore important sociocultural determinants of ongoing COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and booster uptake to consider in developing interventions for Spanish-speaking Latines in the United States. Based on this formative work, our partnership developed Nuestra Comunidad Saludable (Our Healthy Community). We are implementing the intervention to test whether trained peer navigators can increase COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and booster uptake among Spanish-speaking Latines through blending in-person interactions and mHealth (mobile health) strategies using social media.

Effect of home care activities on labor participation in a developing country

This article analyzes the differences in labor participation due to home care activities in Colombia. Indirect and direct care activities can be inside or outside the market sphere. For example, a domestic service worker provides indirect and, sometimes, direct care services. A high percentage of care activities are delegated to women because these tasks are supposedly proper for their gender and are a natural part of their daily lives. To understand the disadvantaged position of women in the labor market, their participation in unpaid work must be considered. Our results show that gender stereotypes continue to overburden Colombian women in unpaid activities. Variables such as age, schooling, sex, and household headship are relevant when direct and indirect caregiving activities are included in the analysis of labor participation.

Nursing student volunteers and their level of involvement during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review

Abstract Objective Many strategic efforts were made to address nurses’ shortage in controlling Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including recruiting student health volunteers. This review aimed to explore the contribution and involvement of nursing student volunteers during COVID-19. Methods A systematic review was registered in PROSPERO International CRD42021283069. Electronic databases for article search included: SCOPUS, EBSCO MEDLINE, PubMed, ProQuest, Springer, Sage Pub, and hand searching. The critical appraisal study quality using The Joanna Briggs Institutes. Data extraction and synthesis used Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Design (PICO and D) framework with thematic analysis. Results Twelve studies were enrolled from 2545 retrieved, with 4 synthesized themes: (1) determinant of the involvement of nursing student volunteers during COVID-19, which includes 3 subthemes: motivations, perception, and barriers, (2) expectations and actual condition of nursing students as volunteers, (3) the need for nursing student volunteers, and (4) the impact and level of student volunteers’ contribution. All student volunteers contribute to providing direct or indirect services to patients. Conclusions This review provides an overview of nursing student volunteers’ needs useful in developing competency frameworks and the role of culturally sensitive volunteers in education and training. In the future, student volunteers could choose the appropriate volunteer program and location according to their competence.