Foster Continuity Research Articles

Working in smaller teams in community midwifery practices to foster continuity of carer: Midwives’ experiences – A qualitative study in the Netherlands

BackgroundMidwife-led continuity of carer (MLCC) improves health outcomes and increases pregnant women’s satisfaction. Working in smaller teams in community midwifery practices is one of the ways to promote continuity of carer. AimTo gain insight into the experiences of Dutch community midwives regarding working in smaller teams, by identifying motivators and barriers. MethodsA qualitative study was conducted using individual, semi-structured interviews (n=9). The sample was purposively selected. The interviews were analysed using the Abbreviated Grounded Theory. FindingsFour themes were identified: 1) Ideal implementation of working in smaller teams, 2) Best care for pregnant women, 3) Conflicts with the current maternity care system, 4) Personal interests of the midwife. The core concept connecting all themes was midwives’ experiences of an 'inner conflict' regarding working in smaller teams. ConclusionA strong motivation for working in smaller teams is the wish to provide the best care for pregnant women through offering more continuity of carer. The structure of maternity care, financially and organisationally, acts as a barrier in the transition to working in smaller teams. How community midwives manage these motivators and barriers depends on their personal interests, vision, and personal life. The balance between the motivators and barriers can create an inner conflict among the midwives. This inner conflict encompasses an ethical issue: what is the best care and what is it worth? A discussion within the professional group concerning the practical and ethical aspects of working in smaller teams is needed to find ways to reduce the inner conflict of community midwives who wish to work in smaller teams, thereby promoting the implementation of MLCC.

Constructing Adolescent-Friendly Settings to Facilitate Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences

This study was conducted to elicit clinicians’ and adolescents’ perspectives regarding adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) screening. Fourteen clinician interviews and 3 adolescent focus groups (n = 12 youth) were conducted, transcribed, coded, and analyzed using grounded theory. Participants noted scarcity of time and private space, adolescents’ disclosure concerns, importance of confidentiality, and benefits of opening adversity conversations. Engaging trust may facilitate teen disclosure and conversations about ACEs. Policies to protect confidentiality of screening and records, provide time for discussions about results, destigmatize trauma, and foster continuity and acceptance in provider-adolescent relationships are critical to successful implementation and adolescent acceptance of ACEs screening.

Timely Completion of Online Assignments among Health Professional Students; an Evaluation of Open Distance and eLearning Platform at a Higher Education Institution (HEI) in Uganda

To foster continuity of learning in universities, the Uganda National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) approved Emergency Open Distance and eLearning (ODeL) strategies in 2020. This was implemented at Clarke International University. The study therefore sought to determine the timely completion of online assignments among health professional students at Clarke International University. The quantitative approach was undertaken using the analytical cross-sectional study design from August 2021 to May 2022. Data was collected from systematic randomly selected 317 respondents using a self-administered questionnaire. The chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests were performed for comparison and binary logistic regression was conducted at multivariate analysis. Out of 317 respondents, timely completion of online assignments was observed at 79.8%. The odds of timely online completion reduced with courses that did not integrate theoretical course concepts with real-world applications (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.1, 95%; confidence interval [CI]: 0.0–0.5); and increased with feedback (AOR: 2.7, 95%; CI:1.1–6.8), user-friendly ODeL platform (AOR: 3.8, 95%; CI:1.2–12.1), ODeL training and orientation (AOR: 2.6, 95%; CI:1.1–6.5) and internet access (AOR: 5.0, 95%; CI: 2.0–16.0). A substantial number of students complete their online assignments on time owing to ease of access to the internet, continuous training on how to manoeuvre through the ODeL platform, and receipt of prompt feedback on online coursework. Higher education institutions need to design ODeL platforms where access can be achieved offline and also make its training mandatory.

Predictors for adoption of e-learning among health professional students during the COVID-19 lockdown in a private university in Uganda

BackgroundDuring the recent Coronavirus pandemic, many universities realized that the traditional delivery of educational content was not adequate in the context of imposed restrictions. Adoption of e-learning was one obvious way to foster continuity of learning. Despite its rapid implementation during the lockdown in Uganda, it was not known whether health professional students were willing to adopt e-learning as a way to foster continuity of learning. We, therefore, adopted a Technology Acceptance Model to determine the predictors for the adoption of e-learning using learner and information technology variables.MethodsA cross-sectional study among 109 health professional students ≥18 years of age at Clarke International University was conducted. Adoption of e-learning was measured as a self-report. Data were obtained using a smart survey and descriptively summarized. The differences in the study outcome were compared using the chi-square test. The factors that independently influenced the adoption of e-learning were determined using binary logistic regression and reported as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsOf the 109 respondents, 71 (65.1%) adopted e-learning. Our data showed low odds of adoption of e-learning among participants in first year (aOR, 0.34: 95%CI, 0.14–0.79), low e-learning expectations (aOR, 0.01: 95%CI, 0.01–0.34), no confidence in using IT devices (aOR, 0.16: 95%CI, 0.00–0.77), no prior experience in e-learning (aOR, 0.11: 95%CI, 0.02–0.68), not considering e-learning flexible (aOR, 0.25:95%CI, 0.08–0.86) and high cost of internet (aOR, 0.13: 95%CI, 0.02–0.84).ConclusionWe identified predictors of e-learning adoption which include having completed at least 1 year of study, high e-learning expectations, confidence in using IT devices, prior experience in e-learning, considering e-learning to be flexible and internet access. This information can be used by universities to enhance infrastructure and prepare potential e-learners.

Two APA Members Selected for Fellowship in Japanese Psychiatric Organization

Two APA Members Selected for Fellowship in Japanese Psychiatric Organization

Digital Learning Content: Solution to Continuity of Learning in Technical and Vocational Institutions in Kenya: A Practical Approach

Teaching in all learning institutions globally has been radically affected by the new emerging world dispensation which has triggered learning institutions to think of viable and sustainable alternatives to continue learning. Specifically, the onset of the Corona Virus Disease of 2019(COVID- 19) pandemic has resulted to drastic repercussions in the education sector where most institutions were used to the traditional face to face modes of delivery. Consequently, COVID-19 resulted to closure of Schools, Technical and vocational education training (TVET) institutions and Universities on 15th March 2020 affecting over 20 million children and youths as they were forced to remain at home. The implication of closure of the institutions increased vulnerability of youth due to being out of school and prolonged period of completion. The purpose of this paper is to develop a model that supports continuity of learning in technical and vocational institutions in Kenya. The study adopted a participatory approach as the framework for the methodolody. This was guided by: review of Literature on the status of developing digital learning model, develop the interactive digital learning content and coming up with a digital learning content model. Digital content for ten Diploma Level courses were used in this study. Interviews of digital learning key informants and document analysis were used as the instruments for data collection. The proposed model was piloted at Mathioya technical and vocational college. The key finding of this study is that the proposed digital learning content model is practical in the technical institutions. The model can foster continuity of learning. The study also established that the trainers have inadequate skills in instructional design and hence not able to produce interactive content for learning. The study recommends continuous re-tooling and support for the trainers in the development of digital learning content in addition to integrating the workplace-based learning in the implementation of the digital learning.

The development of autonomy among adolescents with Down syndrome based on the pedagogy of Paulo Freire

Autonomy is a process that enables us to understand and act on the environment and on ourselves. During adolescence, transformations result in the development of autonomy. Adolescents with Down syndrome (ADS) have perceptual-cognitive limitations and few opportunities to acquire autonomy. The development of autonomy in an occupational therapy group, with dyads of ADS and their main caregivers was analyzed. The evaluation of the materials produced in the therapeutic process pointed to four categories of analysis: self-perception, perception of the other, shared experience and change of attitude. The results show symbiotic relationships between the dyad, which hamper the individuation process and limit the opportunities to carry out activities independently. The therapeutic process based on Paulo Freire's pedagogy raised the level from an ingenuous to a critical awareness, resulting in changes in the attitudes of caregivers in relation to the identification of potential and acceptance of their own limitations and the ADS under care. This symbiosis complicates the individuation process and the access to experiences necessary for the development of autonomy. The therapeutic process can modify the attitudes of caregivers and foster continuity in development and autonomy.

A Solution for the Remote Care of Frail Elderly Individuals via Exergames.

Internet of Things (IoT) solutions are a concrete answer to many needs in the healthcare framework since they enable remote support for patients and foster continuity of care. Currently, frail elderly people are among end users who most need and would benefit from IoT solutions from both a social and a healthcare point of view. Indeed, IoT technologies can provide a set of services to monitor the healthcare of the elderly or support them in order to reduce the risk of injuries, and preserve their motor and cognitive abilities. The main feature of IoT solutions for the elderly population is ease of use. Indeed, to fully exploit the potential of an IoT solution, patients should be able to autonomously deal with it. The remote-monitoring validation engineering system (ReMoVES) described here is an IoT solution that caters to the specific needs of frail elderly individuals. Its architecture was designed for use at rehabilitation centers and at patients’ homes. The system is user-friendly and comfortably usable by persons who are not familiar with technology. In addition, exergames enhance patient engagement in order to curb therapy abandonment. Along with the technical presentation of the solution, a real-life scenario application is described referring to sit-to-stand activity.

Changing home care aides: Differences between family and non-family care in California Medicaid home and community-based services

ABSTRACTIn California Medicaid home-and-community-based services (HCBS), recipients’ family members receive payment as home care aides (HCAs). We analyzed data on first-time HCBS recipients to examine factors associated with the likelihood of switching HCAs within the first year of services. Those with family HCAs were less than half as likely to change than those with non-family HCAs and racial/ethnic minorities with non-family HCAs had the highest switching rates. Lower wages and local unemployment were associated with switching of non-family HCAs but not family HCAs. Policymakers can foster continuity of home care by paying family members for home care and raising worker wages.

12‐hr shifts in nursing: Do they remove unproductive time and information loss or do they reduce education and discussion opportunities for nurses? A cross‐sectional study in 12 European countries

Aims and objectivesTo examine the association between registered nurses' (referred to as “nurses” for brevity) shifts of 12 hr or more and presence of continuing educational programmes; ability to discuss patient care with other nurses; assignments that foster continuity of care; and patient care information being lost during handovers.BackgroundThe introduction of long shifts (i.e., shifts of 12 hr or more) remains controversial. While there are claims of efficiency, studies have shown long shifts to be associated with adverse effects on quality of care. Efficiency claims are predicated on the assumption that long shifts reduce overlaps between shifts; these overlaps are believed to be unproductive and dangerous. However, there are potentially valuable educational and communication activities that occur during these overlaps.DesignCross‐sectional survey of 31,627 nurses within 487 hospitals in 12 European countries.MethodsThe associations were measured through generalised linear mixed models. The study methods were compliant with the STROBE checklist.ResultsWhen nurses worked shifts of 12 hr or more, they were less likely to report having continuing educational programmes; and time to discuss patient care with other nurses, compared to nurses working 8 hr or less. Nurses working shifts of 12 hr or more were less likely to report assignments that foster continuity of care, albeit the association was not significant. Similarly, working long shifts was associated with reports of patient care information being lost during handovers, although association was not significant.ConclusionWorking shifts of 12 hr or more is associated with reduced educational activities and fewer opportunities to discuss patient care, with potential negative consequences for safe and effective care.Relevance to clinical practiceImplementation of long shifts should be questioned, as reduced opportunity to discuss care or participate in educational activities may jeopardise the quality and safety of care for patients.

Disease severity and quality of life in homebound people with advanced Parkinson disease: A pilot study.

As Parkinson disease (PD) progresses, symptoms increase, quality of life (QoL) declines, and individuals may become homebound, often losing access to neurologic care. We aimed to determine whether facilitating expert in-home care could improve our understanding of disease progression, treatment options, and unmet needs in this vulnerable population, and whether such a model could mitigate decline in QoL. Patients with PD meeting Medicare homebound criteria were eligible for quarterly interdisciplinary home visits over 12 months. Each visit entailed an evaluation by a movement disorders neurologist, social worker, and nurse, including history, examination, medication reconciliation, psychosocial evaluation, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic management, and service referrals. Disease severity, as measured by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and QoL using the Neuro-QoL were measured at visits 1 and 4. Of 27 enrolled patients, 23 completed 4 visits, with high retention and high patient- and caregiver-reported satisfaction. The mean age at baseline was 80.9 years (SD 7.8) with a mean total UPDRS of 65.0 (SD 20.0). After one year of home visits, total UPDRS worsened by a mean of 11.8 points (p < 0.01) without a change in any of 8 QoL domains (p = 0.19-0.95). Homebound individuals with advanced PD receiving interdisciplinary home visits experienced no significant decline in QoL over 1 year, despite disease progression. Our findings highlight the disease severity and impaired QoL of the advanced, homebound PD population, and the potential for novel approaches to foster continuity of care.

Prioritising physical and psychological symptoms: what are the barriers and facilitators to the discussion of anxiety in the primary care consultation?

BackgroundAnxiety is under-recorded and under-treated in the UK and is under-represented in research compared with depression. Detecting anxiety can be difficult because of co-existing conditions. GPs can be reluctant to medicalise anxiety symptoms and patients can be reluctant to disclose them, for a variety of reasons. This research addresses the gap in evidence of real-life consultations of patients with anxiety and explores how physical and psychological symptoms are discussed and prioritised by patients and GPs in primary care consultations.MethodsA mixed methods study using a baseline questionnaire, video-recorded primary care consultations and interview data with patients and GPs.ResultsSeventeen patients with anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 score ≥ 10) completed a questionnaire, had their consultation video-recorded and took part in a semi-structured interview. Four GPs were interviewed. The main themes that emerged from GP and patients accounts as barriers and facilitators to discussing anxiety mostly mirrored each other. The GP/patient relationship and continuity of care was the main facilitator for the discussion of anxiety in the consultation. The main barriers were: attribution of or unacknowledged symptoms; co-morbidities; and time constraints. GPs overcame these barriers by making repeat appointments and employing prioritising techniques; patients by choosing an empathetic GP.ConclusionsThe findings add to the evidence base concerning the management of anxiety in primary care. The findings suggest that the discussion around anxiety is a process negotiated between the patient and the GP influenced by a range of barriers and facilitators. Co-existing depression and health anxieties can mask anxiety symptoms in patients. Good practice techniques such as bringing back patients for appointments to foster continuity of care and understanding can help disclosure and detection of anxiety symptoms. Future research could investigate this longitudinally and should include a wider range of GPs practices and GPs.

Diffusion of innovation and longitudinal integrated clerkships: Results of the clerkship directors in internal medicine annual survey

Purpose: Longitudinal integrated clerkships (LICs) are innovative educational models that emphasize medical student continuity with patients, preceptors, peers, and health systems. We characterize LIC growth in the US and interpret the growth using Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation Theory.Methods: In 2015, we surveyed 123 US allopathic medical schools affiliated with Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine (CDIM). The organization’s annual survey was supplemented with questions aimed to quantify the number of current and planned LICs and to determine the intended purpose of starting LICs.Results: Of the 94 (out of 123 possible) schools which were responding, 35 (37%) have at least one LIC of six months or greater; of these 20 are year-long. Nineteen schools are engaged in planning a new LIC or increasing the number of students in an LIC. At least 45 (48%) responding schools will have LICs in future years. Respondents report implementing LICs to foster continuity of care, support patient-centeredness, advance inter-professional education, and address workforce shortages.Conclusions: The number of LICs is increasing across the US. We considered the data through the lens of Diffusion of Innovation Theory, speculated that LIC growth has reached “critical mass,” and considered why the LIC innovation may be self-sustaining.

Relational continuity with primary and secondary care doctors: a qualitative study of perceptions of users of the Catalan national health system

BackgroundIn the current context of increasingly fragmented healthcare systems where patients are seen by multiple doctors in different settings, patients’ relational continuity with one doctor is regaining relevance; however little is known about relational continuity with specialists. The aim of this study is to explore perceptions of relational continuity with primary care and secondary care doctors, its influencing factors and consequences from the viewpoint of users of the Catalan national health system (Spain).MethodsWe conducted a descriptive-interpretative qualitative study using a two-stage theoretical sample; (i) contexts: three healthcare areas in the Catalan national health system with differing characteristics; (ii) informants: users 18 years or older attended to at both care levels. Sample size (n = 49) was reached by saturation. Data were collected by individual semi-structured interviews, which were audio recorded and transcribed. A thematic content analysis was carried out segmenting data by study area, and leaving room for new categories to emerge from the data.ResultsPatients across the areas studied generally experienced consistency of primary care doctors (PCD), alongside some inconsistency of specialists. Consistency of specialists did not seem to be relevant to some patients when their clinical information was shared and used. Patients who experienced consistency and frequent visits with the same PCD or specialist described and valued having established an ongoing relationship characterised by personal trust and mutual accumulated knowledge. Identified consequences were diverse and included, for example, facilitated diagnosis or improved patient-doctor communication. The ascription to a PCD, a health system-related factor, facilitated relational continuity with the PCD, whereas organizational factors (for instance, the size of the primary care centre) favoured consistency of PCD and specialists. Doctor-related factors (for example, high technical competence or commitment to patient care) particulary fostered the development of an ongoing relationship.ConclusionsConsistency of doctors differs depending on the care level as does the relevance attributed to it. Most influencing factors can be applied to both care levels and might be addressed by healthcare managers to foster relational continuity. More research is needed to fully understand the relevance patients assign to relational continuity with specialists.

A critical assessment of the impact of conformity on collectivist families meal social interaction behaviour in Sierra Leone

Background: Conformity is sanctioned at Sierra Leonean families’ mealtimes not only to streamline behaviour, but also to overhaul the character of individuals in order to increase their acceptance in society. These norms are reinforced to promote appropriate ethical standards at mealtimes. Consequently, moral family education at mealtimes is fundamental for knowledge transfer and for instilling appropriate discipline in children. The importance of this is that it plays a critical part in refining the thoughts of individuals within a family at mealtimes, which enables them to understand their roles and positions in the family and their relationship with others within and without the family, especially visitors and extended family members. Thus, building relationship with other members of the family is a mandatory requirement at mealtimes, as it serves to foster continuity and the long-term survival of the family. Tacitly, family cohesion is central to how families relate with each other at mealtimes and acts as a critical determinant of the degree of closeness in a family, which is vital for the families’ public image. Methods: The researcher used one-to-one semi-structured qualitative interviews to investigate families’ views and experiences of their mealtimes’ behaviours. In this research, due to the fact that the selected samples of families were unknown, the researcher used snowballing; convenience; and experiential sampling in recruiting respondents, including males and females from different cultural, ethnic, religious and professional backgrounds, across the different regions of Sierra Leone. The interviews were guided by a topic, and this procedure was followed until no new themes emerged. The interviews were recorded using an audio recorder, which were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic approach. Results: A total of 20 families (comprising 20 husbands and 20 wives) with a sample size of 40 participants were used in this study. The paper highlights the influence of conformity on the behaviour of Christian and Muslim families (husband and wife) at mealtimes and draw attention to its significance as influencer of collectivism, particularly in relation to its impact on the social interaction between similar and dissimilar gender groups. The author critically assessed the extent of the influence of conformity on families’ meal social interaction behaviour and presented a comparative analytical summary of how gender affects the meal behaviours of different gender and religious groups. Conclusion: The aspect of conformity, as emphasised by a majority of the respondents, is used to not only reinforce family norms, beliefs and values, but to imbibe discipline among family members at the dinner table.

A Youth-Leader Program in Baltimore City Recreation Centers: Lessons Learned and Applications

Peer-led interventions may be an effective means of addressing the childhood obesity epidemic; however, few studies have looked at the long-term sustainability of such programs. As part of a multilevel obesity prevention intervention, B'More Healthy Communities for Kids, 16 Baltimore college students were trained as youth-leaders (YLs) to deliver a skill-based nutrition curriculum to low-income African American children (10-14 years old). In April 2015, formative research was used to inform sustainability of the YL program in recreation centers. In-depth interviews were conducted with recreation center directors ( n = 4) and the YLs ( n = 16). Two focus groups were conducted with YLs ( n = 7) and community youth-advocates ( n = 10). Barriers to this program included difficulties with transportation, time constraints, and recruiting youth. Lessons learned indicated that improving trainings and incentives to youth were identified as essential strategies to foster continuity of the youth-led program and capacity building. High school students living close to the centers were identified as potential candidates to lead the program. Based on our findings, the initial intervention will be expanded into a sustainable model for implementation, using a train-the-trainer approach to empower community youth to be change agents of the food environment and role models.

Between continuity and change: CSR managers’ occupational rhetorics

PurposeCorporate social responsibility (CSR) is often depicted as a major challenge to current business practices, and CSR managers have recently been indicated as prime examples of change agents. The purpose of this paper is to take an occupational perspective to consider these managers. It focuses in particular on their occupational rhetorics, which correspond to idealized images that CSR managers use to represent their work. These rhetorics are analyzed in order to shed light on CSR managers’ change potential in organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe study, which benefits from collaboration with the Italian CSR Manager Network, draws on a multi-method research approach which included interviews, observations at public events and meetings, as well as focus groups with CSR managers.FindingsFive broad rhetorical repertoires were identified: “the motor of change,” “the business-oriented,” “the fatalist,” “the idealist” and “the CSR bookkeeper” rhetorics. The primacy of the first two repertoires lead to the conclusion that CSR managers are more likely to foster continuity instead of change in current business practices.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is mainly based on interview data and could therefore be extended by ethnographic investigations of CSR managers’ work or by observations of CSR managers’ language use in their everyday work.Originality/valueThe study is part of a growing empirical literature that investigates the role of individual actors in developing and implementing CSR in organizations and, in particular, the role of CSR practitioners. It contributes to the development of the literature on CSR-driven change within business organizations.

DEVELOPING A PROGRAMME THEORY OF HEALTH CARE IN UK CARE HOMES—REVIEWS, SURVEYS, AND INTERVIEWS

AbstractWe aimed to develop a programme theory of health care delivery to UK care homes. A review of 15 surveys of care home health services completed since 2008 found working relationships lacking in structure and purpose and wide variation in provision of healthcare services. 58 stakeholder interviews with health and social care managers, providers, commissioners and regulators identified 3 overlapping approaches to health care in care homes: investment in relational working to foster continuity; provision of age-appropriate clinical services; and governance arrangements using incentives. A realist literature review identified important contextual factors as: care home readiness to work with health care staff; availability of structured assessment and care plans; involvement of health care staff to support learning; organisational endorsement of collaborative working; financial remuneration; and staff incentives. These findings acted as the focus of case studies in phase 2 of the study.

Do medical residents perform patient-centered medical home tasks? A mixed-methods study

ABSTRACTBackground: Increasingly, residents are being trained in Patient-centered Medical Home (PCMH) settings. A set of PCMH entrustable professional activities (EPAs) for residents has been defined but not evaluated in practice.Objective: To understand whether residents trained at PCMH sites reported higher likelihood of engaging in PCMH tasks than those training in non-PCMH sites.Design: Survey and nominal group data from post-graduate trainees at three residency programs.Results: A total of 179 residents responded (80% response). Over half (52%) cared for patients at PCMH sites. Residents at PCMH sites were more likely to report engaging in tasks in the NCQA domains of enhancing access and continuity (p < 0.01 for 4/11 tasks), planning and managing care (p < 0.01 for 3/4 tasks), providing self-care and community support (p < 0.01 for 3/5 tasks), and identifying and managing patient populations (p < 0.01 for 1/6 tasks), but were not more likely to report tracking and coordinating care or measuring and improving performance. Residents at PCMH sites were more likely to report working with medical assistants (p < 0.01), but not other healthcare professionals. Qualitative data showed staff teamwork and continuity of care as facilitators of patient-centered care, and technological problems and office inefficiencies as barriers to care.Conclusions: Residents trained at PCMH sites were more likely to engage in tasks in several NCQA domains, but not care coordination and quality assessment. Similar facilitators and barriers to trainee provision of patient-centered care were cited regardless of PCMH status. Curricula on PCMH principles and workflows that foster continuity and communication may help to inform residents on PCMH tenets and incorporate residents into team-based care.Abbreviations: EPA: Entrustable professional activity; GIM: General Internal Medicine; NCQA: National Center for Quality Assurance; PCMH: Patient-centered medical home

Morphometric analysis and taxonomic revision of Anisopteromalus Ruschka (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae)-an integrative approach.

We use an integrative taxonomic approach to revise the genus Anisopteromalus. In particular, we apply multivariate ratio analysis (MRA), a rather new statistical method based on principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA), to numerous body measurements and combine the data with those from our molecular analysis of Cytb and ITS2 genetic markers (on a subset of species) and all available published data on morphology, karyology, behaviour, host associations and geographic distribution. We demonstrate that the analysis of quantitative characters using MRA plays a major role for the integration of name-bearing types and thus for the association of taxa with names. Six species are recognized, of which two are new: A. cornis Baur sp.n. and A. quinarius Gokhman & Baur sp.n. For Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard), a well-known, cosmopolitan parasitoid of stored-product pests, we have selected a neotype to foster continuity and stability in the application of this important name. The species was sometimes confused with the related A. quinarius sp.n., another cosmopolitan species that is frequently encountered in similar environments. We also show that several species originally described or later put under Anisopteromalus actually belong to different genera: Cyrtoptyx camerunus (Risbec) comb.n.; Meraporus glaber (Szelényi) comb.n.; Dinarmus schwenkei (Roomi, Khan & Khan) comb.n. Neocatolaccus indicus Ayyar & Mani is confirmed as a junior synonym of Oxysychus sphenopterae (Ferrière) syn.n. and Anisopteromalus calandrae brasiliensis (Domenichini) stat.rev. must be considered as a valid but doubtful taxon.This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BDFE96D3-D0F4-4012-90F5-9A087F7F5864.