Collaborative Health Research Articles

Examining a Short Form of the Positive Family Support Strengths and Needs Assessment

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the parent-report Short Form Positive Family Support Strengths and Needs Assessment (PFS-SaNA). The PFS-SaNA is designed to reduce the time and burden of collaborative mental health screening. Parents of 245 students in the Northwest completed the screener at third, fourth, fifth, and seventh grade. The screener includes four items rated on a 4-point Likert-type scale. The screener demonstrated internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha ranging from 0.677 to 0.740 across waves. Furthermore, the screener demonstrated adequate concurrent and predictive validity with standard parent- and teacher-report mental health measurements. Lastly, receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to find optimal cut-off points for the screener at each grade. The screener shows adequate diagnostic accuracy against the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The use of the PFS-SaNA Short Form may help improve family-school collaboration in assessment and intervention planning in schools.

Iron optimisation in pregnancy: a Haematology in Obstetric and Women's Health Collaborative consensus statement.

Anaemia is a well-recognised and widely accepted consequence of iron deficiency (ID); however, the two diagnoses are not synonymous with the effects of ID occurring long before the development of anaemia. In adults,ID can cause physical and neuropsychological symptoms, including lethargy, altered mood and poor concentration, reducing an individual's quality of life. Foetal and neonatal ID has been associated with impaired neurocognitive development with lasting effects despite iron replacement in early life. Obstetric ID is common, affecting up to 70% of Australian pregnancies. The impact, at both an individual and a population level, remains underappreciated and consensus on the identification and management of obstetric ID is lacking. This consensus statement was developed by the Haematology in Obstetrics and Women's Health (HOW) Collaborative and utilised the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system to evaluate evidence and strength of recommendations. Recommendations are as follows: (i) Routine ferritin screening should be performed in all pregnant women (GRADE 1C) at booking and 24-28 weeks. Repeat testing should be performed at 36 weeks if clinically indicated or if the woman is previously unscreened. (ii) ID in pregnancy should be defined as a ferritin level <30 μg/L (GRADE 1D). (iii) An appropriate oral iron formulation should be offered as first-line therapy for obstetric ID (GRADE 1B). (iv) Alternate-day oral dosing can be considered to limit side effects in women with obstetric ID (GRADE 2B). (v) Intravenous iron should be offered to women with ID/ID anaemia who are intolerant of or refractory to oral iron or in the third trimester (GRADE 1B).

Position statement on the diagnosis and management of acute leukaemia and aggressive lymphomas in pregnancy.

Haematological malignancies affect 12·5 in 100 000 pregnancies. Over the past two decades, the number of haematological malignancies in pregnancy has substantially increased. Life-threatening haematological malignancies in pregnancy, such as acute leukaemia and aggressive lymphomas, pose a unique therapeutic challenge: clinicians must consider both maternal and fetal wellbeing, aiming to deliver optimal curative therapy for the patient and a successful pregnancy outcome. A multidisciplinary approach to disease management is paramount, and there are currently no clinical practice guidelines available. An Australasian working group, including representatives from haematology, obstetric medicine, clinical teratology, radiology, nuclear medicine, maternal-fetal medicine, and a patient representative, was established to develop this position statement, which is based on a combination of current evidence and expert consensus. We provide recommendations for diagnosis and staging, imaging safety in pregnancy, therapy in pregnancy incorporating a multidisciplinary approach, supportive care, oncofertility, and pregnancy and birth management. This Viewpoint was reviewed and endorsed by the councils of the Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand, the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand, and the Haematology in Obstetric and Women's Health Collaborative.

Multidisciplinary Education in the Wake of COVID-19: Equipping Future Scholars to Address Global Crises

This study explores the evolution and effectiveness of multidisciplinary education in addressing global challenges of the 21st century, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, across three universities: Harvard University (USA), the University of Cape Town (UCT) (South Africa), and Makerere University (Uganda). The research examines how these institutions have integrated interdisciplinary approaches to respond to complex global issues. Data was collected from 35 participants (faculty, students, and administrators) through semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and case studies. The study finds that universities have increasingly adopted interdisciplinary models, with Harvard’s Global Health and Planetary Health programs, UCT’s Global Change Institute, and Makerere’s focus on sustainable development through collaborations in public health, agriculture, and engineering. The research also highlights the critical role of digital tools (AI, big data, and VR) in enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration, especially during the pandemic. Despite challenges such as institutional resistance and resource limitations, these universities have implemented strategies like faculty development programs, cross-departmental initiatives, and international partnerships to overcome barriers. The study concludes that interdisciplinary education is vital for addressing global challenges and provides recommendations to strengthen institutional support, enhance faculty development, leverage technology, adopt alternative assessments, address resource constraints, and encourage curriculum flexibility to foster cross-disciplinary knowledge.

Strengthening community actions to improve diabetes mellitus care optimising public health facilitators

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus is the second leading cause of death in South Africa, and almost 90,000 people died from diabetes-related causes in the year 2019. This study aimed to investigate facilitators that can be harnessed to strengthen community actions and barriers that should be redressed in structured public health and health promotion programs for people with diabetes mellitus at a primary healthcare level.MethodsAn exploratory qualitative study was conducted using face-to-face interviews among 20 conveniently sampled participants. The Ottawa Charter was adopted to guide health promotion and strengthening actions for people with diabetes mellitus. This study was conducted at Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre. Ngangelizwe is one of the townships located about 2 km east of Mthatha Town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The thematic analysis method was used to analyse data with the assistance of Atlas ti, version 23 software.ResultsFive overarching themes were yielded and categorized as facilitators and barriers. Facilitators included enhancing the role of community healthcare workers and strengthening health education activities. Barriers included lack of support groups, food insecurity, and unavailability of community health promotion programs.ConclusionWe conclude that a collaborative health promotion intervention with the necessary competencies should be designed to assess needs and develop, implement, and evaluate relevant empowerment programs at the household and community levels. This approach involves active engagement with health promoters/ public health practitioners and community health workers at the local level, allowing individuals and communities to access motivation and knowledge regarding the control of diabetes mellitus.

Participation in a pre-registration student interprofessional education (IPE) society: influence on subsequent professional practice

BackgroundStudent interprofessional education (IPE) societies or organizations are popular ways to support pre-registration health professions students to develop the understanding and skills needed for collaborative working. Our experience with the University of Birmingham Knowledge and Skills Exchange (KASE) is that, whilst such societies can be excellent vehicles for IPE, sustaining them can be challenging; and that consistent faculty support, adequate resource and a focus for society activities are needed for them to flourish. Whilst the longer term impact of pre-registration IPE has been demonstrated, less is known about the influence of student IPE society membership on participants’ subsequent professional practice. To inform institutional decisions about establishing and maintaining a student IPE society, we have investigated the perceptions of early career health professionals who were KASE members during their pre-registration training.MethodsKASE alumni working as early career health professionals were invited to participate in the study. Their perceptions of the influence of KASE on their transition to practice and experience as early career health professionals were explored through online semi-structured interviews and interview transcripts analyzed thematically. Resulting themes were reviewed for relevance to the University of Birmingham (UK) IPE Framework, which uses the competency domains of the Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative Competency Framework as the required learning outcomes for IPE at Birmingham.ResultsEight interviews with former KASE members were conducted between November 2022 and March 2023. Interviewees had between 2 and 5 years of experience in their professional role. Six themes relating to the influence of KASE on their subsequent professional practice were identified: interprofessional communication, teamworking, patient-centered care, leadership and organizational skills, confidence and resilience. Three of these themes related to required IPE learning outcomes. Two further themes: time to build relationships; and informality and autonomy, suggested possible reasons for such influence.ConclusionEarly career health professionals considered that participation in the KASE student IPE society helped their transition into the healthcare work environment and encouraged them to adopt a more collaborative and patient-centered approach. Benefits reported suggest that faculty support for institutional student IPE societies is worthy of consideration.

Monkeypox: A resurfacing threat and global public health challenge in India

The global monkeypox outbreak presents a significant public health challenge, particularly in India, due to its rapid spread and the complexities of controlling transmission. This commentary discusses the epidemiological trends, transmission dynamics, and the challenges faced in managing the outbreak. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, it reviews available data and literature on the spread and control of monkeypox, examining current surveillance systems, public health preparedness measures, and strategies employed to contain the disease. The review indicates that while efforts are underway to manage the outbreak, significant gaps remain in global surveillance and preparedness. The lack of targeted vaccination strategies and inconsistent public health responses exacerbate the difficulty of controlling monkeypox. Additionally, notable gaps persist in understanding its full transmission dynamics. The commentary calls for enhanced surveillance systems, improved public health preparedness, and the development of targeted vaccination strategies to mitigate the spread of monkeypox. It also emphasizes the need for a coordinated global response to emerging infectious diseases and proposes a more integrated, multidisciplinary approach to strengthening global health collaborations.

Integration of Ethnopharmacology and One Health Approach for Rabies Control in Kualin, East Nusa Province

The ethnopharmacological approach and One Health framework offer a novel perspective with significant potential in controlling rabies cases in East Nusa (NTT), Indonesia. Traditional medicines rooted in local knowledge can complement existing prevention and treatment strategies. This descriptive study involved 20 respondents to explore local practices related to rabies treatment. The findings indicate that integrating ethnopharmacological insights with the One Health approach can contribute significantly to rabies control, particularly in Kualin Subdistrict, South Central Timor Regency, NTT. The study identified local practices, analyzed their integration with modern medical interventions, and educated the community about rabies prevention. These results highlight the importance of incorporating ethnopharmacological knowledge into public health programs while promoting cross-sectoral collaboration in human, animal, and environmental Health. Further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of medicinal plants used by the community. Additionally, developing community-based educational programs and strengthening collaborations between the government, non-governmental organizations, and local communities are crucial for creating effective and sustainable strategies for rabies control in NTT.

Bridging the health information gap among undergraduate university students: The role of academic libraries.

Although university students are young and seem generally healthy, they do have health information needs that affect their academic work. Some university healthcare services and academic libraries collaborated during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide health information to students. The study explored the health information gap among undergraduate students in universities in Ghana. The study involved 382 students from the University of Cape Coast, the University of Ghana, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, including nine librarians and six university health professionals. Respondents for the study were chosen using stratified sampling and purposeful sampling techniques. A questionnaire and a semi-structured interview guide were used to collect the data. The study revealed limited access to health information for undergraduate students. Male and female students had similar high priorities (personal hygiene, disease prevention, healthy living, mental health) but reproductive health information was mostly a priority for female students. Inadequate access to health information among undergraduate students may pose a threat to avoidable health risks and academic productivity. Based on the findings, a functional Collaborative Health Information Model for Academic Libraries and University Healthcare Systems is proposed to address undergraduate students' health information needs.

Interprofessional education and collaborative practice with practicing radiographers: A mixed methods scoping review.

There is increasing evidence substantiating the advantages of Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP) in healthcare. Despite this, global adoption is still in its infancy. Whilst there has been some recognition of the importance of collaborative practice in healthcare, implementation of IPECP programs remain limited in many countries. This scoping review aimed to synthesise global evidence for the implementation and effectiveness of IPECP on practicing radiographers and to further identify the enablers and barriers to the implementation of IPECP within radiography. The JBI guidelines for the conduct of scoping reviews and the PRISMA guidelines for reporting scoping reviews were followed. Databases searched included Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane library, and JBI. Grey literature was searched through Google, Google Scholar, and the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. Following full text screening, 21 articles were included in the review, and data was extracted onto a custom-developed template. IPECP competencies identified in the included studies were mapped against the Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative (CIHC) framework of competencies. Results indicate that while certain factors such as peer support and interprofessional communication facilitated IPECP, numerous barriers impeded its implementation on a wider scale. Implications for practice, policy and research include the need to prioritise funding for IPECP initiatives and to establish regulatory frameworks that support interprofessional collaboration.

The Role of Collaboration in Supporting Community Resilience Programmes in Post-Disaster Events

The impact of collaboration on the community resilience program for residents of Lumajang Regency varies. For the variable “Strengthening local knowledge”, collaboration is preferable since it allows different communities to cooperate in gathering local information from different perspectives. According to our research, if local knowledge is not strengthened through collaboration, it will actually have the reverse effect—that is, it will not have an impact on catastrophe risk reduction. This is due to the community’s still limited and underutilized participation in government programs for monitoring and communicating the catastrophe response. Different findings were made for the community network and relationship variables, where the influence of relationships within the community network on disaster risk reduction is still non-significant, whether directly or indirectly through cooperative mediation. Because LR is preparing for disaster risk management, community relations or engagement with the authorities regarding the necessity of disaster risk management have not yet been involved. The location, interaction, traits, and interests should all be taken into consideration when forming the community. In fact, LR residents have not yet put this into practice. The findings are similarly important when considering how different variables, either directly or through the collaboration variable, influence leadership, governance, and health. Therefore, disaster risk reduction may be impacted directly or indirectly by the presence of emergency response health services, the creation of disaster-resilient villages, and the creation of a profile of disaster-prone locations. But according to the data above, collaboration can actually have a bigger impact on disaster risk reduction.

An investigation of the use of Google Street View for identifying gentrification across diverse United States morphological city types

ABSTRACT Google Street View (GSV) is a tool for measuring characteristics of the built environment and appropriate for analyzing change in neighborhoods longitudinally. We investigate whether using GSV to identify gentrification works across the spectrum of urban morphologies in the U.S. We first use Hirsch and Schinasi’s (2019, A measure of gentrification for use in longitudinal public health studies based in the United States. Drexel University Urban Health Collaborative.) gentrification criteria to identify tracts that underwent gentrification between 2012 and 2019 in Boston, Cincinnati, and Phoenix. We then used Hwang’s (2015, Gentrification, race, and immigration in the changing American city [Unpublished doctoral dissertation] Harvard University.) GSV-based gentrification index, originally used in Chicago, to measure gentrification in the built environment and look for alignment with gentrification using Hirsch & Schinasi’s criteria. Alignment was best in Boston with a population density and built form closest to Chicago’s. The process did not work as well for Cincinnati where gentrification was concentrated in only a few blocks within gentrifying tracts nor in Phoenix with its limited amount of up-scale high-density apartments/condominiums and numerous vacant parcels. We conclude that cities with different urban morphologies need different methods to detect evidence of gentrification in the built environment.

Sand and dust storms: a growing global health threat calls for international health studies to support policy action.

Sand and dust storms increasingly threaten global environmental and public health. To date, 150 countries are directly affected, with more than 100 classified as non-dust source regions. With climate change, these storms are expected to become more frequent and severe. Despite international awareness and initiatives, such as those led by the UN, crucial knowledge gaps continue to hinder effective, evidence-based public responses to sand and dust storms. In this Viewpoint, we review existing gaps in health research and highlight four key research priorities: the comprehensive health effects of sand and dust storms, including short-term and long-term exposures, diseases, regions, and health outcomes; the key particle sizes and toxic components of particles during sand and dust storms; the design of multicentre studies accounting for region-specific exposure patterns; and research on health outcomes attributable to particulate matter mixtures dominated by windblown dust versus other sources. We urgently call for international, collaborative, and multidisciplinary health studies considering sand and dust storm exposure characteristics and for the adoption of scientifically robust epidemiological methods in these studies.

The ACTION VAD registry: A collective five-year experience.

The Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network (ACTION) began in 2018 as a collaborative learning health system committed to improving outcomes in pediatric heart failure, including children and adults with congenital heart disease, supported with ventricular assist devices (VADs). This report describes patient and device characteristics, and outcomes through 1-year post-implant. The ACTION VAD registry report was created from data submitted to the ACTION learning network from April 2018 to June 2023. It includes 1,430 devices implanted in 1,220 pediatric patients (≤18) from 57 sites across North America. Males comprised 55% of the registry patients. The median age was 3.7 years with a median implant weight of 13.6kg; 36% of the cohort was <10kg. Nearly 40% of patients had a primary diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD). Patients with CHD represented 26% of VAD implants in 2018 which increased to 42% in 2023 (p=0.03). At implant, 25% of patients were supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), 4.9% with dialysis, and 54% were mechanically ventilated. Paracorporeal pulsatile pumps comprised 40.2% of implants, followed in incidence by paracorporeal continuous flow (28.5%), and implantable continuous flow (24.1%). The number of patients in the VAD Registry patients increased from 102 in 2018 to 256 in 2022, partly reflecting increased center participation in ACTION. Overall survival on support at 1 year was 79.2%, and the incidence of stroke was 13.7%. Infants demonstrated the poorest outcomes, with a 1-year survival of 72.9% and a higher incidence of stroke (20.8%). The 5-year ACTION VAD experience highlights the growing collaboration in the pediatric VAD community and changes in clinical practice. More work is needed to improve survival and limit adverse outcomes, especially in younger patients.

Establishing and Sustaining Academic and Local Health Collaborations: A Case Study of Practice-Based Teaching and Workforce Development

Establishing and Sustaining Academic and Local Health Collaborations: A Case Study of Practice-Based Teaching and Workforce Development

Remote Monitoring And Population Health Collaboration For Improving Heart Failure Outcomes

Remote Monitoring And Population Health Collaboration For Improving Heart Failure Outcomes

China-UK Global Health Collaboration Project on Strengthening Public Health Capacity in Sierra Leone.

Since 2016, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has continued to conduct project to assist Sierra Leone in improving its public health capacity and building a laboratory for bacteriological and parasitic diseases. Firstly, we can understand the epidemiological characteristics, etiological characteristics and drug resistance of important infectious diseases in Africa through this project, and provide services and guarantees for the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. Secondly, the project is to carry out scientific research cooperation on the monitoring and detection capacity of major infectious diseases, biosecurity, and prevention and control technologies for important infectious diseases. Thirdly, in order to implement the concept of "building a community with a shared future for mankind", it is important to improve the capacity of Sierra Leone and West Africa to prevent and control infectious diseases, maintain global health security, and participate in global health governance. This article reviews the implementation of the project, and summarizes the experience and shortcomings, in order to help readers achieve better results in future project practice.

Pets Diseases and Public Health: Zoonosis, Transmission and Treatment: A Review

Zoonotic infections transferred from pets to humans constitute an escalating public health issue exacerbated by the surge in pet ownership worldwide, especially in urban environments. Companion animals operate as reservoirs for several diseases, including viruses, germs, and parasites, which can be transmitted to humans, presenting substantial dangers to animal and human health. This review examines the transmission dynamics, prevention, and treatment techniques associated with zoonotic diseases in companion animals, focusing on the influence of veterinary practices, environmental factors, and human-animal interactions. The main aim of this review is to consolidate existing knowledge, pinpoint significant gaps in the field, and offer insights into successful techniques for managing zoonotic risks linked to pets. The review examines trends and conclusions from recent studies, concentrating on growing zoonotic hazards and the efficacy of preventative methods, including immunization, parasite management, and veterinary surveillance. Literature indicates substantial disparities in zoonotic disease prevalence influenced by regional, social, and environmental factors. Urbanization is a significant component in the proliferation of zoonotic illnesses, as high pet populations and heightened human-animal interactions intensify transmission risks. Moreover, despite advancements in veterinary diagnostics and therapies enhancing the management of zoonoses, there persists a necessity for stronger integration of One Health strategies and more focused research in resource-limited environments. This review culminates in recommendations for future research, specifically regarding the influence of cultural practices on pet care, the effects of climate change on zoonotic transmission, and the significance of cross-sector collaboration in public health and veterinary domains.

Community-based participatory process evaluation based on the Reach, Quality Control, Fidelity, Satisfaction, and Management (RQFSM) model in Nevada: A study protocol

Introduction: The healthcare system in Nevada has rural-urban, racial-ethnic, economic, and other inequities in care. Social determinants of health (SDOH) have exacerbated health disparities among high-risk and underprivileged populations. This study protocol presents Nevada’s COVID-19 public health disparity reduction initiatives and community-based participatory process evaluation methodologies. The participatory process evaluation based on the Reach, Quality Control, Fidelity, Satisfaction, Management (RQFSM) Model has been planned with 25 partner organizations that deliver public health services within Nevada. Methods: This program evaluation will be conducted by the University of Nevada, School of Public Health in collaboration with the Nevada Office of Minority Health and Equity (NOMHE) and the State of Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH), as primary agencies along with other partner organizations funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A mixed-methods approach will be implemented to collect data from 25 partner organizations. For assessing the reach, quantitative and qualitative quarterly data collection reporting forms and focus group discussion (FGD) protocols will be designed; for quality control, fidelity, and management, semi-structured interviews and FGDs of project personnel and community members and process observation tally sheets will be generated, and for consumer satisfaction assessment, quantitative satisfaction surveys will be created in a participatory manner with all stakeholders. Results: The results of the protocol explain that community-based initiatives offer comprehensive, culturally competent, and high-quality primary healthcare services, while community health centers and other private sector groups can be considered as essential connections. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the necessity to integrate services like mental health, drug addiction treatment, pharmacies, disability assistance, and health care for older individuals would be acknowledged. This integration will be particularly crucial in places where access to reasonably priced healthcare is hampered by cultural, geographic, or economic restrictions. Conclusion: In this study, we describe the protocols of this community-based participatory process evaluation based on the RQFSM Model in Nevada

Interprofessional Collaboration and Leadership in Health Education

Introduction:The Role of Interprofessional Teamwork and Leadership in Health Education It highlights the various approaches collaboration and leadership can take to enhance health education programs. Methods: This systematic review aimed to explore the literature supporting interprofessional collaborative practice (IPC) and the influence of leadership on health education.Methods:Searches of electronic databases were made to determine all relevant studies published between the years 2000 and 2019. We limited the search to academic journal articles in English published from 1995 (when interprofessional education was first described) through October 2023 that included these keywords that also referenced collaboration and leadership in health education. The initial search yielded 232 articles, 28 of which were incorporated into the review.Results:This scoping review highlights the necessity of interprofessional collaboration and interprofessional leadership in health profession education. Analyzing the studies provided, they argue the benefits of collaborative practice and leadership, which would make health education programs more useful and create better patient success and health outcomes. The factors contributing to the success of interprofessional collaboration as a team were good communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making. In addition, transformational leadership styles were effective leaders of interprofessional collaboration.Conclusions:This review emphasizes the importance of interprofessional collaboration and leadership in effectively integrating into the educational health structure. Greater integration of health care, paired with wise leadership, would lead to better team dynamics, increased efficiency, and a healthier patient. The findings of this research, then, can serve as a road map for successful collaboration and leadership promotion education in health in health organizations and educational institutes.