Health Professional Staff Research Articles

Promoting Physical Activity Among Health Professional Students, Faculty, and Staff Members: A Competition-Based Intervention

This program review presents data for the Deans’ Fit Family Challenge (DFFC) and proposes future directions for improvement, informed by the Social Cognitive Theory. The DFFC is a multi-week physical activity competition held annually between three health professional programs, focusing on the development of self-efficacy, self-regulation, and social support of health-related fitness. Participants competed in teams of two and tracked their activity minutes weekly using the ChallengeRunner app or through manual entry. Weekly winners were announced, and the winning college was determined from a composite score of active minutes and weight loss. Since 2019, 1164 participants reported an average of 217.1 weekly minutes of physical activity during the DFFC. An average of 94.0% of participants reported minutes in week 1, compared to 56.3% in week 8. The DFFC is an important initiative to potentially promote physical activity levels among participating programs. While motivational strategies are being incorporated and executed in the DFFC, there is a need for ongoing exploration and improvement to enhance future competition-based interventions among health professional students, faculty, and staff.

Evaluation of a Nursing Intranet Using a Two-Phase Approach.

An intranet is a beneficial tool, most commonly utilised and researched in corporate settings, but can also be found within healthcare. An organisational intranet has many of the same functions as the internet while also having a security firewall associated with it, meaning that only those with security access to the site are able to gain access. An evaluation study, using a two-phase process, of a Nursing Intranet within a healthcare organisation in one urban hospital in New Zealand is presented. First a content audit was undertaken, before using a selected framework to evaluate the content, design and functionality of the Nursing Intranet. The results from this evaluation identified some strengths, but also areas to improve. Further research, including the development of tools to evaluate intranets in a healthcare setting are needed to ensure information is more readily accessible to health professional staff.

"They still phone even though they know I'm deaf": exploring experiences of deaf people in health services in Wales, UK.

Deaf and hard of hearing people persistently experience barriers accessing health services, largely due to ineffective communication systems, a lack of flexible booking arrangements, and a lack of Deaf awareness training for health professional staff. Face to face focus groups were conducted with 66 Deaf and hard of hearing people in Deaf clubs across Wales, UK. Thematic analysis was undertaken. Responses identified from focus groups are reported as barriers faced using health services, improvements that would make a difference, impact of accessibility of health services, and a potential Sign language badge for healthcare staff. Deaf people report that health professionals lack training on Deaf awareness and do not know how to communicate effectively with Deaf and hard of hearing people. Further research into Deaf awareness and training resources for health professionals are needed to establish what improves Deaf cultural competencies, and ultimately makes healthcare experiences more positive for people who are Deaf.

The experiences and perspectives of older adult mental health professional staff teams when supporting people with young-onset dementia.

Background. The diagnosis of young-onset dementia presents significant challenges both for the person and their families, which often differ from the challenges faced with late-onset dementia. Evidence of the experience of service users and carers tends to reveal a negative appraisal of the care received, citing longer diagnosis times, poor clinician knowledge and lack of age-appropriate care. However, evidence looking into staff experiences of supporting someone with young-onset dementia is relatively scarce. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and reflections of health and social care staff who support people with young-onset dementia within older adult mental health services, and whether their knowledge of the systems they work in could reveal the existence of barriers or facilitators to young-onset dementia care. Methods. Health and social care professionals working with people and carers with young-onset dementia across England were remotely interviewed between September and December 2021. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Findings. Sixteen staff members were interviewed. Three themes were constructed with six sub-themes. The first theme related to the perception of greater complexity around young-onset dementia support. The second theme describes staff fears around their ability to effectively support people with young-onset dementia, including the perception that young-onset dementia requires specialist input. The final theme describes systemic and structural inefficiencies which provide additional challenges for staff. Conclusions. Providing effective support for people with young-onset dementia and their families requires adjustments both within the clinician role and mental health services. Staff considered young-onset dementia support to be a specialist intervention and felt the services they work for are suited to generic mental health and dementia provision. Findings are discussed with recommendations relating to developing a standardised model of dementia care for young-onset dementia which recognises and responds to the unique experiences of young-onset dementia.

Investigating healthcare workforce recruitment and retention: a mixed-methods study protocol

IntroductionAlthough the sustainability of the health workforce has been identified as essential to achieving health and wider development objectives, challenges with securing and retaining the healthcare workforce persist. In the...

Competency and factor associated with recruitment of community public health professional personnel in public health organization in Thailand

Background: The development of health manpower is an important issue for the aim of the population to receive health services with quality, efficiency, and equity. Thus, it is necessary to have a plan to create public health academics who are capable in applying academic knowledge and managing tasks that are assigned to them effectively in planning, evaluation, and research development to be consistent with the changing situations at present. Objectives: This cross-sectional study was aimed to describe the situation, distribution, job characteristics, competency and identify factors associated with recruitment in public health organization of community public health professional in Thailand. Method: A total of 2,085 community public health professional staff were selected by multi-stage random sampling method to response the self-administered structured questionnaire. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with recruitment in public health organization among community public health professional in Thailand. Results: The results indicated that among 2,085 community public health professionals, factors associated with recruitment in public health organizations were; Bachelor of Public Health graduates (AOR=4.81, 95% CI: 2.99-7.76; P-value < 0.001), Bachelor of Science (Public Health) graduates (AOR=3.46, 95% CI: 2.06 – 5.84; P-value < 0.001), working in community hospital (AOR=1.99, 95% CI: 1.43 - 2.75; P-value < 0.001), work characteristics were corresponds with their degrees (AOR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.12 - 2.47; P-value < 0.001), graduated from public health college (AOR=5.27, 95% CI: 3.42 - 8.13; P-value < 0.001), graduated from public university (AOR=3.71, 95% CI: 2.41 - 5.72; P-value < 0.001), graduated from Rajabhat University (AOR=1.37, 95% CI: 1.00 - 2.02; P-value < 0.001), organization had position (AOR=2.49, 95% CI: 2.05 - 3.04; P-value < 0.001), organization employed correspondent with the graduated field (AOR=1.89, 95% CI: 1.17 - 3.04; P-value < 0.001) and employed close to the graduated field (AOR=2.21, 95% CI: 1.43 - 3.40; P-value < 0.001) respectively. Conclusion: Community public health professional personnel suggested that their profession development should be supported by promoting to a higher position with the same position code.

Is tuberculosis in children a severe disease?

Tuberculosis is one of the health issues over the world. However, childhood TB is often less attention and neglected, particularly in the endemic area, due to the negative result of sputum smear and no specific signs and symptoms among children. Children exposed to infectious disease have a high risk of infection and progressing to TB disease. TB disease among children may develop into a severe form of TB, such as TB meningitis or military TB, and cause death. Therefore, case finding or contact screening is needed to prevent undiagnosed and untreated childhood TB. Parents or family and health professional staff should support adherence to preventive therapy for infected children and anti-TB treatment for TB disease.

Use of ankle-brachial pressure index to assess patient suitability for lower limb compression.

Compression therapy is a safe, effective treatment for lower leg conditions such as lymphatic insufficiency and venous hypertension. The most common method of arterial assessment is the calculation of a patient's ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI). The need for ABPI is highlighted in many best practice statement and local policies. ABPI compares the arterial flow of the arms and the legs, providing a ratio used to determine the presence and severity of peripheral artery disease and assess whether a patient is suitable for compression therapy. This study critically reviews and analyses findings from contemporary literature with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of the ABPI screening tool. A structured literature review using a narrative approach was carried out. Four studies were identified for inclusion, which involved medical, nursing and allied health professional staff in primary and secondary care, with a total of 51 patients. Analysis generated eight themes: appropriateness of the ABPI tool; clinician education; referral process; access to appropriate equipment; lack of time to conduct the assessment; competence; associated costs; and role definition. It is important to undertake a holistic assessment of the patient, incorporating ABPI assessment where not contraindicated. Further research to explore patient experience and safety when assessing a patient's suitability for lower limb compression therapy is required.

Getting Beyond Pros and Cons: Results of a Stakeholder Needs Assessment on Physician Assisted Dying in the Hospital Setting

This study assessed the attitudes and needs of physicians and health professional staff at a tertiary care hospital in Canada regarding the introduction of physician assisted dying (PAD) during 2015–16. This research aimed to develop an understanding of the wishes, concerns and hopes of stakeholders related to handling requests for PAD; to determine what supports/structures/resources health care professionals (HCP) require in order to ensure high quality and compassionate care for patients requesting PAD, and a supportive environment for all healthcare providers across the moral spectrum. This study constituted a mixed methods design with a qualitative descriptive approach for the study’s qualitative component. A total of 303 HCPs working in a tertiary care hospital completed an online survey and 64 HCPs working in hospital units with high mortality rates participated in 8 focus group discussions. Both focus group and survey data coalesced around several themes to support the implementation of PAD following the decriminalization of this practice: the importance of high quality care; honoring moral diversity; supporting values (such as autonomy, privacy, beneficence); and developing resources, including collaboration with palliative care, education, policies and a specialized team. This study provided the foundational evidence to support the development of the PAD program described in other papers in this collection, and can be a model for gathering evidence from stakeholders to inform the implementation of PAD in any healthcare organization.

Evaluation of antibacterial activities for three commonly used antibiotics produced by different manufactures on female urinary tract infection Uropathogens in kalar city.

Health professional staff often claims information about trying to differentiate the used antibiotics based on the manufacturers that produce the drug, which may lead to a differentiation in the prescribing of the antibiotics by a physician. Numerous antibiotics produced by different manufactures, under different brands names are available in pharmacies for urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment; this study proceeds to find out and evaluates antibacterial activities of three most used antibiotics, produced by different antibiotic producers on uropathogens in Kalar city. Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method is employed to assess antibacterial effectiveness of Amikacin (Ak), Levoflaxocilin (Lv) and Nitrofuratoin (Nr) against reference strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and clinically isolated uropathogens (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Proteus vulgaris, and Klebsiella pneumoniae). Inhibition zones (IZ) were determined in millimeter unit to show the activity of the antibiotics. It has been found that the activity of all brands on sensitive bacterial strains were in the preferred range and surpassed the threshold of (IZ) determined by Clinical Laboratories Standards Institute (CLSI) guide. The lack of significant differences among most tested brands for each antibiotic, support this idea.

Risk and protective factors of relapse in patients with first-episode schizophrenia from perspectives of health professionals: a qualitative study in northeastern Thailand

Background: Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that can relapse after treatments. Risk and protective factors for relapse are dependent on multicultural contexts. Objective: To identify risk and protective factors related to relapse in first-episode schizophrenia (FES) in northeastern Thailand from perspectives of health professionals. Methods: This qualitative research collected data from 21 health professional staff members (psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists and nutritionist) of a tertiary psychiatric hospital of northeastern Thailand who had been involved in mental health care for schizophrenia for at least 5 years by in-depth interviews and group interview using semi-structured interview schedule. Content analyses was used to identify staff perception of factors that put patients at risk of relapse. Results: Data analyses demonstrated that factors related to relapse in FES patients were drug adherence (drug discontinuation, limited access to new generation drugs, self-dose reduction and skipping medication, and poor insight), family factors (stressful circumstances and family supports), substance abuses (narcotics, addictive substances, caffeinated drinks), concurrent medical illness (insomnia, thyroid diseases, and pregnancy-related hormonal changes), and natural course of disease. Conclusion: Factors affecting relapse in FES was not only drug adherence. Family factors, drug abuses, and concurrent health status should be also taken into account. A comprehensive mental health care program should be developed for FES patients in the region.

Assessment of electrocardiogram interpretation competency among healthcare professionals and students of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences: a multidisciplinary study

BackgroundElectrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation is a core clinical skill that helps to rapid diagnosis of potentially life-threatening diseases. Misinterpretation of the electrocardiogram can lead to inappropriate clinical decisions with adverse outcomes. The main aim of this survey was to assess the competency of electrocardiogram interpretation and related factors among healthcare professionals and students of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences.MethodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study included 323 staff and students of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences in northwestern Iran. Data were collected randomly from November to January 1400 using the Badell-Coll ECG Interpretation Competency Questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS V.14. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression.ResultsThe results showed that the mean and standard deviation of electrocardiogram interpretation competency of health professional staff and students was 5.13 ± 2.25 (maximum score = 10). The large number of participants wasn’t able to identify normal sinus rhythm (n = 251, 77.3%), acute myocardial infarction (n = 206, 63.8%) and pathological Q waves (n = 201, 62.2%). The results of multiple linear regression showed that the variables of education level, self-assessment of electrocardiogram interpretation competence, work experience, and type of hospital were able to predict the competence of ECG interpretation in participants.ConclusionsOur findings showed that the participants’ level of electrocardiogram interpretation competency was low. Hence, regular, standard training and education are recommended. Also, managers and educators of the health system should consider the role of positive self-assessment and exposure to ECG interpretation in improving the competence of staff and students to interpret ECG.

Using modeling and scenario analysis to support evidence-based health workforce strategic planning in Malawi

BackgroundA well-trained and equitably distributed workforce is critical to a functioning health system. As workforce interventions are costly and time-intensive, investing appropriately in strengthening the health workforce requires an evidence-based approach to target efforts to increase the number of health workers, deploy health workers where they are most needed, and optimize the use of existing health workers. This paper describes the Malawi Ministry of Health (MoH) and collaborators’ data-driven approach to designing strategies in the Human Resources for Health Strategic Plan (HRH SP) 2018–2022.MethodsThree modelling exercises were completed using available data in Malawi. Staff data from districts, central hospitals, and headquarters, and enrollment data from all health training institutions were collected between October 2017 and February 2018. A vacancy analysis was conducted to compare current staffing levels against established posts (the targeted number of positions to be filled, by cadre and work location). A training pipeline model was developed to project the future available workforce, and a demand-based Workforce Optimization Model was used to estimate optimal staffing to meet current levels of service utilization.ResultsAs of 2017, 55% of established posts were filled, with an average of 1.49 health professional staff per 1000 population, and with substantial variation in the number of staff per population by district. With current levels of health worker training, Malawi is projected to meet its establishment targets in 2030 but will not meet the WHO standard of 4.45 health workers per 1000 population by 2040. A combined intervention reducing attrition, increasing absorption, and doubling training enrollments would allow the establishment to be met by 2023 and the WHO target to be met by 2036. The Workforce Optimization Model shows a gap of 7374 health workers to optimally deliver services at current utilization rates, with the largest gaps among nursing and midwifery officers and pharmacists.ConclusionsGiven the time and significant financial investment required to train and deploy health workers, evidence needs to be carefully considered in designing a national HRH SP. The results of these analyses directly informed Malawi’s HRH SP 2018–2022 and have subsequently been used in numerous planning processes and investment cases in Malawi. This paper provides a practical methodology for evidence-based HRH strategic planning and highlights the importance of strengthening HRH data systems for improved workforce decision-making.

Challenges in managing a remote monitoring device clinic.

BackgroundRecent advances in remote cardiac monitoring technology have created new challenges for clinicians and staff working in device clinics who are left processing large volumes of data. Often, this process is fractured and inefficient, with occurrence of unnecessary alerts that strain staff time and resources.ObjectiveThe purpose of this survey was to identify challenges allied health professional clinicians and staff encounter when managing a remote monitoring device clinic.MethodsA 27-item mixed methods survey was developed using a Qualtrics-encrypted, anonymous Web survey tool. Demographic information and questions rating satisfaction level for remote device clinic issues were obtained using a 5-point Likert scale. Three open-ended questions were included that addressed challenges and successes in managing a remote monitoring clinic and served as a method for identifying common themes.ResultsMajor themes identified were poor connectivity, staffing issues, and large volume of alerts. Approximately 50% of respondents were either satisfied or unsatisfied with issues surrounding managing remote monitoring device clinics. Strategies for success included optimizing alerts, assigning designated staff, and partnering with third-party platforms.ConclusionThis survey confirms these issues as an opportunity for industry and digital health leaders to determine best practices for incorporating these technologies into patient care.

An intervention to improve knowledge and increase comfort of concussion management among school medical staff

BackgroundConcussion can negatively impact a child's ability to learn. School-based health professional staff have a unique opportunity to monitor students during recovery and mitigate the potential negative impact. Little is known about school health professional staff's knowledge and comfort with concussion diagnosis and management. ObjectivesWe aimed to evaluate whether a tailored concussion education session could improve school health professional staff's knowledge about pediatric concussions. A secondary aim was to determine their knowledge retention and comfort with concussion management over the following year, including the impact of periodic follow-up education. We hypothesized that there would be sustained improvement in concussion knowledge and self-reported comfort in concussion management. Study designThis study was a pre/post-intervention assessment with longitudinal follow-up. The study investigators provided a three-hour educational presentation about concussions in school-aged children. A survey on knowledge and management of pediatric concussions was administered immediately before and after this educational intervention. Knowledge retention and comfort with management was assessed at six months and at one year post-intervention. Participants and settingParticipants included Cincinnati Health Department school health professional staff in attendance at their Back to School in-service, prior to the start of the 2017–2018 school year. ResultsSixty school health professional staff from thirty-three schools completed the baseline knowledge survey, and forty completed all four assessments. Among the 40 participants with complete data, on average, the correct response rate (mean number correct, SD) was 82.3% (18.1/22, 11.0) pre-education, 91.8% (20.2/22, 10.3) immediate post-education, 86.4% (19.0/22, 10.8) 6-month follow-up, and 87.3% (19.2/22, 10.9) one-year follow-up. ConclusionsA brief didactic educational intervention improved pediatric concussion knowledge and management skills among school health care providers. Periodic and in-person education is likely necessary to optimize knowledge retention.

Qualitative study of UK health professionals’ experiences of working at the point of care during the COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectivesTo develop an understanding of health professionals’ experiences of working at the point of care during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact on their health and well-being and their support needs.DesignA...

Risk and protective factors of relapse in patients with first-episode schizophrenia from perspectives of health professionals: a qualitative study in northeastern Thailand.

Background: Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that can relapse after treatments. Risk and protective factors for relapse are dependent on multicultural contexts. Objective: To identify risk and protective factors related to relapse in first-episode schizophrenia (FES) in northeastern Thailand from perspectives of health professionals. Methods: This qualitative research collected data from 21 health professional staff members (psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists and nutritionist) of a tertiary psychiatric hospital of northeastern Thailand who had been involved in mental health care for schizophrenia for at least 5 years by in-depth interviews and group interview using semi-structured interview schedule. Content analyses was used to identify staff perception of factors that put patients at risk of relapse. Results: Data analyses demonstrated that factors related to relapse in FES patients were drug adherence (drug discontinuation, limited access to new generation drugs, self-dose reduction and skipping medication, and poor insight), family factors (stressful circumstances and family supports), substance abuses (narcotics, addictive substances, caffeinated drinks), concurrent medical illness (insomnia, thyroid diseases, and pregnancy-related hormonal changes), and natural course of disease. Conclusion: Factors affecting relapse in FES was not only drug adherence. Family factors, drug abuses, and concurrent health status should be also taken into account. A comprehensive mental health care program should be developed for FES patients in the region.

The regulation of healthcare professions and support workers in international context

BackgroundThe objective of this paper is to outline and compare the regulation of paid healthcare professions and associated support workers in international context, bringing out the lessons to be learned as appropriate. Modern neo-liberal societies have sought to enhance healthcare through greater professional regulation, albeit in different ways and at variable pace. This general trend is illustrated with reference to medicine in the UK. However, although such reforms have helpfully cascaded to other health professions, government policy in high-income countries has not yet adequately regulated the interrelated group of non-professionalised health support workers who form the largest and least recognised part of the workforce. Nonetheless, in low- and middle-income (LMIC) countries—aside from the greater need for regulation of health professions—there is even more of an imperative to regulate the disparate, largely invisible support workforce.MethodsWith reference to existing studies of the medical and wider health professions in the UK and selected other higher income societies, the importance of health professional regulation to the public is underlined in the Global North. The larger gap in the regulation of support workers in modern neo-liberal countries is also emphasised on a similar basis, with an increasingly ageing population and advances in healthcare. It is argued from the very limited patchwork of secondary literature, though, that policy-makers may want to focus even more on enhancing regulation of both the professional and non-professional workforce in LMIC societies centred mainly in the Global South, drawing on lessons from the Global North.Results/conclusionsEfforts to reform health professional regulatory approaches in more economically developed countries, while needing refinement, are likely to have had a positive effect. However, even in these societies there are still substantial shortfalls in the regulation of health support workers. There are even larger gaps in LMICs where there are fewer health professional staff and a greater dependence on support workers. With higher rates of morbidity and mortality, there is much more scope here for reforming health regulation in the public interest to extend standards and mitigate risk, following the pattern for healthcare professions in the Global North.

Measuring prevailing practices of healthcare professional on electronic health record through the lens of Iraq

Paper based approach to clinical documentation such as handwritten notes among health care providers are cause of errors in medical field. Therefore, health record system needs to be replaced with electronic health record (EHR). Many health professionals in developing countries specifically in Iraq refuse to use the systems implemented for their benefits due to many reasons. Thus, the use of electronic services is important for successful electronic health implementations. Therefore, this study is intended to identify the main factors affecting the intention of use of the electronic health record in Iraq. Health professional staff who work in the main hospital in Dhi-Qar is chosen because this province is the first local province that implemented many electronic projects. The present study examined use of user acceptance of technology, based on the technology acceptance model (TAM). Moreover, the quantitative method approach for data collection using survey from staff who work in the main hospital in Dhi-Qar. Data was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling using AMOS. The results indicated significant relationship between Ease of Use, Usefulness, Usefulness, Attitude, and Intention of use of EHR. These finding have implementation for decision makers in Iraq government to improve future implementation of e-health services.

Breaking the COVID-19 Barriers to Health Professional Team Training With Online Simulation.

Summary StatementThe COVID-19 pandemic led to disruption of most interprofessional simulation workshops in our center, including the obstetric and neonatal emergency simulation or ONE-Sim workshops for medical, nursing, midwifery students, and health professional staff in Australia and overseas.We devised online versions of the workshop for students and staff. In this report, we describe the details of these innovative online workshops. This has enabled us to continue this vital simulation-based education during the pandemic, when strict lockdowns, physical distance requirements, and travel restrictions precluded the usual conduct of these workshops.The online workshops were well received by students and staff in Australia and overseas. Some important lessons that were learned from the preliminary experience of these workshops are detailed in this report.