Knowledge Of Health Care Providers Research Articles

Preferences and attitudes of healthcare providers towards pneumococcal vaccines for adults in the United States.

It is important to assess healthcare providers (HCPs) knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and preferences towards new pneumococcal vaccines for adults. HCPs who met eligibility criteria completed an online survey between March - May 2024 that included a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to elicit preferences. Among 340 participating HCPs, the average age was 44.9 years old, and the majority were male (55.6%), and White (85.3%). Most HCPs reported that they would support (90.3%) and implement (91.5%) a lower age-based recommendation for pneumococcal vaccines (from adults 65+ years to adults 50+ years). A majority of HCPs would offer a supplemental dose of a pneumococcal vaccine to high-risk adults 19-49 years, at-risk or high-risk adults 50-64 years, and adults 65+ years regardless of risk status to increase protection after completing the recommended series. DCE results showed that coverage of pneumococcal pneumonia and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in adults 65+ years were the two most important attributes in evaluating pneumococcal vaccines. HCPs preferred a pneumococcal vaccine with increased coverage against pneumococcal pneumonia and IPD, and they supported lowering the age recommendation for pneumococcal vaccination as well as a supplemental vaccine dose to provide additional coverage for adults.

Graduate Nursing Faculty Perceptions of LGBTQ+ Health Curriculum: A Mixed-Methods Study.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community experiences profound health disparities due to discrimination and lack of health care provider knowledge. Although data exist about undergraduate nursing and medical school education on LGBTQ+ topics, there is a gap in understanding graduate nursing schools' preparation of nurse practitioners. A survey measuring faculty perceptions of LGBTQ+ health curricula was sent to graduate nursing schools to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. Graduate nursing faculty spent a median of 3 hours teaching LGBTQ+ health topics. LGBTQ+ health content in their courses was limited despite their awareness of LGBTQ+ topics, their readiness to include it, and their belief in the importance of including such topics. Respondents indicated a lack of resources and knowledge about where to start and identified a need for support from their institution. The gaps identified in graduate nursing LGBTQ+ health curriculum demonstrate the need for additional institutional support. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(2):65-71.].

Implementing adaptive e-learning for newborn care in Tanzania: an observational study of provider engagement and knowledge gains

IntroductionTo improve healthcare provider knowledge of Tanzanian newborn care guidelines, we developed adaptive Essential and Sick Newborn Care (aESNC), an adaptive e-learning environment. The objectives of this study were to...

Competence of Healthcare Providers in Managing Lymphedema Post Breast Cancer Treatment: A study in western Kenya hospitals

Background: Globally, breast cancer, the most diagnosed cancer, affects around 2.3 million individuals. Approximately 28% to 38% of breast cancer patients develop lymphedema post-treatment, impacting one in five patients. Without intervention, the condition leads to serious complications, affecting daily tasks. Sub-Saharan Africa reports increasing comorbidities related to lymphedema, yet no data exists on its prevalence in Kenya. This study assessed clinical management strategies for breast cancer treatment-induced lymphedema in selected Western Kenya hospitals.
 Material And Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytic study. Simple random sampling was used to select healthcare facilities offering cancer screening and treatment. Healthcare providers were randomly selected from five health facilities depending on the number required at each health facility. 192 healthcare providers were selected to participate in the study. Data collection was by structured questionnaires, observation checklist and focus group discussion, analysed by SPSS version 23.1 and Qualitative data thematically analysed guided by questions on knowledge, skills and management strategies.
 Results: The results showed healthcare providers' knowledge ranging from low to average with a deficit in important areas of practice such as skincare (OR=0.56, p=0.01). stocking pressure (OR=1.841, P=0.004, positive stemmer's sign test (OR=2.217, p=0.001) with over 50% getting incorrect answers. Good history and assessment Skills were demonstrated (0R=1.6; CI;1.0-24; P=0.037) but patient education was poorly done. Focus group discussion showed a deficit in knowledge by failure to clearly define lymphedema.
 Conclusion: Structured education of lymphedema is needed to increase the knowledge of healthcare providers and improving knowledge may fill the gaps in knowledge and demonstrate good practical skills in patient management

Towards an integrated type 1 diabetes management in low-resource settings: barriers faced by patients and their caregivers in healthcare facilities in Ghana

Background In Low-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), young people living with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) face structural barriers which undermine adequate T1DM management and lead to poor health outcomes. However, research on the barriers faced by young people living with T1DM have mostly focused on patient factors, neglecting concerns regarding plausible barriers that may exist at the point of healthcare service delivery.Objective This study sought to explore barriers faced by young people living with T1DM and their caregivers at the point of healthcare service delivery.MethodsData were drawn from a qualitative research in southern Ghana. The research was underpinned by a phenomenological study design. Data were collected from 28 young people living with T1DM, 12 caregivers, and six healthcare providers using semi-structured interview guides. The data were collected at home, hospital, and support group centres via face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, and videoconferencing. Thematic and framework analyses were done using CAQDAS (QSR NVivo 14).ResultsEight key barriers were identified. These were: shortage of insulin and management logistics; healthcare provider knowledge gaps; lack of T1DM care continuity; poor healthcare provider-caregiver interactions; lack of specialists’ care; sharing of physical space with adult patients; long waiting time; and outdated treatment plans. The multiple barriers identified suggest the need for an integrated model of T1DM to improve its care delivery in low-resource settings. We adapted the Chronic Care Model (CCM) to develop an Integrated Healthcare for T1DM management in low-resource settings.ConclusionYoung people living with T1DM, and their caregivers encountered multiple healthcare barriers in both in-patient and outpatient healthcare facilities. The results highlight important intervention areas which must be addressed/improved to optimise T1DM care, as well as call for the implementation of a proposed integrated approach to T1DM care in low-resource settings.

Addressing gaps in healthcare provider knowledge regarding germline testing for prostate cancer through development and testing of a virtual genetics board.

Germline testing is important in prostate cancer and evaluation can be complex. We instituted a monthly multi-disciplinary virtual genetics tumor board (7/2021-3/2022). Participants and panelists were surveyed on usefulness and acceptability. 101 participants attended a session, and 77 follow-up surveys were completed. Over 90% participants and 100% panelists endorsed usefulness of the case discussions and usability of the technology. The majority felt it provided new information they will use. A multidisciplinary genetics board was successfully developed to address complexity in prostate cancer genetics. The virtual platform may enhance dissemination of expertise where there are regional gaps.

Healthcare providers' knowledge, attitude, and practice towards cervical cancer screening in Sub-Saharan Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cervical cancer is a prevalent cancer among women in low and middle-income countries, but it can be largely prevented through screening programs and HPV vaccination. This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding cervical cancer screening among healthcare providers in Sub-Saharan African countries. Systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Relevant databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, AJOL, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect databases were used to retrieve and search articles. The study included published and unpublished research written in English between January 2013 and May 16, 2024 for studies reporting knowledge, attitude, and practice towards cervical cancer screening among healthcare providers in Sub-Saharan Africa. This review has been registered on PROSPERO. The heterogeneity of the data was evaluated using the I2 statistic. A meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 17 software, with a 95% confidence interval. The researchers also conducted publication bias and sensitivity analysis. The review included 30 studies involving 7542 healthcare providers. The pooled magnitude of good knowledge status towards cervical cancer was 67.93% (95% CI: 53.36-82.50) whereas the pooled magnitude of positive attitude towards cervical cancer was 55.26% (95% CI: 34.28- 76.23). The results also showed that about 49.68% (95% CI: 33.18-66.17) of healthcare providers had good knowledge status about cervical cancer screening, 66.63%(95% CI: 50.36- 82.89) had a positive attitude towards it, and only 17.23% (95% CI; 6.08-28.37) had ever screened for cervical cancer. The overall magnitude of knowledge and attitude of healthcare providers in Sub-Saharan Africa towards cervical cancer and its screening was suboptimal. Furthermore, a low percentage of female healthcare providers in the region had undergone screening for cervical cancer. As a result, policymakers and program administrators should focus on improving the knowledge, attitude, and practices of healthcare providers to meet the global health goal of cervical cancer screening and effectively eliminating cervical cancer. Healthcare providers must serve as role models for other women who should also undergo screening. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42023495241.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of healthcare providers on mistreatment of women during labour and childbirth: A cross-sectional study in Tehran, Iran, 2021.

Mistreatment of women during childbirth is a global health challenge. Maternity healthcare providers play a key role in influencing women's birth experience. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare providers regarding mistreatment of women during labour and childbirth in public hospitals in Tehran, Iran. This cross-sectional study was part of an implementation research project that was conducted from October to December 2021 at five public teaching hospitals in Tehran. All eligible maternity healthcare providers (obstetricians and midwives) and students were invited to participate in this study. Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of four sections: socio-demographic characteristics (11 items), knowledge (11 items), attitudes (13 items), and practices (14 items) about mistreatment. Knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were determined using Bloom's cut-off points. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the socio-demographic characteristics associated with knowledge and attitudes. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Of the 270 participants, 255 (94.5%) participated in the study. Majority of the participants (82.7%) had poor knowledge regarding mistreatment of women during labour and childbirth. Poor knowledge was more apparent in the categories of physical abuse, verbal abuse, poor rapport between women and providers, and failure to meet professional standards of care. Most participants (69.4%) had poor attitudes towards mistreatment; they were alright with physical abuse, verbal abuse, and discrimination. Only 3.1% of the participants reported moderate mistreatment practices towards birthing women. Verbal and physical abuse were the most prevalent categories used by the participants. The number of night shifts was associated with attitudes regarding mistreatment (AOR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.22-0.89, p = 0.02). The knowledge and attitude of our participants regarding maternity mistreatment were poor. A small percentage of the participants reported mistreatment practices. The findings of our study have important implications for program planners and decision-makers in developing effective interventions to reduce mistreatment of women during labour and childbirth in Iran.

Knowledge and attitudes of rural healthcare providers regarding domestic violence against women: a systematicreview.

Specific types of violence such as intimate partner sexual violence and intimate partner homicide occur more frequently in rural areas. This study aimed to systematically review the literature on the knowledge and attitudes of rural healthcare providers regarding cases of domestic violence against women. Systematic review developed at Universidade Federal de Uberlândia. We conducted an electronic search of six databases, which only included observational studies, regardless of the year, language, or country of publication, except for studies that used secondary data and were exclusively qualitative. Two reviewers performed the selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment using a specific Joanna Briggs Institute tool. Six studies met the inclusion criteria. All the studies had a low risk of bias. Approximately 38% of these professionals identified injuries caused by violence in patients. When asked about knowing the correct attitude to take in cases of confirmed violence, between 12% and 64% of rural healthcare providers answered positively; most of them would refer to specialized institutions and promote victim empowerment and counseling. The number of professionals with an educational background in the field ranged from 16% to 98%. The evident disparity across studies shows that some professionals have suboptimal knowledge and require training to adopt the correct attitude when identifying female victims of domestic violence in clinical practice. This systematic review was registered in the Open Science Framework Database under the registration http://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/B7Q6S.

Knowledge and attitude of health care providers towards the identification and management of domestic violence victims

Knowledge and attitude of health care providers towards the identification and management of domestic violence victims

Systematic Development of National Guidelines for Obesity Care: The Swedish Approach

Introduction: With the rapid development of treatment modalities for obesity management, there is an increasing demand for guidance to facilitate the prioritization of interventions. In 2020, the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare started the process of producing the first national guidelines for obesity care directed to decision makers who allocate resources to the best knowledge-based care. The main aim of this paper was to describe the systematic development of these guidelines, designed to guarantee uniformly high standards of care throughout the whole country. Methods: The standardized procedures of the National Board of Health and Welfare were applied to construct guidelines in a systematic and transparent way, including priority setting of recommendations and quality indicators to evaluate the progress of implementation. The process involved independent expert committees including professionals and patient representatives, and the guidelines were reviewed through an open public consultation. Results: National guidelines were issued in 2023, encompassing a broad scope, from identification and diagnosis to multiple treatment modalities, embedded in a life-course perspective from pregnancy to the elderly, as well as highlighting the need for improved knowledge and competence of health care providers. Conclusions: National guidelines for improved standard care and evidence-based and efficient use of health care resources for obesity treatment can be developed in a systematic way with professionals and patient representatives.

Factors influencing the implementation of integrated screening for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B for pregnant women in Nepal: A qualitative study.

In Nepal, national guidelines recommend free HIV and syphilis screening for pregnant women at their first antenatal visit, using an opt-out approach. However, screening uptake is low and the guidelines do not include hepatitis B screening. It is essential to understand the factors influencing the implementation of integrated screening for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, as recommended by WHO, to improve uptake and prevent vertical transmission. This study explored the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of pregnant women, their families, healthcare providers and policymakers on integrated prenatal screening. We conducted 12 in-depth interviews with pregnant women, 10 with their husbands and 4 with mothers-in-law in Kapilvastu and Kathmandu. In addition, we interviewed 7 health workers and 4 decision-makers. These interviews were sufficient to reach saturation. Data were analysed using a thematic content analysis. A combination of the social-ecological model and the WHO building blocks provided a theoretical framework for interpreting data. The analysis showed that antenatal screening in Nepal involved many stakeholders and was influenced by various factors. Implementation issues were found in the building blocks service delivery, health workforce and medical products. Husbands and in-laws play an important role in the acceptance of screening by pregnant women, especially in rural areas. High levels of stigma and discrimination against people with sexually transmitted diseases were reported, and knowledge of hepatitis B and syphilis was low. Access and uptake of screening could be improved through rapid testing, by strengthening the health system and by integrating hepatitis B screening through an opt-out approach like that for HIV and syphilis. Effective community involvement through awareness campaigns and investment in lower-level health facilities is essential to improve screening rates. This study provides information for decision-makers about challenges in implementing integrated screening to guide the design of targeted interventions to reduce vertical transmission.

Mapping evidence on barriers to and facilitators of diagnosing noncommunicable diseases among people living with human immunodeficiency virus in low- and middle-income countries in Africa: A scoping review.

To map the evidence on the barriers to and facilitators of diagnosing noncommunicable diseases among people living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries in Africa. Noncommunicable diseases are increasing among people living with HIV. Thus, strengthened and sustained diagnosis of noncommunicable diseases through integrated noncommunicable diseases and HIV care is needed to improve patient outcomes. However, there is paucity of evidence on the barriers and facilitators diagnosing noncommunicable diseases among people living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries. The Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework was used. A comprehensive systematic search of academic databases (MEDLINE, Academic Search Complete, APA PsycInfo, CAB, and Health Source/Nursing) was performed via EBSCO search and PubMed. The articles were reviewed independently by three reviewers. The results were structured using Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behavior model and Theoretical Domains Framework. A total of 152 articles were retrieved for full-text review. Forty-one articles met the inclusion criteria. The identified barriers were relevant to all the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behavior constructs and 14 Theoretical Domains Framework domains. A lack of knowledge and awareness of noncommunicable diseases, fear of stigma, financial problems and out-of-pocket payments were the most cited patient-level barriers. Healthcare providers (knowledge and awareness gaps, skill and competence deficiencies, unwillingness, burnout, low motivation, and apathy) were frequently cited. Lack of equipment, noncommunicable disease medications and supply chain challenges, lack of integrated noncommunicable disease and HIV care, and shortage of trained healthcare providers were identified as health-system-level barriers. This scoping review is the first to identify barriers and facilitators using a theoretical framework. The most cited barriers include a lack of integrated HIV and noncommunicable disease care, equipment and logistics chain challenges for noncommunicable diseases, patients' and healthcare providers' lack of knowledge and awareness of noncommunicable diseases, and healthcare provider's skill and competency deficiencies. Addressing these issues is crucial for improving patient outcomes and reducing the burden on healthcare providers and health systems.

What does my healthcare provider know about caring for me with my service dog?

Background Caring for individuals teamed with service dogs requires complex practice knowledge intertwined with knowledge of legal protections and institutional policy. While healthcare professionals report not feeling fully prepared to care for this population, little is known about the care experiences from individuals teamed with a service dog. Purpose This study examined characteristics of individuals teamed with service dogs and their perspectives of what their healthcare providers know about caring for them. Method Cross-sectional analysis of survey data representing N = 204 individuals teamed with service dogs in the United States. Survey questions included demographic characteristics and measures of healthcare provider knowledge in the care of service dog teams. Discussion Less than 50% of respondents strongly agreed that their healthcare providers saw them as an expert in being supported by a service dog and communicated with them on meeting their needs. Between 56% to 65% strongly agreed to healthcare providers having knowledge of additional aspects of communication and interaction, awareness of legal rights for service dogs, organizational policies on service dogs, and acting as their advocate.

The lactation and chestfeeding/breastfeeding information, care and support needs of trans and non-binary parents: An integrative literature review

Background: The National Breastfeeding Strategy launched by the Ministry of Health in 2020, commits to the protection, promotion and support for breastfeeding with the aim of increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates in Aotearoa New Zealand. This strategy includes a recommendation that the breastfeeding/chestfeeding information and support needs of trans and non-binary parents and their whānau are identified so that those involved in their care are knowledgeable about these specific needs. Midwives are the primary providers of lactation and breastfeeding/chestfeeding information, care and support for most pregnant people in Aotearoa New Zealand. Aims: An integrative literature review was undertaken: to ascertain the specific lactation and chestfeeding/breastfeeding information and care needs for trans, non-binary, takatāpui and other gender diverse whānau; to consider the implications of this knowledge for contemporary midwifery in Aotearoa New Zealand; and to identify continuing research needs. Method: Literature for this integrative review was primarily sourced through the Ovid Online Database using search terms pertinent to the topic and limited to articles published in peer reviewed journals in English, excluding editorials, commentaries and opinion pieces. Findings: Literature about trans and non-binary parents and chestfeeding/breastfeeding, although increasing since 2010, is limited internationally and absent nationally. From extant literature, connections between healthcare barriers and the negative experiences of trans and non-binary parents are identified and explored in three overarching themes: the foundations of Western perinatal healthcare systems; the invisibility of trans and non-binary people within perinatal healthcare systems; and the lack of perinatal healthcare provider knowledge. Conclusion: Cis-normative, gender binary foundations are omnipresent in perinatal healthcare, rendering trans and non-binary people invisible, and excluded from this space. These factors contribute to the limiting of perinatal healthcare provider knowledge, an overwhelming finding in the literature. The absence of locally produced literature presents scope for research production here in Aotearoa New Zealand, exploring this topic from our unique cultural contexts. Such contributions may help inform whether adaptations and additions to current midwifery education are necessary to support midwives in the provision of equitable, safe, culturally appropriate, gender-inclusive care.

Moderate Proficiency in Suture Techniques Among Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of healthcare providers, specifically nurses, regarding suturing skills, methods, and types at Al-Basrah Teaching Hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional approach was adopted from January 1, 2023, to July 30, 2023. A purposive sample of 100 nurses, representing both genders and various wards, participated. Preliminary validation was conducted through a pilot study involving ten healthcare providers, and Cronbach's Alpha assessed the survey's reliability. Data analysis was executed using SPSS version 26, focusing on descriptive statistics (mean, SD, frequency) and inferential statistics (chi-square). The demographic profile showed an equal distribution in age (50% aged 20-35), a slight female predominance (52%), and a majority holding diplomas (56%). Results indicated a moderate level of knowledge and proficiency in suturing skills and techniques among the participants. These findings suggest a need for enhanced training and education in suturing to improve patient care outcomes in clinical settings. Highlights : Moderate Suturing Proficiency: Nurses displayed a medium level of knowledge and skill in suturing techniques. Demographic Diversity: Sample included a balanced age distribution, slight female predominance, and majority diploma holders. Training Implications: Results highlight the necessity for improved suturing education to enhance patient care quality. Keywords : Suturing Skills, Nurse Education, Healthcare Training, Cross-Sectional Study, Clinical Competency

Experiential workshop on innovative teaching methods to improve palliative care education.

Introduction: To improve the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of healthcare providers for delivering quality generic palliative care, innovation in palliative care education and empowerment of the teaching staff are key.&#x0D; Context for the workshop: The World Health Organization states that “Palliative care improves the quality of life of patients and that of their families who are facing challenges associated with life-threatening illness, whether physical, psychological, social or spiritual. The quality of life of caregivers improves as well.”. Per definition palliative care is patient-centred integrated care. Or at least it should be.&#x0D; International research shows that nurses (and other healthcare providers) lack core competencies to deal with palliative care situations adequately. One of the underlying reasons is that the possibilities for practical internship in palliative care are limited and that there are few options for gaining bed-side practical experience with regard to supporting patients during the dying phase. Another cause is that the knowledge, skills and attitudes of nurse educators to teach something something as complex as palliative care are not sufficiently developed.&#x0D; In a participatory approach four European institutes for higher education (KAMK (Finland), UnitBv (Romania), Howest (Belgium), PMU (Austria)), a hospice (Casa Speranţei Braşov, Romania), and the European Association for Palliative Care joined forces to support teaching staff and build up their capabilities. Funded by the Erasmus+ KA203 programme the NursEduPal@Euro partnership developed innovative, attractive and immersive ways to train palliative care core competencies as an important step to improve the quality of palliative nursing education.&#x0D; Objective, structure and targeted audience of the workshop: During the 5 topics of the workshop, the NursEduPal@Euro team provides an inspiring experience with less traditional teaching methods for the participants. Starting from core competencies that bachelor degree nurses need to acquire to enable them to provide generalist palliative care, an immersive demonstration is given of innovative educational tools suited to accomplish the acquisition of those competencies. The input for all methodologies is a golden standard case telling the story of Maggie and Ben, an elderly couple that is dealing with issues of chronic disease, informal care giving and the end of life. The objective of the workshop is to promote the use of the demonstrated tools in palliative care education of (future) healthcare providers throughout Europe.&#x0D; The 90-min workshop consists of the following parts: (1) Introduction of the NursEduPal@Euro project and the core competencies in palliative care (10 min), (2) Engage in design thinking to creative complex problem solving (20 min), (3) The game is on: a taste of a serious educational escape game (25 min), (4) Experience the strength of simulation as a learning tool (25 min), (5) Evaluation of the workshop by the audience with an online tool, directions on how to freely access the learning tools, and closing remarks (10 min).&#x0D; Anyone interested in education is welcome: we are not only addressing the teaching staff of educational institutions, but also educators who are committed to promoting lifelong learning for the healthcare workforce.

AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON GOAL SETTING AND INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION WITHIN REABLEMENT PROGRAMS

Abstract Over the last two decades, reablement has been studied and implemented in more than 16 countries. It is a person-centred approach aiming to enhance individuals’ (physical) functioning and increase or maintain their independence in meaningful activities. Goal setting and interdisciplinary collaboration are identified as important key elements of reablement. Due to limited intervention descriptions in the scientific literature, it is not clear how these two elements are applied in practice. This hinders the uptake of reablement services among healthcare care providers on national and international level. This study aimed to provide insight into: (1) goal setting; and (2) interdisciplinary collaboration within reablement programs. Therefore, a qualitative study in Norway and the Netherlands was conducted. In both countries, reablement staff (n=14) was interviewed. Data was analysed using both deductive and inductive content analysis. To increase rigor in terms of credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability; member checking, uniform data collection methods, note-taking, and direct quotations were used to analyse and present the data in this study. These focus groups resulted in, on the one hand, a clear overview of procedures regarding goal setting, treatment and evaluation methods, and on the other hand, valuable insights into staff experiences regarding interdisciplinary collaboration. In addition, facilitators and barriers for the implementation of goal setting and interdisciplinary collaboration in reablement programs were identified. This study resulted in valuable knowledge for healthcare providers to effectively implement reablement in practice.

Knowledge, attitude and practices of health care providers in implementing services to HRGs under the TANSACS program

Knowledge, attitude and practices of health care providers in implementing services to HRGs under the TANSACS program

Gender-affirming hormone therapy in Portugal: knowledge, safety and adherence

Background: More research is needed to understand the knowledge, experiences, safety, and adherence of individuals on gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) for gender dysphoria treatment. Aim: To assess the knowledge of the Portuguese transgender population on GAHT about the therapy, examine the experiences of those who initiated it through the Portuguese National Health System, and evaluate the safety, monitoring and adherence to hormonal therapy. Methods: Cross-sectional study with Portuguese transgender adults who had hormonal therapy. Participants completed an original questionnaire that utilized an ordinal Likert-style scale that ranged from 0 (worst result) to 6 (best result) for most items. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were used to analyze both categorical and continuous variables. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results: Participants’ knowledge on GAHT was rated with a median of 5 points, relying mostly on the internet for information. 14.1% felt insufficiently informed. 71.2% faced obstacles obtaining GAHT, with long waiting times being the most common. Feminizing therapy was significantly more expensive. Initial consultation was often with psychologists/sexologists, with endocrinologists commonly being the first providers of GAHT. 43.3% didn’t undergo informed consent and 11.3% had no pretreatment blood tests. Only 53.2% discussed fertility with medical professionals, and of those, only 8.0% opted for it. 79.6% regularly underwent routine analyses and 87.3% were followed up in medical appointments, mainly with an endocrinologist. 6.3% of participants discontinued therapy, mostly due to adverse effects and difficulty obtaining prescriptions. Discussion: Internet sources dominated as the main information channel for GAHT, emphasizing the importance of healthcare professionals guiding patients to reliable sources. Limited healthcare provider knowledge and access barriers were identified. Primary care physicians had limited involvement, raising safety concerns. Inadequate fertility counseling and follow-up in family medicine were found. Discontinuation of therapy and nonadherence highlighted the need for comprehensive care and monitoring.