Key Professionals Research Articles

Mental health and wellbeing in mesothelioma: A qualitative study exploring what helps the wellbeing of those living with this illness and their informal carers

PurposeMesothelioma is an incurable, asbestos related cancer with a poor prognosis. Little is known about how patients and carers living with the condition manage their mental health and wellbeing needs. This paper reports findings on interventions being used by patients and informal carers living with mesothelioma and those which they find most helpful. MethodsIn-depth interviews with patients (n = 10) and (informal) carers (n = 11) living with mesothelioma in the UK. We analysed our data inductively using a reflexive thematic analysis approach. ResultsParticipants described the importance of both smaller and larger actions and strategies which helped with their mental health. This included spending more time with family and friends and going on holidays. Professionals who participants said supported their mental health journey included not only specialist nurses and mental health professionals but also legal and Asbestos Support Group professionals. The latter demonstrates the unique needs and support required for this population. Exposure to asbestos as the cause of mesothelioma, has led to a social justice aspect of the experience of living with this cancer. Participants reported the importance of collective action to their mental health and wellbeing. The data indicate that patients and carers may have distinct mental health and wellbeing requirements and need to manage these in different ways at different times. ConclusionsFindings have implications for nurses and other key professionals working in healthcare, community and legal settings supporting this client group, and for those living with mesothelioma who want to understand ways to enhance their own wellbeing.

EFFECTS OF COVID-19 ANXIETY AND COVID-19 QUALITY OF LIFE ON COVID-19 BURNOUT IN PSYCHIATRIC NURSES

Nurses are key professionals in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and they provide services beyond expectations. Although psychiatric nurses are suffering from anxiety and burnout they need to enhance and protect their quality of life. The major aim of the study was to investigate the effects of COVID-19 anxiety on COVID-19 quality of life and COVID-19 burnout, and the impact of COVID-19 quality of life on COVID-19 burnout on psychiatric nurses. The descriptive-relational design was used. The sample consisted of 159 nurses working in a state psychiatric hospital in İstanbul, determined by convenience sampling method. The data of the study was collected by using the socio-demographic form, COVID-19 Anxiety Scale, COVID-19 Life Quality Scale, and COVID-19 Burnout Scale. Statistically significant relationships were found between COVID-19 anxiety, COVID-19 life quality, and COVID-19 burnout. The increase in the anxiety of psychiatric nurses due to COVID-19 also increases the negative effect on their quality of life. COVID-19 anxiety positively affects burnout related to COVID-19. The increase in the negative effects of COVID-19 on the life quality of nurses causes an increase in burnout levels. The effect of COVID-19 on their life quality and the burnout based on COVID-19 was investigated in the research. Nurses are surpassing traditional boundaries, providing their services without constraints to confront the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their dedication knows no bounds as they work tirelessly to navigate through these difficult times, transcending conventional limits to offer essential care and support. Policymakers can alleviate the increasing physical and psychosocial burden of psychiatric nurses by providing financial and moral support. Additionally, medical, psychosocial, and legal resources should be provided to psychiatric nurses.

Simulating the healthcare workforce impact and capacity for pancreatic cancer care in Victoria: a model-based analysis

BackgroundThe incidence of pancreatic cancer is rising. With improvements in knowledge for screening and early detection, earlier detection of pancreatic cancer will continue to be more common. To support workforce planning, our aim is to perform a model-based analysis that simulates the potential impact on the healthcare workforce, assuming an earlier diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.MethodsWe developed a simulation model to estimate the demand (i.e. new cases of pancreatic cancer) and supply (i.e. the healthcare workforce including general surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pain medicine physicians, and palliative care physicians) between 2023 and 2027 in Victoria, Australia. The model compares the current scenario to one in which pancreatic cancer is diagnosed at an earlier stage. The incidence of pancreatic cancer in Victoria, five-year survival rates, and Victoria’s population size were obtained from Victorian Cancer Registry, Cancer Council NSW, and Australian Bureau of Statistics respectively. The healthcare workforce data were sourced from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care’s Health Workforce Data. The model was constructed at the remoteness level. We analysed the new cases and the number of healthcare workforce by profession together to assess the impact on the healthcare workforce.ResultsIn the status quo, over the next five years, there will be 198 to 220 stages I-II, 297 to 330 stage III, and 495 to 550 stage IV pancreatic cancer cases diagnosed annually, respectively. Assuming 20–70% of the shift towards pancreatic cancer’s earlier diagnosis (shifting from stage IV to stages I-II pancreatic cancer within one year), the stages I-II cases could increase to 351 to 390 or 598 to 665 per year. The shift to early diagnosis led to substantial survival gains, translating into an additional 284 or 795 out of 5246 patients with pancreatic cancer remaining alive up to year 5 post-diagnosis. Workforce supply decreases significantly by the remoteness levels, and remote areas face a shortage of key medical professionals registered in delivering pancreatic cancer care, suggesting travel necessities by patients or clinicians.ConclusionImproving the early detection and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is expected to bring significant survival benefits, although there are workforce distribution imbalances in Victoria that may affect the ability to achieve the anticipated survival gain.

Exploring Different Stakeholder Perspectives on Bilingualism in Autism

An increasing body of research suggests that bilingualism is possible and perhaps even advantageous for autistic individuals. However, several factors might influence parents’ decisions about raising their autistic child bilingually, including national language policies, educational contexts, advice received from key professionals, and the child’s individual strengths and needs. Accordingly, there is a clear imperative to understand how the views of different stakeholders converge and diverge when language decisions are made in the context of autism. This paper brings new insights by synthesising the findings of three qualitative studies that used interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore the perspectives and experiences of bilingual autistic children (n = 11), parents (n = 16), and educational practitioners (n = 13) of bilingualism in autism in England and Wales. Despite wide variation between and within groups, a striking tension emerged between individuals’ beliefs about bilingualism in general, which were positive, and their experiences of bilingualism in autism specifically, which often foregrounded more monolingual approaches. This paper examines this tension, with a particular focus on stakeholders’ attitudes towards the feasibility of bilingualism, families’ language choices in the context of autism, and how notions of contextual linguistic diversity accentuated differences between England and Wales. We conclude by arguing that greater awareness of both bilingualism and neurodiversity in educational and clinical settings may improve the experiences of bilingual autistic children and, crucially, the language advice families receive.

Raising awareness of Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) through the use of educational videos: One size does not fit all

Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is a leading cause of childhood visual impairment in Western countries. This complex condition impacts affected children’s ability to see and process visual information, affecting their learning and development. Although early intervention is beneficial, many children with CVI live with this condition without this being identified. This is, in part, due to unfamiliarity with the condition among health care and education professionals. In recent years, more information has become available, and attempts have been made to explain this condition in accessible formats, such as educational videos. For this study, students and professionals in health care and education were asked to rate their knowledge about CVI, to watch three short educational videos about CVI, and to complete a survey about the use of these videos as a tool to raise awareness and to increase understanding of the condition. The study shows that educational videos can be used effectively to raise awareness of CVI among educational and health care students and professionals. Furthermore, the study shows that there is a mix of understanding, confidence and learning styles across the key professionals supporting children with CVI. As a result, different videos are effective for different audiences and therefore no one size fits all.

Nurses' and physicians' perspectives on implementation barriers and facilitators in a transfer program for parents of adolescents with chronic illness.

To identify barriers and facilitators impacting the implementation of a comprehensive transfer program aimed at parents of adolescents with chronic illness in clinical practice. A real-time, qualitative process evaluation. Individual interviews were conducted with 10 nurses and seven physicians from paediatric and adult outpatient clinics: Nephrology, hepatology, neurology, and rheumatology. Data were analysed through the lens of normalization process theory. Themes were framed within the theory's four components. (1) Coherence: Healthcare professionals' views on their core tasks and on the parents' role influenced their perception of the program. (2) Cognitive participation: A named key worker, autonomy, and collaboration impacted healthcare professionals' involvement in the program. (3) Collective action: Department prioritization and understanding of the program's aim were key factors in its successful delivery. (4) Reflective monitoring: Participants experienced that the program helped parents during transfer but questioned if the program was needed by all families. We identified three barriers: Healthcare professionals' lack of understanding of the parental role during transfer, top-down decisions among nurses, and physicians' uncertainty about their role in joint consultations. Facilitators: Healthcare professionals' understanding of the program's purpose and expected effect, the nurses' significant role as named keyworkers, and good collaboration across paediatric and adult departments. Implementation strategies should be developed before implementing a transfer program in clinical practice. Implementing a parental transfer program in clinical practice can be challenging. Therefore, for successful implementation, it is crucial to identify barriers and facilitators. Barriers and facilitators exist at the personal, professional, and organizational levels, and it is important to understand them. The results of this qualitative study could support the implementation of transfer programs in other settings. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ). No patient or public contribution. WHAT DOES THIS PAPER CONTRIBUTE TO THE WIDER GLOBAL CLINICAL COMMUNITY?: Nurses' and physicians' experiences of ownership of the transfer program is essential for successful implementation. Clinics should appoint a named keyworker, preferably a nurse, as the driving force during the implementation of a transfer program. Nurses and physicians should receive training about the purpose, justification, and expected effect of a transfer program before implementation.

Barriers to promoting breastfeeding in primary health care in Mexico: a qualitative perspective.

This article aimed to identify the main barriers related to promoting and counseling breastfeeding (BF) at the Primary Health Care (PHC) in Mexico. A qualitative study with a phenomenological approach was carried out in 88 health centers of the Ministry of Health in the states of Chihuahua, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Veracruz, Mexico, and Yucatan. From September to November 2021, we interviewed 88 key health professionals (HPs) (physicians, nurses, nutritionists, and others) from the PHC of the Ministry of Health in Mexico and 80 parents of children under 5 years old. In addition, nine focus groups were conducted with parents and caregivers. The data obtained were triangulated with information from focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Of the total interviews, 43.2% (n = 38) were nurses, 29.5% (n = 26) were physicians, 19.3% (n = 17) were nutritionists, and the rest were other health professionals. In the group of users, 97.6% (n = 121) were women. We identified contextual barriers, such as the lack of well-trained health professionals and the scarcest nutrition professionals, as material resources in the health units, without mentioning the low user attendance at their control consultations. Furthermore, we identified barriers related to the orientation and promotion of breastfeeding in health units, including a lack of specific strategies, ineffective communication, and the recommendations of commercial milk formulas. The results presented reflect the reality of Mexico in relation to BF, making it urgent to take immediate action to improve the quality of nutritional care related to the promotion and orientation of BF at the PHC.

Chronic Pain Management in The Basque Health Service: Starting from The Strategy

Introduction: Pain is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) as an "unpleasant, unpleasant, and unpleasant sensory and emotional experience of pain. (IASP) as an "unpleasant sensory and emotional experience, associated with or similar to that associated with actual or potential tissue damage". In Spain, it is estimated that 1 in 6 Spaniards (17%) suffers from chronic pain and that this disease represents the second cause of consultation in primary care (PC) and more than 50% of these interventions are related to it. Of the 10 most prevalent pathologies, half of them are related to pain, with a notably higher impact on women.
 Aims And Objectives:
 - To know the approach to pain, with special emphasis on chronic pain, in the Basque public health system.
 - To carry out an analysis of the results obtained in the survey and in the interviews with key clinical and management professionals.
 - Design and implement a pain strategy in Osakidetza.
 Material And Method: Design of an online survey with the different key areas of a strategy for pain management in a healthcare organization. 31 questions in 8 blocks.
 1.Pain management strategy or plan
 2.Resources allocated by the organization
 3.Assessment tools
 4.Pain management
 5.Training activities for professionals
 6.Information/sensitization and empowerment of the patients and families
 7.Coordination and continuity of care
 8.Evaluation indicators
 Results:
 All organizations have strategies or plans.
 67% of the Integrated care Organisation (ICO) have a Pain commission
 100% of the ICO has a Pain Unit.
 25% have specific resources for primary care.
 100% has medical protocols for referrals and 75% in infirmary.
 100% of ICO use the analog visual scale (AVS), among others.
 83% of the ICOs have drug management reconciliation activities and safety criteria in drug management, and 75% refer to non-pharmacological approach methodologies, mainly related to the neurosciences.
 58% of the OSIs consider that there are activities such as specific courses on pain and in 75% of them encourage an interdisciplinary approach with specific pain care plans such as musculoskeletal pain.
 67% believe that it promotes empowerment interventions, such as community interventions, patient empowerment, group approaches, and health education for both patients and caregivers.
 regarding continuity of care 75% have face-to-face activities and 100% have non-face-to-face activities.
 Realted to evaluation 60% uses AVS instrument and there is a high use of opioids
 Conclussion: Although there are a multitude of interventions and many agents involved in pain management, the truth is that there is great heterogeneity in the availability of the same resources in the different ICO. Pprimary care still has a residual role in the management of these patients as well as non-pharmacological treatments. the lack of psychological care for these patients is striking. Also noteworthy is the almost non-existent difference in care according to the patient's gender.
 Implications For Applicability And Limitations: A strategic plan is therefore necessary for the corporation

The NeoPACE study: study protocol for the development of a core outcome set for neonatal palliative care

BackgroundNeonatal death is the leading category of death in children under the age of 5 in the UK. Many babies die following decisions between parents and the neonatal team; when a baby is critically unwell, with the support of healthcare professionals, parents may make the decision to stop active treatment and focus on ensuring their baby has a ‘good’ death. There is very little evidence to support the clinical application of neonatal palliative care and/or end-of-life care, resulting in variation in clinical provision between neonatal units. Developing core outcomes for neonatal palliative care would enable the development of measures of good practice and enhance our care of families. The aim of this study is to develop a core outcome set with associated tools for measuring neonatal palliative care.MethodThis study has four phases: (1) identification of potential outcomes through systematic review and qualitative interviews with key stakeholders, including parents and healthcare professionals (2) an online Delphi process with key stakeholders to determine core outcomes (3) identification of outcome measures to support clinical application of outcome use (4) dissemination of the core outcome set for use across neonatal units in the UK. Key stakeholders include parents, healthcare professionals, and researchers with a background in neonatal palliative care.DiscussionDeveloping a core outcome set will standardise minimum reported outcomes for future research and quality improvement projects designed to determine the effectiveness of interventions and clinical care during neonatal palliative and/or end-of-life care. The core outcome set will provide healthcare professionals working in neonatal palliative and/or end-of-life support with an increased and consistent evidence base to enhance practice in this area.Trial registrationThe study has been registered with the COMET initiative (https://www.comet-initiative.org/Studies/Details/1470) and the systematic review is registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42023451068).

Utilization of Maternal, Nutritional and Child Health Care Services Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic in Uttar Pradesh, India

Background: All maternal health services are essential to be continued for pregnant mothers during lockdown and avoid COVID infection with awareness of people by following all precautions from COVID-19. We aimed to examine changes in service provision and utilization of MNCH services during the pandemic in Uttar Pradesh, India and identify the factors affecting the utilization and service delivery. Objective: To assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on utilization and delivery of maternal health services at health facilities in Uttar Pradesh, India. Method: COVID -19 pandemic data has been collected form website https://prsindia.org/covid-19/cases which provides the day wise data for four major components such as confirmed cases, active cases, cured/discharged and death and pandemic effects on the maternal services including ANC registration, pregnant women registered for ANC within 1st trimester and home and institutional deliveries during April 2019, April 2020 and April 2021. At the same time, through informal discussion with key healthcare professionals and focused desk reviews of published scientific, grey and media-based information and country-specific healthcare policies. Results and summary: Huge difference in the percent change of the beneficiaries received maternal health services among April 2019, April 2020 and April 2021. It is found that there is 88 percent change in the ANC registration for pregnant women in April 2020 against April 2019. It simple means that 371065 pregnant women registered for ANC in April 2019 whereas only 44987 pregnant women registered in April 2019 which is very less number of pregnant women went for ANC visit in public health facilities in Uttar Pradesh. While, during the 2nd wave of COVID-19 pandemic regarding the ANC service, it reflects only 3 percent change based on government HMIS data set, as 361201 pregnant women registered for ANC in April 2021 and its close to April 2019 i.e. 371065. Similarly, 12 percent change for institutional deliveries was found in April 2020 and no change for the institutional deliveries during April 2021. Moreover, more institutional deliveries are occurred during April 2021 against April 2020 and April 2019. The main reason for delayed health seeking was lockdown in April 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. The health situation was very worst in all the public health facilities during April 2021 due to COVID-19. Conclusions: COVID-19 severely affected the provision and use of MNCH services in Uttar Pradesh, India, despite efforts at service restoration and adaptations. Strengthening logistics support, capacity enhancement, performance management, and demand creation are needed to improve service provision and utilization during and post-COVID-19.

Case study: the development of specialist nurse roles in Malta

Specialist nurses play a significant role in healthcare. This study investigated and evaluated the primary and extended roles and the development of specialist nurses in Malta. Methods: A qualitative case study design and purposive sampling techniques were used to gain a deep understanding of the complex issues surrounding specialist nurses from multiple data sets. A survey of the total specialist nurse population in 2013 (n=27), in-depth interviews with a group of specialist nurses (n=9) and four focus groups with key professionals and policy stakeholders (total n=28) were carried out. Data were collected between 2013 and 2015 and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: Three themes emerged: the roles and attributes of specialist nurses in Malta; the development of specialist nurses; and the influences on the advancement of specialist nursing practice in Malta. Although these data are nearly a decade old, no further research has been carried out. Conclusions: A legally accepted set of definitions as well as preparation and evaluation of the specialist nurse role from a national policy perspective is needed. Attitudes and systems that limit specialist nurses need to be challenged.

Climate adaptation depends on rebalancing flexibility and rigidity in US fisheries management

Abstract Fisheries face unprecedented environmental change. An important aspect of resilience to this change is the adaptive capacity of managers and stakeholders to respond to new conditions. A growing academic literature has demonstrated the value of fostering this adaptive capacity and highlighted key elements of fisheries social-ecological systems that can promote it. However, it is unclear to what extent these abstract academic ideas around adaptive capacity are relevant and valuable to on-the-ground resource managers, and if so, whether there are aspects of the literature that particularly resonate with their needs. Here, we compare academic concepts of adaptive capacity to the ways that management practitioners conceptualize and implement these ideas in practice, elicited through interviews with key professionals in United States federal fishery management bodies. Practitioners overwhelmingly cited flexibility to respond to change as the most consistently important element of adaptive capacity. Yet, they also detailed how the U.S. fishery management system routinely limits and constrains the flexibility of managers and stakeholders. Seeking out opportunities that enhance flexibility without jeopardizing other key aspects of adaptive capacity could increase management’s adaptive capacity to global change in the USA and elsewhere.

Business response to mandatory corporate social responsibility with evidence from India

AbstractThere has been a lot of discussion on the shift from voluntary to mandatory corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its impacts in different countries across the globe. India is unique in this context as the reporting and expenditure of a certain amount under CSR has been mandated for companies. This article analyzes the changes and responses of Indian businesses post‐2014, when new CSR rules were enacted. The key objectives of this study are to assess the level of awareness and compliance, thematic and geographical focus areas for CSR projects, and drivers and barriers to the adoption of mandatory CSR. We performed a secondary analysis of the data from 60 companies, followed by extensive primary research through in‐person interviews and offline questionnaire responses with 100 key CSR professionals from different companies in India. A key finding from the study is that the awareness of CSR policy and the pool of CSR funds has increased. The policy mandates have been a good driver in improving transparency and reporting quality. However, there is a predominant focus on four thematic areas of education, healthcare, hunger, and poverty alleviation despite the government's efforts to expand in other areas. The geographical spread of expenditure is limited to a few key industrial states in India, limiting CSR's contribution towards national development. The study adds to the CSR literature associated with institutional and stakeholder theories by looking at the response of legally bound organizations toward society and the environment. Finally, the study provides valuable information for governments and regulatory authorities considering the mandatory implementation of CSR expenditure across the globe.

Job attributes of key Sri Lankan construction professionals in addressing the challenges associated with climate change

PurposeConstruction professionals are the major contributors to developing a sustainable construction industry, whereas architects, engineers and quantity surveyors are the key construction professionals who must play extraordinary roles in achieving better sustainable construction. Therefore, this study aims to identify the job attributes of key Sri Lankan construction professionals in addressing challenges associated with climate change.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a mixed research approach. A literature review and preliminary semi-structured interviews were used to appraise the job roles of architects, engineers and quantity surveyors in addressing challenges associated with climate change. The data collected through the qualitative approach were used in an online questionnaire survey, and the findings were analysed using the relative index method.FindingsThe findings highlight that regardless of the knowledge of the professional category on green rating tools, carbon footprint, adaptation of renewable energies for the reduction of energy consumption, building information modelling-related applications and waste management concepts/practices are the foremost job attributes required for the key Sri Lankan construction professionals in addressing challenges associated with climate change.Research limitations/implicationsThe results from this study provide a handful of guidance to construction industry professionals, national and international professional institutions, non-governmental organisations and other relevant authorities to address climate change within the built environment by identifying ways for improving the relevant key job attributes of construction industry professionals.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that explores the job attributes of key Sri Lankan construction professionals in addressing the challenges associated with climate change.

Transition Requires Collaboration

This study aims to emphasize the importance of collaboration in the transition process. The content of this article includes a vignette, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and key professionals involved in transition planning. Interagency collaboration is a key factor in ensuring a successful transition outcome. Interagency teams bridge the gap between students with disabilities’ overall expectations and performance during transition. Post-school outcomes can be enhanced through strategic transition planning, acknowledgment of available resources, ongoing vocational rehabilitation services, and additional employment supports that increase employability. In addition to interagency collaboration, parent and student involvement is a necessary component in establishing the best blueprint for a successful transition. Barriers that exist in the transition of students with emotional and behavioral disorders include a lack of awareness of programs and services and collaborative interagency efforts to obtain optimal results.

Understanding the Sociocognitive Determinants Underlying Intentions to Exercise for Postconcussion Symptom Relief: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior.

This study investigated individual sociocognitive factors from the theory of planned behavior and their relationship to exercise for postconcussion recovery. Four hundred and fifty-nine Australian adults, two-thirds of whom had no concussion history (66%), completed an online survey of their beliefs and attitudes toward exercise for postconcussion recovery. Secondary questions evaluated program design features that could affect engagement (eg,session frequency). Structured equation modeling found that subjective norms were the strongest significant predictor of intention to participate in exercise for postconcussion recovery. Perceived behavioral control was also a significant predictor of intention to participate but to a lesser extent. Attitude did not predict participation intention. The design features identified as key were personalization and being supervised during the program. This study found that people's intention to participate in a program of exercise postconcussion recovery is shaped by individual psychological factors and identified program design features that could be adjusted for increased engagement. Program success could be maximized through strategies such as supporting individuals to have a stronger sense of control over their participation through the choice of session timing or frequency and harnessing the influence of significant others via supportive messaging from key professionals.

Current preconception care practice in the Netherlands — An evaluation study among birth care professionals

ObjectiveTo evaluate the current practice of preconception care in the Netherlands and the perceptions of birth care professionals concerning preconception care. MethodsWe have developed a digital questionnaire and conducted a cross-sectional study by distributing the questionnaire among 102 organisations: 90 primary care midwifery practices and obstetric departments of 12 hospitals in the Southwest region of the Netherlands between December 2020 and March 2021. One birth care professional per organization was asked to complete the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to present the results. FindingsRespondents of eighty-three organisations (81.4 %) filled in the questionnaire, of whom 74 respondents were independent primary care midwives and 9 respondents were obstetricians. Preconception care mostly consisted of an individual consultation in which personalized health and lifestyle advice was given. Among the respondents, 44.4 % reported that the organization had a preconception care protocol. The way in which the consultation was carried out, as well as the health and lifestyle related questions asked, differed between respondents. More than 85 % of the respondents inquire about the following possible risk factors for complications: maternal illnesses, obstetric history, folic acid supplement intake, alcohol intake, smoking, substance abuse, hereditary disease, prescription medication, dietary habits, overweight, and birth defects in the family. The respondents acknowledged that preconception care should be offered to all couples who wish to become pregnant, as opposed to offering preconception care only to those with an increased risk of complications. Still, respondents do not receive many questions regarding the preconception period or requests for preconception care consultations. Key conclusionBirth care professionals acknowledge the need for preconception care for all couples. In the Netherlands, preconception care consists mostly of an individual consultation with recommendations for health and lifestyle advice. However, the identification of risk factors varies between birth care professionals and less than half of the respondents indicate that they have a protocol available in their practice. Furthermore, the demand of parents-to-be for preconception care is low. More research, that includes more obstetricians, is necessary to investigate if there is a difference between the care provided by primary care midwives and obstetricians. Implications for practice: To increase the awareness and uptake of preconception care, it would be prudent to emphasize its importance to parents-to-be and professionals, and actively promote the use of widespread, standardized protocols for birth care professionals.

Harm reduction social work with people who use drugs: a qualitative interview study with social workers in harm reduction services in Sweden

BackgroundSocial work with people who use drugs (PWUD) has traditionally focused on abstinence and rehabilitation. In recent years, harm reduction has gained an increasingly more important role in social work with PWUD, and social workers are key professionals in many harm reduction services. This study investigates how social workers in harm reduction services for PWUD in Sweden understand the concept of harm reduction and how it relates to goals of rehabilitation, and how they assess and deal with dilemmas and challenges in everyday work.MethodsThe study is based on interviews with 22 social workers in harm reduction services for PWUD in the Scania region of Sweden. A thematic analysis in three steps was used in coding and processing the data.ResultsThe social workers pointed to similar values between social work and harm reduction and argued for combining the two fields to improve services for PWUD. Three overarching principles for Harm Reduction Social Work (HRSW) were developed based on the social workers accounts: (1) Harm reduction is a prerequisite for rather than a counterpoint to rehabilitation and recovery, (2) motivational work must be non-mandatory and based on the client’s goals, (3) a holistic perspective is crucial for Harm Reduction Social Work. Challenges in doing HRSW concerned restrictive laws, policies, and guidelines, resistance from managers, difficulties in setting boundaries between client autonomy and life-saving interventions, and the risk of normalizing high-risk behaviors.ConclusionsWe use the concept of Harm Reduction Social Work to show how social work with PWUD can have a primary focus on reducing harm and risks, while at the same time it involves a holistic perspective that facilitates motivation and change. The suggested principles of HRSW can provide guidance in practical social work with vulnerable PWUD. Social workers can have important roles in most harm reduction settings and may act to enable recovery.

Characteristics of Current Teaching Kitchens: Findings from Recent Surveys of the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative.

Teaching kitchens are physical and virtual forums that foster practical life skills through participation in experiential education. Given the well-supported connection between healthy eating patterns and the prevention and management of chronic diseases, both private and public organizations are building teaching kitchens (TKs) to enhance the health and wellness of patients, staff, youth, and the general community. Although implementation of TKs is becoming more common, best practices for starting and operating programs are limited. The present study aims to describe key components and professionals required for TK operations. Surveys were administered to Teaching Kitchen Collaborative (TKC) members and questions reflected seven primary areas of inquiry: (1) TK setting(s), (2) audiences served, (3) TK model(s), (4) key lines of operations, (5) team member who manages or directs the TK, (6) team member(s) who performs key operations and other professionals or partnerships that may be needed, and (7) the primary funding source(s) to build and operate the TK (among various other topics). Findings were used to articulate recommendations for organizations seeking to establish a successful TK as well as for TKs to expand their collective reach, research capacity, and impact.

Using Structural Equation Modeling to Explore Patients’ and Healthcare Professionals’ Expectations and Attitudes Towards Socially Assistive Humanoid Robots in Nursing and Care Routine

Healthcare systems around the world are currently witnessing various challenges, including population aging and workforce shortages. As a result, the existing, overworked staff are struggling to meet the ever-increasing demands and provide the desired quality of care. One of the promising technological solutions that could complement the human workforce and alleviate some of their workload, are socially assistive humanoid robots. However, despite their potential, the implementation of socially assistive humanoid robots is often challenging due to low acceptance among key stakeholders, namely, patients and healthcare professionals. Hence, the present study first investigated the extent to which these stakeholders accept the use of socially assistive humanoid robots in nursing and care routine, and second, explored the characteristics that contribute to higher/lower acceptance within these groups, with a particular emphasis on demographic variables, technology expectations, ethical acceptability, and negative attitudes. In study 1, conducted on a sample of 490 healthcare professionals, the results of structural equation modeling showed that acceptance is driven primarily by aspects of ethical acceptability, although education and technology expectations also exert an indirect effect. In study 2, conducted on a sample of 371 patients, expectations regarding capabilities and attitudes towards the social influence of robots emerged as important predictors of acceptance. Moreover, although acceptance rates differed between tasks, both studies show a relatively high acceptance of socially assistive humanoid robots. Despite certain limitations, the study findings provide essential knowledge that enhances our understanding of stakeholders’ perceptions and acceptance of socially assistive humanoid robots in hospital environments, and may guide their deployment.