Practice Of Health Professionals Research Articles

Women’s Reproductive Health Rights in Poland. Between a Druggists’ Conscience Clause and Their Legal Duty to Provide Contraceptives

This article recommends the promotion of moral competence in the health and pharmacy professions to enable them to respect human and patient health rights with a focus on the provision of reproductive and sexual health care services. In certain cultures, health care and drug providers follow their conscientious objection (conscience clause) and decline to perform specific health services, including the provision of legal contraceptives in cases protected by legal and human rights. Such malpractices may violate patients’ and purchasers’ legitime rights. The article also presents findings obtained in Poland with N=121 women experimentally interviewed to examine their experiences as contraception purchasers, to assess their preference concerning facing human vs. robotic pharmacists, to manage the risk of refusal argued by the conscientious objection, and to score their moral competence with one of the dilemmas included in the MCT by G. Lind. This study demonstrated that purchasers with higher C-score (C for moral competence) would not just prefer a robotic pharmacist without a ‘conscience’ but, rather, a competent sales staff able to instruct the patient and advice her on any related queries. It further results that participants with higher moral competence are thus less likely to trust the medical expertise of artificial intelligence. We conclude that public institutions in pluralistic societies must manage normative reproductive health contexts more inclusively, and the election, education, and practice of health professionals in the public health care sector require the development of a normative mindset toward respecting the rights of all patients instead of respecting them selectively at the diktat of particularistic conscience.

Empathy in nursing professionals for care subjects with depression

Introduction: Empathy in nursing professionals and its impact on quality of care, as well as the challenges they face, are highlighted. Compassion fatigue" due to frequent use of empathy is explored. The study seeks to improve communication and empathic care, especially in patients with psychological health disturbance. The research aims to identify strategies for better care management. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed with the keywords "empathy", "empathy", "nursing" and "depression", establishing inclusion and exclusion criteria to select 7 relevant articles on empathy in nursing professionals for care subjects with depression in the last 5 years and open access. Results: The studies provide valuable information on the psychological health of health professionals and the importance of empathy in their practice. The results highlight the need to implement effective interventions to improve the mental health of these professionals and their empathic capacity in patient care. Conclusions: Empathy is crucial in nursing care, but the presence of negative mental states, such as depression, can affect it. The high prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders in mental health also influences empathy towards patients with eating disorders. Addressing stress, burnout, and stigma is essential to improve empathy in health professional practice and benefit patients.

Factors influencing the implementation of shared decision-making in breast cancer care: protocol for a mixed-methods study

IntroductionChile is committed to actively involving patients in their healthcare. However, little is known about how this is translated into clinical encounters. Breast cancer (BC) is the first cause of...

Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Health Professionals Regarding use of Telemedicine in Jhansi District, Uttar Pradesh, India

INTRODUCTION: Telemedicine, the delivery of healthcare services remotely using communication technologies, has rapidly emerged as a transformative solution in the healthcare industry. The successful implementation of any new technology is influenced by several factors, including the knowledge and comprehension of the concept, acquired skills, attitudes towards technology, and the working environment of the professionals involved. AIM: The main objective of this study was to assess the awareness, knowledge, attitude and skills of telemedicine among the health professionals working in various private and government teaching hospitals in Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh, India. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 110 healthcare professionals, including teaching faculties and practitioners from preclinical, para-clinical, and clinical departments in Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh, India. A pre-validated self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the awareness, knowledge, attitude, and practice of telemedicine. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and the application of the t-test. The study provides valuable insights into the current state of telemedicine among healthcare professionals in the region. RESULTS: The study found that among the respondents, 41% demonstrated good knowledge of telemedicine, while 35% had fair knowledge, and 24% lacked adequate knowledge. Regarding attitude, 39% exhibited a high attitude towards telemedicine, 31% had a moderate attitude, and 30% had a low attitude. In terms of practice, only 9% were skilfully practicing telemedicine on a regular basis, 35% were in learners or beginners stage of practice and 56% were unskilled and incapable of practicing telemedicine and handling related equipments. CONCLUSION: The study findings indicate that while the respondents have limited experience and knowledge in telemedicine technology, a significant proportion of them exhibit a positive attitude towards telemedicine. It is imperative to prioritize the education and training of teaching faculty, practicing physicians, residents, medical students, and other healthcare professionals regarding telemedicine and its associated considerations.

The role of Communities of Practice in improving practice in Indigenous health and education settings: A systematic review

Introduction: Several workforce development strategies have been developed to improve practice in Indigenous health and education settings. These programs are often not implemented well, and as a result, they don’t have the intended effect on Indigenous health and education outcomes. Building capability of the health and education workforce is critical to improving health and education outcomes for Indigenous Peoples. Interventions that foster communities of practice are effective at influencing practice in various sectors, however no systematic reviews have investigated the impact of communities of practice in Indigenous health or education settings. Methods: This systematic review investigates the role of communities of practice in supporting existing workforce development strategies in Indigenous health and education settings. Seven databases were searched in 2019 and again in 2020. Data synthesis was through thematic analysis. Results: Eleven qualitative studies were included. Most community of practice interventions were situated in education settings. Interventions that foster community of practice can successfully include both Indigenous and non-Indigenous health and education professionals, allowing them to share personal stories, knowledge and resources and engage in personal and group reflection. This supports them to develop culturally responsive health and education tools, assessments and strategies and, therefore, may play a role in improving Indigenous health and education outcomes. Conclusion: Participation in communities of practice coupled with increased training and teaching about Indigenous culture may play a role in improving practice of Indigenous health and education professionals. Further research is required to determine what impact this has on Indigenous Peoples.

Health professionals' knowledge, attitude and practice regarding probiotics use in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Health professionals' knowledge, attitude and practice regarding probiotics use in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

E-prescription and invisible work in genomics in France.

This article aims to analyze the transformations in medical prescription work and infrastructures brought by digitalization. Our fieldwork takes place in the context of precision medicine development based on genomics High Throughput Sequencing (HTS) in France, through the Plan France Médecine Génomique (PFMG 2025). The Plan aims at industrializing the production of genomic testing in clinical context at a national scale, particularly in oncology. To ensure the intensified flow of information between hospitals and HTS platforms required, a centralized process has been organized around two sequencing platforms and the introduction of a new e-prescription software (E-PRES). We start by analyzing how the e-prescription software changes the practices of health professionals by imposing new technological and professional standards. We show that, more than a mere prescription tool, this software is also a monitoring tool for the platforms and prescribers' work, and a support tool for the logistical and work organization. Secondly, we question the division of labor among the different professionals involved in the organizational or technical tasks required. We show that the feasibility of this new form of digitalized prescription relies on an important datawork performed by "small hands" to select, translate and process a vast amount of heterogeneous data.

Strategies to Facilitate Professional Student Collaboration Focused on an Interprofessional Understanding

Purpose: Newer studies have suggested that interprofessional education (IPE) initiatives led by students can be successful in engaging their peers in IPE. Despite this, few studies exist that examine the student response to student-led IPE activities. The objective of this paper is to describe a student-led IPE program where health professional students learn from each other or from practicing health professionals through a seminar series. Method: Three seminars were arranged with presenters representing dentistry, dietetics, and occupational therapy. Student attendees completed a pre- and post-survey to analyze their interest, knowledge, and likelihood to collaborate with the profession featured in each seminar. Results: The average agreement levels were increased for interest, knowledge, and likelihood to collaborate from the pre- to post-seminar for all three health professions represented in the seminar series. Conclusions: Student-led initiatives may be helpful for engaging peers in IPE, while also suggesting that peer teaching within IPE may provide additional benefit. When students learn from one another and develop an understanding as to how they can work together as future practitioners has the potential to lead to improved interprofessional collaboration, and ultimately, better patient and population health outcomes.

Mini-BESTest cutoff points for classifying fallers and non-fallers female older adults

BACKGROUND: The Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest) is an efficient screening tool healthcare professionals use to predict the risk of falls in older adults. However, the Mini-BESTest cutoff scores to classify fallers and non-fallers were established using men and women in the same sample. Considering the higher number and prevalence of falls in older women, it is important to know the Mini-BESTest accuracy and the cutoff score specifically for this population. AIM: We examined the capability and accuracy of the Mini-BESTest for identifying fallers and non-fallers female older adults without neurological impairments and established the cutoff scores according to different age groups. METHOD:Eighty-one female older adults were classified into fallers (n=40) and non-fallers (n=41) groups according to their retrospective history of falls in the last 12 months. Fallers and non-fallers were divided into three age groups according to the following ranges: 65-69 years, 70-74 years, and 75+ years. We used the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to determine the relative performances of the Mini-BESTest score for classifying participants with and without a history of falls. RESULTS: The Mini-BESTest is a good and highly accurate tool for identifying female Brazilian fallers and non-fallers. The Mini-BESTest cutoff scores established to classify fallers and non-fallers female older adults in the different age groups were 26 points for 65-69 years and 24 points for 70-74 years and 75+ years. INTERPRETATION: The Mini-BESTest is an important tool that health professionals in clinical practice can use to estimate the risk of falls for older Brazilian women.

Family members' perspectives of hope when supporting a relative experiencing mental health problems.

Current research views hope as a process that plays a positive role in the recovery of individuals with mental health problems. However, little attention has been given to the role of hope in the lives of their families. We aimed to address that gap. We deployed a qualitative descriptive design and carried out individual interviews with nine family members who supported a relative with mental health problems. A cross-comparison of the data generated three major themes: understandings of hope; factors that diminish hope and factors that nurture hope. The participants viewed hope as a positive and productive feeling or attitude that was life-affirming, and empowering. They also associated it with behaviours and dispositions such as attentiveness and empathy and the possibility of a return to a more stable and 'normal' life. The participants experienced hope as initially eroded when their relative was first diagnosed and institutionalized. Hope was further diminished due to the poor communication practices of some mental health professionals and the stress of the caring role itself. On the other hand, hope was nurtured through the support of other family members, friends, neighbours and peers. Acquiring knowledge and understanding about the relative's state of mental health nurtured hope and enabled the participants to have a more meaningful role in their recovery process. Practices of self-care such as independent activities and counselling also strengthened hope and some mental health professionals played a positive role in supporting these. Most striking about the reports of many of the participants was their assertion of their abiding love for their relative. Their account of their ability to see beyond the illness of their relative was an insight that we did not find in other accounts of the experiences of family members. We highlight the need for family members to have timely access to relevant information about their relatives' illness. We conclude that hope is relational at its core because of the interplay of intrapersonal, interpersonal and social factors that diminish or nurture it over time. Specifically, we propose that friends, neighbours and peer support groups as key actors in nurturing the hope of both family members and their relatives.

Recreating the future-Indigenous research paradigms in health professional education research.

Health and self-determination are recognised as universal human rights. Health professional education research and practice hold the capacity to prioritise values, worldviews and agendas that envisage sustainable and equitable futures for the entire community served. This paper explores the need for the co-location of Indigenous research paradigms in health professional education research and teaching. Indigenous communities have a long history of science, research and sustainable living and are holders of ways of knowing, being and doing that can shape actions and priorities in health research that value equity and sustainability. Knowledge construction in health professional education research does not occur in isolation nor is it value neutral. A continued dominance of the biomedical approach to health creates a system of innovation that is unbalanced and unable to deliver health outcomes demanded by contemporary society. As power and hierarchies are embedded in health professional education research and praxis, transformative action is required to bring forth marginalised voices in research processes. Critical reflexivity regarding the ontological, epistemological, axiological and methodological positioning of researchers is an important step towards creating and sustaining research structures that effectively value and co-locate different perspectives in knowledge production and translation. Working towards more equitable and sustainable futures for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities requires health care systems to be informed and guided by different knowledge paradigms. This can work to avoid the ongoing reproduction of inefficient biomedical structures and purposefully disrupt the status quo of health inequities. Realising this requires the effective co-location of Indigenous research paradigms and ways of working into health professional education research that centre relationality, wholism, interconnectedness and self-determination. This calls for a raising of the critical consciousness of health professional education research academies.

Spirituality in Australian Health Professional Practice: A Scoping Review and Qualitative Synthesis of Findings.

This study explores how spirituality is integrated into practice across the different Australian health professions. Utilising the Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) protocol, six databases were searched, and sixty-seven articles were finally included. To present the findings, a qualitative synthesis was used. 'Meaning' and 'purpose in life' were found to be key to many spirituality definitions. The most frequently reported approach for Australian health professionals (HPs) in asking about client spirituality was using one or two questions within a comprehensive assessment. Major facilitators included a holistic care approach and prior training, whereas a key barrier was a lack of time.

Librarians' Role in Building Information Literacy Skills of Health Professionals for Evidence-Based Practice

The paper looks at evidence-based practice (EBP) and the role of librarians in training health professionals on information literacy skills to fully utilize Evidence-Based information resources to improve health practices and patient care management systems. The paper spelled out the various roles librarians played in inculcating knowledge of Evidence-Based information resources into health professionals. It concluded with the suggestion that librarians be included in the process of the development of information literacy skills of health professionals for the optimization of information resources toward the sustenance of resilience EBP. Keywords: Evidence-based practice, Information literacy skills, Health practitioners, Librarians.

Evaluating the History-Taking Process of Sexual Reproductive Health Problems in Tanzania: Lessons from a Study of Health Students and Practitioners.

Building trust and therapeutic relationships between healthcare providers and patients are crucial for delivering high-quality, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Yet, while patients face substantial SRH disparities in Tanzania, little is known about health care professionals' [HCPs] SRH history-taking practices and experiences. This paper describes HCPs' interdisciplinary practices, experience in conducting SRH taking, and the critical lessons learned to optimize quality SRH care. We conducted 18 focus group discussions in June 2019 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with 60 healthcare practitioners and 61 students in midwifery, nursing, and medicine. We implemented a purposive, stratified sampling design to explore the experiences and perspectives of HCPs regarding providing sexual health services. We employed a grounded theory approach to perform the analysis. We provided seven scenarios to participants to discuss how they would manage SRH health problems. The scenarios helped us evaluate the practice and experience of SRH in Tanzania. Four broad themes and sub-themes emerged during the discussion; 1) SRH history-taking practices and experiences in the health care facilities; 2) the perceived benefit of effective SRH history-taking; 3) Factors hindering the SRH history-taking process; 4) The power of confidence. These findings have implications for strengthening a sexual health curriculum for medical students and continuing education programs for practicing health professionals designed to address the observed health disparities in Tanzania. These findings affirm that proper SRH history-taking requires a conducive environment, knowledge of relevant SRH-related laws and regulations; application of evidence-based techniques; and giving patients autonomy to make decisions for their health while making recommendations regarding standard care. Comprehensive SRH history-taking identifies critical data for illness diagnosis, provides foundational information for risk-reduction behavioural change counselling, and reduces medical costs. Therefore, the primary goal is to optimize health professional training on SRH issues and history-taking skills within the medical interview.

Impact of the Interprofessional Leadership in Healthcare Certificate on health professionals’ collaboration and leadership abilities

IntroductionLeadership training is critical in preparing leaders of interprofessional teams to effectively coordinate teams and services to deliver high-quality, collaborative health care. This study aimed to determine the impact of the Interprofessional Leadership in Healthcare Certificate program on participants’ knowledge, skills, and workplace practices. MethodsThirty practicing health professionals participated in the five-month, online certificate program. At the end of the program, participants completed the Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey (ICCAS) and a leadership competency self-evaluation, both retrospective pre-/post-tests. At six months following the certificate, participants completed the same instruments together with a set of three open-response questions. ResultsNineteen participants completed both the survey at the end of the certificate and the 6-month follow-up survey. There was a significant increase in mean ICCAS and Leadership Competency Self-Evaluation scores from before to after and six-months following the certificate. Five themes were found in the qualitative data: (1) enhanced listening and communication skills; (2) a better understanding of team members’ roles; (3) increased collaboration; and (4) improved leadership skills. ConclusionThe certificate program had a positive impact on participants’ knowledge, skills, and workplace practices relating to interprofessional collaboration and leadership. This may be attributable to intentional interprofessional collaboration in both program development and learning experiences, and the use of the Project ECHO® model.

The interprofessional practice of health professionals in inclusive schools: A study using respondent-driven sampling

The formal incorporation of health professionals to collaborate with teachers is still incipient worldwide. This study analyses the role of speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and kinesiologists working in Schools Integration Programmes in Chile via professional training, educational context characteristics, and the prevailing working conditions for these professionals. A sequential study with a mixed exploratory design was carried out. Interviews (N = 52) and a survey (N = 474) were conducted using respondent-driven sampling. The results of both phases converge, indicating that the role defined for these professionals by policy does not respond to inclusive schools' needs. The participants indicate that professional training is clinical and does not meet the needs of students and schools (48%), that the time dedicated to administrative functions should be regulated because it takes time away from intervention (95%), and that there is a need to promote inclusion within schools (94%). These difficulties affect these professionals’ practice, and imply essential considerations for the implemented policy, universities and schools. The contributions of this study are pioneering and may promote new research in this field, which is still scarce worldwide.

Health Literacy in Adults with Chronic Diseases in the Context of Community Health Nursing: A Scoping Review

Background: Health literacy was identified as a main determinant in self-care of chronic diseases. This results in responsibilities for health professionals for daily practice. For primary care setting, special requirements arise due to the heterogeneity of communities. The objective of this scoping review was to explore and map the scope of the research material on strategies led by community health nurses to improve health literacy in (patients with) chronic diseases. This review aimed to identify gaps in the literature and existing approaches on promoting health literacy by community nurse practitioners. Methods: The following criteria were included for the research: Adults with chronic diseases, health literacy, community health nursing and primary healthcare. All types of searches for studies from 1970 to present were carried out in electronic databases and in a Google and a Google Scholar search. The search procedure is presented in a flow chart. Results: From all reviewed studies, nine records were included in the review. Findings with regard to the increase in health literacy in self-management of chronically ill patients were identified. Conclusion: Studies focusing on specific demands with regard to the role of community health nurses need to be carried out in depth.

Attachment dimensions and problem behaviors in middle-childhood children: a comparative study in terms of maternal mental health

This study aimed to examine the differences between middle-childhood children of mothers receiving and not receiving mental health services in terms of attachment dimensions and problem behaviors, and the relationship of problem behaviors in middle-childhood children with some socio-demographic variables.
 Using quantitative research method, this study had two sample groups: the study and comparison groups. Additionally, it involved a total of 127 mothers and 127 children in the 9-14 age group, including 62 mothers and their children in the study group (receiving mental health services) and 65 mothers and their children in the comparison group (not receiving mental health services). For data collection, the following scales were applied to both groups. The data collecting process consisted of the Personal Information Form, the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale II – Middle-Childhood, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (AB 4-16).
 The results showed that the study group children tended to have insecure attachment and problematic behaviors more than the comparison group children. In addition to mother’s need for mental health services, mother’s educational level, child’s birth after an unplanned pregnancy, and separation from one or both parents for a period were also considered as important factors affecting problem behaviors in children.
 This study revealed the preventable factors in the development of problem behaviors in children. These results contribute to the practices of mental health professionals and the role of child welfare systems in developing protective-preventive services.

What is the mandate of public health professionals in practice? making our mark for the public’s health

What is the mandate of public health professionals in practice? making our mark for the public’s health

Exploring knowledge, attitudes and perceived myths towards foetal programming and factors affecting it among the public and health professionals in Pakistan: a needs assessment study.

To explore knowledge, attitudes and practices of laypersons and health professionals towards foetal programming, and factors affecting it. The mixed methods study was conducted at the Aga Khan University, Karachi, from January 20, 2021 to May 13, 2022, and comprised adults of either gender with access to social media platforms. Data was collected using an online survey questionnaire in English and Urdu developed to capture responses from a diverse pool of participants. The survey tool was circulated through WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram. Two focus group discussions were conducted; one with laypersons in group A and the other with health and allied professionals in group B. Data was analysed using SPSS 21, while data related to focus group discussions was subjected to thematic analysis. Of the 358 participants, 173(48.3%) were in group A and 185(51.7%) were in group B. There were 34(18.4) subjects in group A and 27(15.6) in group B who had knowledge of foetal programming (p>0.05). Only factors related to father's health and dietary elements on the foetus were significantly different between the groups (p<0.05). Thematic analysis led to the formation of 3 overarching themes: parent's lifestyle, comorbidity and diet on foetal health; myths and cultural beliefs regarding foetal development; and the need for training / awareness for practitioners and community. Lack of knowledge and misinformation about foetal programming and development was common among health professionals and laypersons.