Practice Of Health Professionals Research Articles

LUTO PARENTAL: VIVÊNCIAS DA EQUIPE DE ENFERMAGEM EM TERAPIA INTENSIVA NEONATAL

ABSTRACT Objective: to know the experience of the nursing team when acting in situations of parental bereavement in Neonatal Intensive Care. Method: qualitative study developed through semi-structured interviews from March to April 2021 with nursing professionals from a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The results were submitted to thematic content analysis. Results: The act of experiencing parental bereavement by the nursing staff involves sadness, helplessness, and suffering. Strategies faced at this moment are based on empathy and humanization. For the professionals, the knowledge to face the situation comes from their own experiences of loss in their personal and professional lives, from their strength and religiosity. Conclusion: it is expected that this study contributes to the practice of health professionals in assisting parents who experience the process of parental bereavement in neonatal intensive care.

CONSTRUÇÃO E VALIDAÇÃO DE TECNOLOGIA EDUCACIONAL SOBRE INSULINOTERAPIA: ESTUDO METODOLÓGICO

ABSTRACT Objective: to build and validate educational technology on insulin therapy for educational practices of health professionals. Method: methodological study conducted in three stages: construction, between May and September 2019; and content validation and appearance validation, August 2020 to August 2021, in a Public University of Amapá, Brazil. Content validation and appearance validation were performed in single steps with 16 health professionals and with five professionals from other areas respectively. Results: The educational technology was named Serial Album on Insulin Therapy and was available in printed format. It presented a Content Validity Index of 0.91 and an Appearance Validity Index of 1.00. Conclusion: the technology was validated and can be used by primary care health professionals in health educational practices, with a view to promoting teaching-learning about the use of insulin, benefiting the process of care and communication in health care.

Patient-centered care - evidence in the context of professional health practice.

to analyze patient-centered attitudes in care and sharing practices of nursing, speech therapy, dentistry and medicine professionals. cross-sectional research was used with 411 professionals, and the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale instrument was applied as a measure of outcome. physicians presented higher mean scores, reflecting a patient-centered orientation, shared control, and focus on the person, with statistical difference for all domains (p<0.02). Dentists were the professionals who presented lower scores, especially in the sharing domain, with statistical difference in relation to nurses, speech therapists, and physicians (p<0.05). finally, the attitudes of professionals in the health areas studied indicated self-reported preference for centrality in patients. In this context, patient-centered care can be an important resource in health care when committed to overcoming the object man.

Using a logic model to evaluate a novel video-based professional development activity for general practice clinical educators

ABSTRACT The teaching and learning that takes place in clinical settings has a significant influence on the practice of future health professionals. This article describes the use of a logic model and case study methodology to evaluate an online and face-to-face video-club, a novel professional development activity designed with the aim of improving clinical educators’ teaching practice. A video-club brings together a small group of clinical educators who have a shared interest in exploring their educator role through collective inquiry, using video-recordings of their authentic teaching practices as stimuli for learning discussions. The article focuses on the extent to which the learning design was both implemented and working as intended and offers an examination of proximal outcomes and an initial examination of distal outcomes. The authors claim that the video-club’s core activity – watching and discussing the video-excerpts – was successful in generating the requisite ‘teacher talk’ necessary to influence clinical educators’ teaching practices. The examination of the video-clubs’ impact on clinical educators’ practice was promising and justifies a larger study to fully investigate the intervention’s effectiveness. In order for the video-club to grow and thrive, systemic changes, particularly at the level of policy and ‘culture’, are likely to be required.

Emigration from the perspective of Polish health professionals - insights from a qualitative study.

The Polish health workforce is facing many problems, including shortages, heavy workload, burnout, and dissatisfaction, which may lead to job emigration, mainly among younger generations. The objective of the article is to explore the reasons, consequences, and circumstances of the emigration of Polish health professionals with a qualitative approach. We have conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 practicing health professionals, exploring the perspectives of different professions and different generations. The interviews were conducted using the on-line MS Teams platform from February until March 2022. We transcribed all interviews verbatim and performed directed qualitative content analysis. Currently, the scale of emigration is rather stable and mainly affects the younger generations. The main reasons for emigration, as indicated by representatives of different health professions, are similar, including excessive workload and long working hours. However, doctors and dentists also emphasized problems with professional development and specialization training, while nurses, midwives, and physiotherapists underlined problems with low prestige and work autonomy. Taking into account the substantial shortage of health workforce and the high average age of practicing health professionals, emigration requires special attention from health decision makers. Implementation of an effective mechanism for monitoring the emigration of medical staff is recommended.

IMPROVING DEMENTIA CARE IN CO-CREATION BETWEEN SCIENCE, PRACTICE, AND EDUCATION

Abstract Long-term care is transitioning from a medical-somatic model of care to a psychosocial model of care. This transition requires new ways of working, and thus different competences of health and social care professionals. Innovative learning environments of multiple stakeholders in long-term care are increasingly being created in the Netherlands to foster co-creation between science, practice (including persons with dementia) and education of current and future health and social care professionals. In this symposium, we will share experiences from the Netherlands. The first presentation describes the challenges current and future health and social care professionals are facing with regard to innovation in dementia care. We will further explain how these experiences were used to set up a learning community ‘living well with dementia’. The second presentation is dedicated to a participatory action research to develop new collaboration practices to address the often under-addressed theme of meaning in life among community dwelling older adults. The third presentation will focus on a co-creation project dedicated to a care innovation for migrants with dementia, being a guideline for managing challenging behaviour at home. In the plenary discussion after the three presentations, participants are invited to share experiences from their own countries and discuss the lessons learned.

How do Body Practices Affect the Psychological Aspects of Survivors Women Undergoing Treatment for Breast Cancer? Systematic Literature Review

Introduction: Body practices can bring physical, psychological benefits and social rehabilitation and may be an alternative treatment for breast cancer. Objective: To analyze the evidence of the results of body practices over the psychological aspects of survivors women undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Method: Systematic blind and independent review from September to December 2021 following the PRISMA guidelines, carried out in the databases: Embase Elsevier; PubMed Central; ScienceDirect; Scopus Elsevier and Web of Science – Core Collection. Results: Of 1,372 studies identified, 22 were included in this systematic review. Among the practices that stood out are meditation and Yoga, with anxiety being the most investigated variable by the studies. It is clear that body practices are options for non-pharmacological clinical treatments utilized in clinical practice by different health professionals in women who have survived breast cancer. Conclusion: Body practices proved to be beneficial in the treatment and psychological health of women who survived breast cancer. This evidence may help to implement body practices as a therapeutic resource to be used in the clinical practice of health professionals. However, more randomized clinical trials that follow study protocols more rigorously are suggested, so that the effectiveness of this approach can be evaluated in different clinical outcomes.

Artistic and Health Professionals' Perceptions of Training Load Practices in Pre-Professional and Professional Ballet and Contemporary Dance: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of training load practices of dance artistic and health professionals. Artistic staff and health professionals with experience in dance were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey study relating to training load practices in pre-professional and professional, ballet and contemporary dance. The survey was developed from previous investigations in soccer and consisted of multiple-choice, Likert scale, and free-text responses. Responses to closed questions were reported by percentage and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Thematic analysis was performed by two independent assessors of free-text responses. There were six artistic staff and 18 health professional participants. Artistic staff were perceived to be "mostly/completely responsible" for planning training (artistic staff: 100%, 95% CI: 61%, 100%; health professionals: 94%, 95% CI: 76%, 100%), with health professionals "mostly/completely responsible" at times of injury (artistic staff: 83%, 95% CI: 41%, 99%; health professionals: 95% CI: 61%, 96%). Both groups reported using individual modification to manage training loads and recognized the benefits of rest. Artistic staff recognized the need to modify training when injured, in line with experience levels, workload, age, and general health. Both groups "agree/strongly agree" that monitoring would be or is useful (artistic staff: 83%, 95% CI: 41%, 99%; health professionals: 95% CI: 61%, 96%). This investigation provides insight into the perceptions of artistic staff and health professionals with experience in dance toward training practices. Artistic staff and health professionals need to work together and adapt monitoring practices to their context to support artistic staff in planning training. The findings guide the implementation of these interventions by understanding potential barriers to their effectiveness that may potentially reduce injury.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of mental health professionals regarding the management of major cognitive disorders in the Republic of Moldova

Major cognitive impairment is a significant public health problem despite advances in patient management. The purpose of the research was to analyze the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of mental health specialists regarding the management of major cognitive disorders in the Republic of Moldova. Material and method: The research were descriptive online survey type. A structured questionnaire with self-completion questions was used. The questionnaires were pre-tested and validated prior to conducting the research. Results: Barriers identified: 50.0% lack of social support services, 34.4% lack of a national guide/program, 46.9% lack of interdisciplinary collaboration, 43.8% problems in communicating with the patient, 25, 0% difficulties in establishing the diagnosis and developing the treatment plan, 31.3% in communication with relatives/caregiver, and 40.6% in the diagnosis and treatment of concomitant diseases. During consultations, 75.0% of those interviewed quantify the degree of impairment of cognitive function, 71.9% know national and international guidelines/protocols, 90.6% consider training in social and cultural activities useful, 75.0% – performing exercises physical therapy, 65.6% physical therapy, 56.3% cognitive-behavioral therapy, 53.1% speech therapy sessions, 46.9% psychotherapy, and 28.1% state that all options are useful. Positive attitudes 96.9% believe that the patient with cognitive disorders must benefit from access to medical services according to individual needs and that the patient has the right to live with dignity, without suffering, 81.3% are of the opinion that patients must be included in social and cultural activities, 62.5% support that people with cognitive disorders should benefit from institutionalization for palliative care. Negative attitudes 50.0% believe that patients consume time, emotions, and resources, and 25.0% mention that they are a burden on the healthcare system. Conclusion: The most frequent difficulties in the approach and management of patients with cognitive disorders are cited as the lack of social support services for patients or families, interdisciplinary collaboration/difficulty referring to other specialists and a national guide/program for cognitive disorders.

Electronic Health Records That Support Health Professional Reflective Practice: a Missed Opportunity in Digital Health

A foundational component of digital health involves collecting and leveraging electronic health data to improve health and wellbeing. One of the central technologies for collecting these data are electronic health records (EHRs). In this commentary, the authors explore intersection between digital health and data-driven reflective practice that is described, including an overview of the role of EHRs underpinning technology innovation in healthcare. Subsequently, they argue that EHRs are a rich but under-utilised source of information on the performance of health professionals and healthcare teams that could be harnessed to support reflective practice and behaviour change. EHRs currently act as systems of data collection, not systems of data engagement and reflection by end users such as health professionals and healthcare organisations. Further consideration should be given to supporting reflective practice by health professionals in the design of EHRs and other clinical information systems.

Impact Evaluation of An Interdisciplinary Educational Intervention to Health Professionals for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Child Malnutrition in Mexico: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis.

The prevalence of undernutrition in Mexican children younger than 5 years old has been 14% since 2006. There are clinical practice guidelines for mild to moderate malnutrition in children in the Mexican health system; however, they are not applied. In addition, the knowledge and practices of health professionals (HP) to treat malnutrition in health centers are insufficient to perform adequate assessments and correct treatments. An impact evaluation of an interdisciplinary educational intervention was carried out on 78 HPs for the treatment of children with mild to moderate malnutrition of low resources, with 39 in the intervention group and 37 in the counterfactual group, estimated as the comparison group. A Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)-validated questionnaire adapted to child malnutrition about knowledge, attitudes, and practices was applied before, after, and 2 months after a malnutrition workshop. The difference-in-differences analysis showed that the educational intervention group had a significant improvement in knowledge, attitudes, and practices before and after the intervention (grades of 54.6 to 79.2 respectively, p = 0.0001), compared with the comparison group (grades of 79.2 and 53.4, respectively, p = 0.0001), which was maintained over two months (grades of 71.8 versus 49.8, p = 0.0001, respectively). The multivariate analysis showed that the probability of improvement in learning by 30% was 95-fold higher in the educational intervention group versus the comparison group, OR = 95.1 (95% CI 14.9-603.0), and this factor was independent of sex, age, education, or hospital position. Despite the availability of clinical practice guidelines for the assessment and treatment for child malnutrition, education in malnutrition for HPs is effective and needed to achieve a significant improvement in children's health.

An organisational approach to building research capacity among nurses, midwives and allied health professionals (NMAHPs) in clinical practice

Background: As nurses, midwives and allied health professionals deliver the majority of direct patient care, they are well placed to lead research and generate evidence to inform practice. Aims: To consider how best to implement the findings of The Whitehouse Report, to reflect on the development of a nursing, midwifery and allied health professions research and evaluation service at a UK NHS foundation trust, and to understand the mechanisms that contribute to change. Methods: Using the principles of change theory we developed four theories of change, underpinned by a logic model, to consider the sequence of events and the expected results. The impact of the new service on workforce capacity and capability and the mechanisms of change were considered retrospectively over a two-year period between 2019 and 2021. Surveys, interviews, field notes and data regarding a number of projects were collected and reviewed. Results: Research, quality improvement and service evaluation activity have increased across all nursing, midwifery and allied health professions at our hospital trust. Six underpinning core values and seven practical mechanisms to implement these values were identified as successful drivers of change for the service. Discussion: The intentional development of a network of teams, individuals and patients was fundamental to building capacity, capability and confidence among staff. Enablers to the increase in research activity included using role modeling, inspiration and perseverance to make visible the value of nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in leading research-based care. Preconceived ideas of who ‘should’ do research challenged the positive culture of critical inquiry for the benefit of patients, service improvements and celebration of existing work. Strategies to support research activities across the professions require vision, time, infrastructure and buy-in at micro, meso and macro levels, as well as a sustained effort from those directly involved. Conclusions: It would be beneficial to encourage bespoke approaches to help staff translate ideas into practice-based projects as part of capacity, capability and confidence building for research across the clinical workforce. Audit, quality improvement and evaluation activities can lead directly to an increase in research engagement, involvement and leadership among nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, as well as supporting recruitment and retention. Future research could explore whether this approach would be replicable and effective in other healthcare organisations or systems. Implications for practice: Shared values are essential to forge progress in research activities led by nurses, midwives and allied health professionals The use of audit, quality improvement and service evaluation approaches are effective in increasing research activity within organisations A number of approaches to growing the capacity, capability and confidence of staff should be considered within the organisational context. One approach does not fit all Research-active organisations have better outcomes for patients, whether or not the patients are part of a trial. Increasing the capacity and capability of staff means more research is likely to be undertaken through a nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals lens

The digital redesign of mental health: leveraging connected digital technologies for agency-driven patient-focused care.

Digital psychiatry could empower individuals to navigate their context-specific experiences outside healthcare visits. This editorial discusses how leveraging digital health technologies could dramatically transform how we conceptualise mental health and the mental health professional's day-day practice, and how patients could be enabled to navigate their mental health with greater agency.

Assessment of the Health Status of Women in Prison: A Comparison between Drug Users versus Non-users.

This study aims to analyze the history of substances use, clinical diagnoses, contacts with healthcare, and health complaints. Also, it aims to compare the health status of substance users versus non-users. Health records of 93 detained women from a prison in northern Portugal, with a mean age of 38.02 years old, were reviewed and coded using both International Classification of Primary Care-2 and International Classification of Diseases-10th. Data revealed high percentages of detainees with a history of substance use and pre-existing clinical diagnosis. During the first month of imprisonment, on average, participants had complained to a health professional 14.63 times. Substance users were younger and presented more mental health problems and health complaints. Health policies and professional practices in prison must include immediate assessment of a woman's health concerns and foster the development of efficient protocols to address those problems, especially substance use disorder treatment.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Australian oncology health professionals on complementary medicines

AbstractBackgroundApproximately half of people with cancer are using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), presenting safety concerns due to potential interactions with conventional cancer treatment. Oncology staff have a role to play in ensuring the safe use of CAMs and so, this study examined their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding CAMs.AimThis study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Australian doctors, nurses, and pharmacists regarding CAM use in oncology.MethodMembers of three national oncology professional associations took part in an online questionnaire, which determined their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding CAM.ResultsNinety‐nine completed surveys were obtained from nine doctors, 70 nurses, and 20 pharmacists. Most respondents (68.4%) felt that they did not have adequate knowledge of CAMs to respond to patients' questions. Assessment of attitudes found respondents generally believed that CAMs have a complementary role in oncology but indicated their concerns for the safety of patients. Respondents indicated in practice they would discuss CAMs with less than half of patients (40.6%), with a lack of scientific data and guidelines for CAM use presenting significant barriers to these discussions.ConclusionOur study suggests that oncology health professionals' knowledge of CAMs potentially leads to a lack of confidence in providing advice to patients and concerns for patient safety. This impacts their discussion of CAMs and lack of disclosure from patients about their use of CAMs. Education on CAMs in oncology would assist in increasing professionals' confidence in discussing these therapies, leading to increased patient disclosure of CAMs and safer treatment decision making for people with cancer.

Categorizing national caregiver recommendations to support family caregivers and address unmet needs

BackgroundRecognizing family caregivers as vital providers of long-term assistance to loved ones with chronic illness, several national organizations developed recommendations to improve support for family caregivers. PurposeThis article categorizes these recommendations to advance family-centered nursing practice, develop health policies, and advocate for family caregiver support. MethodsSix reports of caregiver recommendations published in the United States from 2016 to 2021 were analyzed using thematic analysis. FindingsThe 108 recommendations were organized into five categories: policy; caregiver assessment and support; health professional practices; public awareness; advance care planning. DiscussionEnsuring economic security, establishing a national data collection strategy, addressing caregivers’ diverse needs, improving access to health care and support services, and increasing public awareness were highlighted. ConclusionThe recommendations provide a roadmap for nurses at all levels of practice to advocate for a national agenda to develop, fund, and implement inclusive health care policies and interventions to address unmet caregiver needs and maximize support.

Interprofessional education in health professions education programmes in the Arab world: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionInterprofessional education is a relatively new addition to health professional education curricula in the Arab world. To understand current practice in this area, a scoping review will enable reporting of...

Communication about Disease-Related Malnutrition in the Perspective of Health Professionals in General Practice and Patients

Communication about Disease-Related Malnutrition in the Perspective of Health Professionals in General Practice and Patients

Preceptors training need assessment for medical laboratory professional clinical education programs in Ethiopia.

BackgroundHealth Workforce Improvement Program and professional associations recognized the need for a formalized method of providing academic education that would improve how preceptors teach and assess student. Thus, this study aimed to assess training needs of preceptors for Medical Laboratory Science clinical practicum education programs in Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional survey design was implemented in targeted health facility throughout the country to assess academic educational needs of preceptors for Medical Laboratory clinical practicum education programs. The study participants were conveniently selected practicing health professionals who formally or informally nominated as a clinical trainer or acts as clinical trainer giving practical training to the student in the targeted practice setting. An adapted structured questionnaire modified to local context was used to conduct the survey and the perceived competency assessment used five scale of measurement (Not capable, Beginner, Advanced beginner, Competent, Proficient). The frequency was presented using tables and figures.ResultsA total of 304 laboratory professionals participated in this study. More than half (52.6%) of the study participants were in the age group of 21 to 30 years and 264/304 (86.8%) were male. The majority (43.0%) of study participants had 6 to 10 years of experience and 212 (68.8%) did not receive clinical teaching skills training in the past two years. Regarding applying different hands-on teaching methods, the majority 38/304(12.5%) were not capable for role play and community based training, 49/304(16.1%) reported being Beginners, 85/304 (28%) said that they are advanced beginners in the competency. In this study, most study participants 98/304(32.2%) and 130/304(42.8%) perceived that they are competent and proficient in applying laboratory practice teaching methods respectively.ConclusionThe average cumulative level of competency from level 1 (not capable) to level 3 (advanced beginner), we found: learning in the practical teaching area 45.4%, clinical practicum teaching quality improvement and advocacy 42.9%, student assessment methods 42.7%, communication, collaboration and partnership 40.9%. Overall competence of preceptors (proportion of preceptors reported competent) was 57%. We recommend designing the performance interventions in the form of training by including communication skills for effective preceptor ship, students assessment and feedback, teaching and instruction strategies, planning for clinical practicum learning and principles of learning and teaching in practical areas.

“The guy is blind but appears normal according to diagnostic parameters”: a reflection on racism, whiteness, and the ‘neutrality’ of technology in the biomedical field in Brazil

ABSTRACT Rejected a priori in the biomedical field as a category that has no meaning for clinical practice, race maintains an absent presence that spans techno-scientific productions and the daily practices of health professionals. Race constitutes a type of infrastructure that is rarely treated critically and that can be given as supporting evidence in scientific practices. It appears as an unexpected effect of biomedical technology that is actually centered around ideals of whiteness that it projects as universal. This exposes the limitations of biomedical technology to reach ‘other bodies’—those that are not white – labeled as resistant to biotechnological intervention. By looking at ultrasound performance in diagnostic testing for glaucoma, this article discusses how whiteness, racism, and technological ‘neutrality’ are articulated in the materialization of race in diagnostic technological devices and health intervention in Brazil.