Health Care Professional Programs Research Articles

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of the Lebanese University Medical Students and Junior Doctors on Basic Life Support Practices.

Basic life support (BLS) is the recognition of sudden cardiac arrest and activation of emergency response system, followed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and rapid defibrillation. Our study aimed to determine the level of awareness of the Lebanese University medical students and trainees on BLS, by assessing the association between knowledge, attitude, and practice on BLS, and between the demographic variables and KAP scores. This was a cross-sectional study including 330 medical students enrolled at Lebanese University, from year four of general medicine till year five of residency. An online survey was used to collect data about demographic characteristics, knowledge (K), attitudes (A), and practice (P) about BLS. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. Participants were 52.7% females, 47.3% males, and their mean age was 24 ± 2 years. Of the 330 participants, 38.8% received formal training regarding BLS. Medical students had low knowledge (90%), moderate to good attitudes (71.5%), and low practice (93%) regarding BLS. Multiple linear regression showed that knowledge was positively associated with age (p = 0.001), knowledge and information regarding BLS (p = 0.016), and any formal training/workshop regarding BLS (p = 0.021). Attitude was positively associated with academic year (p = 0.002) and knowledge (p = 0.003). Practice was positively associated with age (p < 0.001) and knowledge (p < 0.001). Most Lebanese University medical students showed low knowledge, moderate to good attitudes, and low practice regarding BLS. We recommend that CPR/BLS should be a core competency across all health care professional programs.

Establishing a biologics and biosimilars committee/network: assessing educational requirements of pharmacy and other healthcare professionals

Abstract Introduction Successful professional networking involves shared, mutually beneficial interactions between individuals and/or individuals and groups1. Biologics and biosimilar medicines prescribing is rapidly evolving with an increasing number of clinical indications in healthcare2,3. Despite their importance, the absence of a structured national network dedicated to these complex therapies has left a gap in professional education and resource sharing among pharmacists. Recognising the necessity for a cohesive support system, this work explores the learning and professional needs of pharmacists regarding biologics and biosimilars and the potential development of a national pharmacy network to address these gaps. Aim The survey aimed to explore the educational needs and preference for a network and/or committee for pharmacy and other healthcare professionals focused on biologics and biosimilars medicines. Methods An electronic survey was developed and deployed for pharmacy and other healthcare professionals involved in the management of biologics and biosimilars via email cascade and social media, 12th February - 6th March 2023. The survey explored the preferred structure of the proposed group; formal committee and/or informal network, what the group would deliver, and any educational needs for members. The survey included questions about the respondent’s roles, sectors of work, regions and their clinical area(s). The open text responses were themed. The NHS health Research Authority tool was used to identify this project as service improvement and development, therefore did not require ethical approval. Results The responses received were from 46 pharmacists, 1 pharmacy technician, 15 doctors and nurses and 4 participants whose roles were unknown, working across multiple sectors; hospital, community, industry, and academia with representation from the devolved nations (n=3) and internationally (n=1). Most respondents expressed a need for a dedicated network and committee n=52 (79%), n=10 (15%) formal network, and n=4 (6%) informal committee. Common themes in response to what the group should deliver and educational needs included; harmonisation of approaches to guidelines and policies, pathway design, reduction in unwarranted variation (68%); platform to share new ideas, knowledge and peer advice (44%); strategy and leadership in service delivery and promotion of best practice and cost training, horizon scanning (29%); working collaboratively to produce multi-centre research projects (24%); to create a structured training programme for health care professionals (9%). Discussion/Conclusion The survey results highlight a gap in the current educational and professional support systems for PP’s concerning biologics and biosimilar medicines. The identified learning needs point to a strong demand for a structured network that can provide targeted education, share best practices and facilitate professional networking. The expertise within the group can also create formal eLearning programmes for healthcare professionals. This work serves as a foundational step towards the development this network, highlighting the critical areas of focus and the collective interest of the pharmacy community in bridging these gaps. The network should also facilitate communication and collaboration across different sectors, fostering a more cohesive and informed pharmacy community. Such an innovative network would not only enhance individual competency but also contribute to the overall advancement of pharmaceutical care in this specialised area.

DOCTOR-PATIENT COMMUNICATION IN KOSOVO HEALTHCARE SERVICES: A LINGUISTIC CASE STUDY OF DOCTORS’ PERCEPTIONS

This case study examines the perceptions of doctors in Kosovo institutions regarding doctor-patient communication from a linguistic perspective. A sample of doctors participated in the study by completing a questionnaire with 16 items, 14 of which had yes-or-no answers, and 2 of which were open-ended. The study found that doctors generally have a positive perception of doctor-patient communication in Kosovo, but they also face some challenges, including patients' health literacy, administrative issues, and patients' prejudices toward doctors. However, most doctors reported effective communication with their patients by using their names, explaining things in detail, listening to the patient's concerns, and checking for understanding. Patient consultations typically take between 15 to 20 minutes, during which doctors strive to establish a rapport with patients to ensure better treatment outcomes. Although the majority of doctors did not have any complaints about patient communication, some reported issues such as patient impatience, a lack of basic knowledge regarding the patient's health condition, a lack of health education, and resistance from some patients to be honest. These challenges underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve health education in the region. The study highlights the importance of effective communication in the healthcare environment and provides insights into the linguistic aspects of doctor-patient communication in Kosovo healthcare services. It also identifies areas for future research and practice in improving doctor-patient communication, including the development of training programs for healthcare professionals and the implementation of strategies to overcome communication barriers.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Confidence in Providing Dementia Care to Older Adults Among Nurses Practicing in Hanoi, Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Nurses' competencies are crucial in providing effective dementia care in healthcare settings for older people. Understanding nurses' current knowledge, attitudes and confidence in this area is essential for developing education programmes for healthcare professionals to improve patient care. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and confidence related to providing dementia care among nurses practicing in geriatric hospital wards and nursing homes in Hanoi, Vietnam. A total of 269 out of 313 (response rate was 86%) full-time nurses working at six geriatric wards in hospitals and nursing homes in Hanoi were surveyed using three self-administered questionnaires: the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS), Dementia Attitude Scale (DAS) and the Confidence in Dementia Scale (CODE). Multiple regression models were constructed to identify factors associated with dementia care knowledge, attitudes and confidence. The overall mean scores of nurse's knowledge, attitudes and confidence were 28.1 ± 8.0, 102.1 ± 13.4 and 28.3 ± 6.4, respectively. A positive correlation was reported between the knowledge and attitude scores and between the attitudes and confidence scores. Greater seniority (β: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.03-0.56) and having learned information through colleagues or experts (β: 3.02; 95% CI: 0.88-5.16) were associated with better dementia knowledge. A higher level of dementia training desirability was associated with increased knowledge (β: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.28-1.20) and favourable attitudes (β: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.15-1.74), whereas frequent exposure to dementia cases was associated with higher confidence (β: 3.56; 95% CI: 1.39-5.73) and more favourable attitudes (β: 3.96; 95% CI: 0.27-7.66). Our study highlights deficits in knowledge, low levels of social comfort in nurses' attitudes towards people with dementia and a lack of confidence in providing effective care among nurses practicing in healthcare settings for older adults in Hanoi, Vietnam. With the ageing of the population and with increasing numbers of persons living with dementia, our findings suggest the importance of improving the training of nurses to specifically address these deficits. Multidisciplinary consultation meetings need to be encouraged in the healthcare workplace setting as well as ensuring the presence of qualified counsellors for care teams working with older adults in non-hospital settings. Training about non-cognitive symptoms of dementia and demonstrating effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills is critical and should be integrated into nurse's educational training.

The Network of Expertise on Long COVID as a means to synthesise intelligence and improve our response to long COVID at EU level

Abstract To promote international collaboration and strengthen EU and national-level responses to Long COVID, the Commission set up the Network of Expertise on Long COVID (NELC) in 2023. It brings together national institutions involved in Long COVID work, nominated by the Public Health Expert Group (PHEG) representatives of each Member State. The network provides a platform for exchanges of national experiences on diagnosis, treatment, and management of long COVID. The Commission and the NELC agreed on eight specific actions to be implemented to manage Long COVID. The development of a Long COVID definition is complex due to the diverse range of symptoms experienced by patients, and so working towards a unified EU case definition is the first action proposal. This will allow the development and implementation of a surveillance system on national and EU level to foster the knowledge on the actual scale and the symptomatology of Long COVID across the EU leading to a better comparability of health data at Union level. The proposal to develop and implement a training programme for healthcare professionals at EU level will allow for the exchange of expertise/training on Long COVID across Member States. The provision of clinical guidelines based on evidence to Member States will help manage Long COVID, and international collaboration will allow for the sharing of valuable information and data with third countries that have experience with Long COVID. The Commission will use the EU Health Policy Platform to create an open stakeholder group. This group will allow stakeholders and patient groups to express their point of view, and to share experiences. Assessing the far-reaching social and economic consequences of Long COVID across the EU will allow for more targeted social and economic policy responses from Member States. It is important that priority is given to research responding to the most urgent needs of health care systems, which is why the Commission aims to identify research needs.

Multidisciplinary co-development of a chronic constipation management education programme for older people with dementia and the establishment of a model facility

Chronic constipation (CC) is prevalent among the elderly population and particularly those with dementia. Associate Professor Tomoyoshi Naito, School of Nursing, Seirei Christopher University, Japan, is exploring supportive care of elderly patients with dementia. He is working with collaborators to develop a multidisciplinary CC management education programme for healthcare professionals involved with elderly patients suffering from dementia. The researchers will also build a model facility to implement and verify the impact of the programme. Part of this research concerns gaining a more in-depth understanding of management and care techniques, based on the Japanese Chronic Constipation Treatment Guidelines from 2017, especially in relation to the diet and differentiation of chronic functional constipation. The goal is to reduce the number of painful medical procedures by enhancing therapy, exercise therapy, lifestyle guidance and making it possible to select step-by-step drug therapy. The programme will be executed at two facilities in Japan, targeting specialist caregivers who work with elderly patients with dementia, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. They will receive basic education on chronic constipation in elderly people with dementia, as well as practical training on the management of CC in addition to self-training and evaluations based on case studies. In a randomised controlled trial, Naito sought to verify the impact of bowel training as a treatment for CC and found that, together with the training, encouraging patients to use appropriate defecation posture significantly improved the condition. This was associated with a corresponding improvement in the mental health and wellbeing of patients and caregivers.

Second Victims Among Austrian Nurses (SeViD-A2 Study).

Background: The Second Victim Phenomenon (SVP) significantly impacts the well-being of healthcare professionals and patient safety. While the SVP has been explored in various healthcare settings, there are limited data on its prevalence and associated factors among nurses in Austria. This study investigates the prevalence, symptomatology, and preferred support measures for SVP among Austrian nurses. Methods: A nationwide, cross-sectional, anonymous online survey was conducted September to December 2023 using the SeViD questionnaire (Second Victims in German-speaking Countries), which includes the Big Five Inventory-10 (BFI-10). Statistical analyses included binary logistic regression and multiple linear regression using the bias-corrected and accelerated (BCa) bootstrapping method based on 5000 bootstrap samples. Results: A total of 928 participants responded to the questionnaire with a response rate of 15.47%. The participants were on average 42.42 years old and were mainly women (79.63%). Among the respondents, 81.58% (744/912) identified as Second Victims (SVs). The primary cause of becoming an SV was aggressive behavior from patients or relatives. Females reported a higher symptom load than males, and higher agreeableness was linked to increased symptom severity. Notably, 92.47% of SVs who sought help preferred support from colleagues, and the most pronounced desire among participants was to process the event for better understanding. Conclusions: The prevalence of SVP among Austrian nurses is alarmingly high, with aggressive behavior identified as a significant trigger. The findings emphasize the necessity for tailored support strategies, including peer support and systematic organizational interventions to mitigate the impact of SVP on nurses and to improve overall patient care. Further research should focus on developing and implementing effective prevention and intervention programs for healthcare professionals in similar settings.

Challenges Faced by Parents of Children With Selective Mutism in Accessing Medical Care Services.

Background Children with selective mutism (SM) typically exhibit SM symptoms in educational settings, which has led to extensive research on SM in such environments. However, SM symptoms also manifest in medical settings, where parents experience various challenges when seeking healthcare for their child with SM. Nevertheless, there is a lack of research on the specific challenges parents face when seeking medical care for their child with SM. In this study, we investigated the challenges faced by parents of children with SM when seeking healthcare services and explored strategies to reduce these challenges. Methodology In this study, we conducted an online questionnaire survey with 31 parents (mean age: 41.7 years) of children diagnosed with SM. Participants responded to open-ended questions about the difficulties they faced when seeking medical care for their child. The open-ended responses were qualitatively analyzed using the KJ method. Results Parents of children with SM reported the most challenges accessing medical services in pediatrics and dentistry. The analysis identified the following three main challenges parents face when seeking medical care for their child with SM: "Journey to Receiving Treatment," "Physicians' Inability to Accurately Capture the Child's Condition," and "Healthcare Providers' Responses." Conclusions These findings highlight the numerous challenges faced by parents of children with SM when seeking medical services for their child. The challenges faced by parents when bringing their child with SM to medical facilities may be alleviated through the implementation of telemedicine, the development of mobile health applications, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the introduction of SM-specific training programs for healthcare professionals.

Nursing students' knowledge of working with D/deaf and hard of hearing patients: Evaluation of a deaf awareness elearning package

AimThe aim of this study was to evaluate a newly developed Deaf awareness e-learning package with nursing students at one university in Wales, UK. BackgroundD/deaf and hard of hearing communities face a multitude of barriers when accessing and receiving healthcare leading to under diagnosis of health conditions and poorer health outcomes in general. Lack of awareness, teaching, and exposure to the D/deaf and hard of hearing populations during health care professional training programmes has been shown to contribute to this health disparity. DesignA descriptive cross-sectional design was used with two cohorts of undergraduate nursing students at one university in Wales, UK who were invited to undertake a Deaf awareness eLearning package developed with D/deaf communities in Wales. MethodsNursing student engagement and course completion were monitored, and evaluation survey questionnaires were implemented. ResultsThe Deaf awareness eLearning package evaluation showed engagement with over 400 nursing students, who scored the package an overall mark (1 to 5 stars) of 4.72 out of 5. In total, 227 nursing students completed the eLearning package and received the certificate. Students reported finding the eLearning package very interactive, easy to navigate, thought the three-hour length was about right. However, we would like to know more about factors that influence student non-engagement and dropout. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that eLearning Deaf awareness programs can be successful in increasing knowledge and confidence around communicating with D/deaf and hard of hearing patients for nursing, with potential benefits for wider rollout across wider health and care student and staff populations. Registration numberGrant number: 101010662\\737073]. Tweetable abstractD/deaf and hard of hearing patients experience barriers in healthcare so health professionals need accessible Deaf awareness training. Our eLearning model shows promise.

The Power of Thought: The Role of Psychological Attentiveness and Emotional Support in Patient Trajectories.

In modern healthcare, the influence of a patient's mindset on health outcomes is an often neglected yet vital component of holistic care. This review explores the significant impact of positive and negative mindsets on disease progression and recovery, emphasizing the need to integrate mental wellness practices into conventional medical care. Drawing from a wide array of studies, it demonstrates how fostering a positive mindset can enhance patient trajectories across various medical specialties. The article advocates for training healthcare providers to adopt a more empathetic and patient-centered approach, bridging the gap between mind and body. By presenting compelling evidence on the correlation between patient mindset and health outcomes, this review highlights the potential benefits of incorporating psychological support and holistic strategies into standard care protocols. Practical strategies for implementing mindset-focused interventions are also proposed, including training programs for healthcare professionals and the development of interdisciplinary treatment plans. Ultimately, this article underscores the need for a paradigm shift in medical practice, advocating for a comprehensive approach that recognizes the power of thought in promoting patient wellness.

Influence of immunological awareness on enhancing the overall complying with health instructions and necessary vaccines during epidemics and pandemics

ABSTRACT Immunological awareness plays a pivotal role in promoting adherence to health instructions during public health emergencies. This study assessed the influence of specialized immunology education on compliance behaviors among higher education students. To assess the influence of specialized immunology education on compliance behaviors toward health instructions and necessary vaccines during epidemics and pandemics among higher education students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 532 students at King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia using stratified random sampling. A validated questionnaire examined demographics, health awareness, and specific immunological knowledge. Regression analysis was performed to assess predictors of compliance with health instructions. Considerable knowledge gaps were found around fundamental immunological concepts despite fair awareness about vaccines. Marked disparities existed across gender and academic disciplines. Regression modeling established specialized immunology training as a significant predictor of compliance with guidelines like masking and vaccination during epidemics (p < .001). The findings highlight the need for customized immunology curricula targeting students from nonscientific backgrounds. Incorporating immunology training in continuing education programs for healthcare professionals and public officials can further promote compliance. Multifaceted public health campaigns combining immunology education with initiatives to address socio-cultural barriers are warranted. Further research should explore sustainable educational interventions to enhance long-term retention and integration of immunology knowledge into health behaviors.

The American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable strategic plan: Current challenges and future directions for shared decision making for lung cancer screening.

Shared decision making (SDM) between health care professionals and patients is essential to help patients make well informed choices about lung cancer screening (LCS). Patients who participate in SDM have greater LCS knowledge, reduced decisional conflict, and improved adherence to annual screening compared with patients who do not participate in SDM. SDM tools are acceptable to patients and clinicians. The importance of SDM in LCS is emphasized in recommendations from professional organizations and highlighted as a priority in the 2022 President's Cancer Panel Report. The updated 2022 national coverage determination from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reaffirms the value of SDM in offering LCS to eligible beneficiaries. The Shared Decision-Making Task Group of the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable undertook a group consensus process to identify priorities for research and implementation related to SDM for LCS and then evaluated current knowledge in these areas. Priority areas included: (1) developing feasible, adaptable SDM training programs for health care professionals; (2) understanding the impact of alternative health system LCS models on SDM practice and outcomes; (3) developing and evaluating new patient decision aids for use with diverse populations and in varied settings; (4) offering conceptual clarity about what constitutes a high-quality decision and developing appropriate quality measures; and (5) studying the use of prediction-augmented screening to support SDM in practice. Gaps in current research in all areas were observed. The authors conclude with a research and implementation agenda to advance the quality and implementation of SDM for persons who might benefit from LCS.

The Role and Importance of Physician and Health Care Professional Programs.

Physician Health Programs (PHPs) have been support-ing and advocating for health professionals for nearly four decades. Initially developed by state medical societies in the 1980s, PHPs recognized the need for therapeutic alterna-tives to disciplinary measures for physicians facing health issues that could impair their ability to practice safely. Originally focused on substance use disorders, PHPs have since expanded their services to encompass mental health and other co-occurring conditions.

Evaluating the Healthcare System Responsiveness for COVID-19 Care in Southeast Iran

Background: Health system responsiveness is critical in managing infectious disease epidemics. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the responsiveness of the health system during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 patients who had been discharged from hospitals after recovering from COVID-19 during 2021 - 2022 in Sistan-Baluchistan province, located in the southeastern region of Iran. Data were collected using the World Health Organization health system responsiveness tool through telephone interviews. Descriptive statistics methods were used to determine the responsiveness score. T-tests and one-way analysis of variance were also used to compare the means between groups. Results: The overall score for health system responsiveness was 110.12 ± 13.12, indicating a moderate level of responsiveness. The communication dimension received the highest mean score (30.12 ± 4.73), while the choice of provider dimension had the lowest mean score (5.65 ± 2.37). Significant relationships were found between health system responsiveness and variables such as place of residence (P = 0.01), city of residence (P = 0.001), and household size (P = 0.05). Conclusions: The study identified areas for improvement in health system responsiveness within Sistan-Baluchistan's hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. To enhance patient care and strengthen the healthcare system's responsiveness, health policymakers should implement measures such as developing responsiveness guidelines, establishing a dedicated responsiveness unit, and providing training programs for healthcare professionals. Regular evaluation of responsiveness in hospitals is also crucial.

Tracking Research Momentum and Scholarly Impact: A Bibliometric Analysis of Magnetotherapy.

This bibliometric study investigates the research landscape of magnetotherapy, also known as magnetic field therapy, which utilizes magnetic fields to promote healing, reduce pain, and improve overall health and well-being. The study uses bibliographic data from Scopus and employs Biblioshiny and CiteSpace for analysis. Key aspects examined include annual scientific production, most relevant authors, co-citation of cited authors, most relevant sources, countries' scientific production, and collaborations. Additional analyses feature a historiograph, trend topics, thematic maps, and keywords with the strongest citation bursts. Findings highlight significant trends in research activity, identify influential contributors, and map out collaborative networks in the field. The study reveals a noticeable absence of long-term studies and standardized treatment protocols in magnetotherapy research. Identified research gaps indicate the need for interdisciplinary studies and a deeper mechanistic understanding of magnetotherapy. Practical implications emphasize the potential for enhanced clinical applications, healthcare policy integration, and medical device innovations. The study underscores the importance of educational and training programs for healthcare professionals. Addressing these gaps and leveraging practical implications can significantly advance the field of magnetotherapy.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on burnout levels among healthcare workers: A comparative analysis of the pandemic period and post-pandemic period

Emotional burnout among physicians is a serious problem that can affect their health and the quality of medical care. This condition occurs when physicians experience excessive stress and pressure at work, often due to high demands and expectations imposed on them by patients. This study aims to assess the experience and factors associated with emotional burnout among health workers who deal with COVID-19-positive patients. The study population includes employees at the infectious diseases hospital and the inpatient clinical hospital examined using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The prevalence of high emotional exhaustion among infectious diseases specialists and inpatient physicians was 51.2 ± 3.4 % and 43.3 ± 8.1 %, respectively. The prevalence of high depersonalization was 39.4 ± 7.9 % and 40.5 ± 8.1 %, respectively. Finally, the prevalence of reduced professional efficacy was 26.3 ± 7.1 % and 41.3 ± 8.3 %, respectively. The main burnout contributors were a heavy workload, a high risk of infection, the lack of protective equipment, insufficient social support, constant interaction with suffering patients, and work-life imbalance. To prevent burnout among health workers who deal with COVID-19-positive patients, it is best to create a working environment that is conducive to good physical and mental health, implement stress management courses, and provide employees with enough time for rest and recovery. These preventive measures will help to improve the quality of health care. The findings of the study can be utilized for the development of support programs for healthcare professionals, improvement of working conditions, and reduction of the risk of emotional burnout.

Evaluating Leadership Dynamics: A Comprehensive Cross-Sectional Study of Madinah's Primary Healthcare Centers.

This study focuses on the effectiveness of healthcare leadership in primary healthcare centers in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, examining the interplay between leadership styles, emotional intelligence, and their impact on leadership effectiveness. Emphasizing the critical role of primary healthcare as outlined by the World Health Organization, the research addresses the gap in understanding leadership dynamics within the Saudi healthcare context. A cross-sectional design was used, involving 89 managers and deputies from 48 primary healthcare centers in Madinah City, Saudi Arabiain 2023. The methodology included a comprehensive questionnaire assessing leadership effectiveness, emotional intelligence, and socio-demographic variables. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp), incorporating chi-square tests, t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation, and binary logistic regression for statistical evaluation. The findings revealed a high level of leadership effectiveness (79.8%; 95% CI: 62.7±10.2)among the study participants. Emotional intelligence emerged as a significant factor in effective leadership, evidenced by a strong positive correlation (r=0.75; p=0.001) between emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness. The study also observed a predominant preference for democratic leadership styles among participants, with no significant variance in leadership effectiveness across different styles. A notable area for improvement identified was self-awareness among healthcare leaders. The research concludes that effective healthcare leadership, significantly influenced by emotional intelligence, is essential for reaching high-quality primary healthcare. It advocates for the integration of emotional intelligence training, especially focusing on self-awareness, in leadership development programs for healthcare professionals.

'It's far from the norm': breastfeeding beyond 1 year in the Republic of Ireland.

Breastfeeding is the optimal form of nutrition for infants and young children. The World Health Organization recommends that babies are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months of life, and up to the age of 2 years or beyond in combination with complementary food. Breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates are suboptimal globally and very low in the Republic of Ireland where health promotion initiatives and healthcare professional support predominantly focus on the important phase of initiation and early months of the breastfeeding journey. This qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore the experiences of women who chose to breastfeed their children beyond 1 year of age in the Republic of Ireland. Fourteen women participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was conducted. The analysis generated three overarching themes: (1) Influences on breastfeeding beyond 1 year, (2) Sustaining breastfeeding and (3) Benefits of breastfeeding beyond 1 year. Family, friends, peers, culture and commercial milk formula marketing had an influence on breastfeeding journeys. Support, determination, knowledge, bed-sharing and Covid-19 pandemic social restrictions helped to sustain breastfeeding beyond 1 year. Benefits of breastfeeding beyond 1 year such as nutrition, strengthening of emotional bonds, development of a parenting tool, and protection of child and maternal health were identified. Our findings support the need for discussions and further research on the normalization of breastfeeding beyond 1 year in the Republic of Ireland, targeted health promotion initiatives and education programmes for healthcare professionals on supporting the continuation of breastfeeding.

Transforming healthcare: A pilot study to improve primary healthcare professionals’ self-management support behaviour through blended learning

BackgroundSelf-management of a chronic condition is a complex but increasingly important issue. However, a supportive attitude and behaviour among healthcare professionals is hampered by a lack of awareness, knowledge and motivation. In addition, the role of professionals in supporting self-management seems unclear.MethodsA blended learning program for primary healthcare professionals was developed to strengthen self-management support in primary care. The program was piloted in community health centres and multidisciplinary medical practices in Flanders. Using the Kirkpatrick model, the impact on healthcare professionals’ reaction, learning and behaviour regarding self-management support was evaluated.ResultsA total of 60 healthcare professionals registered for the educational program. Post-learning questionnaires and verbal feedback showed a positive response, with professionals highly appreciating the innovative blended learning approach. In terms of learning, participants showed a good understanding of self-management support, although nuances were observed in the application of acquired knowledge to practice scenarios. Finally, preliminary insights into behavioural change were explored, revealing a positive impact of the intervention on participants’ supportive self-management behaviours in healthcare practice.ConclusionsOur study provides preliminary insights into the outcomes of a blended learning program designed to increase awareness and knowledge of self-management support among professionals. The program needs to be refined for general implementation in primary care.

Assessing Training Programs for Preventive Healthcare Professionals: A Comprehensive Kaufman Evaluation Framework

Assessing Training Programs for Preventive Healthcare Professionals: A Comprehensive Kaufman Evaluation Framework