Qualified Health Professionals Research Articles

Natural Language Processing for Work-Related Stress Detection Among Health Professionals: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

There is an urgent need worldwide for qualified health professionals. High attrition rates among health professionals, combined with a predicted rise in life expectancy, further emphasize the need for additional health professionals. Work-related stress is a major concern among health professionals, affecting both the well-being of health professionals and the quality of patient care. This scoping review aims to identify processes and methods for the automatic detection of work-related stress among health professionals using natural language processing (NLP) and text mining techniques. This review follows Joanna Briggs Institute Methodology and PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. The inclusion criteria for this scoping review encompass studies involving health professionals using NLP for work-related stress detection while excluding studies involving other professions or children. The review focuses on various aspects, including NLP applications for stress detection, criteria for stress identification, technical aspects of NLP, and implications of stress detection through NLP. Studies within health care settings using diverse NLP techniques are considered, including experimental and observational designs, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of NLP's role in detecting stress among health professionals. Studies published in English, German, or French from 2013 to present will be considered. The databases to be searched include MEDLINE (via PubMed), CINAHL, PubMed, Cochrane, ACM Digital Library, and IEEE Xplore. Sources of unpublished studies and gray literature to be searched will include ProQuest Dissertations & Theses and OpenGrey. Two reviewers will independently retrieve full-text studies and extract data. The collected data will be organized in tables, graphs, and a qualitative narrative summary. This review will use tables and graphs to present data on studies' distribution by year, country, activity field, and research methods. Results synthesis involves identifying, grouping, and categorizing. The final scoping review will include a narrative written report detailing the search and study selection process, a visual representation using a PRISMA-ScR flow diagram, and a discussion of implications for practice and research. We anticipate the outcomes will be presented in a systematic scoping review by June 2024. This review fills a literature gap by identifying automated work-related stress detection among health professionals using NLP and text mining, providing insights on an innovative approach, and identifying research needs for further systematic reviews. Despite promising outcomes, acknowledging limitations in the reviewed studies, including methodological constraints, sample biases, and potential oversight, is crucial to refining methodologies and advancing automatic stress detection among health professionals. PRR1-10.2196/56267.

Childbirth experience and maternal role confidence among postpartum mothers from maternity units in Jolo

The study aims to evaluate postpartum women' birthing experiences and maternal role confidence in Jolo maternity facilities. A quantitative-descriptive cross-sectional survey methodology was used to investigate the relationship between delivery experience and maternal role confidence. The study included 100 postpartum mothers who gave birth within six weeks of delivery or in the early postpartum period. The respondents were largely young adults who were literate, earning below monthly income, had two pregnancies, gave birth in government hospitals, and were treated institutionally by qualified health professionals. They were moderately satisfied with their delivery experience and quite confident in their maternal role. There were no significant variations in the extent of delivery experience or maternal role confidence across socio-demographic groups. A positive correlation was identified between childbirth experience and maternal role confidence.

Prevalence and factors associated with eating disorders among undergraduate students in a public university in Ghana

AbstractTo estimate the prevalence of eating disorders (EDs) among undergraduate students in a public university in Ghana; to identify the factors associated with EDs and to explore the relationship between sociodemographics and developing EDs. A cross‐sectional design was employed to obtain data from 1101 students using the total enumeration sampling method. Information on sociodemographics was obtained and anthropometric measurements were self‐reported. The Eating Attitude Test was modified to obtain the prevalence rate. The factors associated with EDs and the relationship between sociodemographics and EDs were also assessed using a chi‐square statistical test. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between sociodemographic variables and ED risk. A total of 1101 students participated in the study with a mean age of 21.87 ± 2.94, ranging from 16 to 43 years. About 7% of the students were found to have EDs, with the majority being female young adults. Factors found to influence EDs were peer/family pressure, stress, and body dissatisfaction. The association between psychological factors and EDs was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Gender (p = 0.011), course of study (p = 0.001), and level of study (p = 0.010) were sociodemographic variables associated with an increased likelihood of developing EDs. This study found the prevalence of EDs to be relatively higher than that estimated for Africa and non‐Western countries and almost as high as that of the Western world. This calls for urgent steps to be taken, including creating awareness and increasing nutrition education to reduce the incidence, if not completely nip it in the bud. Sociocultural factors and body image preferences were identified as core factors underlying susceptibility to EDs and hence will inform and guide intervention activities. This study will address literature gaps and provide baseline data on the prevalence rate of EDs in Ghana and Africa at large. Information from the study will aid dietitians/nutritionists in developing interventions suitable for persons with EDs. Most importantly, this study will refer individuals who may have EDs to seek the necessary assistance from qualified health professionals like doctors, dietitians, and psychologists.

A reflective practice learning experience with higher education exercise physiology students

ABSTRACT Accredited exercise physiologists are higher education qualified health professionals who prescribe exercise as a preventative and treatment modality for individuals diagnosed with chronic conditions. Reflective practice is integral to the exercise physiology discipline, however its integration into curriculum requires further development and research. Utilising clinically based scenarios, final year students (N = 21), participated in a three-week reflective learning experience using the 6 step SPROUT acronym, represented as Situation, Past experiences, Read and refer, Other influences, Understanding and Taking it forward. Students completed the Reflection in Learning Scale (RLS) and responded to questions about confidence. Reflective scripts were reviewed, and clinical supervisors were interviewed. For the RLS, students scored higher on planning, knowledge integration and mental processing and lower for topic interactions, mindful summarising and coping with negative feelings. Students (75%) indicated that they were mostly or very confident in the use of reflective practice. Qualitative responses showed that using SPROUT did reinforce clinical learning. Time constraints and the separateness of higher education from the ‘real world’ were also points of view. Analysis of student scripts revealed a range of developing reflective ability. Supervisors focused on the importance of reflective practice and the contribution, that SPROUT had made to the overall experience.

Coding Challenge: Hospital Evaluation and Management Services

In the November 2023 AAP Pediatric Coding Newsletter™, changes to the guidelines for reporting hospital inpatient or observation stays were discussed in the article, “CPT 2024: New Guidelines for Brief Hospital Stays” (https://doi.org/10.1542/pcco_book235_document004). Although taken from a long-standing Medicare policy, the new guidelines may be unfamiliar to physicians and other qualified health professionals (QHPs) who provide hospital care to children. This coding challenge offers the opportunity to confirm your understanding of the guidelines that are applicable to services provided on and after January 1, 2024.

Assessment of knowledge of the association between periodontitis and systemic conditions among clinical medical and nursing students

Background: Periodontitis has been linked to some systemic conditions. The knowledge of this association by qualified health professionals and those in training is very vital in holistic patient care.
 Objective: To assess knowledge of the association between periodontitis and systemic conditions among clinical medical and nursing students
 Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among clinical medical and clinical nursing students of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. A total of 200 questionnaires were administered with 156 properly filled. Section A of the questionnaire had questions on the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents, while section B included questions on the assessment of participants’ awareness and knowledge regarding the possible link between periodontitis and some systemic conditions. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 25.0 with p ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant.
 Results: A total number of 156 clinical medical and nursing students participated in the study, 99 (63.5%) were females, while the remaining 57 (36.5%) were males. The age range of the participants was 19-35 years with a mean age of 23.31 ± 2.50 years. Of the 156 participants, 85 (54.5 %) were clinical medical students while 71 (45.5%) were clinical nursing students. 74.4% of the medical students and 35.7% of the nursing students knew that there was a possible link between periodontitis and diabetes mellitus (p=0.000). 54.9% of medical students and 30.0% of nursing students agreed that there is a possible link between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease (p=0.001). Using Bloom’s concept, 69 (81.2%) of the medical students and 53 (74.6%) of nursing students demonstrated low knowledge about the link between periodontitis and systemic conditions, 
 Conclusion: There was an inadequate level of knowledge of the possible association between periodontitis and some systemic conditions among the participants. Hence, there is a need to include oral health education in the undergraduate curriculum of both medical and nursing students.
 

Preceptorship and education in Family Health Nursing residency

The objective of this study was to analyze the main duties of the nurse preceptor of the Family Health Nursing Residency Course linked to the Municipal Health Department of Rio de Janeiro, understanding their perceptions about preceptorship and identifying their skills and competencies. This was a qualitative study, of the field research type. Data collection was carried out at the Family Clinics that offered the course in Program Area 3.1, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, through semi-structured interviews with nine participants. It was identified that the professional who occupies this role builds his work process based on his previous knowledge and experiences. From there, the preceptor develops skills and competencies in the relationship with the resident in the field that transform him into an educator. We can understand this actor, still in definition, as an academic manager and care manager. We conclude that it is necessary to invest more in training preceptors to work within this role, producing more qualified health professionals to work in and for the SUS.

Men's health in primary care: challenges faced by nurses regarding the determinants of the health-disease process

To identify the challenges faced by nurses working in primary health care in relation to the care provided to the male population. This is an integrative literature review, with a quantitative approach, carried out using the following databases: Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), Nursing Database - BDENF - and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO) and with the help of the Health Sciences descriptors (DeSC): "men's health", "primary health care" and "nursing". Fourteen studies were selected to make up the review. The challenges faced by nursing in relation to the health of the male population are mainly related to the socialization that gender involves, the deficit in the organization of services due to the feminization of systems, the incompatibility of schedules, the lack of training and qualification of health professionals who work in PHC. It was possible to identify that health services are deficient in meeting the demands presented by the male population. This study will provide a better insight into the structuring and preparation of health services to care for men of all ages.

Sonographic imaging education for sonographers versus health professionals: A literature review

AbstractBackgroundSonographers are tertiary qualified health professionals who acquire, measure, and interpret diagnostic ultrasound images. Ultrasound is also used by many health professionals other than sonographers. As the imaging objectives of these two groups differs, and in the interest of enhancing education, we performed a literature review.MethodResearch questions drove the literature search that initially yielded >4,000 articles: subject and theme relevance checks reduced this to a final selection of 44. Based on dominant themes within articles, the final 44 were placed into 7 categories, 3 in ‘skills development’ and 4 in ‘educational methods’ domains. In each category, articles were grouped by research participant type: 1. Sonographer or 2. Health Professional, and citation frequency used to measure impact.ResultSix sonographer‐focused and 16 health professional focused articles were assigned to the skills development domain. The highest impact sonographer‐focused article emphasised psychomotor skills for optimal development, the highest impact health professional focused article centered on rapid image acquisition and interpretation. Six sonographer‐focused and 16 health professional focused articles were assigned to the educational methods domain. The highest impact sonographer‐focused article identified a limitation of high‐fidelity simulators, the highest impact health professional focused article cited a limitation of education delivery.ConclusionDifferent sonographic imaging skills and educational methods are used for sonographers and health professionals. Sonographers utilise a wide range of imaging skills: teaching methods should be tailored accordingly. Health professionals rely on condensed imaging skills and standardised protocols: this requires a customised approach and may be enhanced by sonographer involvement.

Primary healthcare system and provider responses to the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan

IntroductionExisting health system challenges in Afghanistan were amplified by the Taliban’s August 2021 government takeover during which the country faced an evolving security situation, border closures, banking interruptions, donor funding...

Alcohol use disorder and fitness to drive: Discrepancies between health professionals’ evaluations and objective measures of alcohol use and cognitive functioning

Aims: In this study, we investigated if health professionals’ evaluations of driving ability corresponded with measures of severity of alcohol use and measures of cognitive functions necessary for safely driving a car. Methods: A total of 90 participants from a multicentre study were included. Participants were categorised into three groups: (1) the group judged fit to drive (FIT); (2) the group judged not fit to drive (UNFIT); and (3) the group who had lost their driver's licence due to legal sanctions (LEGAL). The participants’ AUDIT scores, earlier treatment episodes and results from neuropsychological tests of reaction time, attention and visuospatial ability were included in the analyses. Results: We found a significant difference in the severity of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and visuospatial abilities between the FIT and UNFIT groups. Half of the UNFIT group had at least mild visuospatial difficulties, compared to only a quarter in the FIT group. There were no group differences in reaction time or attentional measures. The LEGAL group had more severe AUD than the other groups. Conclusion: The FIT group did not perform differently from the UNFIT group on attention and reaction time measures. The UNFIT group had more visuospatial impairments, but even half of this group had normal scores. It is uncertain whether the differences between the two groups are of practical significance. The quality of health professionals’ evaluations may be questioned, and the results highlight the need for more reliable and valid criteria for doing fitness to drive evaluations.

Global Health Master's Talent Cultivation Models of World-Class Universities and Implications: A Comparative Analysis of Five U.S. Institutions

Global health aims to improve the health levels of all humanity. Chinese universities, guided by national development strategies, are endeavoring to cultivate highly qualified global health professionals with international perspectives and interdisciplinary knowledge. This paper conducts a comparative analysis of the global health master's talent cultivation models at world-class universities such as Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University, University of Washington, Yale University, and Columbia University. It analyzes their talent cultivation objectives, research directions, curriculum structures, faculty and teaching resources, as well as industry connections. The findings provide insights for Chinese universities in cultivating global health master's talents: defining clear objectives, optimizing curriculum design, enhancing faculty expertise, strengthening international and industry collaborations, and focusing on lifelong learning and post-graduate career prospects.

8.N. Round table: Circular migration of the health and care workforce: how can we design sustainable policies?

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated mobility-related challenges, leading to a health workforce which is oftentimes exhausted - physically and mentally. Various global responses - such as the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Strategy on human resources for health: Workforce 2030 - include policies related to migration and emigration among the package of measures aimed at maintaining the pool of qualified health professionals. For post-pandemic national health systems worldwide, the need to innovate on attracting, retaining and motivating health professionals is more acute than ever. As such, our session stemmed from the observation that little evidence exists on the extent to which circular migration would work in practice. Circular migration - the situation in which health professionals are using their knowledge and skills gained abroad, in their home country - has been presented as a particularly effective, equity-promoting measure to mitigate HWF migration. In theory, circular migration would present a so-called “triple win” - for the sending country, for the destination country and for the individual health workers. However, among all mechanisms aimed at HWF retention and motivation - including financial and non-financial incentives, skill mix innovations etc. - circular migration seems to be the least field-tested. Objectives Learning objective 1: Appraise the value of circular migration as a mechanism to address HWF mobility challenges, based on research data; Learning objective 2: Assess critically the role of multi-stakeholder approaches that would make circular migration more effective in practice; Learning objective 3: Formulate areas of further enquiry that promote shared learning on circular migration globally. By engaging outstanding professionals in the health workforce field, the session will provide scientifically-sound and geographically diverse perspectives on how to best use circular migration in health systems, thus filling the knowledge gaps mentioned above. The session will allow for a panel discussion based on four presentations delivered by the invited speakers, based on a health labour market approach. Their contributions will focus on a mix of evidence & practice and policy related to circular migration. The above-mentioned presentations and the subsequent discussion initiated will add to the very limited knowledge on circular migration in practice. With this session, we are advancing work that pays greater attention to the “human face” of health workforce mobility and migration, addressing the needs and wishes of healthcare workers and ‘humanising’ health labour market policy and research. We address gender-based inequalities and discrimination in the health workforce and consider the intersectionality of inequalities (gender, race/ethnicity, age, class/professional status) in the migrant health workforce, where women often experience a ‘double jeopardy’ of gender and race/ethnicity. Key messages • Health and care workforce circular migration must be understood and accepted in a manner that take into account current complex migration patterns. • Policies involving circular migration of the health and care workforce need to be designed and assessed by promoting an understanding of the human face of the workforce. Speakers/Panelists Tomas Zapata WHO/Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark Gareth Rees Universidad ESAN, Lima, Peru Aaron Poppleton School of Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK Ligia Paina Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA Ellen Kuhlmann University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany

Nursing Shortage in Pakistan

The health workforce including Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Professionals is the foundation of any health care system. Investment in the health sector reduces disease burden, improves productivity and ultimately contributes positively in economic growth of the country. Pakistan is generally confronted with dire shortage of qualified health professionals especially the nursing staff that is the backbone of every healthcare systems across the world. Nurses have incredible contribution in assisting the doctors in every aspect of patient care, thus ensuring that individuals receive the best possible care at all stages [1]. The nursing profession continues to face shortages due to a lack of potential educators, high turnover, and inequitable workforce distribution. The nursing staff employed in the hospitals is primarily responsible to provide all kind of nursing care to the admitted patients i.e., monitoring of vital signs, fluid management, and administration of medication in line with the orders of the attending physicians. Nurses are also responsible to monitor the nutrition intake, look after personal hygiene of patients and care of bowels, prevention of bedsores etc., maintain medical record and ensure the ambiance conducive to recovery. Their role therefore, requires essential nursing skills, apart from commitment and vigor. There are however, issues of quality in nursing education, particularly regarding development of proficiency in basic nursing & midwifery skills [2]. Nursing Institutions lack in quality output, due to deficiencies in nursing faculty, infrastructure and professional supervision. It is expedient to remain abreast with contemporary advancements in nursing education and practices to produce competent and skillful nursing workforce for better clinical outcomes. According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2020-2021, Pakistan had a total of 116,659 registered nurses in 2020 for a population of about 200 million people. In the general wards of Pakistani hospitals, the current nurse-patient ratio is 1: 40, while the Pakistan Nursing Council recommends a nurse-patient ratio of 3:10 [3]. The deficiency in the actual number of nurses rendering services is further aggravated by positions remaining vacant due to shortage of skilled nurses, thus compromising quality of nursing care. This shortage in nursing strength is also worsened by an urge to move overseas particularly the Gulf countries, as large number of nurses opt for employment abroad for better financial incentives [4]. The situation is even worst in the private sector particularly, in the smaller hospitals that end up with hiring semi- qualified and poorly trained or self-trained staff on meager salary and poor employment terms on the pre-text of shortage of qualified nurses. Larger private setups often resort to make shift arrangements by engaging nurses employed in the public hospital for second shift. Such nurses are therefore, required to work for up to 16 hours a day, thus, further compromising quality of care. It is highly recommended to increase the number of nursing training opportunities and slots to overcome this serious shortfall and to ensure availability of sufficient number of nurses in the public as well as private sector to comply with the recommended Nurse: Bed ratio and to fill vacancies as per the sanctioned strength in public hospitals on priority basis. Also to improve the training facilities at Nursing Colleges in terms of qualified faculty and proper infrastructure to improve quality of training of the nursing cadre. Introduction of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Programs for nurses with mandatory completion of credit hours on regular basis for continually building the skills and improving the quality of nursing and midwifery services can also prove to be a great initiative [5]. Enrolling more male nurses can help provide nursing care at hospitals located in the relatively hard to reach areas.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound Educational Development in Australasia: A Scoping Review

Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) technology is evolving rapidly and is being adopted by many health professionals in their clinical practice. Ultrasound is a complex skill requiring dedicated training. Appropriate integration of ultrasound education into medical, surgical, nursing and allied health professions is a current challenge worldwide. There are patient safety implications for use of ultrasound without adequate training and frameworks. The purpose of the review was to overview the status of PoCUS education in Australasia; investigate what is being taught and learned about ultrasound across the health professions; and identify potential gaps. The review was limited to postgraduate and qualified health professionals with established or emerging clinical use for PoCUS. A scoping review methodology was used to include literature in peer-reviewed articles, policies, guidelines, position statements, curricula and online material relating to ultrasound education. One hundred thirty-six documents were included. The literature revealed heterogeneity in ultrasound teaching and learning across the health professions. Several health professions lacked any defined scopes of practice, policies or curricula. Significant investment in resourcing ultrasound education is required to address the current needs in Australia and New Zealand.

Changing attitudes towards HIV testing and treatment among three generations of men in Cameroon: a qualitative analysis using the Fogg Behavior Model

IntroductionMen are less likely than women to test for HIV and promptly initiate antiretroviral treatment, resulting in advanced HIV disease and increased mortality rates among them.MethodsIn-depth interviews were conducted with men and leaders in the west and central regions of Cameroon. Men were recruited from existing community groups and stratified by age: 21–30 years, 31–40 years, and 41 years and older. Community leaders were recommended by the community dialogue structure chairman. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured guide in English or French, depending on the participant’s preference. Transcripts were coded in the MAXQDA v.12 software and analyzed using thematic analysis and by age group. The Fogg Behavior Model was used to gain a deeper understanding of the different perceptions across all age groups.ResultsYounger men (21–30 years) were generally more accepting of HIV testing, as it had become normative behavior. Although financial barriers could limit access, free testing was mentioned as a prompt to initiate HIV testing. The middle age men (31–40 years) had the most concerns about HIV testing interrupting their work day and recommended increasing testing locations and hours. The older men (41 + years) were the least motivated to get tested, citing worries about the impact on their social standing within the community. All age groups reported being motivated to begin treatment if they were found to be HIV-positive.Participants also provided insights regarding community HIV testing and treatment messaging. Younger and older men preferred to hear directly from qualified health professionals, but younger men noted that social media, radio, and TV could be utilized. Middle age men also identified TV and radio as effective mediums, if door-to-door messaging was not an option.ConclusionsThe study highlights important considerations when planning future information-sharing activities for HIV testing and treatment. Since lived experiences differ across generations and societal roles continue to change, not only should the content of messages differ among the generations, but the means of communication must also be considered to ensure the messages are conveyed through a trusted source.

Health literacy education programmes developed for qualified health professionals: a scoping review

ObjectivesBoth literature and policy have identified the need for health literacy education for qualified health professionals. This study aimed to identify and map health literacy competencies and health literacy related...

Technical Requirements for Clinical Exercise Physiologists as Qualified Health Professionals

Apply It! • Readers will be able to advocate for the field of clinical exercise physiology with an enhanced understanding of the current state of the profession. • Readers will have a platform to have discussions with other allied health professionals to increase awareness of the role of a clinical exercise physiologist in a health care setting.

Evidence-Based Lifestyle Guidelines and Self-Management Strategies Utilized by Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder, affecting 13% of reproductive-aged women. While lifestyle management is the first-line treatment for improving complications, women experience challenges with implementation. This cross-sectional study aims to identify the types and sources of dietary and physical activity (PA) interventions implemented by women with PCOS and understand how they use self-management strategies to support lifestyle change. An online questionnaire was disseminated via a consumer-based PCOS website (May 2015-2016). Women (n = 1167) were aged 18-45 years and primarily born within the United States (70%). A quarter or less of women (diet 25%, PA 14%) sought lifestyle advice from health professionals (medical clinicians or dietitians) compared to over half (diet 59%, PA 67%) using alternative sources, namely from online platforms. While only 33% and 16% of women reported following formal dietary or PA guidelines, respectively, 57% had implemented a 'special diet' to manage their condition, many of which were inconsistent with evidence-based practice in PCOS. Participants also displayed a low level of engagement with important self-management behaviors, including goal setting and positive self-talk. These findings suggest that online information may promote inaccurate and ineffective lifestyle advice and emphasize the need to increase engagement with qualified health professionals.

A Project to Set up a Day Care Center with Rehabilitation Services for the Betterment of Health of Senior Citizen

Aloneness, carelessness and less reputation, sickness due to aged and in contradiction of lack of treatment are the most of the treacherous conditions which elderly are facing. Under the areas of the physical environment, the program, personnel, and inter-staff interactions, the development of a Day Care Center for senior citizens. The Center's mission is to offer seniors more thorough and efficient services. The program's social reinforcement, physical care, and mental components are focused on helping patients learn new skills and rediscover old ones so they may deal successfully with the challenges of aging and retirement. The day care center for the Senior citizens (elderly) can effectively cope with the continuous aging of the population, which is an important supporting form of community care service system. This project aims to Established a day care center for senior citizen for the betterment of their physical, social and mental health therefore, improve their quality of life with the help of qualified health professionals, quality infrastructure and active participation of service user.