Review Of Best Practices Research Articles

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Medicine: Why It Matters and How do We Achieve It?

Diversifying the medical work force is critical to reducing health care disparity and improving patient outcomes. This manuscript offers a comprehensive review of best practices to improve both the recruitment and the retention of underrepresented minorities in training programs and beyond.

Review of Good Practices in the Introduction of Traffic Management Systems and Urban Mobility

Mobility, as one of the most significant factors in maintaining the quality of life in cities, faces problems such as traffic congestion and environmental pollution. The rapid population growth in urban areas has had an impact on increased traffic, which is why many cities have decided to implement or improve existing intelligent transport systems (ITS) that reduce traffic congestion with more comfortable and safer pedestrian traffic. Although the population in developed and densely populated cities is familiar with multimodal transportation, inadequate urban transport systems and large individual transport in place continue to pose a major threat. The application of appropriate ITS systems manages traffic and mobility management that are present to residents and facilitate access to all forms of transport. The aim of this paper is to explore urban mobility examples of good traffic management practice for the possibility of their application in cities with issues such as traffic jams and accidents, low pedestrian safety, parking problems, etc.

Current Perspectives on the Management of Infantile Atopic Dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common disease of childhood, and infantile AD may manifest from birth to 2 years. Guidelines for the management of infantile AD are lacking, and our aim is to provide a comprehensive review of best practices and possible interventions. We will focus on topical therapy, since the use of systemic immunomodulating agents in infantile AD is rarely advised. Topical agents include emollients, topical corticosteroids (TCS), topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs), and phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE-4) inhibitors. We will also provide a brief overview of promising emerging therapies currently under investigation in the pediatric population.

Assessment of Pre-Service Teacher Dispositions

Measurement of pre-service teacher dispositions is an important part of teacher preparation programs. A strong correlation exists between dispositions of teachers and the quality of their student’s learning. Teachers, in addition to sharing content knowledge, are responsible for demonstrating and sharing core values relating to virtues such as honesty, justice, fairness, care, empathy, integrity, courage, respect, and responsibility, and these values must guide their own conduct and interpersonal relations. As teachers serve pupils who are minors, their conduct and potential to serve effectively and ethically in the profession must be evaluated. However, a thorough faculty-led instrument to assess pre-service teacher candidates’ disposition does not currently exist. The purpose of this research was to develop an assessment of pre-service teachers’ dispositions for use in teacher education programs. A 25-item instrument was created through assessment of teacher education program needs and review of best practices on building teacher evaluation instruments, national professional teaching standards, and existing assessment tools. Teacher education faculty completed the instrument assessing roughly 600 students in a masters-level teacher education program. Results indicate that this instrument is a valid and reliable tool that will allow teacher education faculty and administrators to assess teacher candidate professional skills and conduct.

Microfinance for Women Empowerment: A Review of Best Practices

The purpose of the paper is to highlight the role of microfinance for women empowerment. The study is a descriptive study design. Many developmental activities and programs are implemented in the society but microfinance programs are strong rural based and deprived women oriented and targeted to the marginalized people. Microfinance is an effective and powerful instrument for women empowerment. The number of challenges ahead of women empowerment are poor economic status, illiterate, unskilled, unemployment, low access in land, housing, transportation, electricity and family decision. It is considered as one of the most effective poverty alleviation tools. Microfinance services are considered as an entry point or vehicle towards empowering women. Members of microfinance institution (MFIs) have more contribution to saving and income generating activities, household decision making and activities beyond household sector. Although many programs have been implemented for poverty alleviation, only microfinance programs are seen as poor and rural women based. Microfinance is one of the best alternatives to generate self-employment specially the poor women in the rural areas. It provides services to them who have no collateral to offer against the loans. Women who could gain access to microfinance services have been able to create self-employment opportunities and have been economically and socially empowered through increased income through small projects. Microfinance has a profound impact on the economic status, decision making power, knowledge and self-worthiness of women, community activities and self-help group programs. The study reveals that there is a positive relationship between microfinance and women empowerment. Microfinance becomes catalyst for social change and women's empowerment.

Best Practices for Progressive Return to Activity after Concussion: Lessons Learned from a Prospective Study of U.S. Military Service Members.

Primary care providers can play a crucial role in the clinical management of concussion. However, many providers lack up-to-date information about best practices for rest and return to activity after these injuries. Most research on this topic has been conducted in athletes, and so less is known about how to assist patients with returning to activity in other settings and populations. This article provides a review of best practices for management of progressive return to activity after concussion, with an emphasis on “lessons learned” from the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) Progressive Return to Activity (PRA) study, a multi-site longitudinal research project conducted to evaluate concussion management practices and the effectiveness of provider training on DVBIC clinical recommendations (CRs). Provider clinical practices and patient outcomes were examined at three U.S. military treatment facilities before and after providers completed a standardized training on DVBIC PRA CRs. In summary, research findings provide additional support that concussion recovery can be influenced by patients' activity levels after injury. Patients with concussion may experience poorer outcomes if they return to pre-injury levels of activity too rapidly, but they may also be at risk for prolonged symptoms if they fail to increase activity levels over time after an initial period of rest. Additionally, training primary care providers in return to activity guidelines can result in more effective patient education and better clinical outcomes. This knowledge can be used to inform best practices for progressive return to activity in both civilian and military settings.

Evolving Bidding Formats and Pricing Schemes in USA and Europe Day-Ahead Electricity Markets

This paper compares the evolution of USA and European power markets and evaluates the suitability and future challenges of their designs in the context of the transition to a low-carbon power system. The analysis focuses on bidding formats (the way in which organized electricity markets allow participants to express their operational constraints) and pricing schemes (how agents recover their short-term costs from market prices). The radical evolution of the power mixes worldwide already experienced in the last decade and the larger one to come, with even greater shares of renewable energy and a more prominent role for storage resources, exposes limitations in current market designs. We develop an in-depth and comprehensive review of best practices from both sides of the Atlantic, and learning from them, we draw recommendations to evolve these market design elements.

Using Instagram to deliver a theory-based wellness intervention designed to promote behavior change

Abstract Background With a high number of users, social networking sites (SNS), such as Instagram, have the potential to serve as a tool to dispense health information and promote health. This pilot study examined the effect of a four-week wellness intervention on Instagram users with targeted posts regarding fitness, nutritious eating, and self-care behaviors. Methods A review of best practices in Instagram posts was conducted to create daily posts relating to Theory of Planned Behavior constructs for the wellness areas of fitness (e.g., daily movement), nutritious eating (e.g., vegetable and fruit consumption, healthy recipes), and self-care (e.g., social time, journaling). The intervention group (N = 22) and control group (N = 11) were assessed pre and post test using a Theory of Planned Behavior survey. Results At post-test, self-care intention for the intervention group was significantly higher compared to the control. However, there was not a significant difference between the intervention group and control for engaging in actual self-care behaviors reported at post-test. There were no significant differences between the groups for other constructs pre to post-test. User engagement or lack of engagement with posts did not relate to any differences in constructs at post-test. Conclusions A wellness intervention delivered through Instagram did not impact health behaviors over a four-week period in the intervention group compared to the control group. Future research should continue examining if SNS interventions, specifically changing what users see and interact with, can influence health behavior outcomes. This pilot study also provides an example of a theory-based intervention that can be tailored to examine effects on behavior change in other populations. Key messages Though there is potential to use social networking sites as health promotion tools, there is a lack of understanding how to best use this technology, engage participants, and promote health. Using health behavior change theories in intervention research using social networking sites is considered the best approach to evoke and understand behavior change among populations.

New organizational model to foster good practice. Central venous access management in cancer patients

Abstract Issue Central Venous Access positioning is a common practice in cancer patients, however improper devices' management lead to complications and multiple accesses to hospital services, increasing costs. Assessment and certification of Central Venous Access insertion site at hospital so as proper dressing at home, are required; patient empowerment in management of complex technologies is desirable to improve outcomes. Problem Description To tackle the abovementioned issues, PICC project was drawn up in joint action between the Strategic Health and Social care Agency and the Research Institute on Cancer in Puglia. The aim is to pilot an organisational model for central venous access positioning and remote monitoring barely technology driven and based on safe storage of outcomes pictures, patient/care-givers empowerment, integrated care approach. A sistematic review of good practices for Central Venous Access management was conducted in june 2019; besides an analysis of medical devices public procurement procedures was performed at national scale; a survey was edited to probe the existence of diverse organisational models to insert and manage Central Venous Access. Results Very preliminary data are avalaible. Procurement analysis showed: around 15 companies of Central Venous Access and related medical devices' producers; a spread of Central Venous Access location medical devices/supply of services based on few firms (including consumables). The analysis helps to identify the “least common multiple” in technologic equipment to support Central Venous Access management to develop a standard and applicable model, not driven by a conditioning “starting choice” (catheter selection, tip location, dressings). Lessons A standard Central Venous Access management certification procedure can be realized regardless of potential technology driven approach. A Central Venous Access remote monitoring model based on images and empowered patients can allow daily review fostering integrated care. Key messages Patients’ proper training, even in complex technologies usage, can increase self awareness and empowerment and promote compliance to innovative organizational models. Collaboration among patients – caregivers and professionals, set up of a dynamic pictures store to record Central Venous Access management procedures can improve oucomes avoiding added costs.

Improving Clinical Communication and Collaboration Through Technology:: A Benefits Analysis for Nurse Leaders

Clinical communication platforms have become such disparate systems that some health care organizations experience confusion, wasted time, and clinician dissatisfaction, resulting in quality and safety issues for nurse leaders. Yet, health care communication technologies are evolving rapidly. This article evaluates the evidence around improving inpatient clinical communication through an in-depth literature search and industry review of best practices; providing essential information about the benefits of unifying clinical communication across interprofessional teams. For an ongoing Kaiser Permanente nursing performance improvement project, 130 articles, industry papers and expert opinions were reviewed, and recommendations are presented for nurse leaders seeking to improve clinical communication and collaboration and to meet the Quadruple Aim in their organizations. Clinical communication platforms have become such disparate systems that some health care organizations experience confusion, wasted time, and clinician dissatisfaction, resulting in quality and safety issues for nurse leaders. Yet, health care communication technologies are evolving rapidly. This article evaluates the evidence around improving inpatient clinical communication through an in-depth literature search and industry review of best practices; providing essential information about the benefits of unifying clinical communication across interprofessional teams. For an ongoing Kaiser Permanente nursing performance improvement project, 130 articles, industry papers and expert opinions were reviewed, and recommendations are presented for nurse leaders seeking to improve clinical communication and collaboration and to meet the Quadruple Aim in their organizations. Michelle Machon, RN, MSN, CPHIMSS, is director of clinical education, practice, and informatics at Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Center in Roseville, California. She can be reached at [email protected] Mary Lynne Knighten, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, is adjunct faculty at School of Nursing and Health Professions, University of San Francisco, in San Francisco, California. Janet Sohal, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, is director of clinical education, practice, and informatics at Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center in Sacramento, California.

Serious Illness Conversations: A Case Management Quality Improvement Project.

The purpose of this project was to develop, implement, and evaluate an educational program and a serious illness (SI) protocol for a case management team of nurses and social workers to achieve the following: (1) utilize an SI protocol to identify patients with SI; (2) utilize a Serious Illness Structured Communication Guide to elicit these patients' goals and preferences for SI care; and (3) document in the electronic medical record the patients' elicited values and goals using a structured SI documentation template. Seventeen nurse and 3 social work case managers in an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) in a large health system in a western suburb of Chicago participated in this project. The practice setting was the primary care clinics associated with the health system. Patients eligible for the project met the SI criteria and were part of the organization's ACO or Bundle Payment for Care Improvement program. Twenty members of the case management staff participated in a 4-hr face-to-face educational program, based in part on review of best practices related to SI care and communication. Participants completed a pre- and posttest survey of knowledge; self-rated their confidence in conducting SI conversations; and evaluated the educational program. Participants then engaged in the established protocol inclusive of the following: (1) identify patients appropriate for an SI conversation; (2) initiate the SI conversation; and (3) document components of the SI in the electronic medical record. Educational Program: Ninety-five percent of the RN and SW case managers reported that that the educational module objectives were met to a moderate or great extent. One hundred percent of the participants reported that the format to deliver the program was effective, the content of the program was directly relevant to their clinical practice, and they would change their practice because of learning/understanding the content in the program. Educational program pretest scores ranged from 46.2% to 84.6%, with posttest scores ranging from 69.2% to 100%. A paired-samples t test demonstrated a statistically significant increase in posttest scores. Baseline confidence scores ranged from 1 to 4, with postproject confidence scores ranging from 2 to 4. A paired-samples t test demonstrated a statistically significant increase in confidence.Serious Illness Protocol: The case managers correctly identified 92% of patients who met the established SI identification criteria for this project. In 91.8% of cases, the case managers conducted an SI conversation in adherence to the protocol. In 76% of the cases, documentation about the SI conversation was completed in accordance with the protocol. .

Study Preregistration: An Evaluation of a Method for Transparent Reporting

Study preregistration promotes transparency in scientific research by making a clear distinction between a priori and post hoc procedures or analyses. Management and applied psychology have not embraced preregistration in the way other closely related social science fields have. There may be concerns that preregistration does not add value and prevents exploratory data analyses. Using a mixed-method approach, in Study 1, we compared published preregistered samples against published non-preregistered samples. We found that preregistration effectively facilitated more transparent reporting based on criteria (i.e., confirmed hypotheses and a priori analysis plans). Moreover, consistent with concerns that the published literature contains elevated type I error rates, preregistered samples had fewer statistically significant results (48%) than non-preregistered samples (66%). To learn about the perceived advantages, disadvantages, and misconceptions of study preregistration, in Study 2, we surveyed authors of preregistered studies and authors who had never preregistered a study. Participants in both samples had positive inclinations towards preregistration yet expressed concerns about the process. We conclude with a review of best practices for management and applied psychology stakeholders.

A systematic review of best practices for the perioperative management of abdominal sacrocolpopexy.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways have been shown to reduce surgical morbidity and length of stay across various procedures. Our objective was to systematically evaluate the literature for best practices of ERAS elements in abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC), to determine if there is sufficient evidence to create best practice guidelines for this procedure. Following the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement, we performed a review using Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Eligible articles contained ERAS components and postoperative outcomes of ASC published in English since 1997. Thirty-five full-text articles were selected for final qualitative analysis. Poor functional status before ASC was associated with a longer length of hospital stay. Laparoscopic ASC was associated with a shorter postoperative hospital stay, with no difference between laparoscopic and robotic approaches. Epidural analgesia in addition to spinal anesthesia lowered levels of pain throughout the postoperative stay in laparoscopic ASC. A multimodal bowel regimen shortened time to first bowel movement compared to a single agent regimen. Removing a Foley catheter may lead to sooner first spontaneous void but may result in higher rates of urinary retention and urinary tract infection. Studies investigating preoperative bowel preparation, preanesthesia medication, and multidose antimicrobial prophylaxis did not show significant benefit. Best practices for ASC can be developed based on current findings from the literature and extrapolation of evidence from other surgeries where ASC-specific elements are missing, with the ability to modify the pathways as new data become available.

Maximizing virtual meetings and conferences: a review of best practices.

PurposeIn the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to maximize communication in the scientific and medical community. In the context of academic meetings and conferences, there is the growing need for a set of guidelines secondary to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the growing environmental and economic challenges that large academic and medical conferences face. These Virtual Meetings Best Practices were established in response to the scant evidence and guidance on the topic.MethodsThese best practice guidelines were developed from a scoping review of peer-reviewed literature, grey literature and lay literature. MEDLINE and Embase databases were scoped for relevant, non-duplicate articles. For lay articles, Google searches were utilized. The recommendations that comprise this document are a compilation of nonexperimental descriptive studies (e.g. case studies) and expert committee reports, opinions and/or experience of respected authorities, and lay articles.ResultsWe identified four phases of the meeting cycle: Pre-planning considerations, Planning, Accomplishing conference goals through execution, gauging Response and Engaging the target audience for future cycles (PrePARE). Akin to the Plan, Do, Study, Act Cycle of quality improvement interventions, this document is meant to drive meaningful initial and subsequent interventions in the meetings of the medical and academic community. This covers actions and preparation for registration, scheduling, speakers, attendees, event type, technology, monetization/marketing, dealing with disruptions, post-event deliverables, response and engagement strategies. Enhanced access to integrated, high-quality and efficient virtual meetings will establish a new norm as an effective alternative for innovative health research, education and information dissemination in orthopaedics and beyond.ConclusionsGiven the uncertainty of whether large in-person gatherings will be permitted, advisable or responsible later into the summer of 2020 and beyond, these guidelines will aid events being converted and scheduled as virtual-only meetings. As we move forward in the era of increased utility and utilization of virtual conferencing, these guidelines will serve as a benchmark and standard for surgeons in the field.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s00264-020-04615-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Community-Based Healthcare for Migrants and Refugees: A Scoping Literature Review of Best Practices.

Background: Strengthening community-based healthcare is a valuable strategy to reduce health inequalities and improve the integration of migrants and refugees into local communities in the European Union. However, little is known about how to effectively develop and run community-based healthcare models for migrants and refugees. Aiming at identifying the most-promising best practices, we performed a scoping review of the international academic literature into effective community-based healthcare models and interventions for migrants and refugees as part of the Mig-HealthCare project. Methods: A systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus databases was conducted in March 2018 following the PRISMA methodology. Data extraction from eligible publications included information on general study characteristics, a brief description of the intervention/model, and reported outcomes in terms of effectiveness and challenges. Subsequently, we critically assessed the available evidence per type of healthcare service according to specific criteria to establish a shortlist of the most promising best practices. Results: In total, 118 academic publications were critically reviewed and categorized in the thematic areas of mental health (n = 53), general health services (n = 36), noncommunicable diseases (n = 13), primary healthcare (n = 9), and women’s maternal and child health (n = 7). Conclusion: A set of 15 of the most-promising best practices and tools in community-based healthcare for migrants and refugees were identified that include several intervention approaches per thematic category. The elements of good communication, the linguistic barriers and the cultural differences, played crucial roles in the effective application of the interventions. The close collaboration of the various stakeholders, the local communities, the migrant/refugee communities, and the partnerships is a key element in the successful implementation of primary healthcare provision.

Specialist Participation in e-Consult and e-Referral Services: Best Practices.

Electronic consultations (eConsults) and referrals (eReferrals) are being implemented to improve access to specialist care. As eConsult and eReferral services rely on a roster of engaged specialists for their success, careful attention must be paid to how the term "specialist" is defined, what criteria inform specialists recruitment, and how quality of specialist responses can be monitored and maintained. Key considerations, informed by our personal experiences, review of best practice documents, international frameworks of specialists roles and competencies and a focused small group discussion among providers, health service planners and researchers for each of these important elements is discussed. Individuals participating in services should receive clear expectations around their role and responsibilities and be provided equitable access assuming they meet the necessary requirements. Training and feedback should be provided to ensure timely, quality responses. Paying attention to these key elements will reduce confusion, frustration and disengagement amongst specialists and ensure high quality responses.

Development of ambient marine standards using long-term data: An example from Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, has a coastline that occupies 76% of the country’s Arabian Gulf coastline. The pressures accompanying the economic development that the country is undergoing ultimately affected the marine ecosystem including water and sediment quality. In order to protect the marine ecosystem and public health, the Environment Agency- Abu Dhabi developed ambient marine water and sediment quality standards using the long-term data collected along the coast of Abu Dhabi. Along with the data collected on 39 marine water quality and sediment parameters (hydrography, nutrients, and heavy metals), a review of best practices from jurisdictions whose approach was scientifically based and whose physical conditions were as similar as possible to those found in Abu Dhabi were used for the establishment of marine water and sediment quality limits. These promulgated ambient limits were then used to develop the marine water and sediment regulation that establish two uses of marine waters (protected and general) and an anti-degradation policy. In addition, the ambient water and sediment limits provide a bench mark to both assess trends that may indicate stress to marine flora and fauna and support the work of environmental permitting and enforcement.

A Review of Best Practices for Monitoring and Improving Inpatient Pediatric Patient Experiences.

Achieving high-quality patient-centered care requires assessing patient and family experiences to identify opportunities for improvement. With the Child Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey, hospitals can assess performance and make national comparisons of inpatient pediatric experiences. However, using patient and family experience data to improve care remains a challenge. We reviewed the literature on best practices for monitoring performance and undertaking activities aimed at improving pediatric patient and family experiences of inpatient care. We searched PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and PsychINFO. We included (1) English-language peer-reviewed articles published from January 2000 to April 2019; (2) articles based in the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada; (3) articles focused on pediatric inpatient care; (4) articles describing pediatric patient and family experiences; and (5) articles including content on activities aimed at improving patient and family experiences. Our review included 25 articles. Two researchers reviewed the full article and abstracted specific information: country, study aims, setting, design, methods, results, Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives performed, internal reporting description, best practices, lessons learned, barriers, facilitators and study implications for clinical practice, patient-experience data collection, and QI activities. We noted themes across samples and care settings. We identified 10 themes of best practice. The 4 most common were (1) use evidence-based approaches, (2) maintain an internal system that communicates information and performance on patient and family experiences to staff and hospital leadership, (3) use experience survey data to initiate and/or evaluate QI interventions, and (4) identify optimal times (eg, discharge) and modes (eg, print) for obtaining patient and family feedback. These correspond to adult inpatient best practices. Both pediatric and adult inpatient best practices rely on common principles of culture change (such as evidence-based clinical practice), collaborative learning, multidisciplinary teamwork, and building and/or supporting a QI infrastructure that requires time, money, collaboration, data tracking, and monitoring. QI best practices in both pediatric and adult inpatient settings commonly rely on identifying drivers of overall ratings of care, rewarding staff for successful implementation, and creating easy-to-use and easy-to-access planning and QI tools for staff.

Creating Collaborative Schools in the United States: A Review of Best Practices

Collaboration is considered an essential characteristic for inclusive education to be effective and reflective of research-based best practices. General and special education teachers and related service personnel must work together and share goals, strategies, and physical space for students with and without disabilities to learn in inclusive settings. Teachers and parents must build trusting and collaborative partnerships in the delivery of inclusive education. Finally, students with and without disabilities must work together and support one another in building effective schools. We offer research-based strategies for and examples of effective collaborative relationships and outcomes from those relationships.

Prevalence, Challenges, and Interventions for Child Neglect: Cases Reported through Childline Kenya Helpline (2016-2018)

It is not easy to approximate the degree and scale of maltreatment meted against children. However, the world today is reporting a consistent increase in the number of children who are subjects of investigation or alternative response. This is a cue that the likely number of children who finally get confirmed as maltreated may be very high. Kenya particularly, is reporting an increasing rate of violence against children. This study examined the prevalence of child neglect cases reported through Childline Kenya over a period of three years, 2016 to 2018, the nature and trends of child neglect cases reported in Kenya and the interventions employed by Childline Kenya to curb child neglect. The descriptive research design was used for the study. The data were collected through Childline Kenya’s helpline “116” harnessed from received phone calls from 2016 to 2018. Childline Kenya personnel received calls and recorded child neglect cases that were reported through this span of time. Interviews with Childline Kenya personnel were also conducted to complement the data reported through phone calls. Further, a desktop review of best practices of preventing and intervening for child neglect were also conducted. The collected data are presented through descriptive statistics, tables, graphs and emerging themes. The study found that, on average, there was a high prevalence of reported child neglect cases in Kenya, that there was an increase in child neglect cases reported in 2016 and 2017, with a slight drop in 2018. It also emerged that both males and females experienced child neglect, but more cases were reported among the males than females. Case management plan is the key strategy used by Childline Kenya as an intervention measure.