Views Of Professionals Research Articles

Views of Greek Primary Education Professionals on the Utilisation of Play within Preschool and School Environments

Although play comprises a key factor for children’s learning and development, it seems not to be connected with learning or utilised for pedagogical purposes, by a large part of the educational community within Greek preschool environments. This study, conducted during the 2019-2020 school year, aims at exploring, with the aid of a questionnaire, the views of kindergarten educators (N:715) and elementary school teachers (N:793) throughout Greece, regarding play and its utilisation as a didactic tool in kindergarten and elementary school. The investigational data showed that within school environments, play is mainly associated with the pupils’ recess whereas for preschool environments, it is about reaching learning and teaching goals. Kindergarten educators use play to teach pupils of linguistic and logical-mathematical senses, while elementary school teachers barely utilise it likewise. Finally, this study underlines the re-training of educationalists towards the better utilisation of play within the educational process.

Impact of telenurse-led intervention in clinical trials on health literacy, empowerment, and health outcomes in patients with solid tumours: a pilot quasi-experimental study

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, decentralised clinical trials incorporated self-monitoring, self-reporting, and telenursing tools to address health literacy and health empowerment of patients enrolled in clinical trials. We aimed to determine the impact of an educational intervention using telenursing consultations on health literacy, health empowerment, and health-related quality of life in cancer patients enrolled in clinical trials by measuring the level of satisfaction with the care received and assessing the views of healthcare professionals concerning the advanced practice nurse (APN) role in oncology clinical trials.MethodsIn this pilot analytical, descriptive, longitudinal, quasi-experimental, and pre-post test study, an educational intervention was conducted by 5 visits with an APN using synchronous teleconsultation in patients starting cancer treatment for the first time in a clinical trial (n = 60), and health professionals working with the APN (n = 31). A descriptive analysis of the samples and questionnaires were utilised along with statistical comparisons.ResultsAfter the intervention, patients' health literacy (31.7%), health empowerment (18.3%), and health-related quality of life (33.3%) increased (p < 0.05), with a decrease and trend towards resolution of care needs (p < 0.05). Satisfaction with the quality and care received in terms of perceived convenience, transition, and continuity of care showed positive results in 64.9 ± 20.7, 77.6 ± 19.5, and 72.1 ± 20.4 of respondents, respectively. On the overall assessment of the APN role, healthcare professionals expressed a high level of agreement with the statements related to their work performance.ConclusionsThe data indicates that a clinical trial APN-led telenursing educational intervention results in an overall increase in health literacy, an improvement in health empowerment and health-related quality of life, and a decrease in care needs of oncology clinical trials patients. Patients stated that they received a high quality of care and health professionals indicated high levels of acceptance with APNs. Based on these results, we suggest that the APN role should gain more recognition in the Spanish healthcare system and their professional competencies should be aligned with those of other countries.

What does it mean to be engaged with digital health interventions? A qualitative study into the experiences of engaged users and the views of professionals.

Digital health interventions (DHIs) hold promise for influencing health behaviors positively, but their widespread implementation and effectiveness remain limited. Engagement is crucial for DHI effectiveness, yet its conceptualization is debated. This qualitative study explores engagement from user and professional perspectives. Twenty self-proclaimed engaged health app users participated in semistructured interviews, and 13 professionals working with DHIs completed an online survey. Interviews with health app users revealed three key components of their sense of engagement: behavioral, cognitive, and affective. Behavioral engagement includes routine, effortless, and dynamic usage; emphasizing the importance of the quality of fit between user and technology over frequency of use. Cognitive engagement encompasses the technology's utility as a tool for supporting behavior change, providing new insights, and enhancing motivation. Affective engagement involves enjoying progress, deriving pleasure from using the technology, and identifying with the technology. Notably, participants exhibited varying emphasis on these components. Professionals, in a parallel inquiry, agreed on the relevance of behavior, cognition, and affect in defining engagement. In their understanding, behavioral engagement is often associated with adherence and frequency of use, while cognitive engagement emphasizes understanding, motivation, and achieving cognitive outcomes. Affective engagement, although diverse, is recognized as a critical dimension. In addition, it was noticeable that users and professionals perceived microengagement (with the DHI) and macroengagement (with the target behavior) as interconnected. To conclude, this study contributes a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted nature of engagement, informing future measurement of the concept, DHI design, and implementation strategies for improved user experiences and outcomes.

Perception and views about individualising antibiotic duration for respiratory tract infections when patients feel better: a qualitative study with primary care professionals

BackgroundEvidence shows a high rate of unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions for respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in primary care. There is increasing evidence showing that shorter courses for RTIs are safe and...

Health professionals' experiences and views on obstetric ultrasound in Tanzania: A cross-sectional study.

Obstetric ultrasound is considered important for determining gestational age, identifying single or multiple pregnancies, locating the placenta and fetal anomalies and monitoring fetal growth and pregnancy-related complications in order to improve patient management. To explore health professionals' perspectives on different aspects of obstetric ultrasound in Tanzania regarding self-reported skills in performing ultrasound examinations and what could improve access to and utilization of obstetric ultrasound in the clinical setting. Cross-sectional study. Data was collected between November and December 2017 using a questionnaire based on previous qualitative research results from the CROss Country UltraSound Study (CROCUS Study). Seventeen healthcare facilities in 5 urban and semiurban municipalities in the Dar-es-Salaam region were included, with 636 health professionals participating (physicians, n = 307 and midwives/nurses, n = 329). Most health professionals (82% physicians, 81% midwives/nurses) believed that obstetric ultrasound was decisive in the clinical management of pregnancy. Results indicate proficiency gaps across disciplines: 51% of physicians and 48.8% of midwives/nurses reported no or low-level skills in assessing cervical length. Similarly, deficiencies were observed in evaluating the four-chamber view of the fetal heart (physicians: 51%, midwives/nurses: 61%), aorta, pulmonary artery (physicians: 60.5%, midwives/nurses: 65%) and Doppler assessments (umbilical artery: physicians 60.6%, midwives/nurses 56.1%). Compared to midwives/nurses, physicians were significantly more likely to agree or strongly agree that utilization would improve with more ultrasound machines (odds ratio (OR) 2.13; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.26-3.61), better quality of ultrasound machines (OR 2.27; 95% CI 1.10-4.69), more training for health professionals currently performing ultrasound (OR 2.11; 95% CI 1.08-4.17) and more physicians trained in ultrasound (OR 2.51; 95% CI 1.30-4.87). Improving the provision of obstetric ultrasound examinations in Tanzania requires more and better-quality ultrasound machines, enhanced training for health professionals and an increased number of physicians trained in ultrasound use. To further increase the accessibility and utilization of obstetric ultrasound in maternity care in Tanzania, it is essential to provide training for midwives in basic obstetric ultrasound techniques.

Identifying the Barriers to Acceptance of Blockchain-Based Patient-Centric Data Management Systems in Healthcare

A number of recent studies have shown that wastage and inefficiency are a significant problem in all global healthcare systems. One initiative that could radically improve the operational efficiency of health systems is to make a paradigm shift in data ownership—that is, to transition such systems to a patient-centric model of data management by deploying blockchain technology. Such a development would not only make an economic impact, by radically cutting wastage, but would deliver significant social benefits by improving patient outcomes and satisfaction. However, a blockchain-based solution presents considerable challenges. This research seeks to understand the principal factors, which act as barriers to the acceptance of a blockchain-based patient-centric data management infrastructure, in the healthcare systems of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries. The study represents an addition to the current literature by examining the perspectives and views of healthcare professionals and users. This approach is rare within this subject area, and is identified in existing systematic reviews as a research gap: a qualitative investigation of motivations and attitudes among these groups is a critical need. The results of the study identified 12 key barriers to the acceptance of blockchain infrastructures, thereby adding to our understanding of the challenges that need to be overcome in order to benefit from this relatively recent technology. The research is expected to be of use to healthcare authorities in planning a way forward for system improvement, particularly in terms of successfully introducing patient-centric systems.

Evaluation of a Disaster Preparedness Curriculum and Medical Students' Views on Preparedness Education Requirements for Health Professionals.

In general, medical students perceive themselves as inadequately prepared to assist in disasters. This study evaluated the impact of a disaster preparedness curriculum and medical students' views toward required preparedness education for health care professionals. A comprehensive disaster preparedness curriculum was evaluated on its effect on medical students' views on preparedness education requirements, preparedness, and prior disaster training using self-report survey methodology. Results provide evidence to support curricular effectiveness in significantly increasing initial participant views of health professionals' education requirements, perceived preparedness for integrating professional roles into the emergency response system, and confidence in exposure risk assessment and triage skills. Most participants possessed limited recent prior disaster training and drill experience. Most interestingly, the majority consistently believed throughout the study that disaster preparedness training should be a medical license mandate. For those instructing current medical students in disaster preparedness, it is suggested that a curriculum be chosen that can create participant initial anticipation, awareness, and belief in the importance of and need for disaster preparedness training. Further investigation is recommended into the relationship between students' perceived training importance and any future curriculum delivery efforts on behalf of required or mandatory preparedness offerings in continuing professional development.

Oral manifestations of long COVID and the views of healthcare professionals

Introduction Oral manifestations have been observed with this condition; however, little is known about their impact on the healthcare professionals routinely managing these patients.Aims To investigate the prevalence of the oral manifestations of long COVID and the healthcare professionals' views, experiences and practices for managing these conditions.Materials and methods A cross-sectional mixed-methods study, including a self-reported online questionnaire (n = 104) and healthcare professionals' (n = 7) semi-structured interviews, was conducted. Descriptive statistics and reflexive thematic analysis were used to analyse the data.Results In total, 78% of respondents reported one or more oral conditions associated with COVID-19. Changes in the sense of taste and/or smell (58%), dry mouth (48.1%) and mouth sores (45.7%) were frequently reported. Themes identified from healthcare professionals' interviews were areas for research, management and interdisciplinary collaboration.Discussion Allied healthcare professionals may assist dental professionals with managing oral manifestations of long COVID. Inadequate access to NHS dentistry is deterring patients worried about their oral symptoms and the limited oral knowledge of healthcare professionals affects their ability to manage patients.Conclusion Healthcare professionals have observed oral manifestations in individuals diagnosed with long COVID; however, further information and training on this topic would assist them with managing patients and increasing awareness among clinicians.

Comparing views of patients and eye care professionals on the information provided on age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular oedema

Comparing views of patients and eye care professionals on the information provided on age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular oedema

Health Care Professionals' Views on the Use of Passive Sensing, AI, and Machine Learning in Mental Health Care: Systematic Review With Meta-Synthesis.

Mental health difficulties are highly prevalent worldwide. Passive sensing technologies and applied artificial intelligence (AI) methods can provide an innovative means of supporting the management of mental health problems and enhancing the quality of care. However, the views of stakeholders are important in understanding the potential barriers to and facilitators of their implementation. This study aims to review, critically appraise, and synthesize qualitative findings relating to the views of mental health care professionals on the use of passive sensing and AI in mental health care. A systematic search of qualitative studies was performed using 4 databases. A meta-synthesis approach was used, whereby studies were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach within a critical realist epistemological framework. Overall, 10 studies met the eligibility criteria. The 3 main themes were uses of passive sensing and AI in clinical practice, barriers to and facilitators of use in practice, and consequences for service users. A total of 5 subthemes were identified: barriers, facilitators, empowerment, risk to well-being, and data privacy and protection issues. Although clinicians are open-minded about the use of passive sensing and AI in mental health care, important factors to consider are service user well-being, clinician workloads, and therapeutic relationships. Service users and clinicians must be involved in the development of digital technologies and systems to ensure ease of use. The development of, and training in, clear policies and guidelines on the use of passive sensing and AI in mental health care, including risk management and data security procedures, will also be key to facilitating clinician engagement. The means for clinicians and service users to provide feedback on how the use of passive sensing and AI in practice is being received should also be considered. PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42022331698; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=331698.

Detention of children and adolescents under mental health legislation: a scoping review of prevalence, risk factors, and legal frameworks

BackgroundFor individuals with severe mental illness, involuntary assessment and/or treatment (hereafter detention) can be a necessary intervention to support recovery and may even be lifesaving. Despite this, little is known about how often these interventions are used for children and adolescents.MethodsThis global scoping review set out to: (1) map the current evidence around mental health detentions of children and adolescents (< 18 years); (2) identify the clinical, sociodemographic, and behavioural factors associated with detention; and (3) document the views of professionals and young people on the implementation of mental health legislation.ResultsAfter searching databases of peer-reviewed literature and citation chaining, 42 articles from 15 jurisdictions were included. About one fifth of psychiatric admissions in national register data were detentions, however trends were only available for a few high-income Western countries. The circumstances justifying detention and the criteria authorising detention varied between studies, with a mix of clinical factors and observed behaviours reported as the reason(s) warranting/precipitating a detention. Particular groups were more likely to experience detention, such as children and adolescents from minority ethnic communities and those with a documented history of abuse. There was a notable absence of qualitative research exploring the views of professionals or children and adolescents on detention.ConclusionFurther research is needed to explore the impact of detention on those aged < 18 years, including national register-based studies and qualitative studies. This is particularly relevant in nations currently undergoing legislative reform.

On the Originality of the Procedimiento: Avant-Garde Invention and Inhuman Professionalism in César Aira’s Un episodio en la vida del pintor viajero

In the 1990s, César Aira took a negative view of artistic professionalization in his essays, but he also wrote a biographical novel about a professional artist: Un episodio en la vida del pintor viajero, which depicts landscape painter Johann Moritz Rugendas’ South American travels in the 1830s. In his essays, Aira characterizes professionalization as a freezing of artistic form, and he positions the avant-garde as a dynamic process emerging out of a static professionalism. This essay argues that his novelistic treatment of Rugendas follows, but also diverges from, the ideas in his essays, exposing dynamics internal to professionalism itself.

Views of healthcare professionals regarding barriers and facilitators for a Fracture Liaison Service in Malaysia.

This study aimed to explore the views of healthcare professionals regarding the barriers and facilitators for a Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) in Malaysia. The qualitative study was conducted from February to December 2021 at a tertiary hospital in Malaysia. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and policymakers were recruited via purposive sampling. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted until thematic saturation was achieved. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Thirty participants [doctors (n = 13), nurses (n = 8), pharmacists (n = 8), and policymakers (n = 1)] with 2-28 years of working experience were recruited. Three themes emerged: 1) Current delivery of secondary fracture prevention; 2) Importance of secondary fracture prevention, and 3) FLS sustainability. Some participants reported that the current post-hip fracture care was adequate, whilst some expressed concerns about the lack of coordination and continuity of care, especially in non-hip fragility fracture care. Most participants recognised the importance of secondary fracture prevention as fracture begets fracture, highlighting the need for a FLS to address this care gap. However, some were concerned about competing priorities. To ensure the sustainability of a FLS, cost-effectiveness data, support from relevant stakeholders, increased FLS awareness among patients and healthcare professionals, and a FLS coordinator were required. Training and financial incentives may help address the issue of low confidence and encourage the nurses to take on the FLS coordinator role. Overall, all participants believed that there was a need for a FLS to improve the delivery of secondary fracture prevention. Addressing concerns such as lack of confidence among nurses and lack of awareness can help improve FLS sustainability.

Practical study of ideological politics in the course of medical image processing

At present, medical education is generally strict in technology, but there are different kinds of problems in humanistic quality education, and the lack of humanistic and professional quality in students. Therefore, integrating ideological and political courses into the course of "Medical Image Processing" can help students establish correct values and professional views, improve their humanistic and professional qualities, and provide a strong talent guarantee for the future development of medical career. This paper takes the medical image processing undergraduate course as an example.

A new conceptual view of inclusive professionalization as a multidirectional process system

A new conceptual view of inclusive professionalization as a multidirectional process system

Rapid review on the incentives of digital health apps for physicians and psychotherapists: A German perspective.

The Digital Healthcare Act introduced the prescription of digital health applications under specific circumstances in 2019 in Germany. They are funded through the social security system. In market access of prescribed digital health applications, Germany is pioneering the market. There remains a gap in understanding the views of medical professionals on the incentives of using these applications. As prescription of digital health applications starts emerging in other European countries, we sought to generate an overview of incentives and barriers that affect the caregivers in their decision of promoting and prescribing them in Germany. A Rapid Review of the Web of Science database for the years 2017-2023 was performed using sensitive search strings. Two reviewers conducted a three-phase selection via title, abstract and full-text independently from each other. The quality of studies was assessed systematically by both reviewers. Both quantitative and qualitative studies with primary data were included, and study quality was assessed using a standardised form. Out of 1643 initial results, 12 studies with information from 9302 physicians and psychotherapists were identified. Eight quantitative and four qualitative studies were included in the analysis. Key findings suggest that while between 40% and 60% of caregivers see relevant incentives mainly based on patients' benefits, 20-40% see relevant barriers. For the physicians' daily work, there were slightly more barriers than incentives identified in the quantitative synthesis. The qualitative studies revealed no relevant incentives that were not attributed to patients. While digital health solutions offer promising avenues for enhancing patient care, their acceptance among healthcare professionals hinges on addressing prevailing concerns. Continuous research and dialogues with the medical community are pivotal to harness the full potential of digital health applications in healthcare.

Integrative nursing in the Brazilian northeast: introduction, potential, and challenges.

to describe the introduction, potential, and challenges experienced by nurses in the provision of Integrative and Complementary Health Practices in the northeast f Brazil. A qualitative study conducted from June to December 2022 with 15 northeastern nurses qualified in Integrative and Complementary Practices. The data were produced through individual online interviews and submitted to content analysis. 15 nurses participated, and 23 integrative practices were cited, with a predominance of auriculotherapy, greater introduction in primary care and private nursing offices, highlighting labor and personal benefits. Their potential includes technical qualification for the practice and interest in continuing education. The hospital-centric view of professionals, the low diffusion on the theme in teaching, as well as the difficulty in pricing procedures and in developing clinical reasoning in other medical rationalities were cited as the main challenges. Despite the challenges still faced, northeastern nurses are offering integrative practices to complement user care.

Perceptions of mental health providers of the barriers and facilitators of using and engaging youth in digital mental-health-enabled measurement based care.

Increased rates of mental health disorders and substance use among youth and young adults have increased globally, furthering the strain on an already burdened mental health system. Digital solutions have been proposed as a potential option for the provision of timely mental health services for youth, with little research exploring mental health professional views about using such innovative tools. In Alberta, Canada, we are evaluating the implementation and integration of a digital mental health (dMH) platform into existing service pathways. Within this paper we seek to explore mental health professionals' perceptions of the barriers and facilitators that may influence their utilization of digital MH-enabled measurement-based care (MBC) with the youth who access their services. A qualitative, descriptive methodology was used to inductively generate themes from focus groups conducted with mental health professionals from specialized mental health services and primary care networks in Alberta. As mental health professionals considered the barriers and facilitators of using dMH with youth, they referenced individual and family barriers and facilitators to consider. Providers highlighted perceived barriers, including: first, cultural stigma, family apprehension about mental health care, and parental access to dMH and MBC as deterrents to providers adopting digital platforms in routine care; second, perceptions of increased responsibility and liability for youth in crisis; third, perception that some psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders in youth are not amenable to dMH; fourth, professionals contemplated youth readiness to engage with dMH-enabled MBC. Participants also highlighted pertinent facilitators to dMH use, noting: first, the suitability of dMH for youth with mild mental health concerns; second, youth motivated to report their changes in mental health symptoms; and lastly, youth proficiency and preference for dMH options. By identifying professionals' perceptions of barriers and facilitators for youth users, we may better understand how to address misconceptions about who is eligible and appropriate for dMH through training and education.

The school as an arena for mental health work: exploring the perspectives of frontline professionals on mental health work in Norwegian schools.

Children and adolescents are increasingly facing mental health problems. Schools play a crucial role in promoting mental health, as they provide a unique setting where children interact with adults outside their homes. This paper explores mental health work in Norwegian schools from the perspective of frontline professionals namely, class teachers, social workers, and public health nurses. We conducted four focus group interviews involving 22 of these professionals from nine primary and secondary schools. The school professionals view mental health work as an integral part of the school's mission and associate their work with promoting mental wellbeing, strengthening self-esteem, and building resilience among pupils. The professionals noted an expansion in their roles and an increase in expectations to undertake mental health work, even though it is not formally part of their job descriptions. Additionally, they play varied and complementary roles in supporting the pupils' mental health daily. As school professionals, they strive to balance universal health promotion with providing individualized mental health care. These results call for coordinated efforts and interdisciplinary collaboration within the school and discussion regarding the school's role in mental health care for children and adolescents.

From Hospital to Home, following a Lower Limb Amputation: A Focus Group Study of Healthcare Professionals views an experience.

Introduction: Major limb amputations is often associated with loss- a loss of a limb but also independence. Patients undergoing lower limb amputations are often patients with multiple comorbidities, requiring care from numerous healthcare professionals (HCP). It is a patient population with complex needs and limited surplus that might benefit from an integrated care model. &#x0D; Aim: This study aims to explore Health Care Professionals views and experiences during the transition process from Hospital to Home after a lower limb amputation, using the Safe Journey integrated care program.&#x0D; Patient population: Patients admitted to hospital for a lower limb amputation, and discharged using the Safe Journey integrated care program.&#x0D; Method: Two focus group interviews were conducted with 13 HCP’s from a Danish Hospital and three surrounding Municipalities. Included in both groups were nurses, occupational therapists and one physiotherapists. The interview was based on the following 5 questions, and the data was analyzed based on Braun and Clarke´s reflexive thematic analysis.&#x0D; -Which advantages of the systematic cross-sectoral collaboration did you find?&#x0D; -Which disadvantages of the systematic cross-sectoral collaboration did you find?&#x0D; -What do you consider to be most important issues regarding patients transfer?&#x0D; -What do you consider to be most important issues regarding collaboration?&#x0D; -How can we ensure safety and continuity when working with patient transfer?&#x0D; Results: Three themes were identified when analyzing the group interviews.&#x0D; -Becoming a team across sectors&#x0D; -Continuity of care as a driver of patients safety&#x0D; -Challenges in achieving safe transitions&#x0D; The Safe Journey integrated care program facilitated the construction of an interdisciplinary team and cross-sectoral communication and professional relations, increasing care continuity and patient’s safety. However, HCP’s experienced an increased workload, and The Safe Journey integrated care program was time consuming and required coordination and at-home patient’s visits.&#x0D; Conclusion: HCP’s found the The Safe Journey integrated care model to be valuable for patients undergoing major lower limb amputation and promotive of cross-sectoral professional relations, communication, continuity and patient safety. However, the model was time- and resource consuming compared to conventional models.&#x0D; Next step: Our next step will be to create a virtual model of the The Safe Journey integrated care program, to explore is the high quality can be maintained in a less time consuming model.&#x0D;