scholarly journals Needs assessment and staff education to effect long-term change in emergency medicine in rural Nepal

CJEM ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 6 (04) ◽  
pp. 266-270
Author(s):  
Valerie F. Krym ◽  
Russell D. MacDonald
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Medicine ◽  
Needs Assessment ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Standards Of Care ◽  
Health Care Staff ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Staff Education ◽  
Local Health Care

ABSTRACT Medical work in developing countries is challenging and rewarding. To make a lasting impact on the local community, a health care worker must be willing to listen to the needs of the people. The long-term impact of a needs assessment and staff education on emergency medicine at a rural hospital in Nepal is presented. The Scheer Memorial Hospital is a 102-bed non-governmental, not-for-profit hospital in Banepa, Nepal. Nepalese and ex-patriot health care professionals staff the hospital. Medical supplies are obtained from local manufacturers or as donations from foreign organizations. The hospital waives fees for those who cannot afford care. Two academic emergency physicians with expertise in international health undertook a needs assessment to assist in planning for long-term health care goals related to emergency medicine. The assessment focused on health care planning and education of the local health care staff. Based on interviews and objective assessments, a plan was developed and implemented to address 4 key areas: physical plant, equipment, staff training and essential tasks. Sustainable positive change was accomplished by acknowledging local customs and standards of care, meeting the needs of local health care staff and using available resources.

scholarly journals Building health system responsiveness to noncommunicable diseases for Gweru District adults, Zimbabwe: a case study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Blender Muzvondiwa ◽  
Roy Batterham
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Health Care Staff ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Local Health Care

PurposeGweru District, Zimbabwe faces a major challenge of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Globally, health systems have not responded successfully to problems in prevention and management of NCDs. Despite numerous initiatives, reorienting health services has been slow in many countries. Gweru District has similar challenges. The purpose of this paper is to explore what the health systems in Zimbabwe have done, and are doing to respond to increasing numbers of NCD cases in adults in the nation, especially in the district of GweruDesign/methodology/approachThe study employed a descriptive narrative review of the academic and grey literature, supplemented by semi-structured key informant interviews with 14 health care staff and 30 adults living with a disease or caring for an adult with a disease in Gweru District.FindingsRespondents identified many limitations to the response in Gweru. Respondents said that screening and diagnosis cease to be helpful when it is difficult securing medications. Nearly all community respondents reported not understanding why they are not freed of the diseases, showing poor understanding of NCDs. The escalating costs and scarcity of medications have led people to lose trust in services. Government and NGO activities include diagnosis and screening, provision of health education and some medication. Health personnel mentioned gaps in transport, medication shortages, poor equipment and poor community engagement. Suggestions include: training of nurses for a greater role in screening and management of NCDs, greater resourcing, outreach activities/satellite clinics and better integration of diverse NCD policies.Research limitations/implicationsParticipant responses were greatly influenced by the current political and economic situation in Zimbabwe, so responses may reflect short-term crises rather than long-term trends.Originality/valueThis research offers an understanding of NCD strategies and their limitations from the bottom-up, lived experience perspective of local health care workers and community members.

scholarly journals ReCOV: recovery and rehabilitation during and after COVID-19 – a study protocol of a longitudinal observational study on patients, next of kin and health care staff

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Rydwik ◽  
L. Anmyr ◽  
M. Regardt ◽  
A. McAllister ◽  
R. Zarenoe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Health Care Staff ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Next Of Kin ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Long Term Consequences

Abstract Background The knowledge of the long-term consequences of covid-19 is limited. In patients, symptoms such as fatigue, decreased physical, psychological, and cognitive function, and nutritional problems have been reported. How the disease has affected next of kin, as well as staff involved in the care of patients with covid-19, is also largely unknown. The overall aim of this study is therefore three-fold: (1) to describe and evaluate predictors of patient recovery, the type of rehabilitation received and patients’ experiences of specialized rehabilitation following COVID-19 infection; (2) to study how next of kin experienced the hospital care of their relative and their experiences of the psychosocial support they received as well as their psychological wellbeing; (3) to describe experiences of caring for patients with COVID-19 and evaluate psychological wellbeing, coping mechanisms and predictors for development of psychological distress over time in health care staff. Methods This observational longitudinal study consists of three cohorts; patients, next of kin, and health care staff. The assessments for the patients consist of physical tests (lung function, muscle strength, physical capacity) and questionnaires (communication and swallowing, nutritional status, hearing, activities of daily living, physical activity, fatigue, cognition) longitudinally at 3, 6 and 12 months. Patient records auditing (care, rehabilitation) will be done retrospectively at 12 months. Patients (3, 6 and 12 months), next of kin (6 months) and health care staff (baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months) will receive questionnaires regarding, health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety, sleeping disorders, and post-traumatic stress. Staff will also answer questionnaires about burnout and coping strategies. Interviews will be conducted in all three cohorts. Discussion This study will be able to answer different research questions from a quantitative and qualitative perspective, by describing and evaluating long-term consequences and their associations with recovery, as well as exploring patients’, next of kins’ and staffs’ views and experiences of the disease and its consequences. This will form a base for a deeper and better understanding of the consequences of the disease from different perspectives as well as helping the society to better prepare for a future pandemic.

scholarly journals “We Thought We Were Prepared, but We Were Not”: Experiences from the Management of the Psychosocial Support Response during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sweden. A Mixed-Methods Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 9079
Author(s):  
Karin Hugelius ◽  
Sara Johansson ◽  
Helena Sjölin
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Health Care Staff ◽  
Line Managers ◽  
Major Incidents ◽  
Pandemic Response

This study aimed to describe experiences of managing mental health and psychosocial activities during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden. A national survey was answered by a non-probability sample of 340 involved in the psychosocial response. The psychosocial response operations met several challenges, mainly related to the diverse actors involved, lack of competence, and lack of preparations. Less than 80% of the participants had received specific training in the provision of psychosocial support during major incidents. The interventions used varied, and no large-scale interventions were used. The psychosocial response organizations were overwhelmed by the needs of health care staff and failed to meet the needs of patients and family members. An efficient and durable psychosocial response in a long-term crisis requires to be structured, planned and well-integrated into the overall pandemic response. All personnel involved need adequate and specific competence in evidence-based individual and large-scale interventions to provide psychosocial support in significant incidents. By increasing general awareness of mental wellbeing and psychosocial support amongst health professionals and their first-line managers, a more resilient health care system, both in everyday life and during major incidents and disasters, could be facilitated.

Supporting Health Care Staff With Family Meals During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483992110035
Author(s):  
Jennifer Utter ◽  
Sally McCray
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Food Service ◽  
Food Delivery ◽  
Family Meals ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Health Care Staff ◽  
Health And Wellness ◽  
Wellness Program ◽  
Marketing Department

Family meals provide a unique opportunity for families to eat well and engage positively with each other. In response to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, a new initiative to support health care staff to share healthy meals with their families was developed. At a hospital in Queensland, Australia, dietetic staff collaborated with the on-site food service retailer to develop and offer a range of hot meals that staff could take home for their families at the end of their day. The meals were nutritious, reasonably priced, and designed to feed a family of four. The dietetic staff worked with the hospital marketing department and staff health and wellness program to promote the initiative. Over the 3 months that it has been running, nearly 300 meals have been purchased. Anecdotal comments from the food service retailer highlighted that the initiative was a good thing to do for staff to maintain a positive reputation of the business. The staff evening meal initiative is a healthy, affordable, educational, and socially engaging alternative to takeaway meals and food delivery by app, and it is mutually beneficial for health care staff and the on-site food retailer. The initiative also offers a unique opportunity for promoting nutrition and social engagement during stressful times.

Health care staff responses to disinvestment—A systematic search and qualitative thematic synthesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-54
Author(s):  
Deb Mitchell ◽  
Kelly-Ann Bowles ◽  
Lisa O'Brien ◽  
Anne Bardoel ◽  
Terry Haines
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Systematic Search ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Health Care Staff ◽  
Thematic Synthesis

Building Health Communities: Local Health Care Networks in Maryland

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Wachhaus
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Collaborative Networks ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Care Networks ◽  
Local Health Care ◽  
Health Communities ◽  
Treatment Of Obesity

Combatting chronic disease (prevention and treatment of obesity, diabetes, heart health, and stroke) requires action at the local level, both to educate the public and to provide health services. Effective collaboration among local organizations devoted to educating the public about, and treating patients of, these diseases is a key component of successful health care. To better understand local efforts, a social network analysis of five local health care networks spanning eight counties in Maryland was conducted. The purpose of this exploratory research was to discover whether collaborative networks exist at the local level, to map the networks, and to assess their strengths and needs.

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