Caring for People Who Sniff Petrol or Other Volatile Substances: A Quick Reference Guide for Health Workers

Abstract Background While the evidence supporting the effectiveness of community health worker (CHW) programmes is substantial, there is also considerable evidence that many of these programmes have notable weaknesses that need to be addressed in order for them to reach their full potential. Thus, considerations about CHW programme performance and its assessment must be taken into account as the importance of these programmes is becoming more widely appreciated. In this paper, the tenth in our 11-paper series, “Community health workers at the dawn of a new era”, we address CHW programme performance and how it is assessed from a systems perspective. Methods The paper builds on the 2014 CHW Reference Guide, a compendium of case studies of 29 national CHW programmes, the 2018 WHO guideline on health policy and system support to optimize CHW programmes, and scientific studies on CHW programme performance published in the past 5 years. Results The paper provides an overview of existing frameworks that are useful for assessing the performance of CHW programmes, with a specific focus on how individual CHW performance and community-level outcomes can be measured. The paper also reviews approaches that have been taken to assess CHW programme performance, from programme monitoring using the routine health information system to national assessments using quantitative and/or qualitative study designs and assessment checklists. The paper also discusses contextual factors that influence CHW programme performance, and reflects upon gaps and needs for the future with regard to assessment of CHW programme performance. Conclusion Assessments of CHW programme performance can have various approaches and foci according to the programme and its context. Given the fact that CHW programmes are complex entities and part of health systems, their assessment ideally needs to be based on data derived from a mix of reliable sources. Assessments should be focused not only on effectiveness (what works) but also on contextual factors and enablers (how, for whom, under what circumstances). Investment in performance assessment is instrumental for continually innovating, upgrading, and improving CHW programmes at scale. Now is the time for new efforts in implementation research for strengthening CHW programming.

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A Review of 21 iPad Applications for Augmentative and Alternative Communication Purposes

Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication ◽

10.1044/aac21.2.60 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 60-71 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Ashley Alliano ◽

Kimberly Herriger ◽

Anthony D. Koutsoftas ◽

Theresa E. Bartolotta

Keyword(s):

Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Alternative Form ◽

Alternative Communication ◽

Text To Speech ◽

Reference Guide ◽

Expressive Communication ◽

Communication Needs ◽

User Friendly ◽

Ipad Applications

Abstract Using the iPad tablet for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) purposes can facilitate many communicative needs, is cost-effective, and is socially acceptable. Many individuals with communication difficulties can use iPad applications (apps) to augment communication, provide an alternative form of communication, or target receptive and expressive language goals. In this paper, we will review a collection of iPad apps that can be used to address a variety of receptive and expressive communication needs. Based on recommendations from Gosnell, Costello, and Shane (2011), we describe the features of 21 apps that can serve as a reference guide for speech-language pathologists. We systematically identified 21 apps that use symbols only, symbols and text-to-speech, and text-to-speech only. We provide descriptions of the purpose of each app, along with the following feature descriptions: speech settings, representation, display, feedback features, rate enhancement, access, motor competencies, and cost. In this review, we describe these apps and how individuals with complex communication needs can use them for a variety of communication purposes and to target a variety of treatment goals. We present information in a user-friendly table format that clinicians can use as a reference guide.

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Health Workers' Flu Protection Addressed

Skin & Allergy News ◽

10.1016/s0037-6337(09)70446-2 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 40 (9) ◽

pp. 28

Author(s):

HEIDI SPLETE

Keyword(s):

Health Workers

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Pertussis Vaccine Urged for All Health Workers

Rheumatology News ◽

10.1016/s1541-9800(11)70269-1 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 48

Author(s):

MIRIAM E. TUCKER

Keyword(s):

Pertussis Vaccine ◽

Health Workers

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Suicide Attempts During Adolescence: Systematic Hospitalization and Crisis Treatment

Crisis ◽

10.1027//0227-5910.20.1.41 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 41-48 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Jérôme Ottino

Keyword(s):

Attempted Suicide ◽

Suicide Attempts ◽

Psychiatric Treatment ◽

Health Workers ◽

Inpatient Unit ◽

Theoretical Hypothesis ◽

Initial Resistance ◽

Provision Of Care ◽

Suicidal Crisis

This paper deals with an inpatient unit that recently opened in Geneva, specializing in the treatment of patients aged 16-21 years who had attempted suicide or felt the desire to commit suicide. This particular center was established because of the significant weaknesses found in the provision of care to adolescents who had attempted suicide. Despite the growing interest of health workers in this area of study over recent years, the frequency of suicide among the young has not decreased and there are numerous recurrences of the suicide attempts. Further, all efforts to improve the adolescents' compliance with psychiatric treatment have failed to date. The number of drop-outs from treatment is still very high. Thus, the objectives of our inpatient unit are as follows: (1) to overcome initial resistance to treatment and to improve long-term compliance; (2) to decrease the number of recurrent attempts as a consequence of the above, thus increasing life expectancy; (3) to offer the adolescents who have tried (or have contemplated) committing suicide an improved quality of life, after first helping them overcome the suicidal crisis. To achieve these goals, the therapeutic team of the unit proposes short stays during which the work with the adolescents consists of a very intensive psychoanalytic-oriented crisis intervention. Numerous practical aspects of our therapeutic approach in the inpatient unit are related here in detail, always with reference to our theoretical hypothesis.

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