scholarly journals Experiences of healthcare workers displaced by conflict: lessons from past conflicts and implications

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
U Moqeem ◽  
O Mukhtar ◽  
A Abbara ◽  
S Jabbour ◽  
M Abouzeid
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
English Language ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Conflict Zones ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Open Coding ◽  
Support Mechanisms ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Systemic Support

Abstract Background Conflicts cause mass displacement, including of healthcare workers (HCWs). Understanding experiences of HCWs over the displacement trajectory, from push factors out of conflict zones, to barriers and facilitators in transit and host countries, is key to developing support mechanisms and informing policy discussions regarding return and reintegration. Methodology We systematically reviewed 6 academic databases and grey literature using combined search terms for HCWs, displacement, conflict, and experiences to identify English-language literature documenting personal or professional experiences of HCWs displaced by conflict, published between 1945 to 2020. Open coding and thematic analysis were used to identify emerging themes. Quality appraisal was conducted. Results 25 publications from academic journals, snowballed references, and grey literature from 10 geographical contexts and various types of HCW met inclusion criteria, many from conflicts in the Middle-East. 5 themes emerged: Conflict drives displacement: HCWs fled due to direct violence and deteriorating working conditions caused by increased workload, depleting resources, workforce attrition and attacks on healthcare. Giving back: Refugee HCWs were determined to continue working but had to do so informally or by working with humanitarian agencies. Personal and professional integration in host countries: refugee HCWs overcame barriers to relicense after which they reported disadvantage in job applications due to professional gaps and discrimination; many ended up working under-qualified jobs. Psychological toll on HCWs was pronounced. Prospects on return: HCWs desired to return to their home countries but feared political instability and violence. Conclusions Policies which support HCW retention during conflict, integration into host health systems, and encourage return post-conflict must be implemented. Further research is required to understand the individual and systemic support mechanisms required. Key messages Displaced HCWs experience many personal and professional challenges. Policies that support HCWs across the displacement trajectory and support return and post-conflict system rebuilding are required.

scholarly journals Identifying occupational health hazards among healthcare providers and ancillary staff in Ghana: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. e058048
Author(s):  
Philip Apraku Tawiah ◽  
Alberta Baffour-Awuah ◽  
Emmanuel Appiah-Brempong ◽  
Evans Afriyie-Gyawu
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
English Language ◽  
Electronic Materials ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
Reference List

IntroductionThe formation, modification and implementation of occupational health and safety policy for the Ghana healthcare industry hinge on data and reviews on occupational exposures. However, there is no synthesised review to speak to the issues of these occupational exposures. A scoping review on occupational exposures among the health workforce in Ghana will provide a broad overview of exposures, and can guide and assist in making decisions on occupational health issues relating to healthcare workers.Methods and analysisArksey and O’Malley’s scoping review methodology framework will guide the conduct of this scoping review. Primary research studies, government documents and other information on occupational exposures among healthcare workers published in the English language will be retrieved from databases including PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycINFO and Google scholar. A systematic search strategy will be employed to identify articles from 1 January 2010 until 30 November 2021. Also, grey literature sources in Ghana including government and tertiary institutions websites will be searched. A reference list of key studies and other available non-electronic materials will also be screened to identify relevant studies for inclusion. The review will consider studies that address prevalence, knowledge and predisposing factors of occupational exposures along with the use of occupational hazards control/preventive measures. After removal of duplicates, and title and abstract screening, relevant articles will be subjected to full-text analysis. The screening processes will be conducted independently by two reviewers. Data will then be extracted and presented in tabular form with a narrative to aid easy comprehension.Ethics and disseminationThis scoping review does not require ethical approval. The findings will be disseminated through publications, conference presentations and stakeholder meetings.

scholarly journals Prognostic awareness in advanced cancer: an integrative literature review

2020 ◽  
pp. bmjspcare-2020-002287
Author(s):  
Sara Mone ◽  
Helen Kerr
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
English Language ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Prognostic Information ◽  
Informed Decisions ◽  
Literature Searches ◽  
Life Trajectory ◽  
The Individual

Individuals with advanced cancer who have accurate prognostic awareness are reported to make more informed decisions about their plan of care. Despite this, it is reported that individuals do not always have accurate prognostic awareness with the rationale for this discordance unclear. The primary aim of the integrative literature review was to identify if there is concordance between actual prognosis and accurate prognostic awareness in individuals with advanced cancer. The secondary aim was to identify the rationale for any discordance between actual prognosis and prognostic awareness in individuals with advanced cancer. This is an integrative literature review using a systematic approach. Literature searches were undertaken in March 2018 in four databases; CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library. Searches were limited to between 2008 and 2018 and those written in the English language. Database searches were supplemented with papers from reference lists of included papers and grey literature. Two reviewers independently completed the literature search and independently reviewed the papers. Fourteen eligible research papers were identified. The majority of individuals with advanced cancer in the included studies did not have accurate prognostic awareness. When identified, the rationale for discordance relates to the individual not being communicated accurate prognostic information, not being able to recall prognostic conversations or prognosis being discussed in vague terms. As individuals with advanced cancer with accurate prognostic awareness make more informed decisions at a crucial time in their life trajectory, it is imperative that healthcare professionals are equipped to effectively deliver accurate prognostic information, ensuring understanding is assessed.

scholarly journals Policies on return and reintegration of displaced healthcare workers towards rebuilding conflict-affected health systems: a review for The Lancet-AUB Commission on Syria

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Rayes ◽  
Lana Meiqari ◽  
Rouham Yamout ◽  
Aula Abbara ◽  
Iman Nuwayhid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Home Country ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Health Agency ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Conflict Zones ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Conflict Period

Abstract Background War and armed conflicts severely disrupt all health system components, including the healthcare workforce. Although data is limited on the scale of health care worker (HCW) displacement in conflict zones, it is widely acknowledged that conflict conditions result in the displacement of a significant portion of qualified HCWs from their country of origin. While voluntary HCW return is integral to health system rebuilding in conflict-affected and post-conflict settings, there has been little exploration of the nature of national or international policies which encourage HCW return and reintegration to their home countries in the post-conflict period. Methods We conducted a systematic review to identify policies and policy recommendations intended to facilitate the return of displaced HCWs to their home countries and acknowledge their contribution to rebuilding the post-conflict health system. We searched three bibliographic databases and a range of organisational and national health agency websites to identify peer-reviewed articles and grey literature published in English or Arabic between 1 January 1990 to 24 January 2021, and extracted relevant information. We classified policies and policy recommendations using an adapted version of the UNHCR 4Rs Framework. Results We identified nine peer-review articles and four grey literature reports that fit our inclusion criteria, all of which were published in English. These covered issues of repatriation (n = 3), reintegration (n = 2), health system rehabilitation and reconstruction (n = 2); six documents covered several of these themes. Information was available for nine conflict contexts: Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, Namibia, Northern Uganda, South Sudan, Timor Leste, and Zimbabwe. Findings demonstrate that health system rebuilding and rehabilitation serve as precursors and reinforcers of the successful return, repatriation, and reintegration of displaced HCWs. Conclusions Despite the significant numbers of HCWs displaced by conflict, this study identified few specific policies and limited information explicitly focused on the repatriation and reintegration of such workers to their home country in the post-conflict period. Additional research is needed to understand the particular barriers faced by conflict-displaced HCWs in returning to their home country. Conflict-affected and post-conflict states should develop policies and initiatives that address factors within and beyond the health sector to encourage displaced HCW return and provide sustainable reintegration solutions for those who return to post-conflict health systems.

scholarly journals Facial protection for healthcare workers during pandemics: a scoping review

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. e002553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura R Garcia Godoy ◽  
Amy E Jones ◽  
Taylor N Anderson ◽  
Cameron L Fisher ◽  
Kylie M L Seeley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
English Language ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
Inpatient Settings ◽  
N95 Respirators ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Medical Grade

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages, requiring mask reuse or improvisation. We provide a review of medical-grade facial protection (surgical masks, N95 respirators and face shields) for healthcare workers, the safety and efficacy of decontamination methods, and the utility of alternative strategies in emergency shortages or resource-scarce settings.MethodsWe conducted a scoping review of PubMed and grey literature related to facial protection and potential adaptation strategies in the setting of PPE shortages (January 2000 to March 2020). Limitations included few COVID-19-specific studies and exclusion of non-English language articles. We conducted a narrative synthesis of the evidence based on relevant healthcare settings to increase practical utility in decision-making.ResultsWe retrieved 5462 peer-reviewed articles and 41 grey literature records. In total, we included 67 records which met inclusion criteria. Compared with surgical masks, N95 respirators perform better in laboratory testing, may provide superior protection in inpatient settings and perform equivalently in outpatient settings. Surgical mask and N95 respirator conservation strategies include extended use, reuse or decontamination, but these strategies may result in inferior protection. Limited evidence suggests that reused and improvised masks should be used when medical-grade protection is unavailable.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to critical shortages of medical-grade PPE. Alternative forms of facial protection offer inferior protection. More robust evidence is required on different types of medical-grade facial protection. As research on COVID-19 advances, investigators should continue to examine the impact on alternatives of medical-grade facial protection.

Protocol for a scoping review study to identify occupational health hazards among healthcare providers and ancillary staff in Ghana

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Apraku Tawiah ◽  
Alberta Baffour-Awuah ◽  
Emmanuel Appiah-Brempong ◽  
Evans Afriyie-Gyawu
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
English Language ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
Reference List ◽  
Other Information

Abstract Introduction: The formation, modification and implementation of occupational health and safety policy for the Ghana health care industry hinges on data and reviews on occupational exposures. However, there is no synthesized review to speak to the issues of these occupational exposures. A scoping review on occupational exposures among the health workforce in Ghana will provide a broad overview of exposures, and can guide and assist in making decisions on occupational health issues relating healthcare workers. Methods: The Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review methodology framework will guide the conduct of this scoping review. Primary research studies, government documents and other information on occupational exposures among healthcare workers published in English language will be retrieved from databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Medline, Scopus, PsycINFO and Google scholar. Also, grey literature sources in Ghana including government and tertiary institutions websites will be searched. Reference list of key studies will also be screened to identify relevant studies for inclusion. The review will consider studies that address prevalence, knowledge and predisposing factors of occupational exposures along with utilization of occupational hazards preventive measures. After initial removal of duplicates, title and abstract screening, relevant articles will be subjected to full text analysis. The screening processes will be conducted independently by two reviewers. Data will then be extracted and presented in tabular form with a narrative to aid easy comprehension. Ethics and dissemination: This scoping review sought to identify predominant occupational exposures among healthcare providers and ancillary workers as described in published and unpublished literature. In addressing the increase of occupational exposures among healthcare workforce in Ghana, this scoping review is intended to bring all the literature together and predict the areas of occupational exposures that needs attention and redress. The findings of the study will be disseminated through publications, conference presentations and stakeholder meetings.

Limitations of List Experiments in Post-Conflict Zones

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew W. Bausch ◽  
Anna O Pechenkina ◽  
Kiron Skinner
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Zones ◽  
Post Conflict

The support needs of parent caregivers of children with a life-limiting illness and approaches used to meet their needs: A scoping review

2020 ◽  
pp. 026921632096759
Author(s):  
Fenella J Gill ◽  
Zahraa Hashem ◽  
Roswitha Stegmann ◽  
Samar M Aoun
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
English Language ◽  
Support Needs ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Caregiver Support ◽  
Paediatric Palliative Care ◽  
Heterogenous Population ◽  
Parent Caregivers ◽  
The Individual

Background: Provision of paediatric palliative care is complex and optimally covers meeting the individual needs of a heterogenous population of children and their parent caregivers throughout a life-limiting illness. It is unclear whether existing approaches comprehensively address parent caregivers’ needs. Aim: To examine support needs of parents caring for children with life limiting illnesses and identify specific approaches used to identify and address needs. Design: A scoping review Data sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and ProQuest Central, were searched for peer reviewed English language full text research published from 2008 to 2019. Study quality appraisal was undertaken. Fourteen quantitative, 18 qualitative and 12 mixed methods studies were synthesised and themed using summative content analysis and mapped to the Parent Supportive Care Needs Framework (PSCNF). Results: Themes were communication, choice, information, practical, social, psychological, emotional and physical. Communication and choice were central and additional to domains of the PSCNF. Unmet were needs for supporting siblings, for respite care, out of hours, psychological, home and educational support. Six articles reported using instruments to identify parent carer support needs. Conclusion: Support needs of parent caregivers of children with life limiting illnesses are substantial and heterogenous. While studies report evidence of burden and distress in parent caregivers, this rarely translates into improvements in practice through the development of interventions. A systematic and regular assessment of individual parent caregiver support needs is required by using instruments appropriate to use in clinical practice to move the focus to palliative care interventions and improved services for parents.

Making Meaning of Peace: A Study of Adolescents in Bogota, Colombia

2021 ◽  
pp. 074355842110069
Author(s):  
Gabriel Velez
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Developmental Psychology ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Making Meaning ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
Internal States ◽  
Individual Contributions ◽  
The Individual

In post-conflict and transitional settings, adolescents are important civic and political actors as potential peacebuilders. Policy and programming often focus on promoting prosocial outcomes for these younger generations, but there has been growing attention to their perspectives and psychological development. Drawing on theory in developmental psychology, adolescents interpret and respond to context in forming ideas about key concepts like peace, understanding society and their place in it, and constructing their orientations toward peace. This study extends current literature by exploring how Colombian adolescents describe peace within the context of a peace process in their country. Ninety-six 15- to 18-year-olds in and around Bogotá, Colombia, were interviewed about peace. Their responses were analyzed inductively using an adapted thematic analysis. Findings indicated that the individual was central to how respondents talked about peace; that is, peace begins and depends on the internal states. From this basis, individuals then created peace through interpersonal relations. There were some differences by respondents’ SES, such as in how respondents described peace as requiring equality in society, but none found for gender or age. This study demonstrates the need to provide concrete opportunities for these adolescents to see individual contributions and broader interpersonal peace as possible.

scholarly journals Sudanese Perspectives on Resettlement in Australia

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate E. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Diverse Backgrounds ◽  
Sociopolitical Context ◽  
Quantitative Sample ◽  
Bonding And Bridging ◽  
Bridging Capital ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Resettlement Programs ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Methods

AbstractResettlement programs for people from a refugee background must respond to a variety of concerns as people from diverse backgrounds and often longstanding periods of upheaval and hardship enter their new resettlement communities. Host countries approach the demands of resettlement through varying programs and policies and those differences across countries can profoundly affect the newcomers' experiences. The current study employs quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the individual and contextual factors that influence the resettlement experience for adults from Sudan being resettled in Queensland, Australia. Ninety Sudanese adults were recruited through snowball sampling techniques for the quantitative study, with 10 individuals purposefully selected to complete the semistructured qualitative interview. In the quantitative sample, 25 to 30% of participants reported significant symptoms of psychological distress and frequent experiences of discrimination, and the majority of participants reported integration (identifying with both Australian and Sudanese cultures) as their method of acculturation. Participants reported feeling initially welcomed into Australia, with positive influences including bonding and bridging capital, which helped them in their adaptation, and negative influences including problems with the resettlement programs and experiences of discrimination. The findings underscore the importance of sociopolitical context on refugee experiences of the resettlement process.

scholarly journals Use of Apps to Promote Childhood Vaccination: Protocol for a Systematic Review

10.2196/16929 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e16929
Author(s):  
Michelle Helena Van Velthoven ◽  
Madison Milne-Ives ◽  
Caroline de Cock ◽  
Mary Mooney ◽  
Edward Meinert
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
English Language ◽  
Search Strategy ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Information Storage ◽  
Childhood Vaccination ◽  
Cochrane Central Register ◽  
Technical Standards

Background The decline in the uptake of routine childhood vaccinations has resulted in outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccination apps can be used as a tool to promote immunization through the provision of reminders, dissemination of information, peer support, and feedback. Objective The aim of this review is to systematically review the evidence on the use of apps to support childhood vaccination uptake, information storage, and record sharing. Methods We will identify relevant papers by searching the following electronic databases: PubMed, Embase by Ovid, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), ClinicalTrials.gov, and Education Resources Information Center (ERIC). We will review the reference lists of those studies that we include to identify relevant additional papers not initially identified using our search strategy. In addition to the use of electronic databases, we will search for grey literature on the topic. The search strategy will include only terms relating to or describing the intervention, which is app use. As almost all titles and abstracts are in English, 100% of these will be reviewed, but retrieval will be confined to papers written in the English language. We will record the search outcome on a specifically designed record sheet. Two reviewers will select observational and intervention studies, appraise the quality of the studies, and extract the relevant data. All studies will involve the use of apps relating to child vaccinations. The primary outcome is the uptake of vaccinations. Secondary outcomes are as follows: (1) use of app for sharing of information and providing vaccination reminders and (2) use of app for storage of vaccination information; knowledge and decision making by parents regarding vaccination (ie, risks and benefits of vaccination); costs and cost-effectiveness of vaccination apps; use of the app and measures of usability (eg, usefulness, acceptability, and experiences of different users: parents and health care professionals); use of technical standards for development of the app; and adverse events (eg, data leaks and misinformation). We will exclude studies that do not study an app. We anticipate a limited scope for meta-analysis and will provide a narrative overview of findings and tabular summaries of extracted data. Results This project was funded by the Sir David Cooksey Fellowship in Healthcare Translation at the University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom. We will submit the full systematic review for publication in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. Conclusions This review will follow, where possible, the Cochrane Collaboration and the Centre for Review and Dissemination methodologies for conducting systematic reviews. We will report our findings based on guidelines from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The review results will be used to inform the development of a vaccination app. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/16929

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