scholarly journals IMPROVING HEALTH CARE OF LGBT OLDER ADULTS: INTERDISCIPLINARY PROJECT ENHANCES HEALTH OUTCOMES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S742-S742
Author(s):  
Noell L Rowan ◽  
Stephanie D Smith ◽  
Tamatha Arms ◽  
Kris L Hohn

Abstract To date, there is a dearth of interdisciplinary simulation education and research that involves LGBT older adults within schools of social work and nursing. The purpose of this mixed method study was to examine the use of an intervention among social work and nursing students to determine if lecture and simulations impacted their health-related knowledge and cultural sensitivity/awareness of health provisions with LGBT older adults. Interprofessional faculty created lecture and interdisciplinary simulations with actual members of the older LGBT communities using simulation clinic/lab and health care scenarios. An adapted survey with permission from Grubb et al (2013) was used to include quantitative and qualitative measures of cultural awareness with LGBT populations. Pre-Post test data were analyzed using Generalized Linear Models in SAS software. Results indicated that the intervention positively changed perceptions and increased knowledge among (N=90; 32 social work; 58 nursing) allied health students. Statistically significant change experiences in their work with LGBT individuals were noted to positively alter their beliefs about sexuality, gender identity, and sexual development (Agree to Strongly Agree, X2(1)=26.51, p<0.001). Qualitative findings include four primary themes about how gender identity and sexual orientation influences health: (a) bias of health care providers, (b) access to quality care, (c) specific health care needs, and (d) health risks of LGBT older adults. As older adults continue to be the largest population needing health care, it is imperative that professionals are trained to give culturally sensitive health care and demonstrate this competency in their practice and interpersonal interactions with clients.

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 506-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Henriquez ◽  
Kathryn Hyndman ◽  
Kathryn Chachula

Research has identified the need for improved cultural competence of health care providers regarding the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community’s needs. This article articulates the teaching approach and methodology of an unfolding LGBTQ family case study for undergraduate nursing students. This method provided a forum for exploration of personal biases and gender-affirming techniques, and addressed the challenges of aging for a transgender woman and family within the context of societal stigma and discrimination. Students gained knowledge concerning shifts in family structures and understanding of the nurses’ role encouraging inclusiveness and equitable access in health care settings, advocating for vulnerable populations, and addressing specific health concerns for transgender older adults. Student responses demonstrated increased knowledge of family diversity, and critical thought regarding the intersectionality of discrimination and aging. The findings revealed the case study methodology facilitated student understanding of the unique health and social issues for LGBTQ older adults within a family context.


Author(s):  
Suk-hee Kim

<div><p><em>Promoting healthy cognitive aging within social work has been raised over the years, but the effectiveness of many preventions and interventions in healthy aging brain has been questioned because of the lack of the evidence. </em><em>The purpose of the study is to carry out a scientific research review and analysis related to healthy cognitive aging brain and professional social work. This study reviewed major trends in the health care in cognitive aging environment which impacts on social work education, practice, and research including a shift from in-patient to community care setting and increasing diversity of the older adult population. </em><em>A systematic review was conducted to determine the effectiveness of promoting healthy cognitive aging that target mild-cognitive impairment and screening among older-adults. In this scientific literature review, quantitative and qualitative outcome studies between 1989 and 2016 were reviewed. The researcher found that educational and social activity group interventions that can ease social isolation and loneliness among older adults. However, the effectiveness of home visiting remains unclear. The study also was completed to address a growing area of cognitive aging brain concern and implication for health care providers and professionals. Overall research findings support positive effects of social and family support, early mild-cognitive screening, quality of social network, healthy choice eating, and physical and mental activity in improving healthy mild-cognitive aging. </em></p></div>


2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
Lynn Chatfield ◽  
Sandra Christos ◽  
Michael McGregor

In a changing economy and a changing industry, health care providers need to complete thorough, comprehensive, and efficient assessments that provide both an accurate depiction of the patient's deficits and a blueprint to the path of treatment for older adults. Through standardized testing and observations as well as the goals and evidenced-based treatment plans we have devised, health care providers can maximize outcomes and the functional levels of patients. In this article, we review an interdisciplinary assessment that involves speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and respiratory therapy to work with older adults in health care settings. Using the approach, we will examine the benefits of collaboration between disciplines, an interdisciplinary screening process, and the importance of sharing information from comprehensive discipline-specific evaluations. We also will discuss the importance of having an understanding of the varied scopes of practice, the utilization of outcome measurement tools, and a patient-centered assessment approach to care.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 14-14
Author(s):  
Lynn Brown ◽  
Pao-feng Tsai

Abstract False ideas about the physical and psychosocial characteristics of older adults exist in America. It is especially important that nurses are not susceptible to myths and stereotypes as these myths can affect the quality of patient care. For example, some people stereotype older adults as forgetful, disabled, ill, and unable to understand new information. Misconceptions and negative stereotypes are also present in first year nursing students. It is vital that students assess their own attitudes about older adults to form positive attitudes and gain knowledge about aging and health care needs. To achieve this goal, the older adult lecture in a first semester theory and fundamental course begins with a PowerPoint slide presentation asking students to distinguish truths and myths. The truth or myth topics include a) developmental tasks; b) common physiological changes; c) a comparison of delirium, dementia, and depression; and d) addressing health concerns of older adults. Active discussion follows the activity. Seventy to ninety percent of students correctly answered nine of ten questions related to older adult content on the final exam. Considering the increasing number of older adults in the health care setting, nurse educators must dismantle negative stereotypes with creative teaching strategies.


Author(s):  
Fatemeh Rahmanian ◽  
Soheila Nazarpour ◽  
Masoumeh Simbar ◽  
Ali Ramezankhani ◽  
Farid Zayeri

AbstractBackgroundA dimension of reproductive health services that should be gender sensitive is reproductive health services for adolescents.ObjectiveThis study aims to assess needs for gender sensitive reproductive health care services for adolescents.MethodsThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study on 341 of health care providers for adolescents in health centers and hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran in 2016. The subjects of the study were recruited using a convenience sampling method. The tools for data collection were: (1) a demographic information questionnaire and; (2) a valid and reliable questionnaire to Assess the Needs of Gender-Sensitive Adolescents Reproductive Health Care Services (ANQ-GSARHS) including three sections; process, structure and policy making for the services. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.ResultsThree hundred and forty-one health providers with an average working experience of 8.77 ± 5.39 [mean ± standard deviation (SD)] years participated in the study. The results demonstrated the highest scores for educational needs (92.96% ± 11.49%), supportive policies (92.71% ± 11.70%) and then care needs (92.37% ± 14.34%) of the services.ConclusionsProviding gender sensitive reproductive health care services for adolescents needs to be reformed as regards processes, structure and policies of the services. However, the gender appropriate educational and care needs as well as supportive policies are the priorities for reform of the services.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng Wang ◽  
Peizhen Zhao ◽  
Mingzhou Xiong ◽  
Joseph D. Tucker ◽  
Jason J. Ong ◽  
...  

Background: Sexual health among older adults is a major public health concern globally. The syphilis burden is increasing in older adults in China. This study aimed to describe factors associated with syphilis infection and diagnosis among older adults in China during a 16 year period.Methods: Using 16 years of data (2004–2019) from the syphilis case report system of Guangdong, China, we compared data from older adults (aged ≥50 years) with those from younger people (aged 15–49 years). We compared the two age group with the Chi-square test for difference, and Joinpoint regression models to assess the temporal trends.Results: During the study period, 242,115 new syphilis diagnoses were reported in older adults. The mean notification rate of new diagnoses was 64.1 per 100,000 population across the entire 16-year period, which significantly increased over time (average annual percent change [AAPC] 16.2%, 95% CI 13.7–18.7). Syphilis diagnoses increased significantly over time among less developed cities and older women. In 2019, compared with younger adults, newly diagnosed older adults were more likely to be male, native to reporting city, had unknown transmission routes, and were diagnosed late.Conclusion: Our findings call for an urgent need to deliver more targeted prevention interventions for older adults, such as strengthen awareness among health care providers, and integration of syphilis services and primary health care for older adults.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 498-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofía Gómez ◽  
Heide Castañeda

The “DACAmented Voices in Healthcare” project examined the intersection of restrictive immigration policies and health care via photovoice, a participatory action research approach, with immigrant youth living in Arizona, who were recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. These “DACAmented” youth took part in nine photovoice sessions exploring their health care experiences and accessibility to care using documentary photography and narratives. They poignantly illustrated their experiences through images identifying their main health concerns and strengths, facilitating the development of health policy recommendations. This article illustrates the thematic findings and discusses policy recommendations and lessons learned from presentations to policy makers and health care providers. Findings suggest that immigrant youth are knowledgeable of their family’s health care needs and hold a unique and important position within mixed-status households. Health care providers can benefit from the proposed recommendations by building bridges to care to address health equity in immigrant communities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S687-S687
Author(s):  
Paul Stolee ◽  
Jacobi B Elliott ◽  
Kerry Byrne ◽  
Joanie Sims-Gould ◽  
Catherine Tong ◽  
...  

Abstract For older adults with complex health conditions, transitions between care settings are common and a major risk to quality of care and patient safety. Care transition interventions have shown positive impacts on continuity of care and health service use, however, most require additional human resources (e.g., transition coach), focus on one transition or “handoff”, and provide support for individual patients without addressing underlying challenges of health system integration. We sought to develop a framework for system-level enhancements to care transitions for older adults. We report a secondary framework analysis of an ethnographic investigation (the “InfoRehab” project) of care transitions for older persons who had experienced a hip fracture. The ethnographic study involved interviews, observations, and document reviews for 23 patients, 19 family caregivers, and 92 health care providers. Data were collected at each transition point (1-4/patient) along the care continuum, at three Canadian sites (large urban, mid-size urban, rural). Our framework analysis followed the approach described by Gale et al. (2013), using as cases 12 peer-reviewed papers which had reported InfoRehab results. Two researchers coded findings from each paper, then developed an analytical framework of eight themes by consensus; these include: patient involvement and choice, family caregiver involvement, patient complexity, health care provider coordination, information sharing, documentation, system constraints, and relationships. NVivo 11 was used to index findings into these themes and to generate a matrix. We are working with system stakeholders, including patients and caregivers, to apply this framework in the development of improved systems for care transitions.


2002 ◽  
Vol 7 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 23-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline Norris

Objective This paper investigates the characteristics of pharmacies that are associated with the degree of counselling provided to customers purchasing medicines. Methods Twelve ‘mystery shoppers’ (research assistants posing as normal customers) purchased restricted medicines at 180 pharmacies around New Zealand. One drug (diclofenac) and one class of drugs (vaginal antifungals) were purchased. The amount of counselling provided was recorded, and linked to profile data on the pharmacies, obtained through a questionnaire, from Census data, and from direct observations of pharmacies. Results Location within a city, a large town, or strip shopping did not affect the level of counselling pharmacies provided. Pharmacies adjacent to medical centres gave significantly less counselling to diclofenac purchasers than other pharmacies. No consistent relationship was found between pharmacy size and the level of counselling provided. There were large differences between areas of the country. A strong negative relationship was found between the amount of counselling given about thrush, and the proportion of Pacific Island people in the population around the pharmacy. Although only some results reached statistical significance, there seems to have been a similar trend for pharmacies to provide less counselling in areas with more Maori people and with higher levels of social deprivation. Conclusions Regional variation in the provision of pharmacy services, and in particular the tendency for pharmacies to provide less counselling in areas that are likely to have higher health care needs, must be addressed if pharmacies are to fulfil their potential as health care providers.


Author(s):  
Lisa Freitag

Parents caring for children with special health care needs or long-term disabilities are called to a new level of competence as medical caregivers, often as soon as the child is discharged from the hospital. There is no accepted measure for success with this task, though failure can be met with repeated hospitalization or removal of the child from the home. This chapter evaluates, through parent narratives, how parents obtain and view their competence. Some parents perform in-depth research into their child’s medical problems and achieve a surprisingly high level of knowledge. This is often discounted by both the parents and health care providers. The moral work done in this area is significant. Parents must change their priorities and re-align their expectations for their child’s success. They must adapt to a slower developmental pace, and create for the child a safe haven where the child’s disability becomes the accepted norm.


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