Democracy and the Quality of Government

2021 ◽  
pp. 180-208
Author(s):  
Monika Bauhr ◽  
Marcia Grimes
Keyword(s):  
State Capacity ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Underlying Theory ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Government Corruption ◽  
Established Democracies

Does democracy reduce corruption and improve quality of government? While the corruption-reducing effect of democracy may be seemingly self-evident in light of theoretical expectations, a wealth of empirical literature suggests that democracy is not always as effective as theories predict. Studies consistently demonstrate that newly democratized countries exhibit, on average, higher levels of corruption than more established democracies but also than some autocracies. This chapter takes stock of recent advances in efforts to understand how, whether, and when democracy contributes to weeding out corrupt leaders and government corruption more generally. While research has made notable advances, we suggest that a closer examination of the underlying theory of change and assumptions upon which the beneficial effects of democracy rest can identify new ways forward. We point to a need for greater attention to how, for example, state capacity, transparency, and experiences with different forms of corruption influence civic and electoral engagement against corruption.

scholarly journals Improving nursing documentation for surgical patients in a referral hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone: protocol for assessing feasibility of a pilot multifaceted quality improvement hybrid type project

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nataliya Brima ◽  
Nick Sevdalis ◽  
K. Daoh ◽  
B. Deen ◽  
T. B. Kamara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Referral Hospital ◽  
Audit And Feedback ◽  
Health System Strengthening ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
Nursing Documentation

Abstract Background There is an urgent need to improve quality of care to reduce avoidable mortality and morbidity from surgical diseases in low- and middle-income countries. Currently, there is a lack of knowledge about how evidence-based health system strengthening interventions can be implemented effectively to improve quality of care in these settings. To address this gap, we have developed a multifaceted quality improvement intervention to improve nursing documentation in a low-income country hospital setting. The aim of this pilot project is to test the intervention within the surgical department of a national referral hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Methods This project was co-developed and co-designed by in-country stakeholders and UK-based researchers, after a multiple-methodology assessment of needs (qualitative, quantitative), guided by a participatory ‘Theory of Change’ process. It has a mixed-method, quasi-experimental evaluation design underpinned by implementation and improvement science theoretical approaches. It consists of three distinct phases—(1) pre-implementation(project set up and review of hospital relevant policies and forms), (2) intervention implementation (awareness drive, training package, audit and feedback), and (3) evaluation of (a) the feasibility of delivering the intervention and capturing implementation and process outcomes, (b) the impact of implementation strategies on the adoption, integration, and uptake of the intervention using implementation outcomes, (c) the intervention’s effectiveness For improving nursing in this pilot setting. Discussion We seek to test whether it is possible to deliver and assess a set of theory-driven interventions to improve the quality of nursing documentation using quality improvement and implementation science methods and frameworks in a single facility in Sierra Leone. The results of this study will inform the design of a large-scale effectiveness-implementation study for improving nursing documentation practices for patients throughout hospitals in Sierra Leone. Trial registration Protocol version number 6, date: 24.12.2020, recruitment is planned to begin: January 2021, recruitment will be completed: December 2021.

scholarly journals Recent advances in managing fecal incontinence

F1000Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 1291
Author(s):  
Giovanna Da Silva ◽  
Anne Sirany
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Fecal Incontinence ◽  
Medical Management ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
Surgical Interventions ◽  
Recent Advances

Fecal incontinence (FI) is the uncontrolled passage of feces or gas in an individual who previously had control. The prevalence of the problem varies but can be as high as 50% of institutionalized individuals. The severity varies among individuals, but the negative impact on self-esteem and quality of life can have devastating effects. The goals of treatment are to decrease the frequency and severity of episodes as well as to improve quality of life. At present, several therapies, ranging from medical management to more invasive surgical interventions, are offered for the management of FI. In this article, we review the most recent advances in the management of FI.

scholarly journals Beneficial effects of mesenchymal stem cell delivery via a novel cardiac bioscaffold on right ventricles of pulmonary arterial hypertensive rats

2019 ◽  
Vol 316 (5) ◽  
pp. H1005-H1013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric G. Schmuck ◽  
Timothy A. Hacker ◽  
David A. Schreier ◽  
Naomi C. Chesler ◽  
Zhijie Wang
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Mesenchymal Stem Cell ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Stroke Work ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial

Right ventricular failure (RVF) is a common cause of death in patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The current treatment for PAH only moderately improves symptoms, and RVF ultimately occurs. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new treatment strategies to protect against right ventricle (RV) maladaptation despite PAH progression. In this study, we hypothesize that local mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) delivery via a novel bioscaffold can improve RV function despite persistent PAH. To test our hypothesis, we induced PAH in adult rats with SU5416 and chronic hypoxia exposure; treated with rat MSCs delivered by intravenous injection, intramyocardial injection, or epicardial placement of a bioscaffold; and then examined treatment effectiveness by in vivo pressure-volume measurement, echocardiography, histology, and immunohistochemistry. Our results showed that compared with other treatment groups, only the MSC-seeded bioscaffold group resulted in RV functional improvement, including restored stroke volume, cardiac output, and improved stroke work. Diastolic function indicated by end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship was improved by the local MSC treatments or bioscaffold alone. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and RV fibrosis were both reduced, and von Willebrand factor expression was restored by the MSC-seeded bioscaffold treatment. Overall, our study suggests a potential new regenerative therapy to rescue the pressure-overload failing RV with persistent pulmonary vascular disease, which may improve quality of life and/or survival of PAH patients. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We explored the effects of mesenchymal stem cell-seeded bioscaffold on right ventricles (RVs) of rats with established pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Some beneficial effects were observed despite persistent PAH, suggesting that this may be a new therapy for RV to improve quality of life and/or survival of PAH patients.

scholarly journals Recent advances in managing fecal incontinence

F1000Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 1291
Author(s):  
Giovanna Da Silva ◽  
Anne Sirany
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Fecal Incontinence ◽  
Medical Management ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
Surgical Interventions ◽  
Recent Advances

Fecal incontinence (FI) is the uncontrolled passage of feces or gas in an individual who previously had control. The prevalence of the problem varies but can be as high as 50% of institutionalized individuals. The severity varies among individuals, but the negative impact on self-esteem and quality of life can have devastating effects. The goals of treatment are to decrease the frequency and severity of episodes as well as to improve quality of life. At present, several therapies, ranging from medical management to more invasive surgical interventions, are offered for the management of FI. In this article, we review the most recent advances in the management of FI.

scholarly journals Nurse Leadership Style and Quality of Care in Clinical Setting: a Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Sakti Oktaria Batubara ◽  
Hsiu Hung Wang ◽  
Kuei Min Chen
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Organizational Commitment ◽  
Leadership Style ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
The Impact

Background: Nowadays there are mounting concerns about leadership style because of its critical role in job satisfaction and the quality of care of patients. Objectives: To explore different of leadership style to improve quality of care in healthcare setting upon empirical literature published in the last ten years. Design: Literature review. Data sources: A comprehensive electronic database search was conducted in PubMed (2010–2020), Web of Science (2010–2020), CINAHL (2010–2020), Cochrane (2010–2020), to retrieve relevant articles published in English April 2015 and Mei 2020. Review methods: Key terms and phrases associated with leadership style, quality of care and nurses. The abstracts or full texts of research papers were reviewed prior to their inclusion in the review. Results: A total of 9 papers were included in this review. The impact of leadership style to improve quality of care in decreasing cost, increasing patient satisfaction, and patient safety has been identified in a number of research studies.  Leadership style is closely related to quality of care, extra effort, effectiveness, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, staff intention to stay, inspirational motivation, general health well being, sex, age, educationl background and nurses’ assigned unit. Various mediating or moderating pathways have been identified with leadership style and quality of care such as work environment, structural empowerment, organizational commitment and job satisfaction. Conclusions: It is vital to choose effective leadership style because this has the potential both to improve quality of care and ensure an adequate nursing workforce. The indirect relationships and predictors of leadership style and quality of care contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex phenomenon of leadership style which in turn may aid the development of effective strategies to address the nursing shortage and increase the quality of patient care.

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