scholarly journals An International Patient Centred Study Of Retroperitoneal Fibrosis

QJM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dattani R ◽  
Barwick TD ◽  
El Wardany G ◽  
Gibbons N ◽  
Mason JC ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retroperitoneal Fibrosis ◽  
Interventional Procedure ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Psychological Aspects ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Psychological Burden ◽  
Chronic Disorders ◽  
Patient Related Outcome ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The impact that rare chronic disorders such as Retroperitoneal Fibrosis (RPF) can have on the physical and psychological aspects of a patient’s health is poorly understood. Patient related outcome measures and experiences provide a unique opportunity to understand the impact rare chronic disorders have on a patient’s life as well as allowing healthcare providers to compare and improve performance. Aim To understand the physical and psychosocial impact that RPF has upon peoples’ lives Design An international online questionnaire was therefore created to gain insights into how patients with RPF, a rare fibro-inflammatory condition, viewed their health and experiences. Methods An international online questionnaire comprising 62 questions/free text options, was designed in collaboration with two patient advocates and the multi-disciplinary Renal Association Rare Disease Registry (RaDaR) RPF Groupthe questionnaire was anonymous and freely accessible on a GOOGLE Form online platform for 6 months. Results 229 patients from 30 countries across 5 continents responded. Four key issues were identified; (1) pain; (2) therapy related side effects; (3) lack of informed doctors/information about their condition and its management; (4) psychological burden. Variations in diagnosis and management are highlighted with 55% undergoing a biopsy to reach a diagnosis of RPF; 75% of patients underwent a further interventional procedure with 60% concurrently treated medically. Conclusion This study will guide further development of clinical and academic multi-disciplinary activity and shows the importance of trying to understand the impact of rare chronic disorders on the physical and psychological aspects of a patient’s health.

scholarly journals Speech-Language Pathology Provision During the COVID-19 Pandemic for Children Born With Cleft Palate in the United Kingdom—Parent/Caregiver Perspectives and Experiences

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Lucy Southby ◽  
Sam Harding ◽  
Amy Davies ◽  
Matthew Fell ◽  
Yvonne Wren
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Cleft Palate ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Language Pathology ◽  
The Impact

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine parent/caregiver perspectives and experiences of speech-language pathology provision during the COVID-19 pandemic for children born with cleft palate. Method: An online questionnaire to parents of children born with cleft palate asked about delays and changes to speech-language pathology provision during the first U.K. national lockdown. Parents were also asked their views on the effectiveness of online speech-language pathology provision. Analysis considered variation in speech-language pathology provision by region. Chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests examined associations between speech-language pathology provision and socioeconomic status and child age. Free text responses were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Three hundred fifty-six (39.3%) children were receiving speech-language pathology intervention before the first national lockdown. A further 49 (9.0%) were due to start speech-language pathology intervention during the lockdown. Speech-language pathology provision varied both nationally and within smaller geographical regions. Overall, 146 (42.6%) children continued to receive speech-language pathology and 197 (57.4%) had intervention delayed. There was no association between delayed speech-language pathology and socioeconomic status. Older children were more likely to experience delayed speech-language pathology provision ( p  = .004). Qualitative analysis revealed concerns about access to speech-language pathology, challenges with adequate devices to access online provision, technological problems, and child engagement in online provision. Parents reported online provision as being “better than nothing.” Conclusions: Parents/caregivers reported delays to speech-language pathology provision during the first lockdown, but this varied geographically and was more prevalent for older children. Concerns about access to speech-language pathology provision were raised, including challenges regarding online provision. Follow-on work will consider the impact of the delays experienced on longer term outcomes.

scholarly journals Pediatric neurosurgery during the COVID-19 pandemic: update and recommendations from the Brazilian Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. E2
Author(s):  
Matheus Fernando Manzolli Ballestero ◽  
Luciano Furlanetti ◽  
Ricardo Santos de Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Pediatric Neurosurgery ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Neurosurgical Procedures ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Psychological Burden ◽  
Brazilian Society ◽  
Preventive Practices ◽  
The Impact

OBJECTIVESCoronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a potentially severe respiratory illness that has threatened humanity globally. The pediatric neurosurgery practice differs from that of adults in that it treats children in various stages of physical and psychological development and contemplates diseases that do not exist in other areas. The aim of this study was to identify the level of knowledge and readiness of the healthcare providers, as well as to evaluate new preventive practices that have been introduced, psychological concerns, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric neurosurgical units in Brazil.METHODSPediatric neurosurgeons were given an online questionnaire developed by the Brazilian Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their clinical practice.RESULTSOf a cohort of 110 active members of the Brazilian Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery, 76 completed the survey (69%). Ninety-six percent were aware of the correct use of and indication for the types of personal protective equipment in clinical and surgical practices, but only 73.7% of them had unrestricted access to this equipment. Ninety-eight percent of participants agreed or strongly agreed that the pandemic had affected their pediatric neurosurgical practice. The COVID-19 pandemic interfered with outpatient care in 88% of the centers, it affected neurosurgical activity in 90.7%, and it led to the cancellation of elective neurosurgical procedures in 57.3%. Concerning the impact of COVID-19 on surgical activity, 9.2% of the centers had less than 25% of the clinical practice affected, 46.1% had 26%–50% of their activity reduced, 35.5% had a 51%–75% reduction, and 9.2% had more than 75% of their surgical work cancelled or postponed. Sixty-three percent affirmed that patients had been tested for COVID-19 before surgery. Regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of those interviewed, 3.9% reported fear and anxiety with panic episodes, 7.9% had worsening of previous anxiety symptoms, 60.5% reported occasional fear, 10.5% had sadness and some depressive symptoms, and 2.6% reported depressive symptoms.CONCLUSIONSThe COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to healthcare services worldwide, including neurosurgical units. Medical workers, pediatric neurosurgeons included, should be aware of safety measures and follow the recommendations of local healthcare organizations, preventing and controlling the disease. Attention should be given to the psychological burden of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers, which carries a high risk of anxiety and depression.

scholarly journals Intra and Inter-professional working: how have pharmacists’ working practices changed during the COVID-19 pandemic?

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i35-i36
Author(s):  
C Langran ◽  
S Willis ◽  
L Hughes ◽  
E Mantzourani ◽  
K Hall
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Practice Change ◽  
Professional Relationships ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Working Practices ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction COVID-19 has acted as a catalyst for radical changes in the working practices of pharmacists. While there is emerging evidence of adaptability mitigating burnout amongst pharmacists in other countries (1), what has yet to be established is the extent to which the well-being and resilience of pharmacists in the UK may be supported through changes in intra and inter-professional working practices. Aim As part of a wider project aiming to explore the impact of COVID-19 on pharmacists’ wellbeing and resilience, in this abstract we present findings exploring the impact on working relationships within pharmacy and multidisciplinary teams. Methods An online questionnaire containing validated measures of wellbeing and resilience and free-text open questions exploring the impact of COVID-19 on working practices was piloted on five practising pharmacists. This questionnaire was subsequently distributed via social media and professional networks in June 2020. Convenience sampling was used whereby any UK-registered pharmacist in a patient-facing role was eligible to take part. Inductive thematic analysis of the free text responses was conducted. This abstract presents one key theme; intra and inter-professional relationships. Results A total of 202 questionnaires were completed (Table 1), with 192 participants entering free-text responses. Participants reported pharmacy teams becoming closer, supporting one another and working more cohesively. Work redesign and staff upskilling were given as positive examples of practice change in response to the pandemic. Reported challenges included managing conflict within a team due to heightened stress, sustaining staff morale, exhaustion, and prioritising others to the detriment of their own wellbeing: “I have no time for myself as I'm too busy keeping the day to day working and supporting my team emotionally. I'm emotionally exhausted and at home I withdraw and ignore the outside world as I'm at breaking point but don’t want my colleagues to see this.” Inter-professional relationships sometimes improved as a result of more effective communication, extended networking and pharmacists feeling valued and recognised as integral to multidisciplinary working. Supportive inter-professional working was described as a “Great sense of comradery - we're in this together”. Yet for others, inter-professional working proved challenging, with non-engagement of clinicians, frequently changing guidance from senior management, and restricted staff interaction due to remote or shift working. Conclusions Whilst for some the pandemic facilitated improved inter- and intra- professional interactions, for others this was viewed as challenges of daily practice. Due to recruiting via social media, this study is limited by the response numbers and is therefore not representative of all UK registered pharmacists. However, a key strength is that pharmacists from all sectors of practice responded, in comparison to other studies which have focused solely on community pharmacists. Results from this study can be used to support sustainable change in fostering collaborative working within pharmacy and multi-professional healthcare teams. References 1. Austin, Z., & Gregory, P. (2020). Resilience in the time of pandemic: The experience of community pharmacists in Ontario during COVID-19. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.

scholarly journals Benefits and Challenges of Using Virtual Primary Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: From Key Lessons to a Framework for Implementation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edmond C Li ◽  
Rosy Tsopra ◽  
Geronimo Larrain Gimenez ◽  
Alice Serafini ◽  
Gustavo Gusso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Need To Evaluate ◽  
Barriers And Challenges ◽  
Remote Care

Background: With the onset of COVID-19, general practitioners (GPs) and patients worldwide swiftly transitioned from face-to-face to digital remote consultations. There is a need to evaluate how this global shift has impacted patient care, healthcare providers, patient and carer experience, and health systems. Objective: We explored GPs' perspectives on the main benefits and challenges of using digital remote care. Methods: GPs across 20 countries completed an online questionnaire between June - September 2020. GPs' perceptions on main barriers and challenges were explored using free-text questions. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: 1,605 respondents participated in our survey. The benefits identified included reducing COVID-19 transmission risks, guaranteeing access and continuity of care, improved efficiency, faster access to care, improved convenience and communication with patients, greater work flexibility for providers, and hastening the digital transformation of primary care and the accompanying legal frameworks. Main challenges included patient's preference for face-to-face consultations, digital exclusion, lack of physical examinations, clinical uncertainty, delays in diagnosis and treatment, overuse and misuse of digital remote care, and unsuitability for certain types of consultations. Other challenges include the lack of formal guidance, higher workloads, remuneration issues, organisational culture, technical difficulties, implementation and financial issues, and regulatory weaknesses. Conclusion: At the frontline of care delivery, GPs can provide important insights on what worked well, why, and how. Lessons learned during the emergency phase can be used to inform the stable adoption of virtual care solutions, and co-design processes and platforms that are technologically robust, secure, and supported by a strategic long-term plan.

scholarly journals Brexit and European doctors’ decisions to leave the United Kingdom: a qualitative analysis of free-text questionnaire comments

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrienne Milner ◽  
Rebecca Nielsen ◽  
Emma Norris
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Clinical Work ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Ethnic Inequality ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Personal Lives ◽  
Quantitative Evidence ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Background Quantitative evidence suggests that Brexit has had a severe and negative impact on European doctors, with many medical staff leaving the UK. This study provides a detailed examination of European doctors’ feelings towards Brexit, their intentions to leave the UK, and factors that may contribute to their potential decisions to migrate. Methods An online questionnaire which included three optional free-text questions explored self-identifying UK-based, European doctors’ views of Brexit. The three questions prompted responses on how Brexit has impacted their personal lives, their professional lives, and their future migration decisions. Fifty-nine doctors participated in the questionnaire with 52 (88.1%) providing one or more responses to the three free-text questions. Twenty-seven doctors provided answers to all three free-text questions (51.9% of included sample). Thematic analysis was used to analyse this qualitative data. Results Brexit was reported by the majority of participants to have a profound impact, although some respondents felt it was too soon to assess the potential consequences. Five themes emerged including: feeling unwelcome in the UK, Brexit as racism, uncertainty on legal ability to work, strain on relationships, and in contrast, a current lack of concern about Brexit. Conclusions To mitigate the adverse personal and professional impact of Brexit, healthcare providers should provide financial and legal support to doctors applying for settlement in the UK, ensure they are addressing issues of racial and ethnic inequality in hiring, promotion, and pay, and work towards making clinical work environments inclusive for all staff and patients.

The Impact of Internal Work Environment on the Retention of Healthcare Providers at Turaif General Hospital

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1183-1199
Author(s):  
Mohammed Alrouili ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
General Hospital ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Internal Work ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Study Population ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact

This study attempted to identify the impact of internal work environment on the retention of healthcare providers at Turaif General Hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In particular, the study aimed to identify the dimensions of work circumstances, compensation, and relationship with colleagues, professional growth, and the level of healthcare providers’ retention. In order to achieve the study goals, the researcher used the descriptive analytical approach. The researcher used the questionnaire as the study tool. The study population comprised all the healthcare providers at Turaif General Hospital. Questionnaires were distributed to the entire study sample that consisted of 220 individuals. The number of questionnaires valid for study was 183 questionnaires. The research findings were as follows: the participants’ estimate of the work circumstances dimension was high (3.64), the participants’ estimate of the compensation dimension was moderate (3.32), the participants’ estimate of the relationship with colleagues dimension was high (3.62), the participants’ estimate of the professional growth dimension was weak (2.39), and the participants’ estimate of healthcare providers’ retention level was intermediate (2.75). Accordingly, the researcher’s major recommendations are: the need to create the right atmosphere for personnel in hospitals, the interest of the hospital to provide the appropriate conditions for the staff in terms of the physical and moral aspects for building the work adjustment in the staff, and conducting training courses and educational lectures for personnel in hospitals on how to cope with the work pressures.

Burden of Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) in Bangladesh: Systematic Review of Existing Literature and Transmission Modelling of Seroprevalence Studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-290
Author(s):  
Jocelyn Chan ◽  
Yue Wu ◽  
James Wood ◽  
Mohammad Muhit ◽  
Mohammed K. Mahmood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Deterministic Model ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Controlled Vocabulary ◽  
Congenital Rubella Syndrome ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Vaccination Programs ◽  
Congenital Rubella ◽  
The Impact

Background and Objectives: Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable congenital anomalies. Comprehensive country-level data on the burden of CRS in low and middle-income countries, such as Bangladesh, are scarce. This information is essential for assessing the impact of rubella vaccination programs. We aim to systematically review the literature on the epidemiology of CRS and estimate the burden of CRS in Bangladesh. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of existing literature and transmission modelling of seroprevalence studies to estimate the pre-vaccine period burden of CRS in Bangladesh. OVID Medline (1948 – 23 November 2016) and OVID EMBASE (1974 – 23 November 2016) were searched using a combination of the database-specific controlled vocabulary and free text terms. We used an age-stratified deterministic model to estimate the pre-vaccination burden of CRS in Bangladesh. Findings: Ten articles were identified, published between 2000 and 2014, including seven crosssectional studies, two case series and one analytical case-control study. Rubella seropositivity ranged from 47.0% to 86.0% among all age population. Rubella sero–positivity increased with age. Rubella seropositivity among women of childbearing age was 81.0% overall. The estimated incidence of CRS was 0·99 per 1,000 live births, which corresponds to approximately 3,292 CRS cases annually in Bangladesh. Conclusion: The estimated burden of CRS in Bangladesh during the pre-vaccination period was high. This will provide important baseline information to assess the impact and cost-effectiveness of routine rubella immunisation, introduced in 2012 in Bangladesh.

INCREASING ADOPTION OFSOCIAL MEDIA IN HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS : OPPORTUNITIES AND CONCERNS

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharafat Hussain ◽  
Prof. Mohd. Abdul Azeem
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Health Care Organizations ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Social Media Presence ◽  
Use Of Social Media

Adoption of social media amongst health care organizations is thriving. Healthcare providers have begun to connect with patients via social media. While some healthcare organizations have taken the initiative, numerous others are attempting to comprehend this new medium of opportunity. These organizations are finding that social networking can be an effective way to monitor brand, connecting with patients, community, and patient education and acquiring new talent. This study is conducted to identify the purpose of using social media, concerns, policy and its implementation and the overall experience of healthcare organizations with social media. To collect first hand data, online questionnaire was sent via LinkedIn to 400 US healthcare organizations and representatives out of which 117 responded and were taken further for analsysis. The results of this study confirm the thriving adoption, increased opportunities and cautious use of social media by healthcare organizations. The potential benefits present outweigh the risk and concerns associated with it. Study concluded that social media presence will continue to grow into the future and the field of healthcare is no exception.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Psychological Impact on Health Care Workers in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 6076
Author(s):  
Hasan S. Alamri ◽  
Wesam F. Mousa ◽  
Abdullah Algarni ◽  
Shehata F. Megahid ◽  
Ali Al Bshabshe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Psychological Outcomes ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
The Impact

Objective: Little is known about the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) among the health care workers in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 among the health care workers. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May till mid-July among 389 health care workers from government and private hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Data was collected using a pre-structured online questionnaire that measured adverse psychological outcomes, including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale. The Pearson chi-square test was used to assess the distribution of depression and anxiety among health care workers. Results: A high level of anxiety was recorded among the health care workers, and 69.3% of health care workers below the age of 40 were found to have depression. There was a significant increase in depression among staff with chronic health problems (72.1% vs. 61.9%; p = 0.048). High anxiety levels were detected among young staff compared to others (68.7% vs. 43.8%; p = 0.001). Moreover, 82.1% of the female staff were anxious, as compared to 55.6% of the males (p = 0.001). Conclusions: We found increased prevalence of adverse psychological outcomes among the health care workers in Saudi Arabia during the outbreak of COVID-19. Therefore, there is a need for proper screening and development of corresponding preventive measures to decrease the adverse psychological outcomes.

scholarly journals Are public health measures and individualised care compatible in the face of a pandemic? A national observational study of bereaved relatives’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 026921632110198
Author(s):  
Catriona R Mayland ◽  
Rosemary Hughes ◽  
Steven Lane ◽  
Tamsin McGlinchey ◽  
Warren Donnellan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Family Support ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Professional Networks ◽  
Dying Patients ◽  
The Face ◽  
Individualised Care ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Informative Communication

Background: COVID-19 public health restrictions have affected end-of-life care experiences for dying patients and their families. Aim: To explore bereaved relatives’ experiences of quality of care and family support provided during the last days of life; to identify the impact of factors associated with perceived support. Design: A national, observational, open online survey was developed and disseminated via social media, public fora and professional networks (June–September 2020). Validated instruments and purposively designed questions assessed experiences. Analysis used descriptive statistics, logistic regression and thematic analysis of free-text responses. Participants: Individuals (⩾18 years) who had experienced the death of a relative/friend (all care settings) within the United Kingdome during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Respondents ( n = 278, mean 53.4 years) tended to be female ( n = 216, 78%); over half were ‘son/daughter’ (174, 62.6%) to the deceased. Deceased individuals (mean 81.6 years) most frequently died in their ‘usual place of care’ ( n = 192, 69.3%). Analysis established five conceptual themes affecting individualised care: (1) public health restrictions compounding the distress of ‘not knowing’; (2) disparate views about support from doctors and nurses; (3) challenges in communication and level of preparedness for the death; (4) delivery of compassionate care; (5) emotional needs and potential impact on grief. Male respondents (OR 2.9, p = 0.03) and those able to visit (OR 2.2, p = 0.04) were independently associated with good perceptions of family support. Conclusion: Despite public health restrictions, individualised care can be enabled by proactive, informative communication; recognising dying in a timely manner and facilitating the ability to be present before death.

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