scholarly journals The contribution of implementation science to improving the design and evaluation of integrated care programmes for older people with frailty

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 232-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Euan Sadler ◽  
Jane Sandall ◽  
Nick Sevdalis ◽  
Dan Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Integrated Care ◽  
Implementation Science ◽  
Stakeholder Engagement ◽  
Implementation Strategies ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
Local Setting

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss three potential contributions from implementation science that can help clinicians and researchers to design and evaluate more effective integrated care programmes for older people with frailty. Design/methodology/approach This viewpoint paper focuses on three contributions: stakeholder engagement, using implementation science frameworks, and assessment of implementation strategies and outcomes. Findings Stakeholder engagement enhances the acceptability of interventions to recipients and providers and improves reach and sustainability. Implementation science frameworks assess provider, recipient and wider context factors enabling and hindering implementation, and guide selection and tailoring of appropriate implementation strategies. The assessment of implementation strategies and outcomes enables the evaluation of the effectiveness and implementation of integrated care programmes for this population. Research limitations/implications Implementation science provides a systematic way to think about why integrated care programmes for older people with frailty are not implemented successfully. The field has an evidence base, including how to tailor implementation science strategies to the local setting, and assess implementation outcomes to provide clinicians and researchers with an understanding of how their programme is working. The authors draw out implications for policy, practice and future research. Originality/value Different models to deliver integrated care to support older people with frailty exist, but it is not known which is most effective, for which individuals and in which clinical or psychosocial circumstances. Implementation science can play a valuable role in designing and evaluating more effective integrated care programmes for this population.

scholarly journals A systematic review of the characteristics and needs of older prisoners

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 253-276
Author(s):  
Dean Wilkinson ◽  
Laura Caulfield
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older People ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Older Prisoners ◽  
Search And Selection

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review and understand what the existing evidence base concludes about the needs of this population. The older prisoner population is growing faster than the older general population and placing a strain on prisons. Much of the existing literature focusses on the health-care needs of, or in-prison initiatives for, older prisoners. Typically, these are responsive and lacking an evidence-based understanding of the characteristics and needs of this group. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a systematic review of the existing literature on the needs and characteristics of older people in contact with the criminal justice system. After a thorough search and selection process, 21 papers, from 2002 onwards, were included in the final analysis. The review process was structured through (People, Intervention/Exposure, Comparison, Outcome) and reported using (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Findings The contradictions within the existing evidence base make it difficult to reach firm conclusions about the needs and characteristics of older prisoners. What is clear from the existing research are the relatively high levels of need. There is also some consensus that where older people commit homicide, the victim is likely to be an intimate partner. Overall, there is a need for consistent recording and reporting of characteristics and demographics and more systematic study design. Originality/value This paper has highlighted the key findings and limitations in the existing literature. Future research should make use of secondary official data sources to provide a clearer understanding of the characteristics of this group, their routes to prison, their needs and challenges they present.

scholarly journals Making personalised short breaks meaningful: a future research agenda to connect academia, policy and practice

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane Seddon ◽  
Emma Miller ◽  
Louise Prendergast ◽  
Don Williamson ◽  
Joyce Elizabeth Cavaye
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
Positive Caregiving ◽  
What Matters

Purpose There is a growing policy impetus to promote carer well-being through the provision of personalised short breaks. However, understanding of what makes for a successful personalised short break is limited. This paper aims to identify key evidence gaps and considers how these could be addressed. Design/methodology/approach A scoping review mapping the evidence base relevant to respite and short breaks for carers for older people, including those living with dementia, was completed. National and international literature published from 2000 onwards was reviewed. The scoping review focused on well-being outcomes, identified by previous research, as being important to carers. Findings Most studies investigating the outcomes of short breaks for carers supporting older people focus on traditional day and residential respite care. Although there have been developments in more personalised break options for carers, research exploring their impact is scarce. There is limited knowledge about how these personalised breaks might support carers to realise important outcomes, including carer health and well-being; a life alongside caring; positive caregiving relationships; choices in caring; and satisfaction in caring. Three priority lines of inquiry to shape a future research agenda are identified: understanding what matters – evidencing personalised short break needs and intended outcomes; capturing what matters – outcomes from personalised short breaks; and commissioning, delivering and scaling up personalised short breaks provision to reflect what matters. Originality/value This paper contributes to the development of an outcome-focused research agenda on personalised short breaks.

Commentary on “Diabetes and people with learning disabilities: issues for policy, practice and education”

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianne Redquest ◽  
Yona Lunsky
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Diabetes Care ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Policy Practice

Purpose There has been an increase in research exploring the area of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and diabetes. Despite being described as instrumental to diabetes care for people with IDD, the role and experiences of family carers, such as parents and siblings, are often neglected in this research. However, it is clear that family carers do not feel that they have sufficient knowledge about diabetes. The purpose of this commentary is to extend the content from “Diabetes and people with learning disabilities: Issues for policy, practice, and education (Maine et al., 2020)” and discuss how family carers can feel better supported when caring for someone with IDD and diabetes. Design/methodology/approach This commentary discusses specific efforts such as STOP diabetes, DESMOND-ID and OK-diabetes for people with IDD including family carers. Encouragement is given for health care providers to recommend such programmes to people with IDD and their family carers. It is also suggested that health care providers involve family carers in diabetes care planning and implementation for people with IDD. Findings It is hoped that if changes are made to current diabetes practices and more research with family carers is conducted, diabetes prevention and management for people with IDD will be more successful and family carers can feel more confident in providing support to their loved ones. Originality/value Research exploring the role of family carers in diabetes care for people with IDD and diabetes is very limited. This commentary makes recommendations to help family carers feel better supported in their role. It also provides areas for future research.

Achieving person-centredness through technologies supporting integrated care for older people living at home: an integrative review

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie MacInnes ◽  
Jenny Billings ◽  
Alexandra Lelia Dima ◽  
Chris Farmer ◽  
Giel Nijpels
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Integrated Care ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Healthcare Management ◽  
Integrative Review ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Range Type ◽  
Care For Older People ◽  
At Home

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the range, type and outcomes of technological innovations aimed at supporting older people to maintain their independence within the context of integrated care at home. We also discuss key emergent themes relevant to the use of person-centred technology for older people in integrated care and propose recommendations for policy and practice.Design/methodology/approachAn integrative review methodology was used to identify and describe recent scientific publications in four stages: problem identification, literature search, data evaluation and data analysis.FindingsTwelve studies were included in the review. Three studies described remote consultations, particularly telemedicine; five studies described tools to support self-management; three studies described the use of healthcare management tools, and one study described both remote consultation and self-care management. Emergent themes were: acceptability, accessibility and use of digital technologies; co-ordination and integration of services; the implementation of digital technologies; and safety and governance. Several recommendations are proposed relevant to integrated care teams, technology developers and researchers.Originality/valueThis review uniquely considers the extent to which novel digital technologies used in integrated care for older people are person-centred.

scholarly journals Stakeholder engagement in sustainability reporting in higher education

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Idoya Ferrero-Ferrero ◽  
María Ángeles Fernández-Izquierdo ◽  
María Jesús Muñoz-Torres ◽  
Lucía Bellés-Colomer
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Stakeholder Engagement ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Quality Of Reporting ◽  
Stakeholder Expectations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Exploratory Approach ◽  
Internal Stakeholders

Purpose The purpose of this study is to improve the understanding of stakeholder engagement in the context of sustainability reporting (SR) for higher education institutions (HEIs), together with the materiality principle and stakeholder expectations. Design/methodology/approach This research uses an exploratory approach based on content analysis, a case study and descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings Three key findings come out of this research. First, the results indicate that HEIs use diverse criteria for grouping stakeholders and that stakeholder engagement is a heterogeneous process. Second, the expectations of internal stakeholders align with the material aspects of SR. Finally, among internal stakeholders, students and academics disagree on the prioritisation of some sustainability aspects, with non-academic staff adopting an intermediate position. Practical implications This analysis improves our knowledge of stakeholder engagement in HEIs. It helps to identify the relevant impacts of stakeholder engagement, enhances the quality of reporting and encourages a real dialogue with stakeholders. Originality/value The study examines stakeholder engagement and how the materiality principle is adopted by HEIs through SR. Furthermore, it compares these results with stakeholder expectations, considering the discrepancies between stakeholders. The results open the way to future research to explore the potential conflicts and collaborations between and within stakeholders to advance towards more sustainable institutions in the higher education sector.

scholarly journals Women’s entrepreneurship policy: a 13 nation cross-country comparison

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 206-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colette Henry ◽  
Barbara Orser ◽  
Susan Coleman ◽  
Lene Foss
Keyword(s):  
Policy Development ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Entrepreneurship Policy ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
The Status ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship

Purpose Government attention to women’s entrepreneurship has increased in the past two decades; however, there are few cross-cultural studies to inform policy development. This paper aims to draw on gender and institutional theory to report on the status of female-focused small and medium-sized enterprises/entrepreneurship policies and to ask how – and to what extent – do women’s entrepreneurship policies differ among countries? Design/methodology/approach A common methodological approach is used to identify gaps in the policy-practice nexus. Findings The study highlights countries where policy is weak but practice is strong, and vice versa. Research limitations/implications The study’s data were restricted to policy documents and observations of practices and initiatives on the ground. Practical implications The findings have implications for policy makers in respect of support for women’s entrepreneurship. Recommendations for future research are advanced. Originality/value The paper contributes to extant knowledge and understanding about entrepreneurship policy, specifically in relation to women’s entrepreneurship. It is also one of the few studies to use a common methodological approach to explore and compare women’s entrepreneurship policies in 13 countries.

Knowledge of mental capacity assessment in staff working with people with learning disabilities

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-24
Author(s):  
Ashley Chapman ◽  
Karen Dodd ◽  
Laurence Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Decision Maker ◽  
Clinical Work ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Mental Capacity ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Capacity Assessment ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate staff knowledge of Mental Capacity Act (MCA) capacity assessments within the Learning Disabilities division of a Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Trust. The limited research available suggests staff knowledge tends to be poor, particularly concerning who is the decision maker. Design/methodology/approach A 12-item multiple choice questionnaire, which reflects the five core principles of MCA (2005), was developed. Questionnaires were completed by 262 health and social staff members who support people with LD. Findings Results show high variability of MCA capacity assessment knowledge within the LD division. However, qualified staff and those from health services scored significantly higher across all categories on the questionnaire compared to non-qualified and social care staff, respectively. On average, all staff scored poorly when asked to identify “who is the decision maker?” in a case scenario question. Research limitations/implications The main limitation is that we did not collect data on how many previous capacity assessments and discussions each person had been involved with. The findings clearly suggest current methods of training lack efficacy in helping staff apply MCA knowledge to their clinical work. Originality/value Compared to past literature, this study utilised a novel and more comprehensive questionnaire. This focused on case scenario questions to assess staff situational judgement. In addition, the findings add to a sparse evidence base that provides a foundation for future research.

scholarly journals Exploring the role of volunteers in social care for older adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ailsa Cameron ◽  
Eleanor K. Johnson ◽  
Paul B. Willis ◽  
Liz Lloyd ◽  
Randall Smith
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
South West

Purpose This paper aims to report the findings of a study that explores the contribution volunteers make to social care for older adults, identifying lessons for the social care sector and policymakers. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory multiple case study design was used to capture the perspectives and experiences of managers of services, volunteer co-ordinators, volunteers, paid care staff and older people. Seven diverse social care organisations took part in the study drawn from three locations in the South West of England. Findings This study identified three distinct models of volunteer contribution to social care services for older people. Although the contributions made by volunteers to services are valued, the study drew attention to some of the challenges related to their involvement. Research limitations/implications The organisations taking part in this small-scale study were all based in the South West of England, and the findings are therefore not generalisable but contribute to the growing evidence base related to this important field. Practical implications This study demonstrates the importance of the volunteer co-ordinator role and suggests that it is properly funded and resourced. It also confirms the importance of volunteers receiving appropriate training and support. Originality/value Given the increasing involvement of volunteers in the provision of social care, this paper provides lessons to ensure the role of volunteers in social care enhances rather than diminishes the quality of care provided.

scholarly journals The role of implementation science in improving distress assessment and management in oncology: a commentary on “Screening for psychosocial distress among patients with cancer: implications for clinical practice, healthcare policy, and dissemination to enhance cancer survivorship”

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 292-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul B Jacobsen ◽  
Wynne E Norton
Keyword(s):  
Implementation Science ◽  
Psychosocial Care ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Distress Screening ◽  
Screening Programs ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Pragmatic Clinical Trials

Abstract Despite considerable evidence that psychosocial interventions can effectively relieve distress in patients with cancer, many individuals who could benefit from these interventions do not receive them. A proposed solution to this problem is the establishment of programs in oncology settings that routinely screen for distress and refer patients for appropriate psychosocial care. This commentary addresses a review by Ehlers et al. that describes policies and procedures related to distress screening, summarizes prior research on this topic, and identifies key areas for future research. Among their major conclusions is the need for research to fill the gap in knowledge about how best to implement new distress screening programs as well as optimize the use and efficiency of existing programs. This commentary focuses on how the types of study methods, designs, and outcomes that are commonplace in implementation science to facilitate the integration of research into practice can be applied to distress screening programs. Priorities identified include designing and conducting pragmatic clinical trials, evaluating multilevel interventions, and using hybrid designs to simultaneously evaluate clinical effectiveness and barriers and facilitators of implementation. Use of these approaches holds considerable potential for developing an evidence base that can promote more widespread adoption of effective distress screening programs and inform further development of standards and policies related to the psychosocial care of patients with cancer.

“Take home” naloxone: what does the evidence base tell us?

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josefien J. F. Breedvelt ◽  
Derek K. Tracy ◽  
Emily C. Dickenson ◽  
Lucy V. Dean
Keyword(s):  
Evidence Base ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Concern ◽  
Drug Overdoses ◽  
Associated Risk Factors ◽  
The Uk

Purpose – Opiod users are at high risk of suffering from drug overdoses. Naloxone has been used for decades in emergency treatment settings to reverse the symptoms of opioid overdose. Pilot studies and regional programmes have been rolled out to make naloxone more widely available. This review of user/carer administration of naloxone – so-called “take home naloxone” – aims to provide health professionals and interested readers with an up-to-date evidence base, clinical implications and practical concern considerations for such community management. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – A review and analysis of the recent literature on naloxone. Findings – The evidence base suggests training and education is effective in preparing users for wider naloxone distribution. Furthermore, studies of varying quality indicate that naloxone may prove useful in reducing overdose-related deaths. However, even after implementation ineffective response techniques continued to be used at times and there remained a heistance to call medical services post overdose. Intranasal naloxone may reduce some of the risks associated with intramuscular naloxone. Ethical considerations, including provision of a needle and syringe kit to the community, should be considered. Studies suffered from a lack of follow-up data and methodological difficulties are associated with establishing opioid-related deaths post implementation. Two running trials in the UK might mitigate these concerns. Research limitations/implications – Future research is needed to address wider context of an overdose and targeting associated risk factors. Originality/value – Clinicians and other professionals will be informed on the most up-to-date evidence base and which areas are improtant to consider when take-home naloxone is introduced in their services.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document