Handheld electronic device use in patient care: the emergency department patient perspective—a cross-sectional survey

2020 ◽  
pp. emermed-2019-209010
Author(s):  
Nicholas Tilbury ◽  
Graham D Johnson ◽  
Zoe Rusk ◽  
Carol Byrne ◽  
Maleasha Shergill ◽  
...  

BackgroundStaff use of smartphones and tablets in the healthcare setting is increasingly prevalent, but little is known about whether this use is acceptable to patients. Staff are concerned that the use of handheld electronic devices (HEDs) may be negatively misconstrued by patients. The HED can be a valuable tool, offering the emergency clinician access to a wealth of resources; it is therefore vital that patient views are addressed during their widespread adoption into clinical practice.MethodsPatients, or those accompanying them, within the ED of the Royal Derby Hospital between April and June 2017 were asked to complete a survey consisting of 22 questions. Data collection took place to include all times of day and every day of the week. Every eligible individual within the department during a data collection period was approached.ResultsA total of 438 respondents successfully completed the survey with a response rate of 92%. Only 2% of those who observed staff using HEDs during their ED visit thought that they were being used for non-clinical purposes. 339 (78%) agreed that staff should be allowed to use HEDs in the workplace. Concerns expressed by respondents included devices being used for non-clinical purposes and data security. The main suggestion by respondents was that the purpose of the HEDs should be explained to patients to avoid misinterpretation.ConclusionOur survey shows that the majority of survey respondents felt that clinical staff should be allowed to use HEDs in the workplace and that many of the concerns raised could be addressed with adequate patient information and clear governance.

Author(s):  
Karolina Skonieczna-Żydecka ◽  
Ewa Stachowska ◽  
Dominika Maciejewska ◽  
Karina Ryterska ◽  
Joanna Palma ◽  
...  

Alterations of gut microbiota, intestinal barrier and the gut-brain axis may be involved in pathophysiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of digestive tract symptoms and identify common variables potentially disrupting the gut-brain axis among participants of the Woodstock Festival Poland, 2017. In total 428 people filled in a questionnaire assessing health of their digestive tract. The investigator collected answers on an electronic device, while the study participant responded using a paper version of the same questionnaire. Liver and gallbladder related symptoms were the most prevalent among our study group (n = 266, 62%), however symptoms related to altered intestinal permeability were found to be the most intensive complaints. In females the intensity of gastrointestinal complaints was higher compared to men (p < 0.05), as well as the incidence of factors with the potential to alter gut-brain axis (p < 0.0001). Chronic psychological distress, intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics, were the most common associations with gastrointestinal symptoms, which were the most prevalent in females. Further attention should be focused on stress as one of the main factors negatively influencing public health.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (42) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelia Betsch ◽  
Lars Korn ◽  
Tanja Burgard ◽  
Wolfgang Gaissmaier ◽  
Lisa Felgendreff ◽  
...  

Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, public perceptions and behaviours have had to adapt rapidly to new risk scenarios and radical behavioural restrictions. Aim To identify major drivers of acceptance of protective behaviours during the 4-week transition from virtually no COVID-19 cases to the nationwide lockdown in Germany (3–25 March 2020). Methods A serial cross-sectional online survey was administered weekly to ca 1,000 unique individuals for four data collection rounds in March 2020 using non-probability quota samples, representative of the German adult population between 18 and 74 years in terms of age × sex and federal state (n = 3,910). Acceptance of restrictions was regressed on sociodemographic variables, time and psychological variables, e.g. trust, risk perceptions, self-efficacy. Extraction of homogenous clusters was based on knowledge and behaviour. Results Acceptance of restrictive policies increased with participants’ age and employment in the healthcare sector; cognitive and particularly affective risk perceptions were further significant predictors. Acceptance increased over time, as trust in institutions became more relevant and trust in media became less relevant. The cluster analysis further indicated that having a higher education increased the gap between knowledge and behaviour. Trust in institutions was related to conversion of knowledge into action. Conclusion Identifying relevant principles that increase acceptance will remain crucial to the development of strategies that help adjust behaviour to control the pandemic, possibly for years to come. Based on our findings, we provide operational recommendations for health authorities regarding data collection, health communication and outreach.


Author(s):  
Sam McCrabb ◽  
Laura Twyman ◽  
Kerrin Palazzi ◽  
Ashleigh Guillaumier ◽  
Christine Paul ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Tobacco smoking is highest among population groups which are the most socially disadvantaged. Internet-based smoking cessation programs have been found to be effective, though rates of internet access are not well known in these groups. This study describes the rates of internet use and types of technology used to access the internet by a population of socially disadvantaged smokers. The study also examined relationships between sociodemographic and smoking behaviours with amount of internet use and type of device used. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 369 clients (response rate 77%) from two non-government community service organisations in metropolitan New South Wales, Australia was conducted using touchscreen computers. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were used to examine results. Results Eligible participants ranged from 19 to 88 years old current tobacco users. Over half (58%) of the participants reported weekly or more frequent use of the internet with less than a third (28%) not having any access. The odds of using the internet at least weekly decreased with age and as heaviness of smoking increased (OR = 0.94, p < 0.001; OR = 0.81, p = 0.022, respectively). Odds of internet use were higher as income increased (OR = 2.74, p < 0.001 for individuals earning $201–$400 per week; OR = 2.83, p = 0.006 for individuals earning > $400 per week). Device use differed for age and income. Conclusions Internet-based interventions appear to reach the majority of socially disadvantaged populations. It is expected that this reach will continue to grow, making internet-based interventions a potential platform for providing care to low socioeconomic individuals who smoke, however inequalities may be exacerbated for those individual without internet access. Implications Internet use among socially disadvantaged tobacco users is moderate (58%). An internet-based smoking cessation intervention for socially disadvantaged tobacco users may be an effective intervention however, older, heavier tobacco users may not benefit as easily due to limited internet access and therefore acknowledging these limitations when developing an intervention can help to acknowledge limitation of intervention reach.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 171-178
Author(s):  
Samantha Holloway ◽  
Ann Taylor ◽  
Michal Tombs

Aims/Background Existing literature in the healthcare setting indicates that individuals enter higher education, particularly postgraduate programmes, to gain in-depth knowledge of a subject area, with a view to improving their career opportunities. Evidence also suggests that, in addition to perceived career enhancement, individuals also report benefits such as personal growth and broadening of perspectives, which have helped their clinical practice. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of postgraduate study on healthcare professionals' academic practice and discuss the potential links to improvements in clinical practice. Method This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of graduates from a range of postgraduate healthcare programmes at one UK university. A survey comprising 18 questions was designed to explore perceptions of impact and was distributed to 962 graduates with a response rate of 9.81% (n=98). Results The majority of respondents were doctors (n=54, 55.1%), women (n=59, 60.2%), based within the UK (n=36, 36.7%) and had completed their programme between 2014 and 2016 (n=72, 73.4%). With regards to achievements in professional practice, participants felt more confident in relation to research and evaluating evidence. In relation to impact on clinical practice, improvements in multidisciplinary team working as well as increased confidence emerged as main themes. Conclusions Findings support existing evidence in relation to the importance of postgraduate study, which is able to instil an increased sense of confidence in graduates' ability. This was particularly related to having a better understanding of speciality-related evidence and its application in clinical practice. This is something that previous studies do not seem to have reported and may reflect the multiprofessional nature of many of the postgraduate programmes provided.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 156-158
Author(s):  
Jordan Patterson

A Review of: Lund, B., & Agbaji, D. (2018). Use of Dewey Decimal Classification by academic libraries in the United States. Cataloging and Classification Quarterly, 56(7), 653-661. https://doi.org/10.1080/01639374.2018.1517851 Abstract Objective – To determine the current use of Dewey Decimal Classification in academic libraries in the United States of America (U.S.). Design – Cross-sectional survey using a systematic sampling method. Setting – Online academic library catalogues in the U.S. Subjects – 3,973 academic library catalogues. Methods – The researchers identified 3,973 academic libraries affiliated with degree-granting post-secondary institutions in the U.S. The researchers searched each library’s online catalogue for 10 terms from a predetermined list. From the results of each search, the researchers selected at least five titles, noted the classification scheme used to classify each title, and coded the library as using Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), Library of Congress Classification (LCC), both DDC and LCC, or other classification schemes. Based on the results of their data collection, the researchers calculated totals. The totals of this current study’s data collection were compared to statistics on DDC usage from two previous reports, one published in 1975 and one in 1996. The researchers performed statistical analyses to determine if there were any discernible trends from the earliest reported statistics through to the current study. Main Results – Collections classified using DDC were present in 717 libraries (18.9%). Adjusting for the increase in the number of academic libraries in the U.S. between 1975 and 2017, DDC usage in academic libraries has declined by 56% in that time frame. The number of libraries with only DDC in evidence is unreported. Conclusion – The previous four decades have seen a significant decrease in the use of DDC in U.S. academic libraries in favour of LCC; however, the rate at which DDC has disappeared from academic libraries has slowed dramatically since the 1960s. There is no clear indication that DDC will disappear from academic libraries completely.


Author(s):  
T. R. Hird ◽  
E. H. Young ◽  
F. J. Pirie ◽  
J. Riha ◽  
T. M. Esterhuizen ◽  
...  

The Durban Diabetes Study (DDS) is a population-based cross-sectional survey of an urban black population in the eThekwini Municipality (city of Durban) in South Africa. The survey combines health, lifestyle and socioeconomic questionnaire data with standardised biophysical measurements, biomarkers for non-communicable and infectious diseases, and genetic data. Data collection for the study is currently underway and the target sample size is 10 000 participants. The DDS has an established infrastructure for survey fieldwork, data collection and management, sample processing and storage, managed data sharing and consent for re-approaching participants, which can be utilised for further research studies. As such, the DDS represents a rich platform for investigating the distribution, interrelation and aetiology of chronic diseases and their risk factors, which is critical for developing health care policies for disease management and prevention. For data access enquiries please contact the African Partnership for Chronic Disease Research (APCDR) at [email protected] or the corresponding author.


Author(s):  
Castro Ngumbu Gichuki ◽  
Milcah Mulu Mutuku ◽  
Lydia Nkatha Kinuthia

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to investigate the inability to access affordable credit in Kenya which hinders many women entrepreneurs from either starting their own or expanding existing enterprises and capital base. The emergence of table banking groups attempts to fill the existing credit gap. Design/methodology/approach – A cross-sectional survey involving 225 randomly selected women entrepreneurs who participate in table banking groups within Nakuru Municipality was conducted. Data collection comprised a questionnaire whose reliability coefficient was 0.83 at 0.05 confidence level. Findings – Results indicated that a majority women entrepreneurs aged between 20 and 60 years with 71 per cent of them married. Further, 44 per cent had attained secondary-level education, while no illiterate entrepreneurs participated in the study. A positive increase in the number of employees, after members participated in table banking groups, was realized. Credit received from table banking influenced changes in the size of enterprises. Originality/value – The study shows that availability, affordability and accessibility of credit from table banking groups led to positive growth of women-owned enterprises.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Blando ◽  
Chalsie Paul ◽  
Mariana Szklo-Coxe

Abstract Background:Healthcare workers are at a high risk of experiencing workplace violence and associated injuries, and the presence of weapons in a healthcare setting increases the potential severity of injuries and consequences of violence. The specific aim of this study was to determine which organizational factors were associated with frequent weapons confiscation in a healthcare facility and to identify potential effective interventions. This study investigated the hypothesis that hospital-related factors impact the frequency of weapons confiscation.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was administered on-line to hospital security directors and assessed the associations of organizational factors with the frequency of weapons confiscation.Results: It was found that hospitals with metal detectors were more than 5 times as likely to frequently confiscate weapons, suggesting this intervention is effective. It was also found that hospitals with psychiatric units were more likely to have frequent confiscation of weapons, likely due to the standard procedure of searching patients before admission to the psychiatric unit. Several factors thought to be potentially related, such as perception of risk and state violent crime rates, were not associated with weapons confiscation risk. Conclusion: This data suggests that searching patients and using metal detectors are important tools in the prevention of weapons entering a healthcare setting. This reduction would likely enhance safety and reduce injury from workplace violence.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document