Power of Knowledge

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 717-723
Author(s):  
Rachel S. Sagor ◽  
Jeremy Golding ◽  
Margaret M. Giorgio ◽  
Diane R. Blake

We compared ( a) the effectiveness of print versus digital educational media for communicating information about Chlamydia trachomatis to adolescents and young adults and ( b) the influence of media type on readiness for Chlamydia screening. Young men and women (n = 103), aged 15 to 24 years, were recruited from a youth center and university campus and randomized to receive the print or digital Chlamydia educational intervention. Participant mean knowledge score improved postintervention, but there was no association with type of intervention medium. Nearly two-thirds (61%) of sexually active participants endorsed an increased postintervention stage of readiness for screening; however, there was no association with type of intervention medium. Learning about Chlamydia infection may have positive effects on willingness to be screened. Further study is needed to evaluate the efficacy of educational interventions for increasing actual screening rates.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (s1) ◽  
pp. 144-144
Author(s):  
Ashaunta Tumblin Anderson ◽  
Barbara Frankowski ◽  
Paul J. Chung ◽  
Judith Shaw

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: 1) Describe strategies pediatric providers perceive improve chlamydia screening of sexually active female adolescents (SA), and 2) describe barriers to regular screening of SA for chlamydia METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Using qualitative methods, 14 general pediatric providers across 7 clinical sites in Vermont were interviewed to ascertain best practices and remaining challenges. Semi-structured interviews lasting 30-45 minutes were audiotaped and transcribed. Chlamydia screening rates provided by BCBS-VT were used to categorize participant responses across three performance tiers, data were coded, and themes identified within these tiers. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Facilitators: When asked to describe facilitators of chlamydia screening, providers in the top tier of chlamydia screening emphasized the importance of adequate insurance to cover the cost of testing. Providers in the middle performance tier cited use of pre-visit questionnaires, and those in the bottom performance tier identified no best practices. Other strategies included improving physician confidence and awareness, establishing practice- and individual-level routines, and providing strong leadership and communication of local screening rates. Barriers: Across the 3 performance tiers, the most common challenges to consistent chlamydia screening were threats to patient confidentiality, cost of the screening test, and requirement for patient disclosure of sexual activity. Less commonly, providers were concerned that adolescent patients were not reliable to obtain screens off-site, or fill treatment prescriptions without the help of a parent. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: The need for systematic, confidential, and inexpensive means for screening SA for chlamydia was highlighted in both the best practices and challenges described by providers of pediatric care in the suburban practice setting. Policy and practice interventions may target these needs to improve the reproductive health of female adolescents.


2011 ◽  
Vol 140 (5) ◽  
pp. 951-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. HAASNOOT ◽  
F. D. H. KOEDIJK ◽  
E. L. M. OP DE COUL ◽  
H. M. GÖTZ ◽  
M. A. B. VAN DER SANDE ◽  
...  

SUMMARYEthnic disparities in chlamydia infections in The Netherlands were assessed, in order to compare two definitions of ethnicity: ethnicity based on country of birth and self-defined ethnicity. Chlamydia positivity in persons aged 16–29 years was investigated using data from the first round of the Chlamydia Screening Implementation (CSI, 2008–2009) and surveillance data from STI centres (2009). Logistic regression modelling showed that being an immigrant was associated with chlamydia positivity in both CSI [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2·3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2·0–2·6] and STI centres (aOR 1·4, 95% CI 1·3–1·5). In both settings, 60% of immigrants defined themselves as Dutch. Despite the difference, classification by self-defined ethnicity resulted in similar associations between (non-Dutch) ethnicity and chlamydia positivity. However, ethnicity based on country of birth explained variation in chlamydia positivity better, and is objective and constant over time and therefore more useful for identifying young persons at higher risk for chlamydia infection.


2007 ◽  
Vol 161 (11) ◽  
pp. 1088 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane R. Blake ◽  
Celeste A. Lemay ◽  
Alka Indurkhya

2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (12) ◽  
pp. 809-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer C Kesselheim ◽  
Julie Najita ◽  
Debra Morley ◽  
Elizabeth Bair ◽  
Steven Joffe

ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between recently trained paediatricians' ethics knowledge and exposure to a formal ethics or professionalism curriculum during residency.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey of recently trained paediatricians which included a validated 23-item instrument called the Test of Residents' Ethics Knowledge for Pediatrics. The sample included paediatricians who completed medical school in 2006–2008, whose primary specialty was paediatrics or a paediatric subspecialty, and who completed paediatric residency training in 2010–2011. This sample was stratified based on residency programme variables: presence of a formal curriculum in ethics or professionalism, programme size and American Board of Pediatrics certifying exam passage rate. Paediatricians were randomly selected from each stratum for survey participation.ResultsAmong the 370 responding paediatricians (55%), the mean knowledge score was 17.3 (SD 2.2) out of a possible 23. Presence of a formal curriculum in ethics and/or professionalism was not significantly associated with knowledge. Knowledge was lowest on items about parental requests for a child to undergo genetic testing (2 items, 44% and 85% incorrect), preserving patient confidentiality over email (55% incorrect), decision-making regarding life-sustaining technologies (61% incorrect), and decision-making principles such as assent and parental permission (2 items, 47% and 49% incorrect).ConclusionsThis study highlights several areas in which paediatricians' knowledge may be low and that are amenable to targeted educational interventions. These findings should prompt discussion and research among ethicists and educators about how ethics and professionalism curricula can more consistently influence paediatricians' knowledge.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 1449-1456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesley Price ◽  
Jennifer MacDonald ◽  
Lucyna Gozdzielewska ◽  
Tracey Howe ◽  
Paul Flowers ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo synthesize the existing evidence base of systematic reviews of interventions to improve healthcare worker (HCW) hand hygiene compliance (HHC).MethodsPRISMA guidelines were followed, and 10 information sources were searched in September 2017, with no limits to language or date of publication, and papers were screened against inclusion criteria for relevance. Data were extracted and risk of bias was assessed.ResultsOverall, 19 systematic reviews (n=20 articles) were included. Only 1 article had a low risk of bias. Moreover, 15 systematic reviews showed positive effects of interventions on HCW HHC, whereas 3 reviews evaluating monitoring technology did not. Findings regarding whether multimodal rather than single interventions are preferable were inconclusive. Targeting social influence, attitude, self-efficacy, and intention were associated with greater effectiveness. No clear link emerged between how educational interventions were delivered and effectiveness.ConclusionsThis is the first systematic review of systematic reviews of interventions to improve HCW HHC. The evidence is sufficient to recommend the implementation of interventions to improve HCW HHC (except for monitoring technology), but it is insufficient to make specific recommendations regarding the content or how the content should be delivered. Future research should rigorously apply behavior change theory, and recommendations should be clearly described with respect to intervention content and how it is delivered. Such recommendations should be tested for longer terms using stronger study designs with clearly defined outcomes.


Sexual Health ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernadette Zakher ◽  
Melissa Kang

Background: Chlamydia screening of sexually active young people in general practice is key to the Australian National Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy 2005–2008. Overseas research indicates that young people have positive attitudes towards opportunistic screening by a general practitioner (GP). This pilot study aims to investigate the attitudes of Australian university students towards chlamydia screening in primary care. Methods: Students (16–25 years) attending a class in one of three faculties at the University of Sydney participated by completing a questionnaire, which collected information about demographics, sexual history, chlamydia knowledge, attitudes towards and preferences for chlamydia screening. Results: One hundred and eighty-five students (78% female) returned questionnaires (participation rate 92%). Arts students were younger, more likely to be sexually active and to report having little or no knowledge of chlamydia. Males in the study were less likely to have had sex as a group compared to the group of females in the sample. Science students were also less likely to have had sex compared to their counterparts in other faculties. Seventy-six percent of students were comfortable with opportunistic testing for chlamydia by their GP. Reasons for not being comfortable included ‘don’t think I’m at risk’ (65%) and ‘not comfortable discussing sexual matters with my GP’ (38%). Although comfortable with GP-based testing, the likelihood of being tested in the upcoming year for most students was low, as was personal concern about chlamydia infection. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the most at risk group for chlamydia infection is not well educated about their risk of infection. The limited numbers of tests among sexually active individuals in this sample indicate that health practitioners are not screening this high-risk group for chlamydia infection.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fariba Zahedifar ◽  
Zahra Nejatifar ◽  
Sima Rafiei ◽  
Fariba Hashemi

Educational interventions are helpful strategies to empower communities encountering the threat of pandemics like Covid-19. This study was carried out to examine the effect of educational intervention on anxiety control and improvement in public quality of life. A quasi-experimental study. The study was conducted among individuals referred to healthcare centers of Qazvin province, Iran, in 2020. Given that Qazvin consists of nine urban healthcare centers, two centers were selected by a simple random selection method. After considering inclusion and exclusion mentioned criteria, 240 individuals were selected to participate in the research and were randomly assigned into two groups of experimental and control. Following the educational intervention, all study variables, including knowledge score, anxiety level, and quality of life, improved significantly in the experimental group compared to the pre-intervention phase (P<0.05). The most significant change was in knowledge score with a nearly large effect size (0.63), presenting an increase of 40.09% from 11.1 to 18.8 exactly after intervention and 12.2 after passing one month from the date of educational intervention; while the quality of life presented a 3.2% increase with a small effect size (0.28). Our findings have implications for the development and implementation of psychological interventions, particularly educational programs. During the outbreak, such strategies can empower the public and diminish the negative emotional effects of the pandemic, helping people to cope with the current situation, and decrease the risk of suffering future psychological disorders.  


Author(s):  
Hope Inegbenosun ◽  
Clement Chinedu Azodo ◽  
John Chukudi Anionye ◽  
Collins Usunobun Inegbenosun ◽  
Obinna Chukwunwike Njoku

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection rate and mortality among Nigerian health care workers appear to be on the increase. Aside from health workers, it has caused millions of infections and deaths worldwide.  This study determined the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of nursing and midwifery students towards COVID-19 in a North-Eastern Nigerian state.Methods: A total of 156 respondents were involved in this institutional-based cross-sectional study, conducted after the lockdown period. A total of 17 questions were used to assess the KAP with knowledge appraised with 12 questions, attitudes with 2 questions, and practices with 3 questions.Results: The majority of the students (53.80%) possessed a good level of knowledge regarding COVID-19, while 40.4% had fair knowledge regarding COVID-19 with only 5.80% having poor knowledge of COVID-19. The mean knowledge of COVID-19 in this study was 9.40±1.353 with an overall 78% correct answer rate. A vast majority of the respondent (82.7% and 98.1%) had strong confidence in Nigeria and believed that the pandemic will soon be over, respectively. Only a few avoided large gatherings of people (30.8%) with the vast majority reporting to have worn a mask when going out (84.6%) and washing their hands with running water and soap frequently as recommended (73.1%). In multiple logistic regression analyses, the COVID-19 knowledge score (OR: 0.39-0.40, 95%CI: 0.26 – 0.62, P<0.05) was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of negative preventive practices towards COVID-19.Conclusions: The participants in this study showed good knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practices toward COVID-19. There is still a need to strategize and implement periodic educational interventions and training on infection control practices among healthcare workers including students. 


2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cori L. Ofstead ◽  
Sharon J. Tucker ◽  
Timothy J. Beebe ◽  
Gregory A. Poland

Objective.To evaluate the receipt of information and knowledge about influenza and vaccination, as well as influenza vaccination status and reasons for declining vaccination, among registered nurses.Design.Cross-sectional survey of registered nurses (RNs).Setting.A large tertiary medical center with a long-standing, multifaceted influenza vaccination program and relatively high vaccination rates among employees overall (76.5%).Participants.Randomly selected group of 990 RNs employed as inpatient staff nurses at the institution.Results.The survey was completed by 513 (51.8%) of 990 RNs. Most RNs (86.7%) had received an influenza vaccination in the past, and 331 (64.5%) intended to receive vaccination during the 2005-2006 influenza season. More than 90% of RNs acknowledged exposure to educational bulletins, and most had received information about influenza severity (383 [74.7%]), transmission (398 [77.6%]), vaccine safety (416 [81.1%]), and the time and location of free vaccination (460 [89.7%]). A majority (436 [85.0%]) felt they had received all the information they needed to make good decisions about vaccination. However, only 49 RNs (9.6%) gave correct answers to more than 85% of the knowledge questions on the survey. The reasons most frequently reported for declining vaccination were doubts about the risk of influenza and the need for vaccination, concerns about vaccine effectiveness and side effects, and dislike of injections.Conclusions.RNs exposed to a longstanding, multifaceted educational program had received information about influenza vaccination, but misconceptions were common and only 331 (64.5%) intended to receive vaccination. Strategies other than educational interventions are needed to increase influenza vaccination rates and thereby to ensure healthcare worker and patient safety.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Grace M. Mbouthieu Teumta ◽  
Loveline L. Niba ◽  
Nkwatoh Therese Ncheuveu ◽  
Mary-Teresia Ghumbemsitia ◽  
Paul O.B. Itor ◽  
...  

Background. Hand hygiene is cost-effective and has been recognized as an effective measure in the control of communicable diseases. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the hand washing knowledge, practices, and skills of students in both private and public institutions of higher learning. Methods. This was an institution-based cross-sectional study that included a mix of 577 university students from different disciplines (49.6% males and 50.4% females) with a mean age of 21.8 ± 3.5 years. Departments were selected at random, and the quota sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Hand washing knowledge, practices, and skills scores were assessed using a structured questionnaire. The differences in scores were further quantified across different factors using multiple quantile regression analysis. Results. The prevalence of hand washing with soap was 10.7%. Also, the majority of the study participants (75.2%) had a poor hand washing practices score. Age ≥29 years was associated with a 6.3% lower median hand washing knowledge score (p=0.039). Also, being in the public institution was significantly associated with 6.3%, 36.0%, and 10.0% lower median hand washing knowledge (p=0.021), practices (p<0.001), and skills (p=0.025) scores, respectively. In addition, being a medical student (p=0.029) and washing hands ≥ six times a day (p=0.008) were significantly associated with an increase in the median hand washing knowledge score of 6.3% and 18.7%, respectively. Conclusions. Educational interventions need to be carried out to create awareness of the importance of hand washing and also to enhance the hand washing knowledge, practices, and skills of university students.


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