scholarly journals The patient advisor, an organizational resource as a lever for an enhanced oncology patient experience (PAROLE-onco): a longitudinal multiple case study protocol

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Pomey ◽  
M. de Guise ◽  
M. Desforges ◽  
K. Bouchard ◽  
C. Vialaron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Clinical Oncology ◽  
Patient Experience ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Legal Issues ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Ethical And Legal Issues ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Quebec is one of the Canadian provinces with the highest rates of cancer incidence and prevalence. A study by the Rossy Cancer Network (RCN) of McGill university assessed six aspects of the patient experience among cancer patients and found that emotional support is the aspect most lacking. To improve this support, trained patient advisors (PAs) can be included as full-fledged members of the healthcare team, given that PA can rely on their knowledge with experiencing the disease and from using health and social care services to accompany cancer patients, they could help to round out the health and social care services offer in oncology. However, the feasibility of integrating PAs in clinical oncology teams has not been studied. In this multisite study, we will explore how to integrate PAs in clinical oncology teams and, under what conditions this can be successfully done. We aim to better understand effects of this PA intervention on patients, on the PAs themselves, the health and social care team, the administrators, and on the organization of services and to identify associated ethical and legal issues. Methods/design We will conduct six mixed methods longitudinal case studies. Qualitative data will be used to study the integration of the PAs into clinical oncology teams and to identify the factors that are facilitators and inhibitors of the process, the associated ethical and legal issues, and the challenges that the PAs experience. Quantitative data will be used to assess effects on patients, PAs and team members, if any, of the PA intervention. The results will be used to support oncology programs in the integration of PAs into their healthcare teams and to design a future randomized pragmatic trial to evaluate the impact of PAs as full-fledged members of clinical oncology teams on cancer patients’ experience of emotional support throughout their care trajectory. Discussion This study will be the first to integrate PAs as full-fledged members of the clinical oncology team and to assess possible clinical and organizational level effects. Given the unique role of PAs, this study will complement the body of research on peer support and patient navigation. An additional innovative aspect of this study will be consideration of the ethical and legal issues at stake and how to address them in the health care organizations.

scholarly journals Health and social care services for older male adults in prison: the identification of current service provision and piloting of an assessment and care planning model

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Senior ◽  
K Forsyth ◽  
E Walsh ◽  
K O'Hara ◽  
C Stevenson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Care ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Older Prisoners ◽  
Care Assessment ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackgroundOlder prisoners are the fastest growing subgroup in the English and Welsh prison estate. Existing research highlights that older prisoners have high health and social care needs and that, currently, these needs routinely remain unmet.Objectives(1) To explore the needs of men entering and leaving prison; (2) to describe current provision of services, including integration between health and social care services; and (3) to develop and pilot an intervention for identifying health and social care needs on reception into prison, ensuring that these are systematically addressed during custody.MethodsThe research programme was a mixed-methods study comprising four parts: (1) a study of all prisons in England and Wales housing older adult men, establishing current availability and degree of integration between health and social care services through a national survey and qualitative interviews; (2) establishing the health and social care needs of older men entering prison, including experiences of reception into custody, through structured (n = 100) and semistructured (n = 27) interviews; (3) the development and implementation of an intervention to identify and manage the health, social care and custodial needs of older men entering prison; and (4) exploration of the health and social care needs of older men released from prison into the community through qualitative interviews with older prisoners prior to and following discharge from prison. Descriptive statistics were produced for all quantitative data, and qualitative data were analysed using the constant comparison method.ResultsThe number of older prisoner leads has increased in recent years but they do not all appear always to be active in their roles, nor in receipt of specialist training. Nearly half (44%) of establishments do not have an older prisoner policy. There is a lack of integration between health and social care services because of ambiguity regarding responsibility for older prisoners' social care. The responsible social service may be located a considerable distance from where the prisoner is held; in such instances, local social services do not co-ordinate their care. The most frequent unmet need on prison entry was the provision of information about care and treatment. Release planning for older prisoners was frequently non-existent.LimitationsThe study used a cut-off age of 60 years as the lower limit for the definition of an older prisoner; evidence has emerged that supports a redefinition of that cut-off to 50 years. Our study examined the care provided for men and this should be considered if contemplating using the Older prisoner Health and Social Care Assessment and Plan (OHSCAP) with older women in prison.ConclusionThe OHSCAP, developed as part of this study, provided a feasible and acceptable means of identifying and systematically addressing older prisoners' health and social care needs. Future work will include the conduct of a randomised controlled trial to examine the impact of the OHSCAP in terms of improving a range of outcomes, including economic impact.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

Time for some home truths – exploring the relationship between GPs and social workers

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Mangan ◽  
Robin Miller ◽  
Jeremy Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between general practitioners (GPs) and social care professionals by reflecting on a project (the Home Truths project) which sought to improve joint working between general practice and social care though an action-research process. Design/methodology/approach – iMPOWER's Home Truths project involved gathering local data regarding joint working in local areas and using this data as a catalyst for change. The Institute of Local Government Studies and the Health Services Management Centre at the University of Birmingham were asked to act as a critical friend to the project. This involved supporting the design of the data collection, offering advice on the process and to carrying out a short evaluation of the impact of the first wave. The paper reflects on the collected data from the sites and information from the impact evaluation. Findings – The paper highlights the poor quality of the relationship between GPs and social workers. Findings that illustrate this include GPs’ poor knowledge of social care services; a perception that social care services were of poor quality and rating the quality of their relationships with social workers as poor. However GPs felt that knowing more about social care could help prevent their patients going into residential care earlier than necessary and wanted to work more closely with social care to exploit the benefits and opportunities. The interventions that have been put in place to try and improve relationships focus on the day-to-day working lives of the professionals rather than attempting to introduce new initiatives. Research limitations/implications – The response rate from GPs in the areas was low (average response rate was 10 per cent in each area) and it may be that only those GPs who are interested in working with social care responded. The initiatives that have been developed appear to be reasonable responses to the issues identified. However, a lack of discrete outcomes through which to measure improvement will make it difficult to demonstrate the impact of the interventions. Originality/value – This paper underlines that despite many years of policy makers promoting better integration, the relationship between the key gate-keepers within the health and social care systems is still poor. The findings from the Home Truths surveys and action plans has gone some way to address the gap identified in the evidence base about the relationships between GPs and social workers.

scholarly journals Health and social care access for adults with learning disabilities across the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 174-179
Author(s):  
Samantha Flynn ◽  
Chris Hatton
Keyword(s):  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Adults With Learning Disabilities ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to present data about access to health and social care services during the COVID-19 pandemic for adults with learning disabilities across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected directly from 621 adults with learning disabilities and through separate proxy reports by family carers and paid support staff of another 378 adults with learning disabilities. The data were collected between December 2020 and February 2021 and concerned the use of health and social care services since the start of the first COVID-19 national lockdown in March 2020. Findings Access to and use of health and social care services significantly reduced for adults with learning disabilities across the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic between March 2020 and February 2021, with many people not receiving any services at all during that period. Similar patterns were seen across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. However, data suggest some variations between countries for some services. Practical implications Future pandemic planning must ensure that access to these essential services is not completely lost for adults with learning disabilities and their family carers, as it was in some cases during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Originality/value This is the largest study about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health and social care services for adults with learning disabilities in the UK. The authors primarily collected data directly from adults with learning disabilities, and worked with partner organisations of people with learning disabilities throughout the study.

The impact of perceived lack of support provided by health and social care services to caregivers of people with motor neuron disease

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Peters ◽  
Ray Fitzpatrick ◽  
Helen Doll ◽  
E. Diane Playford ◽  
Crispin Jenkinson
Keyword(s):  
Motor Neuron ◽  
Motor Neuron Disease ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Barriers and facilitators to accessing health and social care services for people living in homeless hostels: a qualitative study of the experiences of hostel staff and residents in UK hostels

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e053185
Author(s):  
Megan Armstrong ◽  
Caroline Shulman ◽  
Briony Hudson ◽  
Patrick Stone ◽  
Nigel Hewett
Keyword(s):  
Social Care ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Complex Needs ◽  
Care Access ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Service Barriers ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Care Support

IntroductionThe number of people living in homeless hostels in the UK has steadily increased over the past decade. Despite people experiencing homelessness often having considerable health problems and a range of complex needs frequently in association with addictions, the experiences of hostel staff and residents especially in relation to accessing health and social care support have seldom been explored. The aim of this paper is to identify the barriers and facilitators to accessing health and social care services for people living in homeless hostels.DesignExploratory qualitative baseline data were collected as part of an intervention to facilitate palliative care in-reach into hostels.Setting/participantsInterviews were conducted with 33 participants; 18 homeless hostel managers/support staff and 15 people experiencing homelessness, from six homeless hostels in London and Kent.ResultsThree themes were identified (1) internal and external service barriers to health and social care access due to stigma, lack of communication and information sharing from services and assumptions around capacity and the role of the hostel, (2) the impact of lack of health and social care support on hostel staff leading to burnout, staff going beyond their job role and continuous support given to residents, (3) potential facilitators to health and social care access such in-reach and support from those who understand this population and hostel staff training.DiscussionResidents have multiple complex needs yet both hostel staff and residents face stigma and barriers accessing support from external services. Positive relationships were described between hostel residents and staff, which can be an essential step in engaging with other services. People experiencing homelessness urgently need better access to person-centred, trauma-informed support ideally via in-reach from people who understand the needs of the population.

scholarly journals 532 CARING FOR AND CARING ABOUT OLDER PEOPLE LIVING WITH SEVERE FRAILTY DURING COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii8-ii13
Author(s):  
R Green ◽  
H King ◽  
C Nicholson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Older People ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Poor Access ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Video And Audio ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction An ongoing study collected survey and interview data from older people with frailty living in the community near end-of-life during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods Unstructured interviews with older people with frailty living in the community (N = 10), which included accounts from unpaid carers (N = 5), were video and audio recorded between October–November 2021. Six of these older people have died since fieldwork completion. A face-to-face survey collected data from a further 10 older people. Participants ages ranged from 70–99, 11, men, and 9 women, living in owned, rented, or sheltered accommodation, with Clinical Frailty Scores of 6 (N = 8), 7 (N = 9), and 8 (N = 3). Results Topics raised in relation to the pandemic included loss of social contact and increased loneliness, concern about not physically getting out, and losing physical function. Older people struggled to gain access to health and social care for support and previously received services were withdrawn. Most participants did not have access to internet and relied heavily on families to facilitate virtual contact with health professionals. Families and friends were the main anchor in facilitating social and health care including chasing up medications, liaising with social care to ensure quality and consistency of care provided, and monitoring older people’s health. Where older people’s conditions worsened family provided intense support, though family carers described the strain and unsustainability of this provision. Older people and their families felt they had been forgotten. Conclusions These are insights from hard-to-reach population that are frequently invisible. Greater examination of the impact of using communication technologies in care provision on those with poor access to and capabilities with using these technologies is required. Unpaid carers need more information and resources to support the care they provide and to facilitate access to appropriate social and health care services for those they care for.

scholarly journals Health and Social Care Inequalities: The Impact of COVID-19 on People Experiencing Homelessness in Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5545
Author(s):  
Nilza Rogéria de Andrade Nunes ◽  
Andréa Rodriguez ◽  
Giovanna Bueno Cinacchi
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experience ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Access To Services ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Sociodemographic Profile ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Care Support

This article aims to reflect on the challenges affecting people experiencing homelessness in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, due the COVID-19 pandemic. Participatory research was carried out to identify data related to sociodemographic profile; strategies for survival; health and social care support; and access to services during the pandemic. The research methodology was co-designed with NGOs and people with lived experience of homelessness and involved conducting semi-structured questionnaires with 304 participants in 2020. The results highlighted the worsening of the situation of extreme vulnerability and poverty already experienced by this population before the pandemic. Key strategies led by Third Sector organizations to reduce the spread of the virus, to minimize the financial impact of lockdown, and to increase emotional support and information on COVID-19 were presented. The conclusions show the complexity of issues affecting these groups and the need for urgent response from public policies and Government support to guarantee their rights, dignity, and respect during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health and social care in an age of austerity

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles West
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Market Competition ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

This chapter examines the impact of austerity policies on health, well-being and social care in the UK. In particular, it considers the health care provided by the National Health Service (NHS) and other health services, as well as the social care that is normally paid for, rather than the wider social support provided by family, friends, neighbours or colleagues. The discussion begins with an overview of the economic case for spending on health and social care, and more specifically the logic in pursuing spending policies that carry a high economic multiplier. The chapter then emphasises the duty of governments and those working in health care to achieve good value for the money spent, citing the case of the UK NHS. It also describes five principles underlying market competition in the context of health care before concluding with an analysis of social care services in the UK.

Do digital technologies enhance older people’s access to health and social care: a rapid review of reviews. (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tafadzwa Patience Kunonga ◽  
Gemma Frances Spiers ◽  
Fiona Beyer ◽  
Elisabeth Boulton ◽  
Alex Hall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
First Contact ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic prompted rapid implementation of new and existing digital technologies to facilitate access to health and care services during physical distancing. Older people may be disadvantaged, if they are unable to use smartphones, tablets, computers or other technologies. OBJECTIVE In this study, we synthesise evidence on the impact of digital technologies on older adults’ access to health and social services. METHODS We conducted a rapid review of systematic reviews, identified using comprehensive searches of six databases (January 2000 to October 2019). We looked for reviews in a population of adults aged ≥ 65 years in any setting, reporting outcomes related to the impact of technologies on access to health and social care services. RESULTS Seven systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria, providing data from 77 randomised controlled trials and 50 observational studies. All synthesised findings from low-quality primary studies, two using robust review methods. A majority of reviews focussed on digital technologies to facilitate remote delivery of care, including consultations and therapy. No studies examined technologies used for first contact access to care, such as online appointment scheduling. Overall, we found no reviews of technology to facilitate first contact access to health and social care such as online appointment booking systems for older populations. CONCLUSIONS The impact of digital technologies on equitable access to services for older people is unclear. Research is urgently needed into the positive and negative consequences, with identification of the groups most vulnerable to exclusion.

Hierarchy of impairment: the impact

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 70-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Smith
Keyword(s):  
Service User ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis paper aims to focus on the experiences and observations of a black disabled woman in the UK.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a personal commentary from a black disabled woman who uses health and social care services in the UK. It details the author's disability and some recent barriers that she has faced in using services.FindingsThe author gives some examples of her recent experiences in relation to employment, independent living, healthcare providers and getting her wheelchair repaired.Originality/valueThe paper offers the unique perspective of a service user on UK health and social care services.

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