scholarly journals Increasing participation in the 2019 UK general election amongst patients on a high intensity rehabilitation ward

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S228-S228
Author(s):  
Aaron Wood ◽  
Amrith Shetty

AimsTo increase participation in the 2019 UK general election amongst inpatients on a high intensity rehabilitation ward, by supporting patients to both register to vote (RTV) and vote.BackgroundIn 2000, the franchise was extended to those under section 2 or 3 as well as informal inpatients. Unfortunately, voting rates remain low: studies of the 2010 general election show voting rates amongst psychiatric inpatients to be 14%, compared to 65% for the general population. Engaging patients in the democratic process is not only just, it has been shown to be an effective avenue for rehabilitation through increasing social capital. The 2019 UK general election represents a singular opportunity for biopsychosocial rehabilitation.MethodIn the three weeks up until 26/11/19 – the deadline to RTV – visual displays and verbal information were used to notify patients of: The electionTheir eligibilityThe need to RTV before casting a ballotThe registration deadlineVoting methods (in person, by post, by proxy)We gathered patients’ intention to RTV and offered impartial, personalised support to register online or by paper, and to apply for a postal or proxy ballot if wished. Patients with no fixed abode were supported to use the ward as their declared place of residence.ResultOf the 17 patients on the ward there were:Four informal patients11 patients under section 3One patient each under a section 37 and a section 37/41, both ineligible to voteOf the 15 eligible patients, one (6.7%) had already registered, six patients (40%) wanted to register and eight (53.3%) stated they did not want to register. Those wanting to register were supported according to individual patient preference. Of the registered seven, five (33.3%) reported voting, one (6.7%) reported not having voted and one (6.7%) declined to say. Two (13.3%) voted in person and five (33.3%) voted by postal ballot.ConclusionOur intervention corresponded with an increase in number of patients registering – from one patient (6.7%) to seven (46.7%), with 5-6 (33.3-40%) casting their ballot. While the causal relationship should not be overstated, the uptake of assistance supports the intervention's efficacy.Good rehabilitation increases a person's social capital, empowering them to actively participate in societal life. Registering to vote is a tacit assertion of this principle. Our study shows that brief interventions that are easily incorporated into everyday care are a simple, effective and ultimately necessary tool in holistic mental health rehabilitation.

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (S1) ◽  
pp. 18-18
Author(s):  
Ronald Rivas ◽  
Pedro Galván

IntroductionThe modalities of telemedicine that have been developed and applied so far by the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging at the National University of Asunción (IICS-UNA) are as follows: (i) telediagnosis: the remote sending of data, signals, and images for diagnostic purposes; (ii) general telediagnostic imaging; (iii) telemonitoring (including telemetry): remote monitoring of vital parameters to provide automatic or semi-automatic surveillance or alarm services in emergencies, epidemiology, or tele-public health; and (iv) tele-education: the use of telematic networks to provide virtual platforms for educating and training health professionals.MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive review of the scientific works developed by the IICS-UNA in order to evaluate the systematic implementation of Telemedicine in Paraguay. Documents, pilot projects (satellite telegraphy), telediagnostic research, telematics, tele-education, published articles, and statistical data (number of patients attending or studies performed, etcetera) relating to the implementation of the National Telemedicine System by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare since 1999 were reviewed.ResultsImplementation of the telemedicine system has meant that 472,038 patients have attended referral centers nationwide, with 297,999 electrocardiographs, 165,323 computed tomography scans, and 8,697 electroencephalograms being conducted. Projects developed within the framework of the Telemedicine Research Line have included the following: (i)Development and validation of a clinical telemicroscopy system based on cellular telephony;(ii)Implementation of a telemetry system for temperature monitoring of the collection of biological samples from a biomedical research center; and(iii)Production and development of a virtual campus at the National University of Asunción.ConclusionsGiven the current healthcare environment, developing a line of research based on telemedicine is a proactive step, since telemedicine provides an alternative solution to the problem of access to the health system. That is why the IICS-UNA Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Department has developed telemedicine as one of its main lines of research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingvild Kjeken ◽  
Kjetil Bergsmark ◽  
Ida K. Haugen ◽  
Toril Hennig ◽  
Merete Hermann-Eriksen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Current health policy states that patients with osteoarthritis (OA) should mainly be managed in primary health care. Still, research shows that patients with hand OA have poor access to recommended treatment in primary care, and in Norway, they are increasingly referred to rheumatologist consultations in specialist care. In this randomized controlled non-inferiority trial, we will test if a new model, where patients referred to consultation in specialist health care receive their first consultation by an occupational therapy (OT) specialist, is as safe and effective as the traditional model, where they receive their first consultation by a rheumatologist. More specifically, we will answer the following questions: What are the characteristics of patients with hand OA referred to specialist health care with regards to joint affection, disease activity, symptoms and function? Is OT-led hand OA care as effective and safe as rheumatologist-led care with respect to treatment response, disease activity, symptoms, function and patient satisfaction? Is OT-led hand OA care equal to, or more cost effective than rheumatologist-led care? Which factors, regardless of hand OA care, predict improvement 6 and 12 months after baseline? Methods Participants will be patients with hand OA diagnosed by a general practitioner and referred for consultation at one of two Norwegian departments of rheumatology. Those who agree will attend a clinical assessment and report their symptoms and function in validated outcome measures, before they are randomly selected to receive their first consultation by an OT specialist (n = 200) or by a rheumatologist (n = 200). OTs may refer patients to a rheumatologist consultation and vice versa. The primary outcome will be the number of patients classified as OMERACT/OARSI-responders after six months. Secondary outcomes are pain, function and satisfaction with care over the twelve-month trial period. The analysis of the primary outcome will be done by logistic regression. A two-sided 95% confidence interval for the difference in response probability will be formed, and non-inferiority of OT-led care will be claimed if the upper endpoint of this interval does not exceed 15%. Discussion The findings will improve access to evidence-based management of people with hand OA. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03102788. Registered April 6th, 2017, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03102788?term=Kjeken&draw=2&rank=1 Date and version identifier: December 17th, 2020. First version.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-22
Author(s):  
Matthew John Gill ◽  
Samantha Brookes

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a psychological outcome tool which reflects the relationship between clusters of items on the Short Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) risk assessment and different categories of psychological progress in male inpatient psychiatric services. Design/methodology/approach A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted on data from 135 male psychiatric rehabilitation patients’ START risk assessments. Findings PCA identified four strength psychology quadrants which were explained by a five-factor structure and four vulnerability quadrants which were explained by a four-factor structure. The development of the psychology quadrant, its usefulness in establishing a treatment pathway and areas of future research are also discussed. Originality/value Developing accessible, transparent outcome measures using evidence-based practice is highly relevant within the field of mental health rehabilitation.


Kuntoutus ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 36-48
Author(s):  
Johanna Vilppola ◽  
Markku Vanttaja

Mielenterveyssyistä johtuvat sairauspoissaolot ja työkyvyttömyyseläkkeet ovat lisääntyneet Suomessa viime vuosikymmeninä. Sen vuoksi on tarpeen tutkia mielenterveyskuntoutujien yksilöllisiä elämäntilanteita sekä heidän kuntoutumistaan ja kiinnittymistään yhteiskuntaan. Tässä artikkelissa tarkastellaan mielenterveyskuntoutujien kuntoutusprosessia erityisesti koulutus- ja työtoimijuuden näkökulmasta. Tutkimusaineistona käytetään aikuisten mielenterveyskuntoutujien kirjoittamia elämänkerrontoja (n = 42). Elämänkerrontojen teema-analyysin ja tyypittelyn perusteella kirjoittajat jaettiin kolmeen erilaiseen ryhmään, jotka nimettiin toimijoiksi (9), taistelijoiksi (18) ja tipahtaneiksi (15). Toimijat olivat aktiivisia oman kuntoutumisensa, koulutuksensa, työnsä sekä kokonaiselämänsä suhteen. Heillä oli vahva pyrkimys hakeutua koulutukseen, palata takaisin työelämään tai ylläpitää nykyinen koulutus- ja työtilanteensa. Taistelijat olivat puolestaan omassa kuntoutusprosessissaan matkalaisia, jotka halusivat olla yhteiskunnan tarpeellisia jäseniä. Myös heillä oli koulutukseen ja työhön liittyviä haaveita, mutta keinot oman elämän hallitsemiseksi olivat toisten ihmisten tuen varassa. Tipahtaneet olivat luovuttaneet sekä oman kuntoutumisensa että koulutus- ja työtoimijuutensa suhteen. Heillä ei ollut enää koulutukseen tai työhön liittyviä tavoitteita. Abstract Mentally wounded. Research of Education and Work Agency of Mental Health Rehabilitees Mental health related sick leaves and early pensions have increased enormously in our society in the last decades. That is why it is important to study the life narratives of mental health rehabilitees, especially focusing on individual and societal factors connected to rehabilitation, education and work agency. The data of this research consisted of 42 self-written life stories of adult mental health rehabilitees. Based on theme analysis and typification, life stories were divided into three groups: agentic actors (9), warriors (18) and dropouts (15). Agentic actors were described as active agents of their own rehabilitation, education, work and life. They had strong intentions to participate in education and work. Warriors seemed to be more like passengers in their own rehabilitation process, yet they had intentions to be a necessary part of society. They had hopes and dreams towards education and work, but they seemed to be lacking concrete means to lead their independent lives.  The dropouts had given up on their agency in rehabilitation, education and work. They had no more goals or intentions concerning education and work. Keywords: mental health rehabilitation, life story, education, work, agency


BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S85-S85
Author(s):  
Nosa Igbinomwanhia ◽  
Kathleen McCurdy

AimsThis was a re-audit of off-label prescribing of quetiapine in order to identify the number of patients on off-label quetiapine in HMP Elmley, to monitor compliance by the Mental Health Inreach Team (MHIRT) psychiatrists with the Royal College of Psychiatrists guideline on off-license prescribing, to compare findings with the baseline audit and to identify areas for improvement.MethodAll patients on quetiapine in HMP Elmley were identified and their electronic patient record was reviewed against the standards outlined in the Royal College of Psychiatrists “Use of licensed medicines for unlicensed applications in psychiatric practice (2nd edition).ResultThere were 60 residents on off-license quetiapine prescription in HMP Elmley.Of this number, four had their prescription initiated by a general practitioner, either while in prison or in the community. Two residents were on quetiapine first prescribed while they were on admission in hospital. 5 patients had been initiated by the MHIRT psychiatrists. 38 residents were commenced off-license quetiapine by another psychiatrist, either while they were in the community or in another prison. In 17 patients, electronic records were inadequate to determine who had prescribed the quetiapine.The number of inmates prescribed off-label quetiapine in HMP Elmley had dropped from 82 to 60 in the 1 year since the initial audit. Of these figures, prescriptions initiated by the MHIRT psychiatrists, had dropped from 28.1% (23/82) to 8.3% (5/60).For those prescribed quetiapine by the HMP Elmley psychiatrists, notes were audited against the RCPsych guidelines: Licensed medication was considered first in 80.0%Risks and benefits were considered and documented in 80.0%The benefits and potential risks were explained to patient in 80.0%There was documentation of informed consent in 80.0%Quetiapine was started at a low dose and monitored in 100%No residents required withdrawal of medication due to ineffectiveness or adverse effects.Baseline physical health assessment was performed in 80.0%, though all had an ECG done.ConclusionOver the past year there has been an improvement in off-label antipsychotic prescribing practice within the MHIRT.However, the number of off-label antipsychotic prescriptions still remains high throughout the prison. There should be continued effort at minimizing off-label prescribing within the MHIRT, monitored by auditing. However, work needs to be done jointly with other prescribers, such as GP colleagues, in order to avoid unnecessary prescriptions and to monitor regularly the physical and mental health of those on off-label quetiapine.


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