scholarly journals Keeping people with epilepsy safe during the COVID-19 pandemic

Neurology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 94 (23) ◽  
pp. 1032-1037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline A. French ◽  
Martin J. Brodie ◽  
Roberto Caraballo ◽  
Orrin Devinsky ◽  
Ding Ding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Care Pathway ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
Consensus Recommendations ◽  
Consensus Statements ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Strongly Agree

ObjectivesTo provide information on the effect of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on people with epilepsy and provide consensus recommendations on how to provide the best possible care for people with epilepsy while avoiding visits to urgent care facilities and hospitalizations during the novel coronavirus pandemic.MethodsThe authors developed consensus statements in 2 sections. The first was “How should we/clinicians modify our clinical care pathway for people with epilepsy during the COVID-19 pandemic?” The second was “What general advice should we give to people with epilepsy during this crisis? The authors individually scored statements on a scale of −10 (strongly disagree) to +10 (strongly agree). Five of 11 recommendations for physicians and 3/5 recommendations for individuals/families were rated by all the authors as 7 or above (strongly agree) on the first round of rating. Subsequently, a teleconference was held where statements for which there was a lack of strong consensus were revised.ResultsAfter revision, all consensus recommendations received a score of 7 or above. The recommendations focus on administration of as much care as possible at home to keep people with epilepsy out of health care facilities, where they are likely to encounter COVID-19 (including strategies for rescue therapy), as well as minimization of risk of seizure exacerbation through adherence, and through ensuring a regular supply of medication. We also provide helpful links to additional helpful information for people with epilepsy and health providers.ConclusionThese recommendations may help health care professionals provide optimal care to people with epilepsy during the coronavirus pandemic.

Facilitators and Barriers to Implementing the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative in Care Facilities in Upstate New York

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Caileen Harvey ◽  
Rachel Flemming ◽  
Julia Davis ◽  
Victoria Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
New York ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Upstate New York ◽  
Texture Modification ◽  
Care Facilities

Introduction: Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder that can result in aspiration, asphyxiation, or other complications. One method of facilitating safer swallowing is modification of the diet and fluids of individuals living with dysphagia. The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) is a globally standardized framework for texture modification. Its implementation has been recommended in the United States, but adoption is not yet universal. This study investigated implementation issues by surveying health care professionals in health care facilities in rural, Upstate New York. Method: A questionnaire created through the SurveyMonkey platform was distributed to health care facilities within a predetermined geographical area in Upstate New York. The survey consisted of 22 questions and utilized a mixed-methods design. Results: Forty-six participants from 10 individual professions and nine types of facilities completed the study. Twenty texture modification labels and 10 fluid modification labels were described. Analysis of qualitative data yielded three main barriers to implementation: funding, education, and communication. Within each barrier, awareness and resources were recurrent themes. Discussion: The variety of modification labels in comparison with the sample size demonstrates a lack of standardization of texture modification processes across facilities. While nearly half the respondents had not heard of IDDSI prior to the survey, 89% agreed that a standardized dysphagia diet would improve patient health and safety. This demonstrated a willingness to adopt IDDSI and indicated that staff attitudes may not be a barrier to its implementation. Participants felt that training was needed for successful implementation and expressed concern about the lack of availability of financial resources. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.17270861

Nutrition Screening for Seniors in Health Care Facilities: A Survey of Health Professionals

2011 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 162-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lita Villalon ◽  
Manon Laporte ◽  
Natalie Carrier
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Nutritional Risk ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Nutrition Screening ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Professional Resources

Purpose: Several studies show that malnutrition is prevalent in health care facilities, especially among elderly patients and nursing home residents. Although validated screening tools exist, little evidence exists on the feasibility of implementing nutrition screening in health care facilities. We examined New Brunswick health care professionals’ perceptions of and practices involving nutrition screening in elderly clients, as well as barriers to screening. Methods: A survey was conducted with questionnaires intended for physicians, nurses, and dietitians. Results: Participants were 457 health care professionals (physicians, 34.6%; nurses, 50.3%; dietitians, 15.1%). Perceptions of nutrition screening varied. For example, most nurses (94.7%) and dietitians (98.5%) indicated that screening was important/ very important, while only 63.5% of physicians indicated this. Screening methods also differed among professionals and few used a screening tool. Several barriers to implementing nutrition screening were reported, such as lack of time, lack of professional resources, and clients’ short stays. Conclusions: These findings will help professionals address the feasibility of implementing standardized screening tools in health care facilities. A more consistent and systematic approach for detecting populations at high nutritional risk may result.

scholarly journals Adherence to Pediatric Asthma Guidelines in the Emergency Department: A Survey of Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviour among Health Care Professionals

2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 175-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjit K Bhogal ◽  
Jean Bourbeau ◽  
David McGillivray ◽  
Andrea Benedetti ◽  
Susan J Bartlett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Severe Asthma ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Care Pathway ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Pediatric Asthma ◽  
Asthma Severity ◽  
Onset Of Action ◽  
Cross Sectional

BACKGROUND: Despite strong evidence for using clinical care pathways to manage acute pediatric asthma, adherence remains suboptimal.OBJECTIVES: To elicit information from health care professionals regarding their knowledge, attitudes and use of a care pathway for acute childhood asthma.METHODS: A cross-sectional, self-administered survey of physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists who worked in the emergency department at the Montreal Children’s Hospital (Montreal, Quebec) from August to December 2007 was conducted. The survey assessed knowledge, attitude toward and agreement with the care pathway, as well as its use four years after its implementation.RESULTS: Of the 128 health care professionals surveyed, 72 (56%) responded. Of these, 99% reported being familiar with the pathway, more than 90% agreed with its use for mild and moderate asthma, while 79% agreed with its use for severe asthma. For 99% of health care professionals, the advantages of using the pathway outweighed the disadvantages; however, 64% admitted to making variations to the pathway. Although 92% of respondents reported that they were quite comfortable with using the asthma severity Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure, only 53% and 36% correctly identified the severity score cut-offs for moderate and severe asthma, respectively. Seventeen per cent of respondents underestimated the delay of onset of action of oral corticosteroids, while 36% of physicians incorrectly believed that a higher than necessary dose was recommended for ipratropium bromide.CONCLUSIONS: Results of the survey confirmed that the health care professionals queried had a positive attitude toward the pediatric asthma care pathway. Knowledge gaps and the balance between standardization versus individualization of care may be key elements to explain suboptimal adherence to the pathway.

scholarly journals Antibiotic stewardship in health care facilities across Gujarat: A cross-sectional descriptive study

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-170
Author(s):  
Varshal J. Barot ◽  
Krupa A. Pandya
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Antibiotic Stewardship ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
P Value ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Dental Practitioners ◽  
Care Facilities

Irrational use of antibiotics is the key contributor to antibiotic resistance. To improve the administration of antibiotics, many programs have been designed at national and international levels; and antibiotic stewardship (ABS) is one of them.The aim of this study was to create awareness and understanding of antibiotic stewardship by estimating its knowledge, attitude and practice (K.A.P) among health care professionals in health care facilities across Gujarat. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among health care professionals in health care facilities across Gujarat. For which a self-administered questionnaire with 15 closed-ended questions with two sections: “Optimal antibiotic use” (no.1-7 questions); and “Responsible antibiotic use” (no.8-15 questions) was disseminated online/ in electronic form. In Dental practitioners, mean scores of knowledge, attitude, practice (K.A.P) regarding “Optimal antibiotic use” and “Responsible antibiotic use” are 6.3682 ± 0.96, 6.2139 ± 1.07, 4.5672 ± 1.51 and 7.1692 ± 1.09, 6.9104 ± 1.25, 5.1443 ± 1.81 respectively.In Medical practitioners, mean scores of knowledge, attitude, practice (K.A.P) regarding “Optimal antibiotic use” and “Responsible antibiotic use” are 6.8201 ± 0.41, 6.7090 ± 0.56, 5.1270 ± 1.62 and 7.6032 ± 0.69, 7.4233 ± 0.82, 5.3492 ± 1.94 respectively.Between the groups, knowledge and attitude regarding “Optimal antibiotic use” and “Responsible antibiotic use” are statistically highly significant (p-value = <0.001). Health care professionals showed higher knowledge as compared to attitude with least practice (K>A>P) regarding antibiotic stewardship in health care facilities across Gujarat. Antibiotic stewardship is fulcrum for the dual face of antibiotics. Equilibrium between individual and societal benefit/risk ratio while making clinical antibiotic decisions will benefit both; individual patients as well as the community.

scholarly journals Medical and Health Care Professionals’ Sexuality Education: State of the Art and Recommendations

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Verrastro ◽  
Valeria Saladino ◽  
Filippo Petruccelli ◽  
Stefano Eleuteri
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Sexuality Education ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Course Load ◽  
Training Courses

Sexuality is considered an important aspect of holistic care, but research has shown that it is often not considered, as it should be, in health services. Addressing clients’ sexuality requires a multidisciplinary approach and is not the responsibility of a single professional. The literature underlines that university students or those working in hospitals and other health care facilities are not adequately prepared to meet patients’ needs regarding sexuality. The objective of this study was, therefore, to review the scientific literature addressing training courses for health professionals in sexuality between 2000 and 2020. Several studies have shown enhancement in health care professionals’ ability to deal with patients’ sexuality issues after participating in sexuality education programs, regardless of the course load and modality, even if the long-term effects have still to be proved. Health care professionals therefore require education in the area of sexuality, regardless of their discipline. According to the articles reviewed, in order to improve the performance and comfort level of health care professionals to deal with patients’ sexuality, investments in training are necessary. Further evaluations of interdisciplinary sexuality education programmes should use larger samples and explore the differences across disciplines.

scholarly journals Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases beyond health-care professionals or social and health-care facilities

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna Deiana ◽  
Antonio Azara ◽  
Marco Dettori ◽  
Fiorenzo Delogu ◽  
Gavino Vargiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
General Population ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Transmission Dynamics ◽  
Public Health Department ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics

Abstract Background During the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in Italy, infection among health-care professionals and in the context of welfare and health-care facilities was a significant concern. It is known that the elderly or those with concomitant pathologies are at greater risk of a serious evolution of the disease if affected by COVID-19 and that health workers are a category with greater exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Until now, there has been little information on the epidemiological features and transmission dynamics of the COVID-19 outbreak which did not involve health-care professionals or social and health-care facilities. For this reason, this paper aims to describe the epidemiological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the general population outside these semi-closed communities. Methods The study was designed by analyzing the data of the 1371 SARS-CoV-2 positive subjects observed in Sardinia up to 9 July, 2020 and whose data were available in the public health department. Statistical analysis and graphic representation were performed using STATA and Adobe Illustrator, respectively. Results Of the positive cases analyzed, 323 (23.5%) are health-care workers and 563 (41.1%) reside in social or health-care facilities. The number of positive cases among the general population (subjects who do not belong to these semi-closed communities), is 399 (29.1%), 208 females and 191 males. The estimated Case Fatality Rate stands at 5.0%, which is almost half the rate reported for all the SARS-CoV-2 positive cases (9.8%). The geographical distribution of positive cases differs considerably from the distribution of the totality of cases in Sardinia. Conclusions This review provides an insight into the COVID-19 situation in the general community, ie not involving health-care professionals or social and health-care facilities. Understanding the evolving epidemiology and transmission dynamics of the outbreak outside of these semi-closed communities would provide appropriate information to guide intervention policy. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the vulnerability of our health-care system. Severe disruptions in care, medicine shortages and unequal access to health-care are but a few examples of the challenges faced by people living in Italy and Europe, highlighting the importance of evidence-based approaches in supporting the development of prevention and response strategies for future pandemics.

scholarly journals Survey to identify depth of penetration of critical incident reporting systems in Austrian healthcare facilities

2018 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 004695801774491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald Sendlhofer ◽  
Harald Eder ◽  
Karina Leitgeb ◽  
Roland Gorges ◽  
Heidelinde Jakse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
Critical Incidents ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Incident Reporting ◽  
Incident Reporting Systems ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Reporting Systems ◽  
Critical Incident Reporting

Incident reporting systems or so-called critical incident reporting systems (CIRS) were first recommended for use in health care more than 15 years ago. The uses of these CIRS are highly variable among countries, ranging from being used to report critical incidents, falls, or sentinel events resulting in death. In Austria, CIRS have only been introduced to the health care sector relatively recently. The goal of this work, therefore, was to determine whether and specifically how CIRS are used in Austria. A working group from the Austrian Society for Quality and Safety in Healthcare (ASQS) developed a survey on the topic of CIRS to collect information on penetration of CIRS in general and on how CIRS reports are used to increase patient safety. Three hundred seventy-one health care professionals from 274 health care facilities were contacted via e-mail. Seventy-eight respondents (21.0%) completed the online survey, thereof 66 from hospitals and 12 from other facilities (outpatient clinics, nursing homes). In all, 64.1% of the respondents indicated that CIRS were used in the entire health care facility; 20.6% had not yet introduced CIRS and 15.4% used CIRS only in particular areas. Most often, critical incidents without any harm to patients were reported (76.9%); however, some health care facilities also use their CIRS to report patient falls (16.7%), needle stick injuries (17.9%), technical problems (51.3%), or critical incidents involving health care professionals. CIRS are not yet extensively or homogeneously used in Austria. Inconsistencies exist with respect to which events are reported as well as how they are followed up and reported to health care professionals. Further recommendations for general use are needed to support the dissemination in Austrian health care environments.

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