Challenges and opportunities identified for lymphoedema services in Wales during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 210-217
Author(s):  
Marie Gabe-Walters ◽  
Rhian Noble-Jones
Keyword(s):  
Patient Care ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Patient Advocacy ◽  
Mailing List ◽  
New Ways Of Working ◽  
Effective Care ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Future Burden ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Virtual Services

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, lymphoedema staff adapted services, providing care remotely, and worked in other NHS sectors. The impact on services and staff must be understood in order to safeguard patient care and foster workforce resilience. Aims: To evaluate the experiences of clinical and non-clinical lymphoedema staff in Wales during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An anonymous online survey, based on scoping work, was sent out via the Welsh lymphoedema services mailing list. Findings: 71% (68/96) of eligible lymphoedema staff completed the survey. More than half supported lymphoedema services (40/68) with the remaining staff deployed elsewhere. Overall, staff and services felt prepared for new ways of working. Concerns about others and the future burden on services when life returned to normal were reported. Opportunities identified included education initiatives and virtual services. Conclusion: Lymphoedema services were well prepared to deliver virtually, enable effective care and share knowledge. Co-ordinated efforts to uphold patient advocacy will support virtual services to meet their needs.

The Work-Life Balancing Act

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Dhruva Pathak ◽  
Vijayakumar Bharathi S. ◽  
Padma Mala E.
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Work Productivity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Personal Life ◽  
Future Research ◽  
New Ways Of Working ◽  
Professional Attitude ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
The Impact

The study investigated the impact of mandatory work from home due COVID-19 on personal and professional lives of people with different demographics. Statistical analysis of an online survey data (N=237) reveals that the impact on personal life dimensions—healthy lifestyle, family bonding, and physical stress—does not differ across people within different demographics. However, impact on emotional well-being is sensitive to gender and industry groups. Family size is also an important demographic factor impacted upon personal life dimensions. Professional dimensions related to work productivity and adopting new ways of working does not differ across demographics except for occupational role. Dimensions related to new skill development and change in professional attitude does differ across occupational roles. The study concludes by stating future research directions for mandatory work from home situation, and prescription to post-COVID-19 strategies for organizations.

scholarly journals Challenges and Opportunities: Experiences of Mathematics Lecturers Engaged in Emergency Remote Teaching during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mathematics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (18) ◽  
pp. 2303
Author(s):  
Eabhnat Ní Fhloinn ◽  
Olivia Fitzmaurice
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Prior Experience ◽  
Teaching Mathematics ◽  
Experience Teaching ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Teaching Of Mathematics ◽  
Nature Of Mathematics ◽  
The Impact

In this paper, we consider the experiences of mathematics lecturers in higher education and how they moved to emergency remote teaching during the initial university closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey was conducted in May–June 2020 which received 257 replies from respondents based in 29 countries. We report on the particular challenges mathematics lecturers perceive there to be around teaching mathematics remotely, as well as any advantages or disadvantages of teaching mathematics online that they report. Over 90% of respondents had little or no prior experience teaching mathematics online, and, initially, 72% found it stressful and 88% thought it time-consuming. 88% felt there was a difference between teaching mathematics in this way compared with other disciplines. Four main types of challenges were associated with emergency remote teaching of mathematics: technical challenges; student challenges; teaching challenges; and the nature of mathematics. Respondents identified flexibility as the main advantage of online teaching, with lack of interaction featuring strongly as a disadvantage. We also consider respondents’ personal circumstances during this time, in terms of working conditions and caring responsibilities and conclude by summarizing the impact they perceive this experience may have upon their future teaching. Forty-six percent% of respondents self-identified as having caring responsibilities, and 61% felt the experience would affect their future teaching.

Promoting patient health maintenance with cancer care planning at diagnosis and during treatment: baseline data of the Coleman Supportive Oncology Collaborative (CSOC).

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e24051-e24051
Author(s):  
Christine B. Weldon ◽  
Julia Rachel Trosman ◽  
Rosa Berardi ◽  
Al Bowen Benson ◽  
Betty Roggenkamp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Care ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Care Plan ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Health Maintenance ◽  
Supportive Cancer Care ◽  
Personalized Care ◽  
Care Plans ◽  
The Impact

e24051 Background: CSOC conducts quality improvements (QI) for cancer patients that facilitate delivery of appropriate health maintenance and supportive cancer care at diagnosis and during treatment. CSOC is implementing a care planning QI starting at diagnosis using the 4R oncology model (Right Info / Care / Patient / Time), which provides patients a formal personalized care plan called Patient Care Sequence. Each Care Sequence includes health maintenance, cancer treatments and supportive care. As part of CSOC, we conducted provider surveys as a pre-intervention baseline to inform QI opportunities. Methods: Online survey of cancer providers from 8 cancer centers (4 academic, 4 community) conducted July 2018 - October 2019, prior to 4R implementation. The survey focused on current care planning practices and inclusion of guideline recommended health maintenance in care plans. Results: Survey response rate: 80% (180/225); respondents were 53% physicians, 20% advanced practice, 27% nurses. Only 59% (107/180) of respondents give patients care plans at diagnosis: 61% (65/107) verbally, 22% (24/107) written, 17% (18/107) using a printed form. Providers reported considerable gaps in including guideline-based health maintenance and promotion activities in care plans given to patients (Table). Additionally, 61% of providers reported concerns that it is challenging for their patients to manage their own health maintenance activities. Providers who are concerned about patients’ challenges in managing their own health maintenance are significantly more likely to give their patients a written or printed plan (76%, 32/42) compared to those providing care plans to patients verbally or not at all (56%, 77/138), p = .02. Conclusions: Guideline based health promotion activities are not consistently included in care plans, and care planning is not sufficiently conducted at cancer diagnosis. The CSOC 4R Oncology Model, which implements Patient Care Sequences at diagnosis, will address these gaps and examine the impact of formal care planning on improving utilization of health maintenance and promotion activities. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals Impact and Perspectives of Pediatric Dental Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic Regarding Unvaccinated Children: A Cross-Sectional Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 12117
Author(s):  
Nelly Schulz-Weidner ◽  
Maximiliane Schlenz ◽  
Norbert Krämer ◽  
Sarra Boukhobza ◽  
Katrin Bekes
Keyword(s):  
Patient Care ◽  
Dental Care ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Pediatric Dentistry ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pediatric Dentists ◽  
The Impact

The pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus has led to enormous challenges in pediatric dental care. In contrast to adults, many children are without any symptoms of disease if infected with COVID-19 and are not vaccinated. The aim of this study was to conduct an inquiry into the perspective of pediatric dentists in Germany towards the impact of COVID-19 on daily patient care during the lockdowns caused by the pandemic. All members of the Germany Society of Pediatric Dentistry were invited to participate in an online survey. The questionnaire focused on five topics: safety measures, well-being/knowledge, patient care, prospects, and demographic data. A total of 549 pediatric dentists participated (58.11% females, 8.2% males, 0.18% inter/diverse, and 33.51% no answer). In total, 75.2% of the dental clinics were open during the first lockdown (LD1) and 78.1% during the second lockdown (LD2). In LD1, only 22.2% were operating at full capacity, while 40.1% were open with restrictions, and 11.8% only offered emergency treatment. In LD2, 71.2% of practices were operating again and resumed offering all treatment methods. A significant decrease in pediatric patients was reported due to the fact of COVID-19. Furthermore, measures, such as oral hygiene and recall appointments, were reduced. Measures that were performed after the lockdown were mainly aerosol-generating procedures and extractions as well as general anesthesia or sedation. The increased willingness to treat in the second lockdown has shown that pediatric dentists have adapted to the pandemic conditions, which seems to be of great importance, especially in view of the problem of unvaccinated children.

Utilization of Patient Navigators in Breast Imaging Facilities Across the United States: A Survey of Breast Imaging Radiologists

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-21
Author(s):  
Amie Y Lee ◽  
Donna Plecha ◽  
Genevieve A Woodard ◽  
Elissa R Price ◽  
Jessica H Hayward ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Breast Imaging ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Patient Navigators ◽  
Navigation Program ◽  
Impact Patient Care ◽  
Improving Patient Care ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objective To assess the utilization of patient navigators at breast imaging facilities across the United States. Methods An online survey was distributed to physician members of the Society of Breast Imaging. Questions encompassed use of patient navigators in breast imaging including: presence and qualifications, roles in patient care, perceived benefits, and barriers. Data were analyzed to identify the overall prevalence of patient navigators, their responsibilities and qualifications, and the impact on breast imaging centers. Results Three-hundred and eighty-five board-certified radiologists practicing in the United States completed the survey. The most common practice types were private practice (52%; 201/385) and academic (29%; 110/385). The majority (67%; 256/385) employed navigators, and the most common qualification was a registered nurse (78%; 200/256). Navigators were used for a variety of patient communication and care coordination roles, most commonly to provide educational resources (86%; 219/256), assist patients with scheduling appointments (80%; 205/256), explain the biopsy process (76%;195/256), and communicate biopsy results (64%). Nearly all (99%; 254/256) respondents ranked patient navigators as valuable to extremely valuable in improving patient care and indicated they would recommend implementation of a patient navigation program to other breast imaging practices. The most common barrier to employing a navigator was the financial cost. Conclusion Patient navigators have been widely adopted in breast imaging practices across the United States, with two-thirds of respondents reporting use of a navigator. Although navigator roles varied by practice, nearly all radiologists utilizing patient navigators found that they positively impact patient care and would recommend them to other breast imaging practices.

scholarly journals The Impact of Previous Cardiology Electives on Canadian Medical Student Interest and Understanding of Cardiology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bright Huo ◽  
Wyatt MacNevin ◽  
Todd Dow ◽  
Miroslaw Rajda
Keyword(s):  
Medical Student ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Specialty Choice ◽  
Student Interest ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Chi Square Analysis ◽  
The Impact

Background: Most Canadian medical schools do not have mandatory cardiology rotations. Early exposure to clinical cardiology aids career navigation, but clerkship selectives are chosen during pre-clerkship. This study investigates whether prior elective experiences affect medical student interest as well as understanding of cardiology before clerkship selections. Methods: A literature search was conducted using Google Scholar, Embase and PubMed to create an evidence-based cross-sectional survey. The anonymous questionnaire was administered to 53 second-year medical students at a Canadian medical school via Opinio, an online survey platform. Students were assessed on their interest and understanding of cardiology practice using a 5-point Likert Scale. Descriptive statistics and Chi-Square analysis were applied to assess the relationship between previous elective experience, medical student interest, and understanding of career-related factors pertaining to cardiology. Results: Overall, 26 (49.1%) students reported cardiology interest, while it was a preferred specialty for 9 (17.0%). Medical students reported low understanding of community practice (n=20, 37.7%), duration of patient relationships (n=14, 26.4%), spectrum of disorders (n=13, 24.5%), and in-patient care (n=11, 20.8%) associated with cardiology practice. Students with prior cardiology electives had increased understanding of in-patient care (χ2 = 4.688, Cramer’s V = 0.297, p = 0.030 and were more likely to select cardiology as a top specialty choice (χ2 = 7.983, Cramer’s V = 0.388, p = 0.005). Conclusions: Pre-clerkship medical students have a low understanding of cardiology practice. Increasing pre-clerkship exposure to cardiology may help students determine their interest in the specialty before clerkship selectives are chosen.

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