scholarly journals Placing equity at the heart of eHealth implementation: A qualitative pilot study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milena Heinsch ◽  
Campbell Tickner ◽  
Frances Kay-Lambkin
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Home Environment ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Ehealth Services ◽  
Key Dimensions ◽  
Diverse Groups

Abstract Background There is a growing urgency to tackle issues of equity and justice in the implementation of eHealth technologies. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted with 19 multidisciplinary health professionals to explore the implementation and uptake of eHealth technologies in practice. Results were analysed using Nancy Fraser’s social justice framework to identify key dimensions and patterns of distribution, recognition, and participation in the implementation of digital health services. Results Health professionals reported that eHealth offered their clients a greater sense of safety, convenience, and flexibility, allowing them to determine the nature and pace of their healthcare, and giving them more control over their treatment and recovery. However, they also expressed concerns about the use of eHealth with clients whose home environment is unsafe. Application of Fraser’s social justice framework revealed that eHealth technologies may not always provide a secure clinical space in which the voices of vulnerable clients can be recognised and heard. It also highlighted critical systemic and cultural barriers that hinder the representation of clients’ voices in the decision to use eHealth technologies and perpetuate inequalities in the distribution of eHealth services. Conclusions To facilitate broad participation, eHealth tools need to be adaptable to the needs and circumstances of diverse groups. Future implementation science efforts must also be directed at identifying and addressing the underlying structures that hinder equitable recognition, representation, and distribution in the implementation of eHealth resources.

scholarly journals Placing equity at the heart of eHealth implementation: A qualitative pilot study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milena Heinsch ◽  
Campbell Tickner ◽  
Frances Kay-Lambkin
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Home Environment ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Key Dimensions ◽  
Diverse Groups

Abstract Background: There is a growing urgency to tackle issues of equity and justice in the implementation of eHealth technologies. Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 19 multidisciplinary health professionals to explore the implementation and uptake of eHealth technologies in practice. Results were analysed using Nancy Fraser’s social justice framework to identify key dimensions and patterns of distribution, recognition, and participation in the implementation of digital health services.Results: Health professionals reported that eHealth offered their clients a greater sense of safety, convenience, and flexibility, allowing them to determine the nature and pace of their healthcare, and giving them more control over their treatment and recovery. However, they also expressed concerns about the use of eHealth with clients whose home environment is unsafe. Application of Fraser’s social justice framework revealed that eHealth technologies may not always provide a secure clinical space in which the voices of vulnerable clients can be recognised and heard. It also highlighted critical systemic and cultural barriers that hinder the representation of clients’ voices in the decision to use eHealth technologies and perpetuate inequalities in the distribution of eHealth servies.Conclusions: To facilitate broad participation, eHealth tools need to be adaptable to the needs and circumstances of diverse groups. Future implementation science efforts must also be directed at identifying and addressing the underlying structures that hinder equitable recognition, representation, and distribution in the implementation of eHealth resources.

scholarly journals Free access to nicotine substitutes and e-cigarette for tobacco cessation: STOP a pilot intervention

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Héron ◽  
M Melchior ◽  
F El-Khoury
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Smoking Cessation Intervention ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Cessation Intervention ◽  
Paris Area ◽  
Economic Position

Abstract Background Smoking rates in France are high, and present a substantial socio-economic gradient. Smokers with low socio-economic position (SEP) may be more dependent on nicotine, and have more financial difficulties to buy nicotine substitutes. Tailored approaches are therefore needed. Methods STOP (Sevrage Tabagique à l’aide d’Outils dédiés selon la Préférence) is an ongoing pilot study, examining the acceptability of a smoking cessation intervention. Smokers with low SEP are recruited in six healthcare centres in Greater Paris area by health professionals and are offered substitute(s) of their choice for 4 weeks. Participants can choose between different types of nicotine substitutes (NS; patches, inhalers, etc.) and/or an e-cigarette delivered free of charge. The acceptability of this approach is examined in patients and doctors, using a mixed-method approach. Results So far, 30 smokers have been included in our study, 20% chose e-cigarettes, 36% chose NS, 36% chose both, and 2 participants (8%) chose neither. More than half of participants quit smoking (66%) at one week after inclusion, with 11 reporting tobacco abstinence out of 16 participants followed for 4 weeks. The average number of cigarettes smoked decreased from 15(sd = 10) at inclusion to 8.5 (sd = 5) among those who didn’t quit at four week. In qualitative interviews, one of the facilitators highlighted by health professionals was the perceived “met need” of smokers with low SEP when given free quitting aids without upfront-payment. One of the reported obstacles is the difficulty in scheduling consecutive follow-up meetings in short time. Discussion It is feasible to implement a smoking cessation programme aimed at smokers with low SEP, and embedded in the healthcare system. If proven effective, this intervention could contribute to decreasing social inequalities with regard to tobacco use. Recruitment in a randomised controlled multicentre trial based on this pilot study will start at the end of 2019. Key messages It is feasible to put in place a smoking cessation intervention among socially-disadvantaged in healthcare centres. Free access to nicotine substitutes and e-cigarettes could be a promising smoking cessation intervention among smokers with low socio-economic position.

HOW STUDENTS DEFINE THEIR SUCCESS: A RESEARCH STUDY

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Max Ullrich ◽  
David S. Strong
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Survey Instrument ◽  
Undergraduate Engineering ◽  
Diversity And Inclusion ◽  
Full Study ◽  
Definition Of Success ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Diverse Groups

How undergraduate engineering students define their success and plan for their future differs notably amongst students. With a push for greater diversity and inclusion in engineering schools, it is valuable to also better understand the differences in these areas among different students to allow institutions to better serve the needs of these diverse groups.  The purpose of this research study is to explore students’ definition of success both in the present and projecting forward 5 to 10 years, as well as to understand to what level students reflect on, and plan for, the future. The proposed survey instrument for the pilot stage of this research includes 56 closed-ended questions and 3 open-ended questions. Evidence for the validity of the research instrument is established through a mixed-method pilot study. This paper will discuss the survey instrument, the pilot study, and outline plans for the full study.

scholarly journals Use of symptom checkers for COVID-19-related symptoms among university students: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjinnov-2020-000498
Author(s):  
Stephanie Aboueid ◽  
Samantha B Meyer ◽  
James R Wallace ◽  
Shreya Mahajan ◽  
Teeyaa Nur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Positive Experience ◽  
Perceived Credibility ◽  
Inductive Thematic Analysis

ObjectiveSymptom checkers are potentially beneficial tools during pandemics. To increase the use of the platform, perspectives of end users must be gathered. Our objectives were to understand the perspectives and experiences of young adults related to the use of symptom checkers for assessing COVID-19-related symptoms and to identify areas for improvement.MethodsWe conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with 22 young adults (18–34 years of age) at a university in Ontario, Canada. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.ResultsWe identified six main themes related to the decision of using a symptom checker for COVID-19 symptoms: (1) presence of symptoms or a combination of symptoms, (2) knowledge about COVID-19 symptoms, (3) fear of seeking in-person healthcare services, (4) awareness about symptom checkers, (5) paranoia and (6) curiosity. Participants who used symptom checkers shared by governmental entities reported an overall positive experience. Individuals who used non-credible sources reported suboptimal experiences due to lack of perceived credibility. Five main areas for improvement were identified: (1) information about the creators of the platform, (2) explanation of symptoms, (3) personalised experience, (4) language options, and (5) option to get tested.ConclusionsThis study suggests an increased acceptance of symptom checkers due to the perceived risks of infection associated with seeking in-person healthcare services. Symptom checkers have the potential to reduce the burden on healthcare systems and health professionals, especially during pandemics; however, these platforms could be improved to increase use.

Spiritual issues and needs: Perspectives from patients with advanced cancer and nonmalignant disease. A qualitative study

2004 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
ELIZABETH GRANT ◽  
SCOTT A. MURRAY ◽  
MARILYN KENDALL ◽  
KIRSTY BOYD ◽  
STEPHEN TILLEY ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Spiritual Needs ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Nonmalignant Disease

Objective: Health care professionals and policy makers acknowledge that spiritual needs are important for many patients with life-limiting illnesses. We asked such patients to describe their spiritual needs and how these needs may impinge on their physical, psychological, and social well-being. Patients were also encouraged to explain in what ways their spiritual needs, if they had any, could be addressed.Methods: We conducted two qualitative interviews, 3 months apart, with 20 patients in their last year of life: 13 patients with advanced cancer and 7 with advanced nonmalignant illness. We also interviewed each patient's general practitioner. Sixty-six interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed.Results: Patients' spiritual needs centered around their loss of roles and self-identity and their fear of dying. Many sought to make sense of life in relation to a nonvisible or sacred world. They associated anxiety, sleeplessness, and despair with such issues, which at times resulted in them seeking support from health professionals. Patients were best able to engage their personal resources to meet these needs when affirmed and valued by health professionals.Significance of results: Enabling patients to deal with their spiritual needs through affirmative relationships with health professionals may improve quality of life and reduce use of health resources. Further research to explore the relationship between spiritual distress and health service utilization is indicated.

Quality of service and commitment to tobacco dependence treatment for individuals living with mental disorders in France: A pilot study

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110429
Author(s):  
João M Castaldelli-Maia ◽  
Priscila D Gonçalves ◽  
Danielle R Lima ◽  
Helena F Moura ◽  
Gisèle Apter
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Quality Of Service ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Tobacco Dependence ◽  
Treatment Quality ◽  
Tobacco Treatment

Background: There are remarkably high smoking rates in patients living with mental disorders (PLWMD), and the absence of a specific treatment policy for smoking cessation for these patients worldwide. The present study aimed to (i) investigate the quality of service and commitment to tobacco dependence treatment, and (ii) produce high-quality French versions of the Index of Tobacco Treatment Quality (ITTQ) and Tobacco Treatment Commitment Scale (TTCS). Methods: ITTQ and TTCS were used to assess French mental health professionals ( n = 80). Both scales were translated from their original language following standard procedures (i.e. forward translation). Descriptive analysis for total score, each factor and item were calculated for the entire sample, followed by subgroup analysis by gender, and role of the practitioner. Results: Nurses presented higher levels of both treatment commitment and treatment quality in their mental health care units, compared to psychiatrists, and residents. Overall, counseling offering was low and there was a perception that it is unfair to take tobacco away from PLWMD. In the other hand, there were high levels of smoking assessment and perceptions that nicotine dependence should be included in drug treatment programs. Conclusions: There is a gap in tobacco treatment implementation for French PLWMD. The present pilot study alerts about the problem, and should stimulate larger studies validating such measures for wide use with French-speaking mental health professionals. French nurses presented higher levels of both treatment commitment and quality, and could be in a leadership position for such implementation. Encouraging the implementation of tobacco counseling within conventional mental health treatment is critical to improve cessation rates among this population. There is a potential for the sustainability of tobacco treatment interventions since the levels of commitment observed here were higher than in previous studies conducted abroad.

scholarly journals Terapia del dolore: nuove norme e aspetti pratici per l’uso degli analgesici

2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-83
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Pradelli
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Pain Therapy ◽  
Drug Prescription ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Modern Approach ◽  
Care Giving

Until recently, pain therapy in Italy was conducted with largely sub-optimal standards, as revealed by one of the lowest mean morphine consumption values, an important indicator of pain therapy quality according to the WHO, among industrialized countries. The recognition of such a negative situation has led to an important effort to improvement, carried out by the law-maker, institutions and health professionals. As suggested by the WHO, these efforts aimed at three main objectives: reducing the cultural barriers to appropriate opioid use through targeted education and information, easing of analgesic drug prescription and availability, and improvement of the integration among hospital-based and domiciliar pain management and care-giving. In this article, the new legal framework concerning the prescription and administration of analgesics - regulatory innovations started in February 2001 - is presented and its practical implications for health professionals are discussed. Alongside the new laws, some regulatory interventions recently adopted by the Italian Drug Agency (AIFA) are presented and discussed, as they share the proposition of simplifying pain therapy and permit the prescription of more analgesics paid for by the National Health Service. In the last years, the premises for a more rational and modern approach to pain therapy in Italy have been created, which will need to be followed by cultural, organizing and clinical practice adaptations in order to warrant effective and efficient management of algic patients.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document