scholarly journals A digital health intervention to increase health knowledge related to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Taenia solium cysticercosis/taeniosis in Iringa, Tanzania: Protocol of a mixed-method study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Holst ◽  
Felix Sukums ◽  
Bernard Ngowi ◽  
Lien My Diep ◽  
Tewodros Aragie Kebede ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Method ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Health Messages ◽  
Mixed Method Study ◽  
The Difference

BACKGROUND Health promotion and health education have traditionally been given to communities in the global south in the form of leaflets or orally by healthcare workers. Digital health interventions (DHIs) such as digital health messages accessed with, for example, smartphones have the potential to reach more people at a lower cost and to contribute to strengthening of the healthcare system. The DHI in this study is focused on disseminating digital health education on three disease complexes of high public health concern, i.e. HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and Taenia solium (neuro)cysticercosis/taeniosis (TSCT), a parasitic zoonotic disease that requires a Health One approach to combat. The DHI presents the participants with animated health videos (animations) and provides access to internet hotspots in rural Tanzanian communities, with a freely accessible digital health platform containing messages about health. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to measure the effect of the DHI on health knowledge uptake and retention over time in the rural communities. METHODS This is a mixed-method study including a non-randomized, controlled trial and qualitative interviews, conducted in rural Tanzania, in which the DHI is being implemented. A health platform containing digital health messages to the communities was developed prior to the study. The health messages comprise text, pictures, quizzes and animations of everyday stories, aiming at disease prevention and early treatment. The baseline and immediate-after assessment was completed in Iringa, Tanzania in 2019. The participants were interviewed by enumerators and completed questionnaires with questions regarding health knowledge. Participants in the intervention group were exposed to three health animations once, on a tablet device. The participants’ health knowledge was immediately assessed again after exposure. The first follow-up survey was undertaken in August 2019. The internet hotspots with the health platform were thereafter rolled out in the intervention villages in November 2019. Qualitative interviews were undertaken in February 2020. The second follow-up was completed in June 2020. RESULTS A total of 600 participants have been enrolled in the trial. We will assess 1) the difference in knowledge scores between baseline and immediate-after in the intervention group, 2) the difference in knowledge scores between the groups on the changes from baseline to 3 and 6 months post DHI rollout. As a randomised design was not feasible, potential confounders, e.g. age, gender, education and time from exposure, may be introduced, for which results will be adjusted. Data analysis for the 35 qualitative interviews is currently ongoing, where perspectives and experiences related to use and non-use of the hotspots are being explored. CONCLUSIONS This is an ongoing digital health study, aiming at evaluating the effects of a DHI based on relevant health messages, of which published results can be expected next year. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03808597; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03808597

Remote Follow-up of Self-isolating COVID-19 Patients with a Patient Portal: Protocol for a Mixed-method Pilot Study (The Opal-COVID Study) (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Lessard ◽  
Kim Engler ◽  
Yuanchao Ma ◽  
Adriana Rodriguez Cruz ◽  
Serge Vicente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽  
Patient Portal ◽  
Implementation Outcomes ◽  
Service Outcomes ◽  
Qualitative Analyses

BACKGROUND Individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 are instructed to self-isolate at home. However, during self-isolation, they may experience anxiety and insufficient care. Some patient portals can allow patients to self-monitor and share their health status with healthcare professionals for remote follow-up, but little data is available on the feasibility of their use. OBJECTIVE This manuscript presents the protocol of the Opal-COVID Study which has four objectives: 1) assess the implementation of using the Opal patient portal for distance monitoring of COVID-19 patients self-isolating at home; 2) identify influences on the intervention’s implementation; and describe 3) service and 4) patient outcomes of this intervention. METHODS This mixed-method pilot study aims to recruit 50 COVID-19 patient participants tested at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC, Montreal, Canada) for 14 days of remote follow-up. With access to questionnaires through the Opal patient portal smartphone app, configured for this study, patients will complete a daily self-assessment of symptoms, vital signs, and mental health, monitored by a nurse, and receive subsequent teleconsultations, as needed. Study questionnaires will be administered to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, medical background, implementation outcomes (acceptability, usability, and respondent burden) and patient satisfaction. Coordinator logbook entries will inform on feasibility outcomes, namely, recruitment/retention rates and fidelity, as well as on the frequency and nature of contacts with healthcare professionals via Opal. The statistical analyses for Objectives 1 (implementation outcomes), 3 (service outcomes), and 4 (patient outcomes) will evaluate the effects of time and sociodemographic characteristics on the outcomes. For Objectives 1 (implementation outcomes) and 4 (patient outcomes), the statistical analyses will also examine the attainment of predefined success thresholds. As to the qualitative analyses, for Objective 2 (influences on implementation), semi-structured qualitative interviews will be conducted with four groups of stakeholders (i.e., patient participants, healthcare professionals, technology developers and study administrators) and submitted to content analysis, guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to help identify barriers and facilitators of implementation. For Objective 3 (service outcomes), reasons for contacting healthcare professionals through Opal will also be submitted to content analysis. RESULTS Between December 2020 and March 2021, 51 patient-participants were recruited. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 39 involved stakeholders, from April to September 2021. Delays in the study process were experienced due to implemented measures at the MUHC to address COVID-19 but the quantitative and qualitative analyses are currently underway. CONCLUSIONS This protocol is designed to generate multidisciplinary knowledge on the implementation of a patient portal-based COVID-19 care intervention and will lead to a comprehensive understanding of feasibility, stakeholder experience, and influences on implementation that may prove useful for scaling up similar interventions. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04978233.

Investigating the role of middle managers in strategy-making process: An Australian mixed method study

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim O'Shannassy
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Method ◽  
Middle Managers ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Mixed Method Study ◽  
Henry Mintzberg ◽  
Organization Strategy ◽  
Strategy Making ◽  
Mix Methods

AbstractSeveral influential writers including Henry Mintzberg and Gary Hamel have highlighted the need for organizations to value the contribution to strategy work of middle managers in an uncertain world. In this study quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews are used to mix methods and investigate the role of middle managers in strategy-making process in Australia. The results indicate that middle managers are the ‘doers’ of strategy, with important ‘analyst’, ‘coordinator’, ‘information source’ and ‘communicator’ roles. Middle managers reported some frustration in interviews that at times they feel their input to strategic conversations is not translated effectively into organization strategy.

Pilot Evaluation of Setu, a School-Based Violence Prevention Program Among Indian Adolescents

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (8) ◽  
pp. 1142-1166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Drishti Sharma ◽  
Krista R. Mehari ◽  
Jugal Kishore ◽  
Nandini Sharma ◽  
Mona Duggal
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Program Effectiveness ◽  
Violent Behavior ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Intervention School ◽  
Implementation Quality ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Violence Prevention Program

A quasi-experimental study was conducted in the eighth grade of two public schools located in Central Delhi. Two classes (95 participants) in the intervention school and three classes (108 participants) in the comparison school participated. The brief intervention was implemented across four 2-hour sessions for 1 month in the intervention school. Self-reported violence behavior (bullying, fighting, and victimization) was measured at baseline, posttest, and a 6-month follow-up in both schools. Students and teachers also provided feedback regarding feasibility and acceptability. The difference-in-difference analyses indicated nonphysical aggression, physical aggression, and victimization were significantly lower in the intervention group vis-à-vis comparison group at the 6-month follow-up, but not at baseline or immediate posttest, suggesting sleeper effects. Qualitative feedback indicated that the intervention was acceptable to students and suggested that implementation quality was a key to program effectiveness. These findings suggest that the intervention may curtail the increase in violent behavior in early adolescence.

Current Perceptions: The DNP–PhD Divide

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonnie L. Nickasch ◽  
Michelle M. Lehr ◽  
Bonnie Schmidt ◽  
Trevor Henne ◽  
Carley Wippich
Keyword(s):  
Student Success ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Nursing Practice ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Mixed Method Study ◽  
University Administrators ◽  
Organizational Changes ◽  
Doctor Of Nursing Practice ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
Enhance Student Learning

Background: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and PhD degrees are terminal degrees in nursing, yet they differ in preparation and intended purpose. Perceptions of DNP- and PhD-prepared faculty, staff, and administrators regarding DNP/PhD teaching roles, research expectations, and attitudes toward collaboration are poorly understood. Objective: This mixed-method study sought to identify current perceptions related to collaboration and utilization of DNP- and PhD-prepared faculty, staff, and administrators. Methods: Quantitative survey responses were obtained from 55 DNP- or PhD-prepared individuals, followed by qualitative interviews of eight participants. Results: Qualitative findings identified DNP–PhD division, lack of collaboration, and sub-optimal utilization of DNP and PhD individuals. Significant quantitative findings identified perceptions that increased collaboration would enhance student learning and increase research success. Conclusions: Administrators should make organizational changes that break down barriers between DNP- and PhD-prepared faculty, staff, and administrators. Implications for Nursing: University administrators can optimize student success by finding ways to bridge the divide between DNP- and PhD-prepared faculty, staff, and administrators.

scholarly journals Determinants of Treatment Adherence Among Patients Living With Noncommunicable Diseases: A Mixed-Method Study in a Rural Area of West Bengal

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352110393
Author(s):  
Ankush Banerjee ◽  
Bobby Paul ◽  
Madhumita Dobe ◽  
Lina Bandyopadhyay ◽  
Madhumita Bhattacharyya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Adherence ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
West Bengal ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Medical Profession ◽  
Patient Empowerment ◽  
System Level ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Mixed Method Study

The multisectoral impact of the COVID-19 pandemic can impair treatment adherence of patients with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). This mixed-method study, conducted from November 2020 to January 2021, assessed the quantum of their treatment adherence and its determinants in rural West Bengal. Quantitative data were collected from 213 NCD patients while qualitative exploration for barriers of treatment adherence was conducted as 6 in-depth Interviews. Treatment adherence was assessed by “Medication Compliance Questionnaire” and “Adherence to Healthy Lifestyle and Follow-up Advice” Questionnaire. A total of 39.4% were nonadherent to medications while 67.1% had nonadherence to healthy lifestyle and follow-up advice. Significant predictors associated with nonadherence were increasing age, female gender, lower socioeconomic status, decreasing patient empowerment, and decreasing trust in the medical profession. Economic crisis, fear of contagion, and nonavailability of investigation facilities were some new emerging barriers in addition to preexisting barriers of treatment adherence. Therefore, measures for improving patient empowerment and patient–provider relationship by motivation and counseling, taking proper care of vulnerable patients affected by the pandemic, and correcting deficiencies at the health-system level should be given utmost priority.

Multidisciplinary Approach to the Development of Digital Health Messages for Rural Populations in Tanzania (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Holst ◽  
Ghislain Maurice Norbert Isabwe ◽  
Felix Sukums ◽  
Helena Ngowi ◽  
Flora Kajuna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Taenia Solium ◽  
Health Messages ◽  
National Language ◽  
Health Promotion And Education ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Hiv Aids

BACKGROUND Health workers have traditionally delivered health promotion and education to rural communities in the Global South in paper leaflet formats or orally. With the rise of digital technologies, health promotion and education can be provided in innovative and more effective formats, which are believed to have a higher impact on disease prevention and treatment. OBJECTIVE Using a multidisciplinary approach, the objective of this project was to develop short and simple digital health educational messages for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, Taenia solium cysticercosis/taeniosis and anthrax for rural communities in Tanzania. METHODS The multidisciplinary team of the Non-discriminating Access for Digital Inclusion (DigI) project digitalised and customised available government-approved paper-based health promotion messages into a screen suitable format. The team worked closely together and utilised its diverse expertise to develop the digital health messages with disease-specific content, in Tanzania's national language (Swahili) as well as English. The development process included the following phases: 1) a local needs assessment; 2) identification of government-approved health promotion materials in a non-digital format; 3) identification of key health messages for each of the five relevant domains (prevalence, cause/transmission, signs/symptoms, treatment and prevention); 4) creation of a practical and engaging story, easy to understand for the general public; 5) drafting of a storyboard for an animated video with review, feedback and revisions; 6) forward and backward translation from English to Swahili; 7) audio recording of the story in both languages; 8) finalisation and presentation for the animations; 9) development of relevant quiz questions related to the health messages in each domain; and 10) development of web and mobile applications to access the digital health messages. RESULTS Between 2017 and 2019, we developed key health messages, quizzes and animated health videos to address HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, Taenia solium cysticercosis/taeniosis and anthrax, which are all of public health importance in Tanzania. The four videos and other contents are available on a digital health platform (DigI platform), established by the DigI project, in both Swahili and English. CONCLUSIONS Our methodological multidisciplinary approach ensures that the digital health messages for the public are clear, high quality and align with the government objectives for health promotion. It also demonstrates the diversity of scientific disciplines required when collaborating on a digital health project. We recommend this approach to be applied to the development of other digital health messages for a wide range of diseases. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-25128

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