scholarly journals Toward Designs of Workplace Stress Management Mobile Apps for Frontline Health Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond: Design Implications for a Mixed Methods Qualitative Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beenish Moalla Chaudhry ◽  
Ashraful Islam ◽  
Monica Matthieu
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Stress Management ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Workplace Stressors ◽  
Frontline Health Workers ◽  
Google Search ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND In recent years, mobile apps have been developed to prevent burnout, promote anxiety management, and provide health education to workers in various workplace settings. However, there remains a paucity of such apps for frontline health workers (FHWs), even though FHWs are the most susceptible to stress due to the nature of their jobs. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to provide suggestions for designing stress management apps to address workplace stressors of FHWs based on the understanding of their needs from FHWs’ own perspectives and theories of stress. METHODS A mixed methods qualitative study was conducted. Using a variety of search strings, we first collected 41 relevant web-based news articles published between December 2019 and May 2020 through the Google search engine. We then conducted a cross-sectional survey with 20 FHWs. Two researchers independently conducted qualitative analysis of all the collected data using a deductive followed by an inductive approach. RESULTS Prevailing uncertainty and fear of contracting the infection was causing stress among FHWs. Moral injury associated with seeing patients die from lack of care and lack of experience in handling various circumstances were other sources of stress. FHWs mentioned 4 coping strategies. Quick coping strategies such as walking away from stressful situations, entertainment, and exercise were the most common ways to mitigate the impact of stress at work. Peer support and counseling services were other popular methods. Building resilience and driving oneself forward using internal motivation were also meaningful ways of overcoming stressful situations. Time constraints and limited management support prevented FHWs from engaging in stress management activities. CONCLUSIONS Our study identified stressors, coping strategies, and challenges with applying coping strategies that can guide the design of stress management apps for FHWs. Given that the pandemic is ongoing and health care crises continue, FHWs remain a vulnerable population in need of attention.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 pandemic social restriction measures on people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases in the UK: a mixed-methods study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e048772
Author(s):  
Toby O Smith ◽  
Pippa Belderson ◽  
Jack R Dainty ◽  
Linda Birt ◽  
Karen Durrant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Musculoskeletal Diseases ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Healthcare Provision ◽  
Social Restriction ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

ObjectivesTo determine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic social restriction measures on people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) and to explore how people adapted to these measures over time.DesignMixed-methods investigation comprising a national online longitudinal survey and embedded qualitative study.SettingUK online survey and interviews with community-dwelling individuals in the East of England.ParticipantsPeople in the UK with RMDs were invited to participate in an online survey. A subsection of respondents were invited to participate in the embedded qualitative study.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe online survey, completed fortnightly over 10 weeks from April 2020 to August 2020, investigated changes in symptoms, social isolation and loneliness, resilience and optimism. Qualitative interviews were undertaken assessing participant’s perspectives on changes in symptoms, exercising, managing instrumental tasks such a shopping, medication and treatment regimens and how they experienced changes in their social networks.Results703 people with RMDs completed the online survey. These people frequently reported a deterioration in symptoms as a result of COVID-19 pandemic social restrictions (52% reported increase vs 6% reported a decrease). This was significantly worse for those aged 18–60 years compared with older participants (p=0.017). The qualitative findings from 26 individuals with RMDs suggest that the greatest change in daily life was experienced by those in employment. Although some retired people reported reduced opportunity for exercise outside their homes, they did not face the many competing demands experienced by employed people and people with children at home.ConclusionsPeople with RMDs reported a deterioration in symptoms when COVID-19 pandemic social restriction measures were enforced. This was worse for working-aged people. Consideration of this at-risk group, specifically for the promotion of physical activity, changing home-working practices and awareness of healthcare provision is important, as social restrictions continue in the UK.

A scoping review of the use of log data for evaluating mobile Apps (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ane van Schalkwyk ◽  
Sara Grobbelaar ◽  
Euodia Vermeulen
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Log Data ◽  
Data Framework ◽  
Log Data Analysis ◽  
Google Search

BACKGROUND There is a growing trend in the potential benefits and application of log data for the evaluation of mHealth Apps. However, the process by which insights may be derived from log data remains unstructured, resulting in underutilisation of mHealth data. OBJECTIVE We aimed to acquire an understanding of how log data analysis can be used to generate valuable insights in support of realistic evaluations of mobile Apps through a scoping review. This understanding is delineated according to publication trends, associated concepts and characteristics of log data, framework or processes required to develop insights from log data, and how these insights may be utilised towards evaluation of Apps. METHODS The PRISMA-ScR guidelines for a scoping review were followed. The Scopus database, the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR), and grey literature (through a Google search) delivered 105 articles of which 33 articles were retained in the sample for analysis and synthesis. RESULTS A definition for log data is developed from its characteristics and articulated as: anonymous records of users’ real-time interactions with the application, collected objectively or automatically and often accessed from cloud-based storage. Publications for theoretical and empirical work on log data analysis have increased between 2010 and 2021 (100% and 95% respectively). The research approach is distributed between inductive (43%), deductive (30%), and a hybrid approach (27%). Research methods include mixed-methods (73%) and quantitative only (27%), although mixed-methods dominate since 2018. Only 30% of studies articulated the use of a framework or model to perform the log data analysis. Four main focus areas for log data analysis are identified as usability (40%), engagement (15%), effectiveness (15%), and adherence (15%). An average of one year of log data is used for analysis, with an average of three years from the launch of the App to the analysis. Collected indicators include user events or clicks made, specific features of the App, and timestamps of clicks. The main calculated indicators are features used or not used (24/33), frequency (21/33), and duration (18/33). Reporting the calculated indicators per ‘user or user group’ was the most used reference point. CONCLUSIONS Standardised terminology, processes, frameworks, and explicit benchmarks to utilise log data are lacking in literature. Thereby, the need for a conceptual framework that is able to standardise the log analysis of mobile Apps is determined. We provide a summary of concepts towards such a framework. CLINICALTRIAL NA

scholarly journals A mixed-methods evaluation of the impact of a person-centered family planning intervention for community health workers on family planning outcomes in India

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia Diamond-Smith ◽  
Claire McDonell ◽  
Ananta Basudev Sahu ◽  
Kali Prasad Roy ◽  
Katie Giessler
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Family Planning ◽  
Community Health ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
The University ◽  
Care Worker ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Person-centered quality for family planning has been gaining increased attention, yet few interventions have focused on this, or measured associations between person-centered quality for family planning and family planning outcomes (uptake, continuation, etc.). In India, the first point of contact for family planning is often the community health care worker, in this case, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). Methods In this study, we evaluate a training on person-centered family planning as an add-on to a training on family planning provision for urban ASHAs in Varanasi, India in 2019 using mixed methods. We first validate a scale to measure person-centered family planning in a community health worker population and find it to be valid. Higher person-centered family planning scores are associated with family planning uptake. Results Comparing women who saw intervention compared to control ASHAs, we find that the intervention had no impact on overall person-centered family planning scores. Women in the intervention arm were more likely to report that their ASHA had a strong preference about what method they choose, suggesting that the training increased provider pressure. However, qualitative interviews with ASHAs suggest that they value person-centered care for their interactions and absorbed the messages from the intervention. Conclusions More research is needed on how to intervene to change behaviors related to person-centered family planning. Trial registration This study received IRB approval from the University of California, San Francisco (IRB # 15–25,950) and was retrospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04206527).

scholarly journals The impact of self-efficacy and health literacy on outcome after bariatric surgery in Sweden: a protocol for a prospective, longitudinal mixed-methods study

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e027272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Jaensson ◽  
Karuna Dahlberg ◽  
Ulrica Nilsson ◽  
Erik Stenberg
Keyword(s):  
Bariatric Surgery ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionA person-centred approach, to know about a person’s individual weaknesses and strengths, is warranted in today’s healthcare in Sweden. When a person suffers from obesity, there are not only risks for comorbidities but also increased risk for decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL). After bariatric surgery, there are also risks for complications; however, healthcare service expects the person to have sufficient ability to handle recovery after surgery. The need is to investigate how a person’s self-efficacy and health literacy(HL) skills are important to determine their effect on recovery as well as HRQoL after bariatric surgery. It can, involve the person in the care, improve shared decision-making, and perhaps decrease complications and readmissions.Method and analysisThis is a prospective, longitudinal mixed-methods study with the intent of including 700 patients from three bariatric centres in Sweden (phase 1); 20 patients will be included in a qualitative study (phase 2). Inclusion criteria will be age >17 years, scheduled primary bariatric surgery and ability to read and understand the Swedish language in speech and in writing. Inclusion criteria for the qualitative study will be patients who reported a low self-efficacy, with a selection to ensure maximum variation regarding age and gender. Before bariatric surgery patients will answer a questionnaire including 20 items. Valid and reliable instruments will be used to investigate general self-efficacy (10 items) and functional and communicative and critical HL (10 items). This data collection will then be merged with data from the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry. Analysis will be performed 30 days, 1 year and 2 years after bariatric surgery. One year after bariatric surgery the qualitative study will be performed. The main outcomes are the impact of a person’s self-efficacy and HL on recovery after bariatric surgery.Ethics and disseminationThe study has received approval from the ethical review board in Uppsala, Sweden (number 2018/256). The study results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations to the scientific community and social media.

scholarly journals Connecting communities to primary care: a qualitative study on the roles, motivations and lived experiences of community health workers in the Philippines

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eunice Mallari ◽  
Gideon Lasco ◽  
Don Jervis Sayman ◽  
Arianna Maever L. Amit ◽  
Dina Balabanova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Community health workers (CHWs) are an important cadre of the primary health care (PHC) workforce in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The Philippines was an early adopter of the CHW model for the delivery of PHC, launching the Barangay (village) Health Worker (BHW) programme in the early 1980s, yet little is known about the factors that motivate and sustain BHWs’ largely voluntary involvement. This study aims to address this gap by examining the lived experiences and roles of BHWs in urban and rural sites in the Philippines. Methods This cross-sectional qualitative study draws on 23 semi-structured interviews held with BHWs from barangays in Valenzuela City (urban) and Quezon province (rural). A mixed inductive/ deductive approach was taken to generate themes, which were interpreted according to a theoretical framework of community mobilisation to understand how characteristics of the social context in which the BHW programme operates act as facilitators or barriers for community members to volunteer as BHWs. Results Interviewees identified a range of motivating factors to seek and sustain their BHW roles, including a variety of financial and non-financial incentives, gaining technical knowledge and skill, improving the health and wellbeing of community members, and increasing one’s social position. Furthermore, ensuring BHWs have adequate support and resources (e.g. allowances, medicine stocks) to execute their duties, and can contribute to decisions on their role in delivering community health services could increase both community participation and the overall impact of the BHW programme. Conclusions These findings underscore the importance of the symbolic, material and relational factors that influence community members to participate in CHW programmes. The lessons drawn could help to improve the impact and sustainability of similar programmes in other parts of the Philippines and that are currently being developed or strengthened in other LMICs.

scholarly journals Assessing the perceived impact of post Minamata amalgam phase down on oral health inequalities: a mixed-methods investigation

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
V. R. Aggarwal ◽  
S. Pavitt ◽  
J. Wu ◽  
B. Nattress ◽  
P. Franklin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Inequalities ◽  
Dental Amalgam ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Oral Health Services ◽  
Phase Out ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Data from countries that have implemented a complete phase out of dental amalgam following the Minamata agreement suggest increased costs and time related to the placement of alternatives with consumers absorbing the additional costs. This aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a complete phase out of dental amalgam on oral health inequalities in particular for countries dependent on state run oral health services. Methods A mixed methods component design quantitative and qualitative study in the United Kingdom. The quantitative study involved acquisition and analysis of datasets from NHS Scotland to compare trends in placement of dental amalgam and a survey of GDPs in Yorkshire, UK. The qualitative study involved analysis of the free text of the survey and a supplementary secondary analysis of semi-structured interviews and focus groups with GDPs (private and NHS), dental school teaching leads and NHS dental commissioners to understand the impact of amalgam phase down on oral health inequalities. Results Time-trends for amalgam placement showed that there was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in amalgam use compared with composites and glass ionomers. However dental amalgam still represented a large proportion (42%) of the restorations (circa 1.8 million) placed in the 2016–2017 financial year. Survey respondents suggest that direct impacts of a phase down were related to increased costs and time to place alternative restorations and reduced quality of care. This in turn would lead to increased tooth extractions, reduced access to care and privatisation of dental services with the greatest impact on deprived populations. Conclusion Amalgam is still a widely placed material in state run oral health services. The complete phase down of dental amalgam poses a threat to such services and threatens to widen oral health inequalities. Our data suggest that a complete phase out is not currently feasible unless appropriate measures are in place to ensure cheaper, long-lasting and easy to use alternatives are available and can be readily adopted by primary care oral health providers.

scholarly journals A mixed-methods evaluation of the impact of a person-centered family planning intervention for community health workers on family planning outcomes in India

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia Diamond-Smith ◽  
Claire McDonell ◽  
Ananta Basudev Sahu ◽  
Kali Prasad Roy ◽  
Katie Giessler
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Family Planning ◽  
Community Health ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
The University ◽  
Care Worker ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Person-centered quality for family planning has been gaining increased attention, yet few interventions have focused on this, or measured associations between person-centered quality for family planning and family planning outcomes (uptake, continuation, etc.). In India, the first point of contact for family planning is often the community health care worker, in this case, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). Methods: In this study, we evaluate a training on person-centered family planning as an add-on to a training on family planning provision for urban ASHAs in Varanasi, India in 2019 using mixed methods. We first validate a scale to measure person-centered family planning in a community health worker population and find it to be valid. Higher person-centered family planning scores are associated with family planning uptake. Results: Comparing women who saw intervention compared to control ASHAs, we find that the intervention had no impact on overall person-centered family planning scores. Women in the intervention arm were more likely to report that their ASHA had a strong preference about what method they choose, suggesting that the training increased provider pressure. However, qualitative interviews with ASHAs suggest that they value person-centered care for their interactions and absorbed the messages from the intervention.Conclusions: More research is needed on how to intervene to change behaviors related to person-centered family planning. This study received IRB approval from the University of California, San Francisco (IRB # 15-25950) and was retrospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04206527)

scholarly journals A qualitative study into the experience of living with acalculia after stroke or acquired brain injury

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yael Benn ◽  
Mark Jayes ◽  
Martin Casassus ◽  
Marney Williams ◽  
Colin Jenkinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Acquired Brain Injury ◽  
Acquired Disability ◽  
Numerical Information ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Impact ◽  
Post Onset

Acalculia, an acquired disability following a stroke or brain injury, involves difficulty processing numerical information and/ or calculations. Acalculia is not routinely screened for, and as a result there is a lack of understanding about the nature and prevalence and the impact of the condition. This qualitative study was initiated by stroke survivors with a strong interest in acalculia. Sixteen stroke/brain injury survivors with acalculia and seven carers were interviewed using semi-structured online interviews. Participants ranged in age, gender, time post onset, country of residence and numeracy level prior to brain injury. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Three main themes were identified: Awareness and Diagnosis; Emotional and Practical Impact (independence); Support, Coping Strategies and Self-training. Participants and carers repeatedly referred to the lack of awareness and treatment for acalculia and the impact acalculia has had on their lives and independence. Practical impacts included managing money, making appointments, using timetables, organising social activities and employment, and managing medication. Our results highlight the urgent need to develop suitable assessments and interventions for acalculia and the scope for this to be PCPI-led. The data also reveal useful strategies and suggestions regarding effective timing, targets and approaches for intervention.

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