Acceptability of AAI from the Perspective of Elderly Clients, Family Members, and Staff—A Pilot Study

Although animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) are increasingly part of comprehensive rehabilitation and many of its effects are already well described, the methodology for performing AAI depends on the specific patient, animal, and treatment objective. Acceptability of AAI from all involved members is a little explored area. Thus, 214 respondents (32 AAI clients, 146 family members, and 36 healthcare and social care workers; 98 males, 116 females; mean age 46.3 years (±16.5 SD)) completed a list of statements focused on AAI with a dog. This list was distributed directly in nursing homes, retirement homes, and in households with home hospice care. All statements were rated on a Likert scale of 0–3. The results show that AAI is generally very well received, with over 90% of respondents considering AAI to be beneficial. The perception of AAI and trusting the handler with their dog was evaluated very positively, as well as possible concerns about hygiene. The results were in many cases affected by demographic factors of the respondents (age, gender, role in AAI, education, and size of settlement). It seems appropriate in future studies to focus on the attitude of individual groups, and thus advance the methodology of implementing AAI.

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„Új kihívások, gyors megoldások”

Acta Sociologica – Pécsi Szociológiai Szemle ◽

10.15170/as.2021.7.1.11 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Boglárka Enikő Keszthelyi

Keyword(s):

Social Care ◽

Family Members ◽

Work Activities ◽

Daily Work ◽

New Methods ◽

Care Workers ◽

New Challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic broke out in Hungary in March 2020 and posed numerous new challenges for social care workers. The daily work activities of social professionals have changed and they had to apply new methods to protect their own and the client’s health. Several guides have been published for professionals and institutions working in social and childcare, which have provided guidelines for the changed daily work. Changes and challenges have taken place not only in their work activities but also in their family lives. Social professionals often had to perform their daily tasks, also take care of their family members under mental and physical encumbrance.

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The experiences of Indian migrant care home staff working with people with dementia: a pilot study exploring cultural perspectives

Working with Older People ◽

10.1108/wwop-07-2015-0012 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 3-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Brandon Ow Yong ◽

Jill Manthorpe

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Social Care ◽

Care Home ◽

Care Homes ◽

Term Care ◽

Content Type ◽

People With Dementia ◽

Care Workers ◽

The Social ◽

The Uk

Purpose – Little is known about migrant Indian care workers working in long-term care facilities for people with dementia in England and the purpose of this paper is to remedy this lack of information in the light of political interest in immigration to the UK and continued staff shortages in parts of the social care sector. Design/methodology/approach – This pilot study investigated the experiences of workplace acculturation among 12 migrant Indian care workers who were employed in English care homes. Qualitative face-to-face interviews were conducted in 2013. Analysis of the interviews was conducted using principles of interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings – Following analysis five themes emerged along an acculturation timeline. First, during the first six months of their employment, the migrant care workers recalled feeling vulnerable, seemingly marked by a sense of insecurity and an overwhelming state of cognitive burden within an unfamiliar cultural context. Second, simultaneously, the migrants felt perturbed about their new role as direct care workers. Third, few had been able to draw on their networks of friends and relatives to build up knowledge of their new work environments before starting care home employment. Fourth, two years into the work, although they reported feeling better adapted, psychological and socio-cultural adjustments were still thought to be needed. Fifth, most participants retained their ambition to be recognised as a qualified nurse in the UK and to pursue a nursing career outside the social care sector. Research limitations/implications – This is a pilot study in which 12 migrant Indian care home workers were interviewed. Further interviews might provide a greater range of views and experiences. The care homes that participated in this research were in the London region where staff shortages are common in dementia services such as care homes. Practical implications – The findings suggest a need for employers and human resource managers to respond to the specific needs of Indian and other migrants working with older people who are resident in care homes. Such responses should reflect the timeline of their acculturation and employers need also to acknowledge and address aspirations to move on to NHS work. Originality/value – This study is unique to the best of the authors’ knowledge in addressing Indian care workers specifically as a substantial part of the migrant care workforce in the UK. It offers information about their perceptions and suggests practical human response and managerial initiatives.

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Acceptability of Assisted Suicide in Patients With Severe and Persistent Mental Illness

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000248 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Sophie Gloeckler ◽

Manuel Trachsel

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Psychiatric Diagnosis ◽

Assisted Suicide ◽

Shared Values ◽

Psychiatric Nurses ◽

Attitudes And Beliefs ◽

Future Studies ◽

Persistent Mental Illness ◽

Moral Attitudes

Abstract. In Switzerland, assisted suicide (AS) may be granted on the basis of a psychiatric diagnosis. This pilot study explored the moral attitudes and beliefs of nurses regarding these practices through a quantitative survey of 38 psychiatric nurses. The pilot study, which serves to inform hypothesis development and future studies, showed that participating nurses supported AS and valued the reduction of suffering in patients with severe persistent mental illness. Findings were compared with those from a previously published study presenting the same questions to psychiatrists. The key differences between nurses’ responses and psychiatrists’ may reflect differences in the burden of responsibility, while similarities might capture shared values worth considering when determining treatment efforts. More information is needed to determine whether these initial findings represent nurses’ views more broadly.

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Analysis of Weekend out of Hours Support as Part of Home Hospice Care Service

10.26226/morressier.5c76c8bde2ea5a723761288a ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Ron Sabar

Keyword(s):

Hospice Care ◽

Care Service ◽

Out Of Hours ◽

Home Hospice Care

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Perceptions and Understanding of Diabetes Mellitus Technology in Adults with Type 1 or Type 2 DM: A Pilot Survey from Pakistan

Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology ◽

10.1177/19322968211011199 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 193229682110111

Author(s):

Sarah Nadeem ◽

Uswah Siddiqi ◽

Russell Seth Martins ◽

Kaleemullah Badini

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Diabetes Care ◽

Online Survey ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Small Sample ◽

Cost Of Care ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Specific Patient

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus technology (DMT) is increasingly used for routine management in developed countries, yet its uptake in developing countries is not as consistent. Multiple factors may influence this, including country specific patient perception regarding DMT. We conducted a pilot study in Pakistan to understand this important question which has not been studied yet. Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted in Pakistan. An anonymous survey exploring perceptions of diabetes technology was circulated on social media platforms, collecting responses over 2 weeks. Target population included adults (≥18 years) living in Pakistan, with DM1 or 2. Results: A total of 40 responses were received. The majority (36/40) reported using conventional glucometers. Nine used continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Thirty-two of 40 patients believed DMT improved diabetes care, 22 felt it helped decreased risk of Diabetes-related complications. 15/40 stated that DMT results in increased cost of care. Sixteen reported their diabetes care teams had never discussed wearable DMT options whereas 11 disliked them because they did not want a device on their self. Conclusion: In our pilot study we have identified broad themes of opportunity and challenges to DMT use in Pakistan. Patients’ perceptions regarding DMT were generally positive but significant barriers to its acceptance included high cost, lack of discussion between doctor and patient about available technology and personal hesitation. Limitations of our study include sampling bias (online survey) and small sample size, but this data can help inform larger studies, to look at this important topic in greater detail.

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