scholarly journals Healthcare Management and Quality during the First COVID-19 Wave in a Sample of Spanish Healthcare Professionals

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 536-546
Author(s):  
Patricia Torrent-Ramos ◽  
Víctor M. González-Chordá ◽  
Desirée Mena-Tudela ◽  
Laura Andreu Pejó ◽  
Celia Roig-Marti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Healthcare Quality ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Healthcare Management ◽  
Primary Care Center ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Material Resources

The aim of this study was to assess how the healthcare professionals in the Castellón Province (Spain) perceive healthcare quality and management during the first COVID-19 wave. A cross-sectional study was carried out. An online survey on healthcare quality and management during the first COVID-19 wave was sent to healthcare professionals. Almost half of the sample believed that healthcare quality worsened during the first COVID-19 wave (45.3%; n = 173). Heavier workload (m = 4.08 ± 1.011) and patients’ complexity (m = 3.77 ± 1.086) were the factors that most negatively impacted healthcare quality. Health department 3, primary care center, and other doctors assessed human and material resources management as significantly worse (p < 0.05). Human and material resources management and the healthcare organization negatively affected healthcare quality during the first COVID-19 wave. Significant differences were observed according to departments, services, and professionals.

scholarly journals Health seeking behaviours and treatments received by Australian women with vulvodynia: a cross-sectional survey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Mitchell ◽  
Mike Armout ◽  
K Jane Chalmers
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Community Setting ◽  
Healthcare Management ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medical Specialists ◽  
Evidence Based Treatments ◽  
Australian Community

Abstract Background: Vulvodynia is a condition characterised by pain in the vulva lasting more than three months and for which no obvious aetiology can be found. It affects around 8% of women and has significant negative impacts on quality of life. There is a paucity of research on healthcare management pathways and the use of evidence-based treatments in an Australian community setting. Aims: To explore which healthcare professionals Australian women with vulvodynia seek treatment from, and which treatments are recommended, provided, or prescribed by these healthcare professionals.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from May 2019 to August 2019. Women were eligible to participate if they had been diagnosed with vulvodynia by a healthcare professional, were currently living in Australia, and were over 18 years old.Results: Fifty respondents meet the inclusion criteria, with a mean age of 30.5 years. On average, respondents reported seeing four different types of healthcare professionals in the management of their vulvodynia, with general practitioners (GPs) (98%), medical specialists (96%), and physiotherapists (80%) being the three most commonly consulted. Most respondents reported seeing multiple GPs (>87%), multiple medical specialists (>77%), and multiple physiotherapists (50%). The most commonly prescribed interventions were pelvic floor down-training exercises (76%), topical (70%) and oral (70%) medication, and vulvodynia information (56%).Conclusions: Australian women with vulvodynia seek help from several professionals and receive a variety of treatments for their pain. Of concern is many treatments that are being offered clinically have very little peer-reviewed evidence of effectiveness in vulvodynia.

scholarly journals Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Healthcare Professionals on COVID-19 and Risk Assessment to Prevent the Epidemic Spread: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study from Punjab, Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (17) ◽  
pp. 6395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Usman Rashid Malik ◽  
Naveel Atif ◽  
Furqan Khurshid Hashmi ◽  
Fahad Saleem ◽  
Hamid Saeed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
World Health ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

In the current outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), healthcare professionals (HCPs) have a primary role in combating the epidemic threat. HCPs are at high risk of not only contracting the infection but also spreading it unknowingly. It is of utmost importance to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) and the ability to assess the risks associated with the outbreak. A cross-sectional online survey involving physicians, pharmacists, and nurses was conducted. A 39-itemed questionnaire based on the World Health Organization (WHO)COVID-19 risk assessment tool was shared with healthcare professionals in three purposively selected key divisions of Punjab province. Out of 500 healthcare professionals, 385 responded to the survey. The majority (70%) were aged 22–29 years; 144 (37.4%) physicians, 113 (29.4%) nurses, and 128 (33.2%) pharmacists completed the survey. Overall, 94.8% of healthcare professionals scored adequately (>14) for COVID-19-related knowledge; 97.9% displayed an optimistic attitude (>42) and 94.5% had an adequate practice score (>28). Kruskal–Wallis and Jonckheere–Terpstra tests showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in KAP and risk assessment scores among groups; physicians and nurses scored higher as compared to pharmacists. Further research and follow-up investigations on disaster management and risk assessment can help policy-makers better tackle future epidemics.

scholarly journals When is it acceptable to allow a terminal patient to die? Pharmacy students’ views from a London University

2020 ◽  
pp. 107815522092154
Author(s):  
Beth V Clayton ◽  
Shereen Nabhani-Gebara
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Pharmacy Students ◽  
Patient Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Patient Request ◽  
Medical Organisation ◽  
Controversial Topic

Accompanied suicide is a controversial topic with varying practice across Europe; therefore, there is very little guidance on how healthcare professionals should be educated on accompanied suicide. This study implemented an anonymous, cross-sectional online survey to discover the perceptions of final-year MPharm students on accompanied suicide and the factors affecting one’s views, with the aim of investigating the knowledge, awareness and opinions of pharmacy students regarding accompanied suicide, as well as education to pharmacy students. Surveys were disseminated to final-year pharmacy students at Kingston University between January and March 2019. The survey comprised of three sections: Section A consisting of definitions – to determine knowledge of pharmacy students. Section B including case studies – to understand the opinions of pharmacy students and identify influential patient factors. Section C involving demographics – to discover the influential participant factors. An ethics application was submitted and approved prior to conducting this study. The data yielded a total of 111 responses out of a possible 139 (80% response rate); 77.5% participants were unable to correctly define each term given, with many also agreeing their lack of knowledge affected their views. Overall, most pharmacy students disagreed with accompanied suicide, regardless of the patient factors. Additionally, religious participants were more likely to disagree with the patient request ( p < 0.03). Three recommendations were concluded to improve the education of pharmacy students: (1) an approved medical organisation to specifically define terminology, (2) include accompanied suicide in the pharmacy syllabus and (3) include lesser known terminal illnesses on the pharmacy syllabus.

scholarly journals Association Between Training Experience and Attitudes Toward Advance Care Planning Among Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Yue-lai Chan ◽  
Annie Oi-ling Kwok ◽  
Kwok-keung Yuen ◽  
Derrick Kit-sing Au ◽  
Jacqueline Kwan-yuk Yuen
Keyword(s):  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Decisional Conflict ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Training Experience ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cultural Taboos ◽  
Advance Care

Abstract Background: Training has been found effective in improving healthcare professionals’ knowledge, confidence, and skills in conducting advance care planning (ACP). However, its association with their attitudes toward ACP, which is crucial to its implementation, remained unclear. To fill this gap, this paper examines the association between their attitudes toward ACP and relevant training experiences.Methods: An online survey about attitudes toward ACP of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, social workers, and allied healthcare professionals, currently working in hospital and community care in Hong Kong was conducted.Results: Of 250 respondents, approximately half (51.6%) had received ACP-related training. Those with relevant training reported significantly more positive in the perceived clinical relevance, willingness, and confidence in conducting ACP and levels of agreement with 19 out of the 25 statements in a questionnaire about attitudes toward ACP than those without (ps ≤ 0.001–0.05). Respondents who received training only in a didactic format reported a significantly lower level of confidence in conducting ACP than did others who received a blended mode of learning (p = 0.012). Notwithstanding significant differences between respondents with and without relevant training, respondents generally acknowledged their roles in initiating conversations and appreciated ACP in preventing decisional conflict in surrogate decision-making regardless of their training experience.Conclusions: This paper revealed the association between training and positive attitudes toward ACP among healthcare professionals. The findings showed that training is a predictor of their preparedness for ACP in terms of perceived relevancy, willingness, and confidence. Those who had received training were less likely to consider commonly reported barriers such as time constraints, cultural taboos, and avoidance among patients and family members as hindrances to ACP implementation.

scholarly journals How do people in China think about causes of their back pain? A predominantly qualitative cross-sectional survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yijun Li ◽  
Michel W Coppieters ◽  
Jenny Setchell ◽  
Paul Hodges ◽  
Gwendolyne GM Scholten-Peeters
Keyword(s):  
Back Pain ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Energy Status ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pain Beliefs ◽  
South Central

Abstract Background: Low back pain (LBP) is the second highest cause of health burden in China. Delayed recovery, poor clinical outcomes and persistence of LBP are associated with negative pain beliefs about LBP. Chinese philosophies are nested into Chinese people’s daily life, which is likely to influence pain beliefs. However, there is lack of knowledge about people’s thinking patterns regarding their LBP in China. The primary aim of this study was to explore the patterns of beliefs (discourses) underlying Chinese people’s beliefs about what causes their persistent or recurrent LBP. The secondary aim was to investigate the sources of these pain beliefs. Methods: People (n=152) from South Central, East and North Mainland China with LBP completed an online survey about what they believed caused their persistent or recurrent LBP and where these understandings came from. Potential causes of persistent or recurrent LBP were explored qualitatively using discourse analysis. The sources of these discourses were assessed by descriptive statistics with conventional content analysis. Results: Five discourses were identified to underpin participants’ beliefs about what caused their persistent or recurrent LBP, namely: (1) biomedical problems (66.4%), (2) unbalanced lifestyle (48.7%), (3) menstruation and ‘kidney’ status (9.2%), (4) the ‘Five Elements’ imbalance (7.9%), and (5) energy status (5.9%). Most participants responded that their pain beliefs were based on information derived from healthcare professionals (59.2%), followed by the internet (24.3%) and family (23.0%). Conclusions: Chinese people from moderately and well-developed parts of Mainland China think predominantly in line with a Western biomedical viewpoint about their LBP. Traditional Chinese medicine related pain beliefs were evident on contemporary Chinese society’s understandings of LBP. These cultural beliefs could be relevant to consider in LBP management and involve healthcare professionals, family and patient in this process.

scholarly journals Exploring healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes and experiences of shared decision making in rheumatology

RMD Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e001121
Author(s):  
Elke G E Mathijssen ◽  
Bart J F van den Bemt ◽  
Sabien Wielsma ◽  
Frank H J van den Hoogen ◽  
Johanna E Vriezekolk
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Shared Decision Making ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Exact Test

ObjectivesTo explore physicians’ and nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and experiences of shared decision making (SDM) in rheumatology, to identify barriers and facilitators to SDM, and to examine whether physicians’ and nurses’ perspectives of SDM differ.MethodsA cross-sectional, exploratory, online survey was used. Besides demographic characteristics, healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes and experiences of SDM in rheumatology were assessed. Barriers and facilitators to SDM were identified from healthcare professionals’ answers. Descriptive statistics were computed and differences between physicians’ and nurses’ perspectives of SDM were examined with a t-test or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate.ResultsBetween April and June 2019, 77 physicians and 70 nurses completed the survey. Although most healthcare professionals lacked a full conceptual understanding of SDM, almost all physicians (92%) and all nurses had a (very) positive attitude toward SDM, which was most frequently motivated by the belief that SDM improves patients’ treatment adherence. The majority (>50%) of healthcare professionals experienced problems with the application of SDM in clinical practice, mostly related to time constraints. Other important barriers were the incompatibility of SDM with clinical practice guidelines and beliefs that patients do not prefer to be involved in decision making or are not able to take an active role. Modest differences between physicians’ and nurses’ perspectives of SDM were found.ConclusionsThere is a clear need for education and training that equips and empowers healthcare professionals to apply SDM. Furthermore, the commitment of time, resources and financial support for national, regional and organisational initiatives is needed to make SDM in rheumatology a practical reality.

scholarly journals How do people in China think about causes of their back pain? A predominantly qualitative cross-sectional survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yijun Li ◽  
Michel W Coppieters ◽  
Jenny Setchell ◽  
Paul Hodges ◽  
Gwendolyne GM Scholten-Peeters
Keyword(s):  
Back Pain ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Energy Status ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pain Beliefs ◽  
South Central

Abstract Background: Low back pain (LBP) is the second highest cause of health burden in China. Delayed recovery, poor clinical outcomes and persistence of LBP are associated with negative pain beliefs about LBP. Chinese philosophies are nested into the daily life of people in China, which is likely to influence pain beliefs. However, there is lack of knowledge about people’s discourses regarding their LBP in China. The primary aim of this study was to explore the discourses underlying the beliefs of people in China about what causes their persistent or recurrent LBP. The secondary aim was to investigate the sources of these pain beliefs. Methods: People (n=152) from South Central, East and North Mainland China with LBP completed an online survey about what they believed caused their persistent or recurrent LBP and where these understandings came from. Potential causes of persistent or recurrent LBP were explored qualitatively using discourse analysis. The sources of these discourses were assessed by descriptive statistics with conventional content analysis. Results: Five discourses were identified to underpin participants’ beliefs about what caused their persistent or recurrent LBP, namely: (1) biomedical problems (66.4%), (2) unbalanced lifestyle (48.7%), (3) menstruation and ‘kidney’ status (9.2%), (4) the ‘Five Elements’ imbalance (7.9%), and (5) energy status (5.9%). Most participants responded that their pain beliefs were based on information derived from healthcare professionals (59.2%), followed by the internet (24.3%) and family (23.0%). Conclusions: People from moderately and well-developed parts of Mainland China think predominantly in line with a Western biomedical viewpoint about their LBP. Traditional Chinese medicine related pain beliefs mainly to the concept of ‘balance’ were evident on contemporary Chinese society’s understandings of LBP. These cultural beliefs could be relevant to consider in LBP management and involve healthcare professionals, family and patient in this process.

scholarly journals Gastrointestinal endoscopy capacity in Eastern Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 09 (11) ◽  
pp. E1827-E1836
Author(s):  
Michael Mwachiro ◽  
Hillary M. Topazian ◽  
Violet Kayamba ◽  
Gift Mulima ◽  
Elly Ogutu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Gastrointestinal Disease ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Eastern Africa ◽  
Therapeutic Modality ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Material Resources ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background and study aims Limited evidence suggests that endoscopy capacity in sub-Saharan Africa is insufficient to meet the levels of gastrointestinal disease. We aimed to quantify the human and material resources for endoscopy services in eastern African countries, and to identify barriers to expanding endoscopy capacity. Patients and methods In partnership with national professional societies, digestive healthcare professionals in participating countries were invited to complete an online survey between August 2018 and August 2020. Results Of 344 digestive healthcare professionals in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia, 87 (25.3 %) completed the survey, reporting data for 91 healthcare facilities and identifying 20 additional facilities. Most respondents (73.6 %) perform endoscopy and 59.8 % perform at least one therapeutic modality. Facilities have a median of two functioning gastroscopes and one functioning colonoscope each. Overall endoscopy capacity, adjusted for non-response and additional facilities, includes 0.12 endoscopists, 0.12 gastroscopes, and 0.09 colonoscopes per 100,000 population in the participating countries. Adjusted maximum upper gastrointestinal and lower gastrointestinal endoscopic capacity were 106 and 45 procedures per 100,000 persons per year, respectively. These values are 1 % to 10 % of those reported from resource-rich countries. Most respondents identified a lack of endoscopic equipment, lack of trained endoscopists and costs as barriers to provision of endoscopy services. Conclusions Endoscopy capacity is severely limited in eastern sub-Saharan Africa, despite a high burden of gastrointestinal disease. Expanding capacity requires investment in additional human and material resources, and technological innovations that improve the cost and sustainability of endoscopic services.

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