scholarly journals Collaborative improvement in Scottish GP clusters after the Quality and Outcomes Framework: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
pp. BJGP.2020.1101
Author(s):  
Huayi Huang ◽  
Emily Jefferson ◽  
Mark Gotink ◽  
Carol Sinclair ◽  
Stewart Mercer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Analytics ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Group Facilitation ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Leadership Experience ◽  
Quality And Outcomes ◽  
Perceived Impact ◽  
Training And Support ◽  
Quality And Outcomes Framework

Background: Scotland abolished the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) in April 2016, prior to implementing a new Scottish GP contract in April 2018. Since 2016, groups of practices (GP clusters) have been incentivised to meet regularly, to plan and organise quality improvement (QI) as part of this new direction in primary care policy. Aim: To understand the organisation and perceived impact of GP clusters, including how they use quantitative data for improvement. Design/Setting/Methods: Thematic analysis, of semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders (n=17) and observations of GP cluster meetings (n=6) in two clusters. Results: There was uncertainty whether GP clusters should focus on activities generated internally or externally by the wider healthcare system (e.g. from Scottish Health Boards), although the two clusters we observed generally generated their own ideas and issues. Clusters operated with variable administrative/managerial and data support, and variable baseline leadership experience and QI skills. Qualitative approaches formed the focus of collaborative learning in cluster meetings, through sharing and discussion of member practices’ own understandings and experiences. We observed less evidence of data analytics being championed in these meetings, partly because of barriers accessing the analytics data and existing data quality. Conclusion: Cluster development would benefit from more consistent training and support for cluster leads in small group facilitation, leadership and QI expertise, and data analytics access and capacity. Whilst GP clusters are up and running, their impact is likely to be limited without further investment in developing capacity in these areas.

scholarly journals Conservation Debates: People’s Perceptions and Values towards a Privately Protected Area in Southern Ecuador

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Verónica Iñiguez-Gallardo ◽  
Fabián Reyes-Bueno ◽  
Olga Peñaranda
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Southern Ecuador ◽  
Negative Perceptions ◽  
Land Tenure System

The perceptions and values that local communities have towards protected areas are of great value for the improvement of these territories’ management. Such perceptions and values are often absent in the conservation planning process, particularly in those privately protected areas that are established in areas where the land tenure system is based not only on ownership but also on customary uses. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative data obtained through semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and members of communities surrounding a privately protected area in southern Ecuador, we identify that the level of collaboration with the managers, the distance to the protected area, the percentage of untitled land, and the dependence on the resources (customary uses) are among the variables affecting these perceptions and values. Positive perceptions towards protected areas and naturalistic values are developed among those who collaborate with the protected area managers, whereas negative perceptions, and a mix of naturalistic and biospheric values are developed among those who have a sense of a lack of attention to social needs although supporting nature conservation at the same time. The evidence presented shows the importance of matching local peoples’ expectations with conservation goals during the establishment of a protected area.

Offshore Platform Turn Around Using the Critical Chain Project Management Method (CCPM)

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Finocchio Junior ◽  
Marcelo Ramos Martins
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Critical Path ◽  
Theory Of Constraints ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Oil Platforms ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Critical Chain Project Management ◽  
Management Method ◽  
Critical Chain

The present study discusses the adequacy of the Critical Chain Project Management Method (CCPM) — also known as the Critical Chain Method — for scheduling projects involving shutdowns on oil platforms, as such projects involve decision-making processes under risk conditions. The CCPM is based on the Theory of Constraints and aims at providing more precise and more clearly focused control instruments than those traditionally used in the Critical Path Method (CPM). The CCPM also indicates the best moments to act and where and how the action should be directed. The hypothesis underlying the research is that the CCPM portrays, more adequately than the CPM, the uncertainty that exists in a platform shutdown. This characteristic also makes it possible to draw up a schedule that is both more realistic and more challenging, as it addresses the goal of causing less interruption of production. On the basis of this hypothesis, the two main questions that oriented the entire investigation were: 1) Is the CCPM suitable for scheduling the shutdown of an offshore oil platform and, 2) What advantages might it have over the traditional methods in use? To answer these questions the authors reviewed the existing bibliography on the topic and made direct on-site observations during an actual shutdown. In addition, interviews were held with a number of specialists in the area using qualitative approaches, namely, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and action research.

Approaches for Implementing Healthy Food Interventions in Settings With Limited Resources: A Case Study of Sodium Reduction Interventions in Emergency Food Programs Addressing Food Insecurity

2021 ◽  
pp. 089011712110561
Author(s):  
Karen Strazza ◽  
Julia Jordan ◽  
Kate Ferriola-Bruckenstein ◽  
Heather Kane ◽  
John Whitehill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Washington County ◽  
Sodium Reduction ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Food Programs ◽  
Access To Healthy Foods

Purpose This study describes how recipients of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded Sodium Reduction in Communities Program (SRCP) worked with emergency food programs to improve access to healthy food to address chronic conditions. Design SRCP recipients partnered with emergency food programs to implement sodium reduction strategies including nutrition standards, procurement practices, environmental strategies, and behavioral economics approaches. Setting SRCP recipients and emergency food programs in Washington County and Benton County, Arkansas and King County, Washington. Subjects SRCP recipient staff, emergency food program staff, and key stakeholders. Measures We conducted semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and systematic review of program documents. Analysis Data were analyzed using effects matrices for each recipient. Matrices were organized using select implementation science constructs and compared in a cross-case analysis. Results Despite limited resources, emergency food programs can implement sodium reduction interventions which may provide greater access to healthy foods and lead to reductions in health disparities. Emergency food programs successfully implemented sodium reduction interventions by building on the external and internal settings; selecting strategies that align with existing processes; implementing change incrementally and engaging staff, volunteers, and clients; and sustaining changes. Conclusion Findings contribute to understanding the ways in which emergency food programs and other organizations with limited resources have implemented public health nutrition interventions addressing food insecurity and improving access to healthy foods. These strategies may be transferable to other settings with limited resources.

scholarly journals Key Stakeholders’ Lived Experiences While Implementing an Aligned Curriculum: A Phenomenological Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Aguas
Keyword(s):  
Public School ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
National Level ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Curriculum Innovation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Language Curriculum ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Urban Public School

Furthering innovation in English as a foreign language curriculum has been a concern for the Colombian educational system for many years. Nevertheless, the major attempts at the national level continue to fail. Through this phenomenological study of 12 participants at a an urban public school in grades 6-12 I attempted to answer the phenomenological question, “What were the lived experiences of key stakeholders involved in implementing an aligned curriculum at an urban public school in a northern city in Colombia, South America? “The theoretical framework that guides this study included innovation, the theory of policy attribution, and the learner-centered philosophy. The study employed Moustakas’ modification of the Stevick-Colaizzi’s-Keen method of phenomenological analysis and van Manen’s (1990) hermeneutic approach to phenomenology. The researcher collected the data through in-depth, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and reflective diaries. Seven themes emerged from the data: (a) aligned curriculum and political aims, (b) awareness of the significance of affectiveness, (c) a sense of ownership and lifelong learning, (d) communication as the cornerstone of implementation, (e) ability to face uncertainty and challenges, (f) ability to create transformational leadership, and (g) transcendence toward innovation. The study highlights the feasibility of curriculum innovation at the secondary level with key stakeholders’ commitment and full potential.

scholarly journals Institutional Barriers to Climate Change Adaptation in Burkina Faso: How could We Go around Them?

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Fiacre Basson ◽  
Djibril S. Dayamba ◽  
Joel Korahire ◽  
Jean M. Dipama ◽  
Francois Zougmore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Institutional Barriers ◽  
Strategic Objectives ◽  
Key Stakeholders

Despite the existence of a National Adaptation Plan to climate change (NAP) in Burkina Faso, operationalizing adaptation still face a number of challenges. The current study focused on identifying institutional barriers to the strategic objectives of climate change adaptation (CCA) using a literature review and semi-structured interviews conducted with key stakeholders / resource persons involved in the implementation of the NAP. The results revealed a weak collaboration between the NAP steering institution and the ministerial departments covered by the NAP. This situation, first, hampers the implementation of adaptation actions and secondly, the monitoring reporting and verification of adaptation initiatives. Further, the analysis revealed that lack of financial resources poses constraints to many actions that were to be taken by the steering institution and therefore creates poor ownership of the NAP by the main stakeholders that should be actively involved in the NAP process. To cope with the various constraints, it is necessary to have strong political support in many aspects. For instance, it was judged that institutionalizing the role of climate change (CC) focal point within the ministries and embedding NAP monitoring and evaluation (M&E) objectives and indicators with existing functional M&E systems in the sectorial ministries will ease CCA actions integration in operational plans, their implementation and documentation. Moreover, it is relevant to have a continuous capacity building plan to keep stakeholders updated on climate change issues as this will support them in their mandate of mainstreaming CC into ministerial operational plans and lead to optimal CCA implementation and monitoring.

scholarly journals CHALLENGES OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE (POST-SOCIALIST) TRANSITIONAL SOCIETY: EXPERIENCES FROM WATERFRONT URBAN AREAS MEZAPARK IN RIGA AND KALARAND IN TALLINN

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-121
Author(s):  
Viktorija Prilenska ◽  
Katrin Paadam ◽  
Roode Liias
Keyword(s):  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Local Planning ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Current Case ◽  
Engagement Strategies ◽  
Public Expectations ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Planning Culture ◽  
The City

Current case studies examine the shortcomings of civic engagement strategies during the design process and ratification of detailed plans for urban areas of strategic importance − Mezapark in Riga and Kalarand in Tallinn. Detailed plans caused public outcries and led to long-lasting and distressful negotiations between local communities, developers, designers and municipalities over the future development and use of these areas. The debates about detailed plans raised an increasing public interest in planning related issues and growing demands for greater civic engagement in decisions shaping the city. At the same time, the debates demonstrated the inability of local planning frameworks to meet public expectations. There appears a salient need for changing the planning culture. This paper studies the shortcomings of civic engagement strategies and the desirable changes through a series of semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders involved and the analysis of planning related documentation.

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