scholarly journals Allied Health Evaluation Review: Practice and Education Infrastructure

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mardi Lowe-Heistad ◽  
Sandra Lowe
Keyword(s):  
Allied Health ◽  
Ordinal Scale ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Health Evaluation ◽  
Practice Performance ◽  
Practice Leader ◽  
Scatter Plots ◽  
Specific Practice ◽  
Scoring Tool ◽  
Practice Education

The Allied Health Evaluation Review: Practice and Education Infrastructure was a detailed review of the practice progress of twenty-seven allied health professions. The key objectives of the evaluation review were to determine each profession’s practice status, measured on a common set of parameters that could be compared to one another at a given point in time, and to identify what variables, if any, were correlated with the practice progress of a given profession. Practice benchmarks were established and tools were developed to measure the practice progress of each profession relative to the others at a given point in time. The tools included a practice leader survey, focus group questions, an education infrastructure questionnaire, a job description scoring tool, and an overall scoring guide. At the end of the review, each profession was evaluated on the same scoring criteria and placed on a six-point ordinal scale. Acceptable practice progress was set at or above four out of six. Only thirty-three percent of the professions had scores above the established threshold. Scatter plots were developed to determine which practice variables, if any, were positively correlated with the practice progress of the profession. Many variables were not significantly correlated with a profession’s composite score, including size of the profession, number of areas of practice, use of support personnel, regulatory status, and physician oversight. Two variables were positively correlated with practice progress: clinical linkages, and practice leadership and practice education infrastructure; both correlations were statistically significant. Due to the importance of these two variables, it is recommended that future development and investment should be targeted at establishing and strengthening clinical linkages (e.g., profession-specific practice councils) and practice leadership across a profession, as well as practice education infrastructure. Future research could validate the tools that were developed and determine if investment in the professions, as outlined, improves their overall practice performance.

scholarly journals Investing in Practice Infrastructure Influences Practice Progress

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mardi Lowe-Heisted ◽  
DeAnn Adams ◽  
Michael Giesbrecht ◽  
Esther Krahn
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Frontline Staff ◽  
Practice Performance ◽  
Specific Practice

Purpose: “The Influence of Practice Infrastructure on Practice Progress” was an evaluation review project designed to determine if investment in the infrastructure of an allied health profession would result in improved practice progress within that profession. Practice infrastructure included robust, profession-specific practice councils; local and regional practice leadership; and support for education infrastructure. Method: This review consisted of selecting three professions (psychology, therapeutic recreation, and respiratory therapy) that were at different stages in their practice evolution. Health care providers in these three professions participated in an online survey. Their practice progress was measured against 32 established professional practice benchmarks. Separate focus groups were then conducted in each profession for frontline staff, practice leaders, and operational leaders. Results: The results indicated that the professions with a greater degree of practice infrastructure development scored higher on the practice benchmarks. The project also indicated that a profession’s practice priorities followed a hierarchy of needs that were related to the degree of practice infrastructure in that profession. Conclusions: It was concluded that all three practice infrastructure components are required for optimal practice performance and that the three components are interdependent. There is a need to invest in practice infrastructure, and this is particularly important in a program management model. The risks of not investing in this infrastructure include the loss of professional identify, weak profession advocacy, lack of a common voice, reduced shared decision making, and limited professional growth and development. Ultimately, enhancing practice infrastructure leads to improved practice standardization, clinical integration, and ongoing professional development, which in turn results in improved clinical competencies and outcomes. Future research could focus on the hierarchical placement and status of the regional practice leader positions. It would be interesting to follow one profession longitudinally as components of a professional practice infrastructure are added. The education infrastructure components could be interwoven into the practice goals for the practice leaders and the profession-specific practice councils.

scholarly journals Exploration of implementation, financial and technical considerations within allied health professional (AHP) telehealth consultation guidance: a scoping review including UK AHP professional bodies’ guidance

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e055823
Author(s):  
Enza Leone ◽  
Nicola Eddison ◽  
Aoife Healy ◽  
Carolyn Royse ◽  
Nachiappan Chockalingam
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Study Selection ◽  
The Uk

ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a shift to remote consultations, but telehealth consultation guidelines are lacking or inconsistent. Therefore, a scoping review was performed to chart the information in the articles exploring telehealth for the UK allied health professionals (AHPs) and compare them with the UK AHP professional bodies’ guidelines.DesignScoping review following Aksey and O’ Malley methodological framework.Data sourcesCINHAL and MEDLINE were searched from inception to March 2021 using terms related to ‘telehealth’, ‘guidelines’ and ‘AHPs’. Additionally, the UK AHP professional bodies were contacted requesting their guidelines.Study selectionArticles exploring telehealth for patient consultations, written in English and published in peer-reviewed journal or guidelines available from UK AHP professional bodies/their websites were considered eligible for review.Data extractionOne reviewer extracted data concerning three overarching domains: implementation, financial and technological considerations.Results2632 articles were identified through database searches with 21 articles eligible for review. Eight guidelines were obtained from the UK AHP professional bodies with a total of 29 included articles/guidelines. Most articles were published in the last two years; there was variety in telehealth terminology, and most were developed for occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists. Information was lacking about the assessment of telehealth use and effectiveness, barriers and limitations, the logistical management, the family’s and caregiver’s roles and the costs. There was lack of clarity on the AHPs’ registration requirements, costs and coverage, and legal aspects.ConclusionThis study identified gaps in current guidelines, which showed similarities as well as discrepancies with the guidance for non-AHP healthcare professionals and revealed that the existing guidelines do not adequately support AHPs delivering telehealth consultations. Future research and collaborative work across AHP groups and the world’s leading health institutions are suggested to establish common guidelines that will improve AHP telehealth services.

scholarly journals What Are the Client, Organisational and Employee-Related Outcomes of High Quality Leadership in the Allied Health Professions? A scoping review.

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice McKeever ◽  
Ted Brown
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Reference List ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Consumer Expectation ◽  
Professional Groups ◽  
Modern Health Care

Background: Leadership is viewed as the panacea the complex problems in modern health care where chronic disease, contracting budgets and rising consumer expectation are challenging care provision. As the second largest workforce in Australia, Allied Health Professionals (AHP) are core contributors to health teams however they are largely absent from leadership positions and there is little evidence of their impact on client outcomes. Aim: A scoping review was carried out to synthesise evidence on the client, organisational and employee-related outcomes of high quality leadership in Allied Health. Method: A search of grey literature, peer and non-peer reviewed literature was undertaken using Embase, Emcare, SCOPUS and Psychinfo from 2010-2017. Data were sourced from journals, government reports, conference presentations and other grey literature. The reference list of key articles were hand searched for relevant research. Results: A total of 5880 articles were identified and after screening 35 articles were included for in depth review. Leadership contributed towards positive outcomes in all three domains and had influence across professional groups and services. Leaders are highly valued and respected by their teams. Allied Health leaders did not feature in any of the articles and AHP were the focus of only seven studies. The majority of articles were conference papers or case reviews that provided little robust data making it difficult to draw substantive conclusions on the outcome of AHP leadership. Conclusion: There was a lack of robust data specific to AHP leaders. Future research should attempt to gather evidence of the outcomes of AHP leadership through qualitative and quantitative means to substantiate the anecdotal evidence for high quality AHP leaders. 

scholarly journals Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Apache II – An ICU Scoring Tool to Assess Critically Ill

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (07) ◽  
pp. 383-387
Author(s):  
Abdul Majeed Arshad ◽  
Deepika Ramachandran ◽  
Hariharan Hariharan ◽  
Surya Surya ◽  
Sindhura Koganti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critically Ill ◽  
Chronic Health Evaluation ◽  
Apache Ii ◽  
Health Evaluation ◽  
Chronic Health ◽  
Scoring Tool

Complex Yearlong Associations Between Mental Toughness and Sport-Specific Practice Among Adolescent Estonian Volleyball Players

2018 ◽  
Vol 125 (5) ◽  
pp. 939-950
Author(s):  
Lennart Raudsepp ◽  
Kristi Vink
Keyword(s):  
Research Design ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Mental Toughness ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Longitudinal Research Design ◽  
Volleyball Players ◽  
Specific Practice ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Reciprocal Associations

This study tested the reciprocal associations between mental toughness (MT) and sport-specific practice (SSP) among 163 adolescent Estonian volleyball players who completed self-reported measures of MT and SSP within a 2-year, three-wave longitudinal research design. Higher MT was associated with higher SSP hours at baseline, and changes in MT and SSP were also significantly interrelated across data from both males and females. These findings have implications for the importance of SSP to increase MT, though future research should replicate this study with other participant samples.

scholarly journals Transition to First Year University Study: A Qualitative Descriptive Study on the Psychosocial and Emotional Impacts of a Science Workshop

10.28945/4297 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 197-210
Author(s):  
Jyothi Thalluri ◽  
Joy Penman
Keyword(s):  
Academic Success ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Dropout Rate ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Health Programs ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Laboratory Activities ◽  
The University

Aim/purpose The purpose of this article is to discuss the psychosocial and emotional outcomes of an introductory health science workshop designed to support and assist incoming health science students before starting their university study.   Background For the past two decades, a South Australian university offered an on-campus face to face workshop titled ‘Preparation for Health Sciences’ to incoming first-year students from eleven allied health programs such as Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medical Imaging. While many were locals, a good number came from regional and rural areas, and many were international students also. They consisted of both on-campus and off-campus students.   The workshop was created as a new learning environment that was available for students of diverse age groups, educational and cultural backgrounds to prepare them to study sciences. The content of the four-day workshop was developed in consultation with the program directors of the allied health programs. The objectives were to: introduce the assumed foundational science knowledge to undertake health sciences degree; gain confidence in approaching science subjects; experience lectures and laboratory activities; and become familiar with the University campus and its facilities. The workshop was delivered a week before the orientation week, before first-year formal teaching weeks. The topics covered were enhancing study skills, medical and anatomical terminology, body systems, basic chemistry and physics, laboratory activities, and assessment of learning.   Methodology In order to determine the outcomes of the workshop, a survey was used requiring participants to agree or disagree about statements concerning the preparatory course and answer open-ended questions relating to the most important information learned and the best aspects of the workshop. Several students piloted this questionnaire before use in order to ascertain the clarity of instructions, terminology and statements. The result of the 2015-2018 pre- and post-evaluation showed that the workshop raised confidence and enthusiasm in commencing university and that the majority considered the workshop useful overall. The findings of the survey are drawn upon to examine the psychosocial and emotional impacts of the workshop on participants. Using secondary qualitative analysis, the researchers identified the themes relating to the psychosocial and emotional issues conveyed by the participants.   Contribution The contributions of the article are in the areas of improving students’ confidence to complete their university degrees and increasing the likelihood of academic success. Findings Of the 285 students who participated in the workshops from 2015 to 2018, 166 completed the survey conducted at the conclusion of the initiative, representing a 58% response rate. The workshops achieved the objectives outlined at the outset. While there were many findings reported (Thalluri, 2016), the results highlighted in this paper relate to the psychosocial and emotional impacts of the workshop on students. Three themes emerged, and these were Increased preparedness and confidence; Networking and friendships that enhanced support, and Reduced anxiety to study sciences. Some drawbacks were also reported including the cost, time and travel involved. Recommendations for practitioners Students found the introductory workshop to be psychosocially and emotionally beneficial. It is recommended that the same approach be applied for teaching other challenging fields such as mathematics and physics within the university and in other contexts and institutions. Recommendations for researchers Improving and extending the workshop to provide greater accessibility and autonomy is recommended. A longitudinal study to follow up the durability of the workshop is also proposed. Impact on society The impacts in the broader community include: higher academic success for students; improved mental health due to social networking and friendship groups and reduced anxiety and fear; reduced dropout rate in their first year; greater potential to complete educational degrees; reduced wastage in human and financial resources; and increased human capital. Future research Addressing the limitations of cost, time and travel involved, and following-up with the participants’ academic and workplace performance are future directions for research.

scholarly journals Comparisons of Animal “Smart” Using The First Four Stages of the Model of Hierarchical Complexity

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mansi J. Shah ◽  
Michael L. Commons ◽  
William J. Harrigan
Keyword(s):  
Operant Conditioning ◽  
Motor Task ◽  
Comparative Psychology ◽  
Behavioral Model ◽  
Ordinal Scale ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Respondent Conditioning ◽  
Hierarchical Complexity ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Using Data

The Model of Hierarchical Complexity is a behavioral model of development and evolution of the complexity of behavior. It is based on task analysis. Tasks are ordered in terms of their hierarchical complexity, which is an ordinal scale that measures difficulty. The hierarchical difficulty of tasks is categorized as the order of hierarchical complexity. Successful performance on a task is called the behavioral stage. This model can be applied to non-human animals, and humans. Using data from some of the simplest animals and also somewhat more complex ones, this analysis describes the four lowest behavioral stages and illustrate them using the behaviors of a range of simple organisms. For example, Stage 1 tasks, and performance on them, are addressed with automatic unconditioned responses. Behavior at this Stage includes sensing, tropisms, habituation and, other automatic behaviors. Single cell organisms operate at this Stage. Stage 2 tasks include these earlier behaviors, but also include respondent conditioning but not operant conditioning. Animals such as some simple invertebrates have shown respondent conditioning, but not operant conditioning. Stage 3 tasks coordinate three instances of these earlier tasks to make possible operant conditioning. These stage 3 performances are similar to those of some invertebrates and also insects. Stage 4 tasks organisms coordinate 2 or more circular sensory-motor task actions into a superordinate “concept”. This explanation of the early stages of the Model of Hierarchical Complexity may help future research in animal behavior, and comparative psychology.

scholarly journals Practice-based segmentation: taxonomy of C2C co-creation practice segments

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (9) ◽  
pp. 3799-3818 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Rihova ◽  
Miguel Moital ◽  
Dimitrios Buhalis ◽  
Mary-Beth Gouthro
Keyword(s):  
Participant Observation ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practice Elements ◽  
Qualitative Thematic Analysis ◽  
Specific Practice ◽  
Social Units

PurposeThis paper aims to explore and evaluate practice-based segmentation as an alternative conceptual segmentation perspective that acknowledges the active role of consumers as value co-creators.Design/methodology/approachData comprising various aspects of customer-to-customer (C2C) co-creation practices of festival visitors were collected across five UK-based festivals, using participant observation and semi-structured interviews with naturally occurring social units (individuals, couples and groups). Data were analysed using a qualitative thematic analysis procedure within QSR NVivo 10.FindingsPrivate, sociable, tribal and communing practice segments are identified and profiled, using the interplay of specific subject- and situation-specific practice elements to highlight the “minimum” conditions for each C2C co-creation practice. Unlike traditional segments, practice segment membership is shown to be fluid and overlapping, with fragmented consumers moving across different practice segments throughout their festival experience according to what makes most sense at a given time.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough practice-based segmentation is studied in the relatively limited context of C2C co-creation practices at festivals, the paper illustrates how this approach could be operationalised in the initial qualitative stages of segmentation research. By identifying how the interplay of subject- and situation-specific practice elements affects performance of practices, managers can facilitate relevant practice-based segments, leading to more sustainable business.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to segmentation literature by empirically demonstrating the feasibility of practice-based segments and by evaluating the use of practice-based segmentation on a strategic, procedural and operational level. Possible methodological solutions for future research are offered.

scholarly journals Tenure Track Athletic Training Educators: Are they being set up to fail?

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 144-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori Dewald ◽  
Katie Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Training ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Athletic Training Education ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Tenure Track ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Allied Health Professions ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
Athletic Training Educators ◽  
Set Up

Issues faced by tenure track AT education faculty are addressed and suggestions for those who are considering appointments as AT faculty are given. Literature and research from other allied health professions are provided as insights to AT faculty. We also suggest future research ideas related to AT educators. Finally, we consider future developments in the movement of athletic training education programs (ATEPs) into departments/schools of allied health and its impact on tenured AT faculty.

scholarly journals 117 Employment-activity status and multidisciplinary care engagement in patients with newly diagnosed dementia: a 16-month audit study within an inner sydney community neurology clinic

2019 ◽  
Vol 90 (e7) ◽  
pp. A38.1-A38
Author(s):  
Louise Rigney ◽  
Alexis Selby ◽  
Lily Chen ◽  
Tejas Patel ◽  
Yun T Hwang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Psychology ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Multidisciplinary Care ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Speech Pathology ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Community Perception ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Cooperative Strategies

IntroductionDementia is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in Australia. Attitudes towards dementia in the workplace, tailored adjustments for disability, and patient-centred ‘exit with dignity’ strategies are of objective and subjective importance to patient wellbeing. This study aimed to assess employment characteristics in those with newly diagnosed dementia, and engagement with multidisciplinary supports.MethodsAn audit of patients with diagnosis of dementia (n=136,age51–96 yrs,M:F1.1:1) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI)(n=28,age56–83M:F0.6:1) over a 16 month period in 2017–18 was performed using online server data collection and retrospective analysis of general and employment demographic characteristics, presenting clinical information, and care across clinical psychology, psychotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, and dietetics.ResultsYounger onset dementia was present in 14(10%). Of the 122 dementia cases aged above 65 years, 24(20%) were employed-active, 98(80%) were retired, and none were unemployed. Approximately 5% had a background in healthcare. Allied health support was provided in 106 cases (78%) with ≥3 supports in 28(21%) and was more common in those who were retired(76%) versus employed-active (21%). Clinical psychology or psychotherapy support was provided in 50(37%) cases of dementia. ConclusionsThe onset of dementia often co-exists with active employment. Community perception of employment status in dementia would be of future research interest. Provision of multidisciplinary allied health supports in dementia may facilitate coping, adjustment and cooperative strategies for exit with dignity but further studies are required in this cohort.

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