Rethinking Employer Communication and Support for Home Care Aides: A Case Study of Pandemic Group Support Calls

This case study explores an employer-initiated biweekly group support call for home care aides implemented by a large New York City-based home care agency during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, we investigate how agency staff used information gathered through these calls to intervene into existing agency communication and support systems for aides. Our single-site case study analyzes detailed notes from almost 100 support calls that took place between April 2020 and March 2021, as well as interviews with agency staff from communications, human resources, nursing, and other departments that support aides. We compare and contrast new communication and support mechanisms advanced in conjunction with these calls with agency systems pre-pandemic. Our findings suggest that while calls were initially targeted toward providing emotional and operational support, staff also advocated for more systemic supports. We discuss the sustainability of these new efforts, as well as ongoing barriers and gaps.

A randomised controlled trial of the 5:2 diet

Objective The 5:2 diet is a popular intermittent energy restriction method of weight management that awaits further evaluation. We compared the effects of one-off 5:2 instructions with the effects of one-off standard multicomponent weight-management advice; and also examined whether additional behavioural support enhances 5:2 adherence and efficacy compared to one-off instructions. Methods Three hundred adults with obesity were randomised to receive a Standard Brief Advice (SBA) covering diet and physical activity (N = 100); 5:2 self-help instructions (5:2SH) (N = 100); or 5:2SH plus six once-weekly group support sessions (N = 100). Participants were followed up for one year. Results Adherence to 5:2SH was initially high (74% at 6 weeks), but it declined over time (31% at 6 months and 22% at one year). 5:2SH and SBA achieved similar weight-loss at six months (-1.8kg (SD = 3.5) vs -1.7kg (SD = 4.4); b = 0.23, 95%CI:-0.79–1.27, p = 0.7) and at one year (-1.9kg (SD = 4.9) vs -1.8kg (SD = 5.7), b = 0.20, 95%CI:-1.21–1.60, p = 0.79), with 18% vs 15% participants losing ≥5% of their body weight with 5:2SH and SBA, respectively at one year (RR = 0.83, 95%CI:0.44–1.54, p = 0.55). Both interventions received positive ratings, but 5:2SH ratings were significantly higher. 5:2SH had no negative effect on fat and fiber intake and physical activity compared to SBA. Compared to 5:2SH, 5:2G generated a greater weight loss at 6 weeks (-2.3kg vs -1.5kg; b = 0.74, 95%CI:1.37–0.11, p = 0.02), but by one year, the difference was no longer significant (-2.6kg vs -1.9kg, p = 0.37; ≥5% body weight loss 28% vs 18%, p = 0.10). Conclusions Simple 5:2 advice and multicomponent weight management advice generated similar modest results. The 5:2 diet did not undermine other health behaviours, and it received more favourable ratings. Adding initial group support enhanced 5:2 adherence and effects, but the impact diminished over time. Health professionals who provide brief weight management advice may consider including the 5:2 advice as an option. Trial registration ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN79408248).

Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Dengan Pendekatan Peer Group Support Dalam Penanganan Sadar TB di Puskesmas Rumbai Pesisir

Banyaknya penderita TB ini sebagian besar disebabkan karena adanya ketidakpatuhan dalam melakukan pengobatan Obat Anti Tuberkulosis (OAT) sehingga bakteri TB menjadi kebal atau penderita menjadi resisten terhadap OAT. Kepatuhan penderita TB tuberkulosis dalam menjalani pengobatan merupakan hal utama dalam keberhasilan pengobatan. Dukungan sosial dari keluarga dan teman-teman kelompok pendukung dapat dibentuk untuk membantu kepatuhan pasien dalam menjalani pengobatan. Ketika mendapatkan dukungan, seseorang akan merasa dicintai, dihargai, dan diakui serta membuat dirinya lebih berarti. Adapun bentuk dukungan yang dapat diberikan kepada penderita TB penderita tuberkulosis paru adalah dalam bentuk peer group support yang dapat berupa dukungan positif pada setiap kegiatan yang dilakukan. Pengabdian dilaksanakan di Puskesmas Rumbai Pesisir yang terdiri dari 20 Kader Kesehatan pada tahun 2020. Metode dalam melaksanakan kegiatan ini melalui pelatihan yakni dengan memberikan pengetahuan melalui ceramah interaktif kemudian diberikan keterampilan mengenai bagaimana kader kesehatan melakukan peer group support terhadap pasien TB. Adapun manfaat yang dihasilkan dari kegiatan ini adalah Kader kesehatan TB memiliki perubahan pada pengetahuan, pemahaman, dan keterampilan Kader Kesehatan dalam menangani pasien TB. Peer group support seharusnya dilakukan secara keberlanjutan sehingga meningkatkan motivasi pasien TB dalam kepatuhan minum obat agar sembuh. Dengan adanya peer group support ini pasien TB tidak akan merasa sendiri dan depresi karena bisa berbagi cerita dalam menghadapi penyakit TB.

Women's Experiences of the Coping With Birth Trauma:A Psychoeducational Group Support Program

OBJECTIVEBetween 20%-50% of women experience birth as traumatic, with negative impacts for women, infants and families. Currently, there is a lack of evidence into supportive interventions to ameliorate women's adverse responses following a traumatic birth. In North-West UK, a 6-week psychoeducation group support program (Coping with Birth Trauma [CwBT]) was developed and delivered by two trained therapists. The course aimed to facilitate women's understanding of trauma, and to provide coping strategies; additional speakers were also invited to discuss specialist issues. The aim of this evaluation was to explore women's experiences and perceptions of the CwBT, and to identify recommendations for course development.METHODSFollowing university ethics approval, all the women who had attended a CwBT course (n = 3) were invited to take part in a telephone interview. Eight women out of a possible sample of 16 agreed to participate. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview data.RESULTSTwo themes and associated sub-themes describe the social, cognitive and instrumentalcomponents of the CwBT course (“Creating a difference”) and how the course facilitated growth and help-seeking behaviors (“Growth and renewal”). The final theme “complaints and recommendations” details critical reflections and suggestions for course development. Recommendations included speakers from different therapeutic backgrounds and more opportunities for contact with women at different stages of their trauma journey.CONCLUSIONSOverall, the course was well received with positive implications for health, wellbeing and family functioning. Further and large-scale studies to assess its effectiveness are needed.

Peer Group: A New Approach of Nursing Intervention

The development of nursing, especially related to the nursing intervention approach, is running so fast. This can be seen from the use of peer group support in nursing interventions in individual humans. The purpose of this literature is to find the impact of implementing nursing interventions using a peer group support approach. This literature review method uses JBI and Prisma on 120 articles taken from journal databases, namely Scopus, PubMed and ScienceDirect. From the articles analyzed, it was found that the application of peer groups can improve individual abilities both in psychological and behavioral aspects. The application of the peer group approach is able to be one of the approaches in the world of nursing in carrying out nursing actions today.

Psychosocial outcomes of peer support for patients with an inherited cardiac condition

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction Inherited cardiac conditions (ICCs) are feared for their risk of sudden death. Individuals are often young and diagnosed after the sudden death of an apparently healthy family member. A diagnosis can have a profound psychological impact and negative effect on quality of life. Uncertainty surrounding the natural history of some diseases causes anxiety and concern about existing children or starting a family. Necessary lifestyle adjustments are often associated with a sense of isolation during social engagement with peers. Psychological support for such patients is scarce. However, a specialist nurse led peer group support within the ICC service may improve psychological outcomes and empower patients to support others. Purpose To determine the effect of a nurse led peer support group on subjective psychological symptoms for patients with ICCs. Methods A pilot specialist nurse support group was established in February 2020 including 30 patients with ICCs. This consisted of a meeting in person followed by 6 subsequent 2 monthly online video meetings. Each session lasted 2 hours and included a talk by a healthcare professional on an ICC related topic, followed by an open forum for group discussion facilitated by the specialist nurse. An online social media chat forum was also developed. After 1 year, a bespoke questionnaire was distributed to all participants enquiring about the effect of group support on anxiety level, sense of isolation, knowledge about their condition and empowerment to support themselves and others. Results 21 (70%) patients aged between 20 and 65 years old (mean age 49) responded. Diagnoses included Brugada syndrome, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and long QT syndrome. All participants agreed that the group provided a comfortable platform to ask questions about their condition. 95% of participants were keen to know more about their condition after diagnosis of which 86% agreed that knowledge about their condition had improved since joining the group. 90% of participants experienced anxiety related to their condition before joining the group of which 76% reported reduced levels since joining. 76% felt isolated after their diagnosis of which 86% reported that these feelings had lessened since joining the group. 86% of the group agreed that group discussion empowered them and helped them support other affected individuals. Conclusion A pilot study support group for patients with ICCs reduced anxiety and sense of isolation, improved knowledge, and sense of empowerment and willingness to support other patients in ≥ 80% of attendees. There is potential that patient support groups can be kick started by specialist nurses and subsequently allowed to run by patients themselves. Apart from improving psychological outcomes, such practice may reduce the workload for the ICC multidisciplinary team.