Developing a collaborative, humanistic interprofessional healthcare culture: a multi-site study

Introduction:Developing a collaborative, humanistic interprofessional healthcare culture requires optimal relational skills, respect, interpersonal cohesion, and role clarity. We developed a longitudinal curriculum to engender these skills and values in institutional leaders. We report results of a qualitative study at seven US-based academic health centers to identify participants’ learning. Methods:At each institution, participants from at least three different professions met in small group sessions twice-monthly over nine months. Sessions focused on relational capacities to enhance leadership and professionalism, and utilized critical reflection and experiential learning to promote teamwork, self-knowledge, communication skills, and address challenges encountered by a healthcare team. Participants completed reflective responses to open-ended questions asking what knowledge, insights, or skills they gained by working in this interprofessional group and applications of their learning. Five investigators analyzed the anonymized responses using the constant comparative method. Results:Overarching themes centered on relationships and the strength of the relational nature of the learning. We observed learning on three levels: a) Intrapersonal learning included self-awareness, mindfulness, and empathy for self that translated to reflections on application of these to teamwork and teaching; b) Interpersonal learning concerned relational skills and teaching about listening, understanding others’ perspectives, appreciation/respect for colleagues, and empathy for others; c) Systems level learning included teaching skills about resilience, conflict management, team dynamics and cultural norms, and appreciation of resources from interprofessional colleagues. Discussion:A curriculum focusing on humanistic teaching for leaders led to new insights and positive changes in relational perspectives. Learning occurred on multiple levels. Many learners reported revising previous assumptions, a marker for transformative learning. Humanistic faculty development can facilitate deep bonds between professions.

Virtual patient simulation to improve nurses’ relational skills in a continuing education context: a convergent mixed methods study

Background Effective provider-patient communication is crucial to the delivery of high-quality care. Communication roadblock such as righting reflex is widely observed among providers and can lead to relational disengagement. In previous work, nurses felt ill-equipped to communicate effectively with HIV-positive patients to support medication adherence. Providing nurses with continuing education opportunities to improve their relational skills is a major target for optimizing the quality of care. Virtual patient simulation is one promising strategy that needs to be evaluated among graduate nurses. This study aimed to assess the acceptability of a virtual patient simulation to improve nurses’ relational skills in a continuing education context. Methods We conducted a convergent mixed methods study by combining a quantitative pre-experimental, one-group post-test design and a qualitative exploratory study. We used convenience and snowball sampling approaches to select registered nurses (n = 49) working in Quebec, Canada. Participants completed an online sociodemographic questionnaire, consulted the automated virtual patient simulation (informed by motivational interviewing), and filled out an online post-test survey. Descriptive statistics (mean, SD, median, interquartile range) were used to present quantitative findings. From the 27 participants who completed the simulation and post-test survey, five participated in a focus group to explore their learning experience. The discussion transcript was subjected to thematic analysis. At the final stage of the study, we used a comparison strategy for the purpose of integrating the quantitative and qualitative results. Results Nurses perceived the simulation to be highly acceptable. They rated the global system quality and the technology acceptance with high scores. They reported having enjoyed the simulation and recommended other providers use it. Four qualitative themes were identified: motivations to engage in the simulation-based research; learning in a realistic, immersive, and non-judgmental environment; perceived utility of the simulation; and perceived difficulty in engaging in the simulation-based research. Conclusions The simulation contributed to knowledge and skills development on motivational interviewing and enhanced nurses’ self-confidence in applying relational skills. Simulation holds the potential to change practice, as nurses become more self-reflective and aware of the impact of their relational skills on patient care. Trial registration ISRCTN18243005, retrospectively registered on July 3 2020.

Raccontare con le immagini. Lo Stop-motion come strumento per l’apprendimento collaborativo

The purpose of this paper is to describe the activities carried out in a class with children of the third year of primary school (Istituto Sant’Anna, Torino) school year 2019/2020 and to test the potentialities of audiovisual and technological language in the development of knowledge and skills, like the management of a collaborative activity, the correct use of technological tools and the awarness of the project’s path.Thissperimental activity starts from the hypothesis that creating a stop-motion video, focused on a disciplinary subject, can give good results both from a learning point of view and the acquisition of social and relational skills thank to the type work, mainly carried out in groups.

Effecten van een sociale responsiviteitstraining op jongeren met ASS

The PEERS® (Program for Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) training targets age-appropriate social skills. By the use of homework assignments and parallel parent sessions the generalization of skills enhanced. The results of this randomized controlled trial show that social skills significantly improved, as indicated by both selfand parent reports. However, the significant increase in observed social skills as observed in the PEERS® condition was as large as the increase observed in the active control condition. Further research will target mediators and moderators of treatment effects.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Korean Version of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills for Young Adults (PEERS®-YA-K) With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study

Evidence-based social skills interventions for young adults are limited, despite social difficulties in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) persisting after transition to adulthood. The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills for Young Adults (PEERS®-YA) is an evidence-based intervention found to be effective in improving relational skills in young adults with ASD. To translate the original American version of the PEERS®-YA treatment manual into Korean, intensive interviews were performed. Based on results from interviews, several rules of dating etiquette and social activities were modified to be culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate. Next, young adults diagnosed with ASD (18–35 years of age; IQ > 70) and their social coaches were recruited for the randomized controlled trial (RCT). Participants were randomly assigned either to a treatment group (TG; n = 19) or a delayed treatment group (DTG; n = 18). In the analysis of group differences in the TG and DTG, social skills knowledge was improved. The within group analyses showed positive effects of improving social skills knowledge on reducing depression and anxiety symptoms. After modest cultural adaptations focusing on dating and social activities, the implementation of the PEERS®-YA-K was found feasible for the Korean community. This is one of only a few cross-cultural validation trials establishing evidence-based treatment in young adults with ASD.Clinical Trial Registration: This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03310775.

Nurses’ views of fundamental relational skills used in clinical practice: a cross-sectional pilot study

Objective Effective communication skills are one of the core competencies of nursing curricula internationally. Nurses are generally regarded as proficient. Despite our complete trust in the profession, deficiencies and gaps exist. However, it is not clear to which extent nurses use key communication skills in practice, and whether or not confident in using these skills compounds environmental issues that occur. This study explored nurse's confidence and application of relational skills competencies in nursing practice. Methods A 13-item online survey was used to collect data. Results Being self-aware on key areas where there was more uncertainty. Nurses also lacked confidence in exploring the impact of their personal feelings and values on their interactions. Nurses were also less confident on responding appropriately to instances of unsafe or unprofessional practice and using information and communication systems and technology. Conclusions Given the potential impact of poor relational skills on quality client care, an increased emphasis on caring and compassion, and the ever-expanding use of communication technologies, there is a need to explore the need for reflective practice to enhance continuous professional development for nurses to enhance their relational skills.

Impact of Equine-Assisted Activities on Quality of Life and Relational Skills for Older Adults With Dementia: A Mixed-Methodology Research

Date Presented Accepted for AOTA INSPIRE 2021 but unable to be presented due to online event limitations. The purpose of this research was to examine the efficacy of a 9-week equine-assisted program named "Horse in the Moment." Mixed-methodology research was conducted to explore the effectiveness of equine-assisted activities on quality of life (QOL) and relational skills for individuals diagnosed with dementia. Pre and post scores on World Health Organization QOL showed significant difference. Families of the participants also reported improvements in communication and socialization. Primary Author and Speaker: Charmaine Lim Additional Authors and Speakers: Manisha Sheth