LGBTQ+ Psychosocial Concerns in Nursing and Midwifery Education Programmes: Qualitative Findings from a Mixed-Methods Study

LGBTQ+ people experience significant physical and psychosocial health issues and concerns, and encounter barriers when accessing healthcare services. We conducted a mixed-methods research study across all Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in the United Kingdom and Ireland using a survey and qualitative interviews. This was to identify the current content within nursing and midwifery pre-registration programmes in relation to LGBTQ+ health and to identity best practice and education innovation within these programmes. The survey was completed by 29 academics, with 12 selected to participate in a follow-up in-depth qualitative interview. Analysis of the data from the survey and interviews identified five themes: there is variable programme content; academics are developing their own programmes with no clear consistency; LGBTQ+ health is being linked to equality and diversity; there are barriers to education provision; and these is some evidence of best practice examples. The findings of the study support the need to develop and implement a curriculum for LGBTQ+ health in nursing and midwifery pre-registration programmes with learning aims and outcomes. Academics need support and tools to prepare and deliver LGBTQ+ health content to nurses and midwives as they ultimately have the potential to improve the experiences of LGBTQ+ people when accessing healthcare.

Healthy Parent Carers programme: mixed methods process evaluation and refinement of a health promotion intervention

ObjectivesParent carers of children with special educational needs or disability are at risk of poorer mental and physical health. In response to these needs, we codeveloped the ‘Healthy Parent Carers’ (HPC) programme. This study examined the views and experiences of participants in the HPC feasibility trial to inform programme refinement.Intervention, setting and participantsHPC is a peer-led group-based intervention (supported by online materials) for primary carers of disabled children, encouraging behaviours linked with health and well-being. It was delivered by two lead and six assistant peer facilitators in six community sites (one lead and one assistant per group) in South West England over six or 12 sessions. Control participants had online materials only. The trial involved 47 intervention and 45 control parent carers (97% female and 97% white) and eight facilitators (one male).DesignA preplanned mixed methods process evaluation using questionnaires and checklists (during and after the intervention), qualitative interviews with participants after intervention (n=18) and a focus group with facilitators after trial.ResultsHPC was highly acceptable to participants and facilitators and experiences were very positive. Participants reported that the programme increased awareness of what parent carers could and could not change and their self-efficacy to engage in health-promoting behaviours. The intended mechanisms of action (social identification and peer support) matched participants’ expectations and experiences. Control participants found the online-only programme flexible but isolating, as there were no opportunities to share ideas and problem solve with peers, the key function of the programme. Areas for improvement were identified for programme content, facilitator training and delivery.ConclusionHPC was acceptable, well received and offers considerable potential to improve the health of parent carers. Under the pandemic, the challenge going forward is how best to maintain reach and fidelity to function while delivering a more virtual programme.Trial registration numberISRCTN151144652.

Development of an interdisciplinary specialist facial pain management programme

Aims: This article aims to describe the development of a specialist chronic facial pain (CFP) management programme within an already well-established pain management service, including the content from a multidisciplinary perspective, and present preliminary descriptive 6-month outcomes from patients who have attended the programme. Methods: Authors used their clinical experience of working with people who have a diagnosis of CFP. They researched available literature, liaised with CFP support organisations and visited an existing UK-based CFP programme. Programme content was designed based on findings. The roles of pain interdisciplinary team members involved in delivering the programme are described, as well as a brief description of the structure of the programme and programme sessions provided by each discipline. Results: Clinical outcomes from programme participants were collected at assessment, end of treatment and 6 months post-treatment, which measured relevant outcomes for a pain management programme (PMP). Outcomes from 36 participants at both end of programme and 6 months following completion of programme demonstrate promising improvements. Qualitative data from patient satisfaction questionnaires completed at the end of programme suggest that providing a CFP-specific programme was beneficial for participants, with the main critique being that the programme sessions should be longer than 45 minutes. Conclusion: Attending a CFP-specific programme demonstrated positive 6-month changes in relevant outcome measures for people with CFP. With a small sample size, there is a need for further research into the effectiveness. It would also be beneficial to compare outcomes from the usual PMP treatment with people who have CFP, with outcomes from a CFP-specific programme.

Medication review, polypharmacy and deprescribing: Results of a pilot scoping exercise in undergraduate and postgraduate education

Background: As part of tackling polypharmacy, effective medication review and safe deprescribing are key to World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 3rd Global Patient Safety Challenge. There is little information about whether this occurs consistently in pharmacy and medicine courses in England. Objective: To create a snapshot of medication review, polypharmacy and deprescribing educational activity in a small number of university courses for medicines, pharmacy and non-medical prescribing. Method: The authors undertook a pilot scoping exercise by emailing colleagues in schools of pharmacy and medicine across England about course inclusion of medication review and deprescribing. 11 universities, describing 17 programmes, responded (eight undergraduate pharmacy, four undergraduate medicine, four postgraduate medicine, one non-medical prescribing course). Data were categorised as: programme content, tools to support deprescribing, learning outcomes, and future intentions for deprescribing teaching. Results: The results suggested variation in what was being taught. Conclusion: In order to address both national and international agenda, the authors suggest that inclusion of training in this area and consistency of curricula are crucial to adequately equipping our future workforce to be fit for purpose.

Development and pilot evaluation of an educational programme on infection prevention and antibiotics with English and Scottish youth groups, informed by COM-B

Background: The UK 5-year antimicrobial resistance (AMR) National Action Plan highlights the need to prevent community infections through education of children. Activities around infection prevention (IP) and antibiotics were piloted by UK youth groups in 2016–2018, prompting Public Health England (PHE) to develop a standardised programme. The aim of the study was to develop and pilot an educational programme on IP and antibiotics for use by community youth groups in the UK. Methods: A working group, including youth group volunteers interested in IP and AMR, agreed on the programme content through consensus, informed by the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behaviour model (COM-B). The Antibiotic Guardian Youth Badge (AGYB) included learning through interactive e-Bug activities on IP and prudent antibiotic use, action setting through Antibiotic Guardian pledges and consolidation through poster development. The programme was piloted and evaluated with conveniently recruited youth groups in 2019, including quantitative and qualitative questionnaire feedback from community leaders and children. Results: Fourteen youth group leaders and 232 children from uniformed Girlguiding/Scout groups in England and Scotland participated in the pilot evaluation, as well as two primary schools. Leaders reported alignment to the themes of their youth organisation, but struggled to teach antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Children reported enjoyment and intentions to improve hygiene behaviour. Conclusion: Community youth groups are a suitable setting for IP and antibiotics education. The AGYB was officially launched in March 2020 and promoted for use with home-schooling children and remote youth group meetings to educate about IP during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Development of an Interactive Lifestyle Programme for Adolescents at Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes: PRE-STARt

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing in young people. Reporting on the processes used when developing prevention interventions is needed. We present the development of a family-based interactive lifestyle intervention for adolescents with risk factors for T2D in the future. Method: A multidisciplinary team in the UK site led the intervention development process with sites in Portugal, Greece, Germany and Spain. Potential programme topics and underpinning theory were gathered from literature and stakeholders. A theoretical framework based on self-efficacy theory and the COM-B (capability, opportunity, motivation, behaviour) model was developed. Sessions and supporting resources were developed and refined via two iterative cycles of session and resource piloting, feedback, reflection and refinement. Decision on delivery and content were made by stakeholders (young people, teachers, parents, paediatricians) and all sites. Materials were translated to local languages. Site-specific adaptations to the language, content and supporting resources were made. Results: The “PRE-STARt” programme is eight 90-min interactive sessions with supporting curriculum and resources. Iterative development work provided valuable feedback on programme content and delivery. Conclusion: Reporting on the intervention development process, which includes stakeholder input, could yield a flexible approach for use in this emerging ‘at risk’ groups and their families.

Evaluation of Television as a Medium for Promotion of Indigenous Culture and Traditional Heritage; a Study of the Nigeria Television Authority

Television is a medium of communication and communication is a means through which culture is spread, shared, maintained, repaired and transformed. Contemporarily, the term culture covers the domains of arts, sciences, beliefs, manner or even attitude of a group of people such as tribe, religious body or society. It can be defined as the sum total of way of life of a people such as festivals, dances, religion, language, norms/traditions etc. This study examined how the Nigeria Television Authority has been or not used in promoting Nigeria cultural values and heritage. The method adopted in the study is survey. The interview technique was used involving a total of 400 respondents drawn from the staff members of the NTA, Enugu zonal station, and the Station’s audience. Findings of the study revealed that television is a powerful medium through which a people can, through programming and content, share and export their cultural values for sustainable development, as well, a medium for eroding culture and tradition. It was further found that the NTA has not been sufficiently utilized to promote the Nigerian culture. The study recommended that mass media workers, particularly television programmes designers should sit up in the area of promoting Nigeria cultural heritage through TV programme content. Secondly, it is recommended that TV producers should endeavour to down play indecent dressing and violence, while emphasizing more of educative, informative, technological and entertainment in their productions.

Evaluation of Television as a Medium for Promotion of Indigenous Culture and Traditional Heritage; a Study of the Nigeria Television Authority

Television is a medium of communication and communication is a means through which culture is spread, shared, maintained, repaired and transformed. Contemporarily, the term culture covers the domains of arts, sciences, beliefs, manner or even attitude of a group of people such as tribe, religious body or society. It can be defined as the sum total of way of life of a people such as festivals, dances, religion, language, norms/traditions etc. This study examined how the Nigeria Television Authority has been or not used in promoting Nigeria cultural values and heritage. The method adopted in the study is survey. The interview technique was used involving a total of 400 respondents drawn from the staff members of the NTA, Enugu zonal station, and the Station’s audience. Findings of the study revealed that television is a powerful medium through which a people can, through programming and content, share and export their cultural values for sustainable development, as well, a medium for eroding culture and tradition. It was further found that the NTA has not been sufficiently utilized to promote the Nigerian culture. The study recommended that mass media workers, particularly television programmes designers should sit up in the area of promoting Nigeria cultural heritage through TV programme content. Secondly, it is recommended that TV producers should endeavour to down play indecent dressing and violence, while emphasizing more of educative, informative, technological and entertainment in their productions.

Facilitators, challenges and usefulness of an asthma educational programme

Background: This study explored the role of hospitals, specialised doctors and staff in developing patient awareness, participation and motivation concerning asthma control. It also looked at the challenges that undermine the value of asthma educational programmes, especially in an Arab cultural context. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from 30 asthma patients who had been living with asthma for a long period of time. Results: Findings highlight how an asthma educational programme can increase patient knowledge about the causes of asthma. Following the programme, patients had a better understanding of levels of medication, breathing techniques and rest and relaxation. Awareness of support from health professionals for managing depression and frustration also increased. However, some patients felt that the asthma educational programme content and delivery was not very interactive and was too lengthy. Conclusion: Findings can help policy makers, researchers, hospitals, doctors and the national Ministry of Health improve the content of future asthma educational programmes. They can also inform the development of a research framework to extend understanding of relevant issues in an Arabian context.

Cabaran Mengekalkan Kemampanan Radio Kampus di Universiti-Universiti di Malaysia dan Indonesia dalam Era Media Baharu

Radio kampus atau radio kolej adalah radio berasaskan prinsip radio komuniti, yang menjadi platform latihan untuk pelajar-pelajar universiti menyampaikan maklumat secara kreatif. Bagaimanapun timbul persepsi yang mendapati medium tersebut agak kurang produktif dan diurus secara kurang berkesan. Justeru, menjadi antara punca minat warga kampus yang rendah untuk mendengar siaran radio kampus. Apakah cabaran dan usaha yang perlu dilaksanakan untuk meningkatkan kemampanan radio kampus khususnya dalam era media baharu? Persoalan kajian tertumpu untuk melihat cabaran yang dihadapi dari sudut pengurusan radio, dan pendekatan-pendekatan lain yang digunakan bagi memastikan operasi radio kampus dilaksana dengan berkesan. Analisis data temubual mendalam dijalankan dalam kalangan 10 ahli produksi daripada 4 buah radio kampus di Malaysia dan Indonesia. Kengkangan kewangan yang amat terhad untuk menguruskan radio kampus menjadi faktor utama hasil kajian utama. Perasaan kepunyaan sebagai alumni sesebuah universiti mendorong mereka lebih bersemangat membantu dan akhirnya menyumbang kepada kemampanan operasi radio kampus di Malaysia dan Indonesia. Program-program radio yang dijalankan adalah bersifat menjana pengetahuan bagi tujuan pendidikan. Kandungan program sesebuah radio juga diubahsuai dari semasa ke semasa untuk disesuaikan dengan dana dan strategi promosi bagi meningkatkan jumlah pendengar. Campus radio or college radio is a non-commercial community-based radio, used as a training platform for university students. However, some campus radio were perceived as unproductive and managed unsystematically. Thus, leading to the campus community’s low interest in tuning in to the campus radio channel. This article addresses the challenges and measures taken in sustaining the broadcast of campus radio programmes. What kind of constraints does campus radio in Malaysia and Indonesia universities faced and the form of approaches they adopted to ensure the continuation of operation? In-depth interviews with ten members of production team across four campus radio stations in Malaysia and Indonesia were gathered. One of the key result highlights that financial constraints are central to the management of campus radio. The sense of belonging to their “alma mater‟, enticed participation among university alumni, which subsequently, contribute to the sustainability of campus radio in Malaysia and Indonesia. Programmes are mainly for generating knowledge and educational purposes. Programme content was reformed to suit funding and station promotion strategies to elevate radio listenership.