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Purpose: To meet the needs of people with mild stroke, multidisciplinary, person-centred, cross-sectoral rehabilitation is internationally recommended. However, there seem to be gaps in the rehabilitation process. The aim of this study was to investigate how occupational therapists and physiotherapists experience working in cross-sectoral rehabilitation for people with mild stroke. Materials and methods: Data were generated through interviews with occupational therapists and physiotherapists working in four different Danish rehabilitation settings. Four group interviews and two individual interviews with a total of 19 participants were conducted. Ricoeur's theory of interpretation was used to interpret and discuss the data. Results: Four themes were identified: the risk of overlooking symptoms: better safe than sorry; varying degrees of involvement of people with mild stroke; spontaneous involvement of relatives; and contextual challenges for coherence in the rehabilitation process. Conclusion: The therapists experienced challenges in coordinating rehabilitation across sectors due to the timing of the needs assessment and contextual challenges. They used a preventive strategy of sending a plan or referral for later re-assessment. The therapists involved people with mild stroke to varying degrees. They involved relatives spontaneously. For successful rehabilitation, ongoing assessment, recognition of collaboration factors and relative involvement are essential. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: It is crucial to continuously evaluate needs and establish goals throughout the entirety of the rehabilitation process. Recognizing that the capacity and resources of people with mild strokes to collaborate with professionals are contextually, relationally, and individually determined is important. Involvement of relatives should be strengthened on many levels from the institutional level to the personal level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Several studies have demonstrated that, following a breast cancer (BC) diagnosis, patients are eager to obtain information on cancer and nutrition, in order to ameliorate both their quality of life (QoL) and disease outcome. To avoid BC survivors to get wrong information from unreliable sources, healthcare providers need to be aware of patients’ needs, to guide them toward optimal nutrition recommendations, aimed at preventing tumor recurrence and increasing survival rates. Material and methods: The cross-sectional web-based survey “Nutrition and breast cancer, what would you like to know?” has been conceived and conducted, in Italy, between the 2nd and the 25th of June 2023. The link to the 19-items questionnaire, structured in 6 sections, was distributed via social media (Facebook and Instagram), newsletter, institutional websites, and printed flyers. Patients’ responses were collected and analyzed, reporting absolute and relative frequencies. Results: A total of 1616 participants (98.9% female and 1.1% male), with an average age of 47.5 years, answered the survey. Only subjects who declared having previously received a BC diagnosis (N=1159, 71.7%) were included in the present analysis. Overall, the respondents showed a wide interest in understanding whether nutrition might help to manage therapy side effects, as well as knowing how specific diets, foods, nutrients, and supplements could affect disease onset, progression and prognosis. Importantly, the need to receive evidence-based information from the “referring physician/specialist” and “nutritionist/dietitian” was expressed by 95.8% and 88.8% of them, respectively Discussion: In this study, we primarily aimed at intercepting nutrition information needs and sources of an Italian BC survivors’ group. Based on that, we first organized a proactive digital intervention, to respond via Instagram live broadcasts to patients’ “cancer and nutrition”-related questions. Secondly, we arranged a healthcare providers dedicated-workshop focused on the latest evidence-based knowledge on nutrition and BC. It is crucial, in fact, that once healthcare professionals capture patients’ information needs, they can respond with appropriate nutritional guidance, counseling and education programs, while counteracting misleading and incorrect messages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding healthcare professionals' (HCPs) experiences with patients undergoing hematopoietic allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is crucial, given its dual nature of offering a hope for cure which on the other hand is accompanied by a high risk for morbidity and mortality. Yet, how HCPs experience their patients' existential threats remains unexplored. Qualitative thematic content analysis was employed to comprehend these experiences. This involved conducting three focus groups and 11 individual in-depth interviews with nurses and hematologists. We found that HCPs struggled to balance curative goals and the therapy's risks, while attempting to maintain their patients' hopes. The unpredictability of patient trajectories and their suffering burdened HCPs. Despite occasional disagreements within the team, (inter-)professional exchanges remained a crucial ressource, especially in addressing the patients' potential life threat. Team meetings and palliative care specialist supervisions were emphasized as vital for managing these challenges. HCPs sought support in communicating with patients about death-related issues and managing the transition from a curative to a palliative goal of care. Our research underscores the need for targeted support for HCPs and lays a groundwork for addressing their challenges. Trial registration number DRKS00027290 (German Clinical Trials Register). Date of trial registration January 10th, 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop an index to assess capacity to work in relation to common mental disorders (CMDs) in the general working population and field test its psychometric properties. Methods: Content analysis of three qualitative studies on people (n = 49) with their own experiences of working with CMD guided the items selected for the index. Face and content validity and test-retest reliability were performed. The index was field tested in two versions with 26 and 17 items, respectively, among health care professionals regarding internal reliability, component structure and concurrent validity. Results: The final version of the Capacity to Work Index (C2WI; 17 items) was normally distributed in the field test with high internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha, 0.84). Missing responses were randomly distributed and nonspecific. Principal component analysis showed one clear component with negatively framed items. Concurrent validity showed high correlation with the WHO-5 Well-Being Scale (Pearson's r, 0.68), but lower correlation for the general health question (r, − 0.44), one item of the Work Ability Index (r, − 0.33), and the Stress of Conscience constructs (r, 0.44). Conclusion: The C2WI showed promising psychometric qualities. Low and negative correlation with the item from Work Ability Index suggests that the C2WI measures additional dimensions, but further testing in larger and more diverse samples is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Previous models identify knowledge and attitudes that influence prescribing behaviour. The present study focuses on antibiotic prescribing for urinary tract infections (UTIs) to describe levels of health care professionals' knowledge and attitude factors in this area and how those levels are assessed. Methods: A systematic search was conducted to identify studies assessing the identified knowledge or attitude factors influencing health care professionals' antibiotic prescribing for urinary tract infections up to September 2022. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Data were extracted about the types of factors assessed, the levels indicated and how those levels were assessed. Data were synthesized using counts, and levels were categorized as 'poor', 'moderate', 'high' or 'very high'. Results: Seven studies were identified, six of which relied entirely on closed‐ended items. Levels of knowledge factors assessed were poor, for example, their 'knowledge of condition' and 'knowledge of task environment' were poor. Levels of the attitude factors assessed varied, for example, while health care professionals expressed moderate confidence in providing optimal patient care and appropriate attitude of fear towards the problem of antibiotic resistance, they expressed a poor attitude of complacency by giving into patient pressure to prescribe an antibiotic. Conclusions: Present evidence suggests that clinicians have poor levels of knowledge and varying levels of attitudes about antibiotic prescribing for UTIs. However, few studies were identified, and assessments were largely limited to closed‐ended types of questions. Future studies that assess more factors and employ open‐ended question types could better inform future interventions to optimize antibiotic prescribing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The number of people who access social networking sites continues to increase at an exponential rate. The use of technology is an essential skill for nursing professionals and its development represents a challenge in improving health education, promotion and care. The objective of this systematic review is to analyse the use of social networking sites by healthcare professionals as an intervention tool for evidence-based public health education. Methods: The protocol of this umbrella review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42023407249). Searches were carried out in MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), and Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews, in February 2023. A narrative synthesis of the results was conducted. Results: 1896 articles were found, of which 15 reviews fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Social networks broadened the profession; they were YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. The target population was mainly young professionals, and they came across different topic areas that addressed health education. Conclusions: It is important to have information backed by scientific evidence to make health decisions. Health professionals active on social networking sites have a unique opportunity to educate the public about health by sharing scientific evidence in an accessible and clear way, which helps to combat misinformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health care professionals (HCPs) historically exhibit high rates of stress, burnout, and low rates of service utilization from Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and Professional Health Programs (PHPs). New and magnified stressors that accompanied COVID-19 exacerbated HCPs' risk of burnout. Purpose: During the pandemic, this study examined Ohio HCP's utilization of EAPs and PHPs, knowledge of available services, barriers to accessing services, and likelihood of future service utilization. Conditions needing to change to increase likelihood of future utilization were also explored. Methods: A one-time survey was administered in July and August of 2021 to HCPs from 13 licensing boards in Ohio. This study used a subset of data to examine the extent of convergence between quantitative results—analyzed using frequency calculations—and results from thematic analysis of corresponding open-ended survey items. Qualitative results supported and elaborated the quantitative findings. Results: Fewer than 25% of respondents (N = 12,807) utilized EAPs or PHPs to address mental health concerns. Obstacles impeding service utilization included issues around awareness, time commitment, and confidentiality—a concern encompassing issues of stigma and fear of employment repercussions. Noting multiple obstacles to accessing EAPs and PHPs, HCPs in Ohio reported low rates of support service utilization and low likeliness to use services in the future despite their experiences of extreme stress and burnout. Conclusions: Addressing the time commitment and confidentiality concerns could increase the likelihood of accessing services. Employers of HCPs should explore additional support mechanisms such as comprehensive wellness programs and innovative, brief intervention strategies to combat burnout, especially during viral outbreaks and other high-stress events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific methods have evolved over the past three centuries, and modern trends are oriented toward evidence-based medical science. Humans, as researchers, no longer use primarily observational and descriptive methods to study the processes around them but rely on their participation and influence. In the case of health care professionals, practice-oriented paradigms require not only natural but also experimental research methods. At the core of nursing and midwifery is the care for the healthy and the ailing individuals, which requires in-depth knowledge in various medical and social-humanitarian disciplines. In line with technological and informational progress, the requirements for the type and quality of health care increase. The scientific methods used in nursing science are diverse and correspond to those of other medical fields - quantitative, qualitative and mixed. The founder of nursing research and one of the pioneers in medical quality science is Florence Nightingale. The road to building scientific research in nursing faced many challenges in the beginning but experienced a significant upsurge after the middle of the last century. The founders were the North American and English nurses and midwives and their associations. Gradually, the enthusiasm is transferred to European and Asian countries, which in recent years have proven a significant contribution to the development of nursing science and methodology. Research in the field of health care professionals has a dual significance. On the one hand, it is a mandatory step for the acquisition of new knowledge, skills and approaches in a theoretical aspect, and on the other, it has an evidential and educational role for practicing specialists. The current scientific and research activity in Bulgaria is a new phenomenon but with a positive development trend. Healthcare professionals are the main driving force behind supporting research and evidence-based practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As person centred care (PCC) is being implemented globally, higher educational institutions (HEI) have begun to play a crucial part in enabling this transition. In Sweden, however, the delivery of PCC is inconsistently implemented in medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy study programmes. This inconsistency is partly the result of a lack of a national strategy across HEI. Program directors are responsible for the PCC content of their programs, so their views influence how PCC is taught. Using interviews with programme directors in higher education, we aim to deepen the understanding of the preconditions needed to implement PCC by exploring discourses and identifying subject positions of how PCC is taught and learned. Methods: We performed a discourse analysis based on interviews with program directors in the above-mentioned national study programmes. A discourse can be seen as a struggle over identity. The subject position – i.e., discourses designate positions for persons to occupy as subjects – guided our analysis and identification of the subject positions of the teacher and the student in teaching and learning PCC. Results: This study unfolded in two main antagonistic aspects with respect to teaching and learning PCC, resulting in four subject positions for the teacher and four corresponding subject positions for the students. First, the teacher and student were given a subject position as change agents towards a more egalitarian healthcare and were assigned a subject position to cope with a practical reality they could not change. Second, the teacher and student were assigned a subject position that embodied profession-specific identities, navigating and valuing these boundaries. Simultaneously, both teachers and students assumed a subject position that required interprofessional interaction and co-creation for teaching and learning PCC. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the discursive tension surrounding the implementation of PCC in HEI, and the findings can serve as a basis for creating future relevant and high-quality learning activities. The process of negotiating diverse and co-existing perspectives as well as building interprofessional trust when incorporating PCC into higher education is essential and requires further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many factors can decrease job productivity and cause physical and psychological complications for health care professionals providing maternal care. Information on challenges and coping strategies among healthcare professionals providing maternal healthcare services in rural communities is crucial. However, there needs to be more studies, especially qualitative research, to explore challenges and coping strategies for providing maternal health care services in Ethiopia among health care professionals, particularly in the Wolaita zone. Objective: To explore the challenges and coping strategies of professionals providing maternal health care in rural health facilities in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia, in 2023. Method: A phenomenological qualitative study design was applied from May 20 to June 20, 2023. The study was conducted in rural areas of the Wolaita Zone, southern Ethiopia. Healthcare professionals from rural areas were selected using purposive sampling, and in-depth interviews were conducted. A qualitative thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. Field notes were read, recordings were listened to, and each participant's interview was written word for word and analyzed using ATLAS.ti 7 software. Result: Five main themes emerged from the data analysis. These themes included inadequate funding from the government, societal barriers to health and access to health care, professionals' personal life struggles, infrastructure related challenges and health system responsiveness, and coping strategies. Reporting to responsible bodies, teaching mothers about maternal health care services, and helping poor mothers from their pockets were listed among their coping strategies. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals have a crucial role in supporting women in delivering babies safely. This study revealed that they are working under challenging conditions. So, if women's lives matter, then this situation requires a call to action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Workplace aggressions on hospital workers is a very frequent and under-reported problem. OBJECTIVE: The novel objective of our study was to analyze the number of workplace aggressions per hospital worker. Other objectives of the study were to analyze the management knowledge and interest in receiving training on aggressions by hospital workers. METHODS: An anonymous survey was handed out among all professionals in a university hospital. RESULTS: A total of 1118 anonymous surveys were collected. The responders declared that throughout their working life they had suffered some sort of verbal aggression in the hospital in 766 cases (68.5%) and physical aggression in 393 cases (35.2%). Multiple logistic regression analyses found higher risk of receiving physical and verbal aggression in the nursing category and in the Emergency, Critical Care or Psychiatry Units, and a higher risk of receiving physical aggression in women. The score on the level of personal knowledge regarding the legal, physical, and psychological management of aggressions (score 0–10 for each of the 3 aspects) was 2.91±2.68 in legal management, 2.97±2.77 in psychological management and 2.91±2.76 in physical management. The opinion about the interest of receiving training (score from 0 to 10) on the legal management of hospital aggressions was 8.90±1.72, on psychological management was 8.85±1.78 and on physical management was 8.88±1.78. CONCLUSIONS: Workplace aggression on hospital workers mainly affects women, the nursing category and the Emergency, Critical Care or Psychiatry Units. Hospital workers showed little knowledge on the topic but a great interest in receiving training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Competence in delirium care begins with pre-registration education for health care professionals. Although a common complication for hospitalised patients, delirium is avoidable and reversible. Delirium requires early recognition in person-centred care. Students need to learn how to identify and effectively care for 'at risk' patients. Aim: To identify and examine literature on how pre-registration health care professional students are prepared to recognise, assess, and deliver interventions to prevent delirium in practice, using digital/web based educational interventions. Method: Mixed methods systematic review with narrative synthesis. A protocol was registered with PROSPERO. The review questions and search strategy were guided by the Population, Phenomena of Interest, Context (PICo) framework. The PRISMA framework guided the screening, data extraction and analysis. Database searches (MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO & Scopus) were undertaken in April 2023 for publications from 2012 to 2023. Covidence software [30] was used to extract and manage the data. Quality appraisal was guided by the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool (CCAT) [31]. Findings: Ten papers were included: mixed methods (2), qualitative (1) and quantitative (7). Medical students were the most studied group (n = 5), followed by student nurses (n = 4) and mixed nursing and medical students (n = 1). Length of learning experience varied from 12 min virtual reality (VR) to a two-week 'geriatrics' elective. Learning was enhanced by player autonomy, engagement, safety, applicability, choices, multiple perspectives and moral reasoning opportunities. Discussion: Digital programmes should be visually appealing, interactive with opportunities for practice and timely appropriate feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sexual risk-taking and struggles in managing romantic relationships may put young women with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at risk of sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancies, and low relational satisfaction. To gain understanding of sexual behaviors and intimate relationships, this study aimed to identify and describe health care professionals' (HCPs) perceptions and experiences of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in young women with ADHD. Methods: Qualitative interviews were performed with 16 HCPs. Data was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Analysis resulted in the themes Struggling to meet expectations, Sexual risk-taking, and Complex romantic relationships. HCPs' perceptions and experiences indicated that some women were afraid to be judged in clinical meetings when not living up to perceived expectations of sexual behaviors. Lack of impulse control was interpreted by HCPs to result in risk-taking behaviors leading to both negative and positive sexual experiences. Difficulties in assessing intentions of sexual partners were further perceived by HCPs to sometimes lead to sexual regrets or sexual victimization. The HCPs had experience of women wishing for romantic relationships but described these as being complicated by previous experiences, low self-esteem and conflict. ADHD medication and self-knowledge were perceived by HCPs to facilitate the women's relationship quality. Conclusions: This study highlights that, from the perspective of HCPs, self-stigmatization and hesitation to raise issues concerning sexuality with HCPs may pose risks for young women with ADHD. It provides insight into sexual risk-taking behaviors, showing the link to regretted sex and sexual victimization. The study concludes that there is a need for HCPs to understand the influence of stigma concerning ADHD and female sexuality as well as how symptoms and outcomes of living with ADHD may impact SRH in order to promote healthy behaviors and relationships in young women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To address: What are the experiences of 2SLGBTQQIA+ parents using parenting supports and services to meet their children's early childhood development needs (<5 years of age)? Design: Whittemore and Knafl's (2005) integrative review methodology. Methods: Electronic databases were searched from 2000 to October 14, 2022 for empirical studies or reviews addressing the research question. The title and abstract of 12,158 articles were screened for inclusion in the review by two independent researchers; 175 of these articles underwent full‐text review. Studies selected were critically appraised using a Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tool. Relevant key findings were extracted from each study and entered into N‐VIVO‐12. Thematic content analysis was employed and PRISMA guidelines were adhered to. Results: A total of 18 articles (15 qualitative and three multi‐method studies) met the inclusion criteria and were selected for the review. Seven themes were revealed from analysis of the studies: (1) 2SLGBTQQIA+ Status kept a secret; (2) Forced to come out; (3) Heteronormative messaging; (4) Feeling excluded; (5) Stigmatised; (6) Parents act as educators; and (7) Positive experiences. Conclusion: This integrative review provides nurses with insight into the experiences of 2SLGBTQQIA+ parents using health care services for their young child. Implications for the Profession: This article highlights what changes nurses need to make to their practice to ensure appropriate, inclusive care for clients of diverse sexual and gender identities and their families. Impact: Health care providers, especially nurses, have an opportunity to improve the experiences of these families and positively impact their health and well‐being. Additionally, there is a need for research with the 2SLGBTQQIA+ parent community and the use of rigorous methodological techniques, including clearly linking participants' gender and sexual identities with study findings, to improve our understanding of 2SLGBTQQIA+ parent experiences. Patient or Public Contribution: Although there was no direct patient contribution to the work since it was an integrative review of the literature, indirectly patient contributions are incorporated from the original research results of studies incorporated into this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread throughout the world causing serious morbidity and mortality. Health care professionals (HCP) are on the front line in the face of this pandemic and are identified as priorities for COVID-19 vaccination. This study aimed to estimate the acceptability rate of the COVID-19 vaccination among HCP and to identify their predisposing factors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire including a randomized sample of HCP in Southern Tunisia, on March–April 2021. Results: Among 300 participants, the COVID-19 vaccine acceptability rate was 65.3%. Factors independently associated with vaccine acceptability were age groups <30 years [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)=4.36; p = 0.002)], urbanity of residence (AOR = 3.44; p = 0.027), medical professional category (AOR = 2.69; p = 0.023) and caring for coronavirus infected patients (AOR = 2.32; p = 0.047). Belief that COVID-19 vaccination is important to work safely as a health care provider (AOR = 3.26; p = 0.013), should be available for all HCP (AOR = 17.98; p = 0.004) and has been quickly developed before it has been thoroughly vetted and tested for efficacy and safety (AOR = 5.88; p < 0.01) were independently associated with willingness to accept vaccine. Planning to get a COVID-19 vaccine for the next years and recommending it to the family were independent predictive factors of accepting COVID-19 vaccine ((AOR = 6.88; p < 0.001) and (AOR = 25.03; p < 0.001), respectively).Conclusion: The acceptance rate of vaccination against COVID-19 among Tunisian HCP is still low in South Tunisian hospitals. Socio-demographic, cultural and professional factors predisposing to the vaccination willingness were highlighted. Combating the vaccine hesitancy of HCP through enhancing sensibilization campaigns is essential to promote vaccination in general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 2022 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak occurred at a time when Uganda was still battling the social and psychological challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic; placing health care professionals (HCPs) at a much higher risk of developing psychological distress. Psychological distress among HCPs can cause decreased workplace productivity and ineffective management of their patients. The current study aimed to investigate and understand psychological distress among HCPS in Mbarara city in Southwestern Uganda following the 2022 EVD outbreak. Method: We enrolled 200 HCPs through convenient sampling from one private and one public health facility in Mbarara city in Southwestern Uganda, in a cross-sectional convergent parallel mixed method approach where qualitative and quantitative data were collected concurrently. Quantitative data, utilizing the Kessler Psychological Distress (K10) Scale, provided us with a quantitative measure of the prevalence of psychological distress among HCPs, and were analyzed using STATA version 16. Qualitative data, on the other hand, offered deeper insights into the nature, perceptions, and contextual factors influencing this distress, and were analyzed using emergent theme analysis. Results: The prevalence of psychological distress was 59.5% and it was higher among females (63.9%) compared to males (36.1%). HCPs vividly expressed distress and anxiety, with heightened suspicion that every patient might be an EVD carrier, creating a pervasive sense of unsafety in the workplace. However, the outbreak had an educational affect where concerns about the announcement of another EVD outbreak were diverse, with HCPs expressing anxiety, despair, and dissatisfaction with the country's management of potential outbreaks. Conclusion: High levels of psychological distress were experienced by HCPs in Southwestern Uganda as a result of the 2022 EVD pandemic. HCPs express a wide range of feelings, such as dread, anxiety, despair, pessimism, and discontent with the way the outbreaks are handled throughout the nation. We recommend implementation of comprehensive psychosocial support programs tailored to the unique needs of HCPs, including counseling services, stress management workshops, and peer support networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) appear to be effective for improving the mental health of healthcare professionals (HCPs). However, the effectiveness of MBIs on extreme psychological trauma caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is largely unknown. The aim of this paper was to systematically review empirical studies of MBIs for HCPs carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic, to evaluate them and their effectiveness in different areas of mental health. Methods: The electronic databases searched were Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and PsycINFO. The date when each database was last searched was September 15, 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-randomized controlled trials (NRCTs), and non-randomized non-controlled trials (NRNCTs) focused on MBIs for health care staff who were working in healthcare centers during the COVID-19 pandemic were included. All of them employed standardized measures of mental health. The review followed the best practices and reported using PRISMA guidelines. A data collection form, adapted from the Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions, was used to extract and synthesize the results. The methods used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies were the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and the ROBINS-I Tool. Results: Twenty-eight studies were included in the systematic review. Overall, the methodological quality of the studies was moderate. The results showed the effectiveness of MBIs in improving levels of stress, mindfulness, and mental well-being. However, no conclusive results were found regarding the effectiveness of MBIs in improving the levels of burnout, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and resilience of HCPs. Conclusions: The MBIs for HCPs carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic have mainly contributed to improving stress, mindfulness, and mental well-being at a time of serious health emergency. However, more robust studies at a methodological level would have been desirable. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42021267621 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Telemedicine, which involves utilising technologies for remote health care delivery, proved useful to continue offering certain health services during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown. However, the extent of its effectiveness in delivering pre-exposure prophylaxis services for HIV prevention remains underexplored from the viewpoint of health care providers. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the experiences of health care professionals in Mexico who utilised telemedicine for delivering pre-exposure prophylaxis services during the COVID-19 contingency. Methods: A qualitative study was performed: 15 virtual interviews with health care professionals were conducted, transcribed and coded in ATLAS.ti. Results: The results indicate that telemedicine effectively mitigated COVID-19 exposure, facilitated users' access to pre-exposure prophylaxis counselling, minimised waiting times and enhanced health care professionals' perceived control during sessions. While implementing remote services, certain organisational challenges, which were somewhat latent before the pandemic, became more apparent: colleagues recognised the necessity for more formal communication channels to disseminate information effectively. Additionally, there was a recognised need for electronic patient files to streamline data-sharing processes. An optimal approach would involve a blend of face-to-face and virtual services, contingent upon the availability of essential infrastructure, well-defined implementation protocols and comprehensive training programs. Conclusions: Telemedicine streamlined certain processes, garnered positive acceptance from healthcare professionals and holds promise as a valuable post-pandemic tool for improving retention among pre-exposure prophylaxis users. Telemedicine, involving the use of technologies for remote healthcare services, was used by health care providers in Mexico to facilitate access to HIV prevention services, including pre-exposure prophylaxis. From their experiences, it became evident that telemedicine improved access to HIV-prevention counselling and enhanced time management for providers; at the same time, they struggled with inadequate infrastructure and concerns about privacy. They advocated for clear guidelines to establish procedures and provide support when delivering pre-exposure prophylaxis services remotely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction and Objective Health care professionals (HPs) have been at the forefront facing the pressures and uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, and thus have a higher psychological vulnerability. The incidence of psychological distress, which can negatively affect an HP's work efficiency and long-term well-being, has not been studied in depth in India. Materials and Methods A multicentric study was conducted using the digital means of communication across Max Healthcare between June and August 2020. HPs in the department of oncology, including doctors, nurses, and other support staff, were invited to voluntarily participate in the self-administered online survey. A total of 87 HPs in oncology (41 doctors, 28 nurses, and 18 in other fronts) were assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Outcome of interest was psychological distress (defined as a GHQ-12 score >15). Results The overall incidence of psychological distress among HPs in oncology during the COVID-19 pandemic was 17.20%. Significantly higher levels of psychological distress were observed among HPs with a history of psychiatric illness (p = 0.003), and among HPs with a work experience of less than 10 years (p = 0.017). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the psychological well-being of HPs in India. This study implicated the recognition of the psychological well-being of HPs in oncology as an unmet need during the COVID-19 pandemic, further recommending efforts toward increasing accessibility of mental health services for them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by progressive neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration from disease onset that, if left untreated, can result in the accumulation of irreversible neurological disability. Early intervention with high-efficacy therapies (HETs) is increasingly recognized as the best strategy to delay or mitigate disease progression from the earliest stages of the disease and to prevent long-term neurodegeneration. Although there is growing clinical and real-world evidence supporting early HET intervention, foregoing this strategy in favor of a traditional escalation approach prioritizing lower-efficacy disease-modifying therapies remains a common approach in clinical practice. This review explores potential health care professional- and patient-related barriers to the early use of HETs in patients with MS in the United States. Barriers can include regulatory and reimbursement restrictions; knowledge gaps and long-term safety concerns among health care professionals; and various individual, cultural, and societal factors affecting patients. Potential strategies for overcoming these barriers and encouraging early HET use are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Moral distress is a problem and negative experience among health-care professionals. Various instruments have been developed to measure the level and underlying reasons for experienced moral distress. The moral distress thermometer (MDT) is a single-tool instrument to capture the level of moral distress experienced in real-time. Aim: The aim of this study was to translate the MDT and adapt it to the Swedish cultural context. Research design: The first part of this study concerns the translation of MDT to the Swedish context, and the second part the psychometric testing of the Swedish version. Participants and research context: 89 healthcare professionals working at a hospital in northern Sweden participated. Convergent validity was tested between MDT and Measure of Moral Distress-Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP), and construct validity was tested by comparing MDT scores among healthcare professionals. MDT was compared with responses to the final questions in MMD-HP. One-way ANOVA, Welch's ANOVA, Games–Howell post-hoc test and Pearson's correlation analysis were done. Ethical considerations: The study was approved by the Swedish Ethics Review Authority (dnr 2020-04120) in accordance with Helsinki Declaration. Results: The translated Swedish version of MDT was described as relevant to capture the experience of moral distress. The mean value for MDT was 2.26, with a median of 2 and a mode value of 0. The result showed moderate correlations between the MDT and MMD-HP total scores. There was a significant difference when comparing MDT and healthcare professionals who had never considered leaving their present position with those who had left and those who had considered leaving but had not done so, with the latter assessing significantly higher moral distress. Conclusion: The MDT is an easily available instrument useful as an extension to MMD-HP to measure the real-time experience of moral distress among healthcare professionals in a Swedish context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Poor sleep quality is linked to physiological dysfunction, which increases the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, and other medical conditions. Despite the known health risks of sleep disturbances, literature is still scant regarding sleep quality and its associated factors among healthcare professionals in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of poor sleep quality and its associated factors among healthcare professionals at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. A total of 418 healthcare professionals participated in the study. The study participants were chosen using the stratified random sampling method. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess the sleep quality of participants. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression models were used. p ≤ 0.05 was used to declare statistically significant variables. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 30.7 years (SD ± 6.3). The overall prevalence of poor sleep quality was 58.9% [95% CI (54.2, 63.6%)]. Being female [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.9, 95% CI (1.2, 2.9)], being a shift worker [AOR = 5.7, 95% CI (2.3, 14.3), not performing regular exercise [AOR = 2.08 (1.2-3.6)], being a khat chewer [AOR = 3.1, 95% CI (1.2, 7.6)], and having depressive symptoms [AOR = 2.6, 95% CI (1.3, 6.8)] were significantly associated with higher odds of having poor sleep quality. Conclusion: The prevalence of poor sleep quality among healthcare professionals was found to be high. As a result, we recommend that healthcare providers at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital focus on early regular screening for sleep disturbances and pay special attention to shift work schedules and behaviors such as khat chewing, exercise, and depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Huntington's disease (HD) has substantial impact on patients and carers' lives. Managing patients in the advanced phase of HD may be challenging to primary health care professionals. The aim of this study is to elicit health care professionals' experiences of managing the challenges with patients with advanced HD in primary health care. Methods: We did a qualitative study, collecting data from four focus group interviews with 22 primary health care professionals who had experience with caring for patients with HD in Norway. The data were analysed using a qualitative content analysis method, systematic text condensation. Results: We found that health care professionals who care for patients with HD in primary health care experience challenges related to patients' behaviour, family members and caregivers, professionals' individual competency, and the organizational context. They conveyed that successful care and management of patients with advanced HD was dependent on individuals' competency and "everyday tactics", well-functioning teams, and leadership and organizational support. Conclusion: In addition to individual competencies, including being personally suitable for the job, well-functioning primary care teams, and organization support and training is important for health care professionals' ability to manage patients with advanced HD in primary health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nutritional support in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a critical component of patient care, influencing recovery outcomes significantly. The perspectives and practices of health care professionals (HCPs) regarding nutrition in the ICU environment are diverse and impact patient management. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 100 HCPs, including dieticians, physicians, and nurses, working in the ICU. The study employed a structured questionnaire to evaluate their perspectives and practices related to nutritional support in the ICU. Results: The study revealed a wide range of practices and perspectives among HCPs regarding nutritional support in ICU patients. It highlighted the importance of multidisciplinary approaches and the need for standardized guidelines to enhance patient care. Conclusion: This study underscores the variability in nutritional practices in the ICU among HCPs and suggests the need for comprehensive guidelines and education to unify care standards and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Virtual reality (VR) training can enhance health professionals' learning. However, there are ambiguous findings on the effectiveness of VR as an educational tool in mental health. We therefore reviewed the existing literature on the effectiveness of VR training on health professionals' knowledge, skills, and attitudes in assessing and treating patients with mental health disorders. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO (via Ovid), the Cochrane Library, ERIC, CINAHL (on EBSCOhost), Web of Science Core Collection, and the Scopus database for studies published from January 1985 to July 2023. We included all studies evaluating the effect of VR training interventions on attitudes, knowledge, and skills pertinent to the assessment and treatment of mental health disorders and published in English or Scandinavian languages. The quality of the evidence in randomized controlled trials was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0. For non-randomized studies, we assessed the quality of the studies with the ROBINS-I tool. Results: Of 4170 unique records identified, eight studies were eligible. The four randomized controlled trials were assessed as having some concern or a high risk of overall bias. The four non-randomized studies were assessed as having a moderate to serious overall risk of bias. Of the eight included studies, four used a virtual standardized patient design to simulate training situations, two studies used interactive patient scenario training designs, while two studies used a virtual patient game design. The results suggest that VR training interventions can promote knowledge and skills acquisition. Conclusions: The findings indicate that VR interventions can effectively train health care personnel to acquire knowledge and skills in the assessment and treatment of mental health disorders. However, study heterogeneity, prevalence of small sample sizes, and many studies with a high or serious risk of bias suggest an uncertain evidence base. Future research on the effectiveness of VR training should include assessment of immersive VR training designs and a focus on more robust studies with larger sample sizes. Trial registration: This review was pre-registered in the Open Science Framework register with the ID-number Z8EDK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Is upper quadrant neural tissue extensibility affected in asymptomatic health care professionals? Participants: Ninety asymptomatic health care professionals of 26–60 years (30 surgeons, 30 dentists, 30 physiotherapist) were selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional type of observational study, and the data was collected by simple random sampling, in which various ULTT were performed on both upper extremities for median (ULTT1), radial (ULTT2), and ulnar (ULTT3) nerve. Elbow position was measured at first onset of discomfort perceived by participants (R1) and, secondly, when the firm resistance to movement was felt by the examiner (R2), by using universal goniometer. The test was considered positive if the symptoms arise before 60° of end elbow ROM. Results: The results showed that there was reduced upper quadrant neural tissue extensibility in asymptomatic health care professionals. The median nerve was most affected, and the ulnar nerve was least affected. The prevalence rate of reduced neural extensibility was highest among dentists as compared to the surgeons and physiotherapists. High correlation was found between R1and R2 for all three ULTT (p-value = 0.000). Conclusion: More than half, specifically 51.1%, of asymptomatic health care professionals had reduced extensibility of the neural tissues in their upper limbs. Therefore, early introduction of exercise will help in combating the occurrence of these nerve-related issues in further life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose:This study was conducted to examine the Turkish validity and reliability of the Telerehabilitation Acceptance Scale Health Care Professionals' Form (TRAS-HP). Methods:Health care professionals between the ages of 18 and 65 years were included. TRAS-HP was used to assess study participants' acceptance of telerehabilitation. Turkish translation of the scale was followed by confirmatory and explanatory factor analyses. Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were calculated. Results:Of the participants, 158 (65.83%) were female and 82 (34.17%) were male. Explanatory factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure explaining 71.87% of the total variation with one item removed. Confirmatory factor analysis determined that the model fit indices (the root mean square error of approximation = 0.080, adjusted goodness of fit index = 0.857, goodness of fit index = 0.899, and chi-square/degrees of freedom = 2.516) were satisfactory. The subdimensions' factor loads ranged from 0.78 to 0.82. After confirmatory and explanatory factor analysis, the 16-item TRAS-HP was reduced to 14 items. Internal consistency (cronbach alpha = 0.947) and test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.927) were extremely high. Conclusions:With this study, the Turkish validity and reliability of TRAS-HP were demonstrated, and it was revealed that they are a suitable tool for determining the acceptance and awareness of telerehabilitation of health care professionals working in rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issue Addressed: Interventions targeting health care professionals' behaviours are assumed to support them in learning how to give behavioural advice to patients, but such assumptions are rarely examined. This study investigated whether key assumptions were held regarding the design and delivery of physical activity interventions among health care professionals in applied health care settings. This study was part of the 'Physical Activity Tailored intervention in Hospital Staff' randomised controlled trial of three variants of a web‐based intervention. Methods: We used data‐prompted interviews to explore whether the interventions were delivered and operated as intended in health care professionals working in four hospitals in Western Australia (N = 25). Data were analysed using codebook thematic analysis. Results: Five themes were constructed: (1) health care professionals' perceived role in changing patients' health behaviours; (2) work‐related barriers to physical activity intervention adherence; (3) health care professionals' use of behaviour change techniques; (4) contamination between groups; and (5) perceptions of intervention tailoring. Conclusions: The intervention was not experienced by participants, nor did they implement the intervention guidance, in the way we expected. For example, not all health care professionals felt responsible for providing behaviour change advice, time and shift constraints were key barriers to intervention participation, and contamination effects were difficult to avoid. So What?: Our study challenges assumptions about how health care professionals respond to behaviour change advice and possible knock‐on benefits for patients. Applying our learnings may improve the implementation of health promotion interventions in health care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Older people living in long-term care facilities represent a particularly vulnerable segment of the population, who disproportionately bear the burden of infectious diseases, as recently highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Summary: Older long-term care residents typically cumulate several risk factors for infection and experience serious life-threatening outcomes once infected. These common infections are often compounded by the collective living environment, where it is more difficult to contain the spread of infection. Moreover, the staff may represent an additional reservoir of potential infection and mode of transmission. In this paper, we review the burden of infectious respiratory diseases in residents in long-term care and discuss the potential gains from higher vaccine coverage in this older and most vulnerable population but also from higher vaccine coverage among the facility staff. We highlight the compelling need to integrate specific vaccine recommendations for residents of long-term care into national vaccination schedules, as well as the need to include vaccination campaigns in routine protocols for infection control. Surveillance, reporting, hygiene, and individual protective measures remain key aspects in basic infection control, both in ordinary times and during epidemics. Key Message: Vaccination of residents in long-term care facilities against respiratory diseases including influenza, pneumococcal disease, pertussis, and COVID is a simple, inexpensive, and effective means to reduce the burden of infection in this segment of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Farmacia is the property of Societatea de Stiinte Farmaceutice Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Healthcare professionals’ adoption of telemedicine is mainly influenced by their knowledge and perception of its benefits. This study was aimed at investigating the knowledge and perceived benefits of telemedicine and online medical consultation among healthcare professionals. Materials & methods: A cross-sectional survey conducted among health professionals at Adeoyo Maternity Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Data was collected from 250 respondents using a semi-structured questionnaire through a multi-stage sampling technique. SPSS version 26.0 was used for analysis. Spearman rho correlation was used to check the association between knowledge and perceived benefit at p-value ≤0. 05. Results: Respondents mean age was 38.7±9.2 years. 34.4% had at least 16 years of experience, 34.0% had master’s degree. The mean knowledge score was 9.9±1.7, 91.6% had good knowledge. Level of education, years of experience and ownership and efficiency in use of computer were the major factors influencing knowledge on telemedicine and online consultation. Knowledge of telemedicine and online consultation was positively with perceived benefit (p=0.024, rs=0.142). Conclusions: Knowledge is a significant determinant of perceived benefit of telemedicine and online consultation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The development of cultural sensitivity is essential for health care professionals but there are few tools to measure this quality in Japan. The purpose of this study was to develop a scale of cultural sensitivity for Japanese health care professionals and examine its reliability and validity. Method: A draft scale was created through conceptual analysis and a questionnaire was completed by 515 health care professionals and 1,322 college students. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to determine suitable scale items and examine model fitness. Results: The four-factor 18-item scale showed acceptable model fitness. Cronbach's α coefficient exceeded.90 and correlation coefficients for criterion-related validity were over.29. Construct validity was confirmed by the significantly higher score of the cross-culturally experienced groups. The intraclass correlation coefficient was.642 (professionals) and.722 (students). Discussion: This reliable and valid scale for Japanese health professionals and college students may be used to evaluate training programs to increase their cultural sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media and health research have covered the benefits for the public and patients as users. Specifically, this has focused on searching for health information, connecting with others experiencing similar health issues, and communicating with their health professionals. Recently, there has been a shift in research to focus on health care professionals as users as they participate in professional development, improve communication with patients, and contribute to health research and service. However, such research has predominantly focused on text-based platforms, namely Facebook and Twitter. The scope of this article is a systematic review of publications on health care professionals' use of the image-based platform Instagram, according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. This study, drawing from 51 articles, shows how health care professionals use Instagram, and reveals that these professionals utilize the platform to address health concerns that may not necessarily align with their specific expertise. Images were the common format of posts created by health care professionals, with six content types identified: (a) educational, (b) promotional, (c) patient experience, (d) personal, (e) emotion based, and (f) other. Three measures of post engagement were used by researchers, including (a) likes and comments, (b) use of hashtags, and (c) number of followers. This study also identified the dangers of misleading users, including (a) lack of credentials reported, (b) edited images, (c) quality of content, and (d) patient and client confidentiality issues. In conclusion, insights into the advantages of health care professionals' use of Instagram and ways in which they can maximize its use to reach and engage with their target audience are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: The study aims to examine the effective factors influencing the decision of families to whom medical abortion was recommended due to fetal anomalies. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at İstanbul University Hospital, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, High-Risk Pregnancies and Maternity Ward. The sample consisted of 233 pregnant women, to whom medical abortion was recommended due to the diagnosis of foetal anomaly collected inover a 1-year period. RESULTS: While 122 of the families decided to have medical abortions, 111 decided to give birth. The rate of deciding on medical abortion was the highest in families whose fetuses had a high expectation rate of lethal anomalies (p < .001). The most effective factor for the families who decided to give birth was their religious beliefs. The most effective factor for the families who decided to have a medical abortion was the information they received from health professionals. CONCLUSION: While the religious beliefs of the parents were effective in the decision to give birth, the information they received from the health professionals was effective in the decision to have a medical abortion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shortages of satisfied and well-trained health care professionals are an urgent threat for health systems worldwide. Although numerous studies have focused on retention issues for nurses and physicians, the situation for the allied health workforce remains understudied. We conducted a rapid review of the literature on allied health workers to investigate the main reasons for leaving their profession. 1,305 original research articles were retrieved from databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Epistemonikos, of which 29 were eligible for data extraction. Reviewed studies featured mainly pharmacists, psychologists, dietitians, physical therapists, emergency medical professionals, and occupational therapists. We categorized 17 typical factors of the intent to leave as organizational, psychological, team and management, and job characteristics. The relative importance of each factor was assessed by measuring its prevalence in the selected literature. By revealing common themes across allied health professions, our work suggests actionable insights to improve retention in these vital services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is associated with stigma, and negative attitudes among healthcare professionals toward NSSI have been reported. A person-centered approach that focuses on how individuals with lived experience of NSSI perceive the treatment and care they receive is invaluable in reducing barriers to help-seeking and improving treatment and mental healthcare services. The aim of the current qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of young adults when they look back upon their experiences of psychiatric treatment for NSSI during adolescence. Methods: Twenty-six individuals with lived experience of NSSI who were in contact with child and adolescent psychiatry during adolescence were interviewed. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Three main themes were developed: Changed perceptions in retrospect, The importance of a collaborative conceptualization and Lasting impression of the relationship. Participants' perception of themselves as well as the treatment changed over time. The importance of a joint understanding of NSSI and an agreed-upon treatment focus was emphasized. The relationship to the mental health professionals, and experiences of how NSSI was communicated, were salient several years later. Conclusions: Healthcare professionals need to communicate about NSSI in a respectful manner and include the perspective of the adolescent with lived experience of NSSI in a joint conceptualization of NSSI and treatment focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental health difficulties are highly prevalent worldwide. Passive sensing technologies and applied artificial intelligence (AI) methods can provide an innovative means of supporting the management of mental health problems and enhancing the quality of care. However, the views of stakeholders are important in understanding the potential barriers to and facilitators of their implementation. Objective: This study aims to review, critically appraise, and synthesize qualitative findings relating to the views of mental health care professionals on the use of passive sensing and AI in mental health care. Methods: A systematic search of qualitative studies was performed using 4 databases. A meta-synthesis approach was used, whereby studies were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach within a critical realist epistemological framework. Results: Overall, 10 studies met the eligibility criteria. The 3 main themes were uses of passive sensing and AI in clinical practice, barriers to and facilitators of use in practice, and consequences for service users. A total of 5 subthemes were identified: barriers, facilitators, empowerment, risk to well-being, and data privacy and protection issues. Conclusions: Although clinicians are open-minded about the use of passive sensing and AI in mental health care, important factors to consider are service user well-being, clinician workloads, and therapeutic relationships. Service users and clinicians must be involved in the development of digital technologies and systems to ensure ease of use. The development of, and training in, clear policies and guidelines on the use of passive sensing and AI in mental health care, including risk management and data security procedures, will also be key to facilitating clinician engagement. The means for clinicians and service users to provide feedback on how the use of passive sensing and AI in practice is being received should also be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The management of parent's and family's bereavement, before, during and after the death of a child is a great challenge for health care professionals (HCPs). Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate bereavement in pediatric nursing before, during and after the death of a child. Method: A systematic literature review was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Open Archives for the years 2013-2023. PRISMA methodology was followed for selection of the articles and PICOS method for the inclusion criteria of an article in the study. Results: Therapeutic relationship between HCPs and parents/families is reported as moderate to high. Parents mention several factors that negatively affect this relationship, such as lack of strategic assessment for the needs of the bereaved, lack of bereavement care provision usually after death and non-systematic bereavement care provision. Parents agree that follow-up parent meetings after child's death are helpful and physicians seem more comfortable discussing child's death. Parents report several needs related to grief management, caregiving, relationships with HCPs and decision-making. Conclusions: Effective communication among parents and HCPs, meaningful contact between HCPs, and the care and support of parents before and after the death of the child are done by HCPs. It is important for the farewell process parents learn how to take care of their child, essentially re-creating the parenting role, with HCPs directing the entire process of caring. After death, supportive relationship lets parents grieve, trying not to remain in prolonged grief, empowering them emotionally to create outlets, moving on in their lives with respect and dignity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: COVID19 pandemic has taught innumerable lessons of which ethical challenges have played a major role. There are no strict guidelines for health care professionals concerning ethical practices in India, the present study highlights the perception, challenges in this aspect by reflecting on the pandemic situation. Objectives: 1.To identify and discuss the various challenges of ethical practice among health care professionals. 2. To evaluate the perceptions of health professionals towards ethical practices. Method: A mixed research was conducted to identify the challenges, evaluate the perception among health care professionals while practicing ethics through a semi structured questionnaire. Results: The mean age was 23.46 yrs. and majority 73% have faced challenges like ethical dilemmas during the pandemic. Around 88% of the participants have never attended any training on bioethics. Majority (92%) perceived the current teaching learning system inadequate for tackling dilemmatic situations. The ethical reflections were analysed by thematic analysis with emergence of 8 themes which are - Informed consent, truth telling, confidentiality, Communication, Doctor patient ratio, Leadership, Decision making, Conflict Management. Conclusion: Majority encountered various new challenges and perceived the current practice of ethics to be inadequate. Also recommends regular opportunities of ethical reflections, & continuous teaching, training program for effective ethical practices by health care professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has wreaked havoc worldwide. Not only has it severely impacted the way of life, but also damaged global economies and worsened social disparities, including those in healthcare. The pandemic, having imposed an enormous burden on global healthcare infrastructure, has led to drastic changes in medical and surgical practices, including those of laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery. This study aimed to explore the practice of laparoscopic surgeons during the COVID-19 era in Pakistan. Materials and methods: Surgeons involved in laparoscopic surgery (LS) were approached via e-mail practicing in different surgical setups and cities of Pakistan. After taking Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and informed consent a questionnaire was filled out by all participating laparoscopic surgeons. The data was then analyzed in SPSS version 26. Results: A total of 168 surgeons involved in LS from different disciplines responded to the invitation and filled out the online questionnaire. The mean age of the surgeons was 48.72 ± 8.04 years and most of them were married and the majority belonged to the major cities of the country, i.e., Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi. Surgeons who participated had a mean practice experience of 12.12 ± 6.88 years (minimum 3 and maximum 31 years). Most of the respondents were General Surgeons (GS), followed by minimal invasive surgeons (MIS) having advanced training in laparoscopy, Obstetricians and Gynecologists (OB-GYN), and Urologists. Conclusion: The LS practice in Pakistan during the COVID-19 era is widely variable. There is a dire need to formulate apt local guidelines, that are practical and implementable in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Workplace violence against doctors has emerged as a critical issue, posing significant challenges to the healthcare sector worldwide. This article delves into the multifaceted nature of violence faced by doctors in their workplaces, examining its root causes, manifestations, and the consequential impact on both healthcare professionals and patient care. Understanding the underlying causes is essential for developing effective preventive strategies. Mitigating workplace violence necessitates a comprehensive approach, including improved communication strategies, enhanced security protocols, and systematic awareness campaigns. Fostering a culture of respect and empathy within healthcare settings is imperative to create an environment that prioritizes the well-being of both healthcare professionals and patients. By addressing the root causes and implementing preventive measures, healthcare institutions can create safer environments for their professionals, ultimately enhancing patient care and the overall well-being of the healthcare workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: During the Covid‐19 pandemic, there has been a substantial uptake of telemental health interventions. Consequently, the objective of this study was to assess psycho‐oncologists' attitudes toward and experiences with video consultations (VC) since the beginning of the Covid‐19 pandemic. Additionally, we sought to investigate psycho‐oncologists' perspectives on the benefits and drawbacks of VC and its' potential implementation beyond the pandemic. Methods: We used a multi‐methods study design. First, semi‐structured interviews with psycho‐oncologists (N = 6) were conducted to inform the development of a cross‐sectional online survey, which represented the quantitative part of our study. We invited psycho‐oncologists, working in different settings, from all over Germany to participate. Results: Data of N = 217 participants (88% female, 49% over 10 years work experience) of the online survey was analyzed. Psycho‐oncologists' acceptance toward VC was average to high. In their daily practice, they preferred in‐person consultations. Improved access to care and enhanced flexibility were seen as main advantages. The most significant disadvantages included technical issues, privacy concerns at home, loss of non‐verbal cues and absence of physical presence for emotional support. Nevertheless, on average, psycho‐oncologists wanted to continue seeing approximately 25% of their patients via VC in the future. Conclusions: Given the average to high acceptance of VC among psycho‐oncologists and their desire to continue using VC flexibly even after the pandemic, it may be beneficial to implement VC into future psycho‐oncology services. Still, future research should focus on the patients' perspective and the effectiveness of VC in psycho‐oncology services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zentralblatt fuer Arbeitsmedizin, Arbeitsschutz und Ergonomie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Adherence to self‐management greatly impacts patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. However, most patients with COPD have a limitation in understanding text‐based self‐management plans owing to low health literacy. Thus, strategies to improve self‐management in patients with COPD should be developed. Objectives: This study aimed to develop pictogram‐based content comprising self‐management health information for patients with COPD. Methods: Items for COPD self‐management health information were selected based on in‐depth interviews with patients and text network analysis conducted in our previous study and a systematic literature review to develop preliminary pictogram‐based content. Then, 30 patients with COPD and 10 healthcare professionals (HCPs) were recruited to evaluate the preliminary content using a client satisfaction questionnaire with a maximum score of 32. Results: Content was developed with one item related to disease knowledge while the other 20 concerned self‐management. Patients (28.70 ± 2.94) and HCPs (27.40 ± 2.84) evaluated the content as high quality with adjustments made to increase the size of the letters and shorten the number of items for readability. Twenty‐one items were collated in the final booklet, while 14 of the 21 items were incorporated into a poster. Conclusions: This study indicates that the pictogram‐based content was sufficiently well designed and received good evaluations from both patients with COPD and HCPs. Therefore, it may have prospects for enhancing self‐management in patients with COPD. However, the effect of the content on the outcomes of older patients with COPD and low health literacy will need to be validated in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is the major mental disorder that frequently co-occurs with other physical illnesses, although its detection at primary healthcare is limited. Thus, the purpose of this study is to evaluate health professionals' knowledge and attitude toward depression and its related factors. Objective: To assess knowledge and attitude of healthcare professionals toward people with depression at different health facilities of Ilu Aba Bor zone, Ethiopia, 2021. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 404 primary healthcare professionals using a systematic random sampling technique in February 2021. Attitude was assessed using depression attitude questionnaires. Epi-data version 3.1 and SPSS version 26 was used for data entry and analysis. The p-values lower than 0.05 were deemed statistically significant. Result: In the current study, 30.4% (95% CI; 25.86, 34.94) of the respondents have inadequate knowledge and 29.9% (95% CI; 25.4, 36.8) have negative attitude toward depression. A vast majority (77.7%) of healthcare professionals have never received any kind of training on mental health. Accordingly, contact with the person with mental illness and mental health training were significantly associated with inadequate knowledge. In addition, perceived cause of depression and mental health training were significantly associated with negative attitude. Conclusion: According to this study, the magnitude of inadequate knowledge and negative attitude in the diagnosis and treatment of depression is comparably high. Therefore, primary healthcare settings should prioritize raising awareness, promoting positive attitudes, and improving detection and treatment of depression cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: ‘Most patients want to die at home’ is a familiar statement in palliative care. The rate of home deaths is therefore often used as a success criterion. However, providing palliative care and enabling patients to die at home in rural and remote areas may be challenging due to limited health care resources and geographical factors. In this study we explored health care professionals’ experiences and reflections on providing palliative care to patients at the end of life in rural Northern Norway. Methods: This is a qualitative focus group and interview study in rural Northern Norway including 52 health care professionals. Five uni-professional focus group discussions were followed by five interprofessional focus group discussions and six individual interviews. Transcripts were analysed thematically. Results: Health care professionals did their utmost to fulfil patients’ wishes to die at home. They described pros and cons of providing palliative care in rural communities, especially their dual roles as health care professionals and neighbours, friends or even relatives of patients. Continuity and carers’ important contributions were underlined. When home death was considered difficult or impossible, nurses expressed a pragmatic attitude, and the concept of home was extended to include ‘home place’ in the form of local health care facilities. Conclusions: Providing palliative care in patients’ homes is professionally and ethically challenging, and health care professionals’ dual roles in rural areas may lead to additional pressure. These factors need to be considered and addressed in discussions of the organization of care. Nurses’ pragmatic attitude when transfer to a local health care facility was necessary underlines the importance of building on local knowledge and collaboration. Systematic use of advance care planning may be one way of facilitating discussions between patients, family carers and health care professionals with the aim of achieving mutual understanding of what is feasible in a rural context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This implementation project compared standard operating procedures, accepted preventive measures, and disinfection procedures between the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic (first wave: March 15 to May 31, 2020) and the later stages of the pandemic (second and third waves: September 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021). Introduction: This project sought to improve compliance with international evidence-based guidelines and clinical standards for the prevention and control of COVID-19 infection during hyperbaric oxygen therapy taking into account the conditions of the local hospital. Methods: Guided by the JBI evidence implementation framework, seven evidence-based audit criteria were developed for the prevention and control of COVID-19 infection during hyperbaric oxygen therapy. A questionnaire was used to measure compliance in baseline and follow-up audits. Results: Differences between the baseline and follow-up audits were noted for criteria 6 and 7. Criterion 6 increased from 0% to 100% as the hyperbaric facility was equipped with certified ultraviolet-C radiation for air disinfection during the later period, but this equipment was not available in the initial period of the pandemic. Criterion 7 dropped from 100% in the baseline audit to 0% in the follow-up audit because of a significant increase in the operational burden of the treatment capacity of the facility, which made it impossible to comply with the recommended distancing between patients. Conclusions: Differences were found in preventive measures, disinfection procedures, work organization, and approach to care strategy. The project objectives were met and the implementation strategies proved effective. Larger sample sizes would need be needed to confirm the reproducibility of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this scoping review is to compile and examine characteristics and impacts of live music interventions on the health and wellbeing of children, families, and health care professionals in paediatric hospital care. Methods: We searched four scientific databases for peer-reviewed publications of empirical studies of all study designs. The first author screened the publications, with spot-checks for eligibility by the second and third authors. Data extraction and quality assessment were made by the first author with support from the second and third. Additionally, the included studies were screened for quality appraisal. The analysis followed an inductive, interpretive approach for synthesis. Results: Quantitative features were screened and compiled, and qualitative inductive analyses of findings were elaborated into categories connected to research questions. The reported impacts were thematized through emergent features of importance and prerequisites beneficial for successful interventions. Recurrent outcomes present themes of positive affect, copingand reduced hospitalization. Emotional regulation, play and participation, age, session design, adaptivity, and familiarity present benefits, barriers, and facilitators for outcomes. Conclusions: Findings from collected empirical research display philosophy, practice, and relations as keys for characteristics, impacts, and implications of live music interventions in paediatric hospital care. The communicative aspects of music appear at the core of importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to measure the effect of leadership on job performance through the mediating role of emotional intelligence. Primary data were collected from 530 Pakistani private hospital employees. Structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. SMART PLS 4.0 software was used to draw the results from the data. Statistical techniques like, bootstrapping through process were used to explore the results and to test the hypotheses from the collected data. The results of this study revealed that leadership has a positive impact on job performance of employees in private hospitals of Pakistan. Further, bootstrapping analysis revealed that emotional intelligence mediates the positive effect of leadership on job performance in health sector. The study highlights that leadership is not only effective or applicable in western countries only, but it is also very effective in Pakistan. The most prominent limitation of this study is that the data were gathered from a single source. This may occur common method variance. Cross-sectional approach is also one of the limitations of this study. In health sector, leadership can enhance the job performance of the employees through the mediating role of emotional intelligence. Proper and meaningful training should be given to organizational leaders in hospitals with specific focus on leadership skills in improving emotional intelligence and job performance. The research studies on measuring the role of leadership on job performance through the mediating role of emotional intelligence are very limited. Little investigations are available on the leadership and its role in health sector especially in Pakistan. This study clarifies the role of leadership in enhancing job performance of the health care employees through the existence of the emotional intelligence. No study tested this model with three theories. This study makes a theoretical contribution by integrating three relevant theories; Campbell's theory of job performance, Goleman's mixed model theory, leadership theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]