scholarly journals Nurses' Experiences of Caring for Older Persons in Transition to Receive Homecare: Being Somewhere in between Competing Values

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sigrun Hvalvik ◽  
Bjørg Dale

Older persons in transition to need professional care in their homes will constitute a large group in municipalities in the future. The aim of this study was to obtain insight into nurses' experiences and perceptions of caring for patients in transition to receive homecare. Eleven home nurses divided into two focus groups were interviewed, and a phenomenological hermeneutical design was used. Four interpretations closely related to each other were revealed: it is essential to have an understanding of the patients' transition history; the nurse' repertoire is challenged in the transition process; care must be adapted to the patients' life world; the excellence of care is threatened by the context. The nurses strived to provide care based upon respect for the independent individual as a living whole. Their ambitions were, however, challenged and threatened by the caring context. The cooperation across organizational levels was pointed out as a critical factor with potential for improvement. This must be taken seriously to support the nurses in their endeavors to provide excellent care.

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrián Pastor-Barceló ◽  
Vicente Prado-Gascó ◽  
Pilar Bustillo-Casero

Purpose: This research focuses on the construction and validation of a scale designed to assess the quality of the supervised classes: Interaction on Supervised Classes Scale (ISCS).Design/methodology/approach: This is a descriptive correlational study. For the construction of the scale three phases were performed in which different experts assessed the adequacy of the items. Finally, the psychometric properties of the final version were studied in a sample of 314 consumers (69.1% women) aged between 18 and 77 with an average of 39.33 years (SD=12.25).Findings: The scale presents adequate validity and reliability, being a useful tool for measuring the interaction in Supervised Classes.Research limitations/implications: The sampling, non-probabilistic or convenience, have taken the sample of a unique sports facility and the small sample size.Practical implications: The ISCS allows managers to receive better feedback, allowing them to obtain deeper insight into the quality and satisfaction of the service. According to its results, the managers may implement different strategies to improve quality in a key service within sports centers.Originality/value: For the first time the interaction between customers and between customers and employees is evaluated both inside and outside the center, a topic that had not yet been studied in the scientific literature. The scale can be applied to any type of directed activity, and will allow a greater understanding of the quality of service.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nisha Bhardwaj ◽  
Bikash Kumar ◽  
Komal Agrawal ◽  
Pradeep Verma

AbstractThe potential of cellulolytic enzymes has been widely studied and explored for bioconversion processes and plays a key role in various industrial applications. Cellulase, a key enzyme for cellulose-rich waste feedstock-based biorefinery, has increasing demand in various industries, e.g., paper and pulp, juice clarification, etc. Also, there has been constant progress in developing new strategies to enhance its production, such as the application of waste feedstock as the substrate for the production of individual or enzyme cocktails, process parameters control, and genetic manipulations for enzyme production with enhanced yield, efficiency, and specificity. Further, an insight into immobilization techniques has also been presented for improved reusability of cellulase, a critical factor that controls the cost of the enzyme at an industrial scale. In addition, the review also gives an insight into the status of the significant application of cellulase in the industrial sector, with its techno-economic analysis for future applications. The present review gives a complete overview of current perspectives on the production of microbial cellulases as a promising tool to develop a sustainable and greener concept for industrial applications.


1969 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-333
Author(s):  
Alex G. Alexander

Deficiencies of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium were gradually induced in sugarcane grown by sand culture. There were three objectives: 1, To determine whether nutritional stress in general is a means of inducing higher sucrose production; 2, to determine whether sucrose increases can be triggered without reaching nutrient-deficiency levels which would reduce tonnage; and 3, to ascertain whether increased sucrose production can be traced to common behavior patterns of hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes. All plants received a moderately high level of all nutrients until 14 weeks of age. Thereafter, individual nutrients were gradually lowered at intervals of 2 weeks, while control plants continued to receive the original levels. All plants subjected to nutritional stress accumulated higher leaf sucrose than control plants, regardless of the nutrient withheld. In each instance sucrose increases were recorded before nutrient supply had reached deficiency proportions. General nutritional stress thus appears to trigger variations in sugar level, with nutritional imbalance rather than actual deficiency being a critical factor. All plants under nutritional stress revealed a concurrent suppression of amylase as sucrose increased. Peroxidase was greatly stimulated by all nutritional treatments. Phosphatase was suppressed by decreasing nitrate and phosphorus, but was generally unaffected by the potassium and calcium treatments. Several distinct mechanisms of increased sucrose formation are indicated by the enzyme data. Sensitivity of amylase to changing nutrient supply is discussed from the standpoint of a possible indicator of approaching deficiency.


10.2196/15801 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. e15801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terika McCall ◽  
Todd A Schwartz ◽  
Saif Khairat

Background The rates of mental illness among African American women are comparable with the general population; however, they significantly underutilize mental health services compared with their white counterparts. Previous studies revealed that interventions delivered via text messaging are effective and can be used to increase access to services and resources. More insight into whether or not this modality is acceptable for use to deliver mental health care to help African American women manage anxiety and depression is needed. Objective This exploratory study aimed to gain insight into the acceptability of using text messaging to help African American women manage anxiety and depression. Methods A self-administered Web-based survey was launched in June 2018 and closed in August 2018. Eligible participants were African American women (18 years or older) who reside in the United States. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling (eg, email sent via listservs and social media posts). Respondents were provided an anonymous link to the questionnaire. The survey consisted of 53 questions on the following subjects: sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, mobile phone use, and acceptability of using a mobile phone to receive mental health care. Results The results of this exploratory study (N=101) showed that fewer than half of respondents endorsed the use of text messaging to communicate with a professional to receive help to manage anxiety (49/101, 48.5%) and depression (43/101, 42.6%). Approximately 51.4% (52/101) agreed that having the option to use text messaging to communicate with a professional if they are dealing with anxiety would be helpful. Similarly, 48.5% (49/101) agreed that having the option to use text messaging to communicate with a professional if they are dealing with depression would be helpful. Among participants who agreed that text messaging would be helpful, more than 80% noted being comfortable with its use to receive help for managing anxiety (approximately 86%, 45/52) and depression (approximately 82%, 40/49; highly significant positive association, all P<.001). More than 50% of respondents (56/101, 55.4%) indicated having concerns about using text messaging. No statistically significant associations were found between age and agreement with the use of text messaging to communicate with a professional to receive help for managing anxiety (P=.26) or depression (P=.27). Conclusions The use of text messaging was not highly endorsed by African American women as an acceptable mode of communication with a professional to help them manage anxiety or depression. Concerns around privacy, confidentiality, and the impersonal feel of communicating about sensitive issues via text messages must be addressed for this modality to be a viable option. The findings of this study demonstrated the need for further research into the use of mobile technology to provide this population with more accessible and convenient options for mental health care.


Author(s):  
Berit Forsman ◽  
Ann Svensson

The aim of this paper is to describe frail older persons’ experiences of hospital care of information and participation when being an inpatient at a hospital. A qualitative method was used. Data were collected at the hospital from 20 interviews with frail older patients, together with observations in the environment at the hospital ward. A content analysis was performed. Patients experienced not receiving information about their care and rehabilitation, or receiving such information in noisy surroundings. They experienced situations of misunderstanding related to their medication, which indicates the need for appropriate discharge calls for frail older patients. They expressed feelings of distress concerning the future, caused by hasty admissions or relatives’ problems to handle the situation. The results highlight the need to receive appropriate information and to participate in decision-making. The level of health literacy should be taken notice of when giving information, using peaceful and quiet environments when informing frail older persons. Person-centered care should be recognized to a greater extent in order for healthcare professionals to give information to frail older people in a health literacy-friendly way. This might make it easier for frail older persons to participate in a partnership in care.


1996 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 2174-2180 ◽  
Author(s):  
B H Kushner ◽  
N K Cheung ◽  
M P LaQuaglia ◽  
P F Ambros ◽  
I M Ambros ◽  
...  

PURPOSE To gain insight into the management of non-metastatic neuroblastoma by examining clinical and biologic features of International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS) stage 1 tumors. METHODS Patients were staged by both the INSS and the Evans staging system and were evaluated for biologic prognostic factors. Patients with INSS stage 1 received no cytotoxic therapy. The literature was reviewed for clinical and biologic data about INSS stage 1. RESULTS We evaluated 10 consecutive patients (median age, 17.5 months) with INSS stage 1; all remain disease-free (median follow-up duration, > 5 years). Tumors were in the abdomen (n = 6), chest (n = 3), or pelvis (n = 1). Neuroblastoma involved margins of resection in six tumors. Poor-prognostic biologic findings included tumor-cell diploidy (n = 2) and unfavorable Shimada histopathology (n = 2). Two patients were to receive chemotherapy for, respectively, a tumor deemed unresectable and a tumor classified as Evans stage III; second opinions resulted in surgical management alone in each case. Published reports confirm that some INSS stage 1 patients (1) are at risk for overtreatment, and (2) have poor-prognostic biologic findings yet do well. CONCLUSION Surgery alone suffices for INSS stage 1 neuroblastoma, even if biologic prognostic factors are unfavorable, microscopic disease remains after surgery, and tumor size is suggestive of "advanced-stage" status in other staging systems. Attempts to resect regionally confined neuroblastomas should take precedence over immediate use of cytotoxic therapy; otherwise, some patients may receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy unnecessarily.


2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan H. Offstein ◽  
Raymond Kniphuisen ◽  
D. Robin Bichy ◽  
J. Stephen Childers Jr

Purpose – Recent lapses in the management of high hazard organizations, such as the Fukushima event or the Deepwater Horizon blast, add considerable urgency to better understand the complicated and complex phenomena of leading and managing high reliability organizations (HRO). The purpose of this paper is to offer both theoretical and practical insight to further strengthen reliability in high hazard organizations. Design/methodology/approach – Phenomenological study based on over three years of research and thousands of hours of study in HROs conducted through a scholar-practitioner partnership. Findings – The findings indicate that the identification and the management of competing tensions arising from misalignment within and between public policy, organizational strategy, communication, decision-making, organizational learning, and leadership is the critical factor in explaining improved reliability and safety of HROs. Research limitations/implications – Stops short of full-blown grounded theory. Steps were made to ensure validity; however, generalizability may be limited due to sample. Practical implications – Provides insight into reliably operating organizations that are crucial to society where errors would cause significant damage or loss. Originality/value – Extends high reliability research by investigating more fully the competing tensions present in these complex, societally crucial organizations.


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4273 (4) ◽  
pp. 576 ◽  
Author(s):  
PATRICIA G. WEAVER ◽  
BRONWYN W. WILLIAMS

Targeted sampling efforts by the authors for the signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus, from its native range in the John Day River Basin, Oregon, U.S.A. yielded entocytherid ostracods with a male copulatory complex so clearly different from other entocytherines that a new genus, Aurumcythere gen. nov. is proposed to receive them. This newly proposed, apparently nonsclerotized, genus with hook and spur-like prominences of the posteroventral end of the peniferum is the first new genus of the subfamily Entocytherinae named since Hobbs & Peters described Aphelocythere (= Waltoncythere) in 1977. Aurumcythere gen. nov. represents only the second genus of entocytherid known from the Pacific Northwest. Lack of sclerotization in Aurumcythere gen. nov. provides new insight into poorly understood mating behaviors of entocytherid ostracods. 


BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. e019701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shane Sinclair ◽  
Thomas F Hack ◽  
Shelley Raffin-Bouchal ◽  
Susan McClement ◽  
Kelli Stajduhar ◽  
...  

BackgroundHealthcare providers are considered the primary conduit of compassion in healthcare. Although most healthcare providers desire to provide compassion, and patients and families expect to receive it, an evidence-based understanding of the construct and its associated dimensions from the perspective of healthcare providers is needed.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate healthcare providers’ perspectives and experiences of compassion in order to generate an empirically derived, clinically informed model.DesignData were collected via focus groups with frontline healthcare providers and interviews with peer-nominated exemplary compassionate healthcare providers. Data were independently and collectively analysed by the research team in accordance with Straussian grounded theory.Setting and participants57 healthcare providers were recruited from urban and rural palliative care services spanning hospice, home care, hospital-based consult teams, and a dedicated inpatient unit within Alberta, Canada.ResultsFive categories and 13 associated themes were identified, illustrated in the Healthcare Provider Compassion Model depicting the dimensions of compassion and their relationship to one another. Compassion was conceptualised as—a virtuous and intentional response to know a person, to discern their needs and ameliorate their suffering through relational understanding and action.ConclusionsAn empirical foundation of healthcare providers’ perspectives on providing compassionate care was generated. While the dimensions of the Healthcare Provider Compassion Model were congruent with the previously developed Patient Model, further insight into compassion is now evident. The Healthcare Provider Compassion Model provides a model to guide clinical practice and research focused on developing interventions, measures and resources to improve it.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy J Hiller ◽  
Danya F Vears

Purpose – It is increasingly common for health care clinicians to undertake qualitative research investigating an aspect of their own profession. Although the additional knowledge and perspective of a clinician might benefit the research, the professional background of the clinician-researcher can be a precipitator for confusion, similar to the therapeutic misconception occurring in quantitative clinical trials research. A significant challenge for the clinician-researcher is managing the misconceptions of participants and others about their role in the research process. The purpose of this paper is to outline these misconceptions and provide insight into how they might be avoided and managed through awareness and reflexivity. Design/methodology/approach – In this paper the authors draw on their experiences as clinician-researchers and memo writing data from their respective qualitative research projects to discuss participant misconceptions. Theories of reflexivity and ethics support the discussion. Findings – Potential misconceptions from participants include feeling obliged to participate, expecting to receive clinical care or feedback and believing they are being judged. This paper promotes reflexivity as a tool to pre-empt, prevent and manage participant misconceptions resulting from misunderstandings about the role of the clinician-researcher. Originality/value – Alerting clinician-researchers to potential misconceptions and providing examples of reflexive thinking in practice can assist researchers to increase the rigor of their qualitative research.


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