bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An assessment of the patients’ needs in Mental Health Education
Authors: Chien Wai‐Tong , Kam Chi‐Wai , Lee Iris Fung‐Kam 
Published: March 2003

An assessment of the patients’ needs in Mental Health Education Aim of the study.  The aim of this study was to identify the specific educational needs of Chinese patients with schizophrenia using a Chinese version of the Educational Needs Questionnaire. Background.  Patient education provides adequate clinical information to patients, increases understanding of their illness condition and encourages their health‐promoting behaviour. A full understanding and satisfaction of patient needs in relation to specific illness has played an important part in the development of an education programme for psychiatric patients. However, psychiatric patients’ perceptions of their specific educational needs and whether or not these needs are being met have seldom been explored for the purposes of optimizing the effects of patient education programmes. This study served the purpose of assessing the learning needs of Chinese patients with schizophrenia in Hong Kong. Design.  A cross‐sectional survey was conducted in Hong Kong with 192 Chinese outpatients with schizophrenia. The principles for determining the equivalence of translated tools were applied to the development of the Chinese version of the questionnaire. Results.  Patients gave high importance to gaining information about mental illness, strategies for improving social relationships and solving daily problems. Socioeconomic factors including education level and membership in a mutual support group correlated significantly with need importance and the unmet‐need score. Length of illness negatively correlated with need importance, indicating the adverse effect of illness on patients’ interests in fulfilling needs. Conclusions.  Assessment of mental health consumers’ perceptions of their specific educational needs and tailoring patient educational curricula to the expressed needs appear essential. The importance of validity testing of a translated tool is also highlighted in this study.
Adults’ recollections of their experiences as young caregivers of family members with chronic physical illnesses
Authors: Lackey Nancy R. , Gates Marie F. 
Published: March 2003

Adults’ recollections of their experiences as young caregivers of family members with chronic physical illnesses Aims of the study.  The aims of this study were to describe the number, kind, and intensity of caregiving activities performed by individuals who assumed caregiving responsibilities, as youngsters, for adults with chronic physical illnesses; to explore the meaning and effects of the caregiving experience on those individuals; and to examine positive and negative effects of caregiving then and now. Background/Rationale.  Family mobility, demographic changes, and health care system changes in the United States of America (USA) have contributed to an increasing number of youngsters under the age of 18 caring for adults with chronic physical illnesses in the home. The effects of such caregiving on youngsters and the long‐term effects on them as adults require study. Design/Methods.  This descriptive, retrospective study had a convenience sample of 51 adults (age range 19–68 years now, 3–19 years then) who cared for their family members diagnosed with cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, respiratory disease, diabetes, or arthritis. Demographic data and caregiving data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The semistructured interview data were analysed using content analysis. Results/Findings.  Of the caregiving care tasks most frequently performed, personal care was most difficult and household tasks were most time consuming. Family life, school, and time with friends were areas most likely to be affected by caregiving. Most subjects indicated they would permit their own children to assist with care as long as the youngster was not the sole caregiver. Youngsters need to be informed about the illness and caregiving tasks, have adequate support systems, and have some time to ‘still be a child’. Conclusions.  Professional caregivers should raise questions in their practice regarding involvement in caregiving by both adults and youngsters. If youngsters participate in caregiving in the home, they need to receive adequate information regarding care and the illness trajectory. Family‐related research including the long‐term effects of such experiences on the youngsters and their families is recommended.
Whither nursing? Discourses underlying the attribution of master’s level performance in nursing
Authors: Ashworth Peter D. , Gerrish Kate , McManus Mike 
Published: March 2003

Whither nursing? Discourses underlying the attribution of master’s level performance in nursing Aim. Drawing upon the selected findings from a multidisciplinary study that sought to explore the meaning of master’s level performance in health professional practice, the characteristics which nurse educators attributed to the practice of master’s level nursing graduates are analysed to reveal underlying discourses. Background. Although master’s level programmes for nurses have been available in the United Kingdom (UK) for the past three decades and current heath policy directives link master’s level qualifications with senior clinical nursing roles, the contribution that master’s level education might make to the future direction of nursing is unclear. Research design and methods. In‐depth interviews were undertaken with a purposive sample of 18 nurse lecturers drawn from eight universities in the UK who were responsible for master’s level programmes in nursing. The interview agenda explored participants’ perspectives of the characteristics of master’s level performance. Drawing upon the methodology of discourse analysis, interview transcripts were interpreted in such a way as to show the implicit discourses underlying the participants’ claims regarding their graduate’s attributes of professional practice. Findings. The characteristics attributed to master’s graduates were categorized under (a) cognitive competencies, (b) practice‐related competencies, (c) research orientation and (d) personal dynamism. However, these attributions are not empirical generalizations, developed inductively. Rather, they draw on socially available discourses regarding the future direction of the profession. Conclusion. The nurse educators drew on the following socially available discourses: (a) a discourse in which nursing is construed as involving great competence in practice, but without radicality of thought. Associated with this is a pervasive rhetoric of pragmatism; (b) a discourse of interprofessional practice in which nursing has a role of leadership. This is associated with a view of the location and power of nursing within the structure of the National Health Service and (c) notably lacking were discourses of care‐giving, and of academic/intellectual aspiration. The implications of these discourses for the future direction of nursing are considered.
The development of reflective learning in the context of health counselling and health promotion during nurse education
Authors: Liimatainen Leena , Poskiparta Marita , Karhila Päivi , Sjögren Auli 
Published: March 2003

The development of reflective learning in the context of health counselling and health promotion during nurse education Aims and background. The purpose of this follow‐up study was to describe the development of reflective learning of 16 student nurses in the context of health counselling and promotion during clinical training of a 3‐year nursing education programme in two Finnish polytechnics. The first aim was to analyse the levels of reflectivity in the student nurses’ reflections on their videotaped counselling situations. The second aim was to explore the qualitative features of the reflective health counselling learning process in the context of health promotion. The theoretical background of the study was based on a transformative learning theory. Methods. The data consisted of stimulated recall interviews with 16 student nurses conducted once a year between 1998 and 2000. The data were analysed using categorization and thematic analysis. Findings. The findings of the study showed that half of the students in the research group reached the level of critical consciousness during their nursing education. The others remained at the level of consciousness. Two students who represented thoughtful action without reflection in the first study year were able to reach reflection and even critical reflection later during their education. The meaning schemas of counselling developed and were enriched when the students moved into the higher stages of reflection. There were features of an empowerment approach to health promotion only in the meaning schemas and perspectives of critical reflectors. Conclusions. These results may indicate that the empowerment approach to health promotion within the modern health promoting role of nurses requires critical reflection. Therefore, effective methods and evaluation tools of reflective learning are needed to support learning from practice via critical reflection.
Developing an evidence base for interdisciplinary learning: a systematic review
Authors: Cooper Helen , Carlisle Caroline , Gibbs Trevor , Watkins Caroline 
Published: March 2003

Developing an evidence base for interdisciplinary learning: a systematic review Aim of the study. The overall aim of the study was to explore the feasibility of introducing interdisciplinary education within undergraduate health professional programmes. This paper reports on the first stage of the study in which a systematic review was conducted to summarize the evidence for interdisciplinary education of undergraduate health professional students. Methods. Systematic reviews integrate valid information providing a basis for rational decision making about health care which should be based on empirical and not anecdotal evidence. The accepted principles for systematic reviews were adapted in order to allow integration of the literature to produce recommendations for educational practice and guidelines for future research. Findings. The literature on interdisciplinary education was found to be diverse, including relatively small amounts of research data and much larger amounts of evaluation literature. Methodological rating schemes were used to test for confounding influences in the research studies. The number of studies found was 141 but only 30 (21%) were included in the analysis because of lack of methodological rigour in the research and poorly developed outcome measures. Conclusions. Student health professionals were found to benefit from interdisciplinary education with outcome effects primarily relating to changes in knowledge, skills, attitudes and beliefs. Effects upon professional practice were not discernible and educational and psychological theories were rarely used to guide the development of the educational interventions.
The team survey: a tool for health care team development
Authors: Millward Lynne J. , Jeffries Naomi 
Published: March 2003

The team survey: a tool for health care team development Aims. The aim of this study was to validate a psychometric tool, the team survey, in a health care setting with a range of teams from a Large National Health Service (NHS) Trust. Background. The team survey was developed by Millward and Ramsay (1998) to measure the team dimensions identified in the cognitive‐motivational model of team effectiveness (Millward & Purvis 1998). The team dimensions are team potency, team identification, Shared Mental Models and team meta‐cognitions. Design and methods. The psychometric properties of the tool as a reliable and valid predictor of team effectiveness was assessed by way of a survey of 10 teams (comprising 124 members in all) located on different premises, within a large NHS Trust. Team size ranged between 5 and 19 members, with average team size being 10 members. Two independent ratings of ‘effectiveness’ were made for each team. Factor and multiple regression analyses were employed to identify the most powerful predictors of health care team effectiveness from a cognitive and motivational perspective. Results. The results suggest that the team survey is psychometrically robust within a health care setting. Conclusions. It is concluded that the tool has a potentially key role in informing and evaluating team development initiatives in support of the work of practice development nurses and nursing team leaders.
Critical analysis of everyday self‐care decision making in chronic illness
Authors: Paterson Barbara L. , Russell Cynthia , Thorne Sally 
Published: March 2003

Critical analysis of everyday self‐care decision making in chronic illness Aims of the paper. The purpose of the paper is to (1) identify prevalent assumptions that underlie the traditional conceptualization of everyday self‐care decision making and (2) contrast these with the findings of relevant research. Background/Rationale. Current understandings of self‐care decision making in chronic illness tend to be extrapolated from knowledge gained in relation to one‐time decisions, or decision making in contexts that are only superficially related to the complexity and pervasiveness of living with a chronic disease. Findings. The authors challenge the assumptions with which current understandings represent self‐care decision making in chronic illness, using evidence from their research on what it is like to live with and manage the implications of having a chronic disease on an everyday basis. Conclusions. The paper concludes with a call for a new conceptualization of self‐care decision making in chronic illness which sufficiently addresses the unique and complex nature of such decisions.
‘Best research practice’: in pursuit of methodological rigour
Authors: Maggs‐Rapport Frances 
Published: March 2003

‘Best research practice’: in pursuit of methodological rigour Rationale. This paper is based on the rationale that misuse of methodological notions in research publications lays research studies open to criticism and dismissal. Aim. In search of ‘best research practice’, this paper aims to examine the different qualities of four major qualitative methodologies: ethnography, descriptive phenomenology, interpretative phenomenology/hermeneutics and critical social theory. Design. The study presents a critical overview of methodological decision‐making, illustrating the sorts of issues researchers must consider in order to justify to the readership and to themselves the employment of a particular methodology. This is presented alongside a general overview of qualitative research and a précis of each of the major qualitative methodologies. The paper describes the methodologies, salient features, and examines methodological similarities and differences. The paper concludes by examining the need for methodological rigour within the framework of the National Health Service (NHS) Executive’s drive for evidence‐based practice in health care. Recommendations. It is hoped that the paper will stimulate a deeper exploration of methodological rigour in future research publications.
Components of a proper hospital discharge for elders
Authors: Bull Margaret J. , Roberts Julia 
Published: March 2003

Components of a proper hospital discharge for elders Significance. Effective discharge planning is a vital link in continuity of care for elders. Previous studies identify problems with planning for elders’ discharge from the hospital and problems elders encounter managing care post‐discharge. However, little attention has been given to identifying effective discharge planning processes. Explicating the components of effective discharge planning is critical to replicate the process in other health care settings and predict post‐discharge outcomes. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify the components of effective discharge planning for elders and factors that impede planning. Methods. Ethical approvals were obtained from the University and National Health Service (NHS) Trust. Qualitative methods were used and data were collected from two wards in a 78‐bed geriatric rehabilitation hospital that was part of a National Health Service Trust serving Southwest London. Data included semi‐structured interviews and documents related to discharge planning, care delivery, and community resources. A total of 24 semi‐structured interviews were conducted with health care professionals who were part of the hospital’s multidisciplinary team, those affiliated with the Community Trust that provided aftercare, elders, and family carers. Results. Participants consistently used the term ‘proper discharge’ when referring to effective discharge planning. The multidisciplinary team comprised a vital context for a proper discharge. The findings indicated that three circles of communication were central in a four stage discharge process. Different circles of communication were key at different stages. Conclusions. The findings provide insights for educating nurses about effective planning practices and examining the global significance of impediments to a proper hospital discharge.
Action research from the inside: issues and challenges in doing action research in your own hospital
Authors: Coghlan David , Casey Mary 
Published: March 2003

Action research from the inside: issues and challenges in doing action research in your own hospital Background and rationale. Nurses are increasingly engaging in action research projects to improve aspects of nursing practice, education and management and contribute to the development of the profession. Action research involves opportunistic planned interventions in real time situations and a study of those interventions as they occur, which in turn informs further interventions. Insider action research has its own dynamics which distinguish it from an external action researcher approach. The nurse‐researchers are normally already immersed in the organization and have a pre‐understanding from being an actor in the processes being studied. There is a paucity of literature on the challenges that face nurse action researchers on doing action research in their own hospital. Aim. The aim of this article is to address this paucity by exploring the nature of the challenges which face nurse action researchers. Challenges facing such nurse‐researchers are that they frequently need to combine their action research role with their regular organizational roles and this role duality can create the potential for role ambiguity and conflict. They need to manage the political dynamics which involve balancing the hospital’s formal justification of what it wants in the project with their own tactical personal justification for the project. Main issues. Nurse‐researchers’ pre‐understanding, organizational role and ability to manage hospital politics play an important role in the political process of framing and selecting their action research project. In order that the action research project contribute to the organization’s learning, nurse action researchers engages in interlevel processes engaging individuals, teams, the interdepartmental group and the organization in processes of learning and change. Conclusions. Consideration of these challenges enables nurse‐action researchers to grasp the opportunities such research projects afford for personal learning, organizational learning and contribution to knowledge.
The relationships between health beliefs and utilization of free health examinations in older people living in a community setting in Taiwan
Authors: Hsu Hsiu‐Yueh , Gallinagh Róisín 
Published: March 2003

The relationships between health beliefs and utilization of free health examinations in older people living in a community setting in Taiwan Objective. To examine the influence of demographics and the health beliefs of older people on uptake of a free annual health examination administered by the Twu‐Tyan Bureau of Sanitation (TTBS), Pingtung, Taiwan. Background. The free health examination is a preventive intervention with potential to detect illness. This programme for older people aged 65 years and over, has been available free in some areas since 1980. Method. A stratified random systematic sample of 200 men and women over 65 years was selected and consisted of 100 individuals who had undertaken the free health examination and 100 who had not. A 17‐item Health Belief Scale (HBS) was used to glean information on their health beliefs and uptake of a free health examination. Findings. It was found that those with higher education and higher economic status had a greater uptake. Family support was also found to influence take‐up. A statistically significant difference was found between the health beliefs of users and nonusers. Users perceived a higher level of seriousness and susceptibility to ill health than nonusers. Conclusions. A number of practical pointers are given that might help clinicians increase uptake rates in such health promotion programmes. These encompass understanding the influence of key demographical and social factors, perceived susceptibility, severity and benefits of the intervention, barriers to attendance and self‐efficacy.
The maternity information concerns of Somali women in the United Kingdom
Authors: Davies Myfanwy M. , Bath Peter A. 
Published: March 2003

The maternity information concerns of Somali women in the United Kingdom Aims. The aims of the study were to explore the maternity information concerns of a group of Somali women in a Northern English city and to investigate the relationships of these women with maternity health professionals. Background. The Somali community is one of the most established ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom (UK). The health needs of this group and in particular, the information needs of Somali women with respect to pregnancy, childbirth and post‐natal care are poorly understood. To facilitate information provision to birthing mothers and to support maternal decision‐making among minority ethnic women, research is required to understand and identify their information needs. Methods. A user‐centred study utilizing a focus group and semi‐structured interviews with English‐speaking and non‐English speaking Somali women was conducted in a large English city. Discussions were audiotaped, translated, transcribed and then analysed using a variation of the constant comparative method. Themes and categories were identified across transcripts during data collection and analysis and appropriate quotations are used to illustrate all themes. Findings. Major findings that emerged from the analysis related to contact with health professionals, language support and information and satisfaction with health professionals. The findings indicate key maternity information concerns of Somali women with regard to maternity issues and have a number of implications for midwifery and nursing practice. Conclusions. Poor communication between the non‐English speaking Somali women and health workers was perceived as an underlying problem in seeking information. Fears about misinterpretation and confidentiality, limit the usefulness of interpreters. The Somali women perceived that they were denied information due to punitive attitudes and prejudiced views among health professionals.