Entrepreneurial nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom: an integrative review

AIM: This paper is a report of an integrative literature review to investigate: (a) the extent of entrepreneurial activity by nurses, midwives and health visitors in the United Kingdom and (b) the factors that influenced these activities. BACKGROUND: Internationally, social and commercial entrepreneurial activity is regarded as important for economic growth and social cohesion. METHODS: Seventeen bibliographic databases were searched using single and combined search terms: 'entrepreneur$', 'business', 'private practice', 'self-employ$', 'intrapreneur$'social enterprise$'mutuals', 'collectives', 'co-op' and 'social capital' which were related to a second layer of terms 'Nurs$', 'Midwi$', 'Visit$'. 'Entrepreneur$' Private Midwi$, Independent Midwi$, and 'nursing workforce'. In addition, hand searches of non-indexed journals and grey literature searches were completed. The following inclusion criteria were: (a) describing nurses, midwife and/or health visitor entrepreneurship (b) undertaken in the UK, and (c) reported between January 1996 and December 2005. RESULTS: Of 154 items included only three were empirical studies; the remainder were narrative accounts. While quality of these accounts cannot be verified, they provide as complete an account as possible in this under-researched area. The numbers of nurses, midwives and health visitors acting entrepreneurially were very small and mirror international evidence. A categorization of entrepreneurial activity was inductively constructed by employment status and product offered. 'Push' and 'pull' influencing factors varied between types of entrepreneurial activity. CONCLUSION: Empirical investigation into the extent to which nurses and midwives respond to calls for greater entrepreneurialism should take account of the complex interplay of contextual factors (e.g. healthcare legislation), professional and managerial experience and demographic factors.     

Professional burnout and social support in the workplace among hospice nurses and midwives in Poland

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between burnout and social support received at work among hospice nurses and midwives in Poland to reveal the connection in working conditions differing in terms of exposure to death and dying situation. A total sample of 117 nurses represented nurses working in polish hospice and maternity wards. No significant differences in the burnout scores were found between hospice nurses and midwives with high superiors' support. However, hospice nurses and midwives with low superiors' support differed significantly in almost every dimension of burnout. Further, the results showed that social support significantly predicted burnout only in case of midwives. The current findings emphasize the role of superiors and their ability to provide support. Intervention programmes targeted at preventing or reducing burnout would be especially important for maternity wards, where enhancing support at a workplace could be crucial. Confirming causality in prospective research is necessary.     

Genetic counseling: A survey to explore knowledge and attitudes of Italian nurses and midwives

In the past, genetic services were delivered to a limited number of families with rare conditions. However, genomics is now being applied to both inherited and common diseases in a range of healthcare settings, and there is a greater need for nurses to understand the basic concepts of genetic health care. The aim of this cross‐sectional survey was to explore the understanding and attitudes of Italian nurses toward genetic health care. A questionnaire was completed by 102 nurses and midwives (85% response rate). Of these, 61% believed that genetic counseling was only an informative and advisory process, and 53.9% could not specify to whom the counseling was aimed. When asked to identify nurses’ role in genetic health care, 62% of the respondents believed they had no role, although 28% believed that nurses could provide information, support, and counseling. These findings indicate that nurses have only partial knowledge of the issues surrounding genetic health care. To prepare nurses for the post‐genomic era, improved genetic education at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels is required.     

农村适龄妇女“两癌”筛查中的组织管理方法与效果

目的探讨农村适龄妇女两癌筛查中的组织管理方法及效果,为更好地开展农村女性群体健康服务提供科学依据。方法坚持政府主导、采取筛查前对适龄妇女人群进行摸底、对筛查对象实施健康教育、培训筛查人员、合理布局和体检现场管理,结合耐心的问卷调查和对调查对象进行心理疏导。结果符合本次筛查年龄段的妇女共64 357人,完成对48 946人调查及两癌筛查,完善各项体检并完整收回问卷调查表46 981份,有效收回率为95.99%,筛查率为73.00%。结论政府主导及科学地组织管理是农村适龄妇女妇科病调查及两癌筛查顺利实施的保障。     

Benefits, barriers, sources of influence, and prostate cancer screening among rural men

ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this study was to explore 3 research questions: (1) What are the perceived benefits of screening for prostate cancer (PC)? (2) What are the perceived barriers to screening for PC? and (3) Is there an association with perceived benefits or perceived barriers and participants' reported source of influence related to prostate cancer screening (PCS) decisions? Design and Sample: A nonexperimental exploratory design was used for the study. Sample included 94 rural‐dwelling male participants aged 40 and older. Measures: The instruments used included an adapted version of Champion's (1999) revised Health Belief Model scale and a researcher‐developed demographic and PCS patterns form. Results: Both benefits and barriers were significantly associated with PCS and sources of influence. Health care providers and family were highly reported, at 81.8% and 59.5%, respectively, as sources of influence regarding PCS decisions. Conclusions: In this primarily African American sample, significant barriers to PCS among rural men were indentifed. PC health education may need to include family, whom study participants highly reported as a source of influence regarding their PCS decisions.