Care co‐ordination for older people in the third sector: scoping the evidence

The third sector has played a significant role internationally in the delivery of adult social care services for many years. Its contribution to care co‐ordination activities for older people, however, in England and elsewhere, is relatively unknown. A scoping review was therefore conducted to ascertain the character of the literature, the nature and extent of third sector care co‐ordination activity, and to identify evidence gaps. It was undertaken between autumn 2013 and summer 2014 and updated with additional searches in 2016. Electronic and manual searches of international literature using distinct terms for different approaches to care co‐ordination were undertaken. From a total of 835 papers, 26 met inclusion criteria. Data were organised in relation to care co‐ordination approaches, types of third sector organisation and care recipients. Papers were predominantly from the UK and published this century. Key findings included that: a minority of literature focused specifically on older people and that those doing so described only one care co‐ordination approach; third sector services tended to be associated with independence and person‐centred practice; and working with the statutory sector, a prerequisite of care co‐ordination, was challenging and required a range of features to be in place to support effective partnerships. Strengths and weaknesses of care co‐ordination practice in the third sector according to key stakeholder groups were also highlighted. Areas for future research included the need for: a specific focus on older people's experiences; an investigation of workforce issues; detailed examination of third sector practices, outcomes and costs; interactions with the statutory sector; and an examination of quality assurance systems and their appropriateness to third sector practice. The main implication of the findings is a need to nurture variety within the third sector in order to provide older people and other adults with the range of service options desired.     

Quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients with urinary disorders: Discriminative validation of the english version of qualiveen

The Qualiveen questionnaire is a urinary disorder (UD)-specific health related quality of life (HRQL) instrument. Recent data suggests Qualiveen has excellent validity in French-speaking multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Aim: To assess discriminative measurement properties of the English version of Qualiveen. Methods>: Fifty-five Canadian MS out-patients completed a set of questionnaires, including Qualiveen, MSQOL-54, a MS-specific HRQL questionnaire, urinary function assessments and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) twice at an interval of two to four weeks. Results: Qualiveen proved internally consistent (Cronbachs alpha coefficients 0.73 to 0.90 for the four Qualiveen domains) and test–retest reliable (intraclass correlation coefficients 0.88 to 0.94). Consistent with a priori predictions, we found a strong association between overall Qualiveen score and the degree of incontinence (0.63), a moderate correlation with the type of urinary symptoms (0.49), a weak association with manner of voiding (0.28) and weak or absent correlations with MSQOL-54 domains, EDSS bladder/bowel and global EDSS. Predictions proved generally accurate (weighted = 0.65). Conclusion: The internal consistency, test–retest reliability and cross-sectional construct validity of the English version of Qualiveen are excellent, and similar to the original French version. Further studies should explore Qualiveens longitudinal validity and responsiveness.     

Quality control methods in musculoskeletal tissue engineering:from imaging to biosensors

INTRODUCTION Tissue engineering aims to study and develop new methods for the replacement of damaged or diseased tissue. The fundamental idea is to use the appr...     

The experience of women returning to work following the birth of their first child

This study explores the experience of women who return to paid work following the birth of their first child. Grounded theory methodology was used to collect, to code, to compare and to contrast data gathered in interviews with eight women. The substantive theory generated from this approach indicated that first-time mothers viewed their return to work as a process of role redefinition. Role redefinition comprised three stages: taking on multiple roles, experiencing role strain and reducing role strain. Each stage evolved from a central concept and was characterised by specific behaviours. This substantive theory implies that first-time mothers are grappling with role redefinition throughout the childbearing period. The implications for midwives are discussed, for the pre-conceptual, antenatal and postnatal phases of childbearing. As first-time mothers take on and manage multiple roles, the process of role redefinition directs midwives to give them anticipative and concurrent guidance.