Training and support needs of scleroderma support group facilitators: the North American Scleroderma Support Group Facilitators Survey

Purpose: Peer-facilitated support groups are an important resource for people with scleroderma, but little is known about challenges faced by support group facilitators. The objective was to identify training and support needs of scleroderma support group facilitators to inform the development of an educational training program.

Methods: A 32-item survey assessed confidence of support group facilitators to execute tasks necessary for successfully facilitating support groups. Survey items were grouped into seven themes using content analysis.

Results: Eighty North American scleroderma support group facilitators completed the survey. Facilitators were generally confident in their ability to complete tasks related to: (1) Organizing, Structuring, and Facilitating the group; (2) Addressing Individual Member Needs and Diversity of the Group; (3) Helping Members Cope with Grief and Loss; and (4) Attaining and Responding to Member Feedback. They were less confident in their ability to perform tasks related to (1) Managing Difficult Group Dynamics; (2) Promoting and Sustaining the Group; and (3) Balancing Personal and Group Needs.

Conclusion: Results suggest that a training program for scleroderma support group facilitators should address a broad range of topics, including managing difficult group interactions, promotion and maintaining the group, and balancing personal and support group needs.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Many patients with the rare autoimmune connective tissue disease scleroderma depend on peer-facilitated support groups for disease-related education and peer support, but the lack of training for facilitators is a barrier to forming and sustaining groups.

• Rehabilitation professionals can support the formation and management of local support groups by providing education and support to peer group facilitators or by referring them to national scleroderma organizations who are developing training resources.

• Training for support group facilitators should focus on areas where facilitators were least confident in their abilities, including managing difficult group dynamics, promoting and sustaining the group, and balancing personal and group needs.

     

微信支持下的自助培训模式对新入职护士职业获益感与职业认同感的影响

[目的]探讨微信支持下的自助培训模式对新入职护士职业获益感与职业认同感的影响。[方法]选取新入职护士70名为研究对象,接受微信支持下的自助培训模式,在此基础上授课老师在课堂上给予培训内容的具体指导,新入职护士在干预前、后(1个月)自评完成护士职业获益感与护士职业认同感问卷调查。[结果]干预后新入职护士的职业获益感总分和职业认同感总分分别为140.79分±7.51分和124.90分±9.47分,均优于干预前(130.76分±9.04分和116.24分±6.81分),经比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。职业获益感和职业认同感各维度得分较干预前也有所提升(P0.05)。[结论]微信支持下的自助培训模式能有效提升新入职护士的职业获益感与职业认同感。     

非口腔医学专业医学生一体化口腔医学教学体系的构建与实施

随着医学的快速发展,口腔医学的重要性日益凸显.在口腔医学教学中,为了解决教学内容多而学时数相对较少等问题,首都医科大学附属北京安贞医院口腔医学教研室在非口腔医学专业医学本科生的教学中采用“口腔直观教学法”,并通过改编教学大纲、自编院内试用教材、丰富课件内容及教学模型、优化理论与实践课程组合方案、随堂测试与阶段测试结合以及心理学问卷量化分析评价教学效果、注重教师培养及教学团队建设等,对常规教学进行了一系列的配套教学改革,初步构建了非口腔医学专业医学生“口腔直观教学法”的一体化教学体系,在教学实施中取得了较好的教学效果,得到了学生的认可.一体化口腔医学教学体系可以在非口腔医学专业学生的教学中推广应用.     

Predictors of activity limitation and dependence on walking aids after primary total hip arthroplasty

OBJECTIVES: To study function outcomes and their predictors after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Mayo Clinic. PARTICIPANTS: All patients who underwent primary THA at the Mayo Clinic between 1993 and 2005 and were alive at the time of follow‐up. MEASUREMENTS: Whether sex, age, body mass index (BMI), comorbidity, anxiety, and depression predict moderate to severe activity limitation (limitation in ≥3 activities) and complete dependence on waling aids 2 and 5 years after primary THA was examined. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for operative diagnosis, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, implant type, and distance from medical center. RESULTS: At 2 years, 30.3% of participants reported moderate to severe activity limitation; at 5 years, 35% of participants reported moderate to severe activity limitation. Significant predictors of moderate to severe activity limitations at 2‐year follow‐up were female sex (odds ratio (OR)=1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.1–1.4), aged 71 to 80 (OR=2.0, 95% CI=1.6–2.5), aged 80 and older (OR=4.5, 95% CI=3.4–6.0), depression (OR=2.1, 95% CI=1.6–2.7), and BMI greater than 30.0. At 5‐year follow‐up, significant predictors were aged 71 to 80 (OR=1.7, 95% CI=1.3–2.2), older than 80 (OR=4.3, 95% CI=2.8–6.6), depression (OR=2.3, 95% CI=1.6–3.4), and BMI greater than 30.0.Significant predictors of complete dependence on walking aids at 2 years were female sex (OR=2.0, 95% CI=1.4–2.7), aged 71 to 80 (OR=2.4, 95% CI=1.4–4.2), older than 80 (OR=11.4, 95% CI=6.0–21.9), higher Deyo‐Charlson score (OR=1.5, 95% CI=(1.1–1.2) for 5‐point increase, depression (OR=2.0, 95% CI=1.2–3.4), and BMI greater than 35.0. Each of these factors also significantly predicted complete dependence on walking at 5‐year follow‐up, with similar odds ratios, except that BMI of 30.0 to 34.9 was not significantly associated. CONCLUSION: Higher BMI, depression, older age, and female sex predict activity limitation and complete dependence on walking aids 2 and 5 years after primary THA.     

Allergy to ingredients of vehicles

Common ingredients of vehicles such as perfumes, antibacterial agents, emulsifiers and other surface active agents, propylene glycol, lanolin and wool alcohols were tested in eczema patients over a three-year period. Perfume allergy was detected in 3.6% of the cases, sensitivity to thiomersal in 2%, to sorbic acid in 0.8%, to parabens in only 0.3%, and to wool alcohols in 1.2%. Reactions to emulsifiers were seen over 1% of those tested.     

Factors associated with the use of over-the-counter sleep aids containing diphenhydramine: A cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia

IntroductionDiphenhydramine, either alone or in combination with pain relievers, is one of the widely used over-the-counter sleep aids. However, few studies have evaluated the use of diphenhydramine-containing products, such as Panadol Night, in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of Panadol Night use and to identify factors associated with its use in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged 18 years or older in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through an online self-administered questionnaire from 05 March 2022 to 20 March 2022. Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between Panadol Night use in the past month and independent variables.ResultsA total of 1244 adults participated in the survey. Approximately, 42.3% reported that they have used Panadol Night in their lifetime; 12.1% used Panadol Night in the past month. The majority of the Panadol Night users (62.4%) reported that their use was based on their family/friends’ recommendations, while 23.6% used Panadol Night based on healthcare providers’ recommendations. The multivariable logistic regression models showed that gender, health related fields, perceived safety and effectiveness of Panadol Night, a history of insomnia, trouble sleeping due to pain, and sleep quality were significantly associated with the use of Panadol Night in the past month.ConclusionsOur findings indicated that adults’ perceptions of the effectiveness and safety of Panadol Night were significantly associated with its use. Also, adults in non-health related fields were more likely to use Panadol Night compared to those in health related fields. This suggests the need for raising awareness about the appropriate use of Panadol Night. Community pharmacists can play an essential role in educating patients during the time of purchase.