Action Research: a valuable research technique for service delivery development

The evaluation of healthcare practice and service delivery is fraught with difficulties. Service development and / or delivery occurs within socially dynamic settings which are in a continual state of change. Service development also often involves large elements of improvisation. The action research approach is useful for health service research, as it supports collaboration between researchers and practitioners, and not only allows but makes explicit that the action researcher has both roles within the setting being studied. This paper discusses action research methodology and offers insight into principles that favor its use for service delivery development. This includes consideration of the interactive variables within studies of health care systems and the importance of evaluating relationships between stakeholders to understand how these factors or variables, which cannot be controlled for, are responsible for successful development of the service. Action research facilitates change and helps bridge the heory--practice gap. With the current dynamic changes within both the pharmacy profession and national health services, researchers may find the action research technique of value when considering new roles and innovative ways of engaging in collaborative, multi-disciplinary working to improve delivery of patient care.Accepted july 2004     

The role of specialist nurses in delivering effective care in a tertiary sarcoma referral service

Musculoskeletal sarcomas are rare cancers with an incidence of less than 1% of all cancers. Management of these tumors requires multidisciplinary care comprising of numerous specialists. Critical decisions following collaborative discussion among treating specialists followed by timely communication and starting prompt treatment are vital in delivering care in such rare sarcomas. While musculoskeletal surgeons, radiologists, and clinical oncologists are well known, the role of specialist nurses has been less described. They form a vital pillar in any tertiary sarcoma service by assisting in collaborative care, having consultations in nurse-led clinics, offering psychological support, imparting details of treatment to patient and helping in palliative care. This narrative review focuses on the role of trained specialist nurses in a tertiary sarcoma service and gives insight into their vital role in delivering timely, coordinated, effective care.     

澳大利亚护理硕士专业学位人才培养现状及启示

通过比较我国与澳大利亚护理硕士专业学位研究生人才培养项目在办学规模、师资情况、教育模式、课程设置、临床实践与评估、毕业要求方面的现状,提出了立足我国实际的教学改革建议,为完善具有中国特色的护理硕士专业学位研究生教育培养体系,培养健康中国建设所需要的高级护理人才提供参考。     

秦亮甫教授治疗围绝经期女性尿路感染经验撷英

总结全国名老中医秦亮甫教授治疗围绝经期女性尿路感染的学术思想和用药经验。     

国内专科护士职业发展困境及对策研究进展

探讨了国内专科护士职业发展存在的问题并提出了相应的对策。从问题中有针对性的提出积极的应对策略,包括推动多学科协作护理模式发展,建立健全专科护士岗位管理和使用制度,整合院校资源、提高专科护士的整体素养,提升专科护士的社会认可度及做好专科护士职业生涯规划的指导,为构建专科护士职业发展规划体系提供理论依据,为稳定专科护理队伍的稳定发展提供保障。     

慢性难愈合创面早期防控体系建设探索

北大医疗鲁中医院烧伤皮肤外科在烧伤患者逐渐减少,科室被压缩、合并的情况下,受付小兵院士"战时治烧伤,平时治创面"理念的启发,于2015年成立烧伤与创面修复中心,在淄博市开展了以慢性难愈合创面为主的创面诊疗工作,通过普及创面修复知识,开展居家照护、多学科诊疗、医护一体的工作模式,建立创面修复移动工作站,筹建精准扶贫基地,...     

专科护士培训体验式教学理论模型的构建

目的 构建重症医学专科护士培训体验式教学理论模型.方法 以贵州省重症医学专科护士培训教学活动为基础,采用文献分析法、问卷调查法、实证研究法、经验总结法,研究重症医学专科护士培训体验式教学理论模型.结果 构建了包括四内容(教学目标、教学内容、教学形式、教学评价),四环节(危重患者护理体验、反思与分享、感悟内化、实践与应用)、三过程(基础、提高、升华)的循环上升式重症医学专科护士培训体验式教学理论模型.结论该理论模型展现了重症医学专科护士培训体验式教学的规律,为专科护士培养提供优化的教学途径.     

A novel methodology to measure waiting times for community-based specialist care in a public healthcare system

BackgroundMonitoring waiting time (WT) in healthcare systems is essential, since long WT are associated with adverse health outcomes, reduced patient satisfaction and increased private financing.ObjectiveTo describe a methodology developed for routine national monitoring of WT for community-based non-urgent specialist appointments, in a public healthcare system.MethodsThe methodology is based on data from computerized appointment scheduling systems of all Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) in Israel. Data included first 50 available appointments for community-based specialists and actual number of visits. Five most frequent specialties: orthopedics, ophthalmology, gynecology, dermatology and otolaryngology, were included.WT offered to HMO members for non-urgent care was calculated for two scenarios: "specific" physician and "any" physician in the region. Distribution of offered WT was calculated separately for each specialty and geographical region, combined to create the nationwide distribution.ResultsThe methodology was tested on data extracted between December 2018-June 2019. Estimated national median WT for "specific" physician, ranged from 9 days (ophthalmology/gynecology) to 20 days (dermatology), with large variation between geographic regions. WT were 26–56 % shorter for "any" than for "specific" physician.ConclusionsThis novel method offers a solution for ongoing national WT measurement, using computerized scheduling systems. It integrates two scenarios for appointment scheduling and allows identification of differences between specialties and regions, setting the ground for interventions to strengthen public healthcare systems.