British Journal of Community Nursing最新文献

Background and aims: Urgent community response services are central to the NHS strategy of moving care into the community to reduce hospital admissions. As part of intermediate care, urgent community response teams rely on interdisciplinary working. However, there is limited understanding of how healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, experience and undertake this collaboration. This article explores the available evidence on healthcare professionals' experiences within interdisciplinary urgent community response teams.

Methods: A scoping review guided by the PRISMA-ScR framework was conducted. Databases searched included CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Library and Open Grey, covering studies from 1999 to 2025.

Findings: A total of 42 sources were included, most of which were UK-based. Key themes identified were role flexibility, shared decision making and flatter hierarchies. Nurses and support workers were well represented, while paramedics were underrepresented. Facilitators included joint visits and shared records; barriers included unclear roles and limited interdisciplinary training.

Conclusions: Effective interdisciplinary working underpins urgent community response success. Further research is needed to understand workforce experiences, especially of collaborative models and emerging roles.

Falls and fractures, are a major public health concern among older adults in the UK, often resulting in injury, loss of independence and increased demands on health and social care services. The causes of falls are multifactorial such as muscle weakness, poor balance, visual impairment, polypharmacy, frailty and comorbidities, as well as environmental hazards. Osteoporosis further increases the risk and severity of fragility fractures, particularly in the spine, wrist and hip. Evidence demonstrates that community-based interventions can significantly reduce falls and associated injuries. These include multifactorial risk assessment, strength and balance exercise programmes, environmental modifications and structured care pathways. Nurses and community health professionals can play a central role in identifying at-risk individuals and delivering tailored interventions. By educating patients and coordinating to their multidisciplinary care, they can make a difference. However, there are many persistent challenges to implementation, such as resource limitations, workforce capacity and patient adherence. It is also important to highlight the need for integrated, person-centred and cross-sector approaches. By embedding evidence-based falls prevention into routine community practice, healthcare professionals can maintain independence, enhance wellbeing and reduce the overall burden of falls and fractures.

Frailty is a multidimensional syndrome commonly associated with older age and characterised by reduced physical, mental and social reserve. Prevalence rates for frailty in older adults continue to rise, putting individuals at increased risk of adverse events such as falls, disability and early death. Psychological health is also affected and depression is more common in older adults with frailty. Treatment for this population is more likely to be pharmacological than psychological, meaning an increased risk for polypharmacy and side effects. This commentary critically appraises a systematic review exploring non-pharmacological interventions on psychological outcomes for older adults with frailty. The authors also consider the review's implications for community practice and discuss the need and requirements for further research.

The growing older population presents unique dermatological challenges, with conditions such as atopic dermatitis and dry skin becoming increasingly prevalent yet understudied in the community settings. This article reviews current evidence on the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, burden and management strategies for common skin conditions in older people living at home, with a particular focus on atopic dermatitis and xerosis. Age-related changes in skin structure and function, combined with environmental and behavioural factors, contribute to skin dryness, itch and increased susceptibility to flare ups and secondary infections. Managing atopic dermatitis in older adults requires tailored approaches that address basic skincare, such as the regular use of moisturisers, gentle cleansing and avoiding triggers, as well as advanced therapies that include topical corticosteroids, phototherapy and biologic treatments (eg dupilumab). The article highlights the importance of individualised care plans balancing treatment efficacy, safety and patient burden, especially given the higher risk of adverse effects with systemic therapies in this population. Nurses and community healthcare professionals play a critical role in patient education, monitoring treatment adherence, early identification of complications and supporting self-management. Improved awareness and research into dermatological care for older adults are essential to enhance quality of life and reduce healthcare burden.

Background: As healthcare environments become increasingly multigenerational, understanding these differences is crucial for improving teamwork, patient care and addressing issues such as burnout. Cultural attitudes toward ageing, hierarchical workplace dynamics, and generational differences in values and communication styles can impact collaboration and knowledge exchange between younger and older nurses. Politically, workforce policies, retirement regulations and government initiatives aimed at addressing the ageing healthcare workforce influence the composition and interaction of different generations within nursing teams.

Aims: This study explores the influence of generational differences on nursing practice and identify strategies to improve intergenerational collaboration and knowledge transfer, with the goal of enhancing teamwork and patient care.

Methods: The qualitative study involved 13 nurses from various age groups working in multigenerational teams in Italy. Data were collected through interviews and analysed thematically, resulting in four key categories: political and social context; personnel management; social networks; and individual characteristics.

Findings: Generational differences were noted in perceptions and practices. Senior nurses expressed concerns about junior nurses' practical skills, while younger nurses emphasised the need for lifelong learning. Both groups agreed on the need for improved communication to strengthen teamwork.

Conclusions and implications for practice: Creating an inclusive environment where generational differences are valued can reduce burnout and improve resilience in healthcare systems, fostering long-term professional growth, improving quality of patient care.

The current UK government has pledged to upgrade technology as we shift from analogue to digital, to support the challenges of providing care for an ageing nation with complex needs. Digital technology is firmly embedded across community nursing practice, yet staff often cite barriers to its implementation. The author explores the future of technology in home-based care, through the lens of telehealth, telemedicine, virtual wards and ambient documentation. Healthcare professionals must embrace the benefits of the digital world and understand the challenges of maintaining patient safety and measuring patient outcomes, while considering digital inclusivity and inequalities in accessibility.

This article explores the term 'corridor care', which is a direct consequence of overcrowding in emergency departments. Sustained high volumes of patient attendances in the emergency care system further exacerbate these issues. The author highlights the importance of encouraging and supporting nursing teams in emergency and community care to collaborate with each other.