Journal of Allied Health最新文献

Health professions students in their final year of the mental health counseling (MHC), nursing, occupational therapy (OT), pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, and speech/language pathology programs at Touro University participated in a virtual interprofessional education (IPE) symposium designed to promote interprofessional collaboration. The students worked as an interprofessional team with a faculty facilitator to first create a plan of care and later a discharge plan for a fictitious patient. At the completion of the symposium, 281 out of 311 students completed the Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey (ICCAS), a tool that assesses competency in collaborative practice. Results demonstrated a significant increase in every collaboration-related competency for all participants as a group (p < 0.001), as well as significant differences between professions (F = 2.99, p = 0.007). For example, students from OT rated themselves lowest at the start and showed the greatest gains, and students from MHC showed the smallest gains but had the fewest participants. This virtual symposium resolved some common logistical challenges and was effective at improving interprofessional collaborative competency. Including a wide variety of health professions in this IPE activity facilitated a broad reach and applicability to the interprofessional teams that students will encounter in the future.

Purpose: This study compared Doctor of Physical Therapy students' perceived confidence with evaluating/treating complex patients before and after a case-based patient management course. The impact of simulated learning and prior clinical exposure were explored.

Methods: A longitudinal, pretest-posttest design was used across 4 university campuses. A Physiotherapist Self-Efficacy survey was used to collect student responses before/after the course, related to adequate preparation, verbal/written communication, subjective/objective assessments, interpreting assessment findings, identifying/prioritizing patient problems, selecting appropriate short/long term goals, performing/evaluating treatments, discharge planning, progressing interventions, and dealing with a range of patient conditions. Descriptive statistics, paired sample t-tests, ANOVA tests, and conceptual content analyses were completed.

Results: Eighty surveys were completed (13.88% response rate). Posttest confidence levels were higher compared to pretest values in all survey items. The t-statistics indicated a significant difference (p<0.001) between the pretest/posttest scores across all 80 records. Levene's statistic revealed p-values >0.001, indicating we met the assumption of homogeneity of variance across different cohort groups.

Conclusions: Student confidence levels towards complex patients significantly improved after course exposure, for all survey components in all cohorts. Simulated experiences, supplemental course materials, and prior outpatient clinical experience contributed to self-efficacy values. Six themes were identified as useful and/or needing revision to further improve self-efficacy.

With growing recognition that climate change is a significant threat to human health, allied health professionals are increasingly recognized as critical allies in addressing this threat. This article describes the approach that Rush University's College of Sciences is pursuing to better prepare health sciences students for this reality. Faculty and students enrolled across all programs of the College were surveyed regarding their levels of concern about global warming using items from the Six Americas Survey, as well as perceived importance of planetary health curricular elements adapted from the Planetary Health Report Card. Faculty were additionally asked about perceived opportunities to bring planetary health education into each of the degree programs offered by the university. A total of 37 faculty and 43 students completed the survey, collectively representing all programs in the college. Responses reflected widespread interest in expanding planetary health education, but topic priorities and optimal methods for implementation differed between programs. Although the survey process had limitations, it demonstrated the need for greater attention to planetary health across curricula and offered more efficient approaches implementing this essential content across programs.

Aims: Individuals with herniated discs can have a wide variety of clinical presentations, ranging from asymptomatic to severe spinal cord compression and pain. Perceptions the general public hold regarding the consequences of disc herniation are currently unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the general population's current views regarding lumbar disc herniations in order to better understand patient perceptions regarding herniated discs and the factors that may influence them.

Design: A hybrid survey of original questions and existing scales was developed for this study. Questions included demographic, medical history, and perceptions of disc herniation inquiries, as well as the entirety of the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) and Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) scales. Data analysis was performed via JASP.

Results: A key finding of this study was that resilience plays a major role in participant's views on herniated intervertebral discs (p=0.040). Participants with greater resilience levels had views on disc herniations that were more consistent with the findings in the literature (p=0.018).

Conclusion: This may implicate low resilience levels in negative catastrophizing, which can impair the recovery process for patients. Due to this, healthcare providers should further consider a patient's mental characteristics such as resilience and coping style when discussing implications of this potential diagnosis.

Objectives: With the exception of states that require licensure, there is no uniform requirement for certification or for education from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS) accredited laboratory science program for employment in a laboratory, under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988. The objective of the Value of Education and Certification (VEC) study was to determine if lack of NAACLS-accredited education and Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)/Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) certification was associated with laboratory errors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used personnel and testing/reporting error data from 739 laboratorians, involving five laboratory partners.

Results: MLS-certified individuals were 33% less likely to make errors (p=0.0473) and MLT-certified individuals were 71% less likely to make errors (p=0.0014) compared to those who were not certified. MLS-certified laboratorians were twice as likely to make testing/reporting errors compared to those who were MLT certified, which was significant (p=0.0238). Education level and accredited laboratory education were not associated with testing/reporting errors.

Conclusion: Our data suggest that lack of MLS and MLT certification are independently associated with laboratory testing/reporting errors.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe concerns experienced among persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (PALS) and their partners regarding sexual intimacy, as well as preferences regarding discussion of the topic with healthcare providers.

Methods: A total of 27 survey responses including 13 PALS and 14 partners were received. Surveys included both quantitative and qualitative data addressing the importance of sexual intimacy to quality of life, assistance required to participate in sexual intimacy, concerns for safety, and preferred timing and method of discussing/receiving information from healthcare professionals.

Results: 100% of respondents stated they had never been asked about sexual intimacy by any healthcare provider. 92% of participants agreed ALS had affected their ability to express sexual intimacy. Participants discussed loss of intimacy as due to muscle weakness, respiratory concerns, and role change among other contributors to the overall experienced change in expression of sexual intimacy. With regards to their preferred method of receiving/discussing information on the effect of ALS on sexual intimacy, 48% of participants preferred use of an online video series, 44% chose a pamphlet, 24% chose a one-on-one discussion with a healthcare provider, and 12% chose a private conversation with their partner and healthcare provider.

Conclusions: The findings greatly illustrate the difficulties and concerns experienced with sexual intimacy among PALS and their partners as well as the preferred methods for receiving information on the topic.

The COVID-19 pandemic created a shift in interprofessional education (IPE) courses, causing programs to change pedagogical approaches. We sought to examine student preferences for taking IPE simulations. On post-simulation surveys from two courses (n=844 students, 2020-2022 academic years), we asked students if they preferred to take the simulation through a synchronous in-person or virtual format. More students preferred a virtual platform in academic year 2021-2022 than the previous year (p<0.001). Students who chose the virtual format believed it was more convenient, reduced COVID-19 transmission, and eased interprofessional collaboration. The downsides to in-person simulations included travel logistics and technical challenges in the simulation lab. Students suggested that in-person simulations more closely resembled 'real life' and that communication and body language are easier to convey in person.

Objective: Today's healthcare system requires interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) to improve health outcomes. IPCP often begins with interprofessional education (IPE), which should stimulate meaningful idea exchange. This study's purpose was to assess the impact of a photovoice-based IPE experience on the attitudes and beliefs of students in two health professions programs.

Methods: Forty-two Doctor of Physical Therapy students and 13 Radiation Therapy students created photovoice slides representing the most significant "thing" in their professional education. Students discussed their slides in small groups followed by a large-group discussion. A pretest-posttest survey containing researcher-generated questions and the Student Perceptions of Interprofessional Clinical Education-Revised (SPICE-R2) and a post-activity evaluation were administered.

Results: Forty-two students completed the pretest survey; 35 completed the posttest survey. A statistically significant difference was found between pretest (M=4.07, SD=0.91) and posttest (M=4.45, SD=0.70) SPICE-R2 total scores, t(928)=7.22, p<0.001. Statistically significant differences were found for all SPICE-R2 factor scores. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: 1) students learned about the other profession, 2) the IPE experience was meaningful, and 3) the IPE experience could be improved.

Conclusions: The photovoice IPE experience stimulated student reflection, interprofessional collaboration, and new perceptions about the other health profession. Future studies should focus on similar activities offered earlier in the education program.

Introduction: Interprofessional collaborative practice is linked to decreased medical errors. Previously, we published that large-scale in-person simulations can teach interprofessional teamwork skills. To prove that virtual instruction in these skills produces similar learning outcomes, we compared virtual and in-person learning outcomes from delivery of a workshop based on TeamSTEPPS.

Methods: Students were assigned by their school faculty and attendance was mandatory. After completing an online learning module on TeamSTEPPS techniques, pre-clinical students (n = 1,158) from 10 professions practiced these skills in two virtual interprofessional simulations lasting 75 minutes including debriefings. Pre-post surveys were administered to learners. We compared findings with in-person results previously reported from simulations using the same cases.

Results: Performance on multiple choice questions and self-reported teamwork ability improved pre- to post-simulation. Participants recommended the simulation be required for subsequent learners (85.6%) and were satisfied with the relevance to their area of study (87.54%). Qualitative comments highlighted the benefits of the teamwork and interprofessional components of the simulation.

Discussion: Outcomes of virtual program delivery were similar to those of in-person delivery. Virtual simulation successfully enabled students to apply skills in an interprofessional environment to improve teamwork and communication skills. These results enable us to offer this course virtually to distance learning students currently.

Inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) are crucial in enhancing the functionality of individuals requiring post-acute care. However, despite modifications in reimbursement systems, IRF admission criteria have remained relatively unchanged since the 1970s. As a result, and despite evidence of functional improvement, IRFs are still not widely used for cancer patients' rehabilitation needs. President Biden relaunched the Cancer Moonshot in 2022 with the aim of enhancing the quality of life for individuals with cancer. To improve the quality of life for cancer patients and meet their rehabilitation needs, it is essential to assess IRF admission and reimbursement procedures. Utilizing Bardach's Eightfold Path for Policy Analysis, the so-called "60% rule," and potential alternatives are evaluated to address the impact on cancer patients' access to IRF-level rehabilitation. Expanding the list of conditions eligible for IRF-level care could significantly increase access for those with a cancer diagnosis with minimal legislative intervention. This approach could also enhance the efficiency of these services by enabling providers to become more attuned to the unique needs of cancer patients. Although this may entail higher costs initially, long-term savings can be realized through reduced disability costs and improved quality of life for patients.