Looking Inside The Black Box

Intensive family preservation services (IFPS), designed to stabilize at-risk families and avert out-of-home care, have been the focus of many randomized, experimental studies. The emphasis on "gold-standard" evaluation of IFPS has resulted in fewer "black box" studies that describe actual IFPS service patterns and the fidelity with which they adhere to IFPS program theory. Intervention research is important to the advancement of programs designed to protect the safety of children, improve family functioning, as well as prevent out-of-home placement. Employing a retrospective “clinical data-mining” (CDM) methodology, this exploratory study of Families First, an IFPS program, makes use of available information extracted from client records to describe interventions and service patterns provided over a two year period. This study uncovers actual IFPS service patterns, demonstrates IFPS program fidelity, as well as reveals the usefulness of CDM as a social work research methodology. These findings are particularly valuable for program planning and treatment, policy development and evidence-based practice research.

Capacity Building through education, research and collaboration: AFRICA BUILD, an eHealth Case Study

AFRICA BUILD (AB) is a Coordination Action project under the 7th European Framework Programme having the aim of improving the capacities for health research and education in Africa through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). This project, started in 2012, has promoted health research, education and evidence-based practice in Africa through the creation of centers of excellence, by using ICT,?know-how?, eLearning and knowledge sharing, through Web-enabled virtual communities.

Program Evaluation of an After-School Socialization Group Program

Use of evidence-based practice is becoming more expected and necessary for mental health practitioners. This allows for proof, accountability, and rigorous standards to be upheld, facilitates healthcare reimbursement, and provides a wider range of services to more clients. Appropriate monitoring and outcome measurement is essential to determine the effectiveness of a given intervention. An organization providing group social skills interventions for children 7-18 years was analyzed to facilitate the best plan for evaluating treatment effectiveness. Measurable goals and objectives consistent with the organizations mission and values were developed. Appropriate social skills measurement tools were identified. Strengths and weaknesses of each measure were compared, and existing literature was reviewed to ensure cohesion between this evaluation and current standards in literature. Parent report, self report, and teacher report on Piers-Harris II, BASC-2, and Skills Improvement System Rating Scales were determined to be the most relevant measures of social skills development. A timeline for administration and plan for how to implement measurement and use data was suggested as well as considerations for future research.

Satisfaction of clinical nurses with the formation of a university tutorial program

Degree in nursing from the Universitat Jaume I (UJI) maintains the continuity of learning with an integrated learning methodology (theory, simulated practice and clinical practice). The objective of this methodology is to achieve consistency between the knowledge, abilities and skills acquired in the classroom, laboratory and clinic to ensure skills related. Reference Nurse is a key figure in this process, you receive accredited training on Educational Methods, assessment of competence, and Evidence-Based Practice that plays the role of evaluating in conjunction with the subjects. It does not perceive economic remuneration. The main objective of this study is to determine the level of satisfaction of clinical nurses on the Nurses Training Program Reference in UJI (Castellon- Spain). A cross sectional study was performed and conducted on 150 nurses. 112 questionnaires were completed, collected and analysed at the end of training. The survey consists of 12 items measured with the Likert scale with 5 levels of response and two open questions regarding the positive and negative aspects of the course and to add in this formation. The training is always performed by the same faculty and it's used four sessions of 2012. We perform a quantitative analysis of the variables under study using measures of central tendency. The completion rate of the survey is 95.53% (n=107). Anonymity rate of 54,14% The overall satisfaction level of training was 3.65 (SD = 0.89) on 5 points. 54.2% (n = 58) of the reference nurses made a contribution in the open questions described in the overall results. The overall satisfaction level can be considered acceptable. It is considered necessary to elaborate a specific survey to detect areas of improvement of nurse training program reference and future recruitment strategies. The main objective of the present work is the selection and integration of different methodologies among those applicable within the framework of the European Higher Education Area to combine teaching methods with high implication from both lecturers and students.

Integración de la práctica basada en la evidencia de forma transversal, iniciativa pregrado

Introducción: La Práctica Basada en la Evidencia se considera actualmente un eje fundamental a la hora de actuar en el entorno clínico. Además, se ha de tener en cuenta que la integración de la PBE en la forma habitual de trabajo requiere un esfuerzo, es decir, un aprendizaje previo para poder, en primer lugar, saber acceder a las pruebas; en segundo lugar, saber interpretar dichas pruebas; y a groso modo, en último lugar, si consideramos necesario, integrar dicha evidencia en nuestro entorno. Objetivo: Describir la progresión de la integración de la PBE de forma transversal en el Programa Formativo del Grado de Enfermería de la Universitat Jaume I de Castellón de la Plana. Metodología: Para poder realizar dicha integración transversal, se cuenta con el desarrollo previo de unas competencias que vienen dadas de forma general en la Orden CIN 2134/2008 y el Libro Blanco de Enfermería y que son adaptadas y recreadas para la idoneidad del entorno académico en la universidad anteriormente citada. De esta forma, el plan de integración que se propone, es un plan secuencial escalonado, el cual, se añade dificultad a medida que van avanzando los cursos del Grado en Enfermería; finalizando el mismo con el Trabajo de Final de Grado. Además, se realiza una revisión integradora de la literatura científica. Los artículos fueron seleccionados en Medline/pubmed, Cochrane y EEP Datebase. El límite temporal fue de 10 años. Los idiomas empleados, inglés y español; Los descriptores de búsqueda empleados fueron: Nursing, evidence-based practice, evidence-based nursing, Research competencies y education. Resultados: Tras el muestreo inicial y la realización de las búsquedas, se obtuvieron un total de 329 artículos, de los cuales pertenecían 97 de Pubmed/medline, 6 de Cochrane plus y 226 de EEP Dapbase, siendo presentados al comité de expertos y procesado su interés científico. Conclusiones: El departamento de enfermería crea el programa de Integración de la PBE en el Programa Formativo del Grado en Enfermería de la Universidad Jaume I, el cual, trabaja de forma transversal durante los cuatro años académicos, que permiten adquirir la capacitación de enfermero generalista, los conocimientos, habilidades y actitudes que permitirá mediante el ejercicio académico, los estudiantes de enfermería, sean competentes en el uso de la PBE pudiendo integrarla de forma progresiva en sus trabajos académicos, dando lugar finalmente a llevarla a cabo en su trabajo final de grado y convirtiéndose así en una realidad futura dentro de su desarrollo como profesionales de la enfermería tras su graduación, integrándose en cualquiera de sus vertientes.

Um olhar sobre o desenvolvimento das crianças em idade pré-escolar - Uma perspectiva da intervenção do enfermeiro

Relatório de Estágio apresentado para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Enfermagem de Saúde da Criança e do Jovem

Effects of Training and E-Mail Feedback on Behavior Therapists' Use of Instructive Feedback

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Vocational rehabilitation in psychiatry: A re-evaluation

Objective: To highlight the vocational gap in the provision of psychiatric rehabilitation, to outline the goals and conceptual framework of psychiatric rehabilitation, and to discuss rehabilitation interventions with specific reference to vocational rehabilitation and the evidence base for supported employment. Conclusions and service implications: Vocational psychiatric rehabilitation has been a neglected area of practice in Australian psychiatry. Psychiatric treatment needs to adopt a more balanced approach in the provision of a range of services, including vocational rehabilitation, in order to improve long-term outcomes for people suffering from psychiatric disability. A vocational focus should be included in psychiatric rehabilitation and better integration between mental health services and vocational services needs to take place. Supported employment is an evidence-based practice that is designed to help people with psychiatric disabilities participate as much as possible in the competitive job market.

Using clinical indicators in a quality improvement programme targeting cardiac care

Rationale. The Brisbane Cardiac Consortium, a quality improvement collaboration of clinicians from three hospitals and five divisions of general practice, developed and reported clinical indicators as measures of the quality of care received by patients with acute coronary syndromes or congestive heart failure. Development of indicators. An expert panel derived indicators that measured gaps between evidence and practice. Data collected from hospital records and general practice heart-check forms were used to calculate process and outcome indicators for each condition. Our indicators were reliable (kappa scores 0.7-1.0) and widely accepted by clinicians as having face validity. Independent review of indicator-failed, in-hospital cases revealed that, for 27 of 28 process indicators, clinically legitimate reasons for withholding specific interventions were found in

The effect of music on preoperative anxiety in day surgery

Aim. This paper reports a study to test the hypothesis that day surgery patients who listen to music during their preoperative wait will have statistically significantly lower levels of anxiety than patients who receive routine care. Background. Although previous day surgery research suggests that music effectively reduces preoperative anxiety, methodological issues limit the generalizability of results. Methods. In early 2004, a randomized controlled trial design was conducted to assess anxiety before and after listening to patient preferred music. Participants were allocated to an intervention (n = 60), placebo (n = 60) or control group (n = 60). Pre- and post-test measures of anxiety were carried out using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results. Music statistically significantly reduced the state anxiety level of the music (intervention) group. No relationships were found between socio-demographic or clinical variables such as gender or type of surgery. Conclusion. The findings support the use of music as an independent nursing intervention for preoperative anxiety in patients having day surgery.

Communication in investigative and legal contexts:integrated approaches from forensic psychology, linguistics and law enforcement

Communication in Forensic Contexts provides in-depth coverage of the complex area of communication in forensic situations. Drawing on expertise from forensic psychology, linguistics and law enforcement worldwide, the text bridges the gap between these fields in a definitive guide to best practice. • Offers best practice for understanding and improving communication in forensic contexts, including interviewing of victims, witnesses and suspects, discourse in courtrooms, and discourse via interpreters • Bridges the knowledge gaps between forensic psychology, forensic linguistics and law enforcement, with chapters written by teams bringing together expertise from each field • Published in collaboration with the International Investigative Interviewing Research Group, dedicated to furthering evidence-based practice and practice-based research amongst researchers and practitioners • International, cross-disciplinary team includes contributors from North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, and from psychology, linguistics and forensic practice

How can systematic reviews incorporate qualitative research? A critical perspective

Systematic review has developed as a specific methodology for searching for, appraising and synthesizing findings of primary studies, and has rapidly become a cornerstone of the evidence-based practice and policy movement. Qualitative research has traditionally been excluded from systematic reviews, and much effort is now being invested in resolving the daunting methodological and epistemological challenges associated with trying to move towards more inclusive forms of review. We describe our experiences, as a very diverse multidisciplinary group, in attempting to incorporate qualitative research in a systematic review of support for breastfeeding. We show how every stage of the review process, from asking the review question through to searching for and sampling the evidence, appraising the evidence and producing a synthesis, provoked profound questions about whether a review that includes qualitative research can remain consistent with the frame offered by current systematic review methodology. We conclude that more debate and dialogue between the different communities that wish to develop review methodology is needed, and that attempts to impose dominant views about the appropriate means of conducting reviews of qualitative research should be resisted so that innovation can be fostered. Copyright © 2006 SAGE Publications.