Cluster randomised controlled trial of an infection control education and training intervention programme focusing on meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in nursing homes for older people

The aim of this cluster randomised controlled trial was to test the impact of an infection control education and training programme on meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prevalence in nursing homes. Nursing homes were randomised to intervention (infection control education and training programme; N¼16) or control (usual practice continued; N¼16). Staff in intervention homes were educated and trained (0, 3 and 6 months) in the principles and implementation of good infection control practice with infection control audits conducted in all sites (0, 3, 6 and 12 months) to assess compliance with good practice. Audit scores were fed back to nursing home managers in intervention homes, together with a written report indicating where practice could be improved. Nasal swabs were taken from all consenting residents and staff at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome was MRSA prevalence in residents and staff, and the secondary outcome was a change in infection control audit scores. In all, 793 residents and 338 staff were recruited at baseline. MRSA prevalence did not change during the study in residents or staff. The relative risk of a resident being colonised with MRSA in an intervention home compared with a control home at 12 months was 0.99 (95% con?dence interval: 0.69, 1.42) after adjustment for clustering. Mean infection control audit scores were signi?cantly higher in the intervention homes (82%) compared with the control homes (64%) at 12 months (P<0.0001). Consideration should be given to other approaches which may help to reduce MRSA in this setting.

How Important Are Intergenerational Transfers of Time? a Macroeconomic Analysis.

This paper examines the implications of intergenerational transfers of time and money for labor supply and capital accumulation. Although intergenerational transfers of time in the form of grandparenting are as substantial as monetary transfers in the data, little is known about the role and importance of time transfers. In this paper, we calibrate an overlapping generations model extended to allow for both time and monetary transfers to the US economy. We use simulations to show that time transfers have important positive effects on capital accumulation and that these effects can be as significant as those of monetary transfers. However, while time transfers increase the labor supply of the young, monetary transfers produce an income effect that tends to decrease work effort. We also find that child care tax credits have little impact on parental time and money transfers, but that a universal child tax credit would increase the welfare of the rich while the poor would benefit from a means-tested program.

Identification of rehabilitation needs after a stroke: an exploratory study

Affiliation: Jacqueline Rousseau : École de réadaptation, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal

Qualité de l'environnement éducatif dans les services de garde préscolaires au Québec : rôle des caractéristiques de l'éducatrice et une intervention visant à augmenter ses compétences

Thèse numérisée par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

L’étendue optimale de la pratique de l’infirmière et l’infirmière clinicienne en première ligne

Travail dirigé présenté à la Faculté des sciences infirmières en vue de l’obtention du grade de Maître ès sciences (M.Sc.) en sciences infirmières option administration des services infirmiers

Video accompanying 2013 Mentor Update

Excerpt from a care home scenario to accompany 2013 Mentor Update.

Anhörigas upplevelser i samband med vård av en äldre person i hemmet : En litteraturöversikt

SAMMANFATTNINGSyftet: Syftet med denna systematiska litteraturstudie var att studera hur anhöriga till äldre personer upplevde sin situation i i samband med att de vårdade sina äldre hemma, hur de hanterade sin situation, samt vilka strategier de använde sig av för att hantera sin roll som anhörigvårdare. Metod: Databaserna Cinahl och Medline användes i sökningarna efter relevanta artiklar. Sökord som användes var relative and older people and home care, home health care and family caregiver elderly people, family caregivers and care givers of aging people, elderly people and family care givers of aging people, family care givers of older people, family caregivers and frail elderly, family caregiver and older people and home care, home care older people and family caregivers older people, family caregivers older people. Efter genomläsning bedömdes 16 artiklar vara användbara i resultatet. Dessa kom från vetenskapliga tidskrifter och artiklarna innehöll både kvalitativa studier som kvantitativa studier. Resultat: De flesta anhörigvårdare var kvinnor, de kunde uppleva en högre belastning än män. De anhöriga påverkades både mentalt, fysiskt och emotionellt. De kände sig bundna men kunde även känna ett välbefinnande i vården av den äldre personen. Anhöriga upplevde sin roll som anhörigvårdare till äldre personer i hemmen som att de var delaktiga i omsorgen genom praktiskt som känslomässigt stöd. Deras situation hade även inverkan på deras upplevelse av stress och hur de hanterade situationen. En del äldre anhörigvårdare var själva äldre och i behov av hjälp. Konsekvenserna av deras reaktioner/upplevelser beskrevs som både subjektiv och objektiv belastning. Samt att de även var mindre benägna att söka stöd i form av avlastning för sina äldre personer. Slutsats: Rollen som anhörigvårdare till äldre personer som vårdas i hemmen innebar förändringar i anhörigas livssituation, de fick ta ett stort ansvar för den äldre personen. De upplevde stora påfrestningar både känslomässigt som praktiskt, många kände sig ensamma utan stöd, andra hade olika sätt att hantera sin situation. Äldre anhörigvårdare var mer utsatta för belastning av olika skäl när de vårdade äldre personer i hemmet, dels var de själva äldre samt att de själva kunde vara i behov av hjälp för sina hälsoproblem. Kvinnorna var den grupp anhörigvårdare som upplevde störst belastning i vården av äldre personer i hemmet. När det gällde att söka hjälp och stöd såg det olika ut bland anhörigvårdarna, trots att kvinnorna upplevde störst belastning var de minst benägna att söka hjälp.

Trajetória do hospital dia Dr. Elger nunes: um recorte histórico da psiquiatria e saúde mental no Rio Grande do Norte

In Brazil, the mental health network proposed by the Psychiatric Reform inserts the intermediate and replacement services in the pursuit of alignment or resocialization of patients with mental and behavioral disorder in the community. Was adopted, among other services, the Center for Psychosocial Care, Home Therapy, Sheltered Home, Day Hospital and psychiatric beds in general hospital. In this context, the State of Rio Grande do Norte implanted the Day Hospital Dr. Elger Nunes (HDEN) in Natal / RN in 1996, linked to State Department of Public Health. At HDEN happened a multi and interdisciplinary therapeutic work, besides being the scene of disciplinary practices, and extension projects for graduate courses in Higher Education Institutions in the city. However, with the process of decentralization of local services, the hospital was terminated by an administrative state act in 2006, leaving damage to the activities provided to users, disciplinary practices and extension activities. From this breakdown, the objective was to narrate the trajectory of HDEN through a multidisciplinary team of professionals and teachers who used it as a field of disciplinary practices. It is characterized as a documental and qualitative, backed in the technique of thematic oral history, following the phases: authorization of the interviewee, interview recording, transcription, textualization and transcreation of the material obtained. We used documents, ordinances, general reports of activities, among others, plus interviews to fifteen employees who used this service, being thirteen part of the multidisciplinary team of professionals and two graduation professors of health care area, nursing and medicine. The stories collected were organized according to the technique chosen, respecting its steps. In preparing the body subjected to ALCESTE computer program, priority was given to the vital tone for the formation of categories and classes elected by the program, structured in three thematic areas. In the first axis, called Trajectory of HDEN, were recalled the beginning of its activities, the steps of that time, their activities, and its actors - users, families, professionals, and teaching practices. The second axis has dealt with the process of extinction of HDEN, rescuing the feelings of employees, the main reasons given at the time and immediate postextinction scenario. And the third axis revealed in an articulated form the situation of mental health in Natal / RN, listing to the challenges and prospects for the psychosocial care, starting from the trajectory of HDEN with emphasis on activities. Moreover, the trajectory of HDEN provides recognition of the historical basis outlined in the constitution of the network of substitute services present in the current scenario of psychosocial care in the city of Natal and in RN.

Efeito da capacitação dos cuidadores informais sobre a qualidade de vida de idosos com déficit de autocuidado

A proporção de idosos no Brasil vem crescendo consideravelmente e essa transição demográfica traz um quadro em que cada vez mais a sobrevivência deles fica dependente de seus familiares. Para aprimorar a qualidade de vida desse grupo há a proposta da elaboração de um programa de capacitação que contribua para melhorar os serviços prestados a estes indivíduos. O objetivo do presente estudo é avaliar um Programa de Capacitação para Cuidadores Informais na qualidade de vida de idosos. Foram realizadas visitas às residências de 15 idosos com déficit de autocuidado, onde foi aplicado o questionário SF-36. em seguida realizou-se um programa multiprofissional de capacitação para seus cuidadores. Após 2 meses aplicou-se novamente o questionário para verificar a eficácia do programa de capacitação na qualidade de vida dos idosos. Houve um aumento significativo dos escores relacionados ao domínio saúde mental e uma diminuição significativa dos relacionados às limitações por aspectos físicos. A partir dos dados obtidos concluiu-se que deve ser incentivada a formação de grupos de cuidadores informais, conduzidos por profissionais da área de saúde, para fomentar o conhecimento, a troca de experiências e a discussão sobre estratégias para melhorar o ato de cuidar.

A visita domiciliar na formação de médicos: da concepção ao desafio do fazer

Desde 2003, desenvolve-se a Interação Universidade Serviço Comunidade (IUSC) na graduação médica de uma universidade pública do interior de São Paulo, Brasil, a partir da necessidade de vivências na Atenção Primária, visando à integralidade do cuidado. A visita domiciliar (VD) destacou-se como possibilidade para o estudante refletir sobre determinantes sociais do processo saúde-doença; desenvolver habilidades comunicacionais, prática educativa dialógica e vínculo com a comunidade; ampliar o raciocínio clínico e contribuir para a compreensão e resolução dos problemas familiares. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar essa proposta da VD na formação médica, utilizando pesquisa documental. Contextualizou-se o desenvolvimento da VD na IUSC, sua importância, abrangência e desafios para sua legitimação e incorporação como prática pertinente à formação médica. Concluiu-se que a VD pode fortalecer e ampliar vínculos, compromissos, e favorecer a comunicação, contribuindo para a mudança da educação médica no Brasil.

Effective interventions for lowering HbA1C in African Americans with type 2 diabetes: A review

This synthesis of the literature provides descriptive analysis and outlines current self-management interventions for African Americans with type 2 diabetes. Specifically, this study describes and explores the design of those studies whose interventions have been shown to lower HbA1C levels in this population by at least 0.5% points, an improvement that provides approximately 10% reduction in long term complications from this disease.^ Results. In total, 37 articles were reviewed and 17 articles met inclusion criteria for analysis. Analysis of each study's methodology and results was performed and selected studies with interventions that resulted in improvements in HbA1C outcomes equal to 0.5% or greater for both group 1 and 2 were summarized by intervention type in table format. Descriptive analysis, outlining the number and characteristics of proximal and distal mediating components addressed in Group 1 studies, was performed in order to determine whether mediating components may have had some relation to effectiveness of intervention on outcome HbA1C. Descriptive analysis revealed that no particular design is substantially more effective than another among Behavioral studies although, there may be an advantage in using culturally sensitive, group interventions that address greater numbers of distal mediating components. Among Process studies, structured approaches (i.e. algorithm care and scheduled follow up), as well as utilization of specialty and group care are represented as effective for African American populations. ^ Conclusions. It may be summarized that by targeting behavior and addressing provider delivery (i.e. algorithm use, group care, home care, and provider follow up) in this population, a greater yield in outcome improvements may be accomplished. However, many gaps exist in a review process that stratifies results and focuses on identifying group specific intervention successes and failures. Further research in different populations will aid researchers and practitioners in discovering the best evidence, and identifying models that could be utilized in practice to achieve the best diabetes management for at risk groups.^

Guia para comenzar un negoio [sic] de cuidado infantil.

The profile is divided into two sections: one geared towards those hoping to establish a day care home, and the other for those establishing a larger scale day care center.

A pharmacy led program to review anti-psychotic prescribing for people with dementia

Background: Anti-psychotics, prescribed to people with dementia, are associated with approximately 1,800 excess annual deaths in the UK. A key public health objective is to limit such prescribing of anti-psychotics. Methods: This project was conducted within primary care in Medway Primary Care Trust (PCT) in the UK. There were 2 stages for the intervention. First, primary care information systems including the dementia register were searched by a pharmacy technician to identify people with dementia prescribed anti-psychotics. Second, a trained specialist pharmacist conducted targeted clinical medication reviews in people with dementia initiated on anti-psychotics by primary care, identified by the data search. Results: Data were collected from 59 practices. One hundred and sixty-one (15.3%) of 1051 people on the dementia register were receiving low-dose anti-psychotics. People with dementia living in residential homes were nearly 3.5 times more likely to receive an anti-psychotic [25.5% of care home residents (118/462) vs. 7.3% of people living at home (43/589)] than people living in their own homes (p?care mental health services or Learning Disability Teams. Of the remaining 70 patients the anti-psychotic was either withdrawn, or the dosage was reduced, in 43 instances (61.4%) following the pharmacy-led medication review. Conclusions: In total 15.3% of people on the dementia register were receiving a low-dose anti-psychotic. However, such data, including the recent national audit may under-estimate the usage of anti-psychotics in people with dementia. Anti-psychotics were used more commonly within care home settings. The pharmacist-led medication review successfully limited the prescribing of anti-psychotics to people with dementia.