Group-based positive psychotherapy for people living with acquired brain injury: a protocol for a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Acquired brain injury (ABI) and other chronic conditions are placing unprecedented pressure on healthcare systems. In the UK, 1.3 million people live with the effects of brain injury, costing the UK economy approximately £15 billion per year. As a result, there is an urgent need to adapt existing healthcare delivery to meet increasing current and future demands. A focus on wellbeing may provide an innovative opportunity to reduce the pressure on healthcare services while also supporting patients to live more meaningful lives. The overarching aims of the study are as follows: (1) evaluate the feasibility of conducting a positive psychotherapy intervention for individuals with ABI and (2) ascertain under what conditions such an intervention would merit a fully powered randomised controlled trial (RCT) compared to a standard control group (TAU). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A randomised, two-arm feasibility trial involving allocation of patients to either a treatment group (positive psychotherapy) or control group (treatment as usual) group, according to a 1:1 ratio. A total of 60 participants at three sites will be recruited including 20 participants at each site. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, on completion of the 8-week intervention and 3 months following completion. These will include a range of questionnaire-based measures, psychophysiology and qualitative outcomes focusing on feasibility outcomes and participant experience. This study has been approved by the Wales Research Ethics Committee (IRAS project ID: 271,251, REC reference: 19/WA/0336). DISCUSSION: This study will be the first to examine the feasibility of an innovative, holistic positive psychotherapy intervention for people living with ABI, focused on individual, collective and planetary wellbeing, and will enable us to determine whether to proceed to a full randomised controlled trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN12690685 , registered 11th November 2020.

A systematic review of dentists' psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic presented significant challenges to healthcare workers worldwide, including the effect on the psychological wellbeing of dentists.Aims To evaluate the impact of the early phases of the pandemic on the psychological health, long-term wellbeing and clinical service provision of dentists, as well as the identification of the key risk and protective factors for adverse mental health outcomes (MHOs) in this group.Methods A systematic review of cross-sectional studies (n = 53) from public and private dentistry sectors was employed to delineate the risk and protective factors for adverse MHOs.Results Self-reports from these studies (1 December 2019 to 31 December 2021), involving 45,671 dentists worldwide were analysed. Study findings were classified according to their psychological impact (as risk or protective factors), categorised as 'operational' or 'organisational' and subdivided into 'psychosocial', 'occupational', 'sociodemographic' and 'environmental' elements. A GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations) certainty of evidence score was calculated for all the identified factors.Conclusions This review confirmed the negative impact of the pandemic on the MHOs of dentists worldwide. Pivotal risk factors included fear of infection, transmission to families, lack of personal protective equipment and possible direct contact with infected patients. Enhanced infection control protocols, individual resilience and organisational support were identified as important protective factors.

"You may think that the consultants are great, and they know everything, but they don't": exploring how new emergency medicine consultants experience uncertainty.

BACKGROUND: Uncertainty is particularly obvious in emergency medicine (EM) due to the characteristics of the patient cohort, time constraints, and busy environment. Periods of transition are thought to add to uncertainty. Managing uncertainty is recognised as a key ability for medical practice, but is often not addressed explicitly. This study explored how new consultants in EM experience uncertainty, with the aim of making explicit what is often hidden and potentially informing support for doctors to manage the uncertainty they face. METHODS: This was a qualitative study using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Five consultants working in the UK within one year of achieving a certificate of completion of training were interviewed online during 2021, these were transcribed and analysed using IPA. RESULTS: Three superordinate themes were identified: 'transition and performance as a source of uncertainty', 'uncertainty and decision-making in the context of the emergency department' and 'sharing uncertainty and asking for help'. The transition created uncertainty related to their professional identity that was compounded by a lack of useful feedback. There was tension between perceived expectations of certainty and the recognition of uncertainty in practice. EM doctors were seen as experts in managing uncertainty, with responses to uncertainty including gathering information, sharing uncertainty and seeking help. Expressing uncertainty was viewed as necessary for good patient care but could be risky to credibility, with psychological safety and role modelling behaviour making it easier for the participants to express uncertainty. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for new consultants to have psychologically safe, reflective spaces to think through uncertainties with others. This appears to reduce uncertainty, and also act as a source of feedback. The study adds to the existing calls to address uncertainty more explicitly in training, and challenge the expectations of certainty that exist within medicine.

Questionnaire Survey of Burnout Amongst Dentists in Singapore.

BACKGROUND: Burnout results from ongoing, unsuccessfully managed workplace stress, resulting in feelings of exhaustion, increased mental distance from one's job, and reduced professional efficacy. METHOD: This research used a cross-sectional questionnaire survey design. Graduated dentists in Singapore completed an online questionnaire comprising 5 sections: (a) demographics (3 items); (b) working conditions and experience (12 items); (c) the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) (19 items); (d) supplementary questions assessing causes and outcomes of stress and burnout (15 items); and (e) other outcomes (3 items). RESULTS: Overall, low to moderate levels of burnout were reported by the 210 survey respondents. Average CBI scale scores (out of 100) were as follows: personal burnout = 49.14, work-related burnout = 46.41, and patient-related burnout = 37.72. High to severe levels of burnout were self-reported by 24 individuals (11.3%) for personal burnout, 17 individuals (8.0%) for work-related burnout, and 9 individuals (4.2%) for patient-related burnout. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of burnout were generally low to moderate in this sample, with a small proportion of dentists experiencing high levels of burnout. Further research is required to gain clarity on stress and burnout levels across different occupational designations and dentistry settings in Singapore.

Validity and reliability of the Modified Tardieu Scale as a spasticity outcome measure of the upper limbs in adults with neurological conditions: a systematic review and narrative analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate published evidence on the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) as a tool to assess spasticity in the upper limbs of adults with neurological conditions. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search of six electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Physiotherapy Evidence Database) from inception to 31 December 2020. A search strategy was developed using key elements of the research question: population, intervention (action), outcome. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Inclusion criteria: (1) adult participants with neurological conditions; (2) upper limb muscles/joints as tested elements; (3) studies testing the MTS and (4) reliability or validity reported. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: (1) non-English articles; (2) non-empirical articles and (3) studies testing the Tardieu Scale. STUDY APPRAISAL: Evidence quality was evaluated using the US National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute quality assessment tool for observational cohort and cross-sectional studies. RESULTS: Six reliability studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, most articles reported good-to-excellent levels of inter-rater, intrarater and test-retest reliability. However, limitations, such as study design weaknesses, statistical misuses and reporting biases, undermine confidence in reported conclusions. The validity of the MTS also remained questionable based on the results of one study. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This review did not find sufficient evidence to either support or reject the use of the MTS in assessing spasticity in the upper limbs of adults with neurological conditions. Despite the paucity of research evidence, the MTS may still remain a clinically useful tool to measure the motor aspect of spasticity. Future research would benefit from a focus on test standardisation, while the wider field would require the development of a consensual definition of spasticity.

Success and limiting factors in health service innovation: a theory-generating mixed methods evaluation of UK projects.

OBJECTIVES: To explore and explain success and limiting factors in UK health service innovation. DESIGN: Mixed methods evaluation of a series of health service innovations involving a survey and interviews, with theory-generating analysis. SETTING: The research explored innovations supported by one of the UK's Academic Health Science Networks which provides small grants, awards and structural support to health service innovators including clinical academics, health and social care professionals and third-sector organisations. PARTICIPANTS: All recipients of funding or support 2014-2018 were invited to participate. We analysed survey responses relating to 56 innovation projects. RESULTS: Responses were used to conceptualise success along two axes: value creation for the intended beneficiaries and expansion beyond its original pilot. An analysis of variance between categories of success indicated that participation, motivation and evaluation were critical to value generation; organisational, educational and administrative support were critical to expansion; and leadership and collaborative expertise were critical to both value creation and expansion. Additional limiting factors derived from qualitative responses included difficulties navigating the boundaries and intersections between organisations, professions, sectors and cultures; a lack of support for innovation beyond the start-up phase; a lack of protected time; and staff burn-out and turnover. CONCLUSIONS: A nested hierarchy of innovation needs has been derived via an analysis of these factors, providing targeted suggestions to enhance the success of future innovations.

Addressing the low consumption of fruit and vegetables in England: a cost-effectiveness analysis of public policies.

BACKGROUND: Most adults do not meet the recommended intake of five portions per day of fruit and vegetables (F&V) in England, but economic analyses of structural policies to change diet are sparse. METHODS: Using published data from official statistics and meta-epidemiological studies, we estimated the deaths, years-of-life lost (YLL) and the healthcare costs attributable to consumption of F&V below the recommended five portions per day by English adults. Then, we estimated the cost-effectiveness from governmental and societal perspectives of three policies: a universal 10% subsidy on F&V, a targeted 30% subsidy for low-income households and a social marketing campaign (SMC). FINDINGS: Consumption of F&V below the recommended five portions a day accounted for 16 321 [10 091-23 516] deaths and 238 767 [170 350-311 651] YLL in England in 2017, alongside £705 951 [398 761-1 061 559] million in healthcare costs. All policies would increase consumption and reduce the disease burden attributable to low intake of F&V. From a societal perspective, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were £22 891 [22 300-25 079], £16 860 [15 589-19 763] and £25 683 [25 237-28 671] per life-year saved for the universal subsidy, targeted subsidy and SMC, respectively. At a threshold of £20 000 per life-year saved, the likelihood that the universal subsidy, the targeted subsidy and the SMC were cost-effective was 84%, 19% and 5%, respectively. The targeted subsidy would additionally reduce inequalities. CONCLUSIONS: Low intake of F&V represents a heavy health and care burden in England. All dietary policies can improve consumption of F&V, but only a targeted subsidy to low-income households would most likely be cost-effective.

Intra- and interprofessional practices through fresh eyes: a qualitative analysis of medical students' early workplace experiences.

BACKGROUND: Professional identities are influenced by experiences in the clinical workplace including socialisation processes that may be hidden from academic faculty and potentially divergent from formal curricula. With the current educational emphasis on complexity, preparedness for practice, patient safety and team-working it is necessary to evaluate and respond to what students are learning about collaborative practices during their clinical placements. METHODS: 394 second year medical students at a London medical school were invited to submit a short formative essay as part of their coursework describing, evaluating and reflecting on their experiences of how healthcare professionals work together. Their experiences were derived from having spent two days each week for 25 weeks in clinical contexts across primary and secondary care. We consented 311 participants and used a Consensual Qualitative Research approach to analyse these essays, creating a 'students-eye view' of intra- and interprofessional practices in the workplace. RESULTS: We identified four overarching themes in students' essays:Theme 1: analyses of contextual factors driving team tensions including staff shortages, shifting teams, and infrastructural issues;Theme 2: observations of hierarchical and paternalistic attitudes and behaviours;Theme 3: respect for team members' ability to manage and mitigate tensions and attitudes; andTheme 4: take-forward learning including enthusiasm for quality improvement and system change. CONCLUSIONS: Students are being socialised into a complex, hierarchical, pressurised clinical workplace and experience wide variations in professional behaviours and practices. They articulate a need to find constructive ways forward in the interests of staff wellbeing and patient care. We present educational recommendations including providing safe reflective spaces, using students' lived experience as raw material for systems thinking and quality improvement, and closing the feedback loop with placement sites on behalf of students.

Brief intervention for obesity in primary care: how does student learning translate to the clinical context?

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. There is an international call for more sustainable approaches to healthcare and for graduating doctors to develop the competencies to address the behavioural, psychological and social determinants of health. Obesity is a global challenge, and the case for preventative health is evident. There is growing evidence to support brief interventions for obesity in primary care. The feasibility and acceptability of teaching within classroom contexts have been demonstrated, however there are known barriers to adopting these approaches with patients. It is unclear how well classroom learning translates to the clinical context. 329 final year medical students from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki attended training that had been developed through action research processes at King's College London and adapted to the local context. Students conducted brief interventions with 3,177 overweight or obese patients across 136 primary healthcare facilities over three rotations. Their reflective learning essays were coded for content and thematically analysed to illuminate their experiences. Emergent themes include students' insights into the drivers behind the obesity epidemic and psychosocial barriers to change; transformative experiences using patient-centred approaches to communication and behaviour change; progression in skills and attitudes to broaching obesity in clinical contexts; and insights into the factors that drive patient engagement. Their experiences indicate that facilitative approaches are acceptable to patients, and result in commitment to change where relevant to the patient's agenda.

What are the requirements for developing a successful national registry of auditory implants? A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: Hearing loss is an area of unmet need, and industry is targeting this field with a growing range of surgically implanted hearing devices. Currently, there is no comprehensive UK registry capturing data on these devices; in its absence, it is difficult to monitor clinical and cost-effectiveness and develop national policy. Recognising that developing such a registry faces considerable challenges, it is important to gather opinions from stakeholders and patients. This paper builds on our systematic review on surgical registry development and aims to identify the specific requirements for developing a successful national registry of auditory implants. DESIGN: Qualitative study. PARTICIPANTS: Data were collected in two ways: (1) semistructured interviews with UK professional stakeholders; and (2) focus groups with patients with hearing loss. The interview and focus group schedules were informed by our systematic review on registry development. Data were analysed using directed content analysis. Judges mapped the themes obtained against a conceptual framework developed from our systematic review on registry development. The conceptual framework consisted of five categories for successful registry development: (1) planning, (2) registry governance, (3) registry dataset, (4) anticipating challenges, (5) implementing solutions. RESULTS: Twenty-seven themes emerged from 40 semistructured interviews with professional stakeholders and 18 themes emerged from three patient focus groups. The most important factor for registry success was high rates of data completion. Benefits of developing a successful registry of auditory implants include: strengthening the evidence base and regulation of auditory implants, driving quality and safety improvements, increased transparency, facilitating patient decision-making and informing policy and guidelines development. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies the requirements for developing a successful national registry of auditory implants, benefiting from the involvement of numerous professional stakeholder groups and patients with hearing loss. Our approach may be used internationally to inform successful registry development.

What are the essential features of a successful surgical registry? a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The regulation of surgical implants is vital to patient safety, and there is an international drive to establish registries for all implants. Hearing loss is an area of unmet need, and industry is targeting this field with a growing range of surgically implanted hearing devices. Currently, there is no comprehensive UK registry capturing data on these devices; in its absence, it is difficult to monitor safety, practices and effectiveness. A solution is developing a national registry of all auditory implants. However, developing and maintaining a registry faces considerable challenges. In this systematic review, we aimed to identify the essential features of a successful surgical registry. METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis recommendations. A comprehensive search of the Medline and Embase databases was conducted in November 2016 using the Ovid Portal. Inclusion criteria were: publications describing the design, development, critical analysis or current status of a national surgical registry. All registry names identified in the screening process were noted and searched in the grey literature. Available national registry reports were reviewed from registry websites. Data were extracted using a data extraction table developed by thematic analysis. Extracted data were synthesised into a structured narrative. RESULTS: Sixty-nine publications were included. The fundamentals to successful registry development include: steering committee to lead and oversee the registry; clear registry objectives; planning for initial and long-term funding; strategic national collaborations among key stakeholders; dedicated registry management team; consensus meetings to agree registry dataset; established data processing systems; anticipating challenges; and implementing strategies to increase data completion. Patient involvement and awareness of legal factors should occur throughout the development process. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review provides robust knowledge that can be used to inform the successful development of any UK surgical registry. It also provides a methodological framework for international surgical registry development.

The NICE alcohol misuse standard - evaluating its impact.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore factors affecting implementing the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) quality standard on alcohol misuse (QS11) and barriers and facilitators to its implementation. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative interview study analysed using directed and conventional content analyses. Participants were 38 individuals with experience of commissioning, delivering or using alcohol healthcare services in Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham. Findings QS11 implementation ranged from no implementation to full implementation across the 13 statements. Implementation quality was also reported to vary widely across different settings. The analyses also uncovered numerous barriers and facilitators to implementing each statement. Overarching barriers to implementation included: inherent differences between specialist vs generalist settings; poor communication between healthcare settings; generic barriers to implementation; and poor governance structures and leadership. Research limitations/implications QS11 was created to summarise alcohol-related NICE guidance. The aim was to simplify guidance and enhance local implementation. However, in practice the standard requires complex actions by professionals. There was considerable variation in local alcohol commissioning models, which was associated with variation in implementation. These models warrant further evaluation to identify best practice. Originality/value Little evidence exists on the implementing quality standards, as distinct from clinical practice guidelines. The authors present direct evidence on quality standard implementation, identify implementation shortcomings and make recommendations for future research and practice.

Mental Wellbeing Impact Assessment (MWIA) in the workplace.

PURPOSE: The Mental Wellbeing Impact Assessment (MWIA) is an evidence-based tool that guides decision makers, such as policy makers and service managers, about the potential impacts of a new programme or policy change. It was initially used in urban regeneration but has subsequently been used in housing, children's centres and education. The purpose of this paper is to report, for the first time, on the strengths and weaknesses of using the MWIA in the workplace. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Feedback was collected from staff who participated in stakeholder workshops as part of the MWIA process at two different public sector organisations. FINDINGS: The MWIA can be used as an effective workplace assessment tool and is valuable as both a diagnostic tool and as an intervention in its own right. The MWIA generates tailored action plans focussed on addressing the organisation or team-specific issues. The weaknesses of the MWIA in the workplace are mainly focussed around management cooperation and commitment to the process which should be screened for prior to engaging in the full stakeholder workshop. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This is the first report of MWIA's use in the workplace but suggests that it is a useful tool which can be used to support workplace wellbeing, especially in relation to a policy or organisational change. Further studies should be carried out to fully understand the impact of the MWIA in the workplace.

Setting standards and monitoring quality in the NHS 1999-2013: a classic case of goal conflict.

2013 saw the National Health Service (NHS) in England severely criticized for providing poor quality despite successive governments in the previous 15 years, establishing a range of new institutions to improve NHS quality. This study seeks to understand the contributions of political and organizational influences in enabling the NHS to deliver high-quality care through exploring the experiences of two of the major new organizations established to set standards and monitor NHS quality. We used a mixed method approach: first a cross-sectional, in-depth qualitative interview study and then the application of principal agent modeling (Waterman and Meier broader framework). Ten themes were identified as influencing the functioning of the NHS regulatory institutions: socio-political environment; governance and accountability; external relationships; clarity of purpose; organizational reputation; leadership and management; organizational stability; resources; organizational methods; and organizational performance. The organizations could be easily mapped onto the framework, and their transience between the different states could be monitored. We concluded that differing policy objectives for NHS quality monitoring resulted in central involvement and organizational change. This had a disruptive effect on the ability of the NHS to monitor quality. Constant professional leadership, both clinical and managerial, and basing decisions on best evidence, both technical and organizational, helped one institution to deliver on its remit, even within a changing political/policy environment. Application of the Waterman-Meier framework enabled an understanding and description of the dynamic relationship between central government and organizations in the NHS and may predict when tensions will arise in the future. © 2016 The Authors. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Evaluation of two selection tests for recruitment into radiology specialty training.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated whether two selection tests previously validated for primary care General Practice (GP) trainee selection could provide a valid shortlisting selection method for entry into specialty training for the secondary care specialty of radiology. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from radiology applicants who also applied to UK GP specialty training or Core Medical Training. The psychometric properties of the two selection tests, a clinical problem solving (CPS) test and situational judgement test (SJT), were analysed to evaluate their reliability. Predictive validity of the tests was analysed by comparing them with the current radiology selection assessments, and the licensure examination results taken after the first stage of training (Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR) Part 1). RESULTS: The internal reliability of the two selection tests in the radiology applicant sample was good (α ≥ 0.80). The average correlation with radiology shortlisting selection scores was r = 0.26 for the CPS (with p < 0.05 in 5 of 11 shortlisting centres), r = 0.15 for the SJT (with p < 0.05 in 2 of 11 shortlisting centres) and r = 0.25 (with p < 0.05 in 5 of 11 shortlisting centres) for the two tests combined. The CPS test scores significantly correlated with performance in both components of the FRCR Part 1 examinations (r = 0.5 anatomy; r = 0.4 physics; p < 0.05 for both). The SJT did not correlate with either component of the examination. CONCLUSIONS: The current CPS test may be an appropriate selection method for shortlisting in radiology but would benefit from further refinement for use in radiology to ensure that the test specification is relevant. The evidence on whether the SJT may be appropriate for shortlisting in radiology is limited. However, these results may be expected to some extent since the SJT is designed to measure non-academic attributes. Further validation work (e.g. with non-academic outcome variables) is required to evaluate whether an SJT will add value in recruitment for radiology specialty training and will further inform construct validity of SJTs as a selection methodology.

Exploring the potential uses of value-added metrics in the context of postgraduate medical education.

CONTEXT: Increasing pressure is being placed on external accountability and cost efficiency in medical education and training internationally. We present an illustrative data analysis of the value-added of postgraduate medical education. METHOD: We analysed historical selection (entry) and licensure (exit) examination results for trainees sitting the UK Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) licensing examination (N = 2291). Selection data comprised: a clinical problem solving test (CPST); a situational judgement test (SJT); and a selection centre (SC). Exit data was an applied knowledge test (AKT) from MRCGP. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analyses were used to model differences in attainment in the AKT based on performance at selection (the value-added score). Results were aggregated to the regional level for comparisons. RESULTS: We discovered significant differences in the value-added score between regional training providers. Whilst three training providers confer significant value-added, one training provider was significantly lower than would be predicted based on the attainment of trainees at selection. CONCLUSIONS: Value-added analysis in postgraduate medical education potentially offers useful information, although the methodology is complex, controversial, and has significant limitations. Developing models further could offer important insights to support continuous improvement in medical education in future.

How effective are selection methods in medical education? A systematic review.

CONTEXT: Selection methods used by medical schools should reliably identify whether candidates are likely to be successful in medical training and ultimately become competent clinicians. However, there is little consensus regarding methods that reliably evaluate non-academic attributes, and longitudinal studies examining predictors of success after qualification are insufficient. This systematic review synthesises the extant research evidence on the relative strengths of various selection methods. We offer a research agenda and identify key considerations to inform policy and practice in the next 50 years. METHODS: A formalised literature search was conducted for studies published between 1997 and 2015. A total of 194 articles met the inclusion criteria and were appraised in relation to: (i) selection method used; (ii) research question(s) addressed, and (iii) type of study design. RESULTS: Eight selection methods were identified: (i) aptitude tests; (ii) academic records; (iii) personal statements; (iv) references; (v) situational judgement tests (SJTs); (vi) personality and emotional intelligence assessments; (vii) interviews and multiple mini-interviews (MMIs), and (viii) selection centres (SCs). The evidence relating to each method was reviewed against four evaluation criteria: effectiveness (reliability and validity); procedural issues; acceptability, and cost-effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence shows clearly that academic records, MMIs, aptitude tests, SJTs and SCs are more effective selection methods and are generally fairer than traditional interviews, references and personal statements. However, achievement in different selection methods may differentially predict performance at the various stages of medical education and clinical practice. Research into selection has been over-reliant on cross-sectional study designs and has tended to focus on reliability estimates rather than validity as an indicator of quality. A comprehensive framework of outcome criteria should be developed to allow researchers to interpret empirical evidence and compare selection methods fairly. This review highlights gaps in evidence for the combination of selection tools that is most effective and the weighting to be given to each tool.