An analysis of the experiences of bereaved relatives and health care providers following palliative sedation: a study protocol for a qualitative international multicenter case study.

BACKGROUND: Patients at the end-of-life may experience refractory symptoms of which pain, delirium, vomiting and dyspnea are the most frequent. Palliative sedation can be considered a last resort option to alleviate one or more refractory symptoms. There are only a limited number of (qualitative) studies exploring the experiences of relatives of sedated patients and their health care professionals (HCPs). The aims of this study protocol are: 1) to elicit the experiences of bereaved relatives and health care professionals of patients treated with palliative sedation and 2) to explore the understanding of the decision-making process to start palliative sedation across care settings in 5 European countries. METHODS: This study protocol is part of the larger HORIZON 2020 Palliative Sedation project. Organisational case study methodology will be used to guide the study design. In total, 50 cases will be conducted in five European countries (10 per country). A case involves a semi-structured interview with a relative and an HCP closely involved in the care of a deceased patient who received some type of palliative sedation at the end-of-life. Relatives and health care professionals of deceased patients participating in a linked observational cohort study of sedated patients cared for in hospital wards, palliative care units and hospices will be recruited. The data will be analyzed using a framework analysis approach. The first full case will be analyzed by all researchers after being translated into English using a pre-prepared code book. Afterwards, bimonthly meetings will be organized to coordinate the data analysis. DISCUSSION: The study aims to have a better understanding of the experiences of relatives and professional caregivers regarding palliative sedation and this within different settings and countries. Some limitations are: 1) the sensitivity of the topic may deter some relatives from participation, 2) since the data collection and analysis will be performed by at least 5 different researchers in 5 countries, some differences may occur which possibly makes it difficult to compare cases, but using a rigorous methodology will minimize this risk.

The effect of health education on prevention of low back pain for health caregivers and cleaning workers.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of health education on prevention of low back pain for health caregivers and cleaning workers. BACKGROUND: Low back pain is a common health problem in the workplace. Health education is important in the prevention and recurrence of low back pain. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test control group was used. The population of the study consisted of health caregivers and cleaning workers working in a university hospital in Turkey. A total of 120 participants, 60 in the intervention group and 60 in the control group, were included in the study. Data were collected between October 2016 and April 2017. A questionnaire, the Oswestry Low Back Pain Scale and the Knowledge Evaluation Form were used to collect data. Health education was given to the intervention group. RESULTS: Following the health education, the mean scores of the Oswestry Low Back Pain Scale in the intervention group were significantly lower than the control group and had a larger effect size. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of health education in the prevention of low back pain in health caregivers and cleaning workers.

The relationship between emotional intelligence, social responsibility, and job performance in health service providers.

BACKGROUND: Responsibility of individuals in adapting to life events depends on the intertwined cooperation of intellectual and emotional capacities, and a person's success in life depends on his emotional responses. Given that health-care providers are at the forefront of providing health services, they need to improve their job performance with better control of their emotions and better social relationships. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between emotional intelligence, social responsibility, and job performance in health-care providers and caregivers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional correlational study was performed on 270 health workers working in the western cities of Isfahan province in the first quarter of 1998 by random classification sampling method. To collect information, two questionnaires of Bradbury emotional intelligence, responsibility, social responsibility, whose validity and reliability had been proven in previous studies, and job performance scores of the samples were used. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive tests and Pearson correlation. RESULTS: The participants were 270 health workers and caregivers with a mean age of 34.54 ± 7.26. 87.5% of the samples were female and 21.5% were male. The mean score of social responsibility was 124.95 ± 10.41, the mean score of emotional intelligence was 125.58 ± 15.86, and the mean score of job performance was 86.91 ± 9.0.18. The results of Pearson correlation showed that all four components of social responsibility and total emotional intelligence have a significant correlation at the level of 0.01. Total emotional intelligence and each of its components did not show a significant correlation with job performance. Between social responsibility and job performance of health workers, only the moral component significantly predicts job performance (r = 0.133 and P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Although the results of the study showed that the job performance, social responsibility, and emotional intelligence of the study group were desirable, the score of some components of social responsibility and emotional intelligence is lower than their maximum score. In addition, according to the results of the study that showed the relationship between emotional intelligence and social responsibility and some of their components with job performance, improving the knowledge and skills of health-care providers and caregivers in the field of social responsibility and emotional intelligence and their components seems necessary.

Evaluation of health experts' education program for becoming multiprofessionals (family health caregiver) regarding health system transformation plan: An application of CIPP model.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the health experts and professionals' education program in order to become multiprofessionals regarding health system transformation plan by a descriptive and educational evaluation method based on the context, input, process, and product (CIPP) evaluation model in 2018. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The statistical population included managers and experts of health deputy (13 people), managers and authorities in health networks (32 people), teachers (251 people), and learners (1914 people). Data were collected by four researcher-made questionnaires based on the CIPP model and evaluation checklist of facilities and equipment. The view of experts was used to measure the face validity and content validity of the questionnaire, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to determine reliability. Data were entered into SPSS 23 software, and data were provided using descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, and standard deviation). RESULTS: The evaluation indicators of the educational course in the field of context were evaluated desirable by province's managers and experts (95% questions), city managers (100% questions), teachers (95% questions), and health caregivers (80% questions). In the field of input, it was evaluated desirable by managers and experts' input of province (60% questions) and city managers (70% questions) and it was evaluated semi-desirable by teachers (78.95% questions) and health caregivers (88.24% questions). In the field of process, it was evaluated desirable by province's managers and experts (73.68% questions) and city managers (66.67% questions) and it was evaluated semi-desirable by teachers (66.67% questions) and health caregivers (94.4% questions). In the field of product, it was evaluated semi-desirable by managers and experts of province (63.63% questions), teachers (81.81% questions), and health caregivers (100% questions) and it was evaluated desirable by city managers (72.72% questions). CONCLUSION: Holding initial service education course of health caregivers has been necessary, and the public health, family, and midwifery disciplines needed to be educated in a university appropriate to the description of tasks of health caregivers.

Medical Assistance in Dying: Challenges for Muslim Healthcare Professionals.

There appears to be a great deal of discussion among non-Muslim healthcare professionals, especially nurses and physicians, about medical assistance in dying. However, the discussion of medical assistance in dying among Muslim health caregivers including physicians, social workers, spiritual caregivers, etc. remains insufficient. A thorough analysis of the content of available resources revealed that we need more literature to analyze the attitude of Muslim health caregivers towards medical assistance in dying. This article describes the general attitude towards medical assistance in dying among non-Muslim. This will allow us to observe the challenges and dilemmas faced by Muslim healthcare professionals around medical assistance in dying.

Conhecendo os cuidadores de um serviço residencial terapêutico / Getting know the caretakers of a therapeutic residential residence

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi vivenciar a realidade do trabalho dos cuidadores de uma residência terapêutica (SRT), visando conhecer esta categoria e contribuir para discussões sobre a Reforma Psiquiátrica e a desinstitucionalização da loucura. Foram utilizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com seus cuidadores e observação participante. Os cuidadores atuavam em serviços basicamente comuns, sem um nível maior de complexidade e relação com a área da saúde. Eles relataram que apesar de não terem tido nenhuma formação profissional no campo da saúde se sentem preparados para o serviço. Eles aprendem a lidar com as situações no dia-a-dia, principalmente com as quais se mostraram mais preocupados. Constatou-se que é necessário maior conhecimento das formas de cuidado praticadas pelos trabalhadores e que é imprescindível discutir o nível de atenção dispensada aos cuidado¬res.

The purpose of this research was to experience more closely the reality of the job of the caregivers of a Therapeutic Residence (TRS) to get to know this category and contribute for discussions on the Psychiatric Reform and the deinstitutionalization of insanity. The participants were six caretakers of a TRS in Espírito Santo, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews and participant observation were used. The caretakers worked previously on common services basically, without a higher level of complexity, and relationship with the area of Health. The participants informed that although they had no professional formation in the area of Health, they did feel prepared for the service. They learn how to deal with situations in the day to day work, specially those with which they manifested a higher concern. It is necessary to know which types of care practices are being utilized by caretakers, and it is essential to discuss the level of attention given to the caretakers.