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AIMS: Young-onset (21-39 years old) type 2 diabetes (YOD) is associated with high complication rates and glycaemic levels, and poor self-management plays a significant role. Knowledge, skills and barriers influence self-management behaviours considerably. Therefore, this study assessed diabetes knowledge, self-efficacy and barriers (situational dietary barriers, physical health, mental health and diabetes-related distress) between participants with young and usual-onset (40-59 years old) (UOD) diabetes. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Differences between YOD and UOD were analysed using bivariate analysis and effect sizes were estimated with Cohen's d. Differences were further adjusted by demographic factors (gender, ethnicity, marital status, educational level, income level) and diabetes duration. RESULTS: A total of 409 (97 YOD, 312 UOD) participants were recruited. Participants with YOD had lower self-efficacy levels (adjusted B = -0.19, CI -0.35 to -0.03) and higher dietary barriers (adjusted B = 3.6, CI 2.1-5.1), lower mental health scores (adjusted B = -3.5, CI -5.7 to -1.4) and higher diabetes-related distress levels (adjusted B = 0.2, CI 0.2-0.4). CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that participants with YOD faced more challenges with adapting to life with diabetes when compared with UOD. More effective self-management programmes are needed to support the multifaceted needs of adults with YOD.
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Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Adulto , Humanos , Adulto Joven , Persona de Mediana Edad , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/epidemiología , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/terapia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/psicología , Autoeficacia , Estudios Transversales , Accesibilidad ArquitectónicaRESUMEN
AIMS: There is a rising trend of young-onset type 2 diabetes (YOD) occurring before the age of 40 years. Lower adherence to self care behaviours (diet, physical activity and taking medication) contributed to poorer glycaemic control and higher risk of complications. Young adults with YOD face unique challenges, and our study aimed to identify the main barriers and facilitators of self care behaviours in this population. METHODOLOGY: A qualitative study was conducted in the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, Singapore, using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Maximal variation sampling was employed to include participants with YOD of varied age, ethnicity, educational levels and marital status. Thematic analysis was conducted, and barriers and facilitators were identified and mapped to domains of the theoretical domains framework. RESULTS: Twenty-one participants aged 22-39 years were interviewed. We found patterns of intentions, self care behaviours and mindsets that were associated with different barriers and facilitators. Four patterns were identified and were named according to mindsets: avoidant, indifferent, striving and activated. In addition, experience of stigma and self-blame from having type 2 diabetes in young adulthood was common across all mindsets, contributing to poorer self care behaviours and increased psychological burden. CONCLUSION: Our study identified key barriers and facilitators of diet, physical activity and medication adherence in young adults with type 2 diabetes. Understanding barriers and facilitators, as related to mindsets, intentions and behaviours, will support a more individualised care approach.
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Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Humanos , Adulto Joven , Adulto , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/epidemiología , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/terapia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/psicología , Autocuidado/psicología , Investigación Cualitativa , Ejercicio Físico , Proyectos de InvestigaciónRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Clinicians' information-seeking behaviours impact patient care quality. Earlier studies indicated that barriers to accessing information deter clinicians from seeking answers to clinical questions. OBJECTIVES: To explore primary care clinicians' information-seeking behaviour at point-of-care, focusing on when and how they seek answers to clinical questions. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 45 clinicians after clinical sessions to investigate their information-seeking habits. Follow-up interviews were conducted after a week for those intending to address unanswered queries. RESULTS: Two thirds of clinicians encountered questions during care, with nearly three quarters resolving them during the session. Colleagues, guidelines and online platforms were common information sources, with smartphones being used to access Google, WhatsApp or UpToDate®. Facilitators included reliable sources and the drive to confirm knowledge, while barriers included ineffective search methods and high workload. Despite challenges, most clinicians expressed satisfaction with their information-seeking process. DISCUSSION: The findings underscore the increasing use of smartphones for accessing clinical information among Singaporean primary care clinicians and suggest the need for tailored training programmes and guidelines to optimise information-seeking practices. CONCLUSION: Insights from this study can inform the development of training programmes and guidelines aimed at improving information-seeking practices among primary care clinicians, potentially enhancing patient care quality.
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BACKGROUND: Therapeutic lifestyle changes can reduce individual risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) by up to 58%. In Singapore, rates of preventive practices were low, despite a high level of knowledge and awareness of T2D risk and prevention. The study explored the context of the discrepancy between knowledge and practices in T2D prevention among adults undiagnosed with the condition. METHODS: In-depth interviews with 41 adults explored lay beliefs of T2D and the sources of these perceptions, subjective interpretation of how T2D may impact lives, and perceived costs and benefits of practising preventative behaviours. Purposive sampling was used to maximise the variability of participants in demographic characteristics. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify themes related to the domains of inquiry. RESULTS: Participants' risk perceptions were influenced by familial, social, and cultural contexts of the representation and management of T2D conditions. The adverse effects of T2D were often narrated in food culture. The cost of adopting a healthy diet was perceived at a high cost of life pleasure derived from food consumption and social interactions. Inconveniences, loss of social functions, dependency and distress were the themes related to T2D management. Participants' motivation to preventive practices, such as exercise and weight loss, were influenced by short-term observable benefits. CONCLUSIONS: T2D risk communication needs to be addressed in emotionally impactful and interpersonally salient ways to increase the urgency to adopt preventative behaviours. Shifting perceived benefits from long-term disease prevention to short-term observable wellbeing could reduce the response cost of healthy eating.
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Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Adulto , Análisis Costo-Beneficio , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/diagnóstico , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/prevención & control , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/psicología , Dieta Saludable/psicología , Humanos , Investigación Cualitativa , SingapurRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Asthma is a significant health issue in primary care. We examined the journeys of patients with asthma exacerbations requiring urgent therapy at a primary care clinic in Singapore. METHODS: Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients who received urgent therapy for asthma exacerbation at a primary care clinic. Data collected was used to construct themes. RESULTS: Fifteen multi-ethnic adult patients were recruited. Participants cited treatment cost, underuse of preventer medication, difficulties attending routine asthma care due to work, and stigma as barriers to asthma control. Reasons for delay in seeking urgent care for asthma were: inability to access medical care out of hours, competing priorities, perception that an exacerbation was 'not serious enough', difficulty recognizing symptoms of asthma exacerbation, and being tired or despondent. Participants were triggered to seek care due to failure of reliever inhalers, duration of symptoms, sleep disturbance, inability to work, or advice from others. During an exacerbation, participants often initiated other self-management measures besides using reliever medication. This included over-the-counter medications and non-pharmacological interventions (e.g. drinking water). Of the 15 patients interviewed, only one stepped up preventer inhaler adequately, according to their Asthma Action Plan (AAP). CONCLUSIONS: In caring for patients with asthma, primary care providers should address patients' asthma self-management skills, such as recognizing symptoms of asthma exacerbations and regular preventer use, and provide clear instructions on how to respond to asthma symptoms (AAP). Minimizing direct (medication and consultation fees) and indirect costs (loss of earnings and adverse impact on employment prospects) are also important considerations.
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Antiasmáticos , Asma , Administración por Inhalación , Adulto , Antiasmáticos/uso terapéutico , Asma/tratamiento farmacológico , Humanos , Nebulizadores y Vaporizadores , Atención Primaria de SaludRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Studies report that medical graduates are not prepared for practice as expected, and interventions have been developed to prepare them for practice. One such intervention is the assistantship, which provides hands-on opportunities to hone clinical skills and undertake responsibilities under supervision. The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMed) is Singapore's newest medical school, and students undergo a Student Assistantship Programme (SAP) to prepare for practice as junior doctors (PGY1). This study evaluated the SAP from the students' and clinical supervisors' perspectives. METHODS: Students completed online questionnaires to assess readiness for practice before and after SAP, and a subsample were interviewed about their experiences of SAP and its impact on their preparedness for PGY1. In addition, after our graduates had begun work as PGY1 doctors, their clinical supervisors completed an online questionnaire and were interviewed about the perceived benefits of SAP and the attributes of our graduates as junior doctors. RESULTS: Fifty (96%) students completed the pre-SAP questionnaire and 46 (92%) completed the post-SAP questionnaire. Levels of preparedness increased post-SAP (mean scores range pre-SAP: 2.38 to 4.32 vs post-SAP: 3.08 to 4.48); so did opportunities to undertake PGY1 duties (pre-SAP: 56% vs post-SAP: 96%), and hands-on experience in medical emergencies (pre-SAP: 76% vs post-SAP: 89%).Experience of acute care situations increased except "paracetamol overdose". Readiness to be first respondents in ten acute situations improved (statistically significant for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation, gastrointestinal bleed, sepsis, and adverse drug reactions). Three themes emerged from twenty-five student interviews: learning about the work environment, opportunities to learn in a safe environment, and enhancing SAP for future students. Thirty-three supervisors completed the questionnaire, and 70% rated SAP positively in preparing students for PGY1. Eight supervisors interviewed shared positively about the content, timing, and duration of SAP; and suggested future SAPs help students to develop coping and reflective skills. CONCLUSIONS: The SAP improved students' preparedness and experience across clinical areas, and students felt the SAP helped bridge undergraduate curriculum and work, provided opportunities to hone their skills and learn from junior doctors. Most clinical supervisors rated the SAP effective in preparing students for PGY1. This is the first formal evaluation of an assistantship in Singapore, and the findings are encouraging from the perspective of students and PGY1 supervisors.
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Educación de Pregrado en Medicina , Médicos , Estudiantes de Medicina , Competencia Clínica , Curriculum , Humanos , Cuerpo Médico de Hospitales , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Health literacy has been associated with pain intensity and pain control. However, there is a paucity of evidence regarding this association. In the field of low back pain research, inconsistent reporting of outcomes has been highlighted. To address this issue a Core Outcome Set has been developed. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this scoping review were: (1) The health literacy measures currently employed for low back pain and the aspects of health literacy they include. (2) The low back pain health outcomes included in such work. (3) The extent to which these health outcomes reflect the Core Outcome Set for Clinical Trials in Non-Specific Low Back Pain. METHODS: The search included thirteen bibliographic databases, using medical subject heading terms for low back pain and health literacy, and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. The eligibility criteria were defined by the Joanna Briggs Institute PCC mnemonic. A thematic framework approach was used for analysis. RESULTS: The search yielded ten relevant studies for inclusion, amongst which a total of nine health literacy measures and 50 health outcome measures were used. Most health literacy measures focused on functional health literacy, with few assessing communicative and critical health literacy. The health outcomes assessed by the included studies could be broadly categorised into: Pain, Disability, Behaviour, Knowledge and Beliefs, and Resource Utilisation. Most of these outcome measures studied (36 out of 50) did not directly reflect the Core Outcome Set for Clinical Trials in Non-Specific Low Back Pain. CONCLUSIONS: To allow for comparison across findings and the development of a rigorous evidence base, future work should include the Core Outcome Set for Clinical Trials in Non-Specific Low Back Pain. There is an urgent need to broaden the evidence-base to include regions where low back pain morbidity is high, but data is lacking. Such work demands the incorporation of comprehensive measures of health literacy that have both generic and culturally sensitive components.
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Personas con Discapacidad , Alfabetización en Salud , Dolor de la Región Lumbar , Humanos , Dolor de la Región Lumbar/terapia , Evaluación de Resultado en la Atención de SaludRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: While existing studies have investigated the role of social media on health-related communication, little is known about the potential differences between different users groups on different social media platforms in responses to a health event. This study sets out to explore the online discourse of governmental authorities and the public in Singapore during the recent Zika pandemic in 2016. METHODS: Social media data were extracted from Facebook and Twitter using retroactive keyword sourcing of the word "Zika" to search for posts and a location filter of "Singapore". Government posts, public posts, and replies to these original posts were included in the temporal and textual analysis. RESULTS: Overall, Facebook contained more government and individual content whereas Twitter had more content from news media accounts. Though the relative volume of Zika content from different data sources paralleled the peaks and troughs of Zika activities across time, discourses from different data sources differed in their temporal patterns, such that the public discourse died down faster than the government discourse after the outbreak was declared. In addition, the content of discourses differed among data sources. While government discourse included factual information of the disease, public discourse contained more elements of care such as worry about the risks to pregnant women, and elements of community such as well-wishes to each other. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates the temporal and content differences between user groups and social media platforms in social media conversations during the Zika pandemic. It suggests that future research should examine the collective discourse of a health event by investigating social media discourses within varied sources rather than focusing on a singular social media platform and by one particular type of users.
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Brotes de Enfermedades/estadística & datos numéricos , Comunicación en Salud/métodos , Comunicación en Salud/tendencias , Medios de Comunicación de Masas/tendencias , Pandemias , Medios de Comunicación Sociales/tendencias , Infección por el Virus Zika/epidemiología , Humanos , Medios de Comunicación de Masas/estadística & datos numéricos , Singapur/epidemiología , Medios de Comunicación Sociales/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: In the four months after the discovery of the index case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), several studies highlighted the psychological impact of COVID-19 on frontline health care workers and on members of the general public. It is evident from these studies that individuals experienced elevated levels of anxiety and depression in the acute phase, when they first became aware of the pandemic, and that the psychological distress persisted into subsequent weeks. It is becoming apparent that technological tools such as SMS text messages, web-based interventions, mobile interventions, and conversational agents can help ameliorate psychological distress in the workplace and in society. To our knowledge, there are few publications describing how digital tools have been used to ameliorate psychological symptoms among individuals. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review was to identify existing SMS text message, web-based, mobile, and conversational agents that the general public can access to ameliorate the psychological symptoms they are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: To identify digital tools that were published specifically for COVID-19, a search was performed in the PubMed and MEDLINE databases from the inception of the databases through June 17, 2020. The following search strings were used: "NCOV OR 2019-nCoV OR SARS-CoV-2 OR Coronavirus OR COVID19 OR COVID" and "mHealth OR eHealth OR text". Another search was conducted in PubMed and MEDLINE to identify existing digital tools for depression and anxiety disorders. A web-based search engine (Google) was used to identify if the cited web-based interventions could be accessed. A mobile app search engine, App Annie, was used to determine if the identified mobile apps were commercially available. Results: A total of 6 studies were identified. Of the 6 identified web-based interventions, 5 websites (83%) could be accessed. Of the 32 identified mobile interventions, 7 apps (22%) could be accessed. Of the 7 identified conversational agents, only 2 (29%) could be accessed. RESULTS: A total of 6 studies were identified. Of the 6 identified web-based interventions, 5 websites (83%) could be accessed. Of the 32 identified mobile interventions, 7 apps (22%) could be accessed. Of the 7 identified conversational agents, only 2 (29%) could be accessed. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant psychological distress. Digital tools that are commercially available may be useful for at-risk individuals or individuals with pre-existing psychiatric symptoms.
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Betacoronavirus/patogenicidad , Infecciones por Coronavirus/psicología , Coronavirus/patogenicidad , Trastornos Mentales/etiología , Neumonía Viral/psicología , COVID-19 , Humanos , Pandemias , SARS-CoV-2RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Singapore needs more family doctors to care for its ageing population and their chronic conditions. While there is a shifting of care from acute care settings to more community care, this has not been reflected in the primary care training in local medical schools. Furthermore, no research has explored how different aspects of the medical school curricula in Singapore influence students' perceptions of careers in General Practice and Family Medicine- a gap that is filled by this study. METHODS: Six focus groups involving 54 students from all three medical schools in Singapore were conducted. Discussions focused on their primary care experience, their professional and career aspirations, and perceptions towards the opportunities and challenges of primary care careers. Qualitative content analysis was used to interpret the data. RESULTS: The respondents shared eight key concerns of pursuing primary care careers including limited professional opportunities, emphasis on lifestyle benefits rather than professional characteristics, need for business acumen, conflicts created by business in clinical care, mundane case mix, lack of continuity of care, limited consultation time, and specialists' negative attitudes towards family doctors. The positive views articulated included the opportunities for entrepreneurialism and a portfolio career, breadth of clinical problems presented, and an improved future for primary care. CONCLUSIONS: Improving students' perceptions of careers in primary care in Singapore would benefit from a concerted effort from multiple stakeholders; medical schools, healthcare providers, professional and regulatory bodies, and government.
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Estudiantes de Medicina , Actitud , Selección de Profesión , Humanos , Atención Primaria de Salud , SingapurRESUMEN
Assessment of the effectiveness of teledermatology has been hampered by the variety of outcome measures used, limiting the possibility for meta-analysis. This systematic mapping review classified the outcome measurement instruments used in randomized controlled trials of teledermatology conducted between 2008 and 2018 using the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials taxonomy. Sixteen articles describing 12 studies were identified. Each trial used a mean of 3.7 outcome measurements (range 2-7) , with a total of 55 different instruments employed. Most instruments mapped on the "skin and subcutaneous tissue outcomes" domain. The most frequently used instrument (Dermatology Life Quality Index) was used in only 3 studies. Over 60% of the instruments used did not cite any evidence of validation. This mapping review provides a list of outcome measurement instruments that can be used as a resource when designing teledermatology trials in the future and provides the foundation for the development of a core outcome set.
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Dermatología/métodos , Evaluación de Resultado en la Atención de Salud , Telemedicina/organización & administración , Femenino , Alemania , Humanos , Masculino , Ensayos Clínicos Controlados Aleatorios como Asunto , Enfermedades de la Piel/diagnóstico , Enfermedades de la Piel/terapiaRESUMEN
Digital health education is a new approach that is receiving increasing attention with advantages such as scalability and flexibility of education. This study employed a Cochrane review approach to assess the evidence for the effectiveness of health professions' digital education in dermatology to improve knowledge, skills, attitudes and satisfaction. Twelve trials (n = 955 health professionals) met our eligibility criteria. Nine studies evaluated knowledge; of those two reported that digital education improved the outcome. Five studies evaluated skill; of those 3 studies stated that digital education improved this outcome whereas 2 showed no difference when compared with control. Of the 5 studies measuring learners' satisfaction, 3 studies claimed high satisfaction scores. Two studies reported that when compared with traditional education, digital education had little effect on satisfaction. The evidence for the effectiveness of digital health education in dermatology is mixed and the overall findings are inconclusive, mainly because of the predominantly very low quality of the evidence. More methodologically robust research is needed to further inform clinicians and policymakers.
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Instrucción por Computador/métodos , Dermatología/educación , Educación Profesional/métodos , Personal de Salud/educación , Actitud del Personal de Salud , Curriculum , Escolaridad , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Personal de Salud/psicología , HumanosRESUMEN
Introduction: The under-representativeness of participants in clinical trials limits the generalisability of results. This review evaluates the representative-ness within pharmaceutical randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in Singapore. Method: Four bibliographic databases were searched for papers on pharmaceutical RCTs which included Singapore adults (≥18 years old), published between 2017 and 2022. The demographic characteristics of study participants were compared against the population in the 2020 Singapore census. Recruitment strategies and authors' comments on the generalisa-bility of their findings were reviewed. Results: Thirty-three publications were included (19 Singapore-only studies and 14 multiregional trials which included Singapore). Where data were available, we found that females and Indians were under-represented compared to the census (41.3% versus [vs] 51.1%, P<0.05; 7.3% vs 9.0%, P<0.05). Ethnic diversity varied between individual studies, and almost half (46.2%) of Singapore-only studies achieved census levels. However, more than one-third of the trials provided no data (31.6%) or partial data (5.3%) on ethnicity. Half of the multiregional publications stated the number of participants recruited from Singapore, but only 1 reported any detail beyond Asian participants. Recruitment strategies were mentioned in fewer than half (42.4%), and less than a quarter (24.2%) commented on sample representative-ness or the external validity of the evidence generated. Conclusion: There is room for improvement regarding the recruitment of RCT participants in Singapore, with particular attention to female gender and Indian ethnicity. Demographic data should also be presented in full. RCTs should be designed and reported such that clinicians can ascertain the generalisability to the Singapore population and the potential benefits from the studied interventions in clinical practice.
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Selección de Paciente , Ensayos Clínicos Controlados Aleatorios como Asunto , Humanos , Singapur , Femenino , Masculino , Etnicidad/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto , DemografíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The growth of medical knowledge and patient care complexity calls for improved clinician access to evidence-based resources. This study aimed to explore the primary care clinicians' preferences for, barriers to, and facilitators of information-seeking in clinical practice in Singapore. METHODS: A convenience sample of ten doctors and ten nurses was recruited. We conducted semi-structured face-to-face in-depth interviews. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Of the 20 participants, eight doctors and ten nurses worked at government-funded polyclinics and two doctors worked in private practice. Most clinicians sought clinical information daily at the point-of-care. The most searched-for information by clinicians in practice was less common conditions. Clinicians preferred evidence-based resources such as clinical practice guidelines and UpToDate®. Clinical practice guidelines were mostly used when they were updated or based on memory. Clinicians also commonly sought answers from their peers. Furthermore, clinicians frequently use smartphones to access the Google search engine and UpToDate® app. The barriers to accessing clinical information included the lack of time, internet surfing separation of work computers, limited search functions in the organisation's server, and limited access to medical literature databases. The facilitators of accessing clinical information included convenience, easy access, and trustworthiness of information sources. CONCLUSION: Most primary care clinicians in our study sought clinical information at the point-of-care daily and reported increasing use of smartphones for information-seeking. Future research focusing on interventions to improve access to credible clinical information for primary care clinicians at the point-of-care is recommended. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study has been reviewed by NHG Domain Specific Review Board (NHG DSRB) (the central ethics committee) for ethics approval. NHG DSRB Reference Number: 2018/01355 (31/07/2019).
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Conducta en la Búsqueda de Información , Atención Primaria de Salud , Investigación Cualitativa , Humanos , Singapur , Femenino , Masculino , Adulto , Persona de Mediana Edad , Actitud del Personal de Salud , Médicos de Atención Primaria/psicología , Guías de Práctica Clínica como Asunto , Entrevistas como AsuntoRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Many women in frontline healthcare positions face work demands that are incompatible with their needs and aspirations, resulting in poorer work satisfaction and engagement, and greater probability of leaving their jobs. Proactive career management is associated with elevated well-being and career success but may not be accessible to female health professionals who encounter social, cultural and structural barriers. The complex and diverse nature of proactive career management and absence of a comprehensive review on the topic necessitates a synthesis of extant literature. This study aims to identify (i) proactive career management behaviours and activities among female health professionals and (ii) outcomes of proactive career management initiatives. This study will contribute to a larger study on encouraging proactive career management behaviours among Singapore female health professionals. METHODS AND ANALYSES: Scoping review is used as our method of evidence synthesis to provide a comprehensive overview of all available constructs and markers of interest. This study started in January 2022. Original research, reviews, short reports, letters, methodologies and case studies relevant to our objectives will be examined with guidance from Arksey and O'Malley's framework. The literature contained in scientific databases and grey literature sources will be thoroughly searched. Two independent reviewers will screen citations for eligibility and extract data from the included articles. Extracted data will be narratively synthesised by two independent reviewers using Braun and Clarke's six steps of thematic analysis. We will observe the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews standards in reporting the results. An advisory panel will provide insights on the applicability of the results to negate confirmation bias. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics clearance is not required. Dissemination plans include peer-reviewed journal publication and conference presentations. REGISTRATION DETAILS: This review was registered on open science framework (Registration DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/2SY8V).
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Personal de Salud , Salud de la Mujer , Femenino , Humanos , Proyectos de Investigación , Singapur , Literatura de Revisión como AsuntoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Health care professionals are increasingly using smartphones in clinical care. Smartphone use can affect patient quality of care and clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aimed to describe how physicians use smartphones and mobile apps in clinical settings. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported the results according to PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. We used the following databases in our literature search: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and gray literature for studies published since 2010. An additional search was also performed by scanning the reference lists of included studies. A narrative synthesis approach was used. RESULTS: A total of 10 studies, published between 2016 and 2021, were included in this review. Of these studies, 8 used surveys and 2 used surveys with focus group study designs to explore smartphone use, its adoption, experience of using it, and views on the use of smartphones among physicians. There were studies with only general practitioners (n=3), studies with only specialists (n=3), and studies with both general practitioners and specialists (n=4). Physicians use smartphones and mobile apps for communication (n=9), clinical decision-making (n=7), drug compendium (n=7), medical education and training (n=7), maintaining health records (n=4), managing time (n=4), and monitoring patients (n=2) in clinical practice. The Medscape medical app was frequently used for information gathering. WhatsApp, a nonmedical app, was commonly used for physician-patient communication. The commonly reported barriers were lack of regulatory oversight, privacy concerns, and limited Wi-Fi or internet access. The commonly reported facilitator was convenience and having access to evidence-based medicine, clinical decision-making support, and a wide array of apps. CONCLUSIONS: Smartphones and mobile apps were used for communication, medical education and training, clinical decision-making, and drug compendia in most studies. Although the benefits of smartphones and mobile apps for physicians at work were promising, there were concerns about patient privacy and confidentiality. Legislation is urgently needed to protect the liability of health care professionals using smartphones.
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Médicos Generales , Aplicaciones Móviles , Humanos , Comunicación , Teléfono Inteligente , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition which impacts psychological wellbeing and social relationships. There have been studies of AD's impact on quality of life (QoL) in Western countries, but these findings cannot be directly extrapolated to Asian populations with genetic, environmental and cultural differences. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review the literature pertaining to QoL impairment in AD in East and Southeast Asia to characterize the impact of AD on patients and their families, and to identify the factors affecting the degree of QoL impairment. A search of English language papers was conducted on MEDLINE, EMBASE, PSYCInfo, Global Health and Web of Science. Observational studies measuring QoL using single or multi-item instruments in people with self-reported or physician diagnosed atopic dermatitis were included. 27 studies from 29 articles were included and synthesized. There is data documenting QoL impairment in AD sufferers and their families, across a wide range of Asian countries, healthcare settings and ages. Aspects of QoL impacted to a greater extent included symptoms of itch, feelings of embarrassment, and sleep disturbance. Severity of disease affects the degree of impairment of QoL, but there is no apparent link between QoL impairment and patient demographic factors, or other medical factors such as age at diagnosis or duration of illness. Our findings also highlighted the need for clinicians to actively explore the impact of patient's symptoms, especially in an Asian context where healthcare communications are traditionally doctor-centric.
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Dermatitis Atópica , Calidad de Vida , Dermatitis Atópica/epidemiología , Dermatitis Atópica/psicología , Humanos , Prurito , Autoinforme , Índice de Severidad de la EnfermedadRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Conventional psychology therapies are unable to address automatic biases that result in individuals relapsing into their substance use disorder. Advances in experimental psychology have led to a better understanding of attention and approach biases and methods to modify these biases. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of bias modification among clinical cohorts. The advances in mobile health technologies have allowed remote delivery of these interventions. To date, there is a lack of studies examining bias modification in a substance-using non-Western sample. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine the feasibility of an attention bias modification intervention and an attention bias modification smartphone app for the reduction of attention biases among treatment-seeking individuals. The secondary aim is to determine the acceptability of the intervention. METHODS: A feasibility study was conducted among inpatients who were in their rehabilitation phase at the National Addictions Management Service. Participants were to complete a set of baseline questionnaires, and on each day that they are in the study, undertake an attention bias assessment and modification task while completing a visual analogue scale to assess their craving. Feasibility was determined by the acceptance rate of participation and participants' adherence to the interventions. Acceptability was assessed by a perception questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 22. A thematic analysis approach was used in the qualitative synthesis of users' perceptions. RESULTS: Of the 40 participants invited to participate in the feasibility study, 10 declined, yielding an acceptance rate of 75%. Of the recruited participants, 6 participants were diagnosed with alcohol dependence; 17, with opioid dependence; 2, with cannabis dependence; and 5, with stimulant dependence. In addition, of the final 30 participants, 11 (37%) failed to complete all the planned interventions and 22 (73%) completed the perspective questionnaires; of these 22 participants, 100% rated the app as extremely and very easy, 77% rated it as extremely or very interactive, 54% rated it as extremely or very motivating, and 33% reported a change in their confidence levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the feasibility of recruiting participants to undertake attention bias modification interventions. Participants generally accept use of a mobile version of such an intervention. Nevertheless, our acceptability data indicate that there could be improvements in the existing app, and a participatory design approach might be helpful in its future conceptualization. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.2196/11822.