The relationship between sensory impairment and home care client's received care time-A cross-sectional study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between sensory impairment and home care client's received care time. DESIGN: A cross-sectional multi-source study. METHODS: Data from a self-reported staff survey on care time allocation were merged with registry data from the Resident Assessment Instrument registry (n = 1477). The data were collected during 1 week from 17 home care units in Finland in October 2021. The relationship between sensory impairment and clients received care time was examined using linear regression analyses. RESULTS: The linear regression analyses showed that having vision impairment alone increased care time, while dual sensory impairment resulted in decreased received care time. Hearing impairment alone was not statistically significantly associated with care time. CONCLUSION: The holistic care need of home care clients with dual sensory impairment may not be adequate. To ensure equality and the individually tailored care of clients, further attention must be paid to clients with sensory impairments, especially those with dual sensory impairment. Furthermore, the competence of home care workers to encounter and communicate with clients with sensory impairment must be developed to support the holistic care. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PATIENT CARE: The sensory impairments of home care clients must be identified in time and considered in care planning and encountering clients. IMPACT: As there is a risk that clients with dual sensory impairment are not able to fully express themselves, it is imperative that further attention is paid to clients with sensory impairments, to better understand and support this vulnerable group. Increased awareness and continuous education are needed to better identify and support home care clients with sensory impairment. REPORTING METHOD: The study adheres to the STROBE reporting guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Experiences of implementation of the group-based adaptation training intervention for patients with chronic somatic illnesses or disabilities among multi-professional teams in specialized healthcare.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the experiences of multi-professional teams of implementation of group-based adaptation training intervention for patients with chronic somatic illnesses or disabilities in specialized healthcare. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multi-professional teams (n = 7) implementing adaptation training courses for chronically ill patients in specialised healthcare were interviewed between 09/2020 and 12/2021. The themes for thematic group interviews were based on the standard protocol implementation of adaptation training in specialised healthcare, including planning, implementation and evaluation of the adaptation training courses. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. The data were analysed using inductive content analysis. RESULTS: The experiences of multi-professional teams involved using pedagogical methods, providing guidance and counselling to support the rehabilitation process, ensuring opportunities for peer support, and supporting the course participants' involvement and activities in everyday life. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare professionals should use pedagogical methods in reflective guidance and counselling to promote client-oriented approach in supporting adaptation. Their competence in pedagogy needs to be build and maintained by continuous education. Multi-professional teams need to ensure sufficient and versatile conditions for peer support and involvement of family members by creating open and trusting atmosphere, unhurried encounters, discussions, different and varying ways of working. Adaptation training can strengthen the self-efficacy of participants and help them shift their attention from illness and disability to thoughts of the future. Adaptation training can support active and meaningful daily life in a changed life situation.

Pedagogical methods are useful in multi-professional group rehabilitation interventions.Multi-professionalism is essential to providing meaningful guidance and counselling to support the rehabilitation process of patients with long-term illnesses and disabilities.Application of provided knowledge and counselling to everyday life as well as the involvement of family members and taking advantage of the possibilities of peer support, enables active agency in daily life and rehabilitation.

The effectiveness of digital gaming on the functioning and activity of older people living in long-term care facilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The population is aging globally. Older people living in long-term care facilities have many functional impairments, such as mobility problems and depression. Digital games and so-called exergames can offer a motivating and entertaining way to maintain older people's physical activity and thus their ability to function. However, previous studies have reported conflicting results about the effects of digital gaming and have focused on community-dwelling older people. OBJECTIVE: To identify, critically appraise, and synthesize evidence about the effectiveness of digital games on older people's physical, psychological, and social functioning and physical and social activity in long-term care facilities. METHODS: Five databases were systematically searched, and relevant studies were screened. Fifteen randomized-controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies (total N = 674) were included in meta-analysis. RESULTS: All digital games used in interventions were exergames. Meta-analysis showed that exergame interventions have a statistically significant large effect on physical functioning [number of studies (N) = 6, standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.97, p = 0.001] measured by Timed Up and Go or Short Physical Performance Battery and self-assessed physical activity (N = 3, SMD = 1.20, p < 0.001) and medium effect on social functioning (N = 5, SMD = 0.74, p = 0.016) compared to alternative intervention or no intervention. Social activity was not measured in any study. CONCLUSIONS: The results are encouraging that exergames effectively increase the functioning and activity of older adults living in long-term facilities. Successful implementation of such activities requires the competence of nursing staff and rehabilitation professionals in digitalization.

Visual impairment and the need for vision care services amongst older Finnish people receiving home care.

AIM: This study aimed to describe visual performance and the need for vision care services among Finnish older people receiving home care. We evaluated the applicability of the Resident Assessment Instrument of Home Care (RAI HC) in identifying visual impairment (VI) and the need for vision care services among older people. DESIGN: A descriptive quantitative, cross-sectional design. METHODS: Visual impairment and the need for vision care services for older people receiving home care (N = 70) were determined by an optometrist's screening examination and vision assessment by home care workers using the RAI HC instrument. In this study, the definition of visual impairment was visual acuity (VA) <0.63 (logMAR >0.2). RESULTS: According to the distance VA measurements, 41% of the participants showed VI (<0.63) of the better eye, while the RAI HC assessment revealed VI among 36% of the participants. The Kappa value for interrater reliability in classifying VI was 0.137. The optometrist's vision screening examination recognized a previously unknown and unmet need for vision care services more than twice as often as the RAI HC assessment.

The extent to which mobile applications support independence among the visually impaired - a pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Visual impairment (VI) problems are increasing as the global aging population grows. Mobile devices have become essential to interacting with friends and society. Because the visually impaired are no exception, it would be useful to determine the functionalities that best support the independence of people with VI. The currently available functionalities and applications were analysed to provide insight about which features the visually impaired value most. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Webropol survey with structured and open-ended questions was carried out. The participants (n = 26) were asked about their use of mobile applications and opinions regarding the usefulness of certain applications in promoting independent functioning. An instrument was developed for this study based on previous literature, and its quality was assured through an expert panel evaluation and pre-testing. The collected data were analysed statistically and by inductive content analysis. RESULTS: A majority of the participants were active users of mobile devices. Substantial variation was observed in the evaluations of how useful various applications are to different everyday tasks. The participants suggested numerous improvements, such as additional customization, to the current mobile devices and applications.Implications for RehabilitationPeople with VI benefit from the use of mobile devices in the same way that the population with normal vision does, and mobile devices and applications can be pivotal to supporting their independence.The participants offered innovative ideas and suggestions for how mobile devices and applications could be designed to better meet the needs of the visually impaired.

Healthcare professionals' competence in digitalisation: A systematic review.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To identify key areas of competence for digitalisation in healthcare settings, describe healthcare professionals' competencies in these areas and identify factors related to their competence. BACKGROUND: Digitalisation requires changes in healthcare practices, policies and actions to revise job expectations and workflows. The aspects of patient safety and integration of digitalisation into the professional context necessitate an assessment of healthcare professionals' competencies in digitalisation. DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted following Center of Reviews and Dissemination guidelines, including application of a PRISMA statement. Four databases-CINAHL (EBSCO), MEDLINE (Ovid), Web of Science and Academic Search Premiere (EBSCO)-were searched for relevant original peer-reviewed studies published between 2012-2017. Twelve were chosen for final analysis: five quantitative studies and seven qualitative studies, which were, respectively, subjected to narrative and thematic synthesis. RESULTS: Key competence areas regarding digitalisation from a healthcare perspective identified encompass knowledge of digital technology and the digital skills required to provide good patient care, including associated social and communication skills, and ethical considerations of digitalisation in patient care. Healthcare professionals need the motivation and willingness to acquire experience of digitalisation in their professional context. Collegial and organisational support appear to be essential factors for building positive experiences of digitalisation for healthcare professionals. CONCLUSION: Healthcare organisations should both pay attention to the social environment of a workplace and create a positive atmosphere if they want to improve the response to digitalisation. The successful implementation of new technology requires organisational and collegial support. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Recommendations for clinical practice include the following: development of competence in digitalisation by healthcare professionals when using technological equipment to minimise errors; provision of sufficient resources, equipment and room for technology usage; and provision of regular education that considers the participants' competencies.