A Hypothetical Model to Predict the Potential Impact of Government and Management Support in Implementing Integrated Management of Childhood Illness Practices

Objectives: Despite broad adoption and implementation of Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) in more than 100 countries, childhood mortality and morbidity rates continue to prevail. This calls for further investigation to identify the factors that prevent actual application of IMCI-recommended clinical practices. This study tests a hypothetical structural model to investigate potential role of government and healthcare policymakers on improving implementation and application of IMCI-recommended practices in clinical setting. Methods: The study was carried out at Sur and Ibra Nursing Institutes in Oman, in June 2016. We used six pre-tested and validated constructs for developing a hypothetical structural model. The constructs were used as underlying variables to examine the probable influence of government and policymakers on actual application of IMCI-recommended practices. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, which designed to measure healthcare professionals’ perceptions. Each construct was pre-loaded with three sub-constructs. Cronbach’s alpha (CA) was used to calculate the internal consistency and reliability. Results: Factor loadings for each item in the model were ≥ 0.700. CA values for all the studied constructs were > 0.600. The average variance extracted values for all the constructs were > 0.500. Conclusions: The findings support the hypothetical structural model and highlights governments could play a significant role in ensuring that IMCI strategy is not only implemented, but also its recommended practices are applied in clinical setting

Promoting Pediatric Healthcare through Persuasive Information Systems: A Qualitative Study

This paper presents qualitative findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial that focused on applying a Persuasive Information System to promote Pediatric Healthcare following the guidelines of Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses. The study was primarily designed to introduce Persuasive Information Systems for promoting pediatric healthcare in a relatively under-developed country. The study investigates potential impact of simple text-based reminders on improving parents’ knowledge and skills when dealing with a sick child at home before deciding to seek healthcare professionals. Reminders were selected for this study, as they are most commonly employed persuasive software features in the area of Persuasive Information Systems. For data collection, we conducted Focus Group Discussions with participants of both intervention groups. The qualitative findings indicate that the participants largely favored reminders although there were some skeptical remarks. The findings from presented study are expected to help system designers work in collaboration with parents and healthcare professionals to improve the content and delivery of reminders. The qualitative findings helped us identify five emerging themes that are expected to open research opportunities for improving child healthcare researchers

A Hypothetical Model to Predict Nursing Students’ Perceptions of the Usefulness of Pre-Service Integrated Management of Childhood Illness Training

Objectives: This study aimed to test a hypothetical model to predict nursing students’ perceptions of the usefulness of pre-service Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) training and their intention to apply this training in clinical practice. Methods: This study was carried out at the Sur Nursing Institute, Sur, Oman, in May 2015. Using six predefined constructs, a hypothetical structural model was created. The constructs were used as latent variables to highlight their probable impact on intention to apply IMCI-related knowledge and skills in practice. A structured validated questionnaire was subsequently developed to assess the perceptions of nursing students. Factor loadings and calculated variances were examined to ensure convergent validity. Cronbach’s alpha was used to calculate internal consistency reliability. Results: Factor loadings for each item in the model were above 0.70. All of the constructs had Cronbach’s alpha values over 0.700, except for enhanced assessment skills (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.694). The variance extracted value was 0.815 for perceived usefulness, 0.800 for enhanced assessment skills, 0.687 for enhanced knowledge, attitudes and skills, 0.697 for enhanced confidence, 0.674 for enhanced counselling skills and 0.805 for future intention to use IMCI in a clinical setting. Conclusion: Overall, the results support the hypothetical model and indicate that nursing students perceive IMCI training to be beneficial and intend to apply IMCI-related knowledge and skills in clinical practice

Care for Child Development in Sultanate of Oman: Paving the road for children to develop on track

NON

Making Them Use It:User Perceptions that Determine the Acceptance of a Persuasive Interventions for Child Healthcare

Persuasive Technologies can cause behavior change for improving child health care. However, for persuasive technology to be effective, users have to accept it. We propose a model of determinants of users’ acceptance of persuasive technologies that contains five constructs from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), which were used as latent variables determining users’ acceptance to use a persuasive intervention for child healthcare. A structured questionnaire was validated and completed by 133 participants to assess their perceptions. Results indicate that Perceived Usefulness, Content of Intervention and Perceived Credibility can have a significant influence on Intention to Use the Intervention. The result support our proposed model of determinants of acceptance of persuasive technology. The most important conclusion of this model is that when users perceive an intervention as being credible and useful, they are most motivated to accept and adopt it.</p