Perinatal/neonatal palliative care : effecting improved knowledge and multi-professional practice of midwifery and children's nursing students through an inter-professional education initiative

This paper presents a study that examines the potential value of a new and innovative inter-professional education (IPE) experience for final year midwifery and children's nursing students focused on improving awareness of end-of-life care for infants in conjunction with the support of their families. The study uses an action research approach to examine midwifery and children's nursing student experiences of an IPE initiative in developing knowledge regarding perinatal/neonatal palliative care. // The setting is a Higher Education Institute in the South of England that included final year midwifery students (n = 39) and children's nursing students (n = 34) taking part in the study. Qualitative and quantitative data indicated that the IPE intervention had proven worth in developing knowledge and confidence in the students as both student groupings felt they lacked knowledge and confidence about perinatal/neonatal palliative care before attending the study day. // Students felt that learning with, from and about the other profession represented was important in generating their knowledge. Educators should explore innovative ways to enable the further development of the fledgling speciality of perinatal/neonatal palliative care through education on an interprofessional platform

The Magnetic Couples Study: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Prospective Cohort Study of HIV-serodifferent Heterosexual Couples’ Perspectives and Use of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

Introduction HIV transmission within serodifferent heterosexual couples plays a key role in sustaining the global HIV pandemic. In the USA, transmission within established mixed-status couples accounts for up to half of all new HIV infections among heterosexuals. Oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective prevention method, although underutilised among serodifferent couples. Moreover, there is a dearth of research on US HIV-serodifferent couples’ perspectives and use of PrEP, alone or in combination with other prevention methods. In this paper, we describe the study protocol for the Magnetic Couples Study, designed to fill critical knowledge gaps regarding HIV-serodifferent heterosexual couples’ perspectives, experiences and utilisation of PrEP. Methods and analysisThe Magnetic Couples Study is a mixed methods prospective cohort study designed to describe temporal patterns and identify determinants at multiple levels (individual, couple, HCF) of PrEP outcomes along the care continuum (PrEP awareness, linkage, uptake, retention and medication adherence) among HIV-serodifferent heterosexual couples residing in New York City. The study will also examine clinical management of PrEP, side effects and changes in sexual-related and substance use–related behaviour. A prospective cohort of 230 mixed-status couples already on oral PrEP was recruited, with quarterly assessments over 18 months; in addition, a cross-sectional sample of 150 mixed-status couples not currently on PrEP was recruited. In-depth semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with a subsample of 25 couples. Actor-partner interdependence modelling using multilevel analysis will be employed for the analysis of longitudinal dyadic data. Framework analysis will be used to analyse qualitative data. A parallel convergent design will be used for mixed methods integration. Ethics and dissemination The study was approved by the University of Rochester Institutional Review Board (RSRB00052766). Study findings will be disseminated to community members and providers and to researchers and policy makers

Synthesis of tsetse fly attractants from a cashew nut shell extract by isomerising metathesis

The authors thank NanoKat, the Collaborative Research Centre SFB/TRR 88 “3MET”, Carl Zeiss (RCR) and the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (fellowship to S.B.) for financial support.Starting from a purified cashew nut shell extract containing mostly anacardic acid derivatives, the tsetse fly attractants 3-ethyl- and 3-propylphenol were selectively synthesised. The mixture was first converted into 3-(non-8-enyl)phenol in 98% purity via ethenolysis and distillation with concomitant decarboxylation. The olefinic side chain was then shortened by isomerising cross-metathesis with short-chain olefins in the presence of a [Pd(μ-Br)(tBu3P)]2 isomerisation catalyst and a second-generation Hoveyda–Grubbs catalyst, and the synthesis was completed by a hydrogenation step.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe