Sustainment of Innovations in Palliative Care: A Survey on Lessons Learned From a Nationwide Quality Improvement Program

Context: Although much is known about factors influencing short-term implementation, little is known about what factors are relevant for the long-term sustainment of innovations. In the Dutch National Quality Improvement Program for Palliative Care, innovations were implemented in 76 implementation projects. Objectives: To give insight into the sustainment strategies used and factors facilitating and hindering sustainment. Methods: Online questionnaire with prestructured and open questions sent to the contact persons for 76 implementation projects, 2–6.5 years after the start. Results: Information was gathered on 63 implementation projects (response 83%). Most projects took place in home care, general practices, and/or nursing homes. Sustainment was attained in 60% of the implementation projects. Six often applied strategies were statistically significantly related to sustainment: 1) realizing coherence between the innovation and the strategic policy of the organization; 2) arranging to have a specific professional responsible for the use of the innovation; 3) integrating the innovation into the organization's broader palliative care policy; 4) arranging accessibility of the innovation; 5) involving management in the implementation project; and 6) giving regular feedback about the implementation. In three-quarters of the projects, barriers and facilitators were encountered relating to characteristics of the care organizations, such as employee turnover and ratification of the project by the management. Conclusion: Applying the six strategies enhances sustainment. The organization plays a decisive role in the sustainment of innovations in palliative care. Engaging the management team in implementation projects from early onset is of utmost importance

Examining determinants of lifestyle interventions targeting persons with intellectual disabilities supported by healthcare organizations: Usability of the Measurement Instrument for Determinants of Innovations

Background Due to complex processes of implementation of innovations aimed at persons with intellectual disabilities in healthcare organizations, lifestyle interventions are not used as intended or not used at all. In order to provide insight into determinants influencing this implementation, this study aims to ascertain if the Measurement Instrument for Determinants of Innovations (MIDI) is useful for objectively evaluating implementation. Method With semi-structured interviews, data concerning determinants of implementation of lifestyle interventions were aggregated. These data were compared to the determinants questioned in the MIDI. Adaptations to the MIDI were made in consultation with the author of the MIDI. Results All determinants of the MIDI, except for that concerning legislation and regulations, were represented in the interview data. Determinants not represented in the MIDI were the level of intellectual disabilities, suitability of materials and physical environment, multi-levelness of interventions and several persons who could be involved in the intervention, such as direct support persons (DSPs), a therapist or family, and the communication between these involved persons. Conclusion The present authors suggested making adjustments to existing questions of the MIDI in order to improve usability for deployment in organizations that provide care to persons with intellectual disabilities. The adjustments need to be tested with other interventions

Determinants of adherence to wrap-around care in child and family services

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to understand the determinants of adherence to wrap-around care (WAC) by professional care providers working in child and family services. WAC is a care coordination method targeting families with complex needs. The core components of WAC involve activating family members and the social network, integrating the care provider network, and assessing, planning and evaluating the care process. WAC was introduced in the Netherlands using two approaches: the network approach (NA) and the team approach (TA). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a digital questionnaire targeted at care providers. After imputation of missing data, univariate and multilevel regression analyses were conducted to study the associations between adherence to the core components of WAC, the determinants of adherence and background characteristics. RESULTS: In total 145 out of 275 care providers (52.7%) responded to the questionnaire. Multilevel regression analysis showed that self-efficacy of the care providers and the way WAC is organised (NA versus TA region) were significantly associated with adherence to core components of WAC. Self-efficacy was significantly associated with all WAC core components (activating family members and the social network: β (95% confidence interval, CI) = .27(.04-.50), integrating the network of care providers: β (95% CI) = .27(.05-.50) and assessing, planning and evaluating the care process: β (95% CI) = .30(.08-.52)). The way WAC is organised was significantly associated to two core components (activating family members and the social network: β (95% CI) = .18(0.1-.37) and integrating the network of care providers: β (95% CI) = .25(.09-.42)). CONCLUSION: The way WAC is organised and the self-efficacy of care providers who use WAC are factors that are relevant for the redesign of the strategy for introducing WAC. Longitudinal research into the predictive value of determinants of adherence to WAC is advised

Predicting Participation in Ultrasound Hip Screening From Message Framing

The use of ultrasound (US) screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is an innovation in preventive child health care in the Netherlands. What is not known is whether parents will accept this screening method and will actually participate in it. It is widely known that health behaviors can be influenced by the framing of information. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of a gain- versus loss-framed brochure on parental participation in US screening for DDH. In total, 4150 parents of infants born between August 2007 and December 2008 received either a gain-framed or a loss-framed brochure. Parents could participate in the screening when their infant was 3 months old. The participation rate in the US screening was 74.3%. In contrast to the predictions of prospect theory, the results indicated that parents who had received the gain-framed message were more likely to participate in the screening compared to parents who had received the loss-framed message. This effect may be explained by the low risk perception of parents and by the possibility that the screening was perceived as a health-affirming behavior rather than an illness-detecting behavior. To increase participation rates, it is recommended that parents be informed about the positive aspects of partaking in screening for DDH

Psychosocial Predictors of Parental Participation in Ultrasound Screening for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

Ultrasound screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is an innovation in preventive child health care in the Netherlands. Parental participation in the screening will be essential for the success of implementation of the screening. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether psychosocial factors (attitude, subjective norm, self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived effectiveness) predicted parental participation in the screening. A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Using a questionnaire, several background variables (organization, sociodemographic variables, and knowledge) and psychosocial variables were collected. Blockwise logistic regression was used to analyze the relations. A total of 703 questionnaires of participating parents (response 61.7%) and 393 questionnaires of nonparticipating parents were received (response 37.2%). When controlling for the background variables, attitude, subjective norm, self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility, and perceived effectiveness predicted parental participation in the screening (p.05). Psychosocial determinants influenced parental participation in the ultrasound screening for DDH. Emphasizing the positive aspects of the screening, highlighting the effectiveness, removing practical barriers, and being conscious of the influential role of child health care professionals on decision making are areas to focus on when organizing the ultrasound screening for DDH. Health care policy decision makers and child health care professionals should consider these determinants in order to stimulate parental participatio

Determinants of parental satisfaction with ultrasound hip screening in child health care

Prior research has shown ultrasound (US) screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in preventive child health care to be more effective than the current screening method. In the present study, 3-month-old infants were screened for DDH with US. The objective of this study was to examine parental satisfaction with the screening and determinants that affect satisfaction. Parental satisfaction was measured using a questionnaire. Independent variables included socio-demographic determinants, structure, process and outcome-related determinants and the meeting of expectations. Satisfaction with the screening was high. Parents who perceived the screener as competent, had enough time to ask questions, perceived the proceeding as fluent, perceived a low burden on their infant and whose expectations were met, were more likely to be satisfied. Satisfaction was influenced by process-related factors and not by factors related to the structure and the outcome of the screening. Good information provision before the screening and communication during the screening are means by which parental satisfaction can be influenced positivel

Analysis of Pension Systems of the Czech and Slovak Republic

Import 05/08/2014Bakalářská práce se zabývá problematikou důchodových systémů České a Slovenské republiky. Cílem práce je analýza těchto systémů, které jsou rozčleněny na první, druhý a třetí pilíř. První část práce je věnována Českému důchodovému systému, druhá část Slovenskému a v závěru je provedena komparace těchto systémů, doplněná o možná další řešení problematiky důchodů.The bachelor thesis deals with the pension system of the Czech and Slovak Republic. The aim of the thesis is to analyze these systems which are divided into the first, second and third pillar. The first part focuses on the Czech pension system , the second one on the Slovak system and the conclusion comprises the comparison of these systems together with other possible solutions to the issue of pensions.117 - Katedra účetnictvívýborn

Facilitators and barriers to external cephalic version for breech presentation at term among health care providers in the Netherlands: A quantitative analysis

guidelines recommend that external cephalic version (ECV) should be offered to all women with a fetus in breech presentation at term. However, only 50-60% of the women receive an ECV attempt. We explored the determinants (barriers and facilitators) affecting the uptake of the guidelines among gynaecologists and midwives in the Netherlands. national online survey. the Netherlands. gynaecologists and midwives. in the online survey, we identified the determinants that positively or negatively influenced the professionals׳ adherence to three key recommendations in the guidelines: (a) counselling, (b) advising for ECV, (c) arranging an ECV. Determinants were identified in a previously performed qualitative study and were categorised into five underlying constructs; attitude towards ECV, professional obligation, outcome expectations, self-efficacy and preconditions for successful ECV. We performed a multivariate analysis to assess the importance of the different constructs for adherence to the guideline. 364 professionals responded to the survey. Adherence varied: 84% counselled, 73% advised, and 82% arranged an ECV for (almost) all their clients. Although 90% of respondents considered ECV to be an effective treatment for preventing caesarean childbirths, only 30% agreed that 'every client should undergo ECV'. Self-efficacy (perceived skills) was the most important determinant influencing adherence. self-efficacy appears to be the most significant determinant for counselling, advising and arranging an ECV. to improve adherence to the guidelines on ECV we must improve self-efficac

Prednisolone induces the Wnt signalling pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Contains fulltext : 117166.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Synthetic glucocorticoids are potent anti-inflammatory drugs but show dose-dependent metabolic side effects such as the development of insulin resistance and obesity. The precise mechanisms involved in these glucocorticoid-induced side effects, and especially the participation of adipose tissue in this are not completely understood. We used a combination of transcriptomics, antibody arrays and bioinformatics approaches to characterize prednisolone-induced alterations in gene expression and adipokine secretion, which could underlie metabolic dysfunction in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Several pathways, including cytokine signalling, Akt signalling, and Wnt signalling were found to be regulated at multiple levels, showing that these processes are targeted by prednisolone. These results suggest that mechanisms by which prednisolone induce insulin resistance include dysregulation of wnt signalling and immune response processes. These pathways may provide interesting targets for the development of improved glucocorticoids