Nuclear Transparency in Heavy Ion Collisions at 14.6 GeV/nucleon

The probability of a projectile nucleon to traverse a target nucleus without interaction is calculated for central Si-Pb collisions and compared to the data of E814. The calculations are performed in two independent ways, via Glauber theory and using the transport code UrQMD. For central collisions Glauber predictions are about 30 to 50% higher than experiment, while the output of UrQMD does not show the experimental peak of beam rapidity particles.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures. submitted to Nucl. Phys.

A Swiss Health Care Professionals’ Perspective on the Meaning of Interprofessional Collaboration in Health Care of People with MS—A Focus Group Study

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system mainly of adults ranging from 20 to 45 years of age. The risk of developing MS is 50% higher in women than in men. Most people with MS (PwMS) experience a spectrum of symptoms such as spasticity, continence dysfunctions, fatigue, or neurobehavioral manifestations. Due to the complexity of MS and the variety of patient-centered needs, a comprehensive approach of interprofessional collaboration (IPC) of multiple health care professionals (HCP) is necessary. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the meaning of IPC in the comprehensive care of PwMS from a HCP perspective. Focus groups (FG) with HCP were conducted, recorded, and transcribed verbatim. The sample contained HCP from three MS clinics in different phases of care and rehabilitation. Four main categories emerged: (a) experience with IPC, (b) relevant aspects for IPC in patients’ treatment, (c) differences in in- and outpatient settings, and (d) influence of patient perspective. IPC plays a crucial role in HCP perspective when treating PwMS, which can benefit from an IPC therapeutic approach because HCP work together in a patient-centered way. The inpatient setting of HCP strongly supports the implementation of IPC. This prerequisite does not exist in outpatient settings

First Insights into Barriers and Facilitators from the Perspective of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis: A Multiple Case Study

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a complex, lifelong disease. Its effects span across different areas of life and vary strongly. In Switzerland, there is an intense discussion on how to optimize quality of care and patient safety. Patients should be more involved in the management of health care to improve the quality of care from the patient's perspective and form a more comprehensive perspective. This multiple-case study explores the question of how persons with MS experience and describe functioning related barriers, facilitating factors, and ethically relevant conflicts. To address this from a comprehensive perspective, the MS core set of the International Classification for Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) is used as theoretical framework. To explore barriers, facilitators, and relevant ethical issues, different narrative sources were used for thematic analysis and ICF coding: (a) MS transcripts from DIPEx interviews and (b) an autobiographical book of persons living with MS. Insights that were meaningful for daily practice and education were identified: (a) understanding the importance of environmental circumstances based on narrative sources; (b) understanding the importance of a person's individual life situation, and the ability to switch perspectives in the medical field; (c) respect for PwMS' individuality in health care settings; (d) creating meaningful relationships for disease management and treatment, as well as building trust. Keywords: DIPEx; ICF; ethics; multiple case study; multiple sclerosis; narration; patient experience; patient perspective; qualitative research methods; source analysis; thematic analysi

An International Expert Survey on Functioning in Vocational Rehabilitation Using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health

Background Vocational rehabilitation (VR) is a key process in work disability (WD) management which aims to engage or re-engage individuals to work and employment. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) by the World Health Organization (WHO) can be interfaced with VR but there is a lack of evidence of what ICF contents experts in the field consider. The objective of this study is to survey the experts in the VR field with regard to what factors are considered important to patients participating in VR using the ICF as the language to summarize the results. Methods An internet-based survey was conducted with experts from six WHO Regions (Africa, the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific). Experts were asked six open-ended questions on factors that are important in VR. Each question was related to a component of the ICF (body functions, body structures, activities and, environmental factors, and personal factors). Responses were linked to the ICF. Results Using a modified stratified randomized sampling, 201 experts were sent the survey and 151 experts responded (75% response rate). We identified 101 ICF categories: 22 (21.8%) for body functions, 13 (12.9%) for body structures, 36 (35.6%) for activities and participation, and 30 (29.7%) for environmental factors. Conclusions There was a multitude of ICF functioning domains according to the respondents which indicates the complexity of VR. This expert survey has provided a list of ICF categories which could be considered in V

Professional Identity Formation in Health Promotion Practitioners: Students’ Perspectives during an Undergraduate Program in Switzerland

The health promotion (HP) community advocates for capacity building, quality assurance and political awareness of HP. Professional identity (PI) is of great relevance to these goals as persons who strongly identify with their profession better adopt their professional role, raising the quality, competence and common values within a professional group. However, investigations on the HP workforce are missing. In order to investigate PI formation in HP professionals, a longitudinal study was conducted with two student cohorts of a Swiss HP and prevention undergraduate program. Using a qualitative approach, focus groups were conducted at the beginning and end of the undergraduate program. Data were transcribed verbatim and condensed using thematic analysis. The results highlight the complexity of the HP’s professional profile. While students experienced difficulties to capture the profile at the beginning of the program, at the end they developed an understanding of it. The practical experience within work placements helped students to grasp the profile and specify their future professional role. Several behavioral, cognitive and motivational aspects were identified that influence HP students’ PI formation and can be fostered. For instance, universities can commit to public relations for HP practitioners and support the PI formation throughout the study program

Content validation of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Set for stroke from gender perspective using a qualitative approach

BACKGROUND: The extended ICF Core Set for stroke is an application of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) with the purpose to represent the typical spectrum of functioning of persons with stroke.AIM: The objective of the study is to add evidence to the content validity of the extended ICF Core Set for stroke from persons after stroke taking into account gender perspective.DESIGN AND SETTING: A qualitative study design was conducted by using individual interviews with women and men after stroke in an in- and outpatient rehabilitation setting.METHODS: The sampling followed the maximum variation strategy. Sample size was determined by saturation. Concepts from qualitative data analysis were linked to ICF categories and compared to the extended ICF Core Set for stroke.RESULTS: Twelve women and 12 men participated in 24 individual interviews. In total, 143 out of 166 ICF categories included in the extended ICF Core Set for stroke were confirmed (women: N.=13; men: N.=17; both genders: N.=113). Thirty-eight additional categories that are not yet included in the extended ICF Core Set for stroke were raised by women and men.CONCLUSION: This study confirms that the experience of functioning and disability after stroke shows communalities and differences for women and men. The validity of the extended ICF Core Set for stroke could be mostly confirmed, since it does not only include those areas of functioning and disability relevant to both genders but also those exclusively relevant to either women or men.<br/

Motor Imagery Experiences and Use: Asking Patients after Stroke Where, When, What, Why, and How They Use Imagery: A Qualitative Investigation

Background. A framework on where, when, what, why, and how to use imagery from sports psychology was explored whether it can be applied in patients after stroke in their chronic stage. Methods. Eleven patients (ages 31–85, 3 females, 1.3–6.4 years after stroke) were interviewed. Semistructured interviews were conducted before and after a two-week MI intervention period with six MI sessions. Information was obtained regarding experiences and knowledge of MI, and the evaluation of an MI practical example. The coding scheme was based on the framework and a hierarchical categorisation. Results. Information regarding domains where, when, what, why, and how to use imagery was addressed. Patients imagined themselves as healthy individuals, did not focus on surroundings during MI practice,and reported to use positive imagery only. After MI training, patients became more flexible regarding their location and position during MI practice. Conclusions. MI became an automatic process, and patients did not need specific concentration and quietness as mentioned in the first interview. Patients recommended daily MI training and began to transfer MI to practice movements that were affected by the stroke. In contrast to sports, patients did not talk about how MI was triggered rather than how MI was designed

Interprofessionality in the health professions in the transformation of a modern role and profession development. Report on the results of a world café at the Drei-Länder-Tagung on May 5, 2022 in Bern / Interprofessionalität in den Gesundheitsberufen im Wandel einer modernen Rollen- und Professionsentwicklung. Bericht über die Ergebnisse eines World Cafés auf der Drei-Länder-Tagung am 5. Mai 2022 in Bern

The health professions in the German-speaking region of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the so-called D-A-CH area, are in dynamic phases of their professionalization due to their shift towards education at universities. In addition, the needs of current and future health care require all health professionals (HPs) to have collaborative competencies and a willingness to work together. This willingness and the challenge of co-creation of health systems by all health professionals is a good starting point for the evolution of the professions. So what must professional profiles, role beliefs - in short, modern professionalization strategies - be like so that, at the beginning of the 21st century, education and professional practice do not remain stuck in old thought structures and templates and in monodisciplinary „silo thinking.” What does it mean in concrete terms for the professionalization of professions that health care professions must (be able to) increasingly work together? Doesn’t professionalization so far tend to mean exclusivity and isn’t a stronger demarcation between the professions then the consequence? Against the background of professionalization through academization, do university studies not tend to aim at a stronger demarcation from other disciplines and professions? Professionalization includes exclusive competencies and specialized methods against the background of one's own profession-related action sciences. At the three-country meeting of the VFWG in Bern on 5–6 May 2022, this area of tension was put up for discussion in a World Café based on four theses. The following article documents the results of the individual discussion rounds and aims to stimulate a critical discours