7 research outputs found
Student Satisfaction with Work-based Learning: Evaluation of a Foundation Degree Health & Social Care Programme
This paper presents findings from an evaluation of student satisfaction with work-based聽learning as experienced by 57 Foundation degree (Fd) Health & Social Care students. The聽study participants were all employed by the National Health Service (NHS) in a range of聽clinical settings in the English Midlands. Three cohorts of students completed a聽questionnaire which sought to uncover the individual circumstances, behaviour, attitudes聽and beliefs of work-based learners. Students undertaking the acute care, long-term聽conditions, children and mental health study pathways were supported by a workplace聽mentor and assessor, while students studying the diagnostic radiography, radiotherapy and聽mammography pathways had their work-based learning supported by a clinical learning聽facilitator (CLF). Most of the participants were undertaking the Fd to make the transition聽from radiography helper or healthcare assistant (HCA) to assistant practitioner (AP). The聽findings distinguish the individual circumstances of students in the context of their study聽pathways and on the basis of their contracted hours and the role that they hoped to fill on聽completion of the programme. Student behaviour was characterised by the regularity with聽which students worked with their mentors, assessors or CLFs and their engagement in a聽range of work-based learning activities including practice-based assessments, knowledge聽and skills acquisition and, with particular regard to radiography students, the learning of聽new procedures. Although the level of student satisfaction with work-based learning was聽high, several participants perceived that their colleagues seemed reluctant to recognise聽them as students in their own right and lacked an awareness of the role of the AP.聽Participants believed that their confidence had increased and that they were playing a聽greater role in their clinical teams as a result of gaining knowledge and skills that had聽helped them to engage in new ways of working
Protecting local Government Public Health Policy from vested interests
Background and challenges to implementation
Article 5.3 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
states that “in setting and implementing public health policies with respect to
tobacco control, parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial
and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national
law”. The guidelines are applicable to
government officials, representatives and employees of any national, state,
provincial, municipal, local or other public institution.
The new Tobacco Control Plan for England states the
government will continue to uphold its obligation under the FCTC. Local authorities are also responsible for
meeting the treaty obligations.
Intervention or response
The Tobacco Control Collaborating Centre (TCCC) and Action
on Smoking and Health (ASH) worked with local areas to map key departments that
fall under the remit of Article 5.3, then review their activities and policies
for compliance with Article 5.3 and its guidelines. They used this audit to develop a strategy
that will protect their public health policy from the vested interests of the
tobacco industry.
Results and lessons learnt
ASH and TCCC have built a toolkit to support local
government to protect public health policy. The workshop will: Make the case for local government to
implement/amend policies in line with Article 5.3 Discuss the approach needed to embed
policies in line with Article 5.3 in local government setting and explore ways
of addressing the challenges that emerge Present materials designed to support this
process. Include a short case study from a local
authority who piloted the materials.
Conclusions and key recommendations
Embedding policies which protect tobacco policy from the
commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry at every level of
government is an important part of ensuring strong delivery of tobacco control
across the whole of government. Local
administration face particular pressures and challenges that need to be
addressed through this process
Proxy purchasing - a project to determine the awareness of the public in England of a new offence and improve practice
Background and challenges to implementation
The introduction of an offence for proxy purchasing of
tobacco in England in 2015 was well received as a means of tackling the supply
of tobacco to young people.
The offence of a proxy purchase is committed by the adult
that buys the tobacco product on behalf of the young person under 18 years, not
the retailer that sells the product. It is not a straightforward matter for Regulatory
Services to investigate or to take enforcement action on.
Little data was available to indicate the scale of the
problem or how aware adults were of the offence.
Intervention or response
The project gathered insights around knowledge of the law
regarding proxy purchasing; how behaviours had changed; how awareness and
compliance could be improved and how communities can be encouraged to support
compliance.
Insight gathering was carried out systematically in two
geographic areas among selected groups of the population. This method was
positively received and generated additional information on other related
issues.
Results and lessons learnt
The results revealed that the term a proxy purchase was not
recognised by the great majority of participants; the majority of participants
had experienced young people asking an adult to purchase cigarettes; proxy
purchasing was seen very negatively but legislation was generally not the
reason why people would not proxy purchase.
It was widely recognised that proxy purchasing was only one
way young people obtain tobacco. There was discussion with those interviewed
about the relative risks of the ways young people obtain tobacco.
Participants identified a variety of ways of informing local
communities. Including targeting specific groups to ensure that individuals
received relevant information in appropriate formats.
Conclusions and key recommendations
When planning future actions to ensure compliance with the
proxy purchasing legislation, consideration must be given to the likelihood of
any unintended consequences
Supporting young women to have smokefree pregnancies - BabyBe Smokefree
Background and challenges to implementation
Given the damage that tobacco smoke can have on the unborn child and
the high associated costs, it is critical that rates of smoking in pregnancy
are reduced.
Current pathways for supporting pregnant smokers are not meeting the
needs of some of the youngest and most vulnerable women as evidenced by the low
rate of uptake of support and the high rate of young women who smoke throughout
their pregnancy.
Intervention or response
Two insight-driven projects were undertaken in three diverse areas across
England. The intervention was to facilitate a better understanding of young
women drivers and barriers to changing behaviour and develop asset-based
approaches which encourage and enable young women aged between 16 and 24 to
have pregnancies that are free from tobacco use.
Results and lessons learnt
The projects provided a better understanding of:
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Their experiences of being pregnant and of
smoking during pregnancy.
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The real barriers to quitting.
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What or who they would turn to if they wanted
support and how they want to quit.
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Their expectations of health professionals.
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What information they want, how and from whom.
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Trusted messengers - who they want to trust and
when/why they can't
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Influences on choice.
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View to risk and how it's measured.
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Clear thoughts on what would work and outline of
the delivered intervention.
Conclusions and key recommendations
An insights driven approach can:
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Positively impact on the commissioning and
provision of evidence based support for young vulnerable women
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Influence the design of interventions and
professional practice to better meet the needs of target populations
Proxy purchasing - a project to determine the awareness of the public in England of a new offence and improve practice
Recommended from our members
Informing school sex education using the stages of change construct: sexual behaviour and attitudes towards sexual activity and condom use of children aged 13-16 in England
A survey of 3820 school children in England aged 13-16 years examined sexual activity using the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) Stages of Change. A quarter (26%) of teens were sexually experienced, 44.8 per cent did not use contraception and 48.9 per cent did not use condoms, every time. Past history of condom and contraceptive use, and partner willingness to use condoms were the best predictors of being in Action or Maintenance stage for condom use. Of virgins, 19.82 per cent were in Contemplation or Preparation stages for intercourse, and 85.4 per cent would use condoms every time. Sex education should be tailored to Stage, and signposting to sexual health and contraception services. Copyright 脗漏 2007 SAGE Publications