The discernibility of the effect of varying levels of illumination on individuals

Remarkable changes have taken place in residential and industrial lighting since the invention of the electric light bulb. Interior designers, illumination engineers, ophthalmologists, and psychologists, each professional group with a different aim, have had a part in the changes. The interior designer's aim has been to enhance lighting through the placement of varying amounts and hues of light in order to obtain a desired effect. The illumination engineer has as one of his aims to provide environmental conditions conducive to obtaining maximum efficiency for the user

A Mixed-Methods Formative Evaluation of a Dementia-Friendly Congregation Program for Black Churches

Black churches have traditionally been a haven for Black American families; however, many churches do not currently have programs to support families living with dementia. Alter™ was established to assist faith communities in meeting the needs of these families and becoming a viable resource to promote their health and wellness. Alter™ achieves this aim through a three-pronged approach: (1) conducting educational sessions, (2) modifying Black churches to be dementia-inclusive spaces, and (3) providing ongoing support. The principal goal of Alter™ is to offer guidance to churches in adapting their community to reflect a supportive environment for families affected by dementia. Alter™ uses a partnership checklist to encourage activities that incorporate dementia education opportunities, environmental modifications, and dementia resources and support. This paper reports on a formative mixed-methods evaluation of church partners enrolled in Alter™. Church partner ambassadors within the faith communities participated in the evaluation survey (n = 8) and two focus groups (n = 11). Ambassadors are appointed by church leadership to lead the implementation of program activities. Data were collected concerning the levels of helpfulness, difficulty, usefulness, or utility of checklist activities and modifications and the ease of program implementation. The evaluation also assessed the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on each church’s ability to implement activities and modifications. The survey results revealed that most required partnership activities and modifications were found to be at least moderately helpful. Some of the items (themes) that differed across church partners included barriers to implementing activities, the support provided and needed, and the use of program funding. This evaluation provides key insights to consider in developing and refining community-based, dementia-friendly communities (including faith communities). As implementation science expands and improves, the need to evaluate the implementation of programs continues to be highlighted. Our formative evaluation shed light on key areas in which modifications to our original programming would lead to program improvement and sustainability. Additionally, implementing the modifications identified in our evaluation will facilitate the achievement of the mission of Alter™ to improve the well-being of older adults affected by dementia and their families. Other programs would reap substantial benefits from engaging in similar formative evaluation efforts

The prevention access and risk taking in young people (PARTY) project protocol: A cluster randomised controlled trial of health risk screening and motivational interviewing for young people presenting to general practice

BACKGROUND: There are growing worldwide concerns about the ability of primary health care systems to manage the major burden of illness in young people. Over two thirds of premature adult deaths result from risks that manifest in adolescence, including injury, neuropsychiatric problems and consequences of risky behaviours. One policy response is to better reorientate primary health services towards prevention and early intervention. Currently, however, there is insufficient evidence to support this recommendation for young people. This paper describes the design and implementation of a trial testing an intervention to promote psychosocial risk screening of all young people attending general practice and to respond to identified risks using motivational interviewing. Main outcomes: clinicians’ detection of risk-taking and emotional distress, young people’s intention to change and reduction of risk taking. Secondary outcomes: pathways to care, trust in the clinician and likelihood of returning for future visits. The design of the economic and process evaluation are not detailed in this protocol. METHODS: PARTY is a cluster randomised trial recruiting 42 general practices in Victoria, Australia. Baseline measures include: youth friendly practice characteristics; practice staff’s self-perceived competency in young people’s care and clinicians’ detection and response to risk taking behaviours and emotional distress in 14–24 year olds, attending the practice. Practices are then stratified by a social disadvantage index and billing methods and randomised. Intervention practices receive: nine hours of training and tools; feedback of their baseline data and two practice visits over six weeks. Comparison practices receive a three hour seminar in youth friendly practice only. Six weeks post-intervention, 30 consecutive young people are interviewed post-consultation from each practice and followed-up for self-reported risk taking behaviour and emotional distress three and 12 months post consultation. DISCUSSION: The PARTY trial is the first to examine the effectiveness and efficiency of a psychosocial risk screening and counselling intervention for young people attending primary care. It will provide important data on health risk profiles of young people attending general practice and on the effects of the intervention on engagement with primary care and health outcomes over 12 months. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN1605920

Interventions to improve system-level coproduction in the Cystic Fibrosis Learning Network

Background Coproduction is defined as patients and clinicians collaborating equally and reciprocally in healthcare and is a crucial concept for quality improvement (QI) of health services. Learning Health Networks (LHNs) provide insights to integrate coproduction with QI efforts from programmes from various health systems.Objective We describe interventions to develop and maintain patient and family partner (PFP) coproduction, measured by PFP-reported and programme-reported scales. We aim to increase percentage of programmes with PFPs reporting active QI work within their programme, while maintaining satisfaction in PFP-clinician relationships.Methods Conducted in the Cystic Fibrosis Learning Network (CFLN), an LHN comprising over 30 cystic fibrosis (CF) programmes, people with CF, caregivers and clinicians cocreated interventions in readiness awareness, inclusive PFP recruitment, onboarding process, partnership development and leadership opportunities. Interventions were adapted by CFLN programmes and summarised in a change package for existing programmes and the orientation of new ones. We collected monthly assessments for PFP and programme perceptions of coproduction and PFP self-rated competency of QI skills and satisfaction with programme QI efforts. We used control charts to analyse coproduction scales and run charts for PFP self-ratings.Results Between 2018 and 2022, the CFLN expanded to 34 programmes with 52% having ≥1 PFP reporting active QI participation. Clinicians from 76% of programmes reported PFPs were actively participating or leading QI efforts. PFPs reported increased QI skills competency (17%–32%) and consistently high satisfaction and feeling valued in their work.Conclusions Implementing system-level programmatic strategies to engage and sustain partnerships between clinicians and patients and families with CF improved perceptions of coproduction to conduct QI work. Key adaptable strategies for programmes included onboarding and QI training, supporting multiple PFPs simultaneously and developing financial recognition processes. Interventions may be applicable in other health conditions beyond CF seeking to foster the practice of coproduction