Using the Internet as a source of information and support: a discussion paper on the risks and benefits for children and young people with long-term conditions.

Children and young people who have long-term conditions are likely to seek health-related information via the Internet. Because of their continuing contact with children with such conditions, primary care practitioners may be well placed to discuss with them and their families the risks and benefits of accessing information online. This includes not only the relative merits of particular sites but also more general online safety issues. To achieve this, it may be helpful for primary care practitioners to consider how they view risk in general, the risks associated with the Internet and the vulnerabilities of children and young people, particularly those with long-term conditions

How people with diabetes integrate self-monitoring of blood glucose into their self-management strategies

Background The benefit of self-monitoring of blood glucose by patients has been questioned, and UK policy is generally not to support this, although it is identified that there may be unidentified subgroups of people who would benefit from being supported to self-monitor. The purpose of this paper is to explore the self-management approaches of people with diabetes, and how self-testing of blood glucose contributes to self-management strategies. Methods This qualitative study of patients’ experiences drew data from contributors to online discussion boards for people living with diabetes. The principles of qualitative content analysis were used on posts from a sample of four Internet discussion boards. Results Contributors described how they were using self-testing within their self-management strategies. Most saw it as a way of actively maintaining control of their condition. The amount of testing carried varied over time; more testing was done in the early days, when people were still learning how to stay in control of their diabetes. Some people had experienced a lack of support for self-testing from healthcare professionals, or had been expected to change their self-management to fit national policy changes. This was seen as unhelpful, demotivating, stressful, and harmful to the doctor–patient relationship. Conclusions The Internet is a valuable source of information about peoples’ self-management behaviours. Patients who are using, or who wish to use, self-testing as part of their self-management strategy are one of the subgroups for whom self testing is beneficial and who should be supported to do so

Vulnerability and risk in children living with a physical disability.

Children are identified as a vulnerable group in need of a degree of safeguarding. About 6% of children in the UK have a disability, which can increase their level of vulnerability. How disability is perceived by others may affect the way they work with these young people in coping with life's risks, which may be increased due to the disability. Each individual's perception of the risks and benefits of a given venture varies. Children's nurses work with these young people and their families, aiming to give them maximum autonomy, self-reliance, empowerment and independence in adulthood. This involves risk-taking, as every young person needs to learn from graduated exposure to new experiences, environments, associations and hazards; the chance of harm must be balanced with the disadvantages of over-protection

Changing food culture for food wellbeing.

This study investigates what people, in an urban and a rural setting in England, value about their local and home-grown food culture and how this shapes food choices which contribute to a broad definition of Food Wellbeing. Qualitative, ethnographic methods were used to uncover aspects of food relationships which are positive for the environment, communities and personal health. The connections provided by direct contact with local fresh food are explored. Communities such as those featured in this research, with high levels of food expertise, can contribute towards improving food cultures to attain better health outcomes for the planet, for people and for the individual

Lived experiences of young pregnant women who smoke

Background Smoking tobacco during pregnancy can lead to adverse pregnancy and child health outcomes. Aim To gain insight of smoking during pregnancy from young pregnant women’s lived experience. Method A descriptive phenomenological approach was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five women aged 18-20 years who had smoked tobacco during pregnancy. Findings Themes that emerged from the data were related to culture and routine, psychological wellbeing, self-efficacy, public opinion, recognition of harm, whom they spoke to about smoking, and the approaches that helped behaviour change. Conclusions Midwives were seen as the trusted health professional by the young women and a non-judgemental approach was valued to promote self-efficacy. Smoking cessation services were not recognised as beneficial, and cutting down, rather than using nicotine replacement therapy or e-cigarettes, was preferred

The experiences of older people who live with a long-term condition

AIM: The aim of this study was to gain insight into the experiences of people aged 65 and older who have learned to live with a pre-existing long-term condition. METHOD: A qualitative approach and the principles of narrative research were used to learn as much as possible about the individuals' stories. A focus group of five men was interviewed and two women were interviewed as a pair. FINDINGS: Existing skills in condition management and interactions with professionals are transferable to new health needs that older people develop, but additional, age-related problems can affect management of long-term conditions. Progressive long-term conditions may become more difficult to manage with age, and it is difficult to distinguish between ageing processes and deterioration of pre-existing long-term conditions. Age-related social and financial changes and society's perception of older people may also present challenges to condition management. CONCLUSION: Nurses who care for older people should take into account the effects of the person's long-term condition and the ageing process when assessing their needs; understand that people may be reluctant to ask for practical assistance; explore existing support mechanisms that people have in place and their sustainability; and advocate with people to secure appropriate choices related to their health needs

Graduate competencies, employability and the transnational Radiography workforce shortage: A systematic literature review of current pre-registration Radiography education and training models

Introduction Transnational mobility of the Radiography workforce is challenged due to issues with standardisation of current education and training models which has added to the workforce shortage. To address the growing volume, scope and complexity of clinical Radiography service delivery, educational models need to be given a critical look for transnational relevance in modern times. This study aims to synthesise the characteristics of current pre-registration radiography educational programmes linked with effective knowledge, skill acquisition, and graduate employability to address the current workforce challenges through the development of newer training models. Methods Using a mixed methods systematic review approach, secondary data was obtained from an EBSCOhost search involving key databases including MEDLINE, CINAHL, Academic Search Ultimate, ScienceDirect, and SCOPUS. Themes were developed following a result-based convergent data synthesis. Results Forty articles met the predefined inclusion criteria following the study identification and screening phases. The included studies were conducted from across diverse settings including both low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and high-income countries (HIC). Two broad themes were developed from the findings including: 1. Factors influencing graduate employability and 2) Radiography education and training programme characteristics. Conclusion The findings highlight and advocate for an innovative model for Radiography education and underscores the significance of graduates possessing multi-modality skills, varied competencies, and effective accreditation processes for training. Prioritising alignment with industry needs and holistic skill development is vital to closing the employability gap, ultimately improving graduate skills and competencies to address workforce shortage while improving patient care outcomes. Implications for practice Radiography training institutions should explore the development of new innovative models for multi-modality pre-registration education. This should offer adaptable routes that align seamlessly with the evolving regulatory, technological, and clinical trends

Powerless responsibility: A feminist study of women's experiences of caring for their late preterm babies.

PROBLEM: There is minimal research exploring women's experiences of caring for a late preterm baby. The emphasis in the literature is mostly baby centric. BACKGROUND: The number of babies born late preterm is rising and women's views are largely unknown. AIM: What are the experiences of women who are caring for a late preterm baby? METHODS: A feminist lens was the key philosophical underpinning. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 14 women. FINDINGS: Women who become mothers' of late preterm babies have a complex journey. It begins with separation, with babies being cared for in unfamiliar and highly technical environments where the perceived experts are healthcare professionals. Women's needs are side-lined, and they are required to care for their babies within parameters determined by others. Institutional and professional barriers to mothering/caring are numerous. DISCUSSION: Some of the women who were separated from their babies immediately after birth had difficulties conceiving themselves as mothers, and others faced restrictions when trying to access their babies. Women described care that was centred on their babies. They were allowed and expected to care for their babies, but only with 'powerless responsibility'. Many women appeared to be excluded from decisions and were not always provided with full information about their babies. CONCLUSION: Women whose babies are born late preterm would benefit from greater consideration in relation to their needs, rather than the focus being almost exclusively on their babies