A systematic review of behavioral outcomes for leadership interventions among health professionals

Background: Healthcare requires effective leadership to improve patient outcomes, manage change, and achieve organizational goals. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate interventions aimed at improving leadership behavior in health professionals. Methods: A systematic literature review of key databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus) was performed in September 2018. Data were extracted and synthesized. Results: Thirty-three articles from 31 studies met the inclusion criteria. Self-reported leadership behavior showed a significant postprogram improvement. Objective observations were more likely to show improved leadership behavior than subjective observations. Face-to-face delivery of leadership development was more effective than online delivery. Interventions incorporating the elements of personal development planning, self-directed learning, workplace-based learning, and reflection were more likely to develop leadership behavior. Conclusions/implications for practice: Leadership interventions had a beneficial effect on the leadership behaviors of participants based on both subjective and objective changes in behavior. In addition to focusing on individual skill development, interventions that aim to develop leadership should consider the organizational, social, cultural, and political contexts in which behavioral change is expected. Workplace-based learning should be included in program development

A qualitative systematic review of experiences and perceptions of youth suicide

Background:Suicide remains a global issue with over 800,000 people dying from suicide every year. Youth suicide is especially serious due to the years of life lost when a young person takes their own life. Social interactions, perceived support, genetic predisposition and mental illnesses are factors associated with suicide ideation.Objectives:To review and synthesize qualitative studies that explored the experiences and perceptions of suicide in people 25 years old and younger.Design:Qualitative systematic review.Data sources:PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus and CINAHL were searched alongside hand-searching reference lists up to October 2018.Methods:Methodological quality was assessed using the qualitative Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist. The 27 studies included in the review centered around youth suicide and included interviews with young people and members of the wider community. Thematic synthesis focused on factors leading to suicide attempts, elements important to recovery, beliefs within the community, and treatment/prevention strategies.Results:Thematic analysis of the articles revealed four categories: i) triggers and risks leading to suicidality; ii) factors involved in recovery; iii) need for institutional treatment/prevention strategies; and iv) beliefs about suicide at a community level. The first category was further subdivided into: i) behaviours; ii) feelings/emotions; iii) family influences; iv) peer influences; and v) other. The second category was split into: i) interpersonal; ii) cultural; and iii) individual influences, while the third category was divided into i) education; and ii) treatment.Conclusion:Youth suicide is a complex issue with many causes and risks factors which interact with one another. For successful treatment and prevention, procedural reform is needed, along with a shift in societal attitudes toward emotional expression and suicide

Psychometric properties of the Nepali language version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21)

Aim: To assess the psychometric properties of the Nepali language version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21).Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional survey.Methods: The DASS-21 was administered (May-July 2019) among 794 randomly selected older adults aged ≥60 years. Factor structure was evaluated using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Cronbach's alpha was calculated, and correlation analyses with quality of life evaluated convergent validity.Results: Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the 21 items loaded on three factors, with factor loadings ranging from 0.50-0.88. Confirmatory factor analysis suggested a four-factor model including the three subscales and an additional common 'general distress' factor, which demonstrated a better overall fit. Good reliability was found for each subscale, with Cronbach's alphas 0.79 for Anxiety, 0.91 for Stress, and 0.93 for Depression. The Nepali language version of the DASS-21 satisfied convergent validity with all subscales depicting significant negative correlations with quality of life demonstrating adequate psychometric properties

Development of a scale to measure the psychological resources of grit in adults

Grit has been linked to increased performance, retention and well-being in various fields. Defined as having perseverance and passion for long-term goals, grit is a personality trait related to one's perseverance of effort (perseverance) and consistency of interests (passion) toward their goals. In the fifteen years since the original grit scale was published, many studies have investigated factors that promote grit. However, a scale has not yet been developed measuring characteristics that can contribute to higher levels of grit. This study aimed to develop a novel scale to measure the psychological resources of grit. The Delphi technique was used to obtain consensus from an international panel of academics and practitioners who are experts in grit and related constructs. A total of 30 participants rated 100 scale items conducted over three rounds of online surveys. Experts agreed that items selected for the final scale (n = 20) were essential, with 85% rating these as important or very important. This scale would be a helpful diagnostic tool for practitioners involved in staff development and support building capabilities that contribute to goal achievement

Benefits, barriers and enablers of mentoring female health academics: An integrative review

This integrative literature review synthesizes the primary research evidence on mentoring female health academics published from 2000 to 2018, to identify the benefits, enablers and barriers to mentoring women. The need for this review is underpinned by the magnitude of change in higher education, the high number of women in health disciplines, limited progress in advancing women's academic careers, escalating role expectations, faculty shortages and staff turnover. Data were sourced from Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature. Twenty-seven studies were included. Although effective mentoring facilitates personal and career development, academic craftsmanship, psychosocial support and job satisfaction, it is complicated by organizational factors and personal and relational dynamics. Enablers of mentoring are mentor availability and expertise, supportive relationships, mutuality and responsiveness. Lack of, or inadequate mentoring compromise women's job satisfaction, career development and academic productivity. Providing female health academics access to experienced, well-connected mentors with common interests who are committed to advancing their career, is an investment in optimizing potential, promoting supportive work environments and increasing productivity and retention. Realizing the institutional potential that mentoring female health academics offers, is contingent on academic leaders valuing mentorship as faculty business and understanding the role that the contemporary academic environment plays in achieving mentoring outcomes. Further empirical and longitudinal research is needed to evaluate effective approaches for mentoring women in the contemporary academic environment

Communicative Predictors of a Shared Family Identity: Comparison of Grandchildren’s Perceptions of Family-of-Origin Grandparents and Stepgrandparents

From an intergroup perspective on family relationships, the current study investigates family-of-origin grandparents and stepgrandparents to determine similarities and differences in communication and relational dimensions. Participants (N = 88) completed questionnaires on family-of-origin grandparents and stepgrandparent relationships. From the perspective of young adult grandchildren, the research explores the role of supportive communication, reciprocal self-disclosure, nonaccommodative communication, and parental encouragement in predicting a sense of shared family identity with each grandparent type. Results are discussed in terms of implications for intergroup research, grandparent-grandchild communication, and stepfamily relationships

Co-administration With the Pharmacological Chaperone AT1001 Increases Recombinant Human α-Galactosidase A Tissue Uptake and Improves Substrate Reduction in Fabry Mice

Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) caused by mutations in the gene (GLA) that encodes the lysosomal hydrolase α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A), and is characterized by pathological accumulation of the substrate, globotriaosylceramide (GL-3). Regular infusion of recombinant human α-Gal A (rhα-Gal A), termed enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), is the primary treatment for Fabry disease. However, rhα-Gal A has low physical stability, a short circulating half-life, and variable uptake into different disease-relevant tissues. We hypothesized that coadministration of the orally available, small molecule pharmacological chaperone AT1001 (GR181413A, 1-deoxygalactonojirimycin, migalastat hydrochloride) may improve the pharmacological properties of rhα-Gal A via binding and stabilization. AT1001 prevented rhα-Gal A denaturation and activity loss in vitro at neutral pH and 37 °C. Coincubation of Fabry fibroblasts with rhα-Gal A and AT1001 resulted in up to fourfold higher cellular α-Gal A and ~30% greater GL-3 reduction compared to rhα-Gal A alone. Furthermore, coadministration of AT1001 to rats increased the circulating half-life of rhα-Gal A by >2.5-fold, and in GLA knockout mice resulted in up to fivefold higher α-Gal A levels and fourfold greater GL-3 reduction than rhα-Gal A alone. Collectively, these data highlight the potentially beneficial effects of AT1001 on rhα-Gal A, thus warranting clinical investigation