4 research outputs found
Driving precision policy responses to child health and developmental inequities
The
growing evidence base on the extent of and opportunities to reduce inequities
in children’s health and development still lacks the specificity to inform
clear policy decisions. A new phase of research is needed that builds on
contemporary directions in precision medicine to develop precision policy
making; with the aim to redress child inequities. This would include
identifying effective interventions and their ideal time point(s), duration,
and intensity to maximise impact. Drawing on existing data sources and
innovations in epidemiology and biostatistics would be key. The economic and
social gains that could be achieved from reducing child inequities are immense.
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The palliative care clinical nurse consultant : an essential link
Summary: This study describes the role of acute hospital palliative care nurse consultants and makes recommendations about future directions for the role development of this role. While the palliative care nurse consultant role is accepted in the acute setting there is little evidence or literature about what contributes to the success of this role. A three-phase study was undertaken to describe the role of palliative care nurse consultants in acute hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. The first phase of the three-phase study, involving in-depth qualitative interviews with the palliative care nurse consultants, is reported in this article. Using openended semi-structured questions, 10 palliative care nurse consultants were interviewed using open-ended questions about aspects of their role and the interviews were thematically analysed. Four main themes were identified that clarified the role; being the internal link; being the lynch pin; being responsive and being challenged. The palliative care nurse consultants were the first point of introduction to palliative care and thus they saw a significant role in introducing the concept of palliative care to those requiring palliative care, their families and others. They are an important link between the settings of care required by people accessing palliative care—–acute, in-patient palliative care and community care. The palliative care nurse consultants saw themselves in leadership positions that in some ways defy boundaries, because of the inherent complexity and diversity of the role. The palliative care nurse consultants’ role appears to be pivotal in providing expert advice to staff and people requiring palliative care, and connecting palliative care services both within the hospital and to external service
The evolution of palliative care and the relevance to residential aged care : understanding the past to inform the future
Summary: Improving the experience of dying in residential aged care units became a significant project of the Australian Government’s National Palliative Care Program in 2004. This initiative resulted in an expectation that residential aged care facilities would adopt the recommended palliative approach to underpin service delivery. Recognising palliative care as a specialist area of health care practice is a recent development which has influenced the expectations of community and government. This paper traces the global history of palliative care and how historical factors influenced its development in Australia. This discussion presents an overview of the positioning of dying and death within society, explaining how with the shifting emphasis on care of the dying accordingly has been the focus on palliative care specialists. Care of the dying in residential aged care units has largely been overlooked in the context of specialist involvement. This paper acknowledges dying and death as occurring in residential aged care facilities, illuminating the advantages of adopting a palliative approach and offers recommendations
Responding to needs of residents in long term care in ireland
Residents in nursing home care have borne a disproprtionate morbidity and mortality in the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison to the general population. Although the high rate of infection, morbidity and mortality in older people living in nursing homes may be attributable to increased levels of frailty and comorbidity in residents, the physical infrastructure and governance structures within nursing homes is also likely to be highly significant. The authors present, on behalf of Irish Society of Physicians in Geriatric Medicine, a position paper on changes that should be implemented to enhance the safety and quality of care for nursing home residents in Ireland