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The impact of medication reconciliation at transitions of care on healthcare outcomes : an evidence-based approach
No full textIntroduction: Communication breakdowns during transitions of care contribute significantly to medication errors and adverse drug events. Unintended medication discrepancies account for over half of these errors, with drug omissions being most frequent. Medication reconciliation (Med Rec), endorsed internationally as a patient safety strategy, ensures accurate medication histories and continuity of care. In Malta, formal Med Rec is not yet mandated and local impact data is limited. This Critically Appraised Topic summarises high-level international evidence to explore the potential role of Med Rec within the Maltese healthcare context. Methodology: A structured literature search was conducted across PubMed, the International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between 2015 and May 2025 evaluating Med Rec at hospital transitions. Date limits were set from 2015 to May 2025, and language was restricted to English. A total of six studies met the inclusion criteria: two overviews of systematic reviews and four systematic reviews, while forty-four studies were excluded for not meeting the eligibility criteria. Results: The studies evaluated process, patient-related, and healthcare utilisation outcomes. Evidence was of moderate to very low certainty, showing a positive effect on the reduction of medication discrepancies. Med Rec consistently improved process-related outcomes by intercepting and clarifying medication discrepancies, thereby enhancing continuity of care. Effects on patient-centred outcomes and clinical utilisation measures remain uncertain, as these were often secondary endpoints and studies were underpowered to detect meaningful differences. In addition, Med Rec was frequently delivered as part of bundled interventions, making it difficult to isolate its specific contribution. Conclusion: While current evidence supports Med Rec as a mechanism for improving medication accuracy, its direct effect on clinical outcomes remains inconclusive. Further research rather than implementation is indicated at this stage. A local risk assessment to quantify the prevalence and impact of unintended medication discrepancies, particularly in high-risk cohorts such as older adults and patients on polypharmacy should be prioritised. Such baseline evidence would guide future feasibility assessment and support an evidence-based, phased approach to Med Rec implementation into the national healthcare system.peer-reviewe
Storia di musiche melite : dignità, etica e deontologia per Angelo Melilli. Tratti filologici di musicologia comparata (1886-2024). 1856 e Italia Malta Tunisia e 1913. Tomo III
Get PDFQuesto terzo tomo di Dante Cerilli si concentra sulla dignità, etica e deontologia di Angelo Melilli (1856–1913), attraverso tratti filologici di musicologia comparata (1886-2024). L’opera esplora la vita del musicista siciliano in Italia, Malta e Tunisia, evidenziando casi di plagio e usurpazione delle sue composizioni. Basato su analisi archivistiche, il volume restituisce l’autenticità delle opere di Melilli, contestualizzandole nel panorama musicale italo-maltese e sottolineando l’importanza dell’integrità artistica.peer-reviewe
Editorial : locating cultural heritage and climate change in islands and small states
Get PDFThis editorial introduces the special section dedicated to the interlinkages between cultural heritage and climate change. This special section purposely embraces a multidisciplinary approach, with contributions encompassing ample geographies, themes and methods of analysis. A systematic literature review opens this special section with an overview of the body of work produced in relation to the connections between cultural heritage and climate change, in the context of islands, small states and territories. The themes of the articles that follow range from sustainable livelihoods in seaweed farming, loss and damage linked to heritage sites, sustainable tourism and the role of Indigenous values, and finally crucial aspects in connection with law and governance. The articles focus on different, and diverse, geographic locations, and besides covering the available body of knowledge in the context of islands, small states and territories in the fields of climate change and heritage, it delves specifically on Belize, Bonaire, Mauritius and Tuvalu.peer-reviewe
Characterising the velocity field in the pedestrian zone under the influence of landscaping elements
Get PDFAn investigation utilising wind tunnel-based PIV and RANS-based CFD to model airflow within the pedestrian zones as influenced by landscaping elements.peer-reviewe
Choosing the right tool to measure safety culture in long-term care facilities for older adults : an evidence-based approach
Get PDFBackground: As part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing resident safety, the Care Malta Group, which operates nine long-term care facilities for older adults across Malta and Gozo, has introduced a number of initiatives involving both service users and staff. Building on these efforts, the organisation is focused on enhancing patient safety culture within its long-term services for older adults. To support this change, a literature search was conducted to identify and implement a validated tool for measuring patient safety culture within such an organisation. While the measurement of patient safety culture is standard practice in hospital settings, there is less experience with the measurement of patient safety culture in long-term care facilities for older adults. Research question: What tools are used to measure patient safety culture in long-term care facilities for older adults? Methodology: A Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) was conducted using peer-reviewed literature. A SPIDER framework was used, based on the research question. This was used to identify the key words and to inform the literature search strategy and establish the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A systematic search was conducted using the following databases: CINHAL complete, Cochrane, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PUBMED and EBSCO and ProQuest. A PRISMA flow diagram was used to describe the selection process of the final studies that fit the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All included literature was critically appraised and applied to inform evidence-based practice. Results: The literature search yielded 11 peer-reviewed studies, including a systematic review, a scoping review and 9 cross-sectional studies. The most frequently used tool to assess patient safety culture in long-term care settings for older adults was the Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture (NHSPSC) by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Dimensions covered by this questionnaire include 21 items grouped in 8 composite measures, namely, handoffs and information exchange, management support for resident safety management, response to mistakes, organisational learning, speaking up, staffing, supervisor support for resident safety, and teamwork. The tool also includes nine single-item measures: compliance with procedures, training, willingness to recommend and background questions (staff position, tenure in the nursing home, hours worked per week, shift, and nursing home unit). Conclusion: Based on the evidence collected from this Critically Appraised Topic, the Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture (NHSPSC) was chosen for adoption within the long-term care facilities for older adults of Care Malta. Recommendations: Evaluating the patient safety culture is an important step in identifying areas for improvement and guiding effective safety interventions within long-term care facilities. The process for the adoption of the tool was planned. As some healthcare workers are not fluent in English, the tool will need to be translated into Maltese in accordance with official guidelines. A pilot study including the Maltese and English versions will be done. The tool will be validated to support and measure ongoing improvement within long-term care facilities.peer-reviewe
Fostering computational thinking in early learners : an iterative approach in a Maltese primary school
Get PDFAs digital integration transforms modern society, equipping young learners with computational thinking (CT) skills
has become an essential educational goal. However, many education systems face challenges in adapting curricula to
include CT, particularly in early childhood education where resources, teacher preparedness, and instructional design
require careful attention. This study adopts a novel design-based research (DBR) methodology, uniquely integrated with
the Interest-Driven Creator (IDC) theory, to explore and refine effective strategies for enacting CT learning outcomes in
early childhood classrooms, particularly in contexts where CT is not yet embedded in national curricula. Over a 10-week
intervention in a Maltese primary school, 119 Year 1 students participated in progressively designed CT unplugged and
plugged activities, aligned with iterative feedback loops to refine teaching practices. Data collected through observations, reflective meetings, interviews, and TechCheck assessments revealed consistent improvements in students’ CT
scores, engagement, and problem-solving abilities. Findings highlight key implementation challenges, such as resource
limitations and the need for sustained teacher training, while offering practical recommendations for curriculum design.
This study contributes original insights to the growing discourse on CT integration in early education by presenting an
iterative, theoretically grounded intervention model that is both adaptable and scalable, offering practical solutions for
curriculum designers, educators and policymakers.peer-reviewe
The relevance of biblical archaeology to biblical scholarship
Get PDFThe theme of Professor Anthony Frendo’s book reminds me of my own scant
experience when it comes to significant archaeological sites or actual digs.
Whilst doing research for my doctoral dissertation on the Psalms at the École
Biblique et Archéologique Française de Jérusalem back in 2011 and 2012, the
trips to Qumran and Murabba’at with the eipgraphist Emile Puech were indeed
memorable. When books of conspiracy theories about the Dead Sea Scrolls
were still being sold, our lecturer Stephen J. Pfann, President of the University of
the Holy Land, noted that, contrary to what such books implied, the Dead Sea
Scrolls could not be published earlier in their entirety because of the humongous
work involved in putting tiny fragments of the scrolls together. He enticed us
students to get involved in this project, but this was something that, at the time,
would have taken us away from our studies in Rome. Years later, my plans to join
Dennis Mizzi on his dig at ’Einot Amitai in 2018 fell through due to pressing
unversity commitments. [excerpt]peer-reviewe
The caregiver’s experience of child sexual abuse discovery
Get PDFThe aim of this study is to understand the experience of non-offending caregivers (NOCs) finding out that their child has experienced sexual abuse (CSA). It will primarily focus on understanding how NOCs describe their experience of finding out, and how NOCs make sense of their reactions to their child’s disclosure. There is a lacuna of research focusing on the NOCs’ experience of finding out, and this research endeavours to address this paucity of information. This study adopted a qualitative approach, and semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with two mothers who both experienced their child’s disclosure of sexual abuse. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was utilised to analyse these case studies in-depth. The following superordinate themes emerged from the analysis, (a) The Moment, (b) Finding out as a Process, and (c) The Occurrence of Trauma. While various details of the sexual abuse and disclosure differed, participants appeared to have experienced similar feelings resulting from their child’s disclosure. This study highlights the NOCs’ reactions to finding out about their child’s experience of sexual abuse, some of which include shock, compassion, empathy, fear, guilt, self-blame, anger, disappointment, grief, loss, acceptance and symptoms of trauma. Key findings indicate the similarity between the NOC’s experience of finding out, and the experience of loss that provides scope for future research in the area. They also evidence participants’ avoidant coping strategies, thus informing the practice of psychotherapy with NOCs.peer-reviewe
The subjective wellbeing of middle and secondary schoolchildren in Malta
No full textAdolescence is characterised by rapid development (see Löfstedt et al., 2020). The experiences, competences and beliefs formed during adolescence impact people’s adolescence, their adulthood, and the next generations (Patton et al., 2016). Subjective wellbeing is necessary for adolescents’ positive development, health, goal achievement and improved prospects (Patton et al., 2016; Tikkanen, 2016). Differences in adolescent wellbeing persist both between and within countries (Cavallo et al., 2015; Patton et al., 2016). Understanding Malta’s situation is important to be able to better support and enhance services for adolescents. This paper presents 3456 Year 7, Year 9, and Year 11 students’ beliefs about their own life satisfaction, self‐esteem, resilience and hope and worry for the future. The research explores the correlations among these variables and draws comparisons between genders and school years. Regression models were developed to facilitate interpretation of the results. Findings show that Maltese adolescents generally have positive scores for life satisfaction, resilience and hope but show signs of some challenges with self‐esteem and particularly with concerns for the future. When analysing the data, notable differences in subjective well‐being between different age groups and genders were also observed.peer-reviewe
An exploratory study on the interplay between teachers' wellbeing, emotional regulation, and work engagement
Get PDFTeachers' wellbeing plays a crucial role in fostering high-quality educational
environments and positive outcomes for students, teachers, and the educational
community. Previous studies show that teachers´ emotional regulation strategies,
particularly cognitive reappraisal, positively affect wellbeing (Braun et al., 2020).
Additionally, work-related factors, such as work engagement and working conditions,
also play a significant role. This study explores wellbeing among 443 teachers, examining
its relationship with emotional regulation strategies, and work engagement. Data was
collected using the Mental Health Continuum (Fonte et al., 2020), Emotion Regulation
Questionnaire (Gross & John, 2003), and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (Sinval et al.,
2018). Results showed that teachers exhibit medium-high emotional wellbeing, medium
psychological wellbeing, and medium-low social wellbeing. Cognitive reappraisal and
work engagement, particularly vigor and dedication, positively predicted wellbeing,
while emotional suppression negatively predicted all dimensions of wellbeing. Findings
highlight the importance of promoting emotional regulation and work engagement to
enhance teacher´s wellbeing.peer-reviewe