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Career motivation of 1st year nursing and midwifery students:a cross-sectional study
Get PDFAim/objective: This paper presents findings from a cross-sectional study into the motivational factors of students who chose nursing and midwifery as a career. Background: 189 students from the University of Bedfordshire (UoB) and 223 students from Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) completed a questionnaire at the start of their studies in 2018. The findings were generated from the first stage of the Placement, Impact, Experience and Destination (PIED) study into student belongingness on placement and the influence of practice on the first career destination of newly qualified nurses and midwives. Design: An in-class questionnaire was administered to 1st year pre-registration adult, child and mental health nursing and midwifery students to identify the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influenced their motivation to choose nursing or midwifery as a career. Methods: A mix methods study design was adopted for the PIED study where participants completed a survey that collected quantitative and qualitative data and administered during the course induction period. Results: Motivation scores were found to be high in both cohorts, with students at both sites endorsing intrinsic motivational factors over extrinsic at statistically significant levels. The strongest intrinsic factors appeared to be a desire to help and care for people and play a useful role in society, whereas the strongest extrinsic factors were career stability and the ability to work in different regions and countries. Conclusions: The study suggests that the influence of family and friends continues to exert a strong intrinsic motivational influence on the career choices of students, particularly those under the age of 25. Identifying the motivational factors of first year nursing and midwifery students presents employers with an opportunity to tailor strategies to recruit apprentices, enable placement partners to enculturate prospective employees into the workforce and understand the relationship between extrinsic factors and practice learning to successfully recruit graduates
Validity of a wrist-worn consumer-grade wearable for estimating energy expenditure, sedentary behaviour, and physical activity in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury
Get PDFPurpose: To evaluate the validity of a consumer-grade wearable for estimating energy expenditure, sedentary behaviour, and physical activity in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI). Materials and methods: Fifteen manual wheelchair users with SCI (C5-L1, four female) completed activities of daily living and wheelchair propulsion (2–8 km·h −1). Wrist-worn accelerometry data were collected using consumer-grade (z-Track) and research-grade (ActiGraph GT9X) devices. Energy expenditure was measured via indirect calorimetry. Linear regression was used to evaluate the prediction of criterion metabolic equivalent of task (MET) by each accelerometer’s vector magnitude (VM). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) evaluated the accuracy of VM for discriminating between physical activity intensities and for identifying accelerometer cut-points. Results: Standardised β-coefficients for the association between z-Track and ActiGraph VM for criterion MET were 0.791 (p < 0.001) and 0.774 (p < 0.001), respectively. The z-Track had excellent accuracy for classifying time in sedentary behaviour (ROC-AUC = 0.95) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (ROC-AUC = 0.93); similar values to the ActiGraph (ROC-AUC = 0.96 and 0.88, respectively). Cut-points for the z-Track were ≤37 g·min −1 for sedentary behaviour and ≥222 g·min −1 for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Conclusions: This study supports the validity of a consumer-grade wearable to measure sedentary time and physical activity in manual wheelchair users with SCI.</p
The frail-LESS (LEss sitting and sarcopenia in frail older adults) remote intervention to improve sarcopenia and maintain independent living via reductions in sedentary behaviour: findings from a randomised controlled feasibility trial
Get PDFBackground: Sarcopenia leads to functional disability, dependence in activities of daily living (ADL), and is a key contributor to frailty. Reducing and breaking up sedentary time is associated with improved sarcopenia and frailty-related outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of delivering and evaluating a remote sedentary behaviour intervention to improve sarcopenia and independent living in older adults with frailty. Methods: A two-arm randomised controlled feasibility trial was conducted with a target of 60 older adults (mean age 74 ± 6 years) with very mild or mild frailty. Participants were randomised to the Frail-LESS (LEss Sitting and Sarcopenia in Frail older adults) intervention or usual care control group for six months. The intervention included tailored feedback on sitting, standing and stepping; an education workbook that included goal setting and action planning; one-to-one health coaching; peer support; and a wearable device to self-monitor sedentary behaviour. Participant recruitment (percentage of eligible individuals recruited), retention and data completion rates were used to assess trial feasibility. Acceptability of the trial was explored through interviews and safety was evaluated via unplanned healthcare utilisation and number of falls. Sitting, standing, stepping and sarcopenia were measured to evaluate potential intervention effects. Results: Sixty participants were recruited. Recruitment and retention rates were 72% and 83%, respectively. Completion rates for outcome measures ranged from 70 to 100%. The trial was safe (< 1 fall per participant on average at each timepoint) and trial procedures were acceptable. Descriptive analysis (mean ± SD) showed that daily sitting was 25.1 ± 82.1 min/day lower in the intervention group, and 6.4 ± 60.5 min/day higher in the control group, at 6 months compared with baseline. Hand grip strength and sit-to-stand score were improved by 1.3 ± 2.4 kg and 0.7 ± 1.0, respectively, in the intervention group. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility and safety of delivering and evaluating a remote intervention to reduce and break up sitting in older adults with frailty. The intervention showed evidence towards reducing daily sitting and improving sarcopenia, supporting its evaluation in a definitive randomised controlled trial. Trial registration: ISRCTN registry (registration number: ISRCTN17158017). Registered 6th August 2021
On the use of micro-perforated panels for sound absorption
Get PDFThis study deals with the sound absorption for Micro-Perforated Panels (MPP) as an effective solution for sound reduction. Single and multiple MPPs backed by an air cavity are presented, analysed, and both their behaviour and response are modelled and measured. The experimental setup relies on the use of an impedance tube. Three MPP samples were fabricated for this study: two MPP samples are made of Aluminium and one sample is polymer-made to analyse the contribution of the panel vibration to the overall sound absorption. To support the analysis, two models are presented: a model based on the acoustic propagation in short and narrow tubes and a model based on the equivalent fluid. Both models are compared to the experimental data and discussed. The theory considers no interactions between the holes. It is particularly showed that the sound absorption in the low-frequency ranges can be enhanced by using the combined effects of multiple MPPs and their vibrational effects. Relatively good agreement is also observed between the prediction and the measurement. The study suggests the present technique as a relatively easy and cheap technique for enhancing the sound absorption of systems including MPPs backed by air cavity
Healthcare professionals' responses to complaints: a qualitative interview study with patients, carers and healthcare professionals using the Theoretical Domains Framework and COM-B model
Get PDFBackground: Patient complaints in healthcare settings can provide feedback for monitoring and improving healthcare services. Behavioural responses to complaints (e.g., talking or apologising to a patient) can influence the trajectory of a complaint for instance, whether a complaint is escalated or not. We aimed to explore healthcare professional (HCP) and service user (patient and carer) views on complaints' management and the perceived factors influencing responses to complaints within a healthcare setting by applying behavioural frameworks. Method: A qualitative study was conducted using online or phone-based interviews with eleven HCPs and seven patients or carers. All participants (N = 18) had experience responding to or submitting a formal complaint in secondary and tertiary public healthcare settings in the United Kingdom. The interviews were structured using the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) Model. We analysed the transcripts using inductive thematic analysis. Then, themes were deductively mapped onto the COM-B Model and the more granular Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Results: Ten themes were generated from the analysis representing the influences on HCPs' responses to complaints from HCP and patient/carer perspectives. This included (with TDF/COM-B in brackets): ‘Knowledge of complaint procedure’ (Knowledge/Capability), ‘Training and level of skill in complaints handling’ (Skills/Capability), ‘Regulation of emotions associated with complaints’ (Behavioural regulation/Capability), ‘Confidence in handling complaints’ (Beliefs about capabilities/Motivation), ‘Beliefs about the value of complaints’ (Beliefs about consequences/Motivation) and ‘Organisational culture regarding complaints’ (Social influences/Opportunity). Staff highlighted strong support systems and open discussions as part of positive organisational cultures regarding complaints (Social influences/Opportunity), and a lack of certainty around when to treat issues raised by patients as a formal complaint or informal feedback (Knowledge/Capability). Conclusion: Our study findings highlight the importance of strong support systems and organisational openness to patient feedback. These findings can be used to design targeted interventions to support more effective responses and enhance patient-centred approaches to complaints management in healthcare settings. Patient and Public Contribution: Patient and public involvement (PPI) was integral in this research. The NIHR PRU in Behavioural and Social Sciences had a dedicated PPI strategy group consisting of six external representatives from the patient and public community (Newcastle University, 2024). These six PPI members actively participated in shaping the research by reviewing and providing feedback on all questionnaire items before the data collection. They were actively involved in supporting participant recruitment by advertising this study on their PPI platform, The Voice R,1 and through their online social networks. During the analysis stages of the research, preliminary findings were discussed with the PPI group to support ‘sense checking’ and interpretation of the results.</p
Linking digital technology, omics and education to facilitate global equity
Get PDFThere are many challenges, not least health inequities, global warming, and a rush for growth and economic development. Personalized, precision, and preventative medicine, bringing the latest omics techniques—genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics—for individuals allied to personalized prescription and care should help health equity. Digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) can help in an understanding of disease processes and in drug development. A holistic approach to the relationship between technology and the environment and clarity about both the positive benefits and negative harms resulting from using digital tools is necessary. We need to focus on the complete human-environmental interface and not just on climate change and carbon. It will be a measure of collaborative civilization if digital technology, omics techniques, and education can be used to promote global equity. Education linking diversities and performance throughout the world will be crucial
Comparative genomics and secondary metabolite analysis to gain novel insights into the mycoparasite
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