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Tackling hospital service burden of alcohol dependence in England:a service evaluation of alcohol care teams (ACTs) and care pathways for integrated care
Get PDFBackground: Chronic alcohol disorder hospital admissions are increasing in England and present a huge cost to England’s health and social care costs. Hospital-based alcohol care teams (ACTs) aim to better meet these patients’ complex needs through assessment and targeted referral. This has the potential to work effectively within England’s newly established integrated care system. Methods: The aim of this project was to identify in what ways ACTs can be effective in improving care pathways for complex care in a whole-system health and social care setting. We conducted semi-structured, tailored interviews with practitioners, managers and commissioners, across three hospital and community settings in one large urban region in England, comparing ACT working with non-ACT working. Results: Effective pathways were enabled by the presence of an ACT, multi-agency community initiatives, assertive alcohol outreach and frequent-attender team meetings. Identified barriers were lack of systemic funding and commissioning, poor communication between agencies, lack of information-sharing and insufficient staff training. Conclusion: Community outreach and in-reach between hospitals and community services enable effective care pathways when ACTs provide the point of contact. A well-resourced ACT with clear operational remit can create links between diverse agencies and enables improved wraparound care for alcohol dependent patients.</p
Intelligent spectrum management:towards 6G
No full textIntelligent Spectrum Management: Towards 6G explores various aspects of spectrum sharing and resource management in 5G, beyond 5G, and the envisaged 6G networks. The book offers an in-depth exploration of intelligent and secure sharing of spectrum and resource management in existing and future mobile networks.The book sets the stage by providing an insight to the evolution of mobile networks and highlights the importance of spectrum sharing and resource management in next-generation wireless networks. At the core, the book explores various promising technologies such as cognitive radio, reinforcement learning, deep learning, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, and blockchain technology towards efficient, intelligent, and secure sharing of spectrum and resource management. Moreover, the book presents dynamic and decentralized resource management techniques, including network slicing, game theory, and blockchain-enabled approaches.Topics covered include:Spectrum, and why it must be utilized optimally and transparentlyFuture applications envisioned with 6G, such as digital twins, Industry 5.0, holographic telepresence, and Extended Reality (XR)Challenges when Dynamic Spectrum Management (DSM) is enabled through Machine Learning (ML) techniques, including the complexity of received signals and the difficulty in obtaining accurate network data such as channel state information Reinforcement learning and deep learning-assisted spectrum management Synergy between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology for spectrum managementPrivate networks, including their prospects, architecture, enabling concepts, and techniques for efficient operationIn essence, various innovative technologies and approaches that can be leveraged to enhance spectrum utilization and efficiently manage network resources are discussed. The book is a potential reference for researchers, academics, and professionals in the wireless service provider industry, as well as regulators and officials
The World Café method for engaging groups in conversation: Practical considerations and an agenda for critical evaluation
No full textThe World Café is a method for facilitating conversations that seek to engage groups in discussing important issues, aiming to generate insights in an egalitarian and welcoming environment. With roots in community action, it has recently been adopted as a method for gathering qualitative data. It can be treated as a data collection technique but is also deployed as part of interventions. However, because it has only recently been adopted for use in academic work, there has been as yet little evaluation of whether the World Café succeeds in its aims. In this paper, we introduce the method and discuss its application while identifying critiques and recommendations for realist evaluations of the World Café.<br/
Learning to learn at Bedfordshire: week 0 to week 7 induction
No full textDr Kathryn Nethercott, Dr Lindsey Smith, Dr Steve Briggs, RukiHeritage and Michelle Everitt discuss the development of the newLearning to Learn induction pathway for foundation year and level4 students at the University of Bedfordshire
Innovative Virtual Reality (VR) application for preventing of falls among Chinese older adults:a usability and acceptance exploratory study
Get PDFObjective. Full immersive virtual reality (VR) technology shows potential for reducing the risks of falls in older adults. There is yet little evidence to support the usability and acceptance on using VR technology application in community aged care service. The study reports on research that aims to address that gap by evaluating the usefulness and acceptance of using an innovative VR application among Chinese older adults from Hong Kong. Methods. A single-arm exploratory study was conducted to evaluate how the participants experienced the use of a fully immersive cave automatic virtual environment (CAVE) VR program on fall prevention. Thirty-one participants were recruited by convenience sampling based on their fall concerns and potential risk of falls. The participants completed 16 training sessions over eight weeks using the VR CAVE application. They were asked to complete a VR usability questionnaire (HK-version) based on the Technology Acceptance Model and previous research, and they took fall risk assessments at the pretest, posttest, and follow-up. Results. The participants’ group significantly showed improvements in reducing the risk factors of falls including balance, functional mobility, walking speed, and fear of falling after VR intervention. Perceived usefulness (PU), perceived enjoyment (PE), user experience (UE), and intention to use (IU) had an overall significant change at different time points. These are important factors to influence the participants’ acceptance of the use of VR technology applications. Perceived ease of use (PEOU) and social norms (SNs) had an inconsistent result, and some items had low validity. The findings indicated a positive training effect on fall prevention and high acceptance of the adoption of the VR technology application. Conclusion. This study supports the growing evidence on the usefulness and acceptance of using full immersive VR training on fall prevention among Chinese older adults. They perceived that the VR CAVE application was useful and innovative as an effective fall prevention training. Technically, the application of VR CAVE technology faces many challenges and is not easily manageable under COVID-19 restrictions and the limitation on technological adaptation for older adults. However, investment in full immersive VR technology application is supported for future adoption in aged care and rehabilitation services.<br/
Women's experiences and views of routine assessment for anxiety in pregnancy and after birth:a qualitative study
Get PDFBackground: Anxiety in pregnancy and postnatally is highly prevalent but under-recognized. To identify perinatal anxiety, assessment tools must be acceptable to women who are pregnant or postnatal. Methods: A qualitative study of women's experiences of anxiety and mental health assessment during pregnancy and after birth and views on the acceptability of perinatal anxiety assessment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 41 pregnant or postnatal women. Results were analysed using Sekhon et al.'s acceptability framework, as well as inductive coding of new or emergent themes. Results: Women's perceptions of routine assessment for perinatal anxiety were generally favourable. Most participants thought assessment was needed and that the benefits outweighed potential negative impacts, such as unnecessary referrals to specialist services. Six themes were identified of: (1) Raising awareness; (2) Improving support; (3) Surveillance and stigma; (4) Gatekeeping; (5) Personalized care and (6) Trust. Assessment was seen as a tool for raising awareness about mental health during the perinatal period and a mechanism for normalizing discussions about mental health more generally. However, views on questionnaire assessments themselves were mixed, with some participants feeling they could become an administrative ‘tick box’ exercise that depersonalizes care and does not provide a space to discuss mental health problems. Conclusion: Routine assessment of perinatal anxiety was generally viewed as positive and acceptable; however, this was qualified by the extent to which it was informed and personalized as a process. Approaches to assessment should ideally be flexible, tailored across the perinatal period and embedded in continuity of care.</p
The benefits of engaging third space practitioners in curriculum development
No full textThird space practitioners are often overlooked in the curriculum development process, to everyone’s detriment. Here’s a look at the viewpoints they can offer and how to engage them better.<br/
Correction:The Regulate your Sitting Time (RESIT) intervention for reducing sitting time in individuals with type 2 diabetes: findings from a randomised-controlled feasibility trial (Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome, (2024), 16, 1, (87), 10.1186/s13098-024-01336-6)
Get PDFIn Table 1 of this article [1], the data in the [Control (n = 35) Intervention (n = 35)] were calculated incorrectly. The correct version of Table 1 is given in this correction. (Table presented.) Demographic characteristics of the participants at baseline Control (n = 35) Intervention (n = 35) All (n = 70) Sex, n (%) Male 13 (37%) 18 (51%) 31 (44%) Female 22 (63%) 17 (49%) 39 (56%) Age (years), mean (SD) 55 (11) 60 (11) 58 (11) Ethnicity, n (%) Black, Asian and minority ethnic 22 (63%) 21 (60%) 43 (61%) White (any White background) 13 (37%) 14 (40%) 27 (39%) Education, mean (SD) Secondary school (e.g., high school) 8 (23%) 10 (29%) 18 (26%) Tertiary (e.g. university and above) 27 (77%) 25 (71%) 52 (74%) Married/cohabiting, n (%) Married/living as married 27 (77%) 17 (49%) 44 (63%) Single/separated/divorced/widowed 8 (23%) 18 (51%) 26 (37%) Employment status, n (%) Disabled 0 (0%) 2 (6%) 2 (3%) Employed full time 23 (66%) 12 (34%) 35 (50%) Employed part time 4 (11%) 4 (11%) 8 (11%) Retired 8 (23%) 14 (40%) 22 (31%) Student 0 (0%) 2 (6%) 2 (3%) Unemployed 0 (0%) 1 (3%) 1 (1%) Had COVID prior to study start, n (%) No 31 (89%) 34 (97%) 65 (93%) Yes 4 (11%) 1 (3%) 5 (7%) Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on work/life, n (%) Currently shielding 6 (17%) 11 (31%) 17 (24%) Newly working from home 11 (31%) 8 (23%) 19 (27%) Unemployed or retired already 6 (17%) 10 (29%) 16 (23%) Lost their job 0 (0%) 1 (3%) 1 (1%) Been furloughed 6 (17%) 0 (0%) 6 (9%) Currently self-isolating 2 (6%) 2 (6%) 4 (6%) None of the above 8 (23%) 4 (11%) 12 (17%) Other 4 (11%) 6 (17%) 10 (14%) Years living with type 2 diabetesa, mean (SD) 11 (8) 12 (11) 11 (9) aData on years living with type 2 diabetes was only available for 54 participants (n = 28 for usual care control group and n = 26 for intervention group) The original article has been corrected.</p
Innovative Virtual Reality (VR) application for preventing of falls among Chinese older adults:a usability and acceptance exploratory study
Get PDFObjective. Full immersive virtual reality (VR) technology shows potential for reducing the risks of falls in older adults. There is yet little evidence to support the usability and acceptance on using VR technology application in community aged care service. The study reports on research that aims to address that gap by evaluating the usefulness and acceptance of using an innovative VR application among Chinese older adults from Hong Kong. Methods. A single-arm exploratory study was conducted to evaluate how the participants experienced the use of a fully immersive cave automatic virtual environment (CAVE) VR program on fall prevention. Thirty-one participants were recruited by convenience sampling based on their fall concerns and potential risk of falls. The participants completed 16 training sessions over eight weeks using the VR CAVE application. They were asked to complete a VR usability questionnaire (HK-version) based on the Technology Acceptance Model and previous research, and they took fall risk assessments at the pretest, posttest, and follow-up. Results. The participants’ group significantly showed improvements in reducing the risk factors of falls including balance, functional mobility, walking speed, and fear of falling after VR intervention. Perceived usefulness (PU), perceived enjoyment (PE), user experience (UE), and intention to use (IU) had an overall significant change at different time points. These are important factors to influence the participants’ acceptance of the use of VR technology applications. Perceived ease of use (PEOU) and social norms (SNs) had an inconsistent result, and some items had low validity. The findings indicated a positive training effect on fall prevention and high acceptance of the adoption of the VR technology application. Conclusion. This study supports the growing evidence on the usefulness and acceptance of using full immersive VR training on fall prevention among Chinese older adults. They perceived that the VR CAVE application was useful and innovative as an effective fall prevention training. Technically, the application of VR CAVE technology faces many challenges and is not easily manageable under COVID-19 restrictions and the limitation on technological adaptation for older adults. However, investment in full immersive VR technology application is supported for future adoption in aged care and rehabilitation services.<br/
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