Article
Management
Elizabeth Halcomb, Ritin Fernandez, Ruth Mursa, Catherine Stephen, Kaara Calma, Christine Ashley, Susan McInnes, Jane Desborough, Sharon James, Anna Williams
Summary: This study aimed to explore the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on primary health care nurses, finding that nearly 40% of nurses were experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress. Most participants identified their feelings were related to COVID-19. Nurse managers need to develop strategies to support nurses effectively during and after the pandemic to sustain workforce.
JOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Nursing
Mariam M. Basheti, Zeeta Bawa, Ronald Grunstein, Nicole Grivell, Bandana Saini, Christopher J. Gordon
Summary: This study aims to explore community nurses' sleep health practices and their perspectives on improving sleep health care provision. The findings indicate that community nurses lack knowledge and standardized care pathways for managing sleep disturbances/disorders, particularly insomnia. Providing appropriate resources, such as increased sleep-related education and standardized treatment frameworks, could enable community nurses to better manage sleep disturbance presentations and improve treatment provision.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING
(2023)
Article
Nursing
Christine Ashley, Sharon James, Catherine Stephen, Ruth Mursa, Susan McInnes, Anna Williams, Kaara Calma, Elizabeth Halcomb
Summary: COVID-19 has posed unprecedented challenges for healthcare professionals, with significant risks emerging for nurses working on the frontline. A study in Australia explored primary healthcare nurses' perceptions of risk during the pandemic, revealing concerns about workplace safety and strategies to mitigate risks. Understanding these perceptions is crucial for better supporting nurses, optimizing job satisfaction, and improving patient care during crises like pandemics.
JOURNAL OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jude Thaddeus Ssensamba, Mary Nakafeero, Hellen Musana, Mathew Amollo, Aloysius Ssennyonjo, Suzanne N. Kiwanuka
Summary: This study explored the views of public primary health care providers on how to establish a community-based geriatric support model in Uganda's resource-limited primary public health care settings. The results showed that most respondents believed leveraging existing village health team and local leadership structures, conducting community education and sensitization, and involving health workers, family relatives, and neighbors were key to implementing geriatric care.
Article
Management
Elizabeth Halcomb, Ritin Fernandez, Ruth Mursa, Catherine Stephen, Kaara Calma, Christine Ashley, Susan McInnes, Jane Desborough, Sharon James, Anna Williams
Summary: This study aimed to explore coping strategies of primary health care nurses and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) scale. The survey results revealed that the coping strategies of primary health care nurses are influenced by individual characteristics and supports should be tailored accordingly.
JOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Nursing
Van N. B. Nguyen, Gabrielle Brand, Shanthi Gardiner, Samantha Moses, Lisa Collison, Ken Griffin, Julia Morphet
Summary: This study aimed to provide an overview of the demographics and professional characteristics of nursing and midwifery workforce in Australian primary health care (PHC) settings from 2015 to 2019. The findings revealed the distribution of participants based on gender, age, and job position, as well as the varying factors influencing their decision to work in PHC among different age groups and postgraduate qualification holders.
Article
Nursing
Luciane Prado Kantorski, Carlos Alberto dos Santos Treichel, Ehidee Isabel Gomez LA-Rotta, Tiago Neuenfeld Munhoz, Michele Mandagara de Oliveira, Poliana Farias Alves
Summary: This study investigates changes in the mental health status of nursing professionals in a Brazilian municipality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using an observational and longitudinal study design, the presence of depressive symptoms was evaluated among 690 nursing professionals, and factors associated with the worst prognoses were identified. The study highlights the significant mobility in the diagnosis of depression and the impact of sociodemographic aspects and traumatic experiences on mental health.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING
(2023)
Review
Management
Nicole Blay, Mariana S. Sousa, Mick Rowles, Pauline Murray-Parahi
Summary: This study examined the profile of community nurses in Australia, revealing issues such as inadequate workforce planning, inconsistent data definitions, and lack of understanding of specific aspects of community nursing work. It suggests a global urgent need for nurse managers to focus recruitment on the community sector to maintain quality and ensure sustainability of the nursing workforce.
JOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Nursing
Elizabeth Halcomb, Ritin Fernandez, Christine Ashley, Susan McInnes, Catherine Stephen, Kaara Calma, Ruth Mursa, Anna Williams, Sharon James
Summary: The study validated a 'safe and effective staffing tool' among Australian primary health care nurses and found that many nurses perceived a reduction in care quality due to COVID-19, along with a lack of adequate supervision and support. Further research is needed to understand the extent of COVID-19's impact on these findings.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Aazam Hosseinnejad, Maryam Rassouli, Simin Jahani, Nasrin Elahi, Shahram Molavynejad
Summary: The aim of this study was to examine the stakeholders' perception of the requirements for establishing a position for community health nursing in the Iranian primary health care system. Through analysis of interviews, 6 main categories were identified, along with their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The findings suggest that implementing these strategies in accordance with the cultural context can help address challenges and promote the role of community health nursing in the health system.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Nursing
Michelle Beattie, Clare Carolan, Leah Macaden, Alison Maciver, Lindsay Dingwall, Rebecah Macgilleeathain, Mariyana Schoultz
Summary: This study aimed to explore the stress and coping experiences of healthcare workers in care home settings in Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that healthcare workers experienced high levels of stress and medium levels of coping skills. Personal factors, changes in the care environment, amplified scrutiny, and psychological responses were identified as contributing to stress. Coping was represented through personal factors, organizational culture, and safety and security. This study highlights the critical need for psychological support for care home staff during and beyond the context of the pandemic.
Article
Nursing
Katharina Sophie Vogt, Ruth Simms-Ellis, Angela Grange, Megan Elizabeth Griffiths, Rebecca Coleman, Reema Harrison, Nathan Shearman, Claire Horsfield, Luke Budworth, Jayne Marran, Judith Johnson
Summary: This paper examines the problem of critical care nurses intending to leave their roles and the impact of poor wellbeing on healthcare systems. It suggests that evidence-based interventions focusing on resilience and organisational change can address the workforce crisis.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Koen Van den Heede, Koen Balcaen, Nicolas Bouckaert, Luk Bruyneel, Justien Cornelis, Walter Sermeus, Carine Van de Voorde
Summary: A recent Belgian policy reform aimed to improve nurse staffing levels in hospitals, but due to a shortage of nurses in the labor market, part of the budget was allocated to hire non-nursing staff, and other healthcare settings also claimed a share. International best-practice examples were adopted, but important measures such as mandated patient-to-nurse ratios, nurse staffing committees, or public reporting of ratios were not retained.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Rachel Schwartz, Susan M. Frayne, Sarah Friedman, Yasmin Romodan, Eric Berg, Sally G. Haskell, Jonathan G. Shaw
Summary: Attrition of healthcare providers can have significant costs, and in the VA healthcare system, attrition of women's health primary care providers poses a threat to the specially trained workforce. Working exclusively in a comprehensive women's health center was found to significantly lower the risk of WH-PCP attrition, suggesting the importance of clinic environment in provider retention.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Kerry Hanna, Clarissa Giebel, Jacqueline Cannon, Justine Shenton, Stephen Mason, Hilary Tetlow, Paul Marlow, Manoj Rajagopal, Mark Gabbay
Summary: This research investigates the impact of COVID-19 on the working practices of care home staff caring for people living with dementia. The study finds that the pandemic has significantly disrupted the daily working practices of care home staff, who are forced to take on additional roles and increased workloads due to the loss of external agencies and support. Urgent support and guidance should be provided to inform care home staff on how to best adapt to their new working practices and ensure they receive adequate training.
Review
Nursing
Sarah Remm, Elizabeth Halcomb, Deborah Hatcher, Steve A. Frost, Kath Peters
Summary: This integrative review investigated the relationship between general self-efficacy and healthy ageing in older people. The findings suggest that general self-efficacy is positively associated with ageing and health perceptions, health behaviors, psychological health, and overcoming physical decline. Promoting general self-efficacy in older people has potential benefits for healthy ageing.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING
(2023)
Article
Nursing
Ritin Fernandez, Heidi Green, Cassandra Hobbs, Clare Loveday, Elham Almasi, Rebekkah Middleton, Elizabeth J. Halcomb, Lorna Moxham
Summary: This study adapted the Cancer Information Overload Scale to develop the Pandemic Information Overload Scale and assessed its factorial validity and reliability. The study found that the PIO scale is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring nurses' information overload during a pandemic. The study also revealed that participants were experiencing above average levels of information overload.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Nursing
Sarah Smith, Samuel Lapkin, Elizabeth Halcomb, Jenny Sim
Summary: This study aims to explore the relationships between job satisfaction, community satisfaction, practice environment, burnout, and intention to leave of nurses working in small rural hospitals in Australia. The findings show that overall job satisfaction is high, and emotional exhaustion, nurse manager ability, leadership, and support of nurses are the most significant predictors of job satisfaction.
JOURNAL OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
David Harris, David Kalir, Cory Chevalier, Krista Dobbie, Flannery Fielding, Ruth Lagman, Ahed Makhoul, Susan McInnes, Sina Najafi, Kyle Neale, Lisa Rybicki, Melanie Robbins-Ong, Kathleen Neuendorf
Summary: This retrospective study analyzed the efficacy of methylnaltrexone for opioid-induced constipation in hospitalized adult cancer patients. The results showed that 45% of patients had a bowel movement within 24 hours of methylnaltrexone administration. Higher opioid doses and prior laxative use did not predict the response at 24 hours.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Elizabeth J. Halcomb, Christine Ashley, Sarah Dennis, Susan McInnes, Mark Morgan, Nicholas Zwar, Anna Williams
Summary: This study explores the experiences of Australian primary healthcare professionals regarding the rapid expansion of telehealth during COVID-19. A survey was conducted among 217 general practitioners, nurses, and allied health professionals. The findings indicate that telephone was the most commonly used method for telehealth consultations, but there were barriers related to physical examinations. Telehealth was seen as beneficial for improving access to healthcare for vulnerable groups and rural populations, but it reduced access for non-English-speaking individuals. The quality of telehealth care was considered comparable to face-to-face care, but missed or delayed diagnosis was a concern. Participants strongly advocated for the continuation of telehealth with ongoing funding.
Review
Nursing
Cristina Thompson, Elizabeth Halcomb, Malcolm Masso
Summary: This integrative review explores the contribution of the primary care workforce to interventions aimed at reducing loneliness and social isolation in community-dwelling older people. The review found that primary care services have diverse structures and workforces across different countries, and their contribution to addressing loneliness and social isolation is still unclear.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF CARING SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Nursing
Elizabeth Flannery, Kath Peters, Gillian Murphy, Elizabeth Halcomb, Lucie M. Ramjan
Summary: This article discusses the challenges faced by researchers due to the COVID-19 pandemic and how they adapted data collection to ensure research continuity. The authors explore the use of video conferencing and telephone interviews as alternative methods and maintain the person-centered approach in their study.
Correction
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Elizabeth Curtis, Ritin Fernandez, John Khoo, James Weaver, Astin Lee, Elizabeth Halcomb
BMC CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Nursing
Sharon James, Aline Kunnel, Jane Tomnay, Danielle Mazza, Luke Grzeskowiak
Summary: Nurse practitioners and midwives in Australia have low rates of prescribing long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), indicating the need for addressing critical barriers such as legislation, funding, and training to improve access to these effective contraceptive methods for patients.
Article
Nursing
Sarah E. Remm, Kath Peters, Elizabeth Halcomb, Deborah Hatcher, Steven A. Frost
Summary: This study investigated the association between healthy ageing status and risk of hospital readmission among acutely hospitalised older people. The findings showed that a higher healthy ageing index was associated with a decreased risk of readmission, while participants reporting mobility problems, inadequate physical activity, and mood and energy problems were more likely to be readmitted. Participants who were married were less likely to be readmitted.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Wa'ed Shiyab, Caleb Ferguson, Kaye Rolls, Elizabeth Halcomb
Summary: Online surveys have become increasingly popular in research due to their cost-effectiveness and potential reach, but low response rates still remain a major issue. To improve response rates, evidence-based approaches include designing well-structured surveys, providing financial incentives, sending personalized invitations, offering regular reminders, and implementing multiple recruitment strategies. Additionally, strategies to minimize illegitimate participation in online surveys are discussed.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR NURSING
(2023)
Article
Nursing
Grant Kinghorn, Stuart Thomas, Terry Froggatt, Elizabeth Halcomb
Summary: The aim of this study was to understand why registered nurses choose to work in forensic mental health and explore their initial impressions of this setting. Prior interest in forensic mental health and encouragement from hospital staff were found to be important factors influencing nurses' decision to seek employment in this field. The challenges of transitioning into this setting, such as acquiring new knowledge, adapting to changes in clinical responsibilities, and dealing with patients' background offences and security processes, were initially overwhelming for some nurses. However, participants reported that these challenges also presented opportunities to develop genuine connections with patients. This study highlights the need for organizations to consider professional and personal elements in recruitment strategies and support nurses' transition into forensic mental health settings.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING
(2023)
Review
Family Studies
Sharon James, Jessica E. Moulton, Anisa Assifi, Jessica Botfield, Kirsten Black, Mark Hanson, Danielle Mazza
Summary: Engaging in lifestyle risk reduction during the interconception period can help reduce adverse outcomes, but there are challenges such as information needs, managing competing priorities, physical and mental health, self-perception and motivation, access to services and professional support, and family and peer networks.
BMJ SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Primary Health Care
Sharon James, Cathy Watson, Elodie Bernard, Greasha K. Rathnasekara, Danielle Mazza
Summary: GPs are unfamiliar with the concept of ICC and feel they have limited capacity to deliver such care. Challenges include lack of clarity about recommended ICC content and timing, lack of engagement and perceived value from mothers, and time constraints during consultations. Facilitators include care continuity and the availability of patient education material.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF GENERAL PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Primary Health Care
Elizabeth Halcomb, Cristina Thompson, Darcy Morris, Sharon James, Tasmin Dilworth, Katharine Haynes, Marijka Batterham
Summary: This study examines the health and well-being impacts of the 2019/20 bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic on older Australians. The findings indicate that these events have negatively affected the physical and mental health of older individuals, with females and those with health problems being more affected.