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Since September 11, 2001, the focus on health among relief workers has become an important issue. The focus on mental health has caught the attention of researchers and as a fairly new research area, there are still many issues that need to be answered. This study evaluates the preparation of relief workers in two Swedish organizations (Swedish Civil Contingency Agency and Swedish Red Cross) by investigating how these preparations contribute in avoiding stress-related disorders among relief workers. The organizations were evaluated by comparing data of preparations, collected from interviews and documents, with a criteria mostly based on Walsh (2009) and scholars from the Antares Foundation Guidelines (2012). Compared to the criteria the organizations' strengths are found in information of the operation with the score 9 out of 10 (which is the fulfillment of the criteria). SRC's weakness is the education of relief workers with the score 6 out of 10. MSB is relatively strong in that category, but weaker in requirements for employment with 2 out of 4 points. However, these weaknesses must not obscure the overall good results for both MSB and SRC. This study establishes that the preparation of relief workers, in two of the most important relief organizations in Sweden, is good. However, further research is necessary to facilitate the creation of generally recognized guidelines for how to prepare relief workers.

Abstract Background. Physical therapists report inconsistent use of valid and reliable measures of walking post-stroke. Objective. To describe the methods physical therapists use to evaluate walking, reasons for selecting these methods, and the use of the evaluation results in clinical practice along the continuum of an organized system of stroke care. Methods. A qualitative descriptive study involving semi-structured telephone interviews of physical therapists in Ontario was conducted. A thematic analysis was performed. Results. Participants (n=28) used both standardized and non-standardized methods to assess walking. A hierarchy of factors influencing use of both methods was observed. Assessment results were commonly used for communication with other healthcare professionals or education of the patient. Conclusions. A variety of factors influence physical therapists to use standardized assessment tools. Future knowledge translation interventions should focus on these factors to improve the standardized assessment of walking post-stroke.

HIV and AIDS are dramatically reshaping the population structure of South Africa. The number of orphans as a result of AIDS-related deaths is expected to rise. This places a heavier burden of care on grandmothers, female relatives and community members, and children. One of the consequences of AIDS-related deaths is the increase in the number of foster care applications. The involvement of social workers in providing care for the infected, but especially the affected, is important. Social workers find themselves in the frontline with regard to dealing with the consequences of HIV and AIDS. The aim of the study was to develop guidelines for social workers to address the needs of foster children and foster parents affected by HIV and AIDS. A literature study and empirical research was done. The survey method was used as a systematic data gathering procedure. Data was gathered among 21 foster children and their 21 foster parents by means of a self-designed schedule. The researcher administered the schedules by conducting a personal interview with each of the respondents. This research was done in the Motheo district. The findings of this research reflected that foster parents and their foster children affected by HIV and AIDS experience a huge amount of problems. Social workers do not always address these problems adequately; therefore there is much room for improvement, especially in the Motheo district. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

South African adolescents are at high risk of becoming victims of sexual abuse. However, research and experience by practising social workers show that adolescents are reluctant to report sexual abuse immediately. This could be due to the lack recognised guidelines available by which to report abuse and receive the necessary help. The purpose of the research was to investigate the reasons why adolescents fail to report sexual abuse in order to establish relevant guidelines. This would also determine the role of the forensic social worker in the report of sexual abuse by adolescent victims. The research followed a combined quantitative and qualitative approach. 220 adolescents from two high schools and six Welkom social workers were involved in the investigation. Both groups of participants completed questionnaires while the social workers were also involved in a focus group. Forensic social workers work is a new field of specialisation in the social work profession. There is a serious misconception about the role of the forensic social worker not only among other practising social workers, but also among the general public and adolescents in specific. The forensic social worker can play an important role in establishing guidelines for the report of sexual abuse by adolescent victims. The findings clearly showed that adolescents do not report sexual abuse within the family. The abused adolescent becomes a victim as South Africa does not yet have definite guidelines available for the report of sexual abuse. The study found that the forensic social worker has a definite role to play in the report of sexual abuse by adolescents. / Thesis (M.A. (MW Forensic))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Sammanfattning Bakgrunden beskriver hur barnmorskans arbete ska byggas på vetenskap och beprövad erfarenhet enligt gällande författningar, förordningar, föreskrifter och andra riktlinjer. Det åligger därför barnmorskan att kunna söka, analysera och kritiskt granska relevant kunskap för att kunna delta i utvecklingsarbete eller dess utvärdering. Det finns ett värde i att reflektera över befintliga rutiner och vid behov medverka till en förändring samt implementera ny kunskap. Kliniska riktlinjer har tagits fram för att underlätta det kliniska arbetet och det är därför viktigt att riktlinjerna innehåller evidensbaserad forskning. Syftet med studien var att granska och värdera kvaliteten av lokala behandlingsriktlinjer gällande mödrahälsovårdens basprogram. En kvantitativ metod valdes för att besvara studiens syfte där granskningsinstrumentet AGREE II användes, vilket är framtaget för att kunna bedöma kvalitén angående utvecklingsprocessen av kliniska riktlinjer inom hälso- och sjukvården.  Resultatet från aktuell studie visade att avsnittet mål och syfte innehöll stora variationer gällande hur tydligt formulerat syfte de olika kliniska riktlinjerna hade. Inom berörda intressenters delaktighet framkom bristfällig dokumentation angående vilka yrkeskategorier som varit delaktiga i processen även patienters åsikter saknades. Inom stringens i framställningen erhöll alla kliniska riktlinjer låga poäng, beskrivning av litteratursökningen samt val av metod saknades. Samtliga kliniska riktlinjer i avsnittet tydlighet och framställning saknade eller hade otydliga behandlingsalternativ. Däremot kunde huvudrekommendationerna urskiljas med lätthet i sju av 18 kliniska riktlinjer. I avsnittet tillämpbarhet saknade samtliga kliniska riktlinjer resonemang kring hälsoekonomiska frågor eller angående behovet av eventuella organisatoriska förändringar. Redaktionell självständighet lyftes inte fram i någon av de kliniska riktlinjerna. Ingen klinisk riktlinje fick genomgående bra poäng i helhetsbedömningen enligt AGREE II, vilket gör det svårt att rekommendera någon av de kliniska riktlinjerna utifrån dess nuvarande presentation. Med detta resultat i åtanke anser författarna att de kliniska riktlinjer som granskades i aktuell studie inte har någon påvisbar evidensbaserad grund enligt AGREE II-instrumentet och kan således inte rekommenderas att använda som stöd i det kliniska arbetet. / Abstract The work of the midwife should be based on science and knowledge according to statutes, ordinances, regulations and available guidelines. In order to participate in development work and evaluation of it, it is important for the midwife to search, analyze and critically examine the relevant knowledge. To help the nursing staff in their clinical work and to provide quality proof care to the patients, clinical guidelines have been developed. It is therefore important that the content of the clinical guidelines is based on evidence-based research and easy to understand. The aim of the study was to review and evaluate the quality of local clinical guidelines regarding the basic maternity health care program. A quantitative method was used and the clinical guidelines were reviewed using the instrument AGREE II. The findings revealed that the quality of the clinical guidelines evaluated in this study varied. The result from current study showed that the section scope and aim contained big variations regarding how clearly the purpose was formulated in the different clinical guidelines. Within the section stakeholders involvement inadequate documentations revealed, containing the occupational category the professionals who was involved in the process had, also the patients’ options were missing. Within the rigour of development all clinical guidelines gained low credits, the description of the literature search as well as the choice of method were missing. All the clinical guidelines in the section of clarity and presentation were missing or had unclear assessment alternatives. However the main recommendation could easily be distinguished in seven of the eighteen clinical guidelines. In the section of applicability all of the clinical guidelines were missing argument regarding health economics or the need of possible organizationally changes.  Editorial independence was not highlighted in any of the clinical guidelines. No clinical guideline had consistently good points according to AGREE II in the overall assessment. Therefore it is hard to recommend any of the clinical guidelines as they currently stands. With these results in mind authors of this study believes that the clinical guidelines that were viewed in this study did not, according to AGREE II, have any evidence-based ground demonstrable and can therefore not be recommended to nursing staff to be used as support in their clinical work.

HIV and AIDS are dramatically reshaping the population structure of South Africa. The number of orphans as a result of AIDS-related deaths is expected to rise. This places a heavier burden of care on grandmothers, female relatives and community members, and children. One of the consequences of AIDS-related deaths is the increase in the number of foster care applications. The involvement of social workers in providing care for the infected, but especially the affected, is important. Social workers find themselves in the frontline with regard to dealing with the consequences of HIV and AIDS. The aim of the study was to develop guidelines for social workers to address the needs of foster children and foster parents affected by HIV and AIDS. A literature study and empirical research was done. The survey method was used as a systematic data gathering procedure. Data was gathered among 21 foster children and their 21 foster parents by means of a self-designed schedule. The researcher administered the schedules by conducting a personal interview with each of the respondents. This research was done in the Motheo district. The findings of this research reflected that foster parents and their foster children affected by HIV and AIDS experience a huge amount of problems. Social workers do not always address these problems adequately; therefore there is much room for improvement, especially in the Motheo district. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

South African adolescents are at high risk of becoming victims of sexual abuse. However, research and experience by practising social workers show that adolescents are reluctant to report sexual abuse immediately. This could be due to the lack recognised guidelines available by which to report abuse and receive the necessary help. The purpose of the research was to investigate the reasons why adolescents fail to report sexual abuse in order to establish relevant guidelines. This would also determine the role of the forensic social worker in the report of sexual abuse by adolescent victims. The research followed a combined quantitative and qualitative approach. 220 adolescents from two high schools and six Welkom social workers were involved in the investigation. Both groups of participants completed questionnaires while the social workers were also involved in a focus group. Forensic social workers work is a new field of specialisation in the social work profession. There is a serious misconception about the role of the forensic social worker not only among other practising social workers, but also among the general public and adolescents in specific. The forensic social worker can play an important role in establishing guidelines for the report of sexual abuse by adolescent victims. The findings clearly showed that adolescents do not report sexual abuse within the family. The abused adolescent becomes a victim as South Africa does not yet have definite guidelines available for the report of sexual abuse. The study found that the forensic social worker has a definite role to play in the report of sexual abuse by adolescents. / Thesis (M.A. (MW Forensic))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Introduction: Weaning from mechanical ventilation is defined as the gradual reduction of mechanical support, and replacing this support with spontaneous ventilation. It is a complex process involving assessing the patient's readiness to wean, optimising factors that can impede the process, selecting the most appropriate weaning mode and continually assessing the patient's progress. In paediatric intensive care the clinician must also account for the unique physiological and psychosocial needs of the child. Aim: The aim of the study was to explore the need for, and impact, of guidelines for weaning children from mechanical ventilation on patient outcomes and staff practice. Method: The study was multi-dimensional using the Model for Improvement as the conceptual framework and decided into four phases. Phase one: A survey of Australian PICUs in 2000 revealed that over 2500 children were ventilated over a 12 month-period, with a potential population of 625 children experiencing difficulties with weaning from mechanical ventilation. No guidelines for weaning children from mechanical ventilation were identified at the time. Standardising the approach to weaning had proven successful with the adult population. Phase two: Collaborative guidelines for weaning, based on available evidence and expert opinion, were drawn up, validated by a panel of experts and safely piloted. Phase three: The guidelines were then tested using a time series design over two years on a PICU at a tertiary referral children's facility. Results demonstrated that total ventilation time, weaning duration and length of stay were not significantly improved in the experimental group. However, quality indicators were slightly improved and a survival analysis also showed a slightly reduced probability of long term ventilated patients remaining ventilated. Results also demonstrated a reduction in the fluctuation of outcome variables over time indicating improved consistency in weaning due to the guidelines Phase four: A qualitative analysis of focus group interviews with staff about the impact of guidelines on their practice generated themes, centred on practice development, framework, relationships and challenges. Few previous studies have investigated the perceptions of staff regarding use of practice guidelines. This study identified that staff viewed the use of weaning guidelines favourably and perceived that their implementation improved patient outcomes. Weaning is a relatively neglected area of intensive care because much of the initial focus of management is resuscitation and stabilisation. This study has demonstrated the positive impact that standardised and collaborative practice can have on patient outcome and clinical practice.

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Identification of the victims of a mass fatality incident is considered a basic human right.Forensic odontology frequently makes a significant contribution to the identification process following major disasters, and is considered a primary identifier in the Interpol Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) Guidelines. Many authors have indicated that to achieve identification with dignity and respect requires practical guidelines and standard operating procedures. No internationally accepted guidelines currently exist for the practice of forensic odontology in DVI situations. This report documents the development of a comprehensive practice guide for use by Australian forensic odontologists in a mass fatality incident. To understand the value of this document in a professional context the project also looked at the development and application of forensic odontology in multiple fatality incidents in Australia. This evolution has seen forensic odontology grow from a spasmodically used ad-hoc service to the consistent professional service delivered by practitioners today. The research question addressed in this project was “Is the Delphi technique is an appropriate tool to assist the Australian Society of Forensic Odontology to develop a set of guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for Disaster Victim Identification practices”? Thirty one members of the Australian Society of Forensic Odontology and four members of various Australian police services and the private disaster management sector participated in the project. The participants set the level of consensus against which they wished to work and took 4 rounds to reach agreement on the contents of the document. The resultant document, the “Disaster Victim Identification Forensic Odontology Guide” is comprehensive in coverage, meets many of the criteria established to define quality and places the Australian Society of Forensic Odontology at the vanguard of professionalism in the forensic odontology community, and confirms the Delphi technique was an appropriate tool to assist in the development of a set of guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for Disaster Victim Identification practices.