Children with complex health problems who are dependent upon medical technology require frequent hospitalizations, during which parents must make difficult decisions regarding their child’s care. Although principles of “family-centred care” have been widely adopted by paediatric hospitals, studies indicate that many parents are dissatisfied with their roles in decisions about their child’s care. Pierre Bourdieu’s Logic of Practice, specifically his concepts of field, capital, and habitus, as they relate to cultural and symbolic capital within the field of pediatric medicine, were used to guide the design of a parent briefing intervention aimed at improving parents’ satisfaction with decision making. Briefings were conducted during daily hospital rounds. Physicians and nurses were asked to sit while using a checklist as a communication guide. A two-part study was conducted to determine feasibility of a randomized controlled trial of a parent briefing. One component was a psychometric evaluation of an instrument to measure parents’ satisfaction with decision making. The other was a phase I single group, post-test study of the parent briefing. Eighty-two parents of children admitted to an in-patient unit in a large metropolitan pediatric health centre, with an expected length of stay ≥ 3 days, completed the Family Satisfaction with Decision Making (FS/DM) subscale and the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) prior to discharge. A subgroup of parents participated in the parent briefing study. The Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of the FS/DM was 0.87, and it was inversely correlated with the DCS (r2= -0.635, p<0.0001). Eighteen physicians, 25 nurses, and 31 parents participated in the phase I trial of the briefing intervention. Sixty-eight out of an expected 93 briefings were carried out as per study protocol. Nineteen parents did not receive the required “dose” of the study intervention. Mean time to complete the intervention was 11.9 minutes (SD = 6.9). Parents and nurses rated the acceptability and usefulness of the intervention favourably, whereas physicians’ ratings were mixed. The FS/DM instrument is a suitable primary outcome measure for an RCT. However, more work needs to be done, to ensure the feasibility of the intervention, including more intensive clinician training.

Technological advances during the past 30 years have dramatically improved survival rates for children with life-threatening conditions (preterm births, congenital anomalies, disease, or injury) resulting in children with special health care needs (CSHCN), children who have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and who require health and related services beyond that required by children generally. There are approximately 10.2 million of these children in the United States or one in five households with a child with special health care needs. Care for these children is limited to home care, medical day care (Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care; P-PEC) or a long term care (LTC) facility. There is very limited research examining health outcomes of CSHCN and their families. The purpose of this research was to compare the effects of home care settings, P-PEC settings, and LTC settings on child health and functioning, family health and function, and health care service use of families with CSHCN. Eighty four CSHCN ages 2 to 21 years having a medically fragile or complex medical condition that required continual monitoring were enrolled with their parents/guardians. Interviews were conducted monthly for five months using the PedsQL TM Generic Core Module for child health and functioning, PedsQL TM Family Impact Module for family health and functioning, and Access to Care from the NS-CSHCN survey for health care services. Descriptive statistics, chi square, and ANCOVA were conducted to determine differences across care settings. Children in the P-PEC settings had a highest health care quality of life (HRQL) overall including physical and psychosocial functioning. Parents/guardians with CSHCN in LTC had the highest HRQL including having time and energy for a social life and employment. Parents/guardians with CSHCN in home care settings had the poorest HRQL including physical and psychosocial functioning with cognitive difficulties, difficulties with worry, communication, and daily activities. They had the fewest hours of employment and the most hours providing direct care for their children. Overall health care service use was the same across the care settings.

This research explores final year dental students’ knowledge and attitudes towards the treatment and management of patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) as related to variations in the dental practices in Special Health Care Needs (SHCN) training they received. A quantitative, non-experimental study was conducted, employing survey data collection methods, to address descriptive, comparative, and correlational questions. One cohort, Class 2020, attended extramural rotations in specialized clinics for patients with I/DD and in-person lecture concerning this topic. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its health-related restrictions, another cohort, Class 2021, did not have the same opportunity as rotations were cancelled and the lecture was prerecorded and viewed online. Responses from a 35-item survey, distributed through an online platform, were obtained from both cohorts (n= 14 for Class 2020; n= 19 for Class 2021), addressing descriptive, comparative, and correlational research questions. Results revealed higher levels of knowledge and more positive perceptions of the program from Class 2020, the group that received clinical guidance, than Class of 2021. Analysis revealed positive relationships between students’ confidence levels and whether they had examined, assisted, or treated patients with I/DD. Associations were also found between students’ confidence and willingness to treat patients with I/DD. Although only correlational, this study’s findings suggest ways to foster students’ confidence and induce positive attitudes in dental school graduates that are likely to improve equitable access to healthcare for those with I/DD.

No description available.

No description available.

A temática deste estudo trata da prática de enfermagem de trabalhadores de nível superior que atuam em serviços da rede de Atenção Básica à Saúde, em especial, na Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF). Foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de analisar como os enfermeiros identificam e intervêm nas necessidades de saúde, apresentadas pelos usuários que demandam os serviços de saúde de três Unidades de Saúde da Família, localizadas no município de Marília, São Paulo, além de conhecer as dificuldades e facilidades dos enfermeiros, ao desenvolverem a prática de enfermagem, na perspectiva da produção do cuidado em saúde. Constitui-se em um estudo de natureza descritiva e de abordagem qualitativa. Na coleta de dados, optamos pela observação livre e entrevista semiestruturada. A observação livre se deu durante os atendimentos agendados e eventuais, ocorridos na unidade e também na visita domiciliária. Participaram deste estudo três enfermeiras pertencentes à ESF da zona norte do município citado. Para a análise dos dados obtidos, utilizou-se a Análise de Conteúdo Temático. No decorrer da análise, foi possível apreender uma unidade temática relacionada às identificações e intervenções realizadas pelas enfermeiras, sujeitos desta pesquisa, e duas subunidades: eventos episódicos e problemas anteriores e eventos episódicos e problemas atuais. Os resultados da pesquisa apontaram o predomínio da identificação de necessidades de saúde como sinônimo de queixas, e nas intervenções prevaleceu a fundamentação no conhecimento biológico. Quanto às facilidades apontadas pelas enfermeiras observadas, observaram-se o vínculo e a autonomia em relação a alguns procedimentos, já as dificuldades destacadas foram a falta de recursos humanos, a não adesão dos usuários em relação às atividades coletivas, dentre outras. Dessa forma, concluímos que são necessários investimentos na formação e na qualificação dos enfermeiros para modificarem a prática em saúde, hoje focada na doença, para uma prática fundamentada em um conceito ampliado do processo saúde-doença, para que a satisfação das necessidades, anseios e dúvidas dos usuários passem a se constituir em foco de atenção da prática dos enfermeiros. Consideramos necessário utilizar a Educação Permanente no cenário do trabalho em saúde na atenção básica e assim possibilitar uma escuta qualificada dos trabalhadores, em especial, dos enfermeiros que atuam nos serviços de saúde. / This study deals with the practice of graduated nursing professionals who work in services of Primary Health Care Network, especially in the Family Health Strategy (FHS). It aims to analyze how nurses identify and intervene in health needs presented by the users who demand the health services of three Family Health Units, located in the city of Marilia, state of São Paulo, besides to understand the difficulties and facilities of nurses to develop nursing practice, in view of the production of health care. It consists of a descriptive and qualitative study. For data collection, free observation and semi-structured interview were used. The free observation was during the scheduled and possible attendances occurred in the unit and also at the home visit. Participants were three nurses form the FHS in the north zone of the city. For data analysis, the Thematic Content Analysis was used. During the analysis it was possible to identify a thematic unit related to the identification and interventions performed by nurses, who were subjects of this research, and two subunits: episodic events and previous problems and episodic events and current problems. The results showed predominance of the identification of health needs as a synonym of complaints, and in the interventions, the reasoning in biological knowledge prevailed. Regarding the facilities mentioned by the nurses are the bond and autonomy for some procedures, and the difficulties highlighted were the lack of human resources, non-compliance of users in relation to collective activities, among others. Thus it is concluded that investments are needed in training and qualification of nurses to change their practice in health, nowadays focused on the disease, for a practice based on an expanded concept of health-disease process, so that the satisfaction of needs, desires and doubts of the users becomes the focus of nursing care. It is necessary to use the Continuing Education in the setting of health work in primary care and thus provide a qualified listening of workers, especially nurses, who work in health services.

A temática deste estudo trata da prática de enfermagem de trabalhadores de nível superior que atuam em serviços da rede de Atenção Básica à Saúde, em especial, na Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF). Foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de analisar como os enfermeiros identificam e intervêm nas necessidades de saúde, apresentadas pelos usuários que demandam os serviços de saúde de três Unidades de Saúde da Família, localizadas no município de Marília, São Paulo, além de conhecer as dificuldades e facilidades dos enfermeiros, ao desenvolverem a prática de enfermagem, na perspectiva da produção do cuidado em saúde. Constitui-se em um estudo de natureza descritiva e de abordagem qualitativa. Na coleta de dados, optamos pela observação livre e entrevista semiestruturada. A observação livre se deu durante os atendimentos agendados e eventuais, ocorridos na unidade e também na visita domiciliária. Participaram deste estudo três enfermeiras pertencentes à ESF da zona norte do município citado. Para a análise dos dados obtidos, utilizou-se a Análise de Conteúdo Temático. No decorrer da análise, foi possível apreender uma unidade temática relacionada às identificações e intervenções realizadas pelas enfermeiras, sujeitos desta pesquisa, e duas subunidades: eventos episódicos e problemas anteriores e eventos episódicos e problemas atuais. Os resultados da pesquisa apontaram o predomínio da identificação de necessidades de saúde como sinônimo de queixas, e nas intervenções prevaleceu a fundamentação no conhecimento biológico. Quanto às facilidades apontadas pelas enfermeiras observadas, observaram-se o vínculo e a autonomia em relação a alguns procedimentos, já as dificuldades destacadas foram a falta de recursos humanos, a não adesão dos usuários em relação às atividades coletivas, dentre outras. Dessa forma, concluímos que são necessários investimentos na formação e na qualificação dos enfermeiros para modificarem a prática em saúde, hoje focada na doença, para uma prática fundamentada em um conceito ampliado do processo saúde-doença, para que a satisfação das necessidades, anseios e dúvidas dos usuários passem a se constituir em foco de atenção da prática dos enfermeiros. Consideramos necessário utilizar a Educação Permanente no cenário do trabalho em saúde na atenção básica e assim possibilitar uma escuta qualificada dos trabalhadores, em especial, dos enfermeiros que atuam nos serviços de saúde. / This study deals with the practice of graduated nursing professionals who work in services of Primary Health Care Network, especially in the Family Health Strategy (FHS). It aims to analyze how nurses identify and intervene in health needs presented by the users who demand the health services of three Family Health Units, located in the city of Marilia, state of São Paulo, besides to understand the difficulties and facilities of nurses to develop nursing practice, in view of the production of health care. It consists of a descriptive and qualitative study. For data collection, free observation and semi-structured interview were used. The free observation was during the scheduled and possible attendances occurred in the unit and also at the home visit. Participants were three nurses form the FHS in the north zone of the city. For data analysis, the Thematic Content Analysis was used. During the analysis it was possible to identify a thematic unit related to the identification and interventions performed by nurses, who were subjects of this research, and two subunits: episodic events and previous problems and episodic events and current problems. The results showed predominance of the identification of health needs as a synonym of complaints, and in the interventions, the reasoning in biological knowledge prevailed. Regarding the facilities mentioned by the nurses are the bond and autonomy for some procedures, and the difficulties highlighted were the lack of human resources, non-compliance of users in relation to collective activities, among others. Thus it is concluded that investments are needed in training and qualification of nurses to change their practice in health, nowadays focused on the disease, for a practice based on an expanded concept of health-disease process, so that the satisfaction of needs, desires and doubts of the users becomes the focus of nursing care. It is necessary to use the Continuing Education in the setting of health work in primary care and thus provide a qualified listening of workers, especially nurses, who work in health services.

There is a growing population worldwide who are not able to receive dental care. The numbers and trend are increasing and the availability of providers and resources are dwindling in comparison. The dissertation starts off with an example of how the current dental healthcare system has allowed some tragic outcomes. This paper will discuss the barriers of obtaining dental care for this growing population, challenges in dental education and offer some future solutions. Using the example of a dental tragedy, we hope to be inspired as a call to action to avert further fatalities and improve the dental healthcare system. The paper reviews the issue from: 1. A Long term perspective with the current and projected statistics for special needs population nationwide and California. 2. An Expanding population perspective that focuses on patients with autism spectrum disorder. 3. A Complex needs perspective of an example of the increasing necessity of hospital dentistry care.

No description available.

La utilització de serveis sanitaris en població infantil i adolescent europea ha estat fins ara poc analitzada. Aquest treball de recerca es va centrar en l'anàlisi de la utilització de serveis sanitaris en població infantil i adolescent de la ciutat de Barcelona i d'onze països europeus, estudiant la seva associació amb necessitats en salut, característiques de la família i dels sistemes sanitaris. Concretament, es van plantejar els objectius d'examinar la utilitat de la salut percebuda com a mesura de necessitat en salut i l'existència de desigualtats socials en la utilització de serveis sanitaris. Un objectiu addicional, a nivell metodològic, va ser estudiar la participació, resposta i representativitat de les mostres dels països participants en l'estudi europeu, segons els mètodes de selecció i d'administració. Es van utilitzar les dades de l'enquesta de salut de Barcelona (ESB) de l'any 2000 de la població de 5 a 14 any i de l'estudi europeu KIDSCREEN que es va dur a terme al 2003 en població de 8 a 18 anys. La utilització de serveis sanitaris en població infantil i adolescent va mostrar-se d'acord amb els nivells de necessitat en salut, excepte en l'accés davant dels problemes de salut mental. Es van trobar desigualtats socioeconòmiques i es van identificar característiques estructurals i organitzatives dels sistemes sanitaris que semblen disminuir l'accessibilitat. Les mesures de salut percebuda van aportar informació addicional confirmant la seva validesa i utilitat en l'avaluació de serveis sanitaris per a la població infantil i adolescent. / La utilización de servicios sanitarios en población infantil y adolescente europea ha sido hasta ahora poco analizada. Este trabajo de investigación se dirigió a analizar la utilización de servicios sanitarios en población infantil y adolescente de la ciudad de Barcelona y de once países europeos estudiando su asociación con necesidades en salud y características de la familia y de los sistemas sanitarios. Específicamente, se plantearon los objetivos de examinar la utilidad de la salud percibida como medida de necesidad en salud y la existencia de desigualdades sociales en la utilización de servicios sanitarios. Un objetivo adicional, a nivel metodológico, fue estudiar la participación, respuesta y representatividad de las muestras de los países participantes en el estudio europeo, y compararlos según los métodos de selección y de administración. Se utilizaron los datos de la encuesta de salud de Barcelona (ESB) del año 2000 de la población de 5 a 14 años y del estudio europeo KIDSCREEN llevado a cabo en 2003 en población de 8 a 18 años. La utilización de servicios sanitarios resultó adecuada a los niveles de necesidad en salud, excepto en el acceso ante problemas de salud mental. Se encontraron desigualdades socioeconómicas y se identificaron características estructurales y organizativas de los sistemas sanitarios que parecen disminuir la accesibilidad. Las medidas de salud percibida aportaron información adicional confirmando su validez y utilidad en la evaluación de servicios sanitarios para la población infantil y adolescente. / Analysis of the utilisation of health care services among children and adolescents at a European level has been scarce to date. This research aimed to analyse the use of health care services in children and adolescents in the city of Barcelona and eleven European countries and to examine the correlations between use of services and health needs, family characteristics, and healthcare system factors. More specific aims were to examine the utility of perceived health as a measure of needs and to determine whether there were social inequalities in the use of health care services. At a methodological level, a further objective was to examine the sampling and administration methods used in the European study in terms of participation, response rate, and representativeness and to compare them across countries. Data used were obtained from children aged 5-15 years included in the Barcelona Health Interview Survey (BHIS), which was carried out in 2000, and from children and adolescents aged 8-18 years included in the European KIDSCREEN study carried out in 2003. We found that use of services was generally in accordance with health needs, except for access for mental health problems. Socioeconomic inequalities were found, and structural characteristics of health care systems were identified as possible correlates of a reduced access to services. Measures of self-perceived health provided information which correlated with use of services, thereby confirming their validity and usefulness for health services research in child and adolescent populations.