Biomedical subjects

Kathleen Galvin

Publications and source records attributed to Kathleen Galvin.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Parents' perceptions of staff competency in a neonatal intensive care unit.

* The aim of this study was to explore and describe parents' perceptions of staff competency in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The study set out to use a grounded theory approach that was modified because of a number of constraints. Eight parents whose babies met a number of inclusion criteria were interviewed using focused conversational interviews. They were then transcribed and thematically analysed. The research approach was modified as the study developed because of practical and ethical access reasons: the sampling strategy and lack of opportunity to exploit fully the constant comparative method. * Four key themes which conceptualize competency as caring emerged from the data: parents are facilitated to integrate into the unit and do not feel a burden; parents feel in control whilst in the unit; parents have a choice to opt out from observing tasks and procedures on their baby; parents and the interprofessional team communicate well and provide appropriate information. These are discussed in the context of available literature. * In conclusion, the results of the study serve to highlight how parents' perceptions of competence in a professional are not based solely on skills and tasks but on many caring behaviours. The grounded theory approach has generated a number of areas for exploration, in particular, ideas about the conceptual basis of caring in an NICU context and its links to competence. The caring behaviours involve learning to share responsibility with families. The findings suggest that when there is 'a handing over' of control to parents and a greater emphasis on parent support, they feel less like 'guests'. These ideas are supported by the available literature. A number of methodological issues are raised.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2002

A follow-up study of drug misusers who received an intervention from a local arrest referral scheme.

In the United Kingdom the election of the 1997-2001 Labour government led to rapid development of drug treatment interventions in the criminal justice sector. One type of drug treatment intervention is arrest referral and this is the most developed and researched form of intervention within the United Kingdom (Arrest referral: emerging lessons from research, paper 23. London: Home Office; 1998). However, much of the published literature reports upon evaluations of working styles and practices of individual arrest referral schemes (ARS). This paper reports a follow-up study on the impact that intervention by an ARS had upon a group of drug-misusing arrestees, 18 months after their initial contact with the ARS. The findings from the follow-up study demonstrate that the intervention had had a positive impact on both drug misuse and offending among the sample. Sixty-four per cent had entered treatment and remained 'clean' following an intervention by the ARS. Analysis of the police national computer records for the sample demonstrated that 88% of those who remained 'clean' also ceased criminal activity. Additionally, the study highlighted other factors relevant to the treatment of drug misusers. Most of the sample had been in contact with health professionals during their misusing careers but the perceived negative attitude on the part of health professionals towards drug misusers and the lack of proactive, health-led interventions indicated that mainstream health care provision had failed this sample of problematic drug misusers. Another key factor to emerge from the study was the relevance of aftercare to the recovery process, which was needed to offer wide-ranging support to drug misusers in recovery, such as help with accommodation, learning basic life skills and constructing a new lifestyle without drugs. The study therefore has a dual outcome in demonstrating the positive impact of the ARS and in turn the rationale for the Government's 10-year anti-drugs strategy but it also highlights the weakness as aftercare is not a prominent feature of the strategy (Tackling drugs to build a better Britain, the government's ten year strategy for tackling drugs. London: The Stationery Office; 1998).

Adult↗

PubMed2002

The role of open learning in nurse education. Does it have a place?

A perceptible shift has begun, away from mass lectures towards more flexible, novel and adaptable methods of teaching and learning. A variety of terms (open, distance, flexible) have been used to describe such instructional methods, a key characteristic of which is that they do not require constant and/or synchronous contact between teacher and learner. This paper explores students' views of a distributed learning initiative within a University in the South of England. The initiatives were in response to increase in the number of students in each intake which was just one of the recent changes called for by the Government. This evaluation consisted of a longitudinal research project following two cohorts of nursing students (n=288) through the first two years of their education (and will continue in the final year). The study assessed the perceived influence of distributed learning (DL) on their academic education and professional training as well as their satisfaction with the workbooks. The evaluation used a mixture of qualitative and quantitative data collection, questionnaires and focus groups. DL was seen as a flexible way of studying for students. Students were able to study a topic area at their own pace and at a time convenient to them. The activities in the workbook stimulated discussions and triggered ideas and thoughts for both students and lecturers. With the commencement of the workbooks lecturers were given the opportunity to reflect on their teaching styles and were encouraged to utilise a number of different teaching and learning methodologies.

Education, Distance↗

PubMed2002

Reflections on a community action research project: interprofessional issues and methodological problems.

This paper describes an action research study in a community setting. A group of residents from a local housing estate and a number of local workers used participative methods to explore local child care issues with the aim of developing initiatives for improved child care. The paper describes the study processes and reflects on lessons learnt. A discussion of implications for interprofessional working concludes the paper and includes emphasis of the need to focus on shared objectives, and develop appropriate organizational structures and educational provision.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2002

'Floating support': implications for interprofessional working.

This article describes a floating support scheme, provided by a local housing association, which enables single vulnerable people to live independently in their own homes. The study aimed to explore the impact of the scheme from the perspectives of clients, floating support workers and representatives from health, social care and voluntary agencies. It was found that the majority of clients had long-term mental health problems and were supported by a range of professionals. Floating support was flexible in responding to individual needs. A number of themes of relevance to interprofessional working emerged from the data. These included: floating support as a community resource, links with other agencies and confidentiality, information sharing and risk management. Floating support workers worked closely with professionals from health, social care, voluntary and educational services. Although the scheme's contribution to client care was highly valued, a number of barriers to effective interagency working were evident. This study highlighted the need for discussion and presented a forum for developing an ongoing collaborative process to address the specific issues which emerged in focus group discussions.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Citizens Advice Bureaux in general practice: an illuminative evaluation.

A number of Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) have entered into partnerships with Health Authorities in order to provide advice in general practice surgeries as part of the health care services offered by the primary health care team. This illuminative evaluation has involved an exploration of the impacts of the service from the perspective of its users, the CAB advisers and the referral agents. Data was collected from questionnaires, individual interviews and focus group interviews from participants in both a rural and urban setting. The findings of the study suggest that locating CAB advisers in GP surgeries facilitates access for people who would otherwise be effectively excluded by reason of age, poor health, poverty or lack of transport. Overall, consultations with the CAB advisers were perceived very positively. This study would suggest that Citizens Advice Bureaux in GP surgeries are a viable and useful adjunct to primary health care teams in terms of information-giving, social support, up-take of benefits and co-ordination of services.

Journal Article↗