Biomedical subjects

Rosamund Bryar

Publications and source records attributed to Rosamund Bryar.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Health visitors' awareness of local service accessibility.

This paper describes a study using a postal survey which was sent to health visitors throughout the UK to ascertain their knowledge, and the accessibility, of services used by young families in the areas in which health visitors practiced. The survey was an enhancement to the UK's most recent longitudinal birth cohort study--the Millennium Cohort Study. We studied differences in service accessibility between UK countries, and between areas within countries in terms of poverty levels ('advantaged' versus 'disadvantaged' electoral wards) and high ethnic minority populations. A total of 302 health visitors supplied information on childcare, health, family support and leisure services, and on local statutory initiatives (69 per cent response). Results showed that there were no great differences within countries by type of area, and that families in Northern Ireland had overall access to fewer services. It was apparent that health visitors' awareness of local service accessibility was good but they were less aware of local statutory initiatives.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2005

Clients' perceptions of support received from health visitors during home visits.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The current study sought to identify how many mothers from 149 visits carried out by seven health visitors identified support as a feature of the visit, whether this type of support was unique to the health visitor and what support meant to them. These responses were then compared with the taxonomies of social support from the social support literature. BACKGROUND: Some studies of client perceptions describe support as an element of home visits by health visitors. However, the importance, relevance and impact on the client of this support are not described in detail. Social support theory suggests that there are tangible benefits to people's well-being and their ability to cope with various challenges that may arise from individuals' perceptions of receiving support. DESIGN: Qualitative study using semistructured interviews. METHODS: Seven volunteer health visitors recruited 149 women into the study. These clients were interviewed by the researcher, usually within one week of the home visit by their health visitor. The discussions were audio-taped and the resulting transcripts analysed using content analysis. FINDINGS: Thirty-seven women identified receiving support which they said was only available from the health visitor. The relevance of this support to the mother and the impact on her well-being varied within the group suggesting differing perceptions of support by clients according to their personal situation. There was a correspondence between the descriptions of support given by the women and the taxonomies of social support from the social support literature. CONCLUSION: For some interactions between clients and their health visitors the existing theory of social support may provide an explanation of how health visitors contribute to clients' perceived ability to cope and well-being. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Social support may be defined as a possible outcome of health visiting. This concept will have use within educational programmes to demonstrate to students how health visiting can have an impact on clients' well-being. Similarly, the concept could be used to investigate and record health visiting practice.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Developing career pathways for new nurses: lessons from inner London.

Inner city primary care trusts (PCTs) often have difficulty in recruiting nursing staff, while newly qualified nurses are often unaware of what opportunities community settings offer. This article reports the development of a rotational scheme designed to reduce recruitment problems and to assist understanding by newly qualified nurses of the interface between hospital and primary care. The scheme was jointly run by a PCT, a hospital and an academic unit. Various difficulties were encountered, as revealed in an interim evaluation. For example, the impression was created among some participating staff nurses and their mentors and managers that they had student status, which limited their opportunities both to learn and to provide care. The scheme was re-designed in the light of the evaluation, and a further evaluation found that participating staff nurses appreciated the opportunities the scheme offered, and that their work was valued by placement mentors and managers.

Career Mobility↗

PubMed2002

The research potential of practice nurses.

Little is known about the research aspirations and experiences of practice nurses. The study discussed in the present paper had three main aims: (1) to assess the level of research interest among practice nurses working in Essex and East London, UK; (2) to identify practice nurses' research priorities; and (3) to explore factors which facilitate and impede the development of practice nursing research. All practice nurses (n = 1,054) in the above areas were sent a questionnaire, and a total of 40% (n = 426) responded after two follow-up letters. Fifty-five respondents who volunteered for further participation were interviewed, either individually or in focus groups. About half (n = 207) of the survey respondents expressed an interest in undertaking research. One-third (n = 145) reported previous participation in research, and 20% (n = 85) had initiated their own research. Logistic regression showed that practice nurses educated to graduate level, and those working in practices with nurse training or participation in external research, were most likely to want to undertake research. Working in a medical training practice was found to be a negative predictor of research interest. Respondents prioritised research into long-term health problems with a high prevalence in the local population; for example, diabetes. Their reasons for wishing to engage in research included improving the service, career development, making work more interesting and reducing isolation. The main barriers identified were lack of time, lack of support from some general practitioners and poor access to higher education resources outside formal courses. The development of practice nurse research would provide a distinctive perspective on health need and service provision. It would contribute to the achievement of the national strategic objective of improving the quality of primary care, enhance the status of the profession, utilise the enthusiasm of individuals, increase job satisfaction and staff retention, and answer real questions.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗