Clinical practice guidelines for the management of chronic musculoskeletal pain in primary healthcare: a systematic review

Reach, Acceptability, and Patient Preferences of a Mobile Health-Based Survey to Assess COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Patients Receiving Dialysis

Rationale & Objective

The majority of patients with kidney failure receiving dialysis own mobile devices, but the use of mobile health (mHealth) technologies to conduct surveys in this population is limited. We assessed the reach and acceptability of a short message service (SMS) text message-based survey that assessed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy among patients receiving dialysis.

Study Design & Exposure

A cross-sectional SMS-based survey conducted in January 2021.

Setting & Participants

Patients receiving in-center hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or home hemodialysis in a nonprofit dialysis organization in New York City.

Outcomes

(1) Reach of the SMS survey, (2) Acceptability using the 4-item Acceptability of Intervention Measure, and (3) Patient preferences for modes of survey administration.

Analytical Approach

We used Fisher exact tests and multivariable logistic regression to assess sociodemographic and clinical predictors of SMS survey response. Qualitative methods were used to analyze open-ended responses capturing patient preferences.

Results

Among 1,008 patients, 310 responded to the SMS survey (response rate 31%). In multivariable adjusted analyses, participants who were age 80 years and above (aOR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.25-0.96) were less likely to respond to the SMS survey compared with those aged 18 to 44 years. Non-Hispanic Black (aOR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.39-0.86), Hispanic (aOR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.19-0.51), and Asian or Pacific Islander (aOR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.28-0.74) individuals were less likely to respond compared with non-Hispanic White participants. Participants residing in census tracts with higher Social Vulnerability Index, indicating greater neighborhood-level social vulnerability, were less likely to respond to the SMS survey (fifth vs first quintile aOR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.37-0.99). Over 80% of a sample of survey respondents and nonrespondents completely agreed or agreed with the Acceptability of Intervention Measure. Qualitative analysis identified 4 drivers of patient preferences for survey administration: (1) convenience (subtopics: efficiency, multitasking, comfort, and synchronicity); (2) privacy; (3) interpersonal interaction; and (4) accessibility (subtopics: vision, language, and fatigue).

Limitations

Generalizability, length of survey.

Conclusions

An SMS text message-based survey had moderate reach among patients receiving dialysis and was highly acceptable, but response rates were lower in older (age ≥ 80), non-White individuals and those with greater neighborhood-level social vulnerability. Future research should examine barriers and facilitators to mHealth among patients receiving dialysis to ensure equitable implementation of mHealth-based technologies.

Addressing COVID-19 and Health Literacy Disparities Among Correctional Facility Residents Through Dialogue-Based Education

Carceral communities face heightened COVID-19-related risks while simultaneously experiencing medical mistrust and limited access to health information and services. Health education programs that incorporate dialogue-based, participatory learning models have been shown to motivate health behavior and increase health knowledge in carceral settings. To increase health literacy and change COVID-19-related health behavior among jail residents in the United States, a local health department developed a dialogue-based education program centered around COVID-19 prevention, misinformation, and navigating health care systems. Dialogue-based health information sessions took place in person in a county jail. Pre- and postsurveys gauged the sessions' influence on self-reported health literacy and behavior intention. Overall, 595 residents collectively attended 43 facilitated discussions. Key findings indicate that dialogue-based education can temper medical mistrust, influencing COVID-19 preventive behaviors and increasing health literacy in a carceral setting.

Telephone support vs. self-guidance in an Internet-based self-administered psychological program for the treatment of depression: Protocol for a hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation randomized controlled trial

Background

Depression is already the leading psychological disability around the world, impairing daily life, well-being, and social functioning and leading to personal and social costs. Despite the effectiveness of Evidence-Based Psychological Practices (EBPP), a significant percentage of depressive individuals remain untreated, especially in Primary Care (PC) settings in Spain. There are numerous barriers that limit access to EBPPs, including high costs, professional training, and adherence problems. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) offer a cost-effective way to disseminate and scale EBPPs to address these barriers. The iCBT program Smiling is Fun has been demonstrated to be a cost-effective treatment for depression in various Randomized Control Trials. However, adherence and implementation problems in real-world settings need to be addressed. Implementation research can help evaluate these challenges by identifying facilitators and barriers to the implementation process in PC. In this regard, including human support has been pointed out as a possible key factor in addressing the population's mental health needs and promoting treatment adherence.

Objective

The current study aims to examine the effectiveness, adherence rates, and implementation process of Smiling is Fun to address depression in a PC setting considering the influence of telephone support vs no support.

Methods

The proposed research is a Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Type I study, with a two-armed randomized controlled design, which will test a clinical intervention for major depressive disorder while gathering information on its implementation in a real-world setting. The study will include adult patients with mild to moderate symptoms of depression. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: self-applied psychotherapy or self-applied psychotherapy with psychotherapeutic telephone support. The trial will recruit 110 patient participants, with a loss-to-follow-up rate of 30 %.

Discussion

A study protocol for a hybrid effectiveness-implementation study is presented with the aim to assess the implementation of Smiling is Fun for the treatment of depression in PC. The study evaluates the influence of telephone support during a self-administered intervention compared to unguided self-administration. The main goal is to address the barriers and facilitators of the implementation process and to promote treatment adherence. Ultimately, the results of the study could help in the uptake of sustainable resources so that the population could gain better access to psychological interventions in mental health services.

Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT06230237.

The challenge of pharmacotherapy for musculoskeletal pain: an overview of unmet needs

Musculoskeletal disorders are characterized by several impairments, including pain, affecting muscles, bones, joints and adjacent connective tissue, resulting in temporary or permanent functional limitations and disability. Musculoskeletal pain is particularly prevalent worldwide and greatly impacts the quality of life, social participation and economic burden. To date, several issues persist about the classification of musculoskeletal pain and its management strategies and resources. The treatment of musculoskeletal pain conditions is complex and often requires a multimodal approach, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy that might be ineffective in many cases, resulting in poor patient satisfaction and controversial expectations about the potential benefits of available interventions. This manuscript provides an overview of unmet needs in managing musculoskeletal pain, particularly focusing on pharmacotherapeutic pitfalls in this context.

Adaptation of the technology readiness levels for impact assessment in implementation sciences: The TRL-IS checklist

Background

Intervention development is a critical process in implementation research. There are key stages involved in the process to design, pilot, demonstrate and release a technology or an intervention. The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) is a globally accepted instrument for assessing the maturity of research development. However, the original levels do not fit all, and some adjustments are required for its applicability in implementation sciences.

Aims

This study aimed to gather the prior knowledge base on TRL in public and population health research; to develop a standard definition of readiness, and to adapt and validate the TRL to an implementation science context (TRL-IS).

Materials and methods

A Mixed methods approach has been followed in this study. A scoping review using the PRISMA extension (PRISMA-ScR) informed a nominal expert panel for developing a standard definition of readiness and to modify the TRL following an ontoterminology approach. Then the maturity of six practical case study examples were rated by ten researchers using the modified TRL to estimate inter-rater reliability, and a group of experts provided final content and face validity and feasibility.This mixed methods study included 1) a scoping review to examine the current literature and develop a knowledge base, identify knowledge gaps and to clarify concepts; 2) the development of a standard definition of 'Readiness' and related terms; and 3) adaptation of the TRL to implementation science and development of a checklist to rate the maturity of applications.A standard definition of readiness and related terms was produced by the core team, and an international nominal group (n = 30) was conducted to discuss and validate the definition and terms, and the location of 'Readiness' in the initiation and early development phases of implementation.Following feedback from the nominal group, the development of the TRL-IS was finalised and a TRL-IS rating checklist was developed to rate the maturity of applications. The TRL-IS checklist was tested using six cases based on real world studies on implementation research.The inter-rater reliability of the TRL-IS was evaluated by ten raters and finally six raters evaluated the content and face validity, and feasibility, of the TRL-IS checklist using the System Usability Scale (SUS).

Results

Few papers (n = 11) utilised the TRL to evaluate the readiness of readiness of health and social science implementation research. The main changes in the adaption of the TRL-IS included the removal of laboratory testing, limiting the use of "operational" environment and a clearer distinction between level 6 (pilot in a relevant environment) and 7 (demonstration in the real world prior to release). The adapted version was considered relevant by the expert panel. The TRL-IS checklist showed evidence of good inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.90 with 95 % confident interval = 0.74-0.98, p < .001) and provides a consistent metric.

Conclusions

In spite of recommendations made by national and international research funding agencies, few health and social science implementation studies include the TRL as part of their evaluation protocol. The TRL-IS offers a high degree of conceptual clarity between scientific maturity phases or readiness levels, and good reliability among raters of varying experience. This study highlights that adoption of the TRL-IS framework in implementation sciences will bolster the scientific robustness and comparability of research maturity in this domain.

A community health worker led approach to cardiovascular disease prevention in the UK-SPICES-Sussex (scaling-up packages of interventions for cardiovascular disease prevention in selected sites in Europe and Sub-saharan Africa): an implementation research project

Background

This paper describes a UK-based study, SPICES-Sussex, which aimed to co-produce and implement a community-based cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment and reduction intervention to support under-served populations at moderate risk of CVD. The objectives were to enhance stakeholder engagement; to implement the intervention in four research sites and to evaluate the use of Voluntary and Community and Social Enterprises (VCSE) and Community Health Worker (CHW) partnerships in health interventions.

Methods

A type three hybrid implementation study design was used with mixed methods data. This paper represents the process evaluation of the implementation of the SPICES-Sussex Project. The evaluation was conducted using the RE-AIM framework.

Results

Reach: 381 individuals took part in the risk profiling questionnaire and forty-one women, and five men participated in the coaching intervention. Effectiveness: quantitative results from intervention participants showed significant improvements in CVD behavioural risk factors across several measures. Qualitative data indicated high acceptability, with the holistic, personalised, and person-centred approach being valued by participants. Adoption: 50% of VCSEs approached took part in the SPICES programme, The CHWs felt empowered to deliver high-quality and mutually beneficial coaching within a strong project infrastructure that made use of VCSE partnerships. Implementation: Co-design meetings resulted in local adaptations being made to the intervention. 29 (63%) of participants completed the intervention. Practical issues concerned how to embed CHWs in a health service context, how to keep engaging participants, and tensions between research integrity and the needs and expectations of those in the voluntary sector. Maintenance: Several VCSEs expressed an interest in continuing the intervention after the end of the SPICES programme.

Conclusion

Community-engagement approaches have the potential to have positively impact the health and wellbeing of certain groups. Furthermore, VCSEs and CHWs represent a significant untapped resource in the UK. However, more work needs to be done to understand how links between the sectors can be bridged to deliver evidence-based effective alternative preventative healthcare. Reaching vulnerable populations remains a challenge despite partnerships with VCSEs which are embedded in the community. By showing what went well and what did not, this project can guide future work in community engagement for health.

Empowering patients with persistent pain: The potential of cognitive functional therapy in interdisciplinary care: A single-case experimental design

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE

Persistent musculoskeletal pain (PMP) is multifactorial and causes both societal and financial burdens. Integration of multifactorial management in patients with PMP remains challenging. A single-case experimental design was performed on three patients suffering from high impact PMP (lumbar spine, shoulder and knee) to i) assess the potential for Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT) in interdisciplinary care, ii) describe in detail the clinical journey patients experienced during the intervention, and iii) evaluate the changes and associations in relation to the outcome measures of pain, disability, maladaptive movement behavior, subjective overall improvement, health related quality of life and work status. These were monitored over one year, at the end of each of the six intervention modules.

RESULTS

After introducing the intervention systematic changes were seen, with medium to large changes (Non-overlap of All Pairs 0.67-1) for all outcome measures. Associations between changes of the outcome measures were large (r ≥ 0.50) and changes occurred concurrently. Minimally clinically important difference thresholds were exceeded for all outcome measures and two patients achieved relevant improvements related to work reintegration.

DISCUSSION

The positive results of this study are comparable with recent CFT studies. However, the difference regarding the number of sessions and duration of the intervention is evident. The length of the intervention in this study seemed to enable continuous significant improvements up until 12 months post onset and follow-up.

CONCLUSION

CFT in interdisciplinary care was effective for all measures. The detailed descriptions of the clinical processes aim to improve clinical care.

Compendium of dyadic intervention techniques (DITs) to change health behaviours: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Dyadic interventions for health behaviour change involving the romantic partner are promising. However, it often remains unclear how exactly the partner is involved in dyadic interventions. We propose a novel compendium of dyadic intervention techniques (DITs) that facilitates systematic description of dyadic interventions in terms of who performs what for whom during intervention delivery and subsequent implementation.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to systematically characterise dyadic interventions along their degree of partner involvement and to provide a comprehensive list of DITs used in dyadic interventions with romantic partners.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed dyadic health behaviour change interventions with controlled designs. We included 165 studies describing 122 distinct dyadic interventions with romantic partners. Interventions were classified along their degree of partner involvement, 160 DITs were extracted, and their frequencies of use counted.

RESULTS

The majority of interventions (n = 90, 74%) explicitly instructed partners to interact. Half of the DITs were performed jointly by the couple and also targeted the couple. Mostly, couples were instructed to jointly practice communication skills and to jointly perform problem solving for the couple.

DISCUSSION

The present review contributes to the development of a shared and systematic way of describing dyadic interventions to facilitate cumulation of evidence.

Physiotherapists clinical reasoning to prescribe exercise for patients with chronic pain: A qualitative study research protocol

BACKGROUND

Physiotherapists' play a key role in the management of chronic pain, and as part of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, prescribe exercise to support patients with chronic pain. However, there is very limited evidence supporting physiotherapists on what type of exercise or dose of exercise should be prescribed. Physiotherapists' therefore have more onus on their ability to clinically reason how to prescribe exercise. At present, there is no research investigating how physiotherapists' working with patients that have chronic pain, clinically reason when prescribing exercise. This study proposes to investigate how physiotherapists experienced in pain management prescribe exercise, to understand what the key influences are on their reasoning, and how these impact on clinical practice.

METHODS

This will be a qualitative study, utilising semi-structured individual interviews. Participants will be Health and Care Professions Council registered physiotherapists, working predominantly with patients that have chronic pain. Recruitment will focus on physiotherapists working within the United Kingdom (UK). Up to twenty participants will be recruited. The study, including the interview guide, will be supported by a steering group consisting of academics and physiotherapists experienced in chronic pain. The data will be analysed using framework analysis.

RESULTS

The study will be reported using the COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines. The findings of the study will be disseminated through publication in a peer reviewed journal.

CONCLUSION

This study will provide novel insight into how physiotherapists experienced working with and managing chronic pain patients, prescribe exercise, and will gain new insight into clinical practice to help inform future research and education.

The needs, barriers, and opportunities perceived by health professionals for an online competency-based interprofessional course to enhance the care of older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain

BACKGROUND

It is recommended that continued education in pain should be supported using information and communication technologies (ICTs), but there are gaps about the previous competencies of health professionals, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This study characterized the competencies of professionals in the Colombian Caribbean, the circumstances that favor and hinder the development of appropriate care, as well as the preferences, expectations and attitudes toward an educational intervention supported by ICTs.

METHODS

We used a qualitative, phenomenological approach, combining documentary review and data obtained through observation, an online survey and two focus groups involving 55 healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses and psychologists) of varying experience. For the analysis and integration of results, the Capacity, Opportunity, Motivation and Behavior model and the Theoretical Domains Framework were used as references. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist guided the reporting of this study.

RESULTS

Competency deficits were found regardless of the profession and experience, which are related to inadequacies in undergraduate and post-graduate training. Structural problems in Colombian society and healthcare service organization were also discovered, which were considered unmodifiable barriers and have been aggravated by the social, economic and health effects of the pandemic. The main modifiable barriers found were as follows: pain underestimation and under-treatment of older adults, as well as stereotypes regarding old age and pain, lack of knowledge of the psychosocial determinants of pain and of techniques for its assessment and treatment, overestimation of pharmacological treatment and failure to update pharmacological and non-pharmacological techniques.

CONCLUSIONS

Recommendations for the design of the educational intervention were established as follows: favoring non-synchronous resources, facilitating synchronous activities of short duration, facilitating permanent access to information and resources and generating incentives for continuing education, such as certification, institutional recognition and encouraging popular recognition.

Perspectives of the barriers and enablers to nutritional adherence in professional male academy football players

BACKGROUND

Nutritional intake is important for young football players; however, little is known about the factors that influence their nutritional adherence.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate players', sports nutritionists',and coaches' perspectives of the barriers and enablers to adhering to nutritional recommendations within a professional football club.

METHOD

Individual interviews, based on the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation - Behaviour (COM-B) model and Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), were conducted with 13 players (18 ± 1.3 years), 12 sports nutritionists, and 10 coaches from 2, 12, and 10 professional football clubs, respectively. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data.

RESULTS

Seven key themes were generated relating to the players' barriers and enablers to nutritional adherence: (1) Capability: (a) Nutritional Knowledge; (b) Cooking Skills; (2) Opportunity: (c) Training Venue Food Provision; (d) Nutritionist Accessibility and Approachability; (e) Living Status: (3) Motivation: (f) Performance Implications; and (g) Role Modelling.

CONCLUSION

Inadequate food provision within the training and home environment, and limited time with the sports nutritionist were key barriers to nutritional adherence in youth football players. Football clubs should allocate more time for sports nutritionists to deliver nutrition support and sports nutritionists should aim to control the players environment to support optimal nutritional intake.

Physiotherapists' perspectives of barriers and facilitators to effective community provision after hip fracture: a qualitative study in England

PURPOSE

to investigate physiotherapists' perspectives of effective community provision following hip fracture.

METHODS

qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 community physiotherapists across England. Thematic analysis drawing on the Theoretical Domains Framework identified barriers and facilitators to implementation of effective provision. Interviews were complemented by process mapping community provision in one London borough, to identify points of care where suggested interventions are in place and/or could be implemented.

RESULTS

four themes were identified: ineffective coordination of care systems, ineffective patient stratification, insufficient staff recruitment and retention approaches and inhibitory fear avoidance behaviours. To enhance care coordination, participants suggested improving access to social services and occupational therapists, maximising multidisciplinary communication through online notation, extended physiotherapy roles, orthopaedic-specific roles and seven-day working. Participants advised the importance of stratifying patients on receipt of referrals, at assessment and into appropriately matched interventions. To mitigate insufficient staff recruitment and retention, participants proposed return-to-practice streams, apprenticeship schemes, university engagement, combined acute-community rotations and improving job description advertisements. To reduce effects of fear avoidance behaviour on rehabilitation, participants proposed the use of patient-specific goals, patient and carer education, staff education in psychological strategies or community psychologist access. Process mapping of one London borough identified points of care where suggested interventions to overcome barriers were in place and/or could be implemented.

CONCLUSION

physiotherapists propose that effective provision of community physiotherapy following hip fracture could be improved by refining care coordination, utilising stratification techniques, employing enhanced recruitment and retainment strategies and addressing fear avoidance behaviours.

Challenges to Achieving HCV Micro-Elimination in People With HIV in the United States: Provider Perspectives and the Role of Implicit Bias

The prevalence of HIV/HCV (hepatitis C virus) co-infection is high particularly in persons who inject drugs (PWID) and is increasing because of the evolving opioid epidemic in the United States. The introduction of effective antiviral medications for HCV has raised the strategic goal of HCV micro-elimination, and efforts to understand the barriers to treatment are critical. In this study, we explored the provider perspective of factors that inhibit HCV micro-elimination efforts in people with HIV (PWH), including the role of implicit bias and related stigma in providers' health care decision making. We used the mixed-methods approach of nominal group technique (NGT) with 14 participants from 11 different clinics engaged in two virtual focus group sessions (n = 5 and n = 9). Responses from the NGTs were rank ordered during the sessions to identify providers' perspectives of major barriers and facilitators, then identified possible implicit bias after the NGTs concluded. There were 12 responses given for micro-elimination barriers with the three most prioritized being housing instability, medication nonadherence concerns, and inability to motivate patients. Of these, eight were categorized as potential implicit biases. Among the 14 responses given for facilitators of treatment, the three major solutions included distributive models of care, improved provider knowledge, and increased patient engagement. Although the solutions offered were insightful, there was consensus that the individual lives of patients were the root cause of most barriers to care. We recommend further research on behavioral design interventions that promote patients' involvement in decision making and focus on patients' eligibility criteria for HCV treatment as opposed to providers' perceived barriers to treatment.

Toward the Deimplementation of Computed Tomography Urogram for Patients With Low- to Intermediate-risk Microscopic Hematuria: A Mixed-method Study of Factors Influencing Continued Use

INTRODUCTION

Citing high costs, limited diagnostic benefit, and ionizing radiation-associated risk from CT urogram, in 2020 the AUA revised its guidelines from recommending CT urogram for all patients with microscopic hematuria to a deintensified risk-stratified approach, including the deimplementation of low-value CT urogram (ie, not recommending CT urogram for patients with low- to intermediate-risk microscopic hematuria). Adherence to revised guidelines and reasons for continued low-value CT urogram are unknown.

METHODS

With the overarching objective of improving guideline implementation, we used a mixed-method convergent explanatory design with electronic health record data for a retrospective cohort at a single academic tertiary medical center in the southeastern United States and semistructured interviews with urology and nonurology providers to describe determinants of low-value CT urogram following guideline revision.

RESULTS

Of 391 patients with microscopic hematuria, 198 (51%) had a low-value CT urogram (136 [69%] pre-guideline revision, 62 [31%] postrevision). The odds of ordering a low-value CT urogram were lower after guideline revisions, but the change was not statistically significant (OR: 0.44, P = .08); odds were 1.89 higher (P = .06) among nonurology providers than urology providers, but the difference was not statistically significant. Provider interviews suggested low-value CT urogram related to nonurology providers' limited awareness of revised guidelines, the role of clinical judgment in microscopic hematuria evaluation, and professional and patient influences.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest low-value CT urogram deimplementation may be improved with guidelines and implementation support directed at both urology and nonurology providers and algorithms to support guideline-concordant microscopic hematuria evaluation approaches. Future studies should test these strategies.

Priorities, barriers, and facilitators for nutrition-related care for autistic children: a qualitative study comparing interdisciplinary health professional and parent perspectives

Introduction

Children with autism spectrum disorder often face nutrition-related challenges, such as food selectivity, gastrointestinal issues, overweight and obesity, and inadequate nutrient intake. However, the role of routine nutrition-related screening or care by interdisciplinary health professionals is not well understood. This study aimed to compare the beliefs of health professionals with those of parents of autistic children regarding high-priority nutrition-related challenges, barriers and facilitators to care, and desired education and resources related to nutrition for autistic children.

Participants

Interdisciplinary health professionals (n = 25) (i.e., pediatricians, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, board certified behavior analysts, registered dietitians) and parents of autistic children (n = 22).

Methods

The study used semi-structured phone interviews, which were recorded, transcribed, verified, and double-coded using the Framework Method.

Results

Thematic analysis of transcripts revealed that while health professionals and parents of autistic children shared some perspectives on nutrition-related challenges and care, they also had distinct viewpoints. Parents emphasized the importance of addressing food selectivity, behavioral eating challenges, sensory issues, and sleep disturbances affecting appetite. Both groups acknowledged the need for tailored support, access to an interdisciplinary care team, and reasonable expectations. Some health professionals perceived parents as lacking motivation or the ability to make changes. In contrast, many parents felt that health professionals lacked the knowledge and motivation to take nutrition or growth concerns seriously. Health professionals acknowledged that their lack of knowledge or capacity to provide nutrition education or referrals was a common barrier to care, particularly given limited community resources.

Discussion

Health professionals who serve autistic children are motivated to address nutrition-related challenges but lack resources related to nutrition. To promote better health outcomes for autistic children, professionals should identify and support parent motivations around nutrition-related care. Both groups expressed interest in accessing autism-specific resources for education, referral, and screening guidance. Future research could explore the development of healthcare training models that improve the competency of health professionals in providing nutrition care and referral for autistic children.

Effects of Non-monetary Incentives in Physician Groups-A Systematic Review

Objectives: Healthcare expenditures in western countries have been rising for many years. This leads many countries to develop and test new reimbursement systems. A systematic review about monetary incentives in group settings indicated that a sole focus on monetary aspects does not necessarily result in better care at lower costs. Hence, this systematic review aims to describe the effects of non- monetary incentives in physician groups. Methods: We searched the databases MEDLINE (PubMed), The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EconLit, and ISI Web of Science. Grey literature search, reference lists, and authors' personal collection provided additional sources. Results: Overall, we included 36 studies. We identified 4 categories of interventions related to non-monetary incentives. In particular, the category of decision support achieved promising results. However, design features vary among different decision support systems. To enable effective design, we provide an overview of the features applied by the studies included. Conclusions: Not every type of non-monetary incentive has a positive impact on quality of care in physician group settings. Thus, creating awareness among decision-makers regarding this matter and extending research on this topic can contribute to preventing implementation of ineffective incentives, and consequently, allocate resources towards tools that add value.

Feedback on audit and action planning for dental caries control: a qualitative study to investigate the acceptability among interdisciplinary pediatric dental care teams

Introduction

American Indian and Alaska Native children suffer from the poorest oral health of all populational groups in the United States. Evidence-based practices (EBP) for caries control are well established, but systematically implementing such practices have proven difficult. Audit and feedback with goal setting, and action planning to implement these EBPs have not been tested or adapted for Alaska Native healthcare settings. The aim of this study was to investigate acceptability and perceived feasibility of an audit and feedback intervention for pediatric dental caries control among dental providers and patient stakeholders.

Methods

The pilot program was implemented in two dental clinics from a tribal healthcare consortium in Alaska. Key-informant interviews were conducted to investigate the contextual, organizational, and behavioral facilitators and barriers to the implementation and expansion of the program. Interview transcripts were analyzed by two researchers using thematic analysis.

Results

Eight key informants were interviewed twice (during and after the intervention period), and one once, for a total of 17 interviews. Patient stakeholders were not interviewed due to COVID-19 pandemic clinic closures and social isolation mandates. Three principal themes emerged: a positive organizational climate and culture fostered the acceptability of the program, the positive impacts of the program observed in the pediatric dental teams and the organization, and the challenges to implement the program including understanding the data reports, trusting the accuracy of the data, and competing priorities.

Conclusions

The intervention of audit and feedback with goal setting and action planning was well accepted and perceived as feasible by the study participants given the financial and human resources provided by the research project. This qualitative study can inform the design and evaluation of process-oriented implementation strategies geared towards decreasing health inequities and improving health outcomes, such as dental caries in American Indian and Alaska Native children and adolescents.

Developing and Testing Implementation Strategies to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Initiative for Falls Risk Management in Outpatient Physical Therapy: A Protocol

Objectives

To develop and test implementation strategies to support implementing the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions' Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries (STEADI) initiative for falls prevention and falls risk management in a novel setting, outpatient physical therapy.

Design

A feasibility implementation study engaging key partners involved in or affected by the implementation throughout the study.

Setting

Five outpatient physical therapy clinics embedded in a health system.

Participants

Key partners (physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, referring physicians, administrative clinic staff, older adults, and caregivers) involved in or affected by the implementation (N=48) will participate in surveys and interviews to identify barriers and facilitators prior to implementation and post implementation. Twelve key partners representing at least 1 of each group will participate in evidence-based quality improvement panels to identify which barriers and facilitators are most important and feasible to address and to assist in choosing and designing implementation strategies to support the uptake of STEADI in outpatient rehabilitation. STEADI will be implemented in 5 outpatient physical therapy clinics as a standard of care for the ∼1200 older adults attending those clinics annually.

Outcomes

Primary outcomes include clinic- and provider-level (physical therapists and physical therapist assistant) adoption and fidelity to STEADI screening, multifactorial assessment, and falls risk interventions for older adults (65 years or older) attending outpatient physical therapy. Key partners' perceived feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of STEADI in outpatient physical therapy will also be measured using validated implementation science questionnaires. Exploratory clinical outcomes of older adults' falls risk pre- and post rehabilitation will be investigated.

Applying the behavioural change wheel to guide the implementation of a biopsychosocial approach to musculoskeletal pain care

Achieving high value, biopsychosocial pain care can be complex, involving multiple stakeholders working synergistically to support the implementation of quality care. In order to empower healthcare professionals to assess, identify and analyse biopsychosocial factors contributing to musculoskeletal pain, and describe what changes are needed in the whole-of-system to navigate this complexity, we aimed to: (1) map established barriers and enablers influencing healthcare professionals' adoption of a biopsychosocial approach to musculoskeletal pain against behaviour change frameworks; and (2) identify behaviour change techniques to facilitate and support the adoption and improve pain education. A five-step process informed by the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) was undertaken: (i) from a recently published qualitative evidence synthesis, barriers and enablers were mapped onto the Capability Opportunity Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model and Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) using "best fit" framework synthesis; (ii) relevant stakeholder groups involved in the whole-of-health were identified as audiences for potential interventions; (iii) possible intervention functions were considered based on the Affordability, Practicability, Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness, Acceptability, Side-effects/safety, Equity criteria; (iv) a conceptual model was synthesised to understand the behavioural determinants underpinning biopsychosocial pain care; (v) behaviour change techniques (BCTs) to improve adoption were identified. Barriers and enablers mapped onto 5/6 components of the COM-B model and 12/15 domains on the TDF. Multi-stakeholder groups including healthcare professionals, educators, workplace managers, guideline developers and policymakers were identified as target audiences for behavioural interventions, specifically education, training, environmental restructuring, modelling and enablement. A framework was derived with six BCTs identified from the Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy (version 1). Adoption of a biopsychosocial approach to musculoskeletal pain involves a complex set of behavioural determinants, relevant across multiple audiences, reflecting the importance of a whole-of-system approach to musculoskeletal health. We proposed a worked example on how to operationalise the framework and apply the BCTs. Evidence-informed strategies are recommended to empower healthcare professionals to assess, identify and analyse biopsychosocial factors, as well as targeted interventions relevant to various stakeholders. These strategies can help to strengthen a whole-of-system adoption of a biopsychosocial approach to pain care.

The Interaction Between General and Strategic Leadership and Climate on Their Multilevel Associations with Implementer Attitudes Toward Universal Prevention Programs for Youth Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study

Emerging literature has highlighted the importance of discerning general and strategic organizational context (OC) factors (e.g., leadership and climate) and their interaction effect on individual implementation behaviors (e.g., attitudes toward evidence-based practices; EBPs) in youth mental healthcare. This study aimed to examine how leadership and climate (general and strategic) are associated with implementer attitudes toward EBPs across the individual and organizational levels and their interaction effect in schools. A series of multilevel models (MLMs) were fitted on a diverse sample of schools actively implementing universal prevention programs for youth mental health (441 implementers from 52 schools). The organization-level aggregates and individual educators' perceptions of general and strategic leadership and climate, and their interaction terms, were entered as level-2 and level-1 predictors of four attitudinal dimensions (Requirement, Openness, Appeal, and Divergence) based on their level of measurement. At the organizational level, higher levels of strategic leadership and climate, but not their general counterparts, were consistently associated with more favorable attitudes in all four dimensions. At the individual/within-school level, higher levels of perceived general and strategic leadership and climate were associated with more favorable attitudes of Requirement and Openness. At the organizational/between-school level, general climate moderated the positive effect of strategic climate on implementers' perception of appeal and divergence of EBPs. Our findings indicate that leaders should make data-based decisions to allocate resources on strategic and/or general leadership and climate to foster favorable staff attitudes toward EBPs based on the level of measurement, implementation-specificity, and attitudinal dimensions.

TalkingMats as a decision aid to promote involvement in choice and decision-making around home care services for older people with mild to moderate dementia - study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

In Sweden, 72% of people with dementia live in ordinary housing. Of these, 50% receive home care services. Older people with dementia may benefit from developments in decision-making support which aim to facilitate their ability to communicate their personal needs and preferences with care managers and staff in home care services. In this study, we will test and evaluate the use of TalkingMats in Swedish municipal home care services for older people with mild to moderate dementia. TalkingMats is a low-technology communication tool, to help people with communication difficulties express their views. It uses a simple system of picture symbols which are placed on a textured mat. This study will provide insight into the extent to which TalkingMats benefits older people with dementia to feel more involved in decisions related to home care services. In addition, this study will assess the extent to which the use of TalkingMats promotes service providers' efforts to involve service recipients in decision making. The implementation of TalkingMats in home care services will also be studied.

METHODS

A parallel group, two-armed randomized controlled trial design in which TalkingMats and Usual Conversation Method will be compared. Two specific situations where older people with dementia must make decisions about home care services will be studied. First, a follow-up needs-assessment conversation between study participants and care managers will be studied. Second, a conversation between participants and home care staff regarding the delivery of the decided home care services will be studied. In addition, a qualitative approach will be used to gain an understanding of study participant and service provider experiences of the impact and implementation of TalkingMats.

DISCUSSION

The combined exploratory, descriptive, and experimental study design is considered an important strength which will facilitate multi-facetted knowledge production concerning the involvement and communication needs of older people with dementia generally and within the context of home care services specifically. Combining qualitative and quantitative methods will maximize our ability to assess the effects of TalkingMats.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05561998 . Registered in September 28, 2022.

Behavioural change interventions encouraging clinicians to reduce carbon emissions in clinical activity: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Clinical activity accounts for 70-80% of the carbon footprint of healthcare. A critical component of reducing emissions is shifting clinical behaviour towards reducing, avoiding, or replacing carbon-intensive healthcare. The objective of this systematic review was to find, map and assess behaviour change interventions that have been implemented in healthcare settings to encourage clinicians to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their clinical activity.

METHODS

Studies eligible for inclusion were those reporting on a behaviour change intervention to reduce carbon emissions via changes in healthcare workplace behaviour. Six databases were searched in November 2021 (updated February 2022). A pre-determined template was used to extract data from the studies, and risk of bias was assessed. The behaviour change techniques (BCTs) used in the interventions were coded using the BCT Taxonomy.

RESULTS

Six full-text studies were included in this review, and 14 conference abstracts. All studies used a before-after intervention design. The majority were UK studies (n = 15), followed by US (n = 3) and Australia (n = 2). Of the full-text studies, four focused on reducing the emissions associated with anaesthesia, and two aimed at reducing unnecessary test ordering. Of the conference abstracts, 13 focused on anaesthetic gas usage, and one on respiratory inhalers. The most common BCTs used were social support, salience of consequences, restructuring the physical environment, prompts and cues, feedback on outcome of behaviour, and information about environmental consequences. All studies reported success of their interventions in reducing carbon emissions, prescribing, ordering, and financial costs; however, only two studies reported the magnitude and significance of their intervention's success. All studies scored at least one item as unclear or at risk of bias.

CONCLUSION

Most interventions to date have targeted anaesthesia or pathology test ordering in hospital settings. Due to the diverse study outcomes and consequent inability to pool the results, this review is descriptive only, limiting our ability to conclude the effectiveness of interventions. Multiple BCTs were used in each study but these were not compared, evaluated, or used systematically. All studies lacked rigour in study design and measurement of outcomes.

REVIEW REGISTRATION

The study was registered on Prospero (ID number CRD42021272526) (Breth-Petersen et al., Prospero 2021: CRD42021272526).

Development of a tool to support general practitioners to help adolescents with knee pain: an analysis using the Theoretical Domains Framework

AIM

Using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and COM-B model, this study aimed to determine the facilitators to a support tool for adolescent non-traumatic knee pain in general practice.

BACKGROUND

Many children and adolescents with non-traumatic knee pain consult their general practice. Currently, there are no tools to support general practitioners in the diagnosis and management of this group. There is a need to identify behavioural targets that would facilitate further development and implementation of such a tool.

METHODS

This study was designed as a qualitative study using focus group interviews with 12 medical doctors working in general practice. The semi-structured focus group interviews conducted online and followed an interview guide based on the TDF and COM-B model. Data were analysed via thematic text analysis.

FINDINGS

One of the biggest challenges from the general practitioner's perspective was how to manage and guide adolescents with non-traumatic knee pain. The doctors had doubts in their capability to diagnose knee pain and saw opportunity to help structure the consultation. The doctors felt motivated to use a tool but considered access a potential barrier. Increasing opportunity and motivation by creating access in the community among general practitioners was considered important. We identified several barriers and facilitators for a support tool for the management of adolescent non-traumatic knee pain in general practice. To align with user needs, future tools should support diagnostic workup, structure the consultation and be easily available among doctors working in general practice.

Uncovering hidden abilities for participation in research through photo-elicitation interviews: a view on participatory research with people living in residential care facilities

BACKGROUND

Participatory research has been described to improve the relevance of research findings for the society in terms of quality of healthcare services and other public benefits. Nevertheless, there is limited guidance on how to conduct participatory research, and especially in relation to persons living in residential care facilities. To make the voices of this group heard, we therefore take a stance in the democratic approach to participatory research, and we have applied the theoretical framework Model of Human Occupation (MoHO) on participation to evaluate photo-elicitation interviews as a participatory research method with this group.

METHODS

A total of 13 persons living in two residential care facilities were involved in the study and asked to take photographs of their everyday life over one week. They were then invited to an individual interview to narrate the meaning of the photographs and to describe how they experienced the photo-elicitation method. The interviews were analysed in the six steps of theoretically driven reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The findings are described in the theme 'Uncovering hidden abilities for participation in research' that describes how photo elicitation interviews facilitated the older persons' participation in research. This is illustrated by four sub-themes: 'Bridging the ageing body', 'Altering habituation to everyday life', 'Empowering storytelling', and 'Negotiating the institutional culture'.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study findings support further application and evaluation of photo-elicitation interviews as a method for participatory research in residential care facilities. The major finding is how photo-elicitation interviews were used to reduce the impact of the institutional culture on the older persons' participation in research. The method is, however, not without limitations and we encourage researchers to study the dynamic relationship between physical, social, and cultural aspects of residential care facilities in relation to the use of photo-elicitation interviews with the persons living there.

Theorizing is for everybody: Advancing the process of theorizing in implementation science

There has been a call to shift from treating theories as static products to engaging in a process of theorizing that develops, modifies, and advances implementation theory through the accumulation of knowledge. Stimulating theoretical advances is necessary to improve our understanding of the causal processes that influence implementation and to enhance the value of existing theory. We argue that a primary reason that existing theory has lacked iteration and evolution is that the process for theorizing is obscure and daunting. We present recommendations for advancing the process of theorizing in implementation science to draw more people in the process of developing and advancing theory.

Development of a feasible and acceptable digital prehabilitation pathway to improve elective surgical outcomes

Objectives

To codesign and assess the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of a hospital-initiated, community delivered approach to health optimization (prehab) prior to planned surgery.

Design

Participatory codesign combined with a prospective, observational cohort study (April-July 2022).

Setting

A large metropolitan tertiary referral service with 2 participating hospitals.

Participants

All people referred for orthopaedic assessment for joint replacement surgery (hip or knee) triaged as category 2 or 3. Exclusions: category 1; no mobile number. Response rate 80%.

Intervention

My PreHab Program is a digitally enabled pathway that screens participants for modifiable risk factors for post-operative complications and provides tailored information to enable health optimization prior to surgery with the help of their regular doctor.

Outcome measures

Acceptability, feasibility, appropriateness, and engagement with the program.

Results

36/45 (80%) registered for the program (ages 45-85 yrs.), completed the health-screening survey and had ≥1 modifiable risk factor. Eighteen responded to the consumer experience questionnaire: 11 had already seen or scheduled an appointment with their General Practitioner and 5 planned to. 10 had commenced prehab and, 7 planned to. Half indicated they were likely (n = 7) or very likely (n = 2) to recommend My PreHab Program to others. The My PreHab Program scored an average 3.4 (SD 0.78) for acceptability, 3.5 (SD 0.62) for appropriateness, and 3.6 (SD 0.61) for feasibility, out of a score of 5.

Conclusions

This digitally delivered intervention is acceptable, appropriate, and feasible to support a hospital-initiated, community-based prehab program.

Implementation Barriers and Experiences of Eligible Patients Who Failed to Enroll in Collaborative Care for Depression and Anxiety

BACKGROUND

Effective and efficient implementation of the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) for depression and anxiety is imperative for program success. Studies examining barriers to implementation often omit patient perspectives.

OBJECTIVES

To explore experiences and attitudes of eligible patients referred to CoCM who declined participation or were unable to be reached, and identify implementation barriers to inform strategies.

DESIGN

Convergent mixed-methods study with a survey and interview.

PARTICIPANTS

Primary care patients at an academic medical center who were referred to a CoCM program for anxiety and depression by their primary care clinician (PCC) but declined participation or were unable to be reached by the behavioral health care manager to initiate care (n = 80). Interviews were conducted with 45 survey respondents.

MAIN MEASURES

Survey of patients' referral experiences and behavioral health preferences as they related to failing to enroll in the program. Interview questions were developed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research version 2.0 (CFIR 2.0) to identify implementation barriers to enrollment.

KEY RESULTS

Survey results found that patients were uncertain about insurance coverage, did not understand the program, and felt services were not necessary. Referred patients who declined participation were concerned about how their mental health information would be used and preferred treatment without medication. Men agreed more that they did not need services. Qualitative results exhibited a variety of implementation determinants (n = 23) across the five CFIR 2.0 domains. Barriers included mental health stigma, perceiving behavioral health as outside of primary care practice guidelines, short or infrequent primary care appointments, prioritizing physical health over mental health, receiving inaccurate program information, low motivation to engage, and a less established relationship with their PCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple barriers to enrollment led to failing to link patients to care, which can inform implementation strategies to address the patient-reported experiences and concerns.

Using the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Expanded (FRAME) to study adaptations in lung cancer screening delivery in the Veterans Health Administration: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer screening is a complex clinical process that includes identification of eligible individuals, shared decision-making, tobacco cessation, and management of screening results. Adaptations to the delivery process for lung cancer screening in situ are understudied and underreported, with the potential loss of important considerations for improved implementation. The Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Expanded (FRAME) allows for a systematic enumeration of adaptations to implementation of evidence-based practices. We applied FRAME to study adaptations in lung cancer screening delivery processes implemented by lung cancer screening programs in a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Enterprise-Wide Initiative.

METHODS

We prospectively conducted semi-structured interviews at baseline and 1-year intervals with lung cancer screening program navigators at 10 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) between 2019 and 2021. Using this data, we developed baseline (1st) process maps for each program. In subsequent years (year 1 and year 2), each program navigator reviewed the process maps. Adaptations in screening processes were identified, documented, and mapped to FRAME categories.

RESULTS

We conducted a total of 16 interviews across 10 VHA lung cancer screening programs (n=6 in year 1, n=10 in year 2) to collect adaptations. In year 1 (2020), six programs were operational and eligible. Of these, three reported adaptations to their screening process that were planned or in response to COVID-19. In year 2 (2021), all 10 programs were operational and eligible. Programs reported 14 adaptations in year 2. These adaptations were planned and unplanned and often triggered by increased workload; 57% of year 2 adaptations were related to the identification and eligibility of Veterans and 43% were related to follow-up with Veterans for screening results. Throughout the 2 years, adaptations related to data management and patient tracking occurred in 60% of programs to improve the data collection and tracking of Veterans in the screening process.

CONCLUSIONS

Using FRAME, we found that adaptations occurred primarily in the areas of patient identification and communication of results due to increased workload. These findings highlight navigator time and resource considerations for sustainability and scalability of existing and future lung cancer screening programs as well as potential areas for future intervention.

Protocol for a hybrid II study exploring the feasibility of delivering, evaluating, and implementing a self-management programme for people with neuromuscular diseases at a specialist neuromuscular centre

BACKGROUND

Self-management support (SMS) forms a central pillar in the management of long-term conditions. It is firmly aligned with UK health policy but there is a paucity of evidence exploring how it is enacted in the context of neuromuscular diseases (NMDs). Bridges is a SMS programme originally developed in stroke. A new version of the programme (Neuromuscular Bridges) has recently been co-designed with people with lived experience of NMD and requires evaluation. The implementation of SMS is inherently complex with potential barriers at the level of the patient, provider, and wider organisation. The success of implementing programmes can be highly dependent on context, indicating a rationale for considering implementation determinants at an early stage. This study aims to explore the feasibility of (1) delivering, (2) evaluating, and (3) implementing Neuromuscular Bridges at a specialist neuromuscular centre.

METHODS

This study employs a hybrid II design underpinned by Normalisation Process Theory (NPT), which has been used prospectively to inform the implementation plan and will also inform the analysis. The feasibility of delivering, evaluating, and implementing Neuromuscular Bridges will be assessed using a single-arm pre-post design. In terms of delivery and evaluation, we will explore acceptability, demand within the service, performance of outcome measures, recruitment, and retention. Implementation strategies have been selected from a refined taxonomy of strategies, mapped to NPT, and targeted at known barriers and facilitators at the specialist centre that were identified from preliminary stakeholder engagement activities. The impact of the strategy bundle on fidelity, acceptability, appropriateness, and adoption will be evaluated using qualitative interviews, administrative data, surveys, and a notes audit.

CONCLUSIONS

This this study will provide valuable feasibility data on a co-designed SMS programme for people with NMDs that will be used to inform a larger implementation study, requirements for embedding it in a specialist centre, and rollout to other specialist centres. Using hybrid methodology at the feasibility stage is unusual and this study will provide important insights into the usefulness of taking this approach at this point in the research pipeline.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN Trial ID: ISRCTN14208138 . Date registered: 18/08/2021.

A scoping review of theories used to investigate clinician adherence to clinical practice guidelines

BACKGROUND

Routine utilization of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) is an effective strategy to optimize patient care and reduce practice variation. Healthcare professionals' failure to adhere to CPGs introduces risks to both patients and the sustainability of healthcare systems. The integration of theory to investigate adherence provides greater insight into the often complex reasons for suboptimal behaviors.

AIM

To determine the coverage of literature surrounding the use of theory in studies of CPG adherence, report the key findings and identify the knowledge gaps.

METHOD

In April 2021, three bibliographic databases were searched for studies published since January 2010, adopting theory to investigate health professionals' adherence to CPGs. Two reviewers independently screened the articles for eligibility and charted the data. A narrative approach to synthesis was employed.

RESULTS

The review includes 12 articles. Studies were limited to primarily investigations of physicians, quantitative designs, single disease states and few countries. The use of behavioral theories facilitated pooling of data of barriers and facilitators of adherence. The domains and constructs of a number of the reported theories are captured within the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF); the most common barriers aligned with the TDF domain of environmental context and resources, fewer studies reported facilitators.

CONCLUSION

There is emerging use of behavioral theories investigating physicians' adherence to CPGs. Although limited in number, these studies present specific insight into common barriers and facilitators, thus providing valuable evidence for refining existing and future implementation strategies. Similar investigations of other health professionals are warranted.

Assessment of contextual factors shaping delivery and uptake of isoniazid preventive therapy among people living with HIV in Dar es salaam, Tanzania

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis has remained a leading cause of death among people living with HIV (PLHIV) globally. Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) is the recommended strategy by the World Health Organization to prevent TB disease and related deaths among PLHIV. However, delivery and uptake of IPT has remained suboptimal particularly in countries where HIV and TB are endemic such as Tanzania. This study sought to assess contextual factors that shape delivery and uptake of IPT in Dar es Salaam region, Tanzania.

METHODOLOGY

We employed a qualitative case study design comprising of in-depth interviews with people living with HIV (n = 17), as well as key informant interviews with clinicians (n = 7) and health administrators (n = 7). We used thematic data analysis approach and reporting of the results was guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

RESULTS

Characteristics of IPT such as aligning the therapy to individual patient schedules and its relatively low cost facilitated its delivery and uptake. On the contrary, perceived adverse side effects negatively affected the delivery and uptake of IPT. Characteristics of individuals delivering the therapy including their knowledge, good attitudes, and commitment to meeting set targets facilitated the delivery and uptake of IPT. The process of IPT delivery comprised collective planning and collaboration among various facilities which facilitated its delivery and uptake. Organisational characteristics including communication among units and supportive leadership facilitated the delivery and uptake of IPT. External system factors including HIV stigma, negative cultural and religious values, limited funding as well as shortage of skilled healthcare workers presented as barriers to the delivery and uptake of IPT.

CONCLUSION

The factors influencing the delivery and uptake of IPT among people living with HIV are multifaceted and exist at different levels of the health system. Therefore, it is imperative that IPT program implementers and policy makers adopt multilevel approaches that address the identified barriers and leverage the facilitators in delivery and uptake of IPT at both community and health system levels.

"We start where we are": a qualitative study of barriers and pragmatic solutions to the assessment and reporting of implementation strategy fidelity

BACKGROUND

Fidelity measurement of implementation strategies is underdeveloped and underreported, and the level of reporting is decreasing over time. Failing to properly measure the factors that affect the delivery of an implementation strategy may obscure the link between a strategy and its outcomes. Barriers to assessing and reporting implementation strategy fidelity among researchers are not well understood. The aims of this qualitative study were to identify barriers to fidelity measurement and pragmatic pathways towards improvement.

METHODS

We conducted in-depth interviews among researchers conducting implementation trials. We utilized a theory-informed interview approach to elicit the barriers and possible solutions to implementation strategy fidelity assessment and reporting. Reflexive-thematic analysis guided coding and memo-writing to determine key themes regarding barriers and solutions.

RESULTS

Twenty-two implementation researchers were interviewed. Participants agreed that implementation strategy fidelity was an essential element of implementation trials and that its assessment and reporting should improve. Key thematic barriers focused on (1) a current lack of validated fidelity tools with the need to assess fidelity in the short term, (2) the complex nature of some implementation strategies, (3) conceptual complications when assessing fidelity within mechanisms-focused implementation research, and (4) structural issues related to funding and publishing. Researchers also suggested pragmatic solutions to overcome each barrier. Respondents reported using specification and tracking data in the short term until validated tools become available. Participants suggested that researchers with strategy-specific content expertise lead the way in identifying core components and setting fidelity requirements for them. Addressing the third barrier, participants provided examples of what pragmatic prospective and retrospective fidelity assessments might look like along a mechanistic pathway. Finally, researchers described approaches to minimize costs of data collection, as well as more structural accountability like adopting and enforcing reporting guidelines or changing the structure of funding opportunities.

DISCUSSION

We propose short- and long-term priorities for improving the assessment and reporting of implementation strategy fidelity and the quality of implementation research.

CONCLUSIONS

A better understanding of the barriers to implementation strategy fidelity assessment may pave the way towards pragmatic solutions.

A collaborative approach to develop an intervention to strengthen health visitors' role in prevention of excess weight gain in children

BACKGROUND

The high prevalence of childhood obesity is a concern for public health policy and practitioners, leading to a focus on early prevention. UK health visitors (HVs) are well-positioned to prevent excessive weight gain trends in pre-school children but experience barriers to implementing guideline recommended practices. This research engaged with HVs to design an intervention to strengthen their role in prevention of early childhood obesity.

METHODS

We describe the processes we used to develop a behaviour change intervention and measures to test its feasibility. We conducted a systematic review to identify factors associated with implementation of practices recommended for prevention of early childhood obesity. We carried out interactive workshops with HVs who deliver health visiting services in County Durham, England. Workshop format was informed by the behaviour change wheel framework for developing theory-based interventions and incorporated systematic review evidence. As intended recipients of the intervention, HVs provided their views of what is important and acceptable in the local context. The findings of the workshops were combined in an iterative process to inform the four steps of the Implementation Intervention development framework that was adapted as a practical guide for the development process.

RESULTS

Theoretical analysis of the workshop findings revealed HVs' capabilities, opportunities and motivations related to prevention of excess weight in 0-2 year olds. Intervention strategies deemed most likely to support implementation (enablement, education, training, modelling, persuasion) were combined to design an interactive training intervention. Measures to test acceptability, feasibility, and fidelity of delivery of the proposed intervention were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

An interactive training intervention has been designed, informed by theory, evidence, and expert knowledge of HVs, in an area of health promotion that is currently evolving. This research addresses an important evidence-practice gap in prevention of childhood obesity. The use of a systematic approach to the development process, identification of intervention contents and their hypothesised mechanisms of action provides an opportunity for this research to contribute to the body of literature on designing of implementation interventions using a collaborative approach. Future research should be directed to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention.

Clinician and Patient Experience of Internet-Mediated Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy

Many eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapists moved their practice online during COVID-19. We conducted surveys and interviews to understand the implementation and acceptability of online EMDR therapy. From 17 June to 2nd August 2021 an online survey was open to EMDR therapists from the EMDR Association UK & Ireland and EMDR International Association email lists, and, through them, their clients. Questions related to determinants of implementation (for therapists) and acceptability (for clients) of online EMDR. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of therapist respondents to provide a deeper understanding of survey responses. Survey responses were received from therapists (n = 562) from five continents, and their clients (n = 148). 88% of clients responded as being extremely or very comfortable receiving EMDR therapy online. At the initial point of ‘social distancing’, 54% of therapists indicated strong or partial reluctance to deliver online EMDR therapy compared to 11% just over one year later. Four fifths of therapists intended to continue offering online therapy after restrictions were lifted. Free-text responses and interview data showed that deprivation and clinical severity could lead to exclusion from online EMDR. Internet connectivity could disrupt sessions, lead to cancellations, or affect the therapy process. Therapists benefited from training in online working. Online EMDR is generally acceptable to therapists and clients, with reservations about digital exclusion, case severity, poor internet connectivity and the need for training. Further research is needed to confirm that online EMDR is clinically non-inferior to in-person working.

Enabling local political committees to support the implementation of evidence-based practice - a feasibility study

BACKGROUND

Local politicians can serve as enablers or barriers for health and social organizations to implement evidence, impacting the context of health and social service organizations. Increasing local politicians' knowledge about, and support for, evidence-based practice (EBP) could be a way to strengthen the conditions in social service organizations for EBP. The aim of the study was to describe the development and assess the perceived feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of an intervention to enable local political committees to support the implementation of EBP. Furthermore, the achievement of the learning outcomes was examined.

METHODS

Workshops and interviews were used to co-create the intervention with social service representatives (n = 8) and local politicians (n = 6). A single-arm, non-blinded feasibility study was conducted in a social welfare committee with local politicians (n = 14) and representatives from social services (n = 4). Interviews and pre-post questionnaires were used to assess the intervention's feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness, and learning outcomes. Progression criteria was set to > 80% of respondents judging the intervention to be feasible, acceptable, and appropriate. Thematic analysis and descriptive statistics were used for analysis.

RESULTS

The quantitative and qualitative results indicate that the intervention was perceived as acceptable and appropriate. However, the progression criteria for feasibility were not fully met. Qualitative findings show that the intervention was perceived as interesting, fun, and created curiosity to learn more about EBP. The discussions between the committee and the representatives from the social services department were much valued.

CONCLUSIONS

Careful anchoring of the intervention and comprehensive local adaptation regarding delivery format will be central to the delivery of this intervention if offered elsewhere. Furthermore, we recommend that skills training during the intervention should be included. The collaboration between local politicians and representatives from the social services department was a vital aspect of the intervention and should not be excluded. Collaboration between these actors will be of significance in further developing support for EBP implementation, as expressed by the interview participants.

How does nursing-sensitive indicator feedback with nursing or interprofessional teams work and shape nursing performance improvement systems? A rapid realist review

BACKGROUND

Care quality varies between organizations and even units within an organization. Inadequate care can have harmful financial and social consequences, e.g. nosocomial infection, lengthened hospital stays or death. Experts recommend the implementation of nursing performance improvement systems to assess team performance and monitor patient outcomes as well as service efficiency. In practice, these systems provide nursing or interprofessional teams with nursing-sensitive indicator feedback. Feedback is essential since it commits teams to improve their practice, although it appears somewhat haphazard and, at times, overlooked. Research findings suggest that contextual dynamics, initial system performance and feedback modes interact in unknown ways. This rapid review aims to produce a theorization to explain what works in which contexts, and how feedback to nursing or interprofessional teams shape nursing performance improvement systems.

METHODS

Based on theory-driven realist methodology, with reference to an innovative combination of Actor-Network Theory and Critical Realist philosophy principles, this realist rapid review entailed an iterative procedure: 8766 documents in French and English, published between 2010 and 2018, were identified via 5 databases, and 23 were selected and analysed. Two expert panels (scientific and clinical) were consulted to improve the synthesis and systemic modelling of an original feedback theorization.

RESULTS

We identified three hypotheses, subdivided into twelve generative configurations to explain how feedback mobilizes nursing or interprofessional teams. Empirically founded and actionable, these propositions are supported by expert panels. Each configuration specifies contextualized mechanisms that explain feedback and team outcomes. Socially mediated mechanisms are particularly generative of action and agency.

CONCLUSIONS

This rapid realist review provides an informative theoretical proposition to embrace the complexity of nursing-sensitive indicator feedback with nursing or interdisciplinary teams. Building on general explanations previously observed, this review provides insight into a deep explanation of feedback mechanisms.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

Prospero CRD42018110128 .

Examining the complementarity between the ERIC compilation of implementation strategies and the behaviour change technique taxonomy: a qualitative analysis

BACKGROUND

Efforts to generate evidence for implementation strategies are frustrated by insufficient description. The Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) compilation names and defines implementation strategies; however, further work is needed to describe the actions involved. One potentially complementary taxonomy is the behaviour change techniques (BCT) taxonomy. We aimed to examine the extent and nature of the overlap between these taxonomies.

METHODS

Definitions and descriptions of 73 strategies in the ERIC compilation were analysed. First, each description was deductively coded using the BCT taxonomy. Second, a typology was developed to categorise the extent of overlap between ERIC strategies and BCTs. Third, three implementation scientists independently rated their level of agreement with the categorisation and BCT coding. Finally, discrepancies were settled through online consensus discussions. Additional patterns of complementarity between ERIC strategies and BCTs were labelled thematically. Descriptive statistics summarise the frequency of coded BCTs and the number of strategies mapped to each of the categories of the typology.

RESULTS

Across the 73 strategies, 41/93 BCTs (44%) were coded, with 'restructuring the social environment' as the most frequently coded (n=18 strategies, 25%). There was direct overlap between one strategy (change physical structure and equipment) and one BCT ('restructuring physical environment'). Most strategy descriptions (n=64) had BCTs that were clearly indicated (n=18), and others where BCTs were probable but not explicitly described (n=31) or indicated multiple types of overlap (n=15). For some strategies, the presence of additional BCTs was dependent on the form of delivery. Some strategies served as examples of broad BCTs operationalised for implementation. For eight strategies, there were no BCTs indicated, or they did not appear to focus on changing behaviour. These strategies reflected preparatory stages and targeted collective cognition at the system level rather than behaviour change at the service delivery level.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates how the ERIC compilation and BCT taxonomy can be integrated to specify active ingredients, providing an opportunity to better understand mechanisms of action. Our results highlight complementarity rather than redundancy. More efforts to integrate these or other taxonomies will aid strategy developers and build links between existing silos in implementation science.

Willingness of Older Canadians with HIV to Participate in HIV Cure Research Near and After the End of Life: A Mixed-Method Study

HIV cure research requires interrogating latent HIV reservoirs in deep tissues, which necessitates autopsies to avoid risks to participants. An HIV autopsy biobank would facilitate this research, but such research raises ethical issues and requires participant engagement. This study explores the willingness to participate in HIV cure research at the end of life. Participants include Canadians with HIV [people with HIV (PWHIV)] aged 55 years or older. Following a mixed-method study design, all participants completed a phone or online survey, and a subset of participants participated in in-depth phone or videoconference interviews. We produced descriptive statistics of quantitative data and a thematic analysis of qualitative data. Barriers and facilitators were categorized under domains of the Theoretical Domains Framework. From April 2020 to August 2021, 37 participants completed the survey (mean age = 69.9 years old; mean duration of HIV infection = 28.5 years), including 15 interviewed participants. About three quarters of participants indicated being willing to participate in hypothetical medical studies toward the end of life (n = 30; 81.1%), in HIV biobanking (n = 30; 81.1%), and in a research autopsy (n = 28; 75.7%) to advance HIV cure research, mainly for altruistic benefits. The main perceived risks had to do with physical pain and confidentiality. Barriers and facilitators were distributed across five domains: social/professional role and identity, environmental context and resources, social influences, beliefs about consequences, and capabilities. Participants wanted more information about study objectives and procedures, possible accommodations with their last will, and rationale for studies or financial interests funding studies. Our results indicate that older PWHIV would be willing to participate in HIV cure research toward the end of life, HIV biobanking, and research autopsy. However, a dialogue should be initiated to inform participants thoroughly about HIV cure studies, address concerns, and accommodate their needs and preferences. Additional work is required, likely through increased community engagement, to address educational needs.

Stakeholders' perception on the implementation of Developmental Progress Assessment: using the Theoretical Domains Framework to document behavioral determinants

BACKGROUND

The widespread implementation of longitudinal assessment (LA) to document trainees' progression to independent practice rests more on speculative rather than evidence-based benefits. We aimed to document stakeholders' knowledge of- and attitudes towards LA, and identify how the supports and barriers can help or hinder the uptake and sustainable use of LA.

METHODS

We interviewed representatives from four stakeholder groups involved in LA. The interview protocols were based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), which contains a total of 14 behaviour change determinants. Two team members coded the interviews deductively to the TDF, with a third resolving differences in coding. The qualitative data analysis was completed with iterative consultations and discussions with team members until consensus was achieved. Saliency analysis was used to identify dominant domains.

RESULTS

Forty-one individuals participated in the study. Three dominant domains were identified. Participants perceive that LA has more positive than negative consequences and requires substantial ressources. All the elements and characteristics of LA are present in our data, with differences between stakeholders.

CONCLUSION

Going forward, we could develop and implement tailored and theory driven interventions to promote a shared understanding of LA, and maintain potential positive outcomes while reducing negative ones. Furthermore, ressources to support LA implementation need to be addressed to facilitate its uptake.

Enhancing national audit through addressing the quality improvement capabilities of feedback recipients: a multi-phase intervention development study

Background

National audits are a common, but variably effective, intervention to improve services. This study aimed to design an intervention to increase the effectiveness of national audit.

Methods

We used interviews, documentary analysis, observations, co-design and stakeholder engagement methods. The intervention was described in an intervention manual and illustrated using a logic model. Phase 1 described the current hospital response to a national audit. Phase 2 identified potential enhancements. Phase 3 developed a strategy to implement the enhancements. Phase 4 explored the feasibility of the intervention alongside the National Audit of Dementia and refined the intervention. Phase 5 adapted the intervention to a second national audit (National Diabetes Audit). Phase 6 explored the feasibility and fidelity of the intervention alongside the National Diabetes Audit and used the findings to further refine the intervention.

Results

The developed intervention is a quality improvement collaborative (QIC), containing virtual educational workshop, virtual outreach for local team leads and virtual facilitation of a learning collaborative delivered after feedback has been received. The QIC aims to support national audit recipients to undertake improvement actions tailored to their local context. The target audience is clinical and clinical governance leaders. We found that actions from national audit were constrained by what the clinical lead perceived they deliver personally, these actions were not aligned to identified influences upon performance. We found that the hospital response could be enhanced by targeting low baseline performance, identifying and addressing influences upon to performance, developing trust and credibility, addressing recipient priorities, presenting meaningful comparisons, developing a conceptual model, involving stakeholders and considering the opportunity cost. Phase 3 found that an educational workshop and outreach strategy could support implementation of the enhancements through developing coherence and cognitive participation. We found feasibility could be increased by revising the content, re-naming the intervention, amending activities to address time commitment, incorporating a more structured analysis of influences, supporting collaboration and developing local feedback mechanisms. Phase 5 found adaptation to a second national audit involved reflecting differences in the clinical topic, context and contractual requirements. We found that the behaviour change techniques identified in the manual were delivered by facilitators. Participants reported positive attitudes towards the intervention and that the intervention was appropriate.

Conclusions

The QIC supports local teams to tailor their actions to local context and develop change commitment. Future work will evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention as an adjunct to the National Diabetes Audit.

More than one third of clinical practice guidelines on low back pain overlap in AGREE II appraisals. Research wasted?

Background

Systematic reviews can apply the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation (AGREE) II tool to critically appraise clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for treating low back pain (LBP); however, when appraisals differ in CPG quality rating, stakeholders, clinicians, and policy-makers will find it difficult to discern a unique judgement of CPG quality. We wanted to determine the proportion of overlapping CPGs for LBP in appraisals that applied AGREE II. We also compared inter-rater reliability and variability across appraisals.

Methods

For this meta-epidemiological study we searched six databases for appraisals of CPGs for LBP. The general characteristics of the appraisals were collected; the unit of analysis was the CPG evaluated in each appraisal. The inter-rater reliability and the variability of AGREE II domain scores for overall assessment were measured using the intraclass correlation coefficient and descriptive statistics.

Results

Overall, 43 CPGs out of 106 (40.6%) overlapped in seventeen appraisals. Half of the appraisals (53%) reported a protocol registration. Reporting of AGREE II assessment was heterogeneous and generally of poor quality: overall assessment 1 (overall CPG quality) was rated in 11 appraisals (64.7%) and overall assessment 2 (recommendation for use) in four (23.5%). Inter-rater reliability was substantial/perfect in 78.3% of overlapping CPGs. The domains with most variability were Domain 6 (mean interquartile range [IQR] 38.6), Domain 5 (mean IQR 28.9), and Domain 2 (mean IQR 27.7).

Conclusions

More than one third of CPGs for LBP have been re-appraised in the last six years with CPGs quality confirmed in most assessments. Our findings suggest that before conducting a new appraisal, researchers should check systematic review registers for existing appraisals. Clinicians need to rely on updated CPGs of high quality and confirmed by perfect agreement in multiple appraisals.

Trial Registration

Protocol Registration OSF: https://osf.io/rz7nh/

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12874-022-01621-w.

Dental safety net providers' experiences with service delivery during the first year of COVID-19 should inform dental pandemic preparedness

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 disrupted oral health care delivery and revealed gaps in dental public health emergency preparedness and response (PHEPR). Emerging dental PHEPR frameworks can be strengthened by means of understanding the experiences of the discipline's frontline workers-dental safety net providers-during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Experienced qualitative researchers interviewed dental safety net directors and clinicians (n = 21) in 6 states to understand their experiences delivering care from March 2020 through February 2021. Interview transcriptions were analyzed using iterative codes to identify major and minor themes. Conventional qualitative validity checks were used continuously to ensure impartiality and rigor.

RESULTS

Three major themes were identified: unpredictability caused concerns among staff members and patients, while also deepening fulfilling collaborations; care delivery was guided by means of various resources that balanced safety, flexibility, and respect for autonomy; and pandemic-driven changes to oral health care delivery are timely, long-lasting, and can be somewhat fraught.

CONCLUSIONS

The human, material, and policy resources that providers used to control infections, serve vulnerable patients, maintain clinic solvency, and address provider burnout during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic can improve dental PHEPR.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Dental PHEPR should address concerns beyond infection control within and between practice models, governmental agencies, and professional organizations. Examples of such concerns include, but are not limited to, guideline synchronization, materials exigencies, task shifting, and provider resilience.

Synthesis of clinical practice guideline recommendations for the primary health care of chronic musculoskeletal pain

RATIONALE AND AIMS

The prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMSP) is high and rising. The multidimensional impact of CMSP on individuals necessitates multidisciplinary evidence-based strategies to prevent and manage chronic pain. Primary health care (PHC) is the first point of care in many healthcare systems and evidence implementation at this point is important. We aim to describe the process of development of a comprehensive list of evidence-based recommendations derived from different high-quality clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) to inform the PHC healthcare of adults with CMSP.

METHOD

A systematic review was conducted of CPGs that focussed on PHC management of CMSP in adults. CPGs were identified by searching 13 guideline clearinghouses and five online databases. Eligible CPGs were critically appraised using Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation, Version II (AGREE II). A stepwise systematic process was followed to identify a core set of recommendations. This process comprised the following: extract recommendations; analyze recommendations; synthesize recommendations by assimilating similar recommendations; determine the strength of the body of evidence underpinning the recommendations and produce a list of synthesized recommendations.

RESULTS

Six high-quality CPGs were identified, providing 156 recommendations. These were condensed to 42 statements covering topics about the approach to care, assessment, advice and education, referral, pharmacological management, physical therapy, electrotherapy, psychological therapy, complementary therapy and self-management. The set of recommendations encompasses a person-centered approach, collaborative decision making, a biopsychosocial approach, patient education and empowerment towards self-management.

CONCLUSION

The process of developing composite recommendations from multiple CPGs enables end-users to access comprehensive information on managing CMSP in PHC settings that is not available from one singular CPG. The content and evidence base for recommendations varied between CPGs. A similar stepwise process may be used to develop a core set of recommendations for other health conditions, where multiple, diverse CPGs exist.

Psychometric performance of the Mental Health Implementation Science Tools (mhIST) across six low- and middle-income countries

BACKGROUND

Existing implementation measures developed in high-income countries may have limited appropriateness for use within low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). In response, researchers at Johns Hopkins University began developing the Mental Health Implementation Science Tools (mhIST) in 2013 to assess priority implementation determinants and outcomes across four key stakeholder groups-consumers, providers, organization leaders, and policy makers-with dedicated versions of scales for each group. These were field tested and refined in several contexts, and criterion validity was established in Ukraine. The Consumer and Provider mhIST have since grown in popularity in mental health research, outpacing psychometric evaluation. Our objective was to establish the cross-context psychometric properties of these versions and inform future revisions.

METHODS

We compiled secondary data from seven studies across six LMIC-Colombia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand, Ukraine, and Zambia-to evaluate the psychometric performance of the Consumer and Provider mhIST. We used exploratory factor analysis to identify dimensionality, factor structure, and item loadings for each scale within each stakeholder version. We also used alignment analysis (i.e., multi-group confirmatory factor analysis) to estimate measurement invariance and differential item functioning of the Consumer scales across the six countries.

RESULTS

All but one scale within the Provider and Consumer versions had Cronbach's alpha greater than 0.8. Exploratory factor analysis indicated most scales were multidimensional, with factors generally aligning with a priori subscales for the Provider version; the Consumer version has no predefined subscales. Alignment analysis of the Consumer mhIST indicated a range of measurement invariance for scales across settings (R2 0.46 to 0.77). Several items were identified for potential revision due to participant nonresponse or low or cross- factor loadings. We found only one item, which asked consumers whether their intervention provider was available when needed, to have differential item functioning in both intercept and loading.

CONCLUSION

We provide evidence that the Consumer and Provider versions of the mhIST are internally valid and reliable across diverse contexts and stakeholder groups for mental health research in LMIC. We recommend the instrument be revised based on these analyses and future research examine instrument utility by linking measurement to other outcomes of interest.

Well-being app to support young people during the COVID-19 pandemic: randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy and acceptability of 'Whitu: seven ways in seven days', a well-being application (app) for young people.

DESIGN

Prospective randomised controlled trial of Whitu against waitlist control, with 45 participants in each arm.

PARTICIPANTS

90 New Zealand young people aged 16-30 recruited via a social media advertising campaign.

SETTING

Participants' homes.

INTERVENTIONS

Developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and refined from a prototype version that was evaluated during a smaller qualitative study, 'Whitu: seven ways in seven days' is a well-being app that, as its name suggests, contains seven modules to help young people (1) recognise and rate emotions, (2) learn relaxation and mindfulness, (3) practice self-compassion and (4) gratitude, (5) connect with others, (6) care for their physical health and (7) engage in goal-setting. It can be completed within a week or as desired.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcomes were changes in well-being on the WHO 5-item Well-Being Index and Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. Secondary outcomes were changes in depression on the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, anxiety on the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale, self-compassion on the Self Compassion Scale-Short Form, stress on the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale, sleep on the single-item Sleep Quality Scale and user engagement on the end-user version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale and via qualitative feedback during an online survey. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline, 4 weeks (primary study endpoint) and 3 months, and analysed using linear mixed models with group, time and a group-time interaction.

RESULTS

At 4 weeks, participants in the Whitu group experienced significantly higher emotional (Mean difference (md) 13.19 (3.96 to 22.42); p=0.005) and mental (md 2.44 (0.27 to 4.61); p=0.027) well-being, self-compassion (md 0.56 (0.28 to 0.83); p<0.001) and sleep (md 1.13 (0.24 to 2.02); p=0.018), and significantly lower stress (md -4.69 (-7.61 to -1.76); p=0.002) and depression (md -5.34 (-10.14 to -0.53); p=0.030), compared with the waitlist controls. Group differences remained statistically significant at 3 months for all outcomes. Symptoms of anxiety were also lower in the intervention group at 4 weeks (p=0.096), with statistically significant differences at 3 months (md -2.31 (-4.54 to -0.08); p=0.042). Usability of Whitu was high (subjective ratings of 4.45 (0.72) and 4.38 (0.79) out of 5 at 4 weeks and 3 months, respectively) and qualitative feedback indicated individual and cultural acceptability of the app.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the evolving psychological burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, Whitu could provide a clinically effective and scalable means of improving the well-being, mental health and resilience of young people. Replication of current findings with younger individuals and in other settings is planned.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12620000516987).

Knowledge and attitudes of Implementation Support Practitioners-Findings from a systematic integrative review

BACKGROUND

It requires thoughtful planning and work to successfully apply and sustain research-supported interventions like healthcare treatments, social support, or preventive programs in practice. Implementation support practitioners (ISPs) such as facilitators, technical assistance providers, knowledge brokers, coaches or consultants may be involved to actively support the implementation process. This article presents knowledge and attitudes ISPs bring to their work.

METHODS

Building on a previously developed program logic, a systematic integrative review was conducted. Literature was sourced by searching nine electronic data bases, organizational websites, and by launching a call for publications among selected experts and social media. Article screening was performed independently by two researchers, and data from included studies were extracted by members of the research team and quality-assured by the lead researcher. The quality of included RCTs was assessed based on a framework by Hodder and colleagues. Thematic Analysis was used to capture information on knowledge and attitudes of ISPs across the included studies. Euler diagrams and heatmaps were used to present the results.

RESULTS

Results are based on 79 included studies. ISPs reportedly displayed knowledge about the clinical practice they work with, implementation / improvement practice, the local context, supporting change processes, and facilitating evidence-based practice in general. In particular, knowledge about the intervention to be implemented and its target population, specific improvement / implementation methods and approaches, organizational structures and sensitivities, training, and characteristics of (good) research was described in the literature. Seven themes describing ISPs' attitudes were identified: 1) professional, 2) motivated / motivating / encouraging / empowering, 3) empathetic / respectful / sensitive, 4) collaborative / inclusive, 5) authentic, 6) creative / flexible / innovative / adaptive, and 7) frank / direct / honest. Pertaining to a professional attitude, being responsive and focused were the most prevalent indicators across included publications.

CONCLUSION

The wide range and complexity of knowledge and attitudes found in the literature calls for a comprehensive and systematic approach to collaboratively develop a professional role for ISPs across disciplines. Embedding the ISP role in different health and social welfare settings will enhance implementation capacities considerably.

Health systems strengthening interventions for perinatal common mental disorders and experiences of domestic violence in Cape Town, South Africa: protocol for a pilot implementation study

BACKGROUND

During the perinatal period, common mental disorders (CMDs) such as depression and anxiety are highly prevalent, especially in low-resource settings, and are associated with domestic violence, poverty, and food insecurity. Perinatal CMDs have been associated with several adverse maternal and child outcomes. While the Department of Health in South Africa provides healthcare workers with the tools to detect psychological distress and experiences of domestic violence, few healthcare workers routinely screen pregnant women at clinic visits, citing discomfort with mental health issues and the lack of standardised referral pathways as the key barriers. The aim of this study is to select and evaluate a set of health systems strengthening (HSS) interventions aimed at improving the care and outcomes for perinatal women with CMDs and experiences of domestic violence, attending public healthcare facilities in Cape Town.

METHODS

This study consists of a pre-implementation, development, and implementation phase. Contextual barriers identified during the pre-implementation phase included poor patient knowledge and health-seeking behaviour, high levels of stigma, and poor detection, referral, and treatment rates. Implementation science determinant frameworks were applied to findings from the pre-implementation phase to identify determinants and gaps in delivering high-quality evidence-informed care. A participatory Theory of Change workshop was used to design a HSS programme, consisting of awareness raising, detection, referral, and treatment. HSS interventions selected to support the delivery of the HSS programme includes training, health promotion, change to the healthcare environment, task-sharing, audit and feedback, and performance monitoring. The implementation phase will be used to assess several implementation and clinical outcomes associated with the delivery of the HSS programme, which will be piloted at three healthcare facilities. Qualitative and quantitative methods will be used to evaluate the implementation and clinical outcomes.

DISCUSSION

This pilot implementation study will inform us about a range of implementation and clinical outcome measures that are relevant for assessing HSS interventions for perinatal women with depression, anxiety, or experiences of domestic violence in low-resource settings. Lessons learnt from the pilot study will be incorporated into the design of a cluster randomised control trial for which further funding will be sought.

The relative impact of barriers to care among military health services personnel: exploring differences using context specific scenarios

Background

Military health care providers often under access both physical and mental health care, yet research has predominantly focused on barriers to mental health care. This study explored a comprehensive set of barriers using hypothetical scenarios to quantify barrier impact on access to both mental and physical health care.

Methods

Canadian military health services personnel (N = 1033) completed one of two electronic surveys (assessing either physical health or other mental health barriers) that captured participant’s demographics, health, endorsement of barriers, intent to seek care, and whether the respondent would access care in different health scenarios (pneumonia, back injury, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder). Logistic regression was used to calculate odds of not accessing care (versus accessing care) for each of the four health scenarios.

Results

All barrier factors independently predicted increased odds of not accessing care for all four scenarios. When entered into an adjusted model none of the barrier factors significantly predicted accessing care in the physical health scenarios. Staffing and workload resources and Treatment preferences (e.g., self-treat) were significant predictors of accessing care in the mental health scenarios. Weak general intentions to access care was the strongest predictors of not accessing care across all four scenarios.

Conclusions

The impact of barriers on hypothetical care-seeking behaviour differs depending on the context for which one is accessing care, with access to resources and preference to self-treat driving mental health care seeking. Intent appears to be the most impactful predictor of accessing care potentially mediating the effect of other barrier types on care seeking.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-022-07850-5.

Collective health research assessment: developing a tool to measure the impact of multistakeholder research initiatives

Background

The need to more collaboratively measure the impact of health research and to do so from multidimensional perspectives has been acknowledged. A scorecard was developed as part of the Collective Research Impact Framework (CRIF), to engage stakeholders in the assessment of the impacts of health research and innovations. The purpose of this study was to describe the developmental process of the MULTI-ACT Master Scorecard (MSC) and how it can be used as a workable tool for collectively assessing future responsible research and innovation measures.

Methods

An extensive review of the health research impact literature and of multistakeholder initiatives resulted in a database of 1556 impact indicators. The MSC was then cocreated by engaging key stakeholders and conducting semi-structured interviews of experts in the field.

Results

The MSC consists of five accountability dimensions: excellence, efficacy, economic, social and patient-reported outcomes. The tool contains 125 potential indicators, classified into 53 impact measurement aspects that are considered the most relevant topics for multistakeholder research and innovation initiatives when assessing their impact on the basis of their mission and their stakeholders’ interests. The scorecard allows the strategic management of multistakeholder research initiatives to demonstrate their impact on people and society. The value of the tool is that it is comprehensive, customizable and easy to use.

Conclusions

The MSC is an example of how the views of society can be taken into account when research impacts are assessed in a more sustainable and balanced way. The engagement of patients and other stakeholders is an integral part of the CRIF, facilitating collaborative decision-making in the design of policies and research agendas. In policy making, the collective approach allows the evaluation perspective to be extended to the needs of society and towards responsible research and innovation. Multidimensionality makes research and innovations more responsive to systemic challenges, and developing more equitable and sustainable health services.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12961-022-00856-9.