Loretta M. Isaac, Elaine Buggy, Anita Sharma, Athena Karberis, Kim M. Maddock and Kathryn M. Weston
The patient-centred management of people with cognitive impairment admitted to acute health care facilities can be challenging. The TOP5 intervention utilises carers’ expert…
Abstract
Purpose
The patient-centred management of people with cognitive impairment admitted to acute health care facilities can be challenging. The TOP5 intervention utilises carers’ expert biographical and social knowledge of the patient to facilitate personalised care. The purpose of this paper is to explore whether involvement of carers in the TOP5 initiative could improve patient care and healthcare delivery.
Design/methodology/approach
A small-scale longitudinal study was undertaken in two wards of one acute teaching hospital. The wards admitted patients with cognitive impairment, aged 70 years and over, under geriatrician care. Data for patient falls, allocation of one-on-one nurses (“specials”), and length-of-stay (LOS) over 38 months, including baseline, pilot, and establishment phases, were analysed. Surveys of carers and nursing staff were undertaken.
Findings
There was a significant reduction in number of falls and number of patients allocated “specials” over the study period, but no statistically significant reduction in LOS. A downward trend in complaints related to communication issues was identified. All carers (n=43) completing the feedback survey were satisfied or very satisfied that staff supported their role as information provider. Most carers (90 per cent) felt that the initiative had a positive impact and 80 per cent felt that their loved one benefitted. Six months after implementation of the initiative, 80 per cent of nurses agreed or strongly agreed that it was now easier to relate to carers of patients with cognitive impairment. At nine-ten months, this increased to 100 per cent.
Originality/value
Actively engaging carers in management of people with cognitive impairment may improve the patient, staff, and carer journeys, and may improve outcomes for patient care and service delivery.
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Charmaine Agius Ferrante and Elaine Chaplin
The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact upon early childhood practice. This chapter presents reflections from discussions with practitioners based on their experiences through…
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact upon early childhood practice. This chapter presents reflections from discussions with practitioners based on their experiences through and coming out the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst acknowledging the extreme circumstances for the practitioners, children, families and the settings, the authors sought to value and share these contributions in a way that highlight developmentally appropriate practice speech around language delay, delays in physical development, relationship and self-regulation problems, mental health and well-being issues and children's safeguarding. The authors place a strong focus on young children's developmental outcomes, which should be a priority for early years research. The narratives presented should also be of interest to policymakers to aid them in developing strategies to ensure young children's holistic development.
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The purpose of this study is to explore consumers perceptions of sustainability, including how information is accessed, evaluated and practiced and how sustainability concepts…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore consumers perceptions of sustainability, including how information is accessed, evaluated and practiced and how sustainability concepts transfer to fashion consumption.
Design/methodology/approach
The research adopts a phenomenological approach of unstructured interviews with 28 professionally working mothers. Garment labels indicating concepts of sustainability from UK fashion-retailers were used as a vehicle for discussion. Data was analysed through the theoretical lens of Holbrook’s (1999) typology of consumer value.
Findings
The findings identity that the participants struggle with understanding how sustainability is compromised within fashion-production and how their sustainability practice fluctuates depending on information, guidance and practical support. The findings also identify preferences for sustainability, where sustainable concepts are perceived as adding value.
Research limitations/implications
Limitations are assumed through the small focussed sample, however, the research does provide rich insight into micro-analytic idiographic lifeworlds to better understand how everyday deliberations of household management and sustainability concepts are practiced.
Practical implications
The findings illustrate pathways for retailers, producers and policymakers to guide sustainability and support sustainability through the use of labels and marketing which will enhance notions of value. Similarly, the findings can enable policymakers to position campaigns and practical solutions that advance the sustainability agenda.
Social implications
The research indicates that sustainability is filtering through society and drawing the attention of a broader consumer market, including passive mainstream consumers who are developing expectations that mainstream fashion-retailers address sustainability.
Originality/value
The research is novel in adopting a phenomenological approach that provides a unique insight into how sustainability is experienced in everyday households, through the adaptation of related behaviours and evaluating sustainability concepts.
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Reports the minutes of the winter meeting of the OCLC UsersCouncils, January 23‐25, 1995, which focussed on “The NII, theInternet, and OCLC: The Next Generation”. Speakers talked…
Abstract
Reports the minutes of the winter meeting of the OCLC Users Councils, January 23‐25, 1995, which focussed on “The NII, the Internet, and OCLC: The Next Generation”. Speakers talked about Freenets, the effects of current federal legislation on the development of a national information infrastructure (NII) for an information highway, and how librarians need to influence public policy making to remain key players in the development of the National Internet Infrastructure.
Verena Thompson, Edwin Fleming and Allan Bunch
The African Caribbean Library Association's (ACLA) current Chair is Gloria Lock of Wandsworth Libraries. I interviewed her recently about the Association — the results of which…
Abstract
The African Caribbean Library Association's (ACLA) current Chair is Gloria Lock of Wandsworth Libraries. I interviewed her recently about the Association — the results of which are reproduced here with her consent.