Deborah Hatcher

Primary health care as a philosophical and practical framework for nursing education: rhetoric or reality?

Abstract At least three decades after primary health care (PHC) took nursing by storm it is time to re-examine the philosophical shift to a PHC framework in pre-registration nursing curricula and overview factors which may hinder or promote full integration of PHC as a course philosophy and a contemporary approach to professional practice. Whilst nurse education has traditionally focused on preparing graduates for practice in the acute care setting, there is continuing emphasis on preparing nurses for community based primary health roles, with a focus on illness prevention and health promotion. This is driven by growing evidence that health systems are not responding adequately to the needs and challenges of diverse populations, as well as economic imperatives to reduce the burden of disease associated with the growth of chronic and complex diseases and to reduce the costs associated with the provision of health care. Nursing pre-registration programs in Australia and internationally have philosophically adopted PHC as a curriculum model for preparing graduates with the necessary competencies to function effectively across a range of settings. Anecdotal evidence, however, suggests that when adopted as a program philosophy PHC is not always well integrated across the curriculum. In order to develop a strong and resilient contemporary nursing workforce prepared for practice in both acute and community settings, pre-registration nursing programs need to comprehensively consider and address the factors impacting on the curricula integration of PHC philosophy.

Factors influencing cancer treatment decision-making by indigenous peoples : a systematic review

We aim to systematically review studies that identify factors influencing cancer treatment decision‐making among indigenous peoples.

The palliative care experiences of adults living in regional and remote areas of Australia : a literature review

Background: Regional and remote areas are often disadvantaged in terms of access to palliative care services. The impact of reduced access to services on people living in regional or remote areas of Australia is poorly understood. Objective: Identify and examine current literature relating to the palliative care experiences of adults living in regional and remote areas of Australia. Methods: CINAHL, Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Review Library and grey literature were searched using a combination of keywords. A thematic analysis was applied. Results: Thirteen articles were included in the final review. Poor access, relocation and hardship were identified as issues affecting participants. Conclusion: Limited literature was available addressing the palliative care experiences of adults living in regional and remote areas of Australia. To identify and address any inequities in palliative care provision and access, the experiences of palliative care patients living outside major cities need to be examined.

A study of clinical nursing research priorities in aged care: A Hong Kong perspective

The aim of this study was to identify clinical research priorities in aged care from the perspectives of rehabilitation aged care nurses in Hong Kong. The Delphi method was used whereby 33 registered nurses working in an aged care rehabilitation ward identified 28 research questions pertaining to areas in which nurses could take a leadership role: clinical research that is of highest value to patients and nurse specialists; clinical research which would provide improved community care; facilitate health promotion and disease prevention and be of value to the professional needs of clinical nurses. Study findings have implications and provide direction for clinical nursing research in aged care.