Jodi Hall

Historical analysis of professionalism in western societies: implications for interprofessional education and collaborative practice

Abstract Health care systems around the world are under tremendous pressure to change their models of health care delivery – from the current multiprofessional health care delivery into interprofessional collaborative care models with the ultimate goal of improving patient/client outcomes. The growing diversity of the population, the increasing number of vulnerable persons (elderly, homeless, those living with chronic health conditions), the complexity of health problems, and the shortage of health care providers have forced health policymakers to call for sweeping revisions to how health care is provided, impacting how health care program students are educated. However, in professional training emphasis is placed on uniprofessional education. Learners are socialized in isolation from those in other related professions to ensure the development of a shared professional identity. Consequently, by program completion each student will not only master the knowledge, skills and norms of his/her own profession, but will also develop a silo identity, called “uniprofessional identity”. This isolationist identity creates a lack of understanding of others. In limiting their exposure to learning about the roles and value of other health care professionals, persistent negative stereotypical attitudes towards other professionals are reinforced. In this paper, we present the historical evolution(s) of the discourse of professionalism to assist us to develop a deeper understanding of socio-historical context within which interprofessional education (IPE) is embedded within, and collaborative person-centered practice (CPCP). With greater insight, we can (re)conceptualize the possibilities, and advance research on, interprofessional education and practice in the present.

An Exploration of Women Offenders' Health Literacy

In the past decade the sentencing of women in Canada to correctional detention has increased. Compared to the general population, women in conflict with the law tend to have higher rates of mortality and morbidity. This exploratory research investigated health promotion and health-literacy issues for women offenders. Semistructured interviews of 12 women serving probation orders were analyzed. Data analysis highlighted three overarching themes: (a) health information access, (b) networks of support, and (c) tailoring the health system. These findings have relevancy for health promotion practice with women offenders, and implications for correctional services community reintegration programs and community health sectors.

Effect of horticultural therapy on wellbeing among dementia day care programme participants: A mixed-methods study (Innovative Practice)

Fourteen people attending an adult day programme were recruited to a structured horticultural therapy programme which took place over 10 weeks. The effects were assessed using Dementia Care Mapping and questionnaires completed by family carers. High levels of wellbeing were observed while the participants were engaged in horticultural therapy, and these were sustained once the programme was completed. This study adds to the growing evidence on the benefits of horticultural therapy for people with dementia who have enjoyed gardening in the past.

Laboring to Mother in the Context of Past Trauma The Transition to Motherhood

The occurrence of interpersonal trauma is a reality for many women, with effects that often persist long after the traumatic events end. The purpose of this feminist grounded theory study was to examine how past trauma shaped the lives of women as they became new mothers. We recruited a purposive sample of 32 women from two Canadian communities and conducted semistructured, dialogic interviews during the second trimester of pregnancy. We analyzed data using thematic content analytic methods, including open coding whereby we read transcripts line by line and applied codes to portions of text that illustrated concepts or themes. The substantive grounded theory, “laboring to mother in the context of past trauma,” describes the exceedingly difficult emotional and cognitive work undertaken by pregnant women with histories of trauma as they anticipate becoming mothers. In this article, we present key components of the theory and offer recommendations for health and social service providers.

Best Practices for Research: Conducting Research with Criminalized Women in an Incarcerated Setting: The Researcher's Perspective

Although women incarcerated by the criminal justice system encounter significant challenges to their health, there has been little research focusing on their health practices. To contribute to the research literature on the health experiences of criminalized women, the authors conducted a multi-method study as part of a program of research exploring the health promotion and health-literacy skills of women in conflict with the law. Conducting research in an incarcerated setting posed unique challenges and ethical dilemmas that problematized each phase of data collection. The authors share their experiences as health researchers conducting research in an incarcerated setting and with criminalized women. They document some of the challenges, successes, and valuable lessons learned during the research process in the hope that by sharing their knowledge with other health researchers they will support future studies with criminalized women.

Strategies Through Clinical Simulation to Support Nursing Students and Their Learning of Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) and Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) Technologies

The education of nursing students to use barcode medication administration (BCMA) and electronic medication administration record (eMAR) technologies has become an important subject for nursing educators. With the increased use of these forms of clinical technology within practice settings, generating best practices and directions for educators to embed and evaluate these forms of technology in educational settings is needed. This chapter will explore a range of topics related to BCMA/eMAR technology within nursing education, including: (1) the importance of the topic to nursing education; (2) implementation of a BCMA/eMAR platform for simulation; (3) best practices related to BCMA/eMAR education; and (4) observational, workflow analysis methods as a quality assurance tool to assist with BCMA/eMAR development and evaluation. With the use of BCMA/eMAR likely to increase in the coming years, nursing educators need to ensure students are educated with the skills, competencies, and knowledge to use these forms of medication administration technology safely and effectively.

A case study of the health literacy of a criminalized woman

Research evidence substantiates that the lives of criminalized women are largely characterized by poverty, abuse, homelessness, co-morbidities, low literacy, and limited education, with the predominant characterization of criminalized women as under-educated, disinterested, and/or incapable of engaging in health-promoting self-care. Using a case study design, the purpose of this study was to develop a greater understanding of the health promotion activities and health literacy capabilities of a woman serving an open custody sentence, in Ontario, Canada whose health literacy capabilities contrast with the predominant narrative of criminalized women. Findings from this research raise critical questions concerning the ‘health literacy’ of the healthcare system itself, wherein health literacy discussions have traditionally targeted how the activities of individual clients promote or inhibit health, while health professionals and the healthcare system have gone largely unchallenged.

Intimate partner violence: a review of online interventions

ABSTRACT Violence against women (VAW) is a global social issue affecting health, social, and legal systems. VAW contributes to the inequities with respect to the social determinants of health that many women face today. The onus on self-care in the face of violence remains almost singularly with the victims. Access to information and services in support of women’s health and safety is fundamental. However, research gaps exist regarding how women access health information across all stages of an abusive intimate relationship. Given the ubiquity of online access to information, the purpose of this scoping review was to provide an overview of online interventions available to women within the context of intimate partner violence (IPV). Research literature published between 2000 and 2016, inclusive, was reviewed: 11 interventions were identified. Findings suggest that online interventions focused on the act of leaving with less emphasis on the experiences that occur after a woman has left the relationship. In addition, the online interventions concentrated on the individual capacity of the survivor to leave an abusive relationship and demonstrated limited understanding of IPV in relation to the broader social-contextual factors. Findings from this research highlight information gaps for women who require significant support after leaving an abusive relationship.

Health Promotion Body Maps of Criminalized Woman

Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. For criminalized women, opportunities to engage in health-promoting activities are obstructed by factors related to the context of their lives prior to and during incarceration. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into criminalized women’s health and their access to health information and services. Thematic data analysis of body maps and interview transcripts revealed a central theme related to barriers and facilitators to health resources as contingent on being “inside” or “outside” of the incarceration setting. Incarceration holds the possibility for women to access health care not readily available in the community, or because women were not in the position to receive supports. The absence of timely health-promoting practices while incarcerated could be characterized as missed opportunities to support this marginalized, underserved population.