Sue Latter

Barriers to, and facilitators of, parenting programmes for childhood behaviour problems: a qualitative synthesis of studies of parents’ and professionals’ perceptions

Disruptive behaviour problems (DBPs) during childhood exert a high burden on individuals, families and the community as a whole. Reducing this impact is a major public health priority. Early parenting interventions are recommended as valuable ways to target DBPs; however, low take-up of, and high drop-out rates from, these programmes seriously reduce their effectiveness. We present a review of published qualitative evidence relating to factors that block or facilitate access and engagement of parents with such programmes using a thematic synthesis approach. 12 papers presenting views of both parents and professionals met our inclusion and quality criteria. A large number of barriers were identified highlighting the array of challenges parents can face when considering accessing and engaging with treatment for their child with behavioural problems. Facilitating factors in this area were also identified. A series of recommendations were made with regard to raising awareness of programmes and recruiting parents, providing flexible and individually tailored support, delivering programmes through highly skilled, trained and knowledgeable therapists, and highlighting factors to consider when delivering group-based programmes. Clinical guidelines should address barriers and facilitators of engagement as well as basic efficacy of treatment approaches.

Self-management and self-management support outcomes: A systematic review and mixed research synthesis of stakeholder views

Introduction Self-management has received growing attention as an effective approach for long-term condition management. Little is known about which outcomes of supported self-management are valued by patients, their families, health professionals and those who commission self-management services. This study systematically reviewed published empirical evidence in accordance with PRISMA guidelines to determine the outcomes of self-management valued by these key stakeholder groups, using three prominent exemplar conditions: colorectal cancer, diabetes and stroke. Aim To systematically review the literature to identify which generic outcomes of self-management have been targeted and are considered important using three exemplar conditions (colorectal cancer, diabetes and stroke), which collectively have a range of features that are likely to be representative of generic self-management issues. Methods Systematic searching of nine electronic databases was conducted in addition to hand searches of review articles. Abstracts were identified against inclusion criteria and appraised independently by two reviewers, using a critical appraisal tool. Synthesis of findings was conducted using mixed research synthesis. Results Over 20,536 abstracts were screened. 41 studies which met the review criteria were fully retrieved and appraised. The majority of evidence related to diabetes. Few studies directly focussed on stakeholders’ views concerning desired self-management outcomes; the majority of evidence was derived from studies focusing upon the experience of self-management. The views of health care commissioners were absent from the literature. We identified that self-management outcomes embrace a range of indicators, from knowledge, skills, and bio-psychosocial markers of health through to positive social networks. Conclusions Patients’, families’, health professionals’ and commissioners’ views regarding which outcomes of self-management are important have not been clearly elicited. The extent to which bio-psychosocial indicators relate to successful self-management from the perspectives of all groups of stakeholders is unknown. Further investigation regarding which self-management outcomes are considered important by all stakeholders is necessary to guide the commissioning and design of future self-management services.

Self-management experiences in adults with mild-moderate psoriasis: an exploratory study and implications for improved support

Background  Psoriasis is a long‐term condition affecting 2–3% of the population. The mainstay of treatment for mild–moderate disease is the regular application of topical medication by the individual. At present little is known about how people with psoriasis self‐manage and how they may best be supported in this endeavour.

Health experiences of adolescents with uncontrolled severe asthma

Background and aims Many adolescents with asthma experience continued symptoms and impaired quality of life despite modern therapy. This study sought to understand their experience and to use this understanding to improve their clinical management. Design and subjects Qualitative study based on in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted with adolescents with uncontrolled severe asthma. Results 22 adolescents (11–18 years) with uncontrolled severe asthma were interviewed. Two of the overarching themes that emerged were: (A) medication and adherence; and (B) interaction with healthcare professionals and adherence with their advice. Despite frequent visits to clinic, some did not understand why they were using medications. Many felt that only some medications worked and were concerned about adverse effects. Factors related to intentional non-adherence were not being ‘bothered’ and conflicts with other activities. In particular, most were not using their spacer. Some though perceived a positive benefit to using their preventer treatment. Half the participants lived with a pet that they were sensitised to and two-thirds lived with a smoker. Adolescents felt involved in the clinic consultation and felt it was helpful but many did not take responsibility for interacting with health professionals. Parents were relied on to report symptoms, translate medical terms and remember the management plan. Conclusions Adherence was often poor particularly with the use of spacers. Adolescents had a poor understanding of their medication and using it often conflicted with other activities. Adolescents are very reliant on their parents. Healthcare professionals need to work to empower them to gradually take on the responsibility for their asthma.

Are nurse and pharmacist independent prescribers making clinically appropriate prescribing decisions? An analysis of consultations

Objectives: Legislation and health policy enabling nurses and pharmacists to prescribe a comprehensive range of medicines has been in place in the UK since 2006. Our objective was to evaluate the clinical appropriateness of prescribing by these professionals. Methods: A modified version of the Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI) was used by 10 medical, seven pharmacist and three nurse independent raters to evaluate a sample of 100 audio-recorded consultations in which a medicine was prescribed by a nurse or pharmacist. Raters were current prescribers with recognized experience in prescribing. Consultations were recorded in nine clinical practice settings in England. Results: Raters’ analysis indicated that, in the majority of instances, nurses and pharmacists were prescribing clinically appropriately on all of the ten MAI criteria (indication, effectiveness, dosage, directions, practicality, drug-drug interaction, drug-disease interaction, duplication, duration, cost). Highest mean ‘inappropriate’ ratings were given for correct directions (nurses 12%; pharmacists 11%) and the cost of the drug prescribed (nurses 16% pharmacists 22%). Analysis of raters’ qualitative comments identified two main themes: positive views on the overall safety and effectiveness of prescribing episodes; and potential for improvement in nurses’ and pharmacists’ history-taking, assessment and diagnosis skills. Cnclusions: Nurses and pharmacists are generally making clinically appropriate prescribing decisions. Decisions about the cost of drugs prescribed and assessment and diagnostic skills are areas for quality improvement.

Help or hindrance? Single, unsupported mothers' perceptions of health visiting.

Help or hindrance? Single, unsupported mothers’ perceptions of health visiting Although there have been studies of clients’ perceptions of health visiting, the views of single, unsupported mothers about the health visiting service have been under-researched. Therefore, this study investigated their views using semi-structured interviews with 12 single, unsupported mothers identified by health visitors within one National Health Service Community Trust. The data were analysed using Burnard’s (1991) thematic content analysis, which enabled a number of identifiable themes to emerge. Findings showed that the participants perceived the health visiting service as being concerned almost exclusively with babies and there was a general lack of understanding about the broader role of the health visitor. Clinics were seen as places to visit to weigh the baby but not as a contact point with a health visitor. Some health visitors were perceived as being judgemental in attitude and not necessarily interested in the clients as individuals. Participants considered that health visitors should be friendly, interested, able to promote their confidence and offer individualized advice. Overall the study suggests that health visitors may not be utilizing all dimensions of their role with single, unsupported mothers and may not be communicating effectively with them about this. The study also shows that single, unsupported mothers wish to be treated in the same way as other mothers but at present some feel that they are stigmatized and treated differently. The paper concludes with an outline of the implications of the findings and recommendations for practice and future research.

Evaluating the clinical appropriateness of nurses’ prescribing practice: method development and findings from an expert panel analysis

Background: The number of nurses independently prescribing medicines in England is rising steadily. There had been no attempt systematically to evaluate the clinical appropriateness of nurses’ prescribing decisions. Aims: (i) To establish a method of assessing the clinical appropriateness of nurses’ prescribing decisions; (ii) to evaluate the prescribing decisions of a sample of nurses, using this method. Method: A modified version of the Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI) was developed, piloted and subsequently used by seven medical prescribing experts to rate transcripts of 12 nurse prescriber consultations selected from a larger database of 118 audio-recorded consultations collected as part of a national evaluation. Experts were also able to give written qualitative comments on each of the MAI dimensions applied to each of the consultations. Analysis: Experts’ ratings were analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative comments were subjected to a process of content analysis to identify themes within and across both MAI items and consultations. Results: Experts’ application of the modified MAI to transcripts of nurse prescriber consultations demonstrated validity and feasibility as a method of assessing the clinical appropriateness of nurses’ prescribing decisions. In the majority of assessments made by the expert panel, nurses’ prescribing decisions were rated as clinically appropriate on all nine items in the MAI. Conclusion: A valid and feasible method of assessing the clinical appropriateness of nurses’ prescribing practice has been developed using a modified MAI and transcripts of audio-recorded consultations sent to a panel of prescribing experts. Prescribing nurses in this study were generally considered to be making clinically appropriate prescribing decisions. This approach to measuring prescribing appropriateness could be used as part of quality assurance in routine practice, as a method of identifying continuing professional development needs, or in future research as the expansion of non-medical prescribing continues.

Evaluating prescribing competencies and standards used in nurse independent prescribers’ prescribing consultations An observation study of practice in England

Background Independent prescribing of medicines by nurses is widely considered to be part of advanced nursing practice, and occurs within an episode of patient care that can be completed independently by a nurse. Nurse prescribers therefore require the competencies necessary to manage a consultation—such as history taking and diagnostic skills—and subsequently need to decide on any appropriate medicine to be prescribed. Safe prescribing should also involve an accurate, legible and comprehensive written prescription and documentation of the consultation in the patient’s records. However, the extent to which nurse independent prescribers use prescribing competencies and standards in practice had not been researched prior to this study. Aim To describe the frequency with which nurses use a range of prescribing competencies in their prescribing consultations, in order to provide a measure of the quality and safety of nurses’ independent prescribing practices. Design and methods Across 10 case study sites, 118 nurse independent prescribers’ prescribing consultations were analysed using non-participant observation and a structured checklist of prescribing competencies. Documentary analysis was also undertaken of a) prescriptions written (n =132) by nurses and b) the record of the prescribing episode in patient records (n =118). Sample and setting 118 prescribing consultations of 14 purposively selected nurse independent prescribers working in primary and secondary care trust case study sites in England. Findings Nurse independent prescribers were issuing a prescription every 2.82 consultations; nurses used a range of assessment and diagnosis competencies in prescribing consultations, but some were employed more consistently than others; nurses almost universally wrote full and accurate prescription scripts for their patients; nurses recorded each of their prescribing consultations, but some details of the consultation and the prescription issued were not always consistently recorded in the patient records. Conclusion The findings from this observation study provide evidence about the quality and safety of nurses’ prescribing consultations in England.

Self-management: a systematic review of outcome measures adopted in self-management interventions for stroke

Purpose: To systematically review the psychometric properties of outcome measures used in stroke self-management interventions (SMIs) to (1) inform researchers, clinicians and commissioners about the properties of the measures in use and (2) make recommendations for the future development of self-management measurement in stroke. Methods: Electronic databases, government websites, generic internet search engines and hand searches of reference lists. Abstracts were selected against inclusion criteria and retrieved for appraisal and systematically scored, using the COSMIN checklist. Results: Thirteen studies of stroke self-management originating from six countries were identified. Forty-three different measures (mean 5.08/study, SD 2.19) were adopted to evaluate self-SMIs. No studies measured self-management as a discreet concept. Six (46%) studies included untested measures. Eleven (85%) studies included at least one measure without reported reliability and validity in stroke populations. Conclusions: The use of outcome measures which are related, indirect or proxy indicators of self-management and that have questionable reliability and validity, contributes to an inability to sensitively evaluate the effectiveness of stroke self-SMIs. Further enquiry into how the concept of self-management in stroke operates, would help to clarify the nature and range of specific self-management activities to be targeted and aid the selection of existing appropriate measures or the development of new measures. Implications for Rehabilitation The evaluation of complex interventions such as self-management interventions is aided by clear outcome expectations and valid and reliable measurement. This review demonstrates a lack of outcome measures that specifically measure self-management of stroke. A minority of outcome measures that were used as proxy indicators for SM fulfill some of the criteria for quality outlined in the COSMIN checklist. Clinicians should select measures which appropriately reflect expected outcomes, giving due consideration to the theoretical underpinnings of the intervention. Further work is required to establish which measures currently in use, if any, accurately reflect stoke self-management. In the meantime, researchers should seek to develop psychometrically sound measures of stroke self-management to assist effective evaluation of such interventions in stroke.

A pilot randomized controlled trial to examine the feasibility and efficacy of an educational nursing intervention to improve self‐management practices in patients with mild‐moderate psoriasis

Background  Large numbers of people are expected to self‐manage their skin condition, but limited attention has been given to studies of self‐management in psoriasis, neither clearly highlighting the challenge nor seeking to develop interventions to support its effectiveness.