Evaluating the use of 3D skin models as simulation-based educational tools among nursing students: A quasi-experimental study.

Background: Teaching dermatology is challenging because of its' highly visible and tactile nature. While images improve visual memory and are valuable teaching aids, even high-quality photographs have limitations in what they can convey.

Aim: Our aim is to validate the use of silicone-based 3D skin models as simulation-based educational tools by assessing their impact on recognition of various skin conditions among nursing students.

Systematic review on the frequency and quality of reporting patient and public involvement in patient safety research.

Background: In recent years, patient and public involvement (PPI) in research has significantly increased; however, the reporting of PPI remains poor. The Guidance for Reporting Involvement of Patients and the Public (GRIPP2) was developed to enhance the quality and consistency of PPI reporting. The objective of this systematic review is to identify the frequency and quality of PPI reporting in patient safety (PS) research using the GRIPP2 checklist.

Advancing Gender Equality in Healthcare Leadership: Protocol to Co-Design and Evaluate a Leadership and Mentoring Intervention in Tanzania.

Background: Women constitute almost two thirds of the health and social workforce. Yet, the proportion of women in decision-making positions remains significantly low leading to gender inequities in access to and appropriateness of healthcare. Several barriers which limit women's advancement to leadership positions have been documented and they generally constitute of gender stereotypes, discrimination and inhibiting systems; these hinderances are compounded by intersection with other social identities.

Exploring the needs and experiences of contact tracing staff during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland.

Background: Contact tracing is a key component in controlling the spread of COVID-19, however little research has focused on learning from the experiences of contact tracing staff. Harnessing learning from those in this role can provide valuable insights into the process of contact tracing and how best to support staff in this crucial role.

Methods: Thematic analysis was used to analyse 47 semi-structured interviews conducted with contact tracing staff via telephone or Zoom at three time points in 2021: March, May and September-October.

Female genital mutilation and male involvement: Insights of men and women in two counties in Kenya.

This qualitative study, conducted in Meru and Kajiado counties in Kenya, explored the perceptions and attitudes of men and women regarding male involvement in FGM in order to inform the design of male involvement strategies in FGM abandonment. We used focus group discussions to collect the data which was then subjected to thematic analysis. Three main themes emerged from the data: i) culture and the role of men; ii) perceived awareness and knowledge of FGM among men, and iii) credible and customised education and engagement.

Remote patient monitoring for COVID-19 patients: comparisons and framework for reporting.

Background: COVID-19 has challenged health services throughout the world in terms of hospital capacity and put staff and vulnerable populations at risk of infection. In the face of these challenges, many health providers have implemented remote patient monitoring (RPM) of COVID-19 patients in their own homes. However systematic reviews of the literature on these implementations have revealed wide variations in how RPM is implemented; along with variations in particulars of RPM reported on, making comparison and evaluation difficult.

Factors that affect GP referral of a child with intellectual disability for a mild illness: A discrete choice experiment.

Background: General practitioners (GP) report multiple challenges when treating individuals with intellectual disabilities which may influence referral rates. The study aimed to establish factors that influence GP's decision-making when referring a child with intellectual disabilities to the emergency department.

Method: Discrete choice experiments (DCEs) are increasingly used in health research to further understand complex decision making.

Methods to derive composite indicators used for quality and safety measurement and monitoring in healthcare: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Composite indicators of quality and safety in healthcare summarise performance across multiple indicators into a single performance measure. Composite indicators can identify domains and drivers of quality, improve the ability to detect differences, aid prioritisation for quality improvement and facilitate decision making about future healthcare needs. However, the use of composite indicators can be controversial, particularly when used to rank healthcare providers.

Parent's preferences for unscheduled paediatric healthcare: A discrete choice experiment.

Background: Unscheduled healthcare is a key component of healthcare delivery and makes up a significant proportion of healthcare access, with children being particularly high users of unscheduled healthcare. Understanding the relative importance of factors that influence this behaviour and decision-making is fundamental to ensuring the system is best designed to meet the needs of users and foster appropriate cost-effective usage of health system resources.

Objective: The aim of the study was to identify the parent's preferences for unscheduled healthcare for a common mild childhood illness.

Exploring the psychological impact of contact tracing work on staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Contact tracing is a key control measure in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While quantitative research has been conducted on the psychological impact of the pandemic on other frontline healthcare workers, none has explored the impact on contact tracing staff.

Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted using two repeated measures with contact tracing staff employed in Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic using two-tailed independent samples t tests and exploratory linear mixed models.

Exploring healthcare staff narratives to gain an in-depth understanding of changing multidisciplinary team power dynamics during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) are integral to healthcare provision. However, healthcare has historically adopted a hierarchical power structure meaning some voices within the MDT have more influence than others. While power dynamics can influence interprofessional communication and care coordination, the field's understanding of these power structures during the COVID-19 pandemic is limited.

Development of the national priority assistive product list in Malawi.

Purpose: In 2016 WHO launched the assistive products list (APL) consisting of 50 products and recommended that using this as a reference, countries should develop their own contextually relevant national APLs. This paper describes the development of Malawi's APL.

Methods: Two hundred and ninety-six persons with disabilities participated in a rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) survey.

The role of contextual factors in decision-making by General Practitioners on paediatric referral to the Emergency Department in Ireland: A Discrete Choice Experiment.

A General Practitioner's (GP) decision to refer a patient to the emergency department (ED) requires consideration of a multitude of factors, and significant variation in GP referral patterns to secondary care has been recorded. This study examines the contextual factors that influence GPs when referring a paediatric patient with potentially self-limiting clinical symptoms to the ED. Utilizing a discrete choice experiment, survey data was collected from GPs in Ireland (n = 142) to elicit factors influencing this decision across five attributes: time/day of visit, repeat presentation, parents' capacity to cope, parent requesting a referral, and access to a paediatric outpatient clinic/day unit.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care in Ireland - Perspectives from a COVID-19 and Cancer Working Group.

Upon the COVID-19 pandemic onset in Ireland, cancer service disruptions occurred due to prioritisation of COVID-19 related care, redeployment of staff, initial pausing of screening, diagnostic, medical and surgical oncology procedures, staff shortages due to COVID-19 infection and impacts on the physical and mental health of cancer healthcare workers. This was coupled with reluctance among people with symptoms suspicious for cancer to attend for clinical evaluation, due to concerns of contracting the virus. This was further compounded by a cyber-attack on national health service IT systems on May 14th 2021.

A systematic review critically appraising quantitative survey measures assessing power dynamics among multidisciplinary teams in acute care settings.

By valuing the knowledge of each discipline holistic patient-centered care can be achieved as decisions arise from expertise rather than established hierarchies. While healthcare has historically operated as a hierarchical power structure (i.e.

Operationalising a modified Delphi study to progress quality care process nursing metrics for acute care.

Background: Despite representing the largest occupational group within the healthcare workforce, evidence suggests that due to the complexity of nursing practice, nurses' contribution remains 'invisible'. Quality Care Metrics aligned to standards can offer valuable numerical information that quantify input, output and dimensions of nursing care processes in complex clinical and interprofessional milieus.

Aims And Objectives: Progress an evidence-based metric system to measure the quality and clinical safety of nursing care within acute care in Ireland.

COVID-19 community assessment hubs in Ireland: A study of staff and patient perceptions of their value.

Background: Critical care bed capacity per capita in Ireland is among the lowest in Europe. The COVID-19 pandemic has put additional strain on an over-stretched healthcare system. COVID-19 community assessment hubs (CAHs) were established to prevent unnecessary admission to acute hospitals and to reduce infection spread.

Factors influencing measurement for improvement skills in healthcare staff: trainee, and trainer perspectives.

Background: Measurement for improvement is an integral component of quality improvement (QI) trainings and demonstrates whether a change resulted in an improvement. Despite its critical role, the development of measurement for improvement skills for QI is relatively under-explored.

Purpose: To explore the training, curricular and contextual factors that influence the development of measurement for improvement skills in healthcare professionals.

Factors influencing the statistical planning, design, conduct, analysis and reporting of trials in health care: A systematic review.

Background: Trials in health care are prospective human research studies designed to test the effectiveness and safety of health care interventions, such as medications, surgeries, medical devices and other treatment or prevention interventions. Statistics is an important and powerful tool in trials. Inappropriately designed trials and/or inappropriate statistical analysis produce unreliable results and a lack of transparency when reported, with limited clinical use.

The impact of huddles on a multidisciplinary healthcare teams' work engagement, teamwork and job satisfaction: A systematic review.

Background: Job satisfaction and retention of healthcare staff remains an ongoing issue in many health systems. Huddles have been endorsed as a mechanism to improve patient safety by improving teamwork, collaboration, and communication in teams.

Aim: This study aims to synthesises the literature to investigate the impact of huddles on job satisfaction, teamwork, and work engagement in multidisciplinary healthcare teams.

Policy of free GP care for children under 6 years: The impact on daytime and out-of-hours general practice.

Ireland does not yet have a comprehensive system of universal access to primary care. In 2015, access to general practitioner (GP) care at no charge was introduced for the 70% of children aged under six who previously paid out-of-pocket fees. This study uses data from 16 practices and a regional out-of-hours (OOH) GP service to assess the impact of this policy on attendance.

Protocol for an integrated evaluation framework to study training, curricular and contextual factors impacting the success of a measurement for improvement training programme for healthcare staff in Ireland.

Introduction: Measurement for improvement is the process of collecting, analysing and presenting data to demonstrate whether a change has resulted in an improvement. It is also important in demonstrating sustainability of improvements through continuous measurement. This makes measurement for improvement a core element in quality improvement (QI) efforts.

Exploring healthcare staff narratives to understand the role of quality improvement methods in innovative practices during COVID-19.

Background: COVID-19 has impacted the context in which healthcare staff and teams operate and this has implications for quality improvement (QI) work. Contrary to the usual ambivalent relationship staff have with QI work, there have been examples of unprecedented staff engagement in implementing rapid changes during the pandemic indicating a change in important underlying factors that impact staff involvement in QI. The purpose of this study is to explore staff perspectives about how experience and skills of QI methods supported them in implementing innovative practices during COVID-19.