Development and Evaluation of a Web-Based Educational Toolkit on the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Psychiatric Prescribers Regarding Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics.

Background: Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) are unique and effective pharmacological treatment options for schizophrenia that are underutilized in clinical practice. Research surrounding prescriber barriers to the underuse of LAIs are limited to a few seminal studies which identified psychiatric prescriber barriers to the use of LAIs as knowledge deficits, uninformed attitudes, and poor prescribing practices. There is a gap in the literature regarding effective educational interventions to target the identified psychiatric prescriber barriers to the use of LAIs.

Eating disorder risk identification through embedded electronic medical record prompting.

To evaluate whether the use of electronic medical record (EMR) to prompt universal eating disorder screening with a short questionnaire improved risk detection in a college gynecology clinic. Data obtained via a convenience sample of patients accessing a university health clinic. Clinicians were prompted with the SCOFF tool, a 5-item questionnaire for eating disorder risk with sensitivity of 87.

Exertional Heat Illness Among Secondary School Athletes: Statewide Policy Implications.

Exertional heat illness (EHI) is a leading cause of preventable death among student athletes. While causes and preventative measures for EHI are known, school districts may not be implementing evidence-based practices. This descriptive, exploratory study explored school policies, resources, and practices of coaches in a mid-Atlantic state in the prevention and identification of EHI; 397 responded.

Medicines use reviews: what they are for and how to make use of them.

Many people are not able to take their medication as it has been prescribed, for many reasons. Medicines Use Reviews (MURs), introduced as part of the 2005 Community Pharmacist Contract, provide the opportunity for pharmacists to offer NHS consultations, held privately, to discuss their customers' medication with them. The MUR can help to identify any side-effects or reasons why the medication might be ineffective or simply not taken, and agree an action plan which will then be shared with the general practitioner and other significant people involved in their care.

Guidance on delivering effective group education.

Group education is increasingly being advocated in place of the traditional one to one approach in health care. Using the example of diabetes, this article describes why group education is effective, and outlines a process that can help shape a group education programme. Identifying the purpose of a programme, understanding how people learn, and behaviour change techniques, all help the educator identify what are the important elements to include.

Developing motivation and empowerment in diabetes care.

Management of incurable chronic diseases, such as diabetes, relies to a great extent on the active participation of the individual with the disease. Yet a diagnosis of diabetes can have a significant psychological impact on someone which affects his or her motivation to participate. Management of the disease therefore requires a different approach to care than the curative approach which nurses are taught.

Converting people with type 2 diabetes to insulin.

Type 2 diabetes has commonly been viewed as more benign than type 1, partly because it was once rare to use insulin in its management. With the recognition of the importance of tight control of blood glucose, it is now the case that most people with type 2 diabetes will require insulin at some point. This article discusses the reasons why insulin treatment should be used in type 2 diabetes, and some of the practicalities of insulin initiation and management.

Diabetic retinopathy.

The authors describe the serious condition diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to blindness. They discuss the nurse's role in caring for patients with this condition, as well as in education.