Introduction: Standardized assessment tools (SATs) are essential to evidence-based assessment practices. Identifying what impedes clinicians' use of a SAT can help tailor strategies promoting its use in clinical practice. This article presents the development of the "Measure of potential barriers and facilitators to the Use of a Standardized assessment Tool (MUST)" questionnaire. Preliminary findings are also reported from pilot testing in which the MUST was used to investigate occupational therapists' (OTs) perceptions of potential barriers and facilitators to the use of the Activities of Daily Living Profile (ADL Profile), a SAT evaluating independence in everyday activities of cognitively impaired adults.
Methods: The MUST was administered to 41 OTs attending continuing education workshops on the ADL Profile. Internal consistency was explored using Chronbach alpha. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze scores for each statement.
Results: Internal consistency for subscales related to clinicians' characteristics (α = 0.7) and to the SAT's characteristics (α = 0.8) were adequate but lower for the subscale related to the clinical setting (α = 0.6). OTs' perceptions of potential barriers were associated with: OTs' perceived self-efficacy; ADL Profile's applicability to OTs' clienteles; ADL Profile's compatibility with values promoted in the work setting and with clients' preferences; limited peer support; time to implement the ADL Profile.
Discussion: The MUST, a theory-informed questionnaire, may prove useful in identifying potential barriers needing to be addressed in continuing education training promoting the use of SATs by clinicians. The MUST is quick to administer and initial testing provides support for its internal consistency.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/CEH.0000000000000194 | DOI Listing |
Health Res Policy Syst
January 2025
Centre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
During public health crises such as pandemics, governments must rapidly adopt and implement wide-reaching policies and programs ("public policy interventions"). A key takeaway from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was that although numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focussed on drugs and vaccines, few policy experiments were conducted to evaluate effects of public policy interventions across various sectors on viral transmission and other consequences. Moreover, many quasi-experimental studies were of spurious quality, thus proving unhelpful for informing public policy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Health Serv Res
January 2025
Makerere University School of Public Health/New Mulago Hospital Complex, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Background: Retesting for HIV during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum is crucial for identifying new infections and ensuring timely interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). Uganda's national guidelines recommend that pregnant women be retested in the 3rd trimester or during labor/delivery. However, limited information exists regarding adherence to these guidelines, which may affect the effectiveness of PMTCT efforts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Transl Med
January 2025
Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People's Republic of China.
Background: The conversion of primary bile acids to secondary bile acids by the gut microbiota has been implicated in colonic inflammation. This study investigated the role of gut microbiota related bile acid metabolism in colonic inflammation in both patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and a murine model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis.
Methods: Bile acids in fecal samples from patients with IBD and DSS-induced colitis mice, with and without antibiotic treatment, were analyzed using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS).
BMC Public Health
January 2025
Makerere University Joint AIDS Program, Kampala, Uganda.
Background: Female sex workers (FSWs) have the highest HIV prevalence in Uganda. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been recommended as a key component of the HIV combination prevention strategy. Although patient initiation of PrEP has improved, continuation rates remain low.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNano Lett
January 2025
Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, 24098 Kiel, Germany.
The mechanical coupling between molecules represents a promising route for the development of molecular machines. Constructing molecular gears requires easily rotatable and mutually interlocked pinions. Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), it is demonstrated that aluminum phthalocyanine (AlPc) molecules on Pb(100) exhibit these properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!