ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Physical handling (PH) of patients is an essential component of nursing care. It is an intervention that is troublesome for patients and strenuous for general nurses and other nursing staff. Handling techniques and mechanical aids for PH have improved through the years; however, they are not routinely used in nursing practice. AIM: The aim of this research was to determine (1) the level of awareness of PH issues within the management of South Bohemian hospitals, (2) how management perceives, organizes and implements PH protocols, and (3) how PH protocols are applied in everyday nursing practice. Method and Research Sample: Two qualitative methods were used: a semi-structured interview and observation. The participants were management representatives of South Bohemian hospitals in Czech Republic. Fifty nurses were observed during PH at the same hospitals. RESULTS: The study found that PH was not monitored, nor was it provided systematically. In spite of this, no serious drawbacks were found; nonetheless, many areas were identified where the quality of PH could be improved. For example, awareness of PH issues by management, educational programs teaching new handling techniques, and provision of state-of-the-art PH aids. Several issues related to PH were found to be related to staff shortages, which remains a major problem. CONCLUSION: This issue needs more attention; it should be addressed by both those doing nursing research as well as those engaged in everyday nursing practice. Both will require the assistance of hospital staff and management.
ABSTRACT
In this study, the question of health literacy in adult patient population in the Czech Republic is explored in the context of healthcare, particularly in the South Bohemian Region. The study is based on the analysis of qualitative data which were collected during the first half of 2016. The study included 34 adult participants at the age range between 18 and 64 years. The study is focused on the involvement of adult patients in the process of decision making concerning the healthcare provided. The views of this sort of problems were recorded by the technique of semi-structured dialogues. The study results have suggested that adult individuals accept the healthcare provided by doctors or nurses prevailingly with trust. In addition, they have shown that in the sphere of health education, the adults lack the knowledge of the right for information about the individual's health condition and information about the service provided by the health insurance agency. It is regarded as desirable to deal with the topic of health literacy of adult population, particularly in the area of internet counselling and telemedicine, and to develop the space for information sharing between the doctor and nurse on one side and the patient on the other.
