The Impact of Primary Care Clinic and Family Physician Continuity on Patient Health Outcomes: A Retrospective Analysis From Alberta, Canada.

PURPOSE: Continuity of care is broadly associated with better patient health outcomes. The relative contributions of continuity with an individual physician and with a practice, however, have not generally been distinguished. This retrospective observational study examined the impact of continuity of care for patients seen at their main clinic but by different family physicians. METHODS: We analyzed linked health administrative data from 2015-2018 from Alberta, Canada to explore the association of physician and clinic continuity with rates of emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations across varying levels of patient complexity. Physician continuity was calculated using the known provider of care index and clinic continuity with an analogous measure. We developed zero-inflated negative binomial models to assess the association of each with all-cause ED visits and hospitalizations. RESULTS: High physician continuity was associated with lower ED use across all levels of patient complexity and with fewer hospitalizations for highly complex patients. Broadly, no (0%) clinic continuity was associated with increased use and complete (100%) clinic continuity with decreased use, with the largest effect seen for the most complex patients. Levels of clinic continuity between 1% and 50% were generally associated with slightly higher use, and levels of 51% to 99% with slightly lower use. CONCLUSIONS: The best health care outcomes (measured by ED visits and hospitalizations) are associated with consistently seeing one's own primary family physician or seeing a clinic partner when that physician is unavailable. The effect of partial clinic continuity appears complex and requires additional research. These results provide some reassurance for part-time and shared practices, and guidance for primary care workforce policy makers.

Comparing GPs according to their model of practice: are multiprofessional group practices associated with more favourable working conditions?

In the generalized context of general practitioner shortages and transitions towards team-based primary care, we investigated how the different practising models relate to general practitioners' labour supply. More precisely, we analysed the association between practice models-solo, groups of general practitioners, and multiprofessional groups-and their reported labour supply and level of satisfaction with work-life balance. We used a French cross-sectional survey from 2018 that surveyed a representative national sample of 3,032 self-employed general practitioners about their working conditions. We found that the model of practice was significantly associated with differences in physician labour supply at the intensive margin and that group practice appeared to be positively associated with general practitioners' reported satisfaction with work-life balance. In terms of weekly working time, only practice in groups of general practitioners was associated with a significantly lower labour supply. However, general practitioners in groups-whether groups of general practitioners or multiprofessional groups-reported more annual leave and seemed more willing to diversify their activity by devoting more time to secondary activities, including salaried activities. Consistently, general practitioners working in groups were also more likely than solo practitioners to report being satisfied with their work-life balance. Although group practice, whether multiprofessionnal or not, seems to be well suited to meeting the new aspirations of general practitioners, those working in multiprofessional groups are associated with a higher level of weekly work supply, which might justify special attention from the public authorities.

Women's views and experiences of a new Midwifery Group Practice model in rural Australia.

BACKGROUND: Women in rural Australia often have limited maternity care options available, and in Victoria, like many Australian states, numerous small hospitals no longer offer birthing services. AIM: To evaluate women's views and experiences of maternity care at a local rural hospital that re-established birthing services with a Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) model of maternity care. METHODS: Women who booked into the new MGP model from May 2021 to June 2022 were invited to complete an anonymous online survey and participate in an optional additional semi-structured interview to explore their views and experiences. Descriptive statistics were used for quantitative data, and open-ended survey and interview responses were analysed using a general inductive approach. FINDINGS: Sixty-seven percent (44/66) of women completed the survey and five also completed an interview. Women were highly satisfied with the care they received. They felt respected, empowered, and had a sense of agency throughout their pregnancies, labour and birth, and post-birth. They reported low levels of anxiety during labour and birth, and felt that they coped physically and emotionally better than they anticipated. They felt well supported by midwives and highly valued the continuity of care within the MGP model. CONCLUSION: Women's voices play a critical role in informing maternity care provision, particularly for those in rural communities who may have limited access to care options. The findings support and expand on existing research regarding the value of midwifery continuity of care models, and can inform other rural maternity services in introducing similar models.

The sustainability of midwifery group practice: A cross-sectional study of midwives and managers.

PROBLEM: Although there is robust evidence for the benefits of midwifery group practice (MGP) caseload care, there are limited opportunities for women to access this model in Australia. There is also limited knowledge on how to sustain these services. BACKGROUND: MGP can benefit childbearing women and babies and improve satisfaction for women and midwives. However, sustainability of the model is challenging. While MGPs are often supported and celebrated, in Australia some services have closed, while others struggle to adequately staff MGPs. AIM: To investigate midwives and managers opinions on the management, culture, and sustainability of MGP. METHODS: A national survey of MGP midwives and managers was distributed (2021 and 2022). Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. RESULTS: A total of 579 midwives and 90 managers completed the survey. The findings suggest that many MGPs do not support new graduates and students to work in MGP. Over half (59.8%) the participants (midwives and managers) reported that the women and families were the best aspect about working in MGP, while 44.3% said the effects on midwives' lifestyle and families were the worst aspect. DISCUSSION: The relationship with women remains the major motivator for providing MGP care. However, work-life imbalance is a deterrent, exacerbated by staffing shortages. Staffing might be improved by adequate renumeration, strengthening orientation, and attracting new graduates and students through experience in MGP. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to attract midwives to MGP and improve work-life balance and sustainability.

Setting the boundaries and scope of practice for the two sister specialities of dentistry: Operative dentistry-endodontics and prosthodontics.

Dental academia in Pakistan has recently achieved an important milestone. The name of Operative Dentistry speciality has been changed to Operative Dentistry & Endodontics (ODE). It was a much-needed change that was first felt about two decades ago. However, with the correction of name, there are certain challenges that this speciality has to manage now. These include improving the curriculum, setting up standards, and lastly, setting up its boundaries and scope of practice as some of its scope overlaps with a sister speciality called Prosthodontics. This overlapping of the boundaries of dental disciplines is a problem that is unique to Pakistan, India, and some East Asian countries where Operative Dentistry or Conservative Dentistry is combined with Endodontics. This paper aims to discuss the objective delineation of dental procedures and suggest a model of peaceful co-existence of sister dental specialities.

Midwifery group practice workforce in Australia: A cross-sectional survey of midwives and managers.

BACKGROUND: Despite robust evidence on the benefits of midwifery group practice (MGP), there remains difficulties with implementing and sustaining the model. However, contemporary data on the MGP workforce and how each model has been operationalised are limited. This constrains an understanding of the factors that help or hinder implementation and sustainability of MGP. AIM: To describe the characteristics of Australian MGPs and the factors that help or hinder sustainability. METHODS: A national cross-sectional survey was undertaken in Australia between March 2021 and July 2022, inclusive. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive analysis while qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. FINDINGS: Of 669 survey responses, 579 were midwives and 90 were managers. The mean years of experience for clinical midwives was eight years, and 47.8% (almost twice the national average) completed a Bachelor of Midwifery (BMid). Half (50.2%) the models provided care for women of all risk. Midwives resigned from MGP because of the MGP work conditions (30%) and how the service was managed or supported (12.7%). Managers resigned from MGP because of role changes, conflict with their manager, and limited support. Almost half (42.6%) of MGP managers also managed other areas, leading to heavy workloads, competing demands, and burnout. CONCLUSION: The BMid appears to be a common educational pathway for MGP midwives, and many MGP services are providing care to women with complexities. Flexible practice agreements, organisational support and appropriate workloads are vital for recruitment, retention, and sustainability of MGP.

"It's all about cultural understanding": A reflexive thematic analysis of women's experiences at a dedicated refugee midwifery group practice service.

BACKGROUND: Inequitable maternity care provision in high-income countries contributes to ongoing poor outcomes for women of refugee backgrounds. To address barriers to quality maternity care and improve health equity, a co-designed maternity service incorporating community-based group antenatal care, onsite social worker and interpreters, continuity of midwifery carer through a caseload design with 24/7 phone access was implemented for women of refugee background. OBJECTIVE: To explore and describe women's experiences and perceptions of care from a dedicated Refugee Midwifery Group Practice service. DESIGN: Qualitative exploratory descriptive study using focus group discussions and interpreters. SETTING: The study was conducted at a community-based Refugee Midwifery Group Practice service in a tertiary maternity hospital in Brisbane, Australia. METHODS: We conducted three focus group discussions (June - December 2020) with 16 women, born in six different countries, in three language groups: Sudanese Arabic, Somali, and English. We used reflexive thematic analysis to interpret women's perspectives and generate informed meanings of experiences of care. RESULTS: We generated four themes 1) accessibility of care, 2) women feeling accepted, 3) value of relationality, and 4), service expansion and promotion. Results demonstrate positive experiences and acceptability due to easy access, strong woman-midwife relationships, and culturally safe care. CONCLUSION: The service addressed concerns raised in an early evaluation and provides evidence that redesigning maternity services to meet the needs of women with a refugee background speaking multiple languages from many countries is possible and promotes access, use, and satisfaction with care, contributing to improved health equity and perinatal outcomes.

Linguagem e funcionalidade pela CIF e grupo fonoaudiológico na percepção de pessoas com Doença de Parkinson / Lenguaje y funcionalidade por la CIF y grupo fonoaudiológico en la percepción de personas con Enfermedad de Parkinson / Language, functioning by ICF and SLP group intervention in the perception of people with Parkinson Disease

Introdução: O envelhecimento e a presença de doenças crônicas como a Doença de Parkinson (DP) podem gerar incapacidade e afetar a vida da pessoa, sendo que a Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde (CIF), na perspectiva biopsicossocial, permite conhecer a funcionalidade na DP. Objetivo: Investigar a funcionalidade de pessoas com Doença de Parkinson em atendimento fonoaudiológico grupal, tomando a CIF como base conceitual. Método: Pesquisa transversal, aprovada pelo CEP, com 10 participantes com DP, em atendimento fonoaudiológico grupal. Foi elaborado roteiro de entrevista para coleta do perfil sociodemográfico e questionário autoaplicável para coleta da autopercepção nas categorias da CIF em entrevistas com os participantes em três encontros grupais videogravados, com duração de 35 minutos cada. Para estabelecimento de parâmetros de referência, duas juízas fonoaudiólogas classificaram as respostas nas mesmas categorias. Resultados: Os participantes relataram prejuízos em Funções do Corpo (voz, articulação, fluência e do ritmo da fala, movimentos involuntários), dificuldades em Atividades e Participação (fala, conversação, uso fino da mão, andar, vestir-se, realização de tarefas domésticas, e recreação e lazer) e barreiras nos Fatores Ambientais. Em 60% dos casos a concordância entre participantes e juízas foi discreta, 30% regular, e em um caso (10%) foi forte. Conclusão: Os resultados mostram as dificuldades de linguagem e de funcionalidade na percepção das próprias pessoas com DP, conferindo um caráter original à pesquisa por dar voz a elas e trazer subsídios para o cuidado centrado na pessoa, transpondo, assim, a visão biomédica da atenção centrada na doença. (AU)

ntroduction: Aging and the presence of chronic diseases such as Parkinson's Disease (PD) can generate disability and affect a person's life, and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), from a biopsychosocial perspective, allows studying the functioning in PD. Objective: To investigate the functioning of people with PD in a speech-language pathology (SLP) group, taking the ICF as a conceptual basis. Method: Cross-sectional study, approved by the Ethics Committee, with 10 participants with PD, in SLP group. An interview script was developed to collect the sociodemographic profile and a self-administered questionnaire to collect self- perception in the ICF categories in interviews with participants in three videotaped group meetings, lasting 35 minutes each. To establish a reference parameter, two SLP with experience in the ICF (judges) classified the answers in the same categories. Results: Participants reported impairments in Body Functions (voice, articulation, fluency and rhythm of speech, involuntary movements), difficulties in Activities and Participation (speech, conversation, fine use of the hand, walking, dressing, performing household chores, and recreation and leisure) and barriers in Environmental Factors. In 60% of the cases, the agreement between participants and judges was slight, 30% regular, and in one case (10%) it was strong. Conclusion: The results showed language and functioning difficulties in the perception of people with PD, giving an original character to the research by giving them a voice and bringing subsidies to person-centered care, thus transposing the biomedical view of disease-centered care. (AU)

Introducción: El envejecimiento y la presencia de enfermedades crónicas como la Enfermedad de Parkinson (EP) pueden generar incapacidad y afectar a la vida de la persona, siendo que en la Clasificación Internacional del Funcionamiento, Incapacidad y Salud (CIF), en la perspectiva biopsicosocial, permite conocer el funcionamiento en la EP. Objetivo: Investigar el funcionamiento de personas con EP en la intervención fonoaudiológica grupal, tomando la CIF como base conceptual. Método: Estudio transversal aprobado por el CEP (Comité de Ética) con 10 participantes con EP, en tratamiento fonoaudilógico grupal. Se elaboró un guion de entrevista para colección de perfil sociodemográfico y un cuestionario autoaplicable para recopilar la autopercepción en las categorías de la CIF en entrevistas con los participantes en tres encuentros grupales videograbados, con una duración promedio de 35 minutos cada uno. Para establecer parámetros de referencia, dos juezas fonoaudiólogas clasificaron las respuestas en las mismas categorías. Resultados: Los participantes informaron déficit en las Funciones del Cuerpo (voz, articulación, fluidez y ritmo del habla, movimientos involuntarios), dificultades en las Actividades y Participación (habla, conversación, uso fino de la mano, caminar, vestirse, realizar las tareas domésticas, y recreación y ocio) y barreras en Factores Ambientales. En el 60% de los casos la concordancia entre participantes y juezas fue discreta, en el 30% fue regular y en un caso (10%) fue fuerte. Conclusión: Los resultados mostraron las dificultades de lenguaje y funcionamiento en la percepción de las propias personas con EP, dando un carácter original al estudio por darles voz y traer subsidios para el cuidado centrado en la persona, transponiendo así, la visión biomédica de la atención centrada en la enfermedad. (AU)

The Effectiveness of the Multiple-Attending-Physicians System Compared With the Single Attending-Physician System in Inpatient Setting: A Mixed-Method Study.

OBJECTIVES: Medical facilities have been required to effectively utilize insufficient human resources in many countries. Therefore, we qualitatively and quantitively compared physicians' working burden, and assessed advantages and disadvantages of the single- and the multiple-attending physicians systems in inpatient care. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we extracted electronic health record of patients from a hospital in Japan from April 2017 to October 2018 to compare anonymous statistical data between the single-attending and multiple-attending-physicians system. Then, we conducted a questionnaire survey for all physicians of single and multiple-attending systems, asking about their physical and psychiatric workload, and their reasons and comments on their working styles. RESULTS: The average length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the multiple-attending system than in the single-attending system, while patients' age, gender, and diagnoses were similar. From the questionnaire survey, no significant difference was found in all categories although physical burden in multiple-attending system tended to be lower than that in single-attending system. Advantages of multiple-attending system extracted from qualitative analysis are (1) improvement of physicians' quality of life (QOL), (2) lifelong-learning effect, and (3) improving the quality of medical care, while disadvantages were (1) risk of miscommunications, (2) conflicting treatment policies among physicians, and (3) patients' concern. CONCLUSIONS: The multiple-attending physician system in the inpatient setting can reduce the average length of stay for patients and also reduce the physical burden on physicians without compromising their clinical performance.

Effect of an Australian community-based caseload midwifery group practice service on maternal and neonatal outcomes for women from a refugee background.

BACKGROUND: Women from a refugee background who resettle in high-income countries experience poorer perinatal outcomes in comparison to women from host countries. There is a paucity of research on how best to improve these outcomes. AIM: To report on the effectiveness of an Australian Refugee Midwifery Group Practice service on perinatal outcomes. METHODS: We used inverse probability of treatment weighting to balance confounders and calculate treatment effect and compare maternal and neonatal outcomes for women from a refugee background who received Refugee Midwifery Group Practice care (n = 625), to those receiving standard care (n = 634) at a large tertiary hospital (1 January 2016-31 December 2019). Prespecified primary outcomes included: proportion of women attending ≥ 5 antenatal visits, preterm birth (<37 weeks), spontaneous onset of labour, epidural analgesia in the first stage of labour, normal birth (term, spontaneous onset, vertex, spontaneous vaginal birth, no epidural, no episiotomy), and exclusively breast-feeding at discharge. FINDINGS: Women who received Refugee Midwifery Group Practice care were more likely to have spontaneous onset of labour (adjusted odds ratio 2·20, 95% CI 1·71-2·82; p < 0·0001), normal birth (1·55, 1·23-1·95; p < 0·0001), and less likely to use epidural analgesia (0·67, 0·50-0·89; p = 0·0067) and have a preterm baby (0·60, 0·36-0·99; p = 0·047). There was no difference between groups in women attending ≥ 5 antenatal visits and exclusive breastfeeding at discharge from hospital. DISCUSSION: A Refugee Midwifery Group Practice is feasible and clinically effective. CONCLUSION: Similar services could potentially improve outcomes for women from a refugee background who resettle in high-income countries.

A pilot study: Transitioning into a new graduate midwife - perspectives about a unique student-led practice.

OBJECTIVE: To explore midwifery students' (and as new graduates') experiences and level of satisfaction about a student-led midwifery model of care. METHODS: This was a qualitative study to elicit rich descriptive data from the participants. Thematic analysis was used. The students were interviewed at the end of their final year of study and they were subsequently interviewed at the end of their graduate year. RESULTS: Two overarching themes were identified from the qualitative findings from the first and second interviews including the students building and sustaining important relationships and transitioning from a student to new graduate. CONCLUSIONS: The midwifery students valued the opportunity to spend one year in a student-led model of care so that they could build and sustain important relationships with women and their team including the mentor midwife as new graduates. The students developed confidence by being respected by midwives and enabled them to advocate for women.

The Nuts and Bolts of Implementing a Modified ERAS Protocol for Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery: Group Practice vs. Solo Practice.

AIM: The ERAS protocol consists of multiple items that aim to improve the outcomes of patients receiving surgery. Adhering to the protocol is difficult. We wondered whether surgeons practicing the ERAS protocol in a group would improve patient outcomes. Methods: All patients who underwent colorectal resection for benign disease or malignancy from November 2017 to December 2018 were collected and reviewed retrospectively. According to the physician's ward round strategy, the patients were categorized into two groups, either by solo practice or group practice. Results: This study enrolled 724 patients and divided them into two groups according to the practice method: group practice (n = 256) and solo practice (n = 468). The group practice cohort had less postoperative morbidity (14.0% vs. 21.4%, p = 0.048) and shorter postoperative hospital stays (mean: 6.6 ± 3.2 vs. 8.6 ± 5.5, p < 0.05) than the solo practice cohort. Group practice (p < 0.001), natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) procedure (p < 0.001), and blood loss >50 mL (p = 0.039) significantly affected discharge within 5 days postoperatively in multivariate analyses. Conclusions: Group practice based on a modified ERAS protocol shortens postoperative hospital stays with fewer morbidities compared with solo practice in which patients receive elective minimally invasive colorectal surgery.

Implementation barriers and enablers of midwifery group practice for vulnerable women: a qualitative study in a tertiary urban Australian health service.

BACKGROUND: Maternity services have limited formalised guidance on planning new services such as midwifery group practice for vulnerable women, for example women with a history of substance abuse (alcohol, tobacco and other drugs), mental health challenges, complex social issues or other vulnerability. Continuity of care through midwifery group practice is mostly restricted to women with low-risk pregnancies and is not universally available to vulnerable women, despite evidence supporting benefits of this model of care for all women. The perception that midwifery group practice for vulnerable women is a high-risk model of care lacking in evidence may have in the past, thwarted implementation planning studies that seek to improve care for these women. We therefore aimed to identify the barriers and enablers that might impact the implementation of a midwifery group practice for vulnerable women. METHODS: A qualitative context analysis using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was conducted at a single-site tertiary health facility in Queensland, Australia. An interdisciplinary group of stakeholders from a purposeful sample of 31 people participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using manual and then Leximancer computer assisted methods. Themes were compared and mapped to the Framework. RESULTS: Themes identified were the woman's experience, midwifery workforce capabilities, identifying "gold standard care", the interdisciplinary team and costs. Potential enablers of implementation included perceptions that the model facilitates a relationship of trust with vulnerable women, that clinical benefit outweighs cost and universal stakeholder acceptance. Potential barriers were: potential isolation of the interdisciplinary team, costs and the potential for vicarious trauma for midwives. CONCLUSION: There was recognition that the proposed model of care is supported by research and a view that clinical benefits will outweigh costs, however supervision and support is required for midwives to manage and limit vicarious trauma. An interdisciplinary team structure is also an essential component of the service design. Attention to these key themes, barriers and enablers will assist with identification of strategies to aid successful implementation. Australian maternity services can use our results to compare how the perceptions of local stakeholders might be similar or different to the results presented in this paper.

Effects of prenatal group program in rural Tanzania: A quasi-experimental study.

AIM: This study conducted in rural Tanzania examined the effects of a midwife-led prenatal group program on: (1) improvement of knowledge of the physiological symptoms of pregnancy; (2) promotion of pregnancy-related empowerment; (3) enhancement of intention to self-care behaviors for safer childbirth; and (4) gaining satisfaction with antenatal care visits. METHODS: This work was a quasi-experimental study with a control group using a pre-post study design conducted in two district hospitals in Tanzania. Data were collected from 108 analyzed pregnant women from the prenatal group program (n = 54) and control program (n = 54) using questionnaires before (baseline) and after (endline) the program. The program consisted of lecture, sharing, and review sessions. The control program consisted of the same lectures. The contents of both programs included physiological symptoms of pregnancy and self-care behaviors. The primary outcome was knowledge of common symptoms of pregnancy. The secondary outcomes were Pregnancy-Related Empowerment Scale score, intention to self-care behaviors, and satisfaction. RESULTS: The primary outcome of knowledge of common symptoms of pregnancy was significantly increased in the intervention group compared with the control group (t = 2.677, p = .009). The secondary outcome of one of the Pregnancy-Related Empowerment Scale statements about midwife's respectful attitude toward women's decision was significantly increased in the intervention group compared with the control group (U = 2.076, p = .038). CONCLUSIONS: The interventional prenatal group program during pregnancy was effective in increasing knowledge of common symptoms of pregnancy and in identifying favorable midwife connectedness.

[Health care structures in outpatient pediatrics]. / Versorgungsstrukturen in der ambulanten Pädiatrie: Status quo und Ausblick.

Background: A reform of the Austrian healthcare system seems inevitable due to the foreseeable financing limits, the no longer up-to-date separation of intramural and extramural services, the increasing shortage of specialist physicians, and the altered requirements of the population with respect to health care. Objective: The aim of this article is to provide the reader with an overview of the current issues in establishing new outpatient structures. Results: The recognizable trend to reduce the length of stay (LOS) in hospitals will increase the demand for outpatient hospital services. Consequently, it is vital to encourage synergy between these two different sectors. De facto, clinics providing more outpatient healthcare services in coordination with hospitals are still insufficient. With progressively fewer small practices and clinics, often addressed as lone fighters in the public debate, the outpatient settings operate without coordinated planning and policies with the larger actual outpatient healthcare system. This reality requires constant adaptation in the development of medical care. An upgrading of the outpatient services should provide new primary facilities; these can function from the side of the provider but presumably not from the aspects of organization, based on the German medical healthcare centers.

Learning to be a midwife: Midwifery students' experiences of an extended placement within a midwifery group practice.

AIM: To investigate the experiences, perspectives and plans of students who had a six-month placement with the midwifery group practice. METHODS: Focus groups were conducted with fifteen third - year Bachelor of Midwifery students who had undertaken an extended placement at a midwifery group practice in a large tertiary referral hospital in Queensland, Australia. RESULTS: Four main themes were identified in the data: Expectations of the Placement; Facilitating learning within a midwifery group practice model; Transitioning between models of care and Philosophy and culture of midwifery group practice. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Third-year midwifery students valued the experience of working one-on-one for an extended placement with a midwife providing continuity of care within a caseload model. The experience was the highlight of their degree and they learned 'how to be a midwife'. Most students found reintegrating back into the hospital system of care challenging, reporting that their developed skills of supporting women holistically and facilitating normal birth were not fully utilised when returning to the task-orientated birth suite. Students valued thoughtful, kind and supportive midwifery preceptors who supported them to transition back into the hospital. IMPLICATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Undertaking an extended placement within a midwifery group practice provides students with a rich and holistic learning experience and helps them develop a sense of professional identity. Student placements situated within models of care which provide continuity of midwifery care should be proactively enabled by health services and universities. Research of the longer-term impacts of an extended midwifery group practice clinical placement on midwifery graduates' capabilities and competencies 3-5 years post registration should be conducted.

Effects of Video-Guided Group vs. Solitary Meditation on Mindfulness and Social Connectivity: A Pilot Study.

Interest in mindfulness meditation continues to grow as accumulating evidence suggests mindfulness training encourages more positive functioning. However, basic questions about the conditions best suited for realizing mindful states remain unanswered. Prominent among these is whether a group mindfulness practice setting is more effective for novice meditators than a solitary practice setting. Answering this question has assumed new urgency due to the imposition of physical distancing measures designed to stop the spread of COVID-19. In a time of limited social contact, is a simulated group practice setting better than practicing alone? This preliminary study investigated whether environmental setting impacted mindfulness practice experience by examining the effects of three simulated meditation practice environments (1. group practice, 2. nature practice, and 3. solitary practice) on state mindfulness and perceived social connectivity in a sample of novice meditators. Significant differences emerged across the three simulated practice settings. Findings suggest watching others meditate while meditating appears to most effectively induce a state of mindfulness and strengthen feelings of social connectivity. This study supports traditional beliefs about the benefits of group mindfulness practice. These findings also have implications for social workers struggling to stretch limited resources to address growing mental health demands, especially during times of heightened social isolation due to COVID-19. If a simulated group practice confers the same cognitive benefits as solitary practice while also conferring social benefits, simulated group instruction may be preferable for therapeutic and economic reasons.

Intervenciones de enfermería en la práctica social para la salud de la persona post-operada por lesión medular / Nursing interventions in social practice for the health of people post-operated by spinal injury

INTRODUCCIÓN: El profesional de enfermería colabora en la prestación de cuidado de la salud de personas que presentan invalidez congénita y adquirida. Las consecuencias asociadas a lesiones medulares no se derivan de la lesión en sí, sino de la falta de efectividad de los servicios de atención médica. OBJETIVO: Identificar intervenciones de enfermería en la práctica social para la salud de la persona posoperada por lesión medular. MÉTODO: Estudio cualitativo, abordaje descriptivo-exploratorio. Paciente posoperado por lesión medular, (Durango, México). Se utilizó la entrevista semiestructurada en el año 2020, a través del análisis de discurso oral. RESULTADOS: Se evidenció, la presencia de barreras sociales, que coartan el pleno desarrollo y participación de la persona con discapacidad por lesión medular en su diario vivir con la familia, comunidad y sociedad. También la autonomía de la persona no sólo se coarta al hecho de realizar tareas o labores o participar con otras personas. Incluso engloba las capacidades de pensar, de decidir por ellos, decidiendo por sí solo y que estas decisiones sean respetadas por los demás. CONCLUSIONES: Se hace necesaria la contribución del profesional de enfermería en las Políticas Públicas en el ámbito local y del país donde se propongan y establezcan, estrategias acordes a la prestación de servicios: atención a la enfermedad, promoción, prevención y rehabilitación incluyéndolo en las actividades y servicios sociales; por otra parte las necesidades de las personas con discapacidades deben considerarse también en las políticas, programas y proyectos desarrollados a nivel local y nacional. Estas personas deben tener acceso a los servicios acostumbrados, sostenidos con servicios especializados para mejorar de esta manera la calidad de vida de la persona con discapacidad.

INTRODUCTION: The nursing professional collaborates in the provision of health care for people with congenital and acquired disabilities. The consequences associated with spinal cord injuries do not derive from the injury itself, but from the lack of effectiveness of medical care services. OBJECTIVE: To identify nursing interventions in social practice for the health of the post-operated person for spinal cord injury. Method: Qualitative study, descriptive-exploratory approach. Postoperative patient for spinal cord injury, (Durango, Mexico). The semi-structured interview was used in the year 2020, using oral discourse analysis. RESULTS: The presence of social barriers was evidenced, which restrict the full development and participation of the person with disabilities due to spinal cord injury in her daily life with the family, community and society. Also the autonomy of the person is not only limited to the fact of carrying out tasks or tasks or participating with other people. It even encompasses the ability to think, to decide for them, deciding for themselves and for these decisions to be respected by others. CONCLUSIONS: The contribution of the nursing professional is necessary in Public Policies at the local level and in the country where strategies according to the provision of services are proposed and established: care for illness, promotion, prevention and rehabilitation, including it in the activities and social services; on the other hand, the needs of people with disabilities must also be considered in the policies, programs and projects developed at the local and national levels. These people must have access to the usual services, supported by specialized services to improve the quality of life of the person with disabilities.

Atenção básica e saúde mental: relato praxiográfico de uma tecnologia de cuidado / Primary care and mental health: praxiographic report of a care technology / Atención primaria y salud mental: informe praxiográfico de una tecnología de cuidado

Este estudo visa relatar as reuniões de um grupo de ajuda mútua organizadas por um Núcleo de Apoio à Saúde da Família (NASF), utilizando a Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF), no interior da Bahia. O objetivo é entender de que modos a ESF trabalha o cuidado no convívio com pessoas em sofrimento mental, seus cuidadores e os trabalhadores. A escolha por adotar a abordagem praxiográfica como método investigativo foi inspirada nos estudos sobre cuidado de Annemarie Mol. Deste modo, a partir dos registros em um diário de campo, realizados ao longo de um ano, foram produzidas compreensões sobre os efeitos da participação dos usuários e familiares nos grupos, além de suas interações com outros atores não humanos. Ao produzir o reconhecimento minucioso de uma prática, este estudo pôde demonstrar o quanto essa tecnologia se apresenta de forma imprevisível e incerta, pois é mediada e modificada por vários atores, ainda que também os modifique. Essa abordagem tornou possível perceber a fluidez, abertura e imprevisibilidade dessa prática processual de cuidado em saúde mental, atuando na produção de vínculos entre usuários, familiares e profissionais.(AU)

This study aimed at reporting the meetings of a mutual aid group organized by a Family Health Support Nucleus (NASF), with the Family Health Strategy (ESF), in the interior of the state of Bahia. It aimed to understand how ESF works with care in living with people in mental suffering, their caregivers, and workers. This praxiographic approach was adopted as investigative method, inspired by Annemarie Mol's studies about care. Thus, from the records in a field diary, registered throughout a year, understandings were produced about effects of user and family participation in groups, in addition to their interactions with other non-human actors. By producing the detailed recognition of a practice, this study was able to demonstrate how unpredictably and uncertainly this technology presents itself, since it is mediated and modified by several actors, despite also modifying these actors. This approach allowed us to perceive the fluidity, openness, and unpredictability of this procedural practice of mental health care, acting in the production of bonds between users, family members, and professionals.(AU)

Este estudio tiene como objetivo relatar las reuniones de un grupo de ayuda mutua implementado por un Centro de Apoyo a la Salud de la Familia (NASF), utilizando la Estrategia de Salud de la Familia (/ESF), en el interior de Bahía. Se pretende comprender cómo la ESF trabaja los cuidados para vivir con personas con sufrimiento mental, sus cuidadores y trabajadores. La elección del enfoque praxiográfico como método de investigación se inspiró en los estudios sobre el cuidado de Annemarie Mol. Por lo tanto, a partir de los registros en un diario de campo, registrado durante un año, se produjeron entendimientos sobre los efectos de la participación de usuarios y familias en grupos, además de sus interacciones con otros actores no humanos. Al producir el reconocimiento detallado de una práctica, este estudio pudo demostrar cuán impredecible e incierta se presenta esta tecnología, ya que es mediada y modificada por varios actores, aunque también los modifica a ellos.. Este enfoque nos permitió percibir la fluidez, apertura e imprevisibilidad de esta práctica procesal de la atención de la salud mental actuando en la producción de vínculos entre usuarios, familiares y profesionales.(AU)

Cost-effectiveness of public caseload midwifery compared to standard care in an Australian setting: a pragmatic analysis to inform service delivery.

BACKGROUND: Decision-makers need quantifiable data on costs and outcomes to determine the optimal mix of antenatal models of care to offer. This study aimed to examine the cost utility of a publicly funded Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) caseload model of care compared to other models of care and demonstrate the feasibility of conducting such an analysis to inform service decision-making. OBJECTIVE: To provide a methodological framework to determine the value of public midwifery in different settings. METHODS: Incremental costs and incremental utility (health gains measured in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)) of public MGP caseload were compared to other models of care currently offered at a large tertiary hospital in Australia. Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global Short Form scores were converted into utility values by mapping to the EuroQol 5 dimensions and then converting to QALYs. Costs were assessed from a health system funder's point of view. RESULTS: There were 85 women in the public MGP caseload care group and 72 received other models of care. Unadjusted total mean cost for mothers' and babies' health service use from study entry to 12 months post-partum was $27 618 for MGP caseload care and $33 608 for other models of care. After adjusting for clinical and demographic differences between groups, total costs were 22% higher (cost ratio: 1.218, P = 0.04) for other models of maternity care. When considering costs to all funders, public MGP caseload care cost $5208 less than other models of care. There was no significant difference in QALY between the two groups (difference: 0.010, 95% CI: -0.038, 0.018). CONCLUSION: Public MGP caseload care costs 22% less than other models of care, after accounting for differences in baseline characteristics between groups. There were no significant differences in QALYs. Public MGP caseload care produced comparable health outcomes, with some indication that outcomes may be better for lower cost per woman.