Workplace health and safety issues among community nurses : a study regarding the impact on providing care to rural consumers
- Authors: Terry, Daniel , Lê, Quynh , Nguyen, Uyen , Hoang, Hoang
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMJ Open Vol. 5, no. 8 (2015), p.
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- Description: Objectives: The objective of the study was to investigate the types of workplace health and safety issues rural community nurses encounter and the impact these issues have on providing care to rural consumers. Methods: The study undertook a narrative inquiry underpinned by a phenomenological approach. Community nursing staff who worked exclusively in rural areas and employed in a permanent capacity were contacted among 13 of the 16 consenting healthcare services. All community nurses who expressed a desire to participate were interviewed. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with 15 community nurses in rural and remote communities. Thematic analysis was used to analyse interview data. Results: The role, function and structures of community nursing services varied greatly from site to site and were developed and centred on meeting the needs of individual communities. In addition, a number of workplace health and safety challenges were identified and were centred on the geographical, physical and organisational environment that community nurses work across. The workplace health and safety challenges within these environments included driving large distances between client's homes and their office which lead to working in isolation for long periods and without adequate communication. In addition, other issues included encountering, managing and developing strategies to deal with poor client and carer behaviour; working within and negotiating working environments such as the poor condition of patient homes and clients smoking; navigating animals in the workplace; vertical and horizontal violence; and issues around workload, burnout and work-related stress. Conclusions: Many nurses achieved good outcomes to meet the needs of rural community health consumers. Managers were vital to ensure that service objectives were met. Despite the positive outcomes, many processes were considered unsafe by community nurses. It was identified that greater training and capacity building are required to meet the needs among all staff.
Satisfaction amid professional challenges : international medical graduates in rural Tasmania
- Authors: Terry, Daniel , Lê, Quynh , Hoang, Hoang
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Medical Journal Vol. 7, no. 12 (2014), p. 500-517
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- Description: Background At the time of recruitment, migration, and placement, international medical graduates (IMGs) encounter professional challenges. These challenges may include a loss of status and professional identity, professional isolation in rural practice, restrictions on medical practice, and social isolation. Understanding the nature of these challenges may facilitate the recruitment, placement, and success of international medical graduates within rural Tasmania. Aims The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences, challenges, and barriers that IMGs encounter as they work and live in rural Tasmania. Methods The study used a mixed-methods design where data were collected using a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews across the south, north, and northwest of Tasmania. IMGs were recruited through purposive snowball and convenience sampling. Results A total of 105 questionnaires were returned (response rate 30.0 per cent) and 23 semi-structured interviews were conducted with IMGs across Tasmania. Questionnaire participants indicated that the majority of IMGs are satisfied in their current employment; however, interview participants indicated there were a number of barriers to practising medicine in Tasmania as well as factors that would influence ongoing employment in the state. Despite these challenges, professional support was recognised as a key contributor to professional satisfaction, particularly among IMGs who had just arrived. Conclusion The study contributes to the current knowledge and understanding of IMGs who live and work in rural areas. The study shows that there are high levels of satisfaction among IMGs with their current position; however, the research also provides insight into the complexities and factors that impact IMGs as they work and live within rural areas such as Tasmania. This study offers an understanding for policy to improve greater retention of IMGs across rural areas. © 2014 Australasion Medical Jaurnal. All rights received.
Views and perceptions of local council partners concerning a regional-scale health promotion initiative in rural Australia
- Authors: Lê, Quynh , Auckland, Stuart , Nguyen, Hoang , Terry, Daniel
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 2, no. 7 (2014), p. 181-188
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- Description: There are a number of risk factors which increasingly impact the health and wellbeing of Australians, particularly in rural communities. To address the health and wellbeing of communities, local governments are taking on a more focused role by supporting healthy community initiatives (HCI). This paper presents local council partners perceptions concerning a regional-scale health promotion initiative that was undertaken in rural Tasmania, Australia. The evaluation provides insight into the future decisions and strategies that may be developed to improve processes, methods and outcomes of health initiatives undertaken by local governments. The study used a mixed methods approach collecting data through a questionnaire, focus group discussions and interviews with stakeholders and participating councils to provide an understanding of the effectiveness and success of, and barriers to, the health promotion initiative. It was found that there was an emphasis by local councils on programs that promoted physical activities, while programs that focused on healthy food and other health promotion topics, such as quit smoking and healthy workplaces were less emphasised. Overall, the health promotion initiative was perceived to be effective; however, there was little measureable evidence as to the outcomes of the various projects within the initiative and there was concern regarding the sustainability of the initiative beyond the funding timeframe. Community based, health promotion interventions are complex. Local government are suitably placed to deliver health promotion initiatives, as they have a greater understanding and can affect the greatest change by investing in projects with the highest priority among those communities within their boundaries. Nevertheless, sustainability of projects beyond funding allocation, while building and improving partnerships among local governments, and service agencies to pool resources and capture specific target groups must be central to ongoing initiatives.
Continuity of carer in the public hospital system in the eyes of rural women and maternity health providers in Tasmania, Australia
- Authors: Hoang, Ha , Le, Quynh , Terry, Daniel , Kilpatrick, Sue , Stuart, Jacqueline
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 1, no. (2013), p. 1-6
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- Description: This study investigates Tasmanian maternity health providers’ and rural women’s experiences and views of continuity of care in the public health system and the feasibility of this model is explored. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 women who had childbirth experiences in six rural areas in Tasmania in the past five years. In addition 20 multidisciplinary maternity health providers currently employed by the health care system were also interviewed. Multidisciplinary maternity health providers and rural women believed that continuity of carer would help them build up relationship with each other and contribute to their satisfaction with care. However, both Tasmanian maternity health providers and rural consumers recognised the challenges of providing continuity of carer in the current public health system due to the constraints of human resources. Given the human resource constraints in the public hospital system, women would be happy with the quality of care provided by the team of health professionals.
Current programs and future needs in health literacy for older people : a literature review
- Authors: Lê, Quynh , Terry, Daniel , Woodroffe, Jess
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet Vol. 17, no. 4 (2013), p. 369-388
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- Description: Inadequate health literacy occurs more amongst older adults and can result in difficulties synthesising information and communicating with health professionals, increased emergency visits and hospitalizations, poor uptake of preventative interventions, increased mortality, and ultimately greater health care costs. A literature review was conducted that identified 12 articles that discussed and examined health literacy interventions among older adults. It revealed few papers exist which highlight programs that examine health literacy outcomes for older adults. The review identified evidence-based best-practice models of health literacy interventions need to be further developed to meet the health literacy needs of aging population. © 2013 Copyright Quynh Le, Daniel R. Terry, and Jess Woodroffe.
Patient-held logbooks for cancer care treatment : the users’ evaluative perspective
- Authors: Lê, Quynh , Auckland, Stuart , Nguyen, Hoang , Terry, Daniel , Lê., Dustin
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 1, no. 2 (2013), p. 15-19
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- Description: The quality and usefulness of patient held logbooks as a record to improve communication between healthcare professionals providing cancer care was evaluated. Its aim was to facilitate greater coordination and information sharing between patients, carers, clinicians and other health professionals. A mixed-method exploratory study conducted 12-week post distribution of logbooks to patients undertaking cancer care. Data was gathered through questionnaires returned by 66 participants (response rate of 57.4%) and interviews with five clinical oncology nurses at a Tasmanian hospital. The logbook quality was evaluated against two sets of indicators, including content and layout. The general effectiveness of the patient logbook was also assessed based on its usefulness, usability, efficiency and satisfaction. The logbook was considered useful among 63 (95.1%) participants. They acknowledged the logbook enabled them to be better informed, created a feeling of empowerment and greater control over their medical condition. The logbook was observed to improve communication between clinicians, their patients and families. The evaluation generated rich, in-depth information and provided useful insights into the general quality and usefulness of the logbook for cancer care. The strengths and weaknesses of the logbook were highlighted and how to better utilise its functions in the current medical system.
The shortage-surplus paradox : a literature review of primary health care accessibility
- Authors: Terry, Melissa , Terry, Daniel , Hoang, Ha , Hannah, Chona
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 1, no. 3 (2013), p. 40-50
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- Description: The National Primary Health Care Strategy in Australia recommends primary health care services need to be clinically and culturally appropriate and delivered in a timely and affordable manner. However simultaneously recognised, access is still inequitable in among various population groups and many areas of Australia. Geographical Information System (GIS) have been used to explore geographical health disparities, planning health care service delivery and provide data in a meaningful way to inform public health strategies. Moreover, GIS has also been used to spatially analyse, measure and provide insight into a population’s accessibility to health care services. A literature search was conducted to identify studies which examined primary health care accessibility using GIS techniques among various urban and rural populations. A limited number of studies demonstrated in addition to distance; time; and location, low socioeconomic status, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background among other factors influences health care access. In addition, other factors were identified to impact health care access, which is an individualised process, influenced by individual characteristics, beliefs, attitudes, and an individual’s activity space. As health care accessibility becomes more prominent within policy, among practitioners and increasingly researched, it has the potential to move beyond recognising areas of poor accessibility among individuals and communities. With a greater integration of both spatial and aspatial data, the process has the likelihood, to provide greater insight into patient behaviour, public perception, amelioration service quality and improve population health and wellbeing.
Migrants' perceptions of health promotion messages in rural Tasmania: Negotiating and communicating health risk
- Authors: Terry, Daniel , Lê, Quynh , Hoang, Ha
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Health, Risk and Society Vol. 14, no. 7-8 (2012), p. 639-653
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- Description: Asian migrants living in rural Tasmania experience a social and cultural environment dissimilar to larger Australian cities. This study investigated Asian migrants' lived experiences, their intercultural views with a focus on health risk behaviours within the challenge of a new rural environment. Certain health risks were identified and possible social and cultural connections. This exploratory study used a qualitative approach focussing on the personal experience of the Asian migrants living in rural Tasmania, Australia. Interviews were conducted from October to December 2011 with 36 Asian migrants residing in rural Tasmania, recruited through purposive sampling. Sub-populations such as Asian migrants residing in less dense culturally and linguistically diverse communities, including Tasmania, continue to maintain health and health risk beliefs from their culture. Migrant sub-population selectively adapted to their new environment, with longer term migrants acquiring western health conditions. The research provided insights about Asian migrant's views regarding non-communicable health issues in less dense culturally and linguistically diverse communities. In addition to adding to existing knowledge, the study provided some specific insights for better understanding of the relationship between health, risk and society and hopefully for improving primary health care access and delivery of care in rural and other small communities where sparse and less cohesive culturally and linguistically diverse communities exist. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus management : a retrospective study in rural general practice
- Authors: Wyett, Ruby , Peck, Blake , Terry, Daniel
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Advances in Diabetes and Metabolism Vol. 7, no. 1 (), p. 1-7
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- Description: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic, progressive metabolic disease that is an international epidemic. General Practitioners (GPs) are the cornerstones of T2DM management. The aim of this study was to determine the scope of care and management of patients with T2DM within General Practice, while highlighting domains of success and areas where improvement can be made. Demographic and laboratory cross sectional data were collected by examining electronic patient records at one rural General Practice to address the aims of the study. Data included key management parameters of Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR), microalbuminuria, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, in addition to age, sex, and residential postcode. Further, data regarding the use of insulin, antihypertensive medications and lipid-lowering medications were collected and analyzed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used and significance was determined at p