What works for therapists conducting family meetings : Treatment integrity in family-focused grief therapy during palliative care and bereavement

- Chan, Eunice, O'Neill, Imogen, McKenzie, Maria, Love, Anthony, Kissane, David

  • Authors: Chan, Eunice , O'Neill, Imogen , McKenzie, Maria , Love, Anthony , Kissane, David
  • Date: 2004
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management Vol. 27, no. 6 (2004), p. 502-512
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  • Description: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment integrity of Family-focused Grief Therapy (FFGT), a preventive intervention designed for families at high risk of poor functioning during palliative care and bereavement. From the 81 families participating in a randomized controlled trial (53 assigned to therapy), 28 were randomly selected for this study of treatment fidelity using the ITGT integrity measure. A total of 109 family sessions were appraised. This represented a review of 62 % of treated families, 38 % of total therapy sessions, and 87% of the 15 participating therapists. Weighted mean percentage occurences therapist behaviors permitted trends in therapy application to be observed. Inter-rater reliability using the FFGT integrity measure was satisfactory, with 88 % overall agreement. Eighty-six percent of therapists adhered faithfully to core elements of the model. Therapist competence was evidenced by a strong therapeutic alliance (94 %), affirmation of family strengths in over 90%, and focus on agreed themes in 76 % of sessions. Therapists averaged 10 grief-related questions per session, 7 on communication-related issues during assessment, 7 on conflict late in therapy, and 4 on cohesiveness across the course of therapy. Consistent application of FFGT, with attention to its low-key themes of family communication, cohesiveness, conflict resolution, and shared grief has been demonstrated. The model is generalizable when applied by family therapists. (C) 2004 U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

“Before the training I just assumed they've done something bad”: Reporting on professional training for pharmacy assistants and pharmacy dispensary technicians on medically assisted treatment of opioid dependence

- Patil, Tejaswini, Mummery, Jane, Salman, Mohammed, Cooper, Simon J., Williams, Dominic

  • Authors: Patil, Tejaswini , Mummery, Jane , Salman, Mohammed , Cooper, Simon J. , Williams, Dominic
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy Vol. 17, no. 7 (2021), p. 1250-1258
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  • Description: Background: A study that examined the lived experiences of Medically Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence (MATOD) consumers suggested that they had experienced discrimination and stigma in pharmacies in regional Victoria, Australia. To address this, the need for professional training opportunities for Pharmacy Assistants (PAs) and Pharmacy Dispensary Technicians (PTDs) had been emphasised. A research project was undertaken to develop training modules using Social Determinants of Health (SDH) for PAs and PDTs involved in providing MATOD pharmacy services in regional Victoria, and to evaluate their effectiveness. Objectives: The study aimed to examine and evaluate changes in attitudes and practices amongst PAs and PDTs involved in MATOD services in regional Victoria, Australia and who had undertaken the training modules. Methods: The paper reports primarily on the in-depth qualitative interviews that were completed after the training with PAs and PTDs. Thematic analysis was employed to code the data. Results: Thematic analysis generated five themes: understanding of the professional role of PAs and PTDs, initial judgements concerning MATOD consumers, reflection on the SDH, training content analysis, and the post-training impact upon Professional Practice. These themes reflected participants’ insights with regards both to MATOD consumers and the impact the training itself had had on their professional practice. Conclusion: “Consciousness-raising” from participation in the training can positively influence the development of participants’ professional attitudes and practices with regards to MATOD service delivery. This development supports that training informed by SDH and ideas of critical reflection can help facilitate the creation of knowledge around the social construction of health and increased understanding of the impacts of language-use, attitudes and behaviour. © 2020
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