Other Staff Members (other + staff_member)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Regulation of environmental tobacco smoke by Australian drug treatment agencies

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 3 2005
Raoul A. Walsh
Objective: To determine how smoking is regulated in alcohol and other drug treatment agencies. Method: Australian drug treatment agencies were mailed questionnaires for completion by the manager and one other staff member (553 packages posted). Results: Questionnaires were returned by 260 (59.8%) eligible agencies. Most respondents (82.5% managers, 76.7% other staff) indicated their agency had a written policy regulating smoking. The vast majority (88.2% managers, 82.3% other staff) reported smoking was banned inside their agency, with the highest proportion of bans being in the area health category (95.8% managers, 93.7% other staff) and the lowest in the residential rehabilitation category (75.6% managers, 62.8% other staff). Of the respondents reporting a ban, 19.1% of managers and 27.5% of other staff reported their agency's ban was not ,always' enforced. Paired analyses suggested that other staff were more likely to indicate that the agency had no written policy or be unsure and managers were more likely to report that smoking bans were ,always' stringently enforced. Overall, a substantial minority of respondents (managers 28.6%, other staff 40.2%) indicated that smoking occurred inside their agency at least occasionally. Conclusions and Implications: A substantial proportion of Australian drug and alcohol agencies continue to permit smoking inside their premises. Policy initiatives and educational campaigns are required to promote the expansion of smoke-free conditions in this sector. Serious consideration should be given to making the adoption and enforcement of internal smoke-free policies a condition of any continued government funding. [source]


Peer mediation training and program implementation in elementary schools: Research results

CONFLICT RESOLUTION QUARTERLY, Issue 2 2002
Kathy Bickmore
This research examines the implementation and effects of a peer mediation program in twenty-eight urban elementary schools. The Center for Conflict Resolution, a program of the Cleveland, Ohio, public schools, provided intensive training and follow-up support for teams of peer mediators and adult advisers at each school. Trainers were youths from the same community. Qualitative and quantitative evidence indicate that this program significantly improved the average eight- to eleven-year-old students understanding of and inclination to use nonviolent conflict resolution and his or her capacity to achieve in school. The study outlines the specific commitments from administrators and other staff members that were required to develop and implement equitable, effective, and sustainable programs. [source]


,They survive despite the organizational culture, not because of it': A longitudinal study of new staff perceptions of what constitutes support during the transition to an acute tertiary facility

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 5 2005
Robyn Fox RN RM AgedCareCert GradCertMgt GradCertHRM DNE BEdStud MNsgLdrship
Increasing difficulties of recruitment and retention of nursing staff strongly indicate that organizations should identify factors that contribute to successful transition of new staff to the workplace. Although many studies have identified problems facing new staff, fewer studies have articulated best practices. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to ascertain what new staff perceived as supportive elements implemented by the organization to assist their integration. Sixteen staff in Phase I and 12 staff in Phase II attended focus groups. The focus groups at 2,3 months provided specific information, with particular emphasis on negative interactions with other staff members and inadequate learning assistance and support. Different themes emerged within the focus groups at 6,9 months. Staff discussed being ,self-reliant' and ,getting to know the system'. Participants indicated that these skills might be beneficial to new staff in the development of organizational ,know how' and resourcefulness, rather than relying on preceptor support that, unfortunately, cannot be always guaranteed. [source]


Pediatric Travel Consultation in an Integrated Clinic

JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE, Issue 1 2001
John C. Christenson
Background: In May 1997, a pediatric travel service was created within a larger integrated University-County Health Department international travel clinic. The purpose of the service was to further enhance the travel advice and care provided to children and their parents or guardians. The current study was designed to describe the care of children in this setting and to compare the care of children seen in the Pediatric Travel Service with that of children seen by other providers. Methods: All pediatric patients (defined as individuals , 18 years of age) receiving care in the travel clinic were considered candidates for inclusion in the analysis. Patients seen by the Pediatric Travel Service were compared to those seen by other staff members in the travel clinic (referred to as Regular Clinic). The following information was noted: basic demographic data, medical history including allergies, prior immunization records, intended place and duration of travel, and immunizations and medications prescribed at the time of visit. Travel advice covering water and food precautions, preventive measures against insect bites, injury prevention, malaria prevention, prevention of parasitic infections, and environmental-related problems was provided to all patients in both groups when necessary. Results: Between May 1997 and December 1999, 287 pediatric age individuals were given pretravel care by the Pediatric Travel Service (median age, 6 years; range, 1 month-18 years). During the same time period, 722 pediatric age travelers (median age, 14 years; range, 8 months-18 years) were evaluated in the Regular Clinic by other staff members. Travel destinations most commonly traveled by both groups in descending order were: Africa, Central America and Mexico, South America, and Southeast Asia. When compared to travelers seen in the Regular Clinic, individuals in the Pediatric Travel Service group were more likely to travel for humanitarian work, and for parental work relocation. Persons in the Regular Clinic were more likely to travel to Mexico and Central America. They were also more likely to travel on vacation and for missionary work or study. Hepatitis B and tetanus-diphtheria booster vaccinations were given more frequently to travelers seen in the Regular Clinic. Also, ciprofloxacin and antimotility agents were more commonly prescribed in this group. No differences were noted in the duration of travel or in the time interval between clinic visit and departure. Conclusions: While general travel advice was considered to be similar in both clinic groups, some differences were observed in the frequency of administration of certain vaccines and prescriptions of medications. These differences were likely due to a difference in age in the two study groups. The high volume and success of the clinic suggest that integrated pediatric and adult travel services in a coordinated setting can be effective. [source]