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Support Practice (support + practice)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	62%

Selected Abstracts

Evidence-based practice and the professionalization of dental hygiene

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DENTAL HYGIENE, Issue 4 2004
Sandra J Cobban
Abstract: The application of knowledge is fundamental to human problem solving. In health disciplines, knowledge utilization commonly manifests through evidence-based decision making in practice. The purpose of this paper is to explore the development of the evidence-based practice (EBP) movement in health professions in general, and dental hygiene in particular, and to examine its relationship to the professionalization agenda of dental hygiene in Canada. EBP means integrating practitioner expertise with the best available external evidence from research. Proponents of EBP believe that it holds promise for reducing a research,practice gap by encouraging clinicians to seek current research results. Both the Canadian and American Dental Hygienists Associations support practice based on current research evidence, yet recent studies show variation in practice. Professionalization refers to the developmental stages through which an organized occupation passes as it develops traits that characterize it as a profession. The status conferred by professionalization privileges a group to make and monitor its own decisions relative to practice. Dental hygiene's success in acquiring attributes of a profession suggests that transformation to a profession is occurring. This paper compares the assumptions and challenges of both movements, and argues the need for a principal focus on the development of a culture of evidence-based dental hygiene practice. [source]

Measuring the Dose of Nursing Intervention

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 4 2007
David Reed PhD
PURPOSE.,To increase awareness of the many issues involved in measuring the dose of nursing intervention in nursing interventions effectiveness research. METHODS.,Identify critical issues in measurement of the dose of nursing intervention and discuss decisions regarding dosage measurement made in a study of the effectiveness of nursing interventions. FINDINGS.,A single method can be applied to resolve two critical issues in intervention dosage measurement. CONCLUSIONS.,Those conducting nursing interventions effectiveness research must think explicitly about how intervention dosage will be measured and reported so that dosage can be replicated in research and practice. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS.,,Measuring and reporting the dose of nursing intervention in research is essential to the development of an evidence base adequate to support practice. [source]

Systematic reviews: gatekeepers of nursing knowledge

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 5 2001
David Evans BN, DipN
,,The past few decades have seen a considerable increase in the number of available health care products and interventions. This growth has been matched by a similar expansion in the health care literature. As a result of these factors, the demand for evidence to support practice is growing, but finding the best evidence is becoming increasingly difficult. ,,In response, the use of systematic reviews is increasing and they are starting to replace the primary research as the basis for health care decisions. ,,To date, these reviews have focused predominantly on effectiveness and so have been limited to randomized controlled trials. As a result of this, the interpretive, observational and descriptive research methods that are utilized by nursing have commonly been either excluded from the review or are classified as ,low level' evidence. ,,To address this, nursing must participate in the development of systematic review methods that better answer the questions posed by the profession. [source]

Enriching spaces in practice-based education to support collaboration while mobile: the case of teacher education

JOURNAL OF COMPUTER ASSISTED LEARNING, Issue 4 2007
E.M. Morken
Abstract Practice-based education is gaining a growing popularity in fields as diverse as, for example, software engineering, pedagogy and medical studies. In practice-based education learning takes place across different learning arenas and requires cooperation among all the actors involved in the learning process. However, mobility of students across these arenas impact deeply on cooperation patterns, and therefore on the learning process. In this paper we investigate the usage of shared display systems to promote cooperation among students in practice-based education. Our focus is on teacher education and the paper is based on our experiences with the teacher education programme at our university. Based on our observations of students out in practice, we discuss the importance of common spaces and the role of bulletin boards of different types. We then define high-level requirements for a shared display system to support practice-based education and we illustrate the main concepts with a demonstrator. Strengths and weaknesses of our approach are pointed out through an evaluation of the demonstrator. [source]

Managing and leading the infection prevention initiative

JOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT, Issue 6 2007
CAROL PELLOWE BA Hons
Aim, To review the national response to health care-associated infection and that of nurses in particular. Background, Health care-associated infections have emerged as a significant threat to quality care and preventing it is now a national priority. Evaluation, This paper considers the key government initiatives to address health care-associated infection. Key issues, The government has adopted a multifaceted approach to tackle this problem, the most crucial of which was to develop the evidence base to support practice. Now that is established, education and training have become the next priority. Conclusion, While health care-associated infection remains a government priority, trusts will find it difficult to meet the demands of the Code of Practice and fulfil other government priorities. Implications for nursing management, Managers need to be aware of the extent of the problem, its causes and the initiatives both nationally and locally to address the situation so that they can maintain support for these initiatives. [source]

Management Support for Portfolio Companies of Venture Capital Firms: An Empirical Study of German Venture Capital Investments

BRITISH JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2001
Michael Schefczyk
To date, there is a dearth of research on strategic antecedents and consequences of management support activities which German venture capital firms (VCFs) provide for the portfolio companies (PCs) they have invested in. This article provides insights regarding such support practices, their main determinants and impacts on the economic performance of PCs. Hypotheses were derived regarding usage of various types of management support, typical functional foci of management support and the influence of VCF and PC characteristics on management support practice. Hypotheses also cover relationships between type, intensity, and frequency of management support and PC performance. Data for 103 PCs of 12 German VCFs indicate the VCFs can improve the performance of their PCs by providing consultative management support, including active involvement in key functional decisions. [source]

Review of ICU nutrition support practices: implementing the nurse-led enteral feeding algorithm

NURSING IN CRITICAL CARE, Issue 3 2007
Kirsty Dobson
Abstract Many intensive care units (ICUs) have standard feeding protocols which promote safe early initiation of enteral feeding. The use of these protocols has been shown to increase the incidence of enteral feeding and achieve greater adequacy of nutrition support. A multidisciplinary working party developed and implemented a nurse-led enteral feeding algorithm which enabled senior nursing staff to set safe and nutritionally adequate target feed volumes based upon patient body weight. The algorithm incorporated best practice-based referral criteria so that patients at nutritional risk were referred for tailored dietetic assessment. The aims were to determine compliance with the ICU nurse-led enteral feeding algorithm and to ascertain its safety and efficacy. A 3-month prospective audit was conducted by specialist ICU dietitians. Data were obtained from electronic patient records and through observing feeding practices. Data collected included prescribed feed type and infusion rate versus volume received, frequency of gastric aspiration and prokinetic usage. In all, 90% (n = 43) of referrals received by the dietitian met the referral criteria. Absolute compliance with patients receiving correct type and volumes of feed, with a correct feed prescription and an accurate documented weight was just 2% (n = 1). Despite this finding, 60% of patients were actually receiving the correct feed regimen. If the nurse-led enteral feeding algorithm is wholly adhered to, the ICU dietitian need not formally assess every ICU patient. Nursing staff require further support in assessing patient body weight alongside an ongoing intensive educational programme for the multidisciplinary team and regular reaudit. [source]