Latest Resources

Community Case Management Using ACT and RDT in Two Districts in Zambia: Achieving High Adherence to Test Results Using Community Health Workers

This article outlines a prospective evaluation of the effectiveness of using community health workers as delivery points for ACT and RDTs in the home management of malaria in two districts in Zambia. [from abstract]

Devolution and Human Resources in Primary Healthcare in Rural Mali

Devolution, as other types of decentralization (e.g. deconcentration, delegation, privatization), profoundly changes governance relations in the health system. This article assesses the key advantages and dilemmas associated with devolution such as responsiveness to local needs, downward accountability and health worker retention. Challenges of politics and capacities are also addressed in relation to human resources for health at the local level. [from abstract]

iHRIS Administrator: Level One

This self-paced online course provides instructions on the basic skill set needed to administer and customize CapacityPlus’s human resources information systems (HRIS) software, iHRIS Manage and iHRIS Qualify. [from publisher]

How Health Systems Make Available Information on Service Providers: Experience in Seven Countries

This report reviews information systems that report on the quality or performance of providers of healthcare in seven countries to inform the use and further development of quality information systems. [from preface]

Collaboration to Change the Landscape of Nursing: A Journey between Urban and Remote Practice Settings

This article describes an innovative strategy to test a health human resource (HHR) planning and employment model to foster inter-organizational collaboration, knowledge transfer and exchange of nurses between an urban academic health science centre and a remote region in northern Ontario. [from introduction]

Nurse Prescribing of Medicines in Western Europe and Anglo-Saxon Countries: a Systematic Review of the Literature

The aim of this review was to gain insight into the scientific and professional literature describing the extent to and the ways in which nurse prescribing has been realised or is being introduced in Western European and Anglo-Saxon countries; and to identify possible mechanisms underlying the introduction and organisation of nurse prescribing. [adapted from abstract]

Current Shortage and Future Surplus of Doctors: a Projection of the Future Growth of the Japanese Medical Workforce

The purpose of this research is to project the future growth of the Japanese medical doctor workforce from 2008 to 2050 and to forecast whether the proposed additional increase in the student quota will cause a doctor surplus. [from abstract]

Integrating Telecare for Chronic Disease Management in the Community: What Needs to be Done?

This study aimed to identify factors inhibiting the implementation and integration of telecare systems for chronic disease management in the community. [from abstract]

Still Too Little Qualitative Research to Shed Light on Results from Reviews of Effectiveness Trials: a Case Study of Cochrane Review on the Use of Lay Health Workers

In a Cochrane review on the effects of using lay health workers on maternal and child health and infectious disease control, the authors identified 82 trials that showed promising benefits but whose results were heterogeneous. The objective of this research was to use qualitative studies conducted alongside these trials to explore factors and processes that might have influenced intervention outcomes. [adapted from abstract]

Improving Performance of Healthcare Providers Through Structured On-the-Job Training: A Pilot Test in Zimbabwe and Kenya

This pilot-test evaluation looked at feasibility as well as acceptability of structured on the job training as an intervention to improve the performance of providers. [from author]

No Excuse: Reducing Pressure on HIV Services By Task-Shifting

In Malawi, Doctors without Borders is working with the local health system to shift responsibilities from doctors to nurses and lay workers in order to reduce pressure on qualified health staff. This video, part of a 5-clip series, demonstrates tools and models that could help make improved treatment accessible to many more. [from publisher]

Protocol for a Systematic Review of Knowledge Translation Strategies in the Allied Health Professions

Knowledge translation aims to close the gap between knowledge and practice in order to realize the benefits of research through improved health outcomes, more effective health services and products, and strengthened healthcare systems. The objective of this study is to systematically review published research on knowledge translations strategies in five allied health disciplines. [adapted from abstract]

Impact of Retail-Sector Delivery of Artemether–Lumefantrine on Malaria Treatment of Children under Five in Kenya: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

This study in western Kenya aimed to evaluate the impact of providing subsidized artemether–lumefantrine, an antimalarial treatment, for febrile children aged 3–59 months through retail providers. [adapted from abstract]

Non medical Prescribing Leads Views on Their Role and the Implementation of Non Medical Prescribing from a Multi-Organizational Perspective

In the United Kingdom, non-medical prescribing (NMP) has been identified as one way to improve healthcare quality and efficiency. Healthcare organisations are charged with overseeing the clinical governance of NMP and guidance recommends the identification of a lead director to be responsible for its implementation. The aim of this research was to explore the role of the organisational NMP lead across a range of practice settings and consider the development of NMP from a multi-organisational perspective. [from abstract]

Communication, Advice Exchange and Job Satisfaction of Nursing Staff: a Social Network Analyses of 35 Long-Term Care Units

This study investigates informal communication and advice networks of nursing staff in long-term care. It examines the structure of the networks, how they are related to the size of units and characteristics of nursing staff, and their relationship with job satisfaction. [from abstract]

World Health Statistics 2011

This document is a report on the World Health Organization’s annual compilation of health-related data for its 193 Member States. It includes a summary of the progress made towards achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals and associated targets. [from publisher]

How to Develop a Program to Increase Influenza Vaccine Uptake among Workers in Health Care Settings?

Because the vaccine uptake among health care workers remains far below the health objectives, systematic programs are needed to take full advantage of such vaccination. This report details the process of the development of the implementation program to enable researchers and practitioners to develop intervention programs tailored to their setting. [from abstract]

Development of Modelling Method Selection Tool for Health Services Mangement: from Problem Structuring Methods to Modelling and Simulation Methods

The aim of this study is to provide a mechanism for decision makers in health services planning and management to compare a broad range of modelling and simulation methods so that they can better select and use them or better commission relevant modelling and simulation work that can assist in the process of designing health care policies, strategies and operations. [from abstract]

Psychosocial Stress at Work and Perceived Qualtiy of Care among Clinicians in Surgery

This paper examines associations between psychosocial job stress and perceived health care quality among German clinicians in surgery. [from abstract]

Delivery Practices and Associated Factors among Mothers Seeking Child Welfare Services in Selected Health Facilities in Nyandarua South District, Kenya

This study aimed at establishing delivery practices among selected mothers seeking child welfare services at selected health facilities in Nyandarua South district, Kenya, to determine the proportions of deliveries attended by skilled birth attendants as well the factors influencing the mothers’ choices. [from introduction]

Key Factors Leading to Reduced Recruitment and Retention of Health Professionals in Remote Areas of Ghana: a Qualitative Study and Proposed Policy Solutions

This qualitative study was undertaken to understand how practicing doctors and medical leaders in Ghana describe the key factors reducing recruitment and retention of health professionals into remote areas, and to document their proposed policy solutions. [from abstract]

Patient Self-Management and Pharmacist-Led Patient Self-Management in Hong Kong: a Focus Group Study from Different Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives

The objectives of this study are to understand the perspectives of physicians, pharmacists, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, and dispensers on self-management of patients with chronic conditions, in addition to exploring the possibilities of developing pharmacist-led patient self-management in Hong Kong. [from abstract]

Payment for Performance (P4P): Any Future in Italy?

Pay for Performance (P4P) programs, based on provision of financial incentives for service quality, have been widely adopted to enhance quality of care and to promote a more efficient use of health care resources whilst improving patient outcomes. The aim of this paper is to evaluate whether it is possible to implement P4P programs in the Lombardy Region, in Italy, based on the existing data set. [from abstract]

Creating a Sustainable and Effective Mental Health Workforce for Gippsland, Victoria: Solutions and Directions for Strategic Planning

The reported study sought the views of mental health organisation leaders from Gippsland to identify current approaches and potential solutions to the challenges of workforce recruitment, retention and training in rural areas. [from abstract]

Realist Evaluation of the Role of Communities of Practice in Changing Healthcare Practice

Using a realist approach, this study explored the questions of what outcomes do communities of practice (CoPs) achieve in healthcare; do these outcomes translate into improved practice in healthcare; and what are the contexts and mechanisms by which CoPs improve healthcare? [from abstract]