Journal Articles

Información Para la Calidad del Sistema de Salud en Colombia: Una Propuesta de Revisión Basada en el Modelo Israelí

El objetivo del estudio es contribuir a mejorar la salud en Colombia mediante el desarrollo de un sistema nacional de indicadores de desempeño del sector salud. Para ello se utilizó un análisis descriptivo de datos secundarios de Colombia e Israel que, como Colombia, tiene un modelo de competencia regulada. [from abstract]

Competency-Based Medical Education in Two Sub-Saharan African Medical Schools

This paper presents two medical schools, Makerere University College of Health Sciences and College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, which successfully implemented CBME [Competency-Based Medical Education]. The processes of curriculum revision are described and common themes are highlighted. Both schools used similar processes in developing their CBME curricula, with early and significant stakeholder involvement. [from abstract]

Global Fund Investments in Human Resources for Health: Innovation and Missed Opportunities for Health Systems Strengthening

Since the early 2000s, there have been large increases in donor financing of human resources for health (HRH), yet few studies have examined their effects on health systems. The objective of this paper is to determine the scope and impact of investments in HRH by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), the largest investor in HRH outside national governments. [adapted from abstract]

Which Intervention Design Factors Influence Performance of Community Health Workers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries? A Systematic Review

Community health workers (CHWs) are increasingly recognized as an integral component of the health workforce needed to achieve public health goals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Many factors influence CHW performance. A systematic review was conducted to identify intervention design related factors influencing performance of CHWs. [from abstract]

Mental Health in Developing Countries: Challenges and Opportunities in Introducing Western Mental Health System in Uganda

This paper presents a review of the attempt to implement a western-oriented mental health system into
a different culture, specifically a developing country such as Uganda. It draws upon an extensive literature review
and the author’s work in Uganda to identify the lessons learned as well as the challenges of introducing a western-
oriented mental health system in a totally new cultural milieu. [from abstract]

Cost-Effectiveness of Improving Health Care to People with HIV in Nicaragua

Nurses need to participate in CPE to update their knowledge and increase their competencies. This research was carried out to explore their current practice and the future general needs for CPE. [from abstract]

Learning to Leisure? When Social Media Becomes Educational Media

Social media sites – like Flickr, Facebook, YouTube, FourSquare and Twitter – summon a tapestry of friendship, humour and community between digitally literate citizens around the world. But the role and value of these platforms and portals for education, teaching and learning is neither self-evident nor obvious. Therefore, this article returns to a key early text in the sociology of education: Paul Willis’s Learning to Labour. Willis addressed the injustices within and beyond school. [from abstract]

Reaching Men Who Have Sex with Men in Ghana through Social Media: A Pilot Intervention

The use of social media is a very important avenue for reaching MSM who are not reached by peer educators in Ghana. The method should be adopted as an integral outreach approach for HIV-prevention interventions in the future.[from abstract]

“Hidden on the Social Media”: HIV Education on MSM through Cyber-Educators in Central America

The Pan-American Social Marketing Organization (PASMO) developed a combination prevention intervention in Central America that delivers HIV prevention behavior change communication (BCC) messages, products, services, and referrals to promote improved condom and condom-compatible lubricant use, HIV testing, violence reporting and the use of complementary services. [from abstract]

Perceived Barriers to Accessing Specialized Medical Care in Rural Communities of Ontario: A Pilot Study

Rural residents seeking health care face barriers due to a shortage of healthcare professionals and the travel distance required to obtain medical services. A pilot study was conducted to examine rural residents’ ability to access specialized care. This quantitative pen and paper survey was implemented in two communities with similar health care infrastructure(Tweed, Ontario and Hensall, Ontario). [adapted from abstract]

Progress Toward Universal Health Coverage in ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is characterized by much diversity in terms of geography, society, economic development, and health outcomes. The health systems as well as healthcare structure and provisions vary considerably. Consequently, the progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in these countries also varies. This paper aims to describe the progress toward UHC in the ASEAN countries and discuss how regional integration could influence UHC. [from abstract]

Needs-Based Human Resources for Health Planning in Jamaica: Using Simulation Modelling to Inform Policy Options for Pharmacists in the Public Sector

The purpose of the work described in this paper is to describe the development and application of a needs-based HRH simulation model for pharmacists in Jamaica’s largest health region. [from abstract]

Community Health Workers Programme in Luanda, Angola: an Evaluation of the Implementation Process

The Community Health Workers (CHWs) Programme was launched in Luanda, Angola, in 2007 as an initiative of the provincial government. The aim of this study was to assess its implementation process. This is a case study with documental analysis, CHWs reports data, individual interviews and focal groups. [from abstract]

A Systematic Review of Health Technology Assessment Tools in Sub-Saharan Africa: Methodological Issues and Implications

Health technology assessment (HTA) is mostly used in the context of high- and middle-income countries. Many “resource-poor” settings, which have the greatest need for critical assessment of health technology, have a limited basis for making evidence-based choices. This can lead to inappropriate use of technologies, a problem that could be addressed by HTA that enables the efficient use of resources, which is especially crucial in such settings. There is a lack of clarity about which HTA tools should be used in these settings.

Health Systems Integration of Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV Services in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Study

Both sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and HIV programs in sub-Saharan Africa are typically delivered vertically, operating parallel to national health systems. The objective of this study was to map the evidence on national and international strategies for integration of SRH and HIV services in sub-Saharan Africa and to develop a research agenda for future health systems integration. [from abstract]

Factors Affecting Time Management and Nurses’ Performance in Hebron Hospitals

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting time management(personal, and administration obstacles) and nurses performance in Hebron hospitals. [from abstract]

Changes in Transformational Leadership and Empirical Quality Outcomes in a Finnish Hospital over a Two-Year Period: A Longitudinal Study

This paper describes the changes in transformational leadership and quality outcomes that occurred between 2008 and 2011 in a Finnish university hospital that is aiming to meet the Magnet standards. [from abstract]

Small Group Effectiveness in a Caribbean Medical School’s Problem-Based Learning Sessions

The Tutorial Group Effectiveness Instrument was developed to provide objective information on the effectiveness of small groups. Student perception of small group effectiveness during the problem base learning (PBL) process has not been previously studied in Xavier University School of Medicine (Aruba, Kingdom of the Netherlands); hence, the present study was carried out. [from abstract]

“Negotiating, Navigating, and Networking”: Three Strategies Used by Nursing Leaders to Shape the Adoption and Incorporation of Simulation into Nursing Curricula—A Grounded Theory Study

Implementing simulation requires a substantial commitment of human and financial resources. Despite this, little is known about the strategies used by academic nursing leaders to facilitate the implementation of a simulation program in nursing curricula. [from abstract]

Traditional Birth Attendance (TBA) in a Health System: What Are The Roles, Benefits and Challenges: A Case Study of Incorporated TBA in Timor-Leste

The study utilized a non-systematic review of the literature using key words such as community health
workers, traditional birth attendants, reproductive health, child health and health outcomes. A case study from
Timor-Leste was also used. [from abstract]

Factors Affecting Job Motivation Among Health Workers: A Study From Iran

Human resources are the most vital resource of any organizations which determine how other
resources are used to accomplish organizational goals. This research aimed to identity factors affecting health
workers’ motivation in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBUMS). [from abstract]

Initiatives Supporting Evidence Informed Health System Policymaking in Cameroon and Uganda: A Comparative Historical Case Study

There is a scarcity of empirical data on institutions devoted to knowledge brokerage and their influence in Africa. Our objective was to describe two pioneering Knowledge Translation Platforms (KTPs) supporting evidence informed health policymaking (EIHSP) in Cameroon and Uganda.

Developing a Pilot E-Mobile App for Dementia Caregiver Support: Lessons Learned

This paper discusses the development of Story-Call, a pilot e-mobile multimedia App, or application, for community-based dementia caregiver support, designed to offer reassurance, information and services to caregivers, and facilitate supportive efforts and implementation of other interventions by nurses and therapists. [from abstract]

Whole-System Change: Case Study of Factors Facilitating Early Implementation of a Primary Health Care Reform in a South African Province

Whole-system interventions are those that entail system wide changes in goals, service delivery arrangements and relationships between actors, requiring approaches to implementation that go beyond projects or programmes. Drawing on concepts from complexity theory, this paper describes the catalysts to implementation of a whole-system intervention in the North West Province of South Africa.

Enrolment of Older People in Social Health Protection Programs in West Africa – Does Social Exclusion Play a Part?

We explore whether social exclusion determines enrolment of older people in Senegal’s Plan Sesame and Ghana’s NHIS. Social exclusion affects older people’s uptake of social health protection (SHP) programs in both Senegal and Ghana. Reducing financial barriers is not enough to achieve universal coverage.Efforts to cover older people at risk of social exclusion should be increased. Sociocultural, political and economic dimensions should be considered while designing SHP schemes. [from abstract]

New Technology and Illness Self-Management: Potential Relevance for Resource-Poor Populations in Asia

The aim here is to explore the extent to which further investment in technology could play a role in the development of an effective and affordable health sector strategy for at least some developing economies. It is suggested that the effectiveness of the approach may be highly dependent on the specific health conditions addressed, the nature of existing health systems and the overall socio-economic and cultural context. [from abstract]

Do Community Health Workers Perceive Mechanisms Associated with the Success of Community Case Management of Malaria? A Qualitative Study From Burkina Faso

The use of community health workers to administer prompt treatments is gaining popularity in most sub-Saharan African countries. Their performance is a key challenge because it varies considerably, depending on the context, while being closely associated with the effectiveness of case management strategies. What determines community health workers’ performance is still under debate. Based on a realist perspective, a systematic review recently hypothesized that several mechanisms are associated with good performance and successful community interventions.

Intent to Stay in the Nursing Profession and Associated Factors Among Nurses Working in Amhara Regional State Referral Hospitals, Ethiopia

Nurses are essential to the health care delivery system especially to meet the health related millennium development goals. However, despite the significant shortage of nurses in Ethiopia, research in the country regarding nurses’ intent to stay in their profession is lacking. This study assessed intent to stay in the nursing profession and associated factors among nurses working in referral hospitals, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. [from abstract]

Facilitators and Barriers Influencing Patient Safety in Swedish Hospitals: A Qualitative Study of Nurses’ Perceptions

This interview study aimed to explore perceived facilitators and barriers influencing patient safety among nurses involved in the direct provision of care. Considering the importance of nurses with regard to patient safety, this knowledge could facilitate the development and implementation of better solutions. [from abstract]

Community Health Nurses’ Learning Needs in Relation to the Canadian Community Health Nursing Standards of Practice: Results From a Canadian Survey

This paper examines Canadian CHNs learning needs in relation to the 2008 Canadian Community Health Nursing Standards of Practice (CCHN Standards). It answers: What are the learning needs of CHNs in Canada in relation to the CCHN Standards? What are differences in CHNs’ learning needs by: province and territory in Canada, work setting (home health, public health and other community health settings) and years of nursing practice? [from abstract]