OBJECTIVE The positive deviance approach seeks to identify and learn from exceptional performers. Although a framework exists to apply positive deviance within healthcare organisations, there is limited guidance to support its implementation. The approach has also rarely explored exceptional performance on broad outcomes, been implemented at ward level, or applied within the UK. This study deve...

BACKGROUND The use of supporting techniques to protect the perineum in the last phase of birth is controversial. The objective of this investigation was to gain more knowledge on the use of hand techniques for perineal support in Norwegian maternity wards. MATERIAL AND METHOD A questionnaire investigation addressed to the leaders of all the country''s maternity wards. RESULTS We received an...

In order to provide guidance data for clinically rational use of an antibiotics consuption, prescribing and prevalence of multidrug resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii were monitored on the surgical (S) and medical (M) wards of the University Hospital Center "Dr. Dragisa Misovic-Dedinje" (Belgrade, Serbia), in the study period from 2012 to 2...

BACKGROUND Short-term structured risk assessment is presumed to reduce incidents of aggression and seclusion on acute psychiatric wards. Controlled studies of this approach are scarce. AIMS To evaluate the effect of risk assessment on the number of aggression incidents and time in seclusion for patients admitted to acute psychiatric wards. METHOD A cluster randomised controlled trial was co...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The rates of sarcopenia and cachexia evaluations by different occupational groups at different settings are unclear. The objectives are to evaluate and compare the relative use of sarcopenia and cachexia evaluations among dietitians and associated healthcare professionals in a diverse range of settings. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN Participants were 4,621 members from th...

BACKGROUND There is a lack of research on the possible contribution of a structured risk assessment to the reduction of aggression in psychiatric in-patient care. AIMS To assess whether such risk assessments decrease the incidence of violence and coercion. METHOD A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted with 14 acute psychiatric admission wards as the units of randomisation, incl...

BACKGROUND The organization of nursing services could be important to the quality of patient care and staff satisfaction. However, there is no universally accepted nomenclature for this organization. The objective of the current study was to classify general hospital wards based on data describing organizational practice reported by the ward nurse managers, and then to compare this classificati...

Identification of patients colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and subsequent isolation and decolonization is pivotal to the control of cross infection in hospitals. The aim of this study was to establish if early identification of colonized patients using rapid methods alone reduces transmission. A prospective, cluster, two-period cross-over design was used. Seven...

AIM To compare patients' opinions about services in psychiatric and neurological wards in the years 2005 and 2007. METHOD In 2005, 272 responders from psychiatric wards and 245 neurological ones and in 2007, 370 and 233 responders respectively answered the In-Patient's Opinion Questionnaire anonymously. RESULTS Both groups regarded staff politeness, kindness, patience and friendliness as th...