A Review of Strategies for Enhancing Clarity and Reader Accessibility of Qualitative Research Results

Impact of Curricular Content Reduction on Student-Reported Mental and Physical Health

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the impact of curricular content reduction in a 3-year integrated course sequence in a Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum on student-reported mental and physical health.

METHODS

A 3-hour, 5-days-a-week integrated course sequence spanning 3 years of a curriculum was transitioned to a 3-hour, 4-days-a-week course, representing 207 h of reduced in-class time. After implementation, first- through third-year student pharmacists were asked to complete a 23-item voluntary survey regarding the impact of the curricular change on their mental and physical health, how they spent time on the non-Integrated Learning Experience course day, and additional demographic and social characteristics. Respondents were asked to participate in follow-up focus group sessions to elucidate the findings of the survey.

RESULTS

A total of 197 students (50.3% response rate) representing the classes of 2024, 2025, and 2026 responded to the survey, and 15 students participated in 1 of 4 focus group sessions. Most students indicated a preference for the 4-days-a-week over the 5-days-a-week course and reported improvement in mental and physical health during the 4-days-a-week course. Most students used the additional time to study or complete assignments, while many third-year students used it to work, but many also used it to complete personal errands and activities, which led to a positive impact on their well-being.

CONCLUSION

Student self-reported mental and physical health improved with a reduction in curricular content by 1 course session (3 h) per week.

Navigating the Cardiothoracic Publication Landscape: A Primer for Journal Selection

Journal selection is very important for any researcher in every field. Publication in a reputable journal not only has a higher reach among a greater number of people but also sets a benchmark for significance and quality. This primer aims to guide researchers in the field of cardiothoracic research, including medicine, surgery, and imaging, to assist in journal selection for their respective articles. Journal selection depends on a variety of factors, such as impact factors, publication charges, review processes, article types that a journal accepts, and indexing. This primer highlights all these factors in detail that are essential for the selection of a suitable journal. The article emphasizes the importance of these factors in making a reasoned decision about journal selection. This article also focuses on different types of publication models and their implications, including hybrid open access, gold open access, and diamond open access. In conclusion, this primer aims to provide insights to researchers in the fields of cardiothoracic surgery, medicine, and imaging about the publication landscapes and guide them to strategically plan their submissions.

Perspectives and Practice in Eastern and Western Medicine for Pain Management in Rehabilitation Training after Orthopedic Trauma Surgery: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

Despite the increasing emphasis on rehabilitation training after orthopedic surgery, little is known about the pain caused by the procedure itself. Clinical practice is driven by beliefs in pain management.

AIMS

This study aimed to explore the perspective of pain management during rehabilitation training after orthopedic trauma in China and its influencing factors from different perspectives in traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, respectively.

DESIGN

A phenomenological qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews.

SETTINGS

  METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted with 16 medical workers working in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department in eastern China from July 2022-February 2023. A directed method to thematic analysis was used to code the transcribed data and identify themes.

RESULTS

Four main themes emerged. (1) Inconsistent perspectives and practice: Chinese doctors majoring in Western medicine felt sympathy, helpless, and had a lack of knowledge and misconception about pain. Traditional Chinese medicine deemed that pain is a protective mechanism and attached importance to holism and unique means. (2) Consistent outcome: Insufficient pain management will have a series of negative consequences for patients' recovery, forming a vicious cycle. (3) Expectations: Though they are not optimistic about traditional analgesics, enhancement, cooperation and ideal analgesic methods still be expressed, and (4) Concept transformation: Conducting nitrous oxide is a process not only to promote analgesic technology but also to promote the awareness and concept of pain management.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study emphasized that medical workers should be aware of the importance of pain management at the same time while treating the disability. The study provides insight into pain management experiences within different educational backgrounds. The findings enable professionals to recognize the importance of pain management and its influencing factors to provide feasible and effective pain management strategies.

Guidance for Qualitative Research Manuscripts in Pharmacy Education

The goal of this Best Practice Review is to support researchers in successfully preparing and publishing qualitative research in pharmacy education. Standard practice from the literature and journals' guidance from related fields were reviewed, and recommendations and resources applicable to qualitative research in pharmacy education were compiled for researchers planning to conduct and publish qualitative research. This review provides recommendations, not requirements, for publication in the Journal and is intended to be a guide, especially for authors and reviewers relatively new to the field of qualitative research. Additionally, researchers planning to publish their qualitative research are advised to review available best practices and standards, such as the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist and the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research. Given the diverse methodology of qualitative research, it is important for authors to provide sufficient details and justifications of selected methods for transparency and to report collected results in a manner that allows reviewers and readers to adequately assess the validity of their study and the applicability of the findings.

Use of research evidence varied in efforts to expand specific pharmacist autonomous prescriptive authority: an evaluation and recommendations to increase research utilization

BACKGROUND

An expanding body of literature shows that pharmacists' interventions improve health outcomes and are cost-saving. However, diverse state regulations of pharmacists' scope of practice create a discrepancy between what pharmacists are trained to do and what they legally can do. This study investigated how stakeholders utilized research evidence when developing expanded scope of practice policies in their respective states.

METHODS

Using autonomous pharmacist prescriptive authority as a surrogate for general pharmacist scope of practice, a general policy document analysis was performed to understand the scope of practice landscape for pharmacists across the United States. Next, semi-structured interviews with policy-makers and pharmacy advocates were conducted to explore how the identified states in the policy document analysis utilized evidence during the policy-making process. Investigators analysed findings from the transcribed interviews through application of the SPIRIT Action Framework. Resulting codes were summarized across themes, and recommendations to researchers about increasing utilization of research evidence were crafted.

RESULTS

Sixteen states with 27 autonomous pharmacist prescriptive authority policies were identified. Public health need and safety considerations motivated evidence engagement, while key considerations dictating utilization of research included perceptions of research, access to resources and experts, and the successful implementation of similar policy. Research evidence helped to advocate for and set terms for pharmacist prescribing. Barriers to research utilization include stakeholder opposition to pharmacist prescribing, inability to interpret research, and a lack of relevant evidence. Recommendations for researchers include investigating specific metrics to evaluate scope of practice policy, developing relationships between policy-makers and researchers, and leveraging pharmacy practice stakeholders.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, alignment of researcher goals and legislative priorities, coupled with timely communication, may help to increase research evidence engagement in pharmacist scope of practice policy. By addressing these factors regarding research engagement identified in this study, researchers can increase evidence-based scope of practice, which can help to improve patient outcomes, contain costs, and provide pharmacists with the legal infrastructure to practise at the top of their license.

Implementation of COVID-19 Infection Control Measures by German Dentists: A Qualitative Study to Identify Enablers and Barriers

OBJECTIVES

COVID-19 infection control measures have been recommended for dental practices worldwide. This qualitative study explored barriers and enablers for the implementation of these measures in German dental practices.

METHODS

Semi-structured phone interviews were conducted in November/December 2020 (purposive/snowball sampling). The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and the Capabilities, Opportunities and Motivations influencing Behaviors model (COM-B) were used to guide interviews. Mayring's content analysis was employed to analyze interviews.

RESULTS

All dentists (28-71 years, 4/8 female/male) had implemented infection control measures. Measures most frequently not adopted were FFP2 masks, face shields (impractical), the rotation of teams (insufficient staffing) and the avoidance of aerosol-generating treatments. Dentists with personal COVID-19 experience or those seeing themselves as a role model were more eager to adopt measures. We identified 34 enablers and 20 barriers. Major barriers were the lack of knowledge, guidelines and recommendations as well as limited availability and high costs of equipment. Pressure by staff and patients to ensure infection control was an enabler.

CONCLUSIONS

Dentists are motivated to implement infection control measures, but lacking opportunities limited the adoption of certain measures. Policy makers and equipment manufacturers should address these points to increase the implementation of infection control measures against COVID-19 and potential future pandemics.