BACKGROUND: The use of telehealth has proliferated to the point of being a common and accepted method of healthcare service delivery. Due to the rapidity of telehealth implementation, the evidence underpinning this approach to healthcare delivery is lagging, particularly when considering the uniqueness of some service users, such as those in rural areas. This research aimed to address the current gap in knowledge related to the factors critical for the successful delivery of telehealth to rural populations.
METHODS: This research used a qualitative descriptive design to explore telehealth service provision in rural areas from the perspective of clinicians and describe factors critical to the effective delivery of telehealth in rural contexts. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinicians from allied health and nursing backgrounds working in child and family nursing, allied health services, and mental health services. A manifest content analysis was undertaken using the Framework approach.
RESULTS: Sixteen health professionals from nursing, clinical psychology, and social work were interviewed. Participants mostly identified as female (88%) and ranged in age from 26 to 65 years with a mean age of 47 years. Three overarching themes were identified: (1) Navigating the role of telehealth to support rural healthcare; (2) Preparing clinicians to engage in telehealth service delivery; and (3) Appreciating the complexities of telehealth implementation across services and environments.
CONCLUSIONS: This research suggests that successful delivery of telehealth to rural populations requires consideration of the context in which telehealth services are being delivered, particularly in rural and remote communities where there are challenges with resourcing and training to support health professionals. Rural populations, like all communities, need choice in healthcare service delivery and models to increase accessibility. Preparation and specific, intentional training for health professionals on how to transition to and maintain telehealth services is a critical factor for delivery of telehealth to rural populations. Future research should further investigate the training and supports required for telehealth service provision, including who, when and what training will equip health professionals with the appropriate skill set to deliver rural telehealth services.

BACKGROUND:  The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has had a profoundly negative impact on people all over the world, particularly those with disabilities such as autism. However, there are gaps in research understanding the impact of COVID-19 on this population and the support required.
OBJECTIVE:  To explore the evidence available on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on caregivers of children with autism.
METHODS:  A scoping review methodology using the Arksey and O\'Malley framework was employed. Five electronic databases from March 2020 to December 2022 were reviewed. Two thousand two hundred and six articles were retrieved with primary search terms: caregivers (population), autism (diagnosis) and COVID-19 (context). Following the screening of titles, abstracts and articles, 36 articles were included in the final review. Thematic and content qualitative analysis was completed.
RESULTS:  Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guided the reporting of the findings. Three main themes were identified: (1) caregiver\'s mental health and wellbeing, (2) response to remote health care and support and (3) caregiver resilience.
CONCLUSIONS:  The pandemic affected children with autism and their families regarding changes in routine, difficulties with support and emotional states. However, little research has been conducted on the impact in upper-middle-income countries such as South Africa.Contribution: The findings from this review carry practical implications that extend beyond the pandemic, such as political instability or natural disasters that may present similar stressors for children with autism and their families.

BACKGROUND: Despite vast levels of underreporting, sexual assault remains an issue at scale in the UK, necessitating the presence of statutory and voluntary organisations in the support of victims. Understanding the experiences of all parties within this context is important for the resilience of support that can be provided at a systems level. This study examines the barriers faced by service providers when working with victims of sexual assault.
METHODS: Semi-structured interviews took place with eleven professionals working in or in conjunction with a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Southeast England, which were subsequently analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
RESULTS: Five themes were identified exploring SARC staff\'s experiences with (i) communication breakdowns with external services; (ii) delivering support in an underfunded system; (iii) tailoring support to survivors\' needs; (iv) the Criminal Justice System fails victims of sexual assault; and (v) reckoning with burnouts and vicarious trauma.
CONCLUSIONS: Significant gaps in UK service provision for sexual assault victims are identified, particularly within the criminal justice system, where legal and investigative processes are cited as retraumatizing. The results emphasize the urgency of enhanced training, coordination, resources, and trauma-informed practices across organizations to better serve victims and support overwhelmed providers. Prioritizing systemic improvements is crucial to address the complex needs of both victims and service professionals.

BACKGROUND: IT has brought remarkable change in bridging the digital gap in resource-constrained regions and advancing the health care system worldwide. Community-based information systems and mobile apps have been extensively developed and deployed to quantify and support health services delivered by community health workers. The success and failure of a digital health information system depends on whether and how it is used. Ethiopia is scaling up its electronic community health information system (eCHIS) to support the work of health extension workers (HEWs). For successful implementation, more evidence was required about the factors that may affect the willingness of HEWs to use the eCHIS.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess HEWs\' intentions to use the eCHIS for health data management and service provision.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was conducted among 456 HEWs in 6 pilot districts of the Central Gondar zone, Northwest Ethiopia. A Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model was used to investigate HEWs\' intention to use the eCHIS. Data were cleaned, entered into Epi-data (version 4.02; EpiData Association), and exported to SPSS (version 26; IBM Corp) for analysis using the AMOS 23 Structural Equation Model. The statistical significance of dependent and independent variables in the model was reported using a 95% CI with a corresponding P value of <.05.
RESULTS: A total of 456 HEWs participated in the study, with a response rate of 99%. The mean age of the study participants was 28 (SD 4.8) years. Our study revealed that about 179 (39.3%; 95% CI 34.7%-43.9%) participants intended to use the eCHIS for community health data generation, use, and service provision. Effort expectancy (β=0.256; P=.007), self-expectancy (β=0.096; P=.04), social influence (β=0.203; P=.02), and hedonic motivation (β=0.217; P=.03) were significantly associated with HEWs\' intention to use the eCHIS.
CONCLUSIONS: HEWs need to be computer literate and understand their role with the eCHIS. Ensuring that the system is easy and enjoyable for them to use is important for implementation and effective health data management.

UNASSIGNED: To investigate the relationship between perceived mental health service provision and quality of life (QoL) as perceived by patients in psychiatric outpatient care.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 373 adult patients registered at 15 psychiatric outpatient clinics in three regions in central and southern Sweden were included in the study. Survey data were collected using a questionnaire on mental health service provision, symptom severity, recovery, clinical diagnosis, sociodemographics (serving as independent variables) and QoL (serving as the dependent variable). Three aspects of mental health service provision were used: patients’ perceived quality of care, perceived staff-patient interaction, and patient reported psychiatric treatments. Structural equation modelling was used to model the relationship among the variables.
UNASSIGNED: Variables in mental health service provision showed few direct associations with patients’ perceived QoL. Instead, the associations of mental health service provision on QoL were mainly mediated through symptom severity and recovery. These relationships were retained after adjusting for sociodemographic variables and clinical diagnoses. The final model achieved excellent goodness of fit (χ2 = 49.502, p = 0.230, RMSEA = 0.020, CFI = 0.997 and a SRMR = 0.024).
UNASSIGNED: This study shows that mental health service provision is associated with patients’ perceived QoL; however, this association is mostly indirect and mediated by reduced symptom severity and increased recovery. This finding can help inform the design of future interventions to enhance service provision to improve patients’ QoL.

OBJECTIVE: Airway clearance interventions are recommended for people with chronic lung conditions and mucus hypersecretion, but there are few published models of care or descriptions of airway clearance service provision. This evaluation describes a dedicated, physiotherapy-led, community-based airway clearance service in a metropolitan local health network.
METHODS: Retrospective evaluation using existing airway clearance service administrative database.
METHODS: All first referrals to the airway clearance service in a 5-year period (1/1/2017 to 31/12/2021).
METHODS: Available service data grouped into four domains: participant demographics, referral demographics, service provision and outcomes.
RESULTS: Of the 1335 first referrals eligible for inclusion, 1157 (87%) people attended. Bronchiectasis was the commonest condition (n = 649/1135, 49%). A total of 2996 occasions of service (face to face clinic n = 2108, 70%, phone n = 736, 25%, telehealth n = 99, 3%, home visit n = 53, 2%) were delivered. Airway clearance devices frequently prescribed were the Aerobika (525/1157, 45%), bubble-positive expiratory pressure (263/1157, 23%) and the Acapella (127/1157, 11%). On average, initial appointment with the airway clearance service occurred within 36 days of referral and people attended the service three times. Individuals voluntarily completed both pre/post service questionnaires around a third of the time. At least half of responders reported an improvement in respiratory symptom outcome measures consistent with the minimum clinically important difference.
CONCLUSIONS: This evaluation describes an airway clearance service as it exists, providing an example from which airway clearance services can be planned, implemented and improved.

UNASSIGNED: A nuanced understanding of the health needs of adolescents in the context of the India Adolescent Health Strategy (IAHS) is needed to inform policy interventions for improving the health and well-being of adolescents in India.
UNASSIGNED: Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019, we identified the top ten causes of years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) disaggregated by sex and age group (10-14 and 15-19 years) for India and its states in 2019. To inform the IAHS of refinement or expansion in focus needed to improve adolescent health in India, we reviewed the extent to which the top 10 causes of disease burden are addressed in the IAHS, and the availability of and age- and sex-disaggregation in the service utilisation data for adolescents captured in the Adolescent Friendly Health Clinic monitoring information system (AFHC MIS) and Health Management Information System (HMIS). We also reviewed the availability of and age-and sex-disaggregation in the data capture at the population level for the IAHS outcome indicators in the data sources identified in the IAHS operational framework.
UNASSIGNED: Females in the 10-14 and 15-19 years age groups suffered 6.75 million and 9.25 million DALYs, respectively, 39.1% and 44.2% of which were YLLs; the corresponding DALYs for males were 6.71 million and 9.65 million (42.3% and 41.1% YLLs), respectively. Within the 6 thematic areas of the IAHS, most strategies and indicators identified are for sexual and reproductive health followed by nutrition, and broadly these conditions accounted for YLDs and not YLLs in adolescents. Significant gaps in the IAHS in comparison to the disease burden for fatal diseases and conditions were seen across injuries, communicable diseases, and non-communicable diseases. Injuries accounted for 65.9% and 45.3% of YLLs in males and females aged 15-19 years, and 40.8% in males aged 10-14 years. Specifically, road injuries (15.3%, 95% UI 11.0-18.0) and self-harm (11.3%, 95% UI 8.7-14.2) accounted for most of the injury deaths in 15-19 years whereas drowning (7.7% 95% UI 5.8-9.6) and road injuries (6.9%, 95% UI 4.7-8.6) accounted for the most injury deaths in 10-14 years males. However, only self-harm and gender-based violence are specifically addressed in the IAHS with non-specific interventions for other injuries. Diarrhoea, lower respiratory infections, malaria, encephalitis, tuberculosis, typhoid, cirrhosis, and hepatitis are the other disease conditions accounting for YLLs and DALYs in adolescents but these are neither addressed in the IAHS nor in service provision under the AFHC MIS. There is no age- or sex-disaggregation in the cause of death data captured in the HMIS to allow an understanding of mortality in adolescents. For the IAHS outcome indicators at the population level, data capture for the 10-14 years irrespective of sex was largely missing from the population surveys and none of the surveys captured data for either females or males aged 15-19 years for physical inactivity and mental health indicators.
UNASSIGNED: The considerable differences seen in the IAHS thematic focus as compared with the leading causes of fatal and non-fatal disease burden in adolescents in India, and in the availability of population-level data to monitor the outcome indicators of the IAHS can pose substantial limitations for improving adolescent health in India. The findings in this paper can be utilized by decision makers to refine action aimed at improving adolescent health and well-being.
UNASSIGNED: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

BACKGROUND: Handpumps are used by millions of people as their main source of water. Although handpumps represent only a basic form of water provision, there have been continuous efforts to improve the performance of these systems as they are likely to remain in use for many years to come. The introduction of a professional maintenance service in southern Kenya has shown an order of magnitude improvement in operational performance over community-based management, with 90% of handpump faults repaired within 3 days of being reported. One driver behind these efforts is the assumption that a more reliable water supply will lead to a reduction in water-related disease. However, it is not clear if operational improvements lead to health gains. Despite limited empirical evidence, some modeling studies suggest that even short periods of drinking contaminated water can lead to disproportionate negative health impacts.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess whether the improvements in operational performance from the rapid professional maintenance of rural handpumps lead to improved household health outcomes.
METHODS: From a sample of households using handpumps as their primary water source in Kwale County, Kenya, we measured the 2-week prevalence of World Health Organization-defined diarrhea in children, reported by the adult respondent for each household. We compared the rates before and after a period during which the households\' handpumps were being professionally maintained. We then conducted a cross-sectional analysis, fitting logistic regression models with reported diarrhea as the dependent variable and speed of repair as the independent exposure of interest, adjusting for household socioeconomic characteristics; dwelling construction; and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)-related factors. We fitted an additional model to examine select interactions between covariates.
RESULTS: Reported diarrhea in children was lower in households whose pumps had been repaired within 24 hours (adjusted odds ratio 0.35, 95% CI 0.24-0.51). This effect was robust to the inclusion of multiple categories of covariates. No reduction was seen in households whose pump repairs took more than 24 hours. Analysis of interaction terms showed that certain interventions associated with improved WASH outcomes were only associated with reductions in diarrhea in conjunction with socioeconomic improvements.
CONCLUSIONS: Only pump repairs consistently made within 24 hours of failure led to a reduction in diarrhea in the children of families using handpumps. While the efficacy of reduction in diarrhea is substantial, the operational challenges of guaranteeing same-day repairs limits the effectiveness of even best-in-class pump maintenance. Maintenance regimes that cannot bring handpump downtimes close to zero will struggle to generate health benefits. Other factors that reduce diarrhea prevalence have limited effect in isolation, suggesting that WASH interventions will be more effective when undertaken as part of more holistic poverty-reduction efforts.

Services for patients with kidney disease underwent radical adaptations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We undertook an online national survey of UK kidney centres to understand the nature, range, and degree of variation in these changes and to explore factors contributing to differing practice.
The survey was designed by a multidisciplinary team of kidney professionals, service users and researchers. It enquired about centre services and staffing, including psychosocial provision, and changes to these in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Links to the survey were sent to all 68 UK kidney centres and remained active from December 2021 to April 2022, and a revised version to nurses in late 2022 for additional data. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively. Content analysis on free-text responses identified common themes.
Analysable responses were received from 41 out of the 68 UK centres (60%), with partial data from an additional 7 (11%). Adaptations were system-wide and affected all aspects of service provision. Some changes were almost universal such as virtual consultations for outpatient appointments, with significant variation in others. Outpatient activity varied from fully maintained to suspended. Many centres reduced peritoneal dialysis access provision but in some this was increased. Centres considered that changes to transplant surgical services and for patients with advanced CKD approaching end-stage kidney disease had the greatest impact on patients. Few centres implemented adjustments aimed at vulnerable and underrepresented groups, including the frail elderly, people with language and communication needs, and those with mental health needs. Communication issues were attributed to rapid evolution of the pandemic, changing planning guidance and lack of resources. Staffing shortages, involving all staff groups particularly nurses, mainly due to COVID-19 infection and redeployment, were compounded by deficiencies in staffing establishments and high vacancy levels. Centres cited three main lessons influencing future service delivery, the need for service redesign, improvements in communication, and better support for staff.
Kidney centre responses to the pandemic involved adaptations across the whole service. Though some changes were almost universal, there was wide variation in other areas. Exploring the role of centre characteristics may help planning for potential future severe service disruptions.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of peritoneal malignancy with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) requires substantial critical care, theatre and nursing resources. The COVID-19 pandemic caused challenges in providing a high volume, tertiary referral service.
METHODS: We reviewed data on referrals and operations performed in a tertiary referral centre in both NHS and independent sector settings. The impact of COVID-19 on activity was assessed using 2019 as a benchmark.
RESULTS: New patient referrals were similar, with 891 in 2019 compared with 833 in 2020. Delivery of CRS and HIPEC operations were initially impacted by COVID-19. NHS and independent sector collaboration facilitated recovery, with 284 patients treated in 2020 compared with 280 in 2019.
CONCLUSIONS: Close collaboration and structural organisation between the clinical and management teams in the NHS and independent sectors facilitated recovery and restoration of a complex tertiary referral service for peritoneal malignancy during the COVID pandemic.