Editorial

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Cries of infants can be seen as an indicator for several developmental diseases. Different types of classification algorithms have been used in the past to classify infant cries of healthy infants and those with developmental diseases. To determine the ability of classification models to discriminate between healthy infant cries and various cries of infants suffering from several diseases, a literature search for infant cry classification models was performed; 9 classification models were identified that have been used for infant cry classification in the past. These classification models, as well as 3 new approaches were applied to a reference dataset containing cries of healthy infants and cries of infants suffering from laryngomalacia, cleft lip and palate, hearing impairment, asphyxia and brain damage. Classification models were evaluated according to a rating schema, considering the aspects accuracy, degree of overfitting and conformability. Results indicate that many models have issues with accuracy and conformability. However, some of the models, like C5.0 decision trees and J48 classification trees provide promising results in infant cry classification for diagnostic purpose.</abstract>

Comparison of Supervised-learning Models for Infant Cry Classification / Vergleich von Klassifikationsmodellen zur Säuglingsschreianalyse

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Introduction: A systems-oriented approach in contemporary health-care requires health professionals to include clients’ and their proxies’ perceptions to design specific, efficient, and cost-effective interventions. This influences the choice of appropriate methods and means for assessment and intervention. To learn more about the benefits of a systems-approach in assessment and intervention planning, there is a need to study how children and their proxies describe children’s abilities. Aims: This study aimed to explore, describe, and compare perceived competences in everyday activities as reported by children with difficulties in their occupational performance, their parents and teachers, using the first Austrian-German version of the Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting System (AG-PEGS). Method: Forty-two children, their parents and teachers completed the AG-PEGS. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, calculation of inter-rater agreement, differences between groups, and correlations between categories. Results: Overall, adults scored children’s competences lower than the children themselves. Statistically significant differences of the perception of children, parents and teachers were found in single items, total scores and life areas (productivity, self-care, leisure), respectively. Differences in perceived competence were also found related to gender and schooling. Agreement in children’s and adults’ scorings varied depending on shared life areas (children and parents showing most agreement in self-care). Conclusion. Agreement and differences in perceived competences support the importance of children’s and proxies’ participation in assessment in order to gain a comprehensive picture and a better understanding of a child’s situation and conditions, address a child’s and his/her proxies’ concerns, and provide individualized and context-relevant intervention. Children - assessment - self-efficacy - perceived competence - parents - teachers - participation</abstract>

fh gesundheit, FH-Bachelorstudiengang in hysiotherapie

Perceived competences in everyday activities: Children’s self-report and parents’ and teachers’ report using the first Austrian-German Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting System (AG-PEGS) version / Einschätzungen kindlicher Kompetenzen in Alltagstätigkeiten durch Kinder, deren Eltern und Pädagogen/-innen, basierend auf der ersten deutschsprachigen PEGS (Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting System)-Version

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Family caregivers suffer from stress due to the caregiving situation which is negatively associated with health. This review focuses on possibilities of support for the family caregivers. This review was performed by the use of the databases PubMed and PsychINFO with the following keywords in various combinations: stress, chronic stress, burden, family caregiving, family caregiver, coping, intervention. An exclusion criterion was infantile care recipient.Our results indicate that knowledge, information and training for caregivers reduce stress. External advice by health care professionals, as well as the encouragement to focus on their own needs is experienced as helpful. Support can also be given via telephone helpline and/or the internet. Also direct communication with other caregivers reduces stress. A positive view on care needed in old age helps to bear the burden of caring for older adults. The effort of family caregivers should be more recognized as they play an important part in society. The Austrian Republic saves 2-3 billion € per year due to informal caregiving. Health professionals should identify family caregivers as a risk group and provide information on an interdisciplinary base. With the given advice, attention and support, the burden of the caregivers on the one hand and un-necessary costs on the other hand could be reduced.</abstract>

Ausbildungszentrum West für Gesundheitsberufe AZW Innsbruck

Supporting Family Cargivers / Unterstützung für pflegende Angehörige

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Introduction: In the context of illness, disability, and longevity, reconciliation of employment and family caregiving is evolving - in Switzerland termed „work &amp; care“. Due to time, local, and personal restrictions, employed family caregivers need an organizational culture in health care which acknowledges their specific needs for reconciliation in order to remain employed and secure their financial situation. Aim: To identify how organizational cultures in health care institutions influence reconciliation of employment and family caregiving.Method: Within a larger study, case studies in three Swiss health care institutions were conducted within acute, long-term and homecare settings. Data triangulation included document analysis, expert interviews (N=13), field observations, and group discussions (N=5 each with 4-5 participants). The latter are focused in the analysis of this article. Results: Three core categories are discussed: employed family caregivers providing care and receiving care, and how they are perceived physically present and absent, either employed or not employed. Employment of family caregivers was only marginally identified.Discussion: Across all core categories, family caregivers are dominated by institutional rules in all care settings. This can foster or hinder reconciliation. Specific approaches, e. g. care coordination, enhance a sense of reconciliation within the health care system. Hence, health professionals can develop strategies that positively affect employment of family caregivers.Conclusion: Health care institutions focus primarily on patients or residents. Thus, they follow predominantly a logic of care. This primacy should be complemented by a logic of reconciliation, in order to reinforce the lived reality of employed family caregivers.</abstract>

Employed family caregivers in health care: from a logic of care to a logic of reconciliation / Berufstätige Angehörige im Gesundheitswesen: Von der Versorgungslogik zur Vereinbarkeitslogik

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Sensing, observing and interpreting the symptoms of persons suffering from dementia is very challenging. The difficulties lie in their restricted capacity to communicate and irregular transitions from a chronic-stable to an acute-critical condition both in the course of their symptoms and in the slow but continuous process of deterioration.The aim of this integrative literature review was to identify the symptoms dementia patients present in the final twelve months of their lives and to identify instruments for symptom assessment. To this end, a comprehensive literature search within the electronic databases Medline® (PubMed), Cinahl® (EBSCO), PsycINFO® (OVID) and Cochrane Library for systematic reviews® and for clinical trials® in both German and English was performed including publications from January 2000 to July 2012.Six symptoms were identified as frequent and common in the end-of-life phase of people with dementia: respiratory distress, pain, mood swings, restricted mobility, restricted food and fluid intake and behavioural and psychosocial symptoms. Knowledge of atypical symptom manifestation requires critical reflection about perceptions and observations, interpretation of these observations, development of assumptions and location within the context of everyday life in the meaning of clinical reasoning. </abstract>

Dying with dementia: most frequent symptoms. A review of the literature / Sterben mit Demenz: die häufigsten Symptome. Eine Literaturübersicht

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Background: Changing demographic and economic factors are producing serious challenges to Switzerland’s primary care providers: meeting the population’s growing needs will require redevelopment and reorganization. Large-scale community-based care can be expanded via alternative care models, including walk-in-clinics (WIC) stuffed by interdisciplinary teams, with Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) playing key roles in the treatment of minor complaints.Aims: To reveal the proportion of adult patients within five exemplary diagnostic groups (respiratory tract infections, earaches, hearing impairments, urinary tract infections and wounds) who could be treated by APNs in a Swiss urban WIC in order to develop a future model of multidisciplinary collaboration between APN and physicians. Methods: A retrospective data analysis was performed on WIC’s medical records. Reflecting seasonal variations, a one-month patient data sample was collected for each of four consecutive seasons (July and October 2010, January and April 2011). Data analyses included calculations of frequencies of individual diagnoses and of diagnostic groups.Results: Of a combined sample of 5,130 patient consultations, 53% (n=2,733) fit within the scope of APN competencies. The most common diagnoses concerned minor wounds (24%; n=1,240) and upper respiratory tract infections (18%; n=926).Conclusion: Based on this study’s results, we conclude that assigning APNs to primary care clinics would contribute a meaningful new professional role to Switzerlands healthcare system. Further research will be necessary to evaluate the effects of such implementation on inter-professional collaboration and patient outcomes.</abstract>

Health Care Provision in a Swiss Urban Walk-In-Clinic. Is Advanced Nursing Practice a Solution for a New Model in Primary Care? / Gesundheitsversorgung in einer städtischen Walk-In-Praxis in der Schweiz. Ist Advanced Nursing Practice ein neues Modell in der Grundversorgung?

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Objective: Measurement of activity and participation related outcomes play an important role in rehabilitation of low back pain. Therefore the „Patient Specific Functional Scale»(PSFS) was developed to assess individual, patient related activities. The aim of this study is the cultural adaptation and validation of the PSFS for German speaking countries.Method: A cultural translation and adaptation process was carried out in accordance with standardized guidelines. The internal and external responsiveness and the construct validity adjustment to the German version pertaining to patients with lumbar back pain was examined in comparison to the «Oswestry Disability Index»(ODI).Results: In both groups the PSFS proved itself to be more sensitive in comparison to the ODI. The internal responsiveness of ODI improved ES= -0.75), (non-improved ES= -0.38). PSFS (improved ES= 1.96), (non-improved ES 0.77). The external responsiveness of ODI (AUC= 0.59), of PSFS (AUC= 0.83) (P= 0.0068). Constructs of both measurement instruments have a weak and a moderate correlation on measuring point 1 (r= -0.28) and 2 (r= -0.58).Conclusion: The German version of PSFS proves itself to be a feasible model and a method of high sensitivity in evaluating changes in the functional ability of patients with lumbar back pain. The instrument can be recommended to be used in clinical practice.</abstract>

Cross-cultural Adaption and Validity of the “Patient Specific Functional Scale” / Kulturelle Adaption und Validierung der deutschen Version der “Patient Specific Functional Scale”

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International Journal of Health Professions

The International Journal of Health Professions (IJHP) is an academic journal with principle focus on interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration of health professionals in research, practice and education. IJHP calls for original articles on health professions and health care issues with an interdisciplinary/ interprofessional perspective in the areas of:   patient's perspective and participation, user involvement in interprofessional health care  decision making science and evidence in health care  studies of interprofessional collaboration in practice; problem-based and case-based collaboration; error management and culture of constructive criticism in interprofessional collaboration  interfaces in sequential collaboration (patient pathways, treatment chain)  cooperation and innovation in integrated health care, managed care, case management, e-health  interdisciplinary clinical studies, assessments, outcomes  health promotion and functioning in daily life from an interdisciplinary perspective  Innovation in interdisciplinary research methods  health policy, health economics with reference to interdisciplinary/ interprofessional topics  higher education didactics and educational topics  The IJHP publishes research studies, reviews, theoretical and methodological foundations and analyses.  Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process.   OTHER LINKS:Online Submission of Manuscripts - http://www.editorialmanager.com/ijhpEditorial Policy (English) - https://ijhp.info/en/author-information/Instructions for Authors (English) - https://ijhp.info/en/author-information/Journal Homepage (English) - https://ijhp.info/en/  Peer Review  Submitted manuscripts go through a two-step process:  Firstly, the editorial board will decide whether the manuscript fulfils the substantive and formal criteria for the further review process. The decision is based on the following criteria:    Relevance: the content conforms to the scope and goals of the IJHP  Originality/topicality: the content is sufficiently important and topical to merit publication in the IJHP  Formal correctness: the formal criteria are met.  Ethical Guidelines: national and international ethical standards for studies with human subjects are fulfilled (where applicable).   When the criteria are not met, the manuscript will be rejected without peer review. The authors have the opportunity to resubmit the manuscript after rigorous revision.  When the criteria are met, the manuscript is assigned to a responsible editor who will organize a double blind peer review process. Two reviewers receive the manuscript with a cover sheet excluding the names and affiliated institutions of the authors. No further measures to anonymize the document are carried out. The authors do not know the names of the reviewers.  Once all reviews have been received and considered by the responsible editor, the corresponding author receives an e-mail with the decision. The following decisions are possible:    Accepted without revision  Accepted , minor or major revision required  Rejected  Article Processing Charges APCs, publication fees  The IJHP does not charge any fees for submitting, editing, or publishing articles. The Verein zur Förderung der Wissenschaft in den Gesundheitsberufen VFWG (Association for the Promotion of Science in the Health Professions VFWG) thus promotes scientific publication activity in the academic health professions (esp. in German-speaking countries). 