Search results
1 – 10 of over 34000To explore the project-specific information-seeking pathways of Chinese parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and understand the information seeking in their…
Abstract
Purpose
To explore the project-specific information-seeking pathways of Chinese parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and understand the information seeking in their daily lives.
Design/methodology/approach
This study utilized the interview, critical incident technique and information horizon mapping to gather data from 27 Chinese parents of children with ASD during project-specific information seeking. These data were then examined using content analysis and descriptive statistics methods.
Findings
First, the information-seeking pathways of parents of children with ASD show the significant importance of both interpersonal and online sources, characterized by the combined use of multiple types of information sources. Second, information-seeking pathways considerably vary across project contexts. For diagnosis and school selection, parents had fewer pathways and primarily relied on interpersonal sources. Meanwhile, they utilized interpersonal and online sources combined for selecting rehabilitation institutions and methods, with the most information-seeking pathways for rehabilitation methods.
Originality/value
This study presents novel insights into the information-seeking pathways of Chinese parents of children with ASD in seeking project-specific information. It provides valuable references for relevant governments and rehabilitation institutions in building information service platforms, strengthening information quality regulation and providing information resources for parents of children with ASD.
Details
Keywords
Care pathways are becoming increasingly popular within UK healthcare organisations yet very little is known about the tool. Using the results from a survey of healthcare…
Abstract
Care pathways are becoming increasingly popular within UK healthcare organisations yet very little is known about the tool. Using the results from a survey of healthcare organisations, which are members of the National Pathways Association (NPA), the author suggests that different models of care pathways are being implemented. Four models or different types of care pathways are identified, with different features in each model. The models can be used prospectively by organisations to decide which particular features they may want to include. Alternatively, the models can be used as an assessment tool to identify the type of pathway being developed. This assessment can form the basis for any future evaluations of the effectiveness of the pathways which are developed.
Details
Keywords
This study seeks to challenge the notions of the standardized care pathway and patient‐centred care, both of which provide only a partial view of care as a complex system. In…
Abstract
Purpose
This study seeks to challenge the notions of the standardized care pathway and patient‐centred care, both of which provide only a partial view of care as a complex system. In exploring and contrasting the care pathway protocol and an actual care pathway, the study aims to analyze the conceptualizations of care that actors involved in the actual care pathway have. The study makes suggestions on how to expand care pathways and thereby improve patient care.
Design/methodology/approach
A care pathway protocol is contrasted with the actual care pathway of a patient at a university hospital in Finland. Observational ethnography is combined with a narrative approach and activity‐theoretical ideas.
Findings
The study depicts the gap between the care pathway protocol and an actual care pathway. The actual care pathway, rather than being a clear‐cut process, is ruptured and unpredictable. The conceptualizations of care (i.e. care‐objects) held by the doctors, nurses and the patient were fragmented and clashed in their practical work activity. The main message to hospital management is that in order to expand care pathways, the multiple care‐objects need to be placed in constructive interplay.
Research limitations/implications
A single actual care pathway is presented and the results are interpreted accordingly.
Originality/value
The study explores the idea of a care pathway and patient‐centred care in the analysis of care‐objects. A new discursive model is introduced that places different care‐objects into interplay and opens up the possibilities for the expansion of care pathways.
Details
Keywords
Logan Reed Vallandingham, Luitzen De Boer and Heidi Carin Dreyer
The patient flow performance achievable by care pathways is constrained by competing flow and resource efficiency, which can negatively impact improvements. This paper probes the…
Abstract
Purpose
The patient flow performance achievable by care pathways is constrained by competing flow and resource efficiency, which can negatively impact improvements. This paper probes the divergence between resource and flow efficiency and how care pathways can lead to improved patient flow. By framing the problem through the lens of paradox theory, a set of design principles is proposed to assist decision-makers in care pathway implementation. Implications are derived for research and practice.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used conceptual research to develop design principles for care pathways based on a systematic review of relevant care pathway research. The initial search contained 515 unique articles, resulting in a final sample of 56 studies.
Findings
When applying care pathways, patient flow may be negatively affected in relation to the dimensions of bottlenecks, non-value-adding activities, and variability. However, the findings also indicate methods that can be applied to manage organizational paradoxes, which can contribute to more efficient patient flow along each of the three dimensions.
Research limitations/implications
The study is limited to care pathways and therefore could have missed relevant studies in similar fields, such as care coordination.
Practical implications
Health care managers, politicians, and IT developers can apply the proposed design principles when developing, implementing, and improving care pathways and supporting technologies.
Originality/value
While existing research has studied care pathways from a medical perspective, this is the first paper to the author’s knowledge that addresses care pathways directly by considering paradox theory and in light of the operations management literature.
Details
Keywords
Ashton Chapman, Caroline Sanner, Lawrence Ganong, Marilyn Coleman, Luke Russell, Youngjin Kang and Sarah Mitchell
Stepgrandparent-stepgrandchild relationships are increasingly common as a result of relatively high rates of divorce and remarriage and increased longevity. When relationships are…
Abstract
Purpose
Stepgrandparent-stepgrandchild relationships are increasingly common as a result of relatively high rates of divorce and remarriage and increased longevity. When relationships are close, stepgrandparents may be valuable resources for stepgrandchildren, but the relational processes salient to the development of these ties remain largely unknown. The purposes of our research were: (1) to explore the complexity of stepgrandparent-stepgrandchild relationships, and (2) to examine processes that affected stepgrandparent-stepgrandchild relationship development.
Methodology/Approach
We present results from four grounded theory projects, which were based on semistructured interviews with 58 stepgrandchildren who provided data about 165 relationships with stepgrandparents. Collectively, these studies highlighted key processes of stepgrandparent-stepgrandchild relationship development operating within four distinct pathways to stepgrandparenthood – long-term, later life, skip-generation, and inherited pathways.
Findings
Stepgrandchildren’s closeness to stepgrandparents was influenced by factors such as timing (the child’s age and when in their life courses intergenerational relationships began), stepgrandparents’ roles in the life of the middle-generation parent and the quality of those relationships, whether or not the stepfamily defined the stepgrandparent as kin (e.g., through the use of claiming language), intergenerational contact frequency, and stepgrandparents’ affinity-building.
Originality/Value
Our study furthers understanding of stepgrandparent-stepgrandchild by attending to the importance of context in examining the processes that affect intergenerational steprelationship development. Exploring processes related to intergenerational steprelationships strengthens our understanding of the benefits and challenges associated with steprelationship development. Our study also sheds light on the “new look at kinship” and the processes that inform the social construction of family in a changing familial landscape.
Details
Keywords
Biying Zhu, Ju’e Guo, Martin de Jong, Yunhong Liu, Erlong Zhao and Gao Jing
This paper aims to examine the unique Chinese context by analyzing the city labels (e.g. smart city and eco city) used by Chinese local governments at or above the provincial…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the unique Chinese context by analyzing the city labels (e.g. smart city and eco city) used by Chinese local governments at or above the provincial capital level to represent themselves (adopted city labels) and the developmental pathways they actually pursued (adopted developmental pathways).
Design/methodology/approach
The authors compared the city brand choices to those anticipated based on their geographic and economic contexts (predicted city labels and developmental pathways) as well as the directives outlined in national planning documents (imposed city labels and developmental pathways). The authors identified ten main categories of city labels used to designate themselves and establish the frequency of their use based on municipal plan documents, economic and geographic data and national plan documents and policy reports, respectively.
Findings
The authors discovered that both local economic development and geographic factors, as well as top-down administrative influences, significantly impact city branding strategies in the 38 Chinese cities studied. When these models fall short in predicting adopted city labels and pathways, it is often because cities favor a service-oriented reputation over a manufacturing-focused one, and they prefer diverse, multifaceted industrial images to uniform ones.
Originality/value
The originality and value of this paper lie in its contribution to the academic literature on city branding by developing a predictive model for brand development at the municipal level, with explicit attention to the national-local nexus. The paper’s approach differs from existing research in the first cluster of city branding by not addressing issues of stakeholder involvement or adoption and implementation processes. Additionally, the paper’s focus on the political power dynamics at the national level and urban governance details at the municipal level provides a unique perspective on the topic. Overall, this paper provides a valuable contribution to the field of city branding by expanding the understanding of brand development and its impact on the socioeconomic environment.
Details
Keywords
President Obama positions community colleges as a linchpin of federal policy on education and training for citizens adversely affected by the recession. Chief among recommended…
Abstract
Purpose
President Obama positions community colleges as a linchpin of federal policy on education and training for citizens adversely affected by the recession. Chief among recommended reforms is the notion of career pathways that enable students, especially non-traditional age adults, to participate in postsecondary education directed at employment.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reviews the literature on career pathway reforms to describe these programs and the students who enroll in them. It also presents evidence from two third-party evaluations of federal grants supporting career pathway implementation.
Findings
Results suggest career pathway programs are spreading throughout the United States through unprecedented levels of federal funding. Adult learners are a primary target group, but more data are needed to determine on a deeper level who these students are and whether they are being well served.
Originality/value
This paper offers new information to help readers consider whether President Obama’s agenda will achieve its goals and positively impact college completion and economic recovery.
Details
Keywords
Anna McGlynn, Éidín Ní Shé, Paul Bennett, Siaw-Teng Liaw, Tony Jackson and Ben Harris-Roxas
HealthPathways is an online decision support portal, primarily aimed at General Practitioners (GPs), that provides easy to access and up to date clinical, referral and resource…
Abstract
Purpose
HealthPathways is an online decision support portal, primarily aimed at General Practitioners (GPs), that provides easy to access and up to date clinical, referral and resource pathways. It is free to access, with the intent of providing the right care, at the right place, at the right time. This case study focuses on the experience and learnings of a HealthPathways program in metropolitan Sydney during the COVID-19 pandemic. It reviews the team's program management responses and looks at key factors that have facilitated the spread and scale of HealthPathways.
Design/methodology/approach
Available data and experiences of two HealthPathways program managers were used to recount events and aspects influencing spread and scale.
Findings
The key factors for successful spread and scale are a coordinated response, the maturity of the HealthPathways program, having a single source of truth, high level governance, leadership, collaboration, flexible funding and ability to make local changes where required.
Originality/value
There are limited published articles on HealthPathways. The focus of spread and scale of HealthPathways during COVID-19 is unique.
Details
Keywords
Juliana Thompson, Glenda Cook, Claire Masterman, Mark Parkinson and Lesley Bainbridge
Different pathways of frailty care to prevent or delay progression of frailty and enable people to live well with frailty are emerging in primary and community care in the UK. The…
Abstract
Purpose
Different pathways of frailty care to prevent or delay progression of frailty and enable people to live well with frailty are emerging in primary and community care in the UK. The purpose of the study is to understand effective frailty care pathways and their components to inform future service development and pathway evaluation in primary- and community-care services.
Design/methodology/approach
A rapid evidence review was conducted: 11 research publications met the inclusion criteria and were analysed using narrative thematic synthesis.
Findings
There is strong evidence that resistance-based exercise, self-management support, community geriatric services and hospital at home (HAH) improve patient health and function. In general, evaluation and comparison of frailty care pathways, components and pathway operations is challenging due to weaknesses, inconsistencies and differences in evaluation, but it is essential to include consideration of process, determinant and implementation of pathways in evaluations.
Originality/value
To achieve meaningful evaluations and facilitate comparisons of frailty pathways, a standardised evaluation toolkit that incorporates evaluation of how pathways are operated is required for evaluating the impact of frailty pathways of care.
Details
Keywords
Julie Trebilcock, Manuela Jarrett, Tim Weaver, Colin Campbell, Andrew Forrester, Julian Walker and Paul Moran
The purpose of this paper is to explore the views of NHS England (NHSE) and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) commissioners about the Offender Personality…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the views of NHS England (NHSE) and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) commissioners about the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) pathway.
Design/methodology/approach
A thematic analysis of four semi-structured interviews with NHSE and HMPPS commissioners is conducted.
Findings
Commissioners offered a cautious but confident assessment of the potential effectiveness of the OPD pathway, drawing particular attention to its potential to enhance the confidence and competency of staff, offer better value for money and provide enhanced progression routes for offenders with personality disorders. Additionally, commissioners identified a number of potential risks for the pathway including wider system flux, funding availability, multi-agency working, offender engagement and the need to evidence effectiveness.
Research limitations/implications
The analysis is based on a small number of interviews. However, there are only a limited number of commissioners involved with the OPD pathway.
Practical implications
While the stronger focus on progression in the OPD pathway is a welcome departure from a narrow focus on high security Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder (DSPD) services, the foundations of the OPD pathway ultimately lie with the DSPD programme and similar challenges are likely to follow. The system within which the pathway operates is subject to a great deal of flux and this inevitably poses significant challenges for pathway services, staff and offenders, as well as for those of us charged with its evaluation.
Originality/value
There has been limited empirical work with commissioners in the mental health field. The paper offers a unique insight into the perspectives of those responsible for commissioning the OPD pathway.
Details