Open Access Books - Health Science - 2023
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PublicationSimulation as an Improvement Technique( 2023)Historically simulation was used as an education and training technique in healthcare, but now has an emerging role in improving quality and safety. Simulation-based techniques can be applied to help understand healthcare settings and the practices and behaviours of those who work in them. Simulation-based interventions can help to improve care and outcomes – for example, by improving readiness of teams to respond effectively to situations or to improve skill and speed. Simulation can also help test planned interventions and infrastructural changes, allowing possible vulnerabilities and risks to be identified and addressed. Challenges include cost, resources, training, and evaluation, and the lack of connection between the simulation and improvement fields, both in practice and in scholarship. The business case for simulation as an improvement technique remains to be established. This Element concludes by offering a way forward for simulation in practice and for future scholarly directions to improve the approach.
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PublicationWorkplace Conditions( 2023)This Element reviews the evidence for three workplace conditions that matter for improving quality and safety in healthcare: staffing; psychological safety, teamwork, and speaking up; and staff health and well-being at work. The authors propose that these are environmental prerequisites for improvement. They examine the relationship between staff numbers and skills in delivering care and the attainment of quality of care and the ability to improve it. They present evidence for the importance of psychological safety, teamwork, and speaking up, noting that these are interrelated and critical for healthcare improvement. They present evidence of associations between staff well-being at work and patient outcomes. Finally, they suggest healthcare improvement should be embedded into the day-to-day work of frontline staff; adequate time and resources must be provided, with quality as the mainstay of professionals' work. Every day at every level, the working context must support the question 'how could we do this better?'
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PublicationReducing Overuse( 2023)Overuse has become a major issue of healthcare quality, safety, and sustainability around the world. In this Element, the authors discuss concepts, terminology, and the history of concerns. They show how interventions to address overuse target multiple drivers. They highlight successes and promising approaches, but also challenges in generating and using evidence about overuse. They emphasise that different stakeholder perceptions of value must be recognised. System-level efforts to restrict access to services have created tensions between stakeholder groups and stimulated politicised debates about rationing. They argue for clear articulation of priorities, problem definition, mechanisms for interventions, and areas of uncertainty. Policy-makers should prioritise transparency, be alert to inequalities as they seek to reduce overuse, and consider how to balance controlling use with enabling clinicians to respond to individual circumstances. The complexity of the drivers and possible solutions to overuse require the use of multiple research methods, including social science studies.
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PublicationPediatric Dentistry - A Comprehensive Guide( 2023)As a parent, guardian, or healthcare provider, ensuring the oral health of children is a vital aspect of overall health and well-being. Pediatric Dentistry - A Comprehensive Guide is an insightful book that covers critical concepts and clinical studies in pediatric dentistry to provide a comprehensive understanding of oral health in children. Chapters address such topics as the “dental home” concept, which involves early dental visits and establishing a dental home for children to prevent oral health issues, stomatognathic dysfunction, the role of the community in promoting good oral health in children, the effects of malnutrition on pediatric oral health, and the role of metals in pediatric oral health. The book is a valuable resource for pediatric dentists, dental hygienists, and other healthcare providers interested in promoting and maintaining oral health in children. It also serves as a guide for parents and guardians seeking to ensure optimal oral health for their children.
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PublicationPeriodontology - New Insights( 2023)Periodontology is a specialized branch of dentistry that deals with the health and diseases of the periodontium, which is the supportive tissue surrounding the teeth. Periodontal diseases are common oral diseases that can affect the teeth and supporting structures, and maintaining a healthy periodontium is essential for preserving the integrity of dentition. Advances have been made in the pathophysiology, classification, diagnosis, and management of periodontal diseases over the years. This book aims to provide researchers and clinicians who deal with periodontal diseases with an overview of the latest insights regarding the periodontium and periodontal disease.