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Anteayer Journal of Advanced Nursing

Systematic Reviews of Psychosocial Interventions for Loneliness Among Older Adults in Community and Residential Care Settings: An Umbrella Review

ABSTRACT

Aim

To describe the latest information on types of psychosocial interventions and their effectiveness on loneliness reduction among older adults in community and residential care settings, and the experience with these interventions.

Design

Umbrella review.

Methods

The Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for umbrella reviews.

Data Sources

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature; Medline; Embase; Emcare; PsycINFO; ProQuest Dissertation & Thesis Global; Ovid Nursing Database; MedRxvi.

Results

Twenty-two reviews were included. Seven major types of psychosocial intervention were identified: (1) social facilitation interventions, (2) psychological therapies, (3) health and social care provision, (4) animal-assisted interventions, (5) befriending interventions, (6) leisure and skill development, and (7) other interventions. Social facilitation interventions that provide synchronised interaction, psychological therapies, health and social care provision, and animal (−assisted) interventions demonstrated positive effects while leisure/skill development and befriending interventions warrant more rigorous evidence. Group settings, synchronised interaction and purpose-driven are identified as facilitators, whereas technological issues and safety issues are barriers to participation.

Conclusion

Seven types of psychosocial interventions are currently available for loneliness among community-dwelling older adults, and a positive effect in reducing loneliness was demonstrated in some types. Facilitators and barriers to their participation were synthesised. Two future research directions are suggested: (1) reviews on meaning-centred interventions to provide a comprehensive understanding and (2) implementation studies employing community-based paraprofessionals to promote programme scalability and accessibility.

Implications for the Profession

Health and social care practitioners (e.g., nurses), researchers and policymakers are recommended to employ social facilitation interventions with synchronised interaction, psychological therapies, health and social care provision and animal-assisted interventions to address loneliness among community-dwelling older adults.

Impact

This review provided empirical information on available effective interventions to address loneliness among community-dwelling older adults. It also provided information for nurses to implement psychosocial interventions in the community.

Reporting Method

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines

Patient or Public Contribution

This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct or reporting.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO CRD 42023482852, registered 25/11/2023

Does Self‐Compassion Play a Mediating Role Between Stress and Fertility Adjustment in Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment? A Structural Equation Analysis

ABSTRACT

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between stress, self-compassion, and fertility adjustment in women undergoing infertility treatment in Turkey and to determine whether stress influences fertility adjustment through the mediating effect of self-compassion.

Design

A cross-sectional and descriptive design was used in the study.

Method

The study was conducted with 290 women who applied to the in vitro fertilisation unit in a university hospital in Ankara, Turkey. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and structural equation analysis were used for statistical analysis.

Results

According to the results of structural equation modelling, self-compassion was found not to affect fertility adjustment, while infertility-related stress directly influenced both self-compassion and fertility adjustment. Additionally, self-compassion was not found to mediate the relationship between stress and fertility adjustment in women undergoing infertility treatment.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that different dynamics may contribute to women's infertility-related stress and fertility adjustment.

Implications for the Profession

This study highlights the importance of developing strategies to enhance fertility adjustment in women receiving infertility treatment and underscores the need for nurses working in this field to evaluate women's attitudes toward themselves to provide individualised care aimed at alleviating infertility-related stress.

Impact

The findings indicate that self-compassion does not have the expected effect in coping with infertility. Specifically, the lack of a direct effect of self-compassion on fertility adjustment, along with the strong influence of stress on both self-compassion and fertility adjustment, suggests that stress management-focused interventions may take precedence. These results indicate that approaches aimed at stress management during infertility treatment can play a critical role in supporting women's adjustment processes.

Reporting Method

STROBE guidelines were followed for this study.

Patient or Public Contribution

There is no patient or public contribution.

How Government Policies and Organisational and Sectoral Circumstances Influence Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant Employment and Training: A Realist Analysis Using Surveys

ABSTRACT

Aims

To explain how government policies affected decision-making on Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant employment and training within Dutch healthcare organisations, and how organisational and sectoral circumstances were influential.

Design

An online, cross-sectional survey study.

Methods

A literature- and interview-based program theory was tested using surveys. Respondents from hospital care, (nursing) home care, primary care, and intellectual disability services were recruited using convenience sampling. Data analysis used descriptive statistics and inferential tests. Open-ended responses were analysed using thematic synthesis techniques. Survey results were clustered to assess verification, falsification, or refinement of program theory elements.

Results

A total of 568 experts in hiring and training healthcare professionals participated. Respondents indicated that most government policies promoted employment and training. Organisational and sectoral circumstances caused significant variations in Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant deployment across healthcare sectors, shaping how decision-makers interpreted and acted on government policies. Specific circumstances within primary care hampered deployment.

Conclusion

Government policies stimulated training and employment by: (1) removing practice restrictions (scope of practice expansion, legal acknowledgment), (2) facilitating cost-effective training and deployment (training grants, billing options), (3) providing sectoral knowledge on deployment, training, and healthcare outcomes (funding research and a sectoral knowledge center), and (4) establishing sectoral agreements (on apprenticeships). Organisational and sectoral circumstances significantly influenced outcomes. Key circumstances included flanking policies, stakeholder support, labor market capacity, healthcare demand, organisational resources and aims, and type of decision-makers (medical doctor or manager/director). Familiarity with the professions stimulated deployment.

Impact and Implications

The refined and verified program theory supports designing effective skill-mix policies and facilitating Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant employment and training. Tailoring skill-mix policies can optimise outcomes. This offers opportunities for governments, healthcare funders, organisations, and professionals to contribute to healthcare quality, cost efficiency, and patient satisfaction.

Patient or Public Contribution

Healthcare professionals were part of the study population.

Exploring Individual and Organisational Factors Related to Inclusive Leadership Among Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

ABSTRACT

Aim

To offer a comprehensive overview of the individual and organisational factors related to inclusive leadership among healthcare professionals.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

The review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness. Findings were synthesised using meta-analysis, a random effects model and narrative synthesis.

Data Sources

In January 2025, a systematic search was conducted with no time or geographical limits in the CINAHL, MEDLINE (PubMed), Mednar, ProQuest and Scopus databases. Studies in English, Swedish and Finnish were included.

Results

A total of 34 studies were included. The meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between inclusive leadership and psychological safety among healthcare professionals (n = 10). The narrative synthesis further identified individual and organisational factors related to inclusive leadership. Individual factors consisted of well-being at work, performance and productivity, social behaviour, innovativeness and creativity and psychological capacity. Organisational factors revealed work community cohesion and citizenship, as well as organisational fairness and appreciation.

Conclusions

Inclusive leadership is a promising leadership behaviour, with positive outcomes for healthcare professionals and organisations. By enhancing psychological safety, inclusive leadership offers broader benefits for individuals and organisations. As such, it could improve the retention of professionals and the attractiveness of organisations in the healthcare sector.

Implications for Healthcare Management

To strengthen the functioning of healthcare organisations, leaders should be educated in inclusive leadership and its practical benefits. Training should focus on developing inclusive leadership behaviours that foster belonging, value individual uniqueness and encourage participation across all professional groups, creating an environment where both individuals and organisations can thrive.

Reporting Method

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were used to report the results.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

Trial Registration

The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024503861)

Facilitating an Evidence‐Based Quality Improvement Learning Culture in Nursing Teams Through Coaching and Identification of Key Influencing Factors: An Action Research Approach

ABSTRACT

Aims

To explore how coaching can facilitate the development of an Evidence-Based Quality Improvement (EBQI) learning culture within nursing teams in hospital and community care settings. This study also explores the specific contextual factors that influence effective outcomes.

Design

Action research.

Method

Nine teams, including 254 nurses were selected from four hospitals and two community care organisations to participate in the development of an EBQI-learning culture under the guidance of internal and external coaches. Data were gathered from 27 focus groups with 56 unique participants (of whom 31 participated multiple times) and six individual interviews with three external coaches. Transcripts of all interviews were subjected to abductive thematic analysis.

Results

To promote an EBQI learning culture in nursing teams, it is essential that internal coaches effectively guide their team members. The internal coaches in this study focused on enhancing readiness for EBQI by providing support, encouraging involvement and motivating team members. They deepened innovation competencies including assessing daily care, implementing well-structured changes in care practices and embedding small steps in the change process in daily routines. It was found that barriers and facilitators within the team's context can influence the development of EBQI-learning culture and therefore need to be considered when seeking to make changes. The presence of external coaches served as a valuable resource and a motivator in supporting internal coaches to apply and improve their coaching skills.

Conclusions

To stimulate the development of an EBQI-learning culture, internal coaches need to focus on team readiness to work with EBQI. Priority needs to be given to enhancing the care change competencies of team members. Barriers to change must also be addressed. Internal coaches require external support and motivation to continually develop coaching skills.

Reporting Method

The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

Developing and testing a reflection method for implementation of the informal care guideline in community nursing: Design‐based research

Abstract

Aim

To develop a reflection method for community nurses and certified nursing assistants to support the implementation of the Dutch Informal Care guideline in daily care.

Design

Design-based research.

Methods

A design group and four test groups of community nurses and nursing assistants were formed to develop a reflection method that aligns with the needs and preferences of its end-users. The design and test group meetings were video recorded. The video data were iteratively discussed and analysed thematically to adapt and refine the method and to identify its key features.

Results

A final reflection method was developed. Five main themes were identified from the analysis: the group, reflective triggers, knowledge about the guidelines, the coach and preconditions. The themes are linked to nine key features representing the building blocks of the reflection method. The key features are group size, participants with different (educational) backgrounds, pairs of participants, expressing thoughts, video feedback, reflection game, making the connection with the guideline, coaching as a process facilitator and meeting organizational and contextual conditions for implementation.

Conclusion

An evidence- and practice-based reflection method for community nurses and certified nursing assistants is developed to support the implementation. By involving community nurses and certified nursing assistants, the method closely matches their needs and preferences. Critical elements of the reflection method are a game element, video feedback and working in pairs in a group of participants from different (educational) backgrounds. Guidance is needed to make the transfer from theory to practice.

Impact

A reflection method for community nurses and certified nursing assistants was developed to enhance care work according to guideline recommendations, aiming to improve the care provided by informal caregivers.

Report Method

The COREQ guideline was used.

Patient or Public Contribution

This reflection method was developed in close collaboration with all stakeholders during the entire study.

Developing and Testing a Reflection Method for Implementation of a Professional Reporting Guideline in Community Nursing: Design‐Based Research

ABSTRACT

Aim

To develop a reflection method for community nurses and certified nursing assistants to support the implementation of a professional reporting guideline for nurses and certified nursing assistants in daily care and to identify its key features.

Design

Design-based research.

Methods

This study was conducted in the Netherlands from February 2021 to April 2022. The reflection method was developed by a design group (community nurses, certified nursing assistants and a patient representative) and four test groups of nurses. Experiences of participants were explored with video recordings and observational notes from test group meetings. The data were thematically analysed to refine the reflection method and identify key features.

Results

A final reflection method was developed. We identified three main themes: (1) Impact on behaviour change, (2) group learning and (3) conditional factors for critical reflection. Seven key features emerged as essential, forming the building blocks of the reflection method: focus on critical reflection, allocate time to formulate themes, include participants from various backgrounds and organisations, ensure the group is appropriately sized, allow for sufficient time, keep it simple and attractive and stimulate the group to make the transfer of learning to their clinical practice.

Conclusions

The final method included two 2 h meetings with up to six participants and a coach. Participants learned from critical reflection and feedback to improve the reporting quality and critical assessment of daily practices, especially from colleagues with varying team affiliations and educational backgrounds.

Impact

This reflection method enables community nurses and certified nursing assistants to learn collaboratively, aligning with the ‘Nursing and Caring Reporting’ guideline and bridging the gap between research and clinical practice.

Report Method

The COREQ guideline was used.

Patient or Public Contribution

The study design facilitated close collaboration among researchers, community nurses, certified nursing assistants and clients.

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