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Limited evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of learning approaches in supporting interprofessional wound care education transnationally. The aim of this pilot study was to explore the feasibility and preliminary impact of an international, online interprofessional masterclass in supporting baccalaureate health students' learning about wound care. Data were collected using multiple methods including quantitative survey, qualitative focus groups, and interviews with baccalaureate nursing, pharmacy, dietetics, podiatry and paramedicine students from two universities based in Australia and Northern Ireland. A retrospective pre-test design was used. A survey retrospectively assessed students' self-reported confidence and understanding before and after the masterclass, while qualitative methods explored students' experiences of interprofessional learning and wound care. Self-reported improvements in students' understanding of wound assessment and management, as well as heightened awareness of interprofessional contributions to patient care indicated the potential value of this interprofessional and international collaboration in supporting wound care education. Qualitative analysis identified four themes: recognising a wound is a person's wound; comparing international healthcare practices; fostering learner engagement; interprofessional recognition, acknowledgment, and understanding of each profession's roles, contributions and expertise. This pilot study has highlighted key issues to be addressed in future research examining the impact of a collaborative online international initiative on baccalaureate students' interprofessional learning about wound care.
This study aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the symptoms, coexisting conditions and service utilisation among people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID. The major research questions include the clustering of symptoms, the relationship between key factors and diagnosis time, and the perceived impact of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on patient care.
Cross-sectional survey using secondary data analysis.
Community-based primary care level across the UK, incorporating online survey participation.
A total of 10 458 individuals responded to the survey, of which 8804 confirmed that they or a close friend/family member had ME/CFS or long COVID. The majority of respondents were female (83.4%), with participants from diverse regions of the UK.
Primary outcomes included prevalence and clustering of symptoms, time to diagnosis, and participant satisfaction with National Health Service (NHS) care, while secondary outcomes focused on symptom management strategies and the perceived effect of NICE guidelines.
Fatigue (88.2%), postexertional malaise (78.2%), cognitive dysfunction (88.4%), pain (87.6%) and sleep disturbances (88.2%) were the most commonly reported symptoms among participants with ME/CFS, with similar patterns observed in long COVID. Time to diagnosis for ME/CFS ranged widely, with 22.1% diagnosed within 1–2 years of symptom onset and 12.9% taking more than 10 years. Despite updated NICE guidelines, only 10.1% of participants reported a positive impact on care, and satisfaction with NHS services remained low (6.9% for ME/CFS and 14.4% for long COVID).
ME/CFS and long COVID share overlapping but distinct symptom clusters, indicating common challenges in management. The findings highlight significant delays in diagnosis and low satisfaction with specialist services, suggesting a need for improved self-management resources and better-coordinated care across the NHS.
FreshRSS 