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Participation in qualitative research frequently relies upon recall and verbal expression, which may be difficult for some people with dementia. While the use of arts-based and visual methods are transforming dementia care, exploratory research and evaluation methods have lagged behind with regard to the use of innovative qualitative approaches. This scoping review identified innovative qualitative methods that have been used to effectively engage and involve people with dementia in social and health research. Systematic searches of academic databases, Google Scholar, and hand searches identified 24 peer-reviewed articles published since 2010 for inclusion. Analysis focused on a description of both the motivation and methods ascribed by the researchers and how the capacities of people with dementia were engaged as part of the research process. The most frequently used innovative method was Photovoice. Action research, case study, narrative production, ethnography, participatory filmmaking and theater, co-research, and mixed methods were also used. Regardless of methodology, most studies used a participatory approach that incorporated visual methods alongside adapted semistructured or unstructured interviews. Researchers were focused on inclusion, empowerment, self-expression, flexibility, and communication when selecting methods. Providing an appropriate research environment and committing time for repeat contact, observation, and engagement were important considerations.

Participation in qualitative research frequently relies upon recall and verbal expression, which may be difficult for some people with dementia. While the use of arts-based and visual methods are transforming dementia care, exploratory research and evaluation methods have lagged behind with regard to the use of innovative qualitative approaches. This scoping review identified innovative qualitative methods that have been used to effectively engage and involve people with dementia in social and health research. Systematic searches of academic databases, Google Scholar, and hand searches identified 24 peer-reviewed articles published since 2010 for inclusion. Analysis focused on a description of both the motivation and methods ascribed by the researchers and how the capacities of people with dementia were engaged as part of the research process. The most frequently used innovative method was Photovoice. Action research, case study, narrative production, ethnography, participatory filmmaking and theater, co-research, and mixed methods were also used. Regardless of methodology, most studies used a participatory approach that incorporated visual methods alongside adapted semistructured or unstructured interviews. Researchers were focused on inclusion, empowerment, self-expression, flexibility, and communication when selecting methods. Providing an appropriate research environment and committing time for repeat contact, observation, and engagement were important considerations.

Background and objective: Australia's health system faces challenges in the management and prevention of chronic disease. Models of primary care delivery, such as the Health Care Home (HCH) model, have been proposed to help meet these challenges. The aim of this study was to explore pre-implementation consumer perspectives of the HCH model. Methods: Qualitative data were collected from focus groups and semi-structured interviews with 38 general practice patients diversified across rural and urban areas and patient demographics. Results: The qualitative findings revealed that consumers were confused about the name of the model. They were sceptical about potential hidden costs associated with the model and concerned about hidden agendas and where things in general practice are headed. Discussion: The findings indicate that consumers may not readily embrace the HCH model. To aid consumer acceptance, the authors recommend the terminology be clarified and the concepts, financial implications and expected outcomes of the model be clearly communicated.

Background There is international interest in whether improved primary care, in particular for patients with chronic or complex conditions, can lead to decreased use of health resources and whether financial incentives help achieve this goal. This trial (EQuIP-GP) will investigate whether a funding model based upon targeted, continuous quality incentive payments for Australian general practices increases relational continuity of care, and lessens health-service utilisation, for high-risk patients and children. Methods We will use a mixed methods approach incorporating a two-arm pragmatic cluster randomised control trial with nested qualitative case studies. We aim to recruit 36 general practices from Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRN) covering urban and regional areas of Australia, randomised into intervention and control groups. Control practices will provide usual care while intervention practices will be supported to implement a new service model incorporating incentives for relational continuity and timely access to appointments. Patients will comprise three groups: older (over 65 years); 18–65 years with chronic and/or complex conditions; and those aged less than 16 years with increased risk of hospitalisation. The funding model includes financial incentives to general practitioners (GPs) for providing longer consultations, same day access and timely follow-up after hospitalisation to enrolled patients. The payments are proportional to expected health system savings associated with improved quality of GP care. An outreach facilitator will work with practices to help incorporate the incentive model into usual work. The main outcome measure is relational continuity of care (Primary Care Assessment Tool short-form survey), with secondary outcomes including health-related quality of life and health service use (hospitalisations, emergency presentations, GP and specialist services in the community, medicine prescriptions and targeted pathology and imaging ordering). Outcomes will be initially evaluated over a period of 12 months, with ongoing data collection for 5 years. Discussion The trial will provide robust evidence on a novel approach to providing continuous incentives for improving quality of general practice care, which can be compared to block payment incentives awarded at target quality levels of pay-for-performance, both within Australia and also internationally. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618000105246 . Registered on 23 January 2018.

In the original publication of this article [1], the first name of the 3rd author is wrong.

Background: Decisions about effective treatment and referral of patients with acne vulgaris can be complicated by psychosocial effects on patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the complexities of diagnosis, treatment and referral decisions for general practitioners (GPs) providing care to patients with acne. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study collected data via telephone interviews with 20 purposively sampled GPs working in New South Wales. A thematic analysis guided by the study objectives was undertaken. Results: The participating GPs had divergent management approaches to acne treatment, infrequently provided acne patients with written resources, and would value additional dermatological support. Furthermore, the GPs recognised psychosocial ramifications and patient distress as drivers for treatment and expedited referral to dermatologists. Discussion: Avenues for improved patient outcomes include explicit attention to psychological morbidity beyond treatment of the acne itself and improved use of patient educational materials, along with consistent collaboration between GPs and dermatologists.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the birth environment and the practice of midwifery using the theoretical approach of critical realism. BACKGROUND: The practice of midwifery has significant influence on the experiences and health outcomes of childbearing women. In the developed world most midwifery takes place in hospitals. The design and aesthetics of the hospital birth environment have an effect on midwives and inevitably play a role in shaping their practice. Despite this, knowledge about midwives' own thoughts and feelings regarding the design of hospital birth environments is limited. METHODS: An exploratory descriptive methodology was used and 16 face-to-face photo-elicitation interviews were conducted with practicing midwives. Audio recordings were made of the interviews and they were transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis, informed by the theoretical framework of critical realism, was undertaken. RESULTS: Midwives identified cognitive and emotional responses to varied birth environments and were able to describe the way in which these responses influenced their practice. The overarching theme of “messages from space” was developed along with three sub-themes: messages, feelings, and behaviors. Midwives' responses aligned with the three domains of a critical realist world-view and indicated that a relationship existed between hospital birth environments and midwifery practice. CONCLUSIONS: The design of hospital birth rooms may shape midwifery practice by generating cognitive and emotional responses, which influence the activities and behaviors of individual midwives.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to explore whether - and in what ways - the design of hospital birth units might influence midwives and their practice. To do this, the study aimed to elicit midwives’ perceptions and beliefs about the design and aesthetics of hospital birth rooms. By exploring midwives’ responses to their own varied workplaces, the study intended to increase understanding of design features and characteristics that can support the provision of quality midwifery care.BackgroundWorkplace design is known to have functional, social and psychological effects on staff across many different professions and environments. The professional environment in which the majority of midwives work is the hospital. Health care staff working in hospitals are impacted upon by design, which can influence productivity and wellbeing. Midwives have previously identified that the hospital can be a difficult and stressful place to work. However, little research is available specifically examining midwives’ perceptions and beliefs about the role that design of the physical environment plays in this phenomenon.MethodsThis study used a qualitative exploratory descriptive methodology underpinned by the theoretical approach of critical realism. A total of 21 in-depth face-to-face photoelicitation interviews were conducted with a sample of 16 midwives from one Australian hospital. The study site was a large tertiary hospital, which had recently undergone extensive renovation and rebuilding. Due to changes associated with rebuilding, the midwife participants had experience of working in a total of five differently designed hospital birth rooms. All interviews were audio-recorded, deidentified and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis was conducted using the study objectives as a guiding framework. Based on this analysis, theoretical conceptualisations were developed to examine relationships amongst the data.FindingsMidwives were deeply affected by the design and aesthetics of hospital birth rooms. The overarching theme developed was that of ‘oxytocin and adrenaline spaces’. Midwives used these terms to describe the design and aesthetics of rooms that were either supportive or stressful to work in. Based on this, a theoretical conceptualisation linking supportive design with enhanced wellbeing and efficacy and thus to better quality care provision was developed. This conceptualisation was premised on the known supportive effects of oxytocin on wellbeing and the known detrimental effects of stress on workplace efficacy.Midwives reported that traditional hospital birth rooms did not effectively support activities and behaviours associated with high quality midwifery practice, particularly the facilitation of normal birth. Three design characteristics were identified that could increase support for midwifery practice in hospital birth rooms. They were friendliness, functionality and freedom. Friendly rooms reduced stress and increased feelings of safety. Functional rooms enabled choice and provided options. And freedom allowed for flexible, spontaneous and responsive midwifery practice. Birth rooms that possessed these three characteristics were perceived as having a salutogenic effect on midwives, reducing stress and enhancing the provision of effective care.ConclusionThe design features and aesthetic characteristics of hospital birth rooms are extremely important to midwives. Developing and implementing supportive design can enhance midwives’ wellbeing and may promote the provision of quality midwifery care. The design characteristics of friendliness, functionality and freedom can have a salutogenic effect upon midwives and should be considered when renovating, refurbishing or redesigning hospital birth rooms.

This paper presents an efficient in-field calibration method tailored for low-cost triaxial MEMS gyroscopes often used in healthcare applications. Traditional calibration techniques are challenging to implement in clinical settings due to the unavailability of high-precision equipment. Unlike the auto-calibration approaches used for triaxial MEMS accelerometers, which rely on local gravity, gyroscopes lack a reliable reference since the Earth's self-rotation speed is insufficient for accurate calibration. To address this limitation, we propose a novel method that uses manual rotation of the MEMS gyroscope to a specific angle (360) as the calibration reference. This approach iteratively estimates the sensor's attitude without requiring any external equipment. Numerical simulations and empirical tests validate that the calibration error is low and that parameter estimation is unbiased. The method can be implemented in real-time on a low-energy microcontroller and completed in under 30 seconds. Comparative results demonstrate that the proposed technique outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods, achieving scale factor and bias errors of less than \\(2.510^-2\\) for LSM9DS1 and less than \\(110^-2\\) for ICM20948.