https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/85588 2026-04-06T18:42:38Z 2026-04-06T18:42:38Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/85597 2022-04-26T12:04:49Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Malta Journal of Health Sciences : volume 8 : issue 2 Editors: Zarb, Francis Abstract: Table of contents:; 1/ Marjorie Bonello - Long COVID and interprofessional education ; some reflections; 2/ Fiona Galea, Rachel Agius, Helen Grech - The Viability of the English-Maltese Assessment of Speed of Handwriting; 3/ Angelica Abela, Georgette Spiteri - Midwives’ Perspectives on Perineal Suturing in Midwifery Practice; 4/ Luke Fiorini - COVID-19 as an occupational disease: enhancing social protection for at risk workers in Malta

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/85596 2026-01-05T12:32:43Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Long COVID and interprofessional education : some reflections Abstract: There is significant evidence to indicate that effective interprofessional education (IPE), defined as “occasions when two or more professions learn with, from and about each other to improve collaboration and the quality of care” (CAIPE, 2010) is a strategy that enables effective collaborative practice (WHO, 2010). Its uniqueness lies in deliberately creating heterogeneous groups by bringing together students from different professions around a common task.

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z Galea, Fiona Agius, Rachael Grech, Helen https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/85595 2023-11-10T13:06:39Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The viability of the English-Maltese assessment of speed of handwriting Authors: Galea, Fiona; Agius, Rachael; Grech, Helen Abstract: This paper discusses the viability of the English-Maltese Assessment of Speed of Handwriting (EMASH), a bilingual assessment battery that was developed to identify handwriting difficulties in 14–15-year-old Maltese students. Since there are no locally available standardized assessments that measure writing speed performance, the aim of this study was to pilot the novel assessment on a small sample of participants prior to the main data collection stage. A cross sectional, quantitative research design was applied. The English and Maltese versions of the assessment were administered to 70 (34 boys and 36 girls) participants from Maltese state, independent and church schools. Measures of face and content validity, internal consistency reliability and discriminative validity were conducted. These validity and reliability measures, together with participant performance and feedback, determined the changes that needed to be made to the administration, instructions, format and content of the assessment battery, prior to its standardization. The EMASH proved to be a valid and reliable tool.

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z Abela, Angelica Spiteri, Georgette https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/85590 2022-01-17T18:01:52Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Midwives’ perspectives on perineal suturing in midwifery practice Authors: Abela, Angelica; Spiteri, Georgette Abstract: Perineal suturing is the repair of perineal trauma which is caused by a tear or an episiotomy. This small-scale quantitative research project aimed to investigate midwives’ perspectives on perineal suturing in midwifery practice. This was achieved through the following objectives: to identify effective ways of teaching and supporting midwives in implementing perineal suturing as a midwifery skill and to identify the barriers and facilitators associated with implementing perineal suturing in local midwifery practice. A total of 40 midwives recruited by convenience sampling, were selected from a labour ward of a local general hospital. A total of 35 questionnaires were returned resulting in an 87.5% response rate. Analysis of closed-ended questions was carried out manually using simple descriptive statistics and analysis of open-ended questions was carried out using content analysis. Results suggested that midwives believe that perineal suturing should be carried out by midwives who should be the main professional to suture first and second-degree tears. This would contribute to providing continuity of care to intrapartum women and hence was viewed as imperative in facilitating the implementation of suturing of the perineum by midwives. Establishing perineal suturing by midwives within the local context would facilitate time management concerning care following the birth. Findings suggested that regular training on perineal repair would help to support the practice of the skill. Midwives also claimed that obstetric led care and a lack of trust between healthcare professionals are barriers whilst the provision of training is seen as a facilitator in promoting this midwifery skill. In conclusion, this study recommends the commencement of midwives repairing first-degree and second-degree tears as part of their practice with a policy that supports this. Moreover, further studies using a larger, randomly selected sample of midwives is also recommended so that the findings can be generalized. Recommendations for education include the importance of regular perineal repair courses which should be offered as a form of Continued Professional Development (CPD) to enhance the knowledge on the subject and so that any additional updates can be provided. This study was the first local study investigating midwives’ perspectives on perineal suturing in midwifery practice.

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z