https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/130263 2026-04-14T16:07:29Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/122712 Title: Maternal influences on breastfeeding and weaning practices in Malta Authors: Parnis Ignjatovic, Justine; Jones, Petra Abstract: While exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first 6 months of life, with the introduction of complementary foods at around 6 months (WHO, 2021), literature shows that adherence to these guidelines is low, leading to suboptimal weaning practices. Epidemiological studies have reported an association between socioeconomic status and breastfeeding practices. This study aimed to assess breastfeeding and weaning practices in Malta and to evaluate the maternal influence on these. The study adopted a cross-sectional design, conducting one-time questionnaires with 250 mothers of 8-month-old infants who consented to participate. These were administered at well-baby clinics within the primary health care centres of the Maltese Islands. The questionnaire covered socio-economic and demographic data, breastfeeding initiation and duration, weaning practices, and a brief assessment of the infant's diet at 8 months. Findings indicate increasing health inequalities. Mothers were more likely to exclusively breastfeed if they were younger (p=0.012) and better educated (p=0.003). Suboptimal breastfeeding duration was also more frequently reported in mothers with a lower education level. The mean (standard deviation) cessation age was 2.6 (1.88) months in the latter while a mean (standard deviation) cessation age of 4.0 (2.19) months was reported in better-educated mothers. No evidence of an association was found between maternal level of education and weaning initiation age. Weak associations were reported between the type of food offered during weaning and maternal level of education (p=0.095), as well as maternal employment status (p=0.089). Findings highlighted the need of community support and public health interventions that take into account social indicators to promote adherence to WHO infant feeding guidelines. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/122711 Title: Comparison of knowledge on chronic pain amongst health care clinicians working in Malta : a nationwide survey Authors: Schembri, Emanuel; Gatt, Anthea; Spiteri, Karl; Massalha, Victoria; Marmara, Vincent; Agius, Tonio Abstract: • Objectives – Chronic pain is a prevalent condition affecting 20% of the Maltese population. Studies abroad reported a lack of the clinicians’ knowledge of chronic pain management. Locally, studies were limited to the nurses working within specialised settings. This study aimed to determine and compare the level of knowledge on chronic pain and its management amongst doctors, physiotherapists, and nurses in Malta. • Methods – An online cross-sectional survey was distributed through professional organizations to doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists working in Malta, Europe. The data collection period spanned from September 2020 to November 2020. • Results – A total of 287 participants completed the survey. These represented 3.1% of medical doctors, 1.8% of nurses and 28.1% of physiotherapists. Participants frequently encounter persons with chronic pain (64.1%) in their clinical practice. The questionnaire’s median score was 13.0/21 (IQR 12.0 to 15.0). There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.001) in the overall scores of the three professions. Both physiotherapists and doctors achieved the highest median score of 14.0 (physiotherapists IQR 13.0 to 15.0, doctors IQR 12.0 to 15.0), while nurses achieved the lowest score (12.0, IQR 11.0 to 14.0). Overall, there was a homogeneity of knowledge gaps across the participants. These spanned traits of the biomedical model, the risk of addiction to prescribed opioid analgesics and the relationship between pain, behaviour, and disability. Knowledge gaps in managing chronic pain concerned the benefit of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), pharmacological treatments, and the misbelief to avoid pain-inducing activities. • Conclusion – The study identified domains meriting attention by healthcare management as these portray critical educational needs for the three professions. This is the first study to evaluate the level of knowledge on pain and its management across various professions in Malta. The research used a previously validated biopsychosocial tool, which identified a homogenous low level of knowledge among the participants. This study adds to the body of literature within the Maltese context that identifies important knowledge gaps for managing persons with chronic pain. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/122710 Title: Understanding the education and training requirements of advanced practice within specialist roles in therapeutic radiography Authors: Clarkson, Melanie; Khine, Ricardo Abstract: Advancing practice has developed organically as a form of role extension since the 1990’s (Leary and MacLaine, 2019). Predominantly found in the field of nursing, where a foundation of transferable skills unpins their development. In radiation therapy, radiation therapists/ therapeutic radiographers (RT/TR) possess the necessary expertise, skills and knowledge, making them uniquely placed to support advanced practice across the radiotherapy pathway (Khine, Stewart-Lord, 2021). However, the concept can be misunderstood since those foundation ‘nursing’ skills are not required by all within the specialisms such as in radiation therapy. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/122709 Title: Malta Journal of Health Sciences : volume 11 : issue 1 Authors: Spiteri, Georgette; Gatt, Daniela; Lungaro-Mifsud, Stephen; Scerri, Josianne; Couto, Jose Guilherme; Formosa, Melissa Marie; Trapani, Josef; Pavli, Foteini Abstract: Table of contents: 1/ Melanie Clarkson & Ricardo Khine - Understanding the education and training requirements of advanced practice within specialist roles in therapeutic radiography 2/ Daniela R. Gatt - Postgraduate Graduation Ceremoney Oration, March 2024 3/ Justine Parnis Ignjatovic & Petra Jones - Maternal Influences on Breastfeeding and Weaning Practices in Malta 4/ Emanuel Schembri, Anthea Gatt, Karl Spiteri, Victoria Massalha, Vincent Marmara & Tonio Agius - Comparison of knowledge on chronic pain amongst health care clinicians working in Malta: A nationwide survey 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z