https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/40424 2026-04-30T15:19:29Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/111738 Title: Evaluation of postnatal home visits by the community midwife in the primary care setting Abstract: The postnatal period marks the establishment of a new phase of family life for women and their partners and the beginning of the lifelong health record for newborn babies. This study investigated whether the current postnatal home care system in Malta is meeting the individual needs of women receiving the service during the puerperium. The study population was mothers of child-bearing age, who delivered in the public hospital between October and December 2007. The study also included the community midwives working within the M.M.D.N.A. delivering postnatal home visits. The research was conducted in two phases. Initially the community midwives randomly chose 200 mothers and hand delivered a questionnaire on the third and last home postnatal visit. However, the response rate was low 28% (n=56). Therefore, a different approach was taken. The M.M.D.N.A. midwives posted questionnaires together with a reminder letter to all mothers who delivered in December 2007 (n=286). The response rate was much higher (n=133 =46.5%). When comparing responses in both approaches it was found that there was no difference and therefore all the questionnaires returned were in the data analysis to obtain a larger sample (n= 189). In the second phase a mini focus group was held with all three community midwives to elicit their perceptions regarding the quality of home postnatal visits they provided. Each midwife provides between 12 and 14 post natal visits within a 5 hour working day which translates into approximately 20 minutes per visit to include travelling time. The study revealed that newly delivered mothers appreciated that they are being visited by the midwife at home to give them support and advice on how to take care of themselves and their baby. However, they reported that more and longer visits should be provided according to their individual needs. The study showed clearly that there is a need for change in the system of home postnatal visits. Description: P.Q.DIP.HEALTH SERVICES MANGT. 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/111442 Title: The role of the environmental health officer following Malta's accession to the European Union Abstract: Following Malta's accession to the European Union in 2004, the number of demands on the Environmental Health Officer (EHO) or as commonly known up to recently the Health Inspector, has increased, both in respect of quantity and quality. Environmental Health Officers are trained as "generalist practitioners" across the range of the fifteen basic environmental health activities and therefore occupy a key position in the environmental health service. The study was performed to analyse if the current structure is adequate to cater for these new demands, if the EHO is adequately trained and if there is a need to change towards specialization. The literature review is based on the research carried out regarding the role of the Environmental Health Officer (EHO) in various countries within the European Union. The research was focused on specialization of this health professional. The literature review was compared with studies about specialization in nurses and doctors. The hypothesis theory for this study was that the specialization of the EHOs is the solution for the demands created following the accession. To test this hypothesis a self-completion questionnaire was utilized as a research tool for this study. The study was carried out amongst the whole population of the EHOs. The respondents were divided into the Grades of EHO, SEHO, APEHO, PEHO, and SPEHO. The response rate was 78% and the participants were 39 Males and 21 Females. Most of the participants were in the grade of SERO. In the study there was agreement amongst the participants that after Malta's accession to the EU there was a role change in their profession; that there was an increase in demands; that the current structure is not adequate to meet the new demands; that the EHOs have changed the way and method of carrying out an inspection; that there were several changes in the regulations and legislation; that there is no harmonization between the EHOs in the Member States and that specialization is the solution to meet the new demands on condition that this should be optional. Description: P.Q.DIP.HEALTH SERVICES MANGT. 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/111394 Title: The nature of service usage in a Maltese health centre treatment room Abstract: This project aimed to explore the nature of service usage in a Maltese health centre treatment room. A descriptive, exploratory small-scale design was selected to fulfil the objectives. The study included 60 randomly selected participants coming in to the treatment room during the day, afternoon and evening in a main health centre. Participants were recruited and interviewed on different days of the week. The sample consisted of people who qualified to participate according to the inclusion criteria for the study. All the structured interviews were conducted in the treatment room and took approximately ten minutes each. Every fifth patient registered in the treatment room was chosen and all participants found no objection to be included giving a 100% response rate. Data was gathered by structured interviews using a written guide. The structured interview addressed the same issues in the same way for all participants, and was carried out in a very precise, non-judgmental manner. Structured interviews gathered information about the type of care delivered in the clinic, thus identifying the "real" situation. Findings imply that the Health Centre treatment room is mostly frequented by Maltese with more males attended than females during the study period. Another interesting feature is that a high proportion of participants are young adults between the ages of 18 and 28. The findings of the study demonstrate that more than half of the participants visited the Treatment Room repeatedly. The participants presented various conditions, most of which were emergencies, such as lacerated wounds and asthma. An additional leading role of gate-keeping is identified. Results show that this role helps to avoid unnecessary overload at the Admitting and Emergency Department. The Treatment Room performs well and treatment is implemented while only a minimum of referrals are sent to the General Hospital for further treatment. Several recommendations to improve such service are suggested and interesting issues that could spur further research in the future are highlighted, thus there might be suggestions that larger scale studies might be recommended. Since this was the first evaluation carried out about the treatment room service, recommendations arc made for other service assessments in the future. This is essential to monitor the service closely and to implement necessary changes. Description: B.SC.(HONS)COMM.HEALTH NURSING 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/111316 Title: Factors influencing nurses' return to active service Abstract: Although many have suggested strategies to resolve the nursing shortage (Buchan & Caiman, 2004) few have considered the resigned registered nurse. This research study set out to explore the reasons why registered nurses are not employed in nursing, and factors that would entice these resigned nurses to return to practice. Elsevier, CINAHL and Medline were the primary databases used for the literature search. The author did not find any studies that investigated the issue of resignation, retention and redeployment amongst Maltese nurses. After approval from a Board of Studies, a survey study of resigned nurses was carried out to access reasons for their leaving and consideration for returning to nursing. The researcher used a quantitative methodology and a partly qualitative approach to achieve the above research objectives. The questionnaire included open-ended and close ended questions. Out of a population of 117 nurses in Malta and Gozo, 53 consented to take part. Self-administered questionnaires were sent out to these 53 nurses. Questionnaires were completed by all respondents and returned. Response rate was therefore 100%. Quantitative data were analysed using Microsoft Excel to compare frequencies and proportions, whereas qualitative data were coded and analysed using content analysis. Overall, when asked about their reasons for leaving, family reasons was ranked highest followed by working opportunities outside nursing. Other factors such as pay, improved working conditions and availability or necessity for refresher courses would influence the decision of resigned nurses to return to practice. This study revealed that 66% of the nurses valued flexible working hours and part-time opportunities, consideration of family lives by 32% and 13.2% stated that positive relationships with administrators would also be valued. On the basis of the study findings, the following recommendations are being put forward: The main recommended possible solutions to entice resigned nurses to practice are to offer re-fresher courses, flexible hours or to make the hourly wages and benefits package more competitive. To carry out further research directed at comparing resignation of nurses and return to work before and after the introduction of bridging. In depth study of resigned nurses would also yield useful information. Continuing education for nurses who are not in employment would also facilitate the decision to return to work. Description: P.Q.DIP.HEALTH SERVICES MANGT. 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z