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Purpose:The HOME FAST was developed and trialled in Australia as a screening tool designed to be used by any health professional to identify older people at increased risk of falls and to facilitate referral for more detailed assessment and intervention. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of the HOME FAST from the perspective of users. Method:A mixed-methods approach using survey data (n = 32), focus group data (n = 46) and interview data (n = 5) from occupational therapists, physiotherapists, community nurses and other health professionals working in hospitals, community services and private practice, located in the UK, Canada and Australia. Data were integrated using a matrix of quantitative and qualitative data that aligned the findings with established theoretical constructs of clinical utility. Results:Findings across the data sources provide evidence of the clinical utility of the HOME FAST, and these findings align with theoretical constructs about how a tool such as the HOME FAST is adopted in practice. Conclusion:The HOME FAST can be used in a variety of international setting in developed countries and by different health professionals as a screening tool. A manual would assist in the consistent application of the HOME FAST.Implications for RehabilitationHazards in the home environment are a key contributor to falls risk for older peopleThe Home Falls and Accidents Screening Tool (HOME FAST) was designed for any health professional to screen older people at increased risk of falling because of home hazards.Even with psychometric evidence of the reliability and validity of a tool, it is critical that the tool can be easily adopted by clinicians (clinical utility), otherwise its applicability to practice and research is limited.An international mixed-method study has provided evidence of the clinical utility of the HOME FAST. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The nursing profession has experienced significant change over the last 100 years. Consequently, the work-force of the 21st century is a diverse entity that is edging toward the specialization of nurses in a specific clinical setting. In such an environment, a common knowledge base is demanded of nurses - a factor that has affected the development of second level, or enrolled nurses (ENs). The forces at play raise questions about nursing roles and scopes of practice. The establishment of education pathways that promote career development has been the stimulus for conversations about the effectiveness of the transition of EN to registered nurse (RN). This paper presents a review of the literature that identifies and explores common emerging themes (making the move from EN; adapting to Bachelor of Nursing; transitioning to RN) associated with this transition through the process of undertaking baccalaureate studies in nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The purpose of this article is to review community-based evaluations of street drinking bans, with a view to understanding the effectiveness of these laws in reducing alcohol-related harm and benefiting the community. Methods: Sixteen evaluations across 13 locations (in the UK, New Zealand and Australia) were identified. Nine themes were drawn out of the content and thematic analysis. Findings: Street drinking bans often: (1) negatively impact marginalized groups; (2) result in displacement; (3) improve perceptions of safety; (4) are enforced inconsistently; (5) improve perceptions of environment/amenity; and (6) are supported by police, traders and older people. It is unclear whether street drinking bans: (7) reduce public drinking; (8) reduce alcohol-related crime or harm; and (9) are understood and adhered to. Conclusions: There is no evidence that street drinking bans reduce alcohol-related harm or benefit the community in the other ways (aside from perceptions of safety and improvement to amenity). However, the methodological limitations of the evaluations reviewed make it difficult to draw conclusions about the effectiveness or otherwise of street drinking bans. More rigorous evaluations of the effectiveness and impacts of street drinking laws need to be undertaken given their continued proliferation across Australia and other Western countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]