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This paper reports on findings from an integrative literature review of evaluation studies undertaken into sexual health promotion preparation programmes aimed at professionals with a sexual health promotion remit. Using a pre-defined search strategy, inclusion criteria and PRISMA guidelines, databases were systematically searched. Studies were screened and those included were quality assessed. Twenty-seven relevant studies were identified. Thematic analysis showed programmes were diverse in terms of how they had been developed, the content included, approaches to evaluation and outcomes identified. Evaluations showed participation in a training programme encouraged participants to feel more comfortable and confident to discuss sexual health within their role and more likely to introduce sexual health into client discussions. The types of programmes and evaluation approaches were diverse making direct comparison between them challenging. There should be agreed core outcome impact measures for sexual health education programmes in the areas of knowledge, comfort, skills and changes to practice, to allow for more direct comparison in future evaluation studies.

Introduction: Internationally mental distress is more prominent in the LGBTI community than the general population. The LGBTIreland study was set up to take stock of this in the Republic of Ireland. This paper reports on the analysis of the transgender group with reference to minority stress theory and cognitive dissonance theory. Method: An online survey was conducted addressing several aspects of mental health and distress that received responses from all groupings (n = 2,264) among which 12.3% (n = 279) identified as transgender. The survey consisted of several validated tools to measure depression, anxiety, stress (DASS-21), coping (CSES), self-esteem (RSES), alcohol and drugs misuse (AUDIT) and a variety of questions addressing demographics, experiential aspects, coping and self-related factors. Data analysis focused on predicting mental distress using DASS-general (composite of depression, anxiety and stress). Results: Transgender participants reported higher levels of mental distress, self-harm, suicidal ideation and attempts, and lower levels of self-esteem in comparison with the LGB groups, as well as the general population. Hierarchical multiple regression showed that 53% of variance in mental distress could be predicted from reduced self-esteem, the experience of harassment and not belonging in school. Furthermore, mental distress was highest among younger participants, those who were 'not out', those who had self-harmed and used avoidant coping. There was no significant difference in distress levels among those who had sought mental health support and those who had not. Conclusions: To understand mental distress in transgender people, the minority stress model is useful when taking into account both adverse external (environmental) and internal (cognitive/emotional) factors. The cognitive dissonance mechanism is essential in outlining the mechanism whereby gender incongruence is associated with psychological discomfort, low self-esteem and high mental distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The first teaching hospital for sick children in Great Britain and Ireland opened in Dublin in 1821. From then, the development of sick children's nursing in Ireland followed a [...]

Children with complex care needs form a diverse population with a variety of health and social care requisites in the presence of a range of complex symptoms and diagnoses. An exploratory literature review with a systematic search of the current qualitative literature was undertaken to explore parents' perceptions and evaluation of respite care services for children with complex needs. A systematic search was undertaken using a pre-defined search strategy in six databases; CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Applied Social Sciences Index & abstracts and Web of Science. Studies were screened using inclusion criteria and eight studies were included in the review. These were analyzed using thematic analysis based on Braun and Clarke framework. Findings identified that there was a limited availability of respite care services for children with complex needs. Parents' perceived that respite was beneficial for themselves, their child and other siblings in the family. Barriers to accessing respite were also identified. It is recommended that respite services should be flexible and appropriate to the family's needs. A combination of in home and out of home services that are responsive to families' needs and are flexible would be optimal. Qualitative research is considered most suitable to obtain the views of parents of children with complex needs. Further research is recommended in this area, particularly in determining how services may improve and what the views of children using the respite services and their siblings are regarding respite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the findings of a pre-post and follow-up evaluation of a sexual health promotion programme in Ireland. Substantial progress in skills, knowledge, confidence and comfort were reported by participants which were to a large extent maintained over time. Evidence emerged of the successful translation of learning into practice in a number of areas, including engaging proactively with service users about sexual health and developing educational programmes and materials. The paper highlights contextual factors that support and inhibit sustainable changes to practice that need to be addressed in order to maximise the impact of capacity building education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the barriers to accessing mental health services in the Republic of Ireland from the perspectives of young LGBT + people aged 14–25. Background: Significant mental health disparities exist between LGBT + young people and their cisgender and heterosexual peers, yet they do not have equitable access to mental health services. Limited research has explored barriers, which exist for LGBTI + young people in accessing services, particularly from their perspectives. Method: An anonymous online survey design, consisting of closed and open questions, was used. The study was advertised through local and national organisations and media. 1,064 LGBT + participants aged 14–25 opted to complete the survey. Results: Most participants reported several barriers to them accessing mental health services that were interlinked across three levels: individual; sociocultural; and mental health system. Conclusion: Cultural competency training for practitioners, which address issues and concerns pertinent to LGBT + young people, is key to addressing many of the barriers identified. Implications for Nursing Management: Nurse managers can use the findings to advocate for practice and organisational change within their services to ensure that care and support is responsive and sensitive to the particular needs of LGBT + young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores factors which contribute to happiness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals as part of the largest study to date of mental health in the LGBTI community in the Republic of Ireland (LGBTIreland study). This mixed methods study informed by minority stress theory, contained an online survey (n = 2,264) which explored various aspects of mental health and distress, but also the extent and experience of happiness and concomitant factors. The survey included ratings of happiness and life-satisfaction and an open-ended question on LGBTI related happiness. Quantitative findings showed a mean happiness rating of 6.58 out of 10 (11-point scale), which is lower than the general population in Ireland. Those identifying as gay men or lesbian women rated their happiness significantly higher than bisexual, transgender, or intersex participants. There was also an effect for age: teenage LGBTI participants had significantly lower ratings than other age groups. Happiness ratings very highly correlated with life-satisfaction (.88). A multiple linear regression showed happiness was predicted most significantly by self-esteem and being in a relationship. Qualitative findings emphasized the importance of self-acceptance and peer support for happiness. Findings are discussed using the minority stress perspective and cognitive dissonance theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National and international professional health and nursing guidelines recommend that attention should be given to the spiritual and religious needs of patients. This suggests that spiritual care is an important aspect of holistic patient care that needs to be considered and supported, if relevant, in a healthcare context. However, many nurses lack knowledge and awareness of the subject, and it is unclear to what extent core textbooks provide the information they need. This article reports on a study that explored the extent to which contemporary core nursing textbooks support and advocate the provision of spiritual care by nurses. Its findings suggest there is a lack of consistency in the inclusion of spirituality in these texts, and few refer specifically to the need for spiritual assessment tools or referral to chaplains. As more attention is given to patients' spiritual needs, the guidance given by nursing textbooks needs to be more substantive and consistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spiritual care is espoused to be fundamental in children’s nursing; however, the extent to which current fundamental children’s nursing textbooks support and advocate spiritual care delivery by children’s nurses and nursing students is unknown.Aim and objectives: To examine whether or not fundamental undergraduate children’s nursing textbooks include spiritual care content.Methods: Five hundred and nineteen books were sampled from the Nursing and Midwifery Core Collection list (UK) using a survey, the Spirituality Textbook Analysis Tool (STAT) to collect data.Analysis and Results: 519 books were included in the study using the STAT and 13 books included content on children’s spirituality. There were a variety of textbooks in the audit of those that made reference to the search terms in the STAT, it was found that content mainly addressed only two areas; religious faiths and the dying child.Recommendations: Children’s nurses require education about children’s spiritual developmental stage and age appropriate spiritual assessment. A lack of detailed information in core children’s nursing textbooks means that this area of nursing practice may be taught as an adjunct to care and not as an element of holistic care which is the gold standard that children’s nurses should strive for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to clarify how the transition from child to adult healthcare is managed in young people with two long-term conditions in the Republic of Ireland. A postal survey using an adapted questionnaire (Flume et al, 2001) with closed and open questions was sent to all physicians and nurse specialists (n=132) caring for children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in the Republic of Ireland. Data was analysed using SPSS 16.0 for Windows and the open-ended qualitative questions were analysed using content analysis. Results showed that transition management varied depending on the service, location and resources available. Comparisons were made between CF and IDDM data. Age was found to be the criterion most commonly used to determine when to transition in all services. Healthcare professionals said transition management needed to be improved. Some services managed transition following recommended guidelines. However, the management of transition nationally needs to be more streamlined. This includes a devised cohesive strategy between adult and young people's services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurse education curricula have to be continually reviewed to ensure that content remains applicable to contemporary healthcare developments. In this article, the authors report the findings of a research study that investigated the children's nursing component taught in all non-children's BSc Nursing degree programmes in Irish colleges. The aim of the study was to identify how European Union directives and national curriculum guidelines are interpreted in colleges, and to clarify the preparation that non-children's preregistration nursing students receive with respect to caring for children. The authors explored aspects related to children's nursing in all non-children's undergraduate pre-registration programmes, including curriculum content and its delivery, assessments and practice experiences. Data were collected by a specifically designed questionnaire based on the Requirements and Standards for Nurse Education Programmes (An Bord Altranais, 2005a; b). A university ethics committee provided ethical approval. The response rate was 54% (n=7), and data were analysed using SPSS 16 and content analysis. The authors' findings illustrated that the requirements and standards of all nursing programmes are interpreted in a variety of ways regarding children's nursing. Nationally, nursing content related to children needs to be reviewed in all nursing programmes to ensure consistency among providers. Healthcare requirements for children and families need to be heightened within curricula for all disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Role transition from staff nurse to post-registration student is not a well researched area of nursing. Two previous Irish studies have been reported of the experiences of post-registration midwifery students [McCrea, H., Thompson, K., Carswell, L., Whittington, D., 1994. Student midwives’ learning experience on the wards. Journal of Clinical Nursing 3, 97–102; Begley, C., 1997. Midwives in the making: a longitudinal study of the experiences of student midwives during their two-year training in Ireland. Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College, Dublin.] but there is limited research into post-registration children’s student nurses experiences. A broadly phenomenological approach was employed to interpret what it means to be a post-registration children’s student nurse during the first clinical placement. Data was collected from a purposive sample of six students, using unstructured tape recorded interviews. Thematic content analysis was utilised to produce an interpretation of nurses’ experience within the first clinical placement. The findings reflect the participants’ role confusion when changing from being a staff nurse in one discipline of nursing to being a post-registration student in another. They find previous experience is not recognised and that students originating from different disciplines in nursing have different experiences within the first placement. Coping mechanisms are discussed along with preparation for and supports available in the clinical area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Parents of children with rare conditions increasingly use the Internet to source information on their child's condition. This study reports on part of a larger study whose overall aim was to identify the Internet use by parents when seeking information on their child's rare condition, with the specific purpose of using the findings to aid in the development of a website specifically designed to meet the parents' needs. It presents findings on why these parents use the Internet, the information and support content they source, and the impact these resources have on their capacity to care for and manage their child's condition.Objective: To (1) ascertain parents' general Internet usage patterns, (2) identify the nature of the information parents most frequently searched for, and (3) determine the effect the Internet-sourced information had on parents of children with rare conditions.Methods: Data collection was conducted in 2 parts: Part 1 was a focus group interview (n=8) to inform the development of the questionnaire, and Part 2 was a questionnaire (Web- and paper-based). All respondents (N=128) completed the questionnaire using the Internet.Results: Parents frequently and habitually used the Internet and social media to gather information on their child's condition. These Web-based resources provide parents with a parent-to-parent support platform that allows them to share their experiences and information with other parents, which, the respondents considered, improved their knowledge and understanding of their child's condition. The respondents also reported that these resources positively impacted on their decision making, care, and management of their child's condition. However, they reported receiving mixed responses when wishing to engage and share with health care professionals their Internet and social media interactions and information outcomes.Conclusions: This study adds to the emerging body of research on the Internet use by parents of children with rare conditions to source information on their child's condition. The evolving and ever increasing parent-to-parent support systems via social media are impacting on parents' capacity to manage their children. Implications for practice include health care professionals' response to this knowledge and capacity shift, and the significance of these changes when interacting with parents. The key message of this study was that parents of children with rare conditions are habitual users of the Internet to source information about their children's conditions. Social media, especially Facebook, has an increasing role in the lives of these parents for information and support. Parents' interest in information gathering and sharing includes a desire for shared dialogue with health care professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses the study "Adolescents' and young adults' transition experiences when transferring from paediatric to adult care: a qualitative metasynthesis," by L. Fegran and colleagues which investigates on the possibility of the transition from paediatric to adult care for chronic diseases to cause insecuriuty and unpreparedness for new relationships and surroundings. She states that the findings of Fegran and colleagues strengthen the existing studies about the subject.

Background: Integration of care for children with complex care needs is developing slowly internationally. There remains wide variation in the governance of, and access to, care for these children and their families., Local Problem: There was a need to develop a service that would have a specific remit for organising the overall management and governance of the care of these children in the community., Method: A bespoke model was established specifically to support the needs of children with complex healthcare needs (CHNs). The sole focus of the team is to provide the highest standard of care to these children and their families, and to enable families to remain central to decision-making., Intervention: The service for children with CHNs was established in August 2017 with the appointment of a service manager and case managers. A comprehensive training and education programme was put in place to support care to the children and their families., Results: The service is viewed as delivering high-quality care. Parents and stakeholders highlighted the value placed within the service on individualised care, specialist knowledge and the importance of advocacy., Conclusions: The model recognises the exceptional lives these children and families live, given the complexities and challenges they have to overcome on a daily basis. The team have built a specialist knowledge and skill set in supporting families and others involved in the care of the child, as they are solely employed and dedicated to the provision of care to children with CHNs. The corporate governance structures seem strong and stand up to scrutiny very well in terms of parents' and stakeholders' perspectives and in the context of published international best practice., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)