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People with severe/profound intellectual disability experience challenges in communicating and require their communication partners to adapt to their means of communication. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is recognised as a potential means to meet their communication needs. Interventions need to be aimed at both the individual and their communication partners. We conducted a mixed methods systematic review of the literature to synthesise evidence on communication partners experience of communicating with adults with severe/profound intellectual disability through AAC. Eight publications met the inclusion criteria, they underwent thematic synthesis where four themes emerged. A shared commitment to communication partnership is fundamental for the effective and efficient use of AAC. However, there was a disconnect between communication partners perceptions of their roles and responsibilities. This review prompts further research to explore communication partners perceptions of their roles and responsibilities in the use of AAC with people with severe/profound intellectual disabilities.

Introduction: Incidence rates for developing breast cancer are similar for women regardless of intellectual ability. However, women with an intellectual disability present with advanced breast cancers, which often have a poor prognosis. Method: A structured narrative review of the literature was performed to explore the concepts of breast awareness and breast cancer awareness and subsequently, identify barriers to breast cancer awareness encountered by women with an intellectual disability. Results: A total of 22 studies involving people with varying levels of intellectual disability informed this review. The barriers to breast cancer awareness encountered by women with an intellectual disability include: lack of their understanding, the role of the carer and literacy issues. Conclusion: Identifying the barriers to breast cancer awareness for women with an intellectual disability will help to facilitate breast cancer awareness which has the potential to result in better long-term outcomes through an early diagnosis of breast cancer.

Purpose: To present a synthesis of evidence related to the factors influencing communication partners' use of augmentative and alternative communication with persons with severe/profound intellectual disability. Materials and Methods: An integrative review guided by five steps; problem identification, literature search, data evaluation, data analysis and presentation was undertaken. In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement, nine databases were searched, 1,342 studies were screened against the eligibility criteria, and 15 studies underwent thematic analysis. Results: Two themes emerged; (1) Achieving Meaningful Communication and (2) Communication Partners' Preparedness to Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Achieving meaningful communication was central to communication partners' use of augmentative and alternative communication and was two-fold. It involved identifying the persons' communication methods and encouraging them to communicate. Communication partners' preparedness also influenced their use of augmentative and alternative communication. This preparedness was impacted by communication partners' preconceived thoughts about and knowledge of augmentative and alternative communication, nurturing their belief in augmentative and alternative communication, and the interpersonal dynamic between network members. Conclusion: Communication partners' use of augmentative and alternative communication is influenced by multiple and complex factors. The findings contribute to the knowledge of the potential factors to be considered to prepare communication partners to use augmentative and alternative communication. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Multiple, complex factors influence communication partners of persons with severe/profound intellectual disability use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), which include communication partners' beliefs, attitudes, expectations, knowledge and resources such as training, support and time. To offer individuals with severe/profound intellectual disability opportunities to communicate, communication partners need to recognise their attempts and thus, their ability. Continuously being sensitive to the individuals' communication methods, whilst being cognisant that these methods can change may enhance communication partners' awareness and understanding of the individuals' communication attempts. Communication partners' need to feel prepared to use AAC. To feel prepared, they need to be aware of the potential benefits that AAC can offer the interaction and the long-term outcomes, develop their knowledge, and be surrounded by a supportive team dynamic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To understand advanced nurse and midwife practitioners' experience of interprofessional collaboration in implementing evidence-based practice into routine care. Design: A qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis. Methods: A purposeful sample of 10 Registered Advanced Nurse and Midwife Practitioners from a range of practice settings in the Republic of Ireland participated in semi-structured interviews over a 10-month timeframe. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and data were analysed using a multi-stage approach in line with guidance for interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: Six superordinate themes emerged: Understanding of advanced practice; ‘Treated as an equal and as a “nurse”’; Nursing management support; ‘A voice to implement anything new’; Confidence and Emotional intelligence. These factors impacted interprofessional relationships and the extent to which advanced practitioners could implement evidence-based practice. Conclusion: There is scope to improve advanced practitioners' ability to collaborate with the interprofessional team in implementing evidence-based practice into routine care. Impact and Implications: The study findings demonstrate that enhancing understanding of the advanced practice role; increasing organizational support for advanced practitioners and augmenting specific practitioner skills and attributes will increase their ability to collaborate effectively and implement evidence-based practice. Supporting advanced practitioners in this important aspect of their role will positively influence health outcomes for patients. Contribution to the Wider Global Clinical Community: As numbers of both nurse and midwife practitioners increase globally, this study provides timely evidence from a range of practice settings to guide the design of education programmes and policies governing advanced practice. Study recommendations have broad applicability to all healthcare professionals who are engaged in implementing evidence-based practice into routine care. Reporting Method: Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim was to analyse the psychometric properties of a patient‐reported‐experience measure, the Patient Enablement and Satisfaction Survey (PESS), when used to evaluate the care provided by Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) in terms of factor structure and internal consistency. The PESS is a 20‐item, patient‐completed data collection tool that was originally developed to measure patient experience and enablement following consultation with nurses in general practice. Design: Cross‐sectional survey; validity and reliability analysis. Methods: The sample in this study consisted of 178 patients who consulted with 26 ANPs working in four different specialities. Data were collected between June and December 2019. An exploratory factor analysis of the PESS was conducted to determine convergent validity which was supported by parallel analysis and the traditional Kaiser criterion. The internal consistency of individual PESS items was determined via Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, the Average Variance Extracted tests and item‐subscale/total score correlations. Results: A three‐factor structure (PESS‐ANP) was found through exploratory factor analysis and this was supported by parallel analysis, the traditional Kaiser criterion and the percentage of variance explained criterion. A high degree of internal consistency was reported across all factors. One question was omitted from the analysis ('Overall Satisfaction') following the identification of problematic cross‐loadings. The three factor solution was identified as: patient satisfaction, quality of care provision and patient enablement. Conclusion: The findings of this study propose a three‐factor model that is sufficiently reliable for analysing the experience and enablement of patients following consultation with an ANP. Impact: Increasingly, patient‐reported experience measures are being used to evaluate patients' experience of receiving care from a healthcare professional. The PESS was identified to be reliable in evaluating the experience of patients who receive care from an ANP while a three‐factor structure was proposed that can capture specific attributes of this care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background Methods Findings Conclusions This study explores communication partners' perceptions of their roles and responsibilities in the design, planning and use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) with individuals with severe/profound intellectual disability.A qualitative descriptive approach was used. Purposive sampling, data collection and qualitative content analysis were undertaken simultaneously. Data were collected from nine participants, four parents and five professionals over 4 months through audio or video‐recorded, semi‐structured, open‐ended interviews.An overarching theme ‘Maximising Communication through AAC’ emerged, capturing participants' unanimous agreement that their shared goal was to optimise individuals' communication through AAC. This was influenced by three themes: ‘Developing a Communicative Environment’, ‘The Act of Communicating; Attempting to Realise the Individuals' Ability’ and ‘Living with Uncertainty’.These findings contribute to enhancing understanding of AAC use with individuals with severe/profound intellectual disability and their communication partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]