Article of the Year showcased some incredible medical research. Here, we celebrate two of our winning health science authors, with work covering the integration of a Tobacco Treatment Specialist into primary care and self-management in daily activities for spinal cord injuries. Plus, Amanda F. Meyer and Salma Begum tell us why their research matters and where they see their fields heading next.
1. 'Integration of a Tobacco Treatment Specialist into Primary Care: Perception from Multidisciplinary Team' by Amanda F. Meyer et. al
This study published in Journal of Smoking Cessation, was selected as an Article of the Year by the Chief Editor as it demonstrates the current need for expertise in smoking and vaping cessation at the "coal face". Just as other specialists are referred to for opinions and management, Tobacco Treatment Specialists are important for harder to treat people with nicotine addiction, who would require expertise to help quit and remain abstinent. The cost benefit for these specialist referrals is substantial as it is these patients, who continue to smoke, that carry the most substantial health and financial burden.
What is the article about?
The study examines the integration of a Tobacco Treatment Specialist into a primary care setting within a large healthcare center. The findings include:
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55% of primary care staff had utilized the services of the Tobacco Treatment Specialist in direct patient care.
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The primary reasons for utilizing the Tobacco Treatment Specialist included referral for follow-up tobacco cessation visits (54%), curb side consultations (21%), and medication management (21%), indicating varied roles for the specialist within the primary care setting.
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Most primary care staff strongly agreed that the utilization of the Tobacco Treatment Specialist was valuable, highlighting a positive perception of the specialist's impact on patient care within the multidisciplinary team.
Celebrating the author
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Amanda F. Meyer is a Registered Nurse and Certified Nurse Practitioner at the Mayo Clinic-Rochester, Minnesota. She has a master's degree in nursing and board certification.
We asked Amanda F. Meyer a couple of questions about the article.
What was the most interesting, challenging, or exciting aspect of working on this paper?
“The information from the team really impacts the role and how we can apply TTS right into primary care.”
What, in your opinion, is the next big opportunity or challenge in your field?
“The next opportunity is to spread out TTS providers into primary care and utilize them for their expertise in everyday clinic”
Discover the other selected medicine and health science articles >>
2. 'Self-Management Embedded in Daily Activities: A Photoelicitation Focus Group Study among Persons with Spinal Cord Injury and Their Primary Caregivers in Bangladesh' by Salma Begum et. al
This study published in Occupational Therapy International, was selected as an Article of the Year by the Chief Editor, as the research is novel and could be instrumental in changing how people with spinal injuries are assisted. By using photoelicitation, a consumer-focused qualitative method, to identify aspects that matter to people with spinal cord injuries, it was found that self-management for people with spinal injuries in a lower-middle-income country involves more than medical and emotional issues, and also encompasses social issues such as suitable environments and change advocacy.
What is the article about?
This study investigates how individuals with spinal cord injuries and their primary caregivers employ self-management strategies in daily activities, identifying nine groups of strategies, including those beyond the conventional medical, emotional, and role management.
The findings include:
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The complexity of self-management among individuals with spinal cord injuries is highlighted.
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The insights gained from understanding these complexities could guide the development of community support programs for individuals with spinal cord injuries, not only in Bangladesh but also in similar contexts globally.
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A fourth component of self-management is introduced, termed "management of social complexities," encompassing strategies such as relocating to another environment, behaving assertively, and advocating for social change.
Celebrating the author
Salma Begum is a PhD Fellow in the Occupational Therapy department of Tokyo Metropolitan University. She has published research in several journals, covering injury self-management, activity limitation factors, spinal cord injuries, and more.
We asked Salma Begum a couple of questions about the article.
What was the most interesting, challenging, or exciting aspect of working on this paper?
“Working on this paper helped me better understand the life of the people with spinal cord injuries.”
What, in your opinion, is the next big opportunity or challenge in your field?
“There is a lot of room for improvement in social circumstances to empower individuals, particularly in lower-middle-income countries.”
Discover the other selected medicine health science articles >>
This blog post is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY). Illustration by David Jury.