Background/aims In an attempt to reduce the impact of COVID-19 and support remote working, many allied healthcare professionals were equipped with video consultation technology. To support this new way of working, profession-specific webinars were delivered and attended by over 50% of the total allied healthcare professional workforce in Scotland. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of these webinars on the knowledge and confidence of allied health professionals in delivering services via video conferencing. Methods Attendees knowledge and current video conferencing use were ascertained immediately before and after webinars. Surveys were also completed at 4 and 8 weeks after the webinar to establish any impact on clinical practice. Results Levels of understanding, knowledge and confidence increased considerably (P<0.001). Follow up at 8 weeks post webinar identified that 75.5% of attendees were using video conferencing, with allied healthcare professional video conferencing activity representing 17% of all national activity by June 2020. Conclusions Upskilling a diverse and dispersed workforce at pace and scale to enable safe remote working has been critical throughout the pandemic. Webinars have proven to be popular with staff to increase their knowledge of and ability to confidently use video conferencing to provide allied healthcare professional services across Scotland.
Overweight and obesity are known risk factors for the development of lymphoedema, and are also well-recognised factors complicating the management of lymphoedema. However, a degree of uncertainty remains regarding the way in which obesity impacts upon the condition, and there is little detail about the practical application of weight management strategies in the population with lymphoedema. This article provides the background for ongoing research into the association between lymphoedema management and obesity. It is hoped that this research will provide important insights into the long-term management of lymphoedema.
Cancer incidence is increasing year on year; survivorship rates are also increasing, as is the use of novel agents and additional treatment lines. These factors, along with evidence that suggests people are struggling to cope with the long-term effects of their diagnosis and its treatment, suggest we need to transform our approach to care and make better use of primary care, community assets and self-management. Transforming Care After Treatment (TCAT) was launched in 2013. A partnership between the Scottish Government, Macmillan Cancer Support, NHS Scotland and local authorities, it is intended to support and enable cancer survivors to live as healthy a life as possible for as long as possible. NHS Ayrshire and Arran worked with local patients and other partners to develop an action plan to meet TCAT's aims. In 2014, the TCAT team began to introduce initiatives that would support holistic care throughout the extended cancer pathway. One such initiative was a treatment summary. The approach to its implementation and patients' and GPs' perspectives of its initial effect are outlined in this paper.
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