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In the UK, transformation of the nursing workforce, including development of the role of the advanced nurse practitioner within general practice, is essential to meet healthcare demands. This article presents the results of a small, qualitative study conducted among students at one university in Scotland, describing their experiences of participation in advanced practice education. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews to generate in-depth descriptions and to identify the facilitators and barriers to learning. The study identified that a shared responsibility for patient care creates opportunities for learning. The facilitators to learning were identified as foundation level education in history taking and clinical examination, finance, having a supportive network and mentorship. Barriers included pressure of work and a lack of clarity about roles and training needs. Given the key role that these nurses will have in future healthcare models, there is a requirement for a national education standard. It is recommended that the Nursing and Midwifery Council leads on defining advanced nurse practitioner in general practice programme learning outcomes. The overall aim of such courses is to enhance the experience for future nurses to encourage recruitment and transform the nursing workforce.

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Sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and unplanned pregnancy challenge the health of Scottish teens. We conducted focus groups with teens (ages 16-19 years) recruited from an urban youth cafe in Edinburgh and assessed sexual risk-taking and protective behaviors. A trained facilitator, using a semi-structured interview guide, led the groups. We taped and transcribed data verbatim for coding and theming. The teens revealed similar concerns despite differences in gender and/or sexual histories. Despite school-based sex education, sex was rarely discussed with peers or adults outside classrooms; the ability to practice communication and negotiation skills was minimal. Much risky behavior occurred in public spaces and was often linked to drug or alcohol intake. There was a glaring lack of teen planning for, or contemplating, future adult lives. Findings highlight the challenges these teens faced in practicing safer sex and limited opportunities to tailor intervention strategies to address the cultural realities of their lives.

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OBJECTIVE: To examine cultural barriers and participant solutions regarding acceptance and uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine from the perspective of Black African, White-Caribbean, Arab, Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani young people. METHODS: In total, 40 young people from minority ethnic communities in Scotland took part in a qualitative study, involving seven focus groups and four paired interviews, to explore their views and experiences of the HPV vaccine. Using critical discursive psychology, the analysis focused on young people's accounts of barriers and enablers to information, access and uptake of the HPV vaccination programme. RESULTS: Participants suggested innovative strategies to tackle intergenerational concerns, information design and accessibility, and public health communications across diverse contexts. A cross-cultural community engagement model was developed, embracing diversity and contradiction across different ethnic groups. This included four inter-related strategies: providing targeted and flexible information for young people, vaccine provision across the life-course, intergenerational information and specific cross-cultural communications. CONCLUSION: This is the first HPV cross-cultural model inductively derived from accounts of young people from different ethnic communities. We recommend public health practitioners and policymakers consider using the processes and strategies within this model to increase dialogue around public engagement, awareness and receptivity towards HPV vaccination.

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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To understand the meaning of person-centred compassionate care for people attending day hospitals in rural Scotland. BACKGROUND: Increasing numbers of older people are living with chronic conditions and require support to live at home. Intermediate care services such as day hospitals can enable this. Much previous research about day hospitals focused on organisational aspects of care. This study set out to capture the voice of the patient using this service. DESIGN: A descriptive qualitative study. METHODS: Individual interviews were undertaken in participant's homes using emotional touchpoints as prompts to help patients discuss their experience of care within a day hospital (n = 15). Data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four main themes were identified from the data: Relationships, Feeling Valued, Expectations and Perceived Benefits. The findings showed that relationships with staff and other patients were important. The patients also wanted to feel valued, and helping others was part of this. The patients had clear expectations of the service but had an acute awareness of the benefits of attending the day hospital such as coordination of their care. Overall, the patients were highly satisfied, felt that care was person-centred and recognised the advantages of remaining close to home. CONCLUSIONS: At a time when enabling health and social care integration is a priority, this study provides insight into the patient perspective of intermediate care. The findings reveal what matters to patients cared for in the community and how this service can respond to this. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study provides insight for healthcare practitioners caring for patients in the community and those responsible for planning and resourcing this service. It should also start a dialogue about how these services could be used more.

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OBJECTIVES: Successful partnership working has theoretically been linked to improvements in service delivery and is dependent on the strength of the partnership, trust, communication, professional roles and resource sharing. Empirical evidence to confirm the relationships between these factors and improved service provision, however, is lacking. Our aim was to assess the views of staff as to the conditions required for partnership working. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional survey of 687 staff offering sexual health education, information or support to young people in the Healthy Respect intervention area in Scotland. Views of each variable were scored and structural equation modelling was used to assess the theoretical model. RESULTS: Responses were received from 284 (41%) staff. Greater strength of partnership was directly associated with increasing the number of referrals. Establishing professional roles between organizations was also associated with increasing the number of referrals. Strength of partnership was indirectly associated with working more effectively with young people and this relationship depended on clear communication, trust, established professional roles and shared resources. Effective partnership working depends on a number of interdependent relationships between organizations, which act synergistically to improve organizational outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Effective partnership working leads to improved service delivery though there is a need for better controlled studies which demonstrate the effect on health outcomes.

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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper is to raise the awareness of social network analysis as a method to facilitate research in nursing research. BACKGROUND: The application of social network analysis in assessing network properties has allowed greater insight to be gained in many areas including sociology, politics, business organisation and health care. However, the use of social networks in nursing has not received sufficient attention. DESIGN: Review of literature and illustration of the application of the method of social network analysis using research examples. METHODS: First, the value of social networks will be discussed. Then by using illustrative examples, the value of social network analysis to nursing will be demonstrated. RESULTS: The method of social network analysis is found to give greater insights into social situations involving interactions between individuals and has particular application to the study of interactions between nurses and between nurses and patients and other actors. CONCLUSION: Social networks are systems in which people interact. Two quantitative techniques help our understanding of these networks. The first is visualisation of the network. The second is centrality. Individuals with high centrality are key communicators in a network. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Applying social network analysis to nursing provides a simple method that helps gain an understanding of human interaction and how this might influence various health outcomes. It allows influential individuals (actors) to be identified. Their influence on the formation of social norms and communication can determine the extent to which new interventions or ways of thinking are accepted by a group. Thus, working with key individuals in a network could be critical to the success and sustainability of an intervention. Social network analysis can also help to assess the effectiveness of such interventions for the recipient and the service provider.

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METHOD: A cross-sectional survey of 496 teenagers was conducted in order to explore their knowledge and attitude towards mental health and people with mental health problems. RESULTS: Boys reported lower levels of knowledge and different sources of stress than girls. Negative attitudes were more common among boys than girls. Boys were less likely to think that an understanding of mental health was important, less likely to want to know more about mental health issues and twice as likely to think that they had already been given enough education. CONCLUSION: Gender specific educational interventions may be more appropriate and effective than whole school approaches.