Search

This article sets forth the process through which I, an educator of over 20 years, my research mentor, and my 52 Latino/a students answered questions that were important to us through participatory action research. I start the process by asking if and how I am empowering my students, and they start their own parallel process by asking about their relationships with their White teachers. By engaging in various data collection approaches, including Boal's (1985) Theatre of the Oppressed and Photovoice, we are all able to answer these questions. I learn that as a teacher I do not empower students; they empower themselves. As we conduct the research together I watch them and see the processes of empowerment the students go through for myself. I learn how as an educator I can create empowering situations and opportunities my students can take advantage of in the future. In parallel experiences, the students learn that they have always had a voice, but this project helps them discover--and use--the voices they have always had. Overall, our group finds that empowerment takes place in spaces and moments of mutual, active inquiry, where individual voices can be raised to re-imagine what can and should be taking place within our schools.

This study investigated associations between chronic developmental/behavioral and physical health conditions and social connectedness of adolescents using rich population-based data from a national U.S. birth cohort study. Potentially disabling health conditions were reported by caregivers and categorized by our team as developmental/behavioral or physical. Social connectedness was assessed using a validated scale that measured adolescents' reports of positive social connectedness across relevant contexts (family, friends, school). Of the 3,207 adolescents included, over one third had at least one chronic health condition. Unadjusted and adjusted linear and logistic regression models of associations between the presence of chronic health conditions (any developmental/behavioral health condition and any physical health condition, compared to no conditions) and adolescents' social connectedness outcomes were estimated. Compared to those with no chronic health conditions, adolescents with developmental/behavioral health conditions had lower odds of high positive social connectedness scores (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.80; CI [0.67, 0.94]), having friends they really care about (AOR: 0.76; CI [0.61, 0.94]), having people who care (AOR: 0.65; CI [0.50, 0.84]), and having people with whom to share good news (AOR: 0.77; CI [0.63, 0.94]). Adolescents with chronic physical health conditions had lower odds of reporting having people who care about them (AOR: 0.72; CI [0.55, 0.94]). The findings point to the need for interventions designed to foster the development of positive interpersonal relationships, reduce loneliness, and increase positive social identity among adolescents with chronic health conditions, particularly those with developmental/behavioral health conditions. Public Policy Relevance Statement: In this study of U.S. urban youth, adolescents with chronic developmental/behavioral health conditions had lower odds of positive social interactions compared to their peers with no chronic health conditions. The findings point to the need for interventions designed to foster the development of positive interpersonal relationships, reduce loneliness, and increase positive social identity among adolescents with chronic health conditions, particularly those with developmental/behavioral health conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child abuse has profound immediate and long-term effects on a child's development. The long-term impact of abuse of a child can be seen in higher rates of psychiatric disorders, increased rates of substance abuse and relationship difficulties [Springer, K. W., Sheridan, J., Kuo, D., & Carnes, M. (2003). "The long-term health outcomes of childhood abuse: An overview and a call to action." "Journal of General Internal Medicine," "18"(10), 864-870. doi:10.1046/j.1525-1497.2003.20918]. Child abuse is an intergenerational problem. Most frequently, the perpetrators of abuse are profoundly damaged people who have been abused and neglected themselves. This article attempts to bring out the psychosocial aspects of a case through Systems Theory and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Furthermore, it focuses on the psychological implications of an abused adult in early childhood and its impact on his development. Social work intervention plans highlight the importance of treatment and evaluation. The article suggests the role of social work profession to deal with this issue.

Background: The Diversity Working Group was formed in response to Australian Quality and Safety Health Care Standards that require organisations plan service delivery that incorporates information about the diversity of consumers, and those at higher risk of harm. Methods: A qualitative gap analysis was conducted by a team from varied professional backgrounds including a clinician researcher, a nurse researcher with expertise in culturally and linguistically diverse care and a consumer representative with expertise in advocacy and carer representation. Qualitative questions were co-designed, using a person-centred care lens. Community organisation members, and clinicians and patients from both ambulatory and inpatient areas were approached. Responses were coded independently and synthesised using a Framework Methodology. Results: In total 3 community organisation members, 40 clinicians and 30 patients consented to participate in the qualitative study over a period of three weeks. There were three key themes across responses, 'What are diverse needs?'; 'Assigning people to a group does not address a need'; 'Unplanned care makes people feel vulnerable'. Those patients who are isolated, for any number of reasons, were identified as at greater risk of harm. Conclusion: Taking a person-centred approach can potentially better understand the needs of patients and communities so that this information can be incorporated into health service delivery. Resources are needed to support patients and their families at times of transition care, particularly when care is unplanned. Key implications: - A person centred approach can potentially meet needs across patient groups, especially those at risk of harm - Transitioning between services was a time when patients feel most vulnerable - Quality care that meets the needs of patients, families and communities requires multi-layered approach supported by the health service, the local clinical area and with local clinical teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nursing profession is currently attempting to address a workforce crisis. Various professional and political strategies have centred on recruitment and retention but the political agenda is also geared to [...]

We propose that the average total change of Shannon's entropy is a candidate for an intrinsic target property. An intrinsic target property is one that is completely independent of psychological factors and can be associated solely with a physical property of the target. We analyzed the results of two lengthy experiments that were conducted from 1992 through 1993 and found a significant correlation ([r.sub.s] = 0.337, df = 31, t= 1.99, p [less than or equal to] 0.028) with an absolute measure of the quality of the anomalous cognition (AC). In addition, we found that the quality of the AC was significantly better for dynamic targets than for static targets (t = 1.71, df= 36, p [less than or equal to] 0.048). The 1993 correlation with the change of entropy replicated a similar finding from our 1992 study. Using Monte Carlo techniques, we demonstrate that the observed correlations were not due to some unforeseen artifact with the entropy calculation, but perhaps the correlation can be accounted for because of the difference in some other measure between static and dynamic targets. The Monte Carlo results and the significant correlations with static targets in the 1992 study, however, suggest otherwise. We describe the methodology, the calculations, and correlations in detail and provide guidelines for those who may wish to conduct similar studies., INTRODUCTION The psychophysical properties of the five known senses are well known (Reichert, 1992). At the 'front end,' they share similar properties. For example, each system possesses receptor cells that [...]

Introduction: Parents of infants who undergo therapeutic hypothermia experience emotional challenges that have not been fully characterized. Comprehensive understanding of the parental experience of hypothermia is needed to provide better care to the family of the infant. This study aimed to improve the understanding of the parental emotional experience of therapeutic hypothermia in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted in a group setting with parents matched into groups according to the severity of the infant's presenting encephalopathy. The interviews were transcribed and coded into principal and additional subthemes.Results: Families of 15 infants, who were between 2 months and 2 years at the time of the interview, participated. Infants had a mean gestational age of 40.0 weeks and 11 (73%) were male. Eleven (73%) were transferred from other hospitals following birth and eight (53%) had seizures. Emotional Experiences was a principal theme and included subthemes of traumatic experiences, Loss of normalcy, and Separation of parent and infant. The birth was frequently described as traumatic with descriptions of chest compressions, excessive blood loss and infants not crying. Trauma was also described in the parental observations of the shivering hypothermic infant. Parents highlighted the loss of normalcy in terms of their expected birth narrative and the loss of the early opportunity to breastfeed and hold their infant. Parents reported that the physical separation imposed by hypothermia adversely impacted their ability to bond with their infant. Healing Experiences was the other principal theme with subthemes identified as Incorporation of parents into NICU care, Reclaiming parenthood and Support from other hypothermia families. Parents reported feeling a connection to their infant when they were involved in medical rounds and when asked to participate in routine care of their infant. Occasionally, parents strongly advocated for their own participation in a particular aspect of their infant's care such as a diaper change and this was perceived as reinforcing their role as parent. Lastly, parents requested greater access to peer support from parents who had experienced therapeutic hypothermia.Conclusion: Parents of infants treated with hypothermia reported the experience of their unexpected adverse delivery and their baby subsequently being treated with therapeutic hypothermia as traumatic. This trauma can be compounded by the pale, still and shivering appearance of their newborn and the delay in bonding as a result of physical separation during hypothermia treatment. Parents described feeling connected to their infant in the context of performing routine care activities and desired greater access to peer support. The themes reported in this study could be used to inform high level NICU care and raise provider awareness of the parent experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic‐related airborne particles are associated with asthma morbidity. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a high‐efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration on the concentrations of traffic particles and the resultant effect on children with asthma. Forty‐three children with asthma were enrolled in this double‐blind, placebo‐controlled crossover design. A HEPA air cleaner or a placebo "dummy" was placed in participants' homes for four weeks, interrupted by a one‐month washout period, before crossing over to the other treatment arm for four weeks. Air sampling and health outcomes, including asthma control (ACQ) and quality of life (AQLQ) measures, were completed prior to and at the end of each treatment arm. Indoor concentrations of traffic particles were significantly reduced with the HEPA treatment but not with the "dummy" treatment. In participants with poorly controlled asthma and lower quality of life at baseline, ACQ and AQLQ scores were significantly improved (1.3 to 0.9, P =.003 and 4.9 to 5.5, P =.02, respectively) following the HEPA treatment. In this study, HEPA filtration is associated with improved clinical outcomes and quality of life measures in children with uncontrolled asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The traumatic experiences of parents of babies treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) have been described. No research has assessed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse experience in providing care to hypothermic babies and emotional support to their parents.Purpose: To assess NICU nurse attitudes to the provision of TH with respect to perceptions about baby pain/sedation, need for nurse and parent education, decision making about initiation of TH, and barriers to best care.Methods: A survey was electronically sent to 219 nurses at 2 affiliated academic level III NICUs: 1 rural and 1 urban location. There were 17 questions where responses were selected from a preset list and 7 opportunities for nurses to provide free text responses.Findings: The response rate was 38% (N = 83). Overwhelming similarities between the urban and rural institutions were found with NICU nurses expressing understanding of the indications for initiating TH, agreement that TH improves long-term outcomes and that the benefits of TH outweigh the risks. Nurses at the urban institution more frequently expressed concerns surrounding inadequate treatment of baby pain/sedation, and nurses at both institutions strongly emphasized the need for more nurse and parent education about TH and improved timeliness of decision making for initiation of TH.Implications For Practice: NICU nurses specifically want to learn more about outcomes of babies after treatment with TH and feel that parents need more education about TH.Implications For Research: Research is urgently needed to better understand the implications of TH treatment for parent-baby bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]