African American Adults’ Experiences with the Health Care System: In Their Own Words

African Americans suffer a disproportionate burden of death and illness from a number of different chronic diseases. Inequalities in health care practices and poor patient and provider communication between African American patients and health care professionals contribute to these disparities. We describe findings from focus groups with 79 urban African Americans in which the participants discussed their interactions with the healthcare system as well as beliefs and opinions of the healthcare system and professionals. Analysis revealed five major themes: (1) historical and contextual foundations; (2) interpersonal experiences with physicians and other health care workers; (3) discrimination; (4) trust, opinions and attitudes, and (5) improving health care experiences. These findings indicate that perceptions of discrimination and racism were prevalent among African Americans in this study, and that the expectation of a negative interaction is a barrier to seeking care. Authors discuss prevention and public health implications of these findings and make recommendations for health care practitioners

The role of itinerant teachers of reading : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education at Massey University

The position of Itinerant Teacher of Reading was established following a successful pilot scheme in 1974. The Department of Education indicated that the function of the itinerant teachers was to help alleviate the problem of children who experience severe difficulties in learning to read. Departmental instructions to Education Boards were couched in general terms to allow the Boards some latitude in defining and establishing the role. This study researches the role of Itinerant Teachers of Reading. The major objectives of the study were to describe the underlying purposes of the itinerant service and to clarify the role of Itinerant Teachers of Reading. The literature discussing children at risk in reading reveals a similarity of opinions on the alleviation of the problem. New Zealand authorities on reading agree that there is a minority group of children who require intensive regular and individualised instruction to improve their reading ability. Also apparent is the tendency for the varied methods of instruction to be focussed closely upon text reading rather than isolated skills acquisition. To ascertain the ways in which itinerant teachers were dealing with children at risk information was gathered via a questionnaire from all Itinerant Teachers of Reading in New Zealand. From their responses emerged three clearly discernible role patterns which ranged from an advisory type role to that of a travelling reading clinician. More detailed information was obtained by interviewing six of the fifteen itinerant teachers and observing four of the teachers at their work. To gain a balanced viewpoint of the itinerant service a second questionnaire solicited opinions and data from a representative adviser and an inspector from each of the ten Education Boards. In general their opinions of the true function of itinerant teachers supported their Board's itinerant teacher(s). Some variation between the methods of teaching advocated by this group and those used by the itinerant teachers was apparent. An examination of Departmental documents followed by a lengthy correspondence with personnel involved in the pilot scheme produced a description of the initial purposes of the itinerant service. The first itinerant teachers were required to establish a pool of resource teachers in schools by training selected teachers in appropriate teaching skills. Although the study is a descriptive one, the opinions expressed by the questionnaire respondents were discussed and presented as recommendations for possible future action. The recommendations encompassed the spheres of communications, service support, role clarification and standardisation, and accountability. The study concludes with a brief note on possible future evaluation

An Exploratory Study of the Women Entrepreneurial Motivation in the South-west Nigeria

Women entrepreneurial motivation is a function of variables that are subject to authors and researchers’ opinions and views. These variables can be classified based on their impact on women entrepreneurial performance, behavior and challenges. This paper is therefore focused on examining the factors that affect women entrepreneurial motivation in the South-West Nigeria. The data used for the study was obtained through primary source. The data gathered was analyzed using the model of correlation analysis. Recommendations were made based on the result obtained from the testing of the hypothesi

ARE WE STILL INVESTING IN SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE: PERCEPTIONS, EVIDENCE AND ANALYSIS

In this paper the question of investment in the South African agro-food and fibre complex is explored. The analysis is based on empirical values and opinions/perceptions from ±400 agribusinesses operating in this complex. From the analysis it is clear that decisions to invest in the agro-food and fibre complex in South Africa must be viewed as on "knife-edge". A range of recommendations and policy options will be required to activate investment drivers and to address constraints in order to stimulate investment and to achieve growth.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Family Accessibility of the Worcester Art Museum

The Worcester Art Museum (WAM) set a goal to attract more children of ages zero-to-four. To discover ways to reach this goal, this project established three objectives:gather information, analyze the information, and provide recommendations based on findings.The information gathered are the opinions from parents and guardians about WAM, via chosen methodologies: surveys, interviews, and focus groups. Three underlying themes were found in the opinions gathered: content, amenities, and advertising. Recommendations that arise from the findings are to increase the amount of hands-on child-focused content, install a family bathroom and other convenient amenities, and to advertise child-focused content to more parents

Practitioners\u27 Views of Family Strengths: A Delphi Study

Reported is a research study to assess the opinions of family practitioners on the status of families in Oklahoma. Researchers employed the Delphi method to achieve consensus among key informants in the family practice field about the strengths and weaknesses of Oklahoma families, threats facing families in the state, and means to strengthening family life in Oklahoma. The study yielded qualitative data from the key informants, which the researchers then condensed into response categories to feed back to informants to rate. Family practitioners identified resilience, spirituality, and access to support systems as the greatest strengths, and listed substance abuse, poverty, and generational cycles of dysfunction as the greatest weaknesses of Oklahoma families. Recommendations by these practitioners are given for improvements in addressing family needs

Obstacles in Human Service Work with Teen Mothers

Research has shown that it is extremely beneficial for teen mothers to have support during their pregnancy and during their new experience of motherhood. Teen mothers can be extremely vulnerable because of the many obstacles they may face including unhealthy relationships, lack of education attainment, mental health concerns, and isolation. One source of support can come from human service workers. In an effort to better understand the obstacles faced by teen mothers, and thus the obstacles faced by home visitors, this study focused on the stories, opinions, and experiences of those who are working with teen mothers in a home visiting setting. Participants’ interviews were analyzed for common struggles amongst the workers and teen mothers. Recommendations for improving practice strategies and policy are included

The Polyphonic Courtroom: Expanding the Possibilities of Judicial Discourse

This Article draws upon the ideas of Mikhail Bakhtin to critique judicial discourse as embodied in written opinions. Judicial opinions are typically monologues which reject exploration of complex issues of meaning in favor of simply justifying a result. Opinions should instead be part of a continuing dialogue whose hallmark is exploration, not simplification - what the Article characterizes as polyphonic, Polyphonic opinions should embrace dialogue and complexity and recognize the validity of multiple perspectives. This goal can not simply be willed, however, because cognition by necessity simplifies. To meet this challenges, the Article concludes with recommendations for judicial calisthenics, including techniques drawn from social psychology, to promote polyphonic judicial decision-making

Personalised service? Changing the role of the government librarian

Investigates the feasibility of personalised information service in a government department. A qualitative methodology explored stakeholder opinions on the remit, marketing, resourcing and measurement of the service. A questionnaire and interviews gathered experiences of personalised provision across the government sector. Potential users were similarly surveyed to discuss how the service could meet their needs. Data were analysed using coding techniques to identify emerging theory. Lessons learned from government librarians centred on clarifying requirements, balancing workloads and selective marketing. The user survey showed low usage and awareness of existing specialist services, but high levels of need and interest in services repackaged as a tailored offering. Fieldwork confirmed findings from the literature on the scope for adding value through information management advice, information skills training and substantive research assistance and the need to understand business processes and develop effective partnerships. Concluding recommendations focus on service definition, strategic marketing, resource utilisation and performance measurement