1,962 research outputs found

    Trust in the Digital World The Return of the Kings of Old

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    Drawing principally on examples and literature from the Anglosphere, the author argues that the high salience given to "trust" and "trustworthiness" in recent scholarly literature, and which (notably in Putnam's work) attributes declining trust to a widely mistrusted mass media does not acknowledge the trustbuilding potential (realised in some instances) of interactive "Web 2.0" applications. Drawing on O'Neill's proposal that trust inheres in dialogue and mutual checking and verification, the author argues that "Web 2.0" media provide a variety of instances where the "dialogic" character of "Web 2.0" has established and enhanced trustworthiness. He argues normatively for a combination of "Web 2.0" interactivity and the adoption and implementation of selfregulatory codes in order to enhance the trustworthiness of the media.trust, mass media, Web 2.0, self-regulation, trustworthiness.

    Developing a model of mental health self-care support for children and young people through an integrated evaluation of available types of provision involving systematic review, meta-analysis and case study

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    Background The mental health of children and young people (CYP) is a major UK public health concern. Recent policy reviews have identified that service provision for CYP with mental health needs is not as effective, responsive, accessible or child-centred as it could be. Following on from a previous National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) study into self-care support for CYP with long-term physical health needs, this study explored self-care support’s potential in CYP’s mental health. Objectives To identify and evaluate the types of mental health self-care support used by, and available to, CYP and their parents, and to establish how such support interfaces with statutory and non-statutory service provision. Design Two inter-related systematic literature reviews (an effectiveness review with meta-analysis and a perceptions review), together with a service mapping exercise and case study. Setting Global (systematic reviews); England and Wales (mapping exercise and case study). Participants (case study) Fifty-two individuals (17 CYP, 16 family members and 19 staff) were interviewed across six sites. Main outcome measures (meta-analysis) A measure of CYP’s mental health symptomatology. Data sources (literature reviews) MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, All Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) Reviews, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA) and Education Resources Information Center (ERIC). Review methods Titles and abstracts of papers were screened for relevance then grouped into studies. Two independent reviewers extracted data from studies meeting the inclusion criteria. A descriptive analysis and meta-analysis were conducted for the effectiveness review; descriptive analyses were conducted for the perceptions review. These analyses were integrated to elicit a mixed-methods review. Results Sixty-five of 71 included studies were meta-analysable. These 65 studies elicited 71 comparisons which, when meta-analysed, suggested that self-care support interventions were effective at 6-month [standardised mean difference (SMD) = −0.20; 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.28 to −0.11] and 12-month (SMD = −0.12; 95% CI −0.17 to −0.06) follow-ups. However, judged against Cochrane criteria, the studies were mostly low quality. Key elements of self-care support identified in the perceptions review were the acquisition of knowledge and skills, peer support and the relationship with the self-care support agent; CYP also had different perceptions from adults about what is important in self-care support. The mapping exercise identified 27 providers of 33 self-care support services. According to the case study data, effective self-care support services are predicated on flexibility; straightforward access; non-judgemental, welcoming organisations and staff; the provision of time and attention; opportunities to learn and practise skills relevant to self-care; and systems of peer support. Conclusions Mental health self-care support interventions for CYP are modestly effective in the short to medium term. Self-care support can be conceptualised as a process which has overlap with ‘recovery’. CYP and their families want choice and flexibility in the provision of such interventions and a continued relationship with services after the nominal therapy period. Those delivering self-care support need to have specific child-centred attributes. Future work Future work should focus on under-represented conditions (e.g. psychosis, eating disorders, self-harm); the role of technology, leadership and readiness in self-care support; satisfaction in self-care support; the conceptualisation of self-care support in CYP’s mental health; and efficacy and cost-effectiveness

    Latina/o Conversion and Miracle-Seeking at a Buddhist Temple

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    The growing diversification of the US Latino religious’ experiences calls for scholarly attention beyond Protestant or Catholic categories. This study begins to answer this call. Using interview data with 26 Latinos collected over 2 years of observation at the True Lama Meditation Center (TLMC) in Houston, Texas, we describe how Latinos who convert to Buddhism or actively attend the temple while also continuing to attend Christian services (both Catholic and Protestant) see themselves and understand their religious identities and practices. We then explore the reasons for their conversion or changes in religious identities and practices through various theoretical lens. Although the majority of respondents now claim to be Buddhist, many did not switch religions but augmented or extended their religious identities and practices. Reasons for conversion to Buddhism or concurrent involvement at the temple and Buddhist faith practices include seeking material support and miracles and those seeking spiritual fulfillment they felt they were not getting in Christian faith practices

    Bringing the Aloha Spirit to a Mainland Campus: Experiences of Native Hawaiian Students Pursuing Their College Degrees

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    Four undergraduate students shared stories of their experiences while navigating a Predominately White Mainland Institution. Using a social constructivist hermeneutic Indigenous theory, this qualitative research study involved both focus groups, and semistructured interviews at a Carnegie research institution. Each of the focus groups and semi-structured interviews involved all of the four participants. Participant profiles were created that reflected five themes in attending a mainland university. Analysis of the data revealed five themes: cultural differences, sacredness of land, The Aloha Spirit, relationships, and leaving the mainland without a college degree. Through further analysis, cultural differences revealed a sub-theme, microaggressions and developing a minority status. Relationships revealed three subthemes, including ancestors, importance of being together, and talking Pidgin. Implications and recommendations for student affairs practitioners included development of a student development model that is centered on the experiences of Native Hawaiian students. For senior level administrators, findings from this inquiry called for continued investments into a campus culture center specifically for Native Hawaiian students. In addition, re-engineering pipelines to connect Native Hawaiian students back “to place” to stay connected to their land and geographical connections, constructing an accessible space to explore their own culture and history

    Best Practices User Guide: Health Communications in Tobacco Prevention and Control

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    This user guide was created to help tobacco control staff and partners implement evidence-based best practices by translating research into practical guidance. The user guides focus on strategies (e.g., programs and interventions) that have shown strong or promising evidence of effectiveness. Recommendations in this guide are suggestions for programs implementing health communications strategies.https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/cphss/1075/thumbnail.jp

    Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial of Culturally Sensitive Interventions to Improve African Americans' and Non-African Americans' Early, Shared, and Informed Consideration of Live Kidney Transplantation: The talking about Live Kidney Donation (TALK) study

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Live kidney transplantation (LKT) is underutilized, particularly among ethnic/racial minorities. The effectiveness of culturally sensitive educational and behavioral interventions to encourage patients' early, shared (with family and health care providers) and informed consideration of LKT and ameliorate disparities in consideration of LKT is unknown.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>We report the protocol of the Talking About Live Kidney Donation (TALK) Study, a two-phase study utilizing qualitative and quantitative research methods to design and test culturally sensitive interventions to improve patients' shared and informed consideration of LKT. Study Phase 1 involved the evidence-based development of culturally sensitive written and audiovisual educational materials as well as a social worker intervention to encourage patients' engagement in shared and informed consideration of LKT. In Study Phase 2, we are currently conducting a randomized controlled trial in which participants with progressing chronic kidney disease receive: 1) usual care by their nephrologists, 2) usual care plus the educational materials, or 3) usual care plus the educational materials and the social worker intervention. The primary outcome of the randomized controlled trial will include patients' self-reported rates of consideration of LKT (including family discussions of LKT, patient-physician discussions of LKT, and identification of an LKT donor). We will also assess differences in rates of consideration of LKT among African Americans and non-African Americans.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The TALK Study rigorously developed and is currently testing the effectiveness of culturally sensitive interventions to improve patients' and families' consideration of LKT. Results from TALK will provide needed evidence on ways to enhance consideration of this optimal treatment for patients with end stage renal disease.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov number, <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00932334">NCT00932334</a></p

    Evidence-based intervention for preschool children with primary speech and language impairments: Child Talk - an exploratory mixed-methods study

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    BackgroundThe Child Talk study aimed to develop an evidence-based framework to support the decision-making of speech and language therapists (SLTs) as they design and plan interventions appropriate to the needs of individual children with primary speech and language impairments and their families. The need for early identification and effective intervention for these children continues to be a government policy priority because of the link between children’s early speech and language skills and their broader well-being and outcomes in later life. The first phase of Child Talk sought to map and describe current SLT practice for these children; identify and summarise the existing research evidence relating to practice; and investigate the perspectives of parents, early years practitioners, preschool children and ‘underserved’ communities on speech and language therapy. The second phase of Child Talk focused on the development of a toolkit – assessment tools, outcome measures and a data set – to support future service and economic evaluations of the framework.MethodsChild Talk adopted a mixed-methods design. Quantitative methods included surveys and investigated the prevalence and patterns of intervention usage; qualitative data collection methods included focus groups, interviews and reflection to investigate participants’ perspectives and understandings of interventions. Data analysis methods included descriptive and inferential statistics, thematic and content analysis and framework analysis. Participants were recruited nationally through six NHS sites, professional bodies, parent groups and advertising. Participants included SLTs (n = 677), parents (n = 84), preschool children (n = 24), early years practitioners (n = 31) and ‘underserved’ communities (n = 52).Key findingsSpeech and language therapy interventions were characterised in terms of nine themes, viewed as comprehensive and inclusive by practitioners. Relevant assessments, interventions and outcome domains were identified for the nine themes. Areas of tacit knowledge and underspecified processes contributed to variability in the detail of the framework. Systematic reviews identified 58 relevant and robust studies (from 55,271 papers retrieved from the initial literature search). The number of studies relevant to each theme varied from 1 to 33. Observational data on preschool children’s perspectives on speech and language therapy interventions revealed the dynamic nature of their interaction with different activities and people within therapy sessions. Parents’ experiences of speech and language therapy were generally positive although some reported that the rationale for therapy was not always clear. Parental perspectives in underserved communities suggested that, although parents were confident about how to support children’s language development, they were less informed about the nature of language impairments and the function of speech and language therapy. The availability of information regarding resources directed towards speech and language therapy services was poor. In particular, services lacked both a culture of collecting outcome data routinely and measures of professional input and costs associated with their activities.ConclusionA descriptive framework of SLT practice has been developed to support the discussions between therapists and families when making decisions regarding the selection of interventions and outcome measures. Further research is needed to address gaps in the intervention framework and evaluate its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in improving outcomes for preschool children with primary speech and language impairments.Study registrationThis study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42013006369

    Evidence-Based Practice in Clinical Social Work

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    Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a major shaping influence in clinical social work practice, in relation to economic policies, and in professional education. The definition of EBP remains contested; professionals still fail to distinguish EBP as a practice decision-making process from a list of treatments that have some type of research support (which are correctly called empirically supported treatments). All mental health practitioners should understand what EBP is, what it is not, and how it shapes both client options and their own practice experiences. This book explores EBP in depth and in detail. Our focus includes case exemplars that show how the EBP decision-making process is done in practice. There are many recent books about evidence-based practice in social work and in other mental health professions. In reviewing these books, it appeared to us that most of the books on EBP have been written by researchers, bringing a particular point of view and expertise to the technicalities of EBP. These books are important to social workers and other mental health professionals because EBP involves a lot of technical details about research design, methods, and interpretation that are not always covered in other social work texts. On the other hand, the lack of a more direct practice and clinical viewpoint seemed to leave out a lot of the day-to-day realities clinical social workers confront in learning and using EBP in practice. Recent books also lacked much in the way of a broad and critical perspective on EBP as a social movement shaping policy, agency practice, and views of what constitutes “good” research. As we explored other books as resources for our students and for our own practice, we missed both a larger or meta-perspective on EBP and a lack of attention to doing it in clinical practice. This book seeks to illustrate through several cases how important clinical knowledge and expertise are in doing EBP well. We seek to introduce the core ideas and practice of EBP and then illustrate them by applying the concepts and processes to real-world cases. We also take a critical look at how EBP has been implemented in practice, education, and policy. Eight years after we wrote the first edition of this book, EBP continues to be a major influence on clinical practice. Some areas of the book, particularly the research evidence used in our case examples, needed to be updated and mad
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