Experiences of caregivers of stroke patients in Lusaka, Zambia

INTRODUCTION: Stroke is a major cause of death and most survivors are left with residual disability and are dependent on others for essential care. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study was to determine the experiences of informal caregivers of stroke patients receiving out-patient physiotherapy treatment at the University Teaching hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. METHODS: Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used to collect data in the present study. PARTICIPANTS: A convenient sample of 70 caregivers was selected for the quantitative part of the study while 10 caregivers were purposively selected for the in-depth qualitative interviews. Setting: Out-patients at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka, Zambia INTERVENTION: The Caregiver Strain Index was used to collect quantitative data and in-depth interviews provided the qualitative data. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 37.6 years. The study sample consisted of more females (70%) than males (30%). Financial constraints, family adjustments and being overwhelmed by their care-giving role were the experiences mostly highlighted by the caregivers in this study CONCLUSION: Caregivers are important role players in the rehabilitation of stroke patients. It is therefore important that rehabilitation professionals are aware of the experiences of these caregivers so that their needs could also be addressed when managing the stroke patien

Ozonation of trace organic compounds in different municipal and industrial wastewaters : kinetic-based prediction of removal efficiency and ozone dose requirements

For the wide application of ozonation in (industrial and municipal) wastewater treatment, prediction of trace organic compounds (TrOCs) removal and evaluation of energy requirements are essential for its design and operation. In this study, a kinetics approach, based on the correlation between the second order reaction rate constants of TrOCs with ozone and hydroxyl radicals ((OH)-O-center dot) and the ozone and (OH)-O-center dot exposure (i.e., integral (sic)O-3(sic)dt and integral [(OH)-O-center dot]dt, which are defined as the time integral concentration of O-3 and (OH)-O-center dot for a given reaction time), was validated to predict the elimination efficiency in not only municipal wastewaters but also industrial wastewaters. Two municipal wastewater treatment plant effluents from Belgium (HB-effluent) and China (QG-effluent) and two industrial wastewater treatment plant effluents respectively from a China printing and dyeing factory (PD-effluent) and a China lithium-ion battery factory (LZ-effluent) were used for this purpose. The (OH)-O-center dot scavenging rate from the major scavengers (namely alkalinity, effluent organic matter (EfOM) and NO2-) and the total (OH)-O-center dot scavenging rate of each effluent were calculated. The various water matrices and the (OH)-O-center dot scavenging rates resulted in a difference in the requirement for ozone dose and energy for the same level of TrOCs elimination. For example, for more than 90% atrazine (ATZ) abatement in HB-effluent (with a total (OH)-O-center dot scavenging rate of 1.9 x 10(5) s(-1)) the energy requirement was 12.3 x 10(-2) kWh/m(3), which was lower than 30.1 x 10(-2) kWh/m(3) for PD-effluent (with the highest total (OH)-O-center dot scavenging rate of 4.7 x 10(5) s(-1)). Even though the water characteristics of selected wastewater effluents are quite different, the results of measured and predicted TrOCs abatement efficiency demonstrate that the kinetics approach is applicability for the prediction of target TrOCs elimination by ozonation in both municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plant effluents

Coping and psychological well-being in informal carers of stroke survivors with aphasia

This dissertation considers coping and psychological well-being in informal carers of stroke survivors with aphasia. Firstly, a literature review examines the main problemsreported by this group of carers, the coping strategies they use to manage these problems, and the links between coping and psychological well-being. This is followedby an empirical paper which reports on a study investigating how informal carers of stroke survivors with aphasia cope with communication problems, and examining thelinks between coping and an aspect of psychological well-being - depressive symptoms. Further, this study also explores the question of how best to measure how carers cope with communication problems, by including questions specifically developed for this topic alongside a traditional coping inventory. As expected, the results demonstrated a relationship between coping strategies and depressive symptoms in this group of carers. The use of avoidant coping strategies was associated with increased symptoms of depression. No links were found between problem-focused coping strategies and depressive symptoms, however it was shown that coping by ‘positive reframing’ was linked with reduced levels of depressive symptoms. The study also found that a traditional style coping inventory gives a useful assessment of the pertinent coping strategies used by informal carers of stroke survivors with aphasia to manage communication problems. However this is usefully supplemented by more specific questioning about the use of avoidance and withdrawal. The study concludes with a discussion of the clinical implications of the results and where future research in this area would be beneficially directed

The renaissance of Odum's outwelling hypothesis in 'Blue Carbon' science

The term ‘Blue Carbon’ was coined about a decade ago to highlight the important carbon sequestration capacity of coastal vegetated ecosystems. The term has paved the way for the development of programs and policies that preserve and restore these threatened coastal ecosystems for climate change mitigation. Blue carbon research has focused on quantifying carbon stocks and burial rates in sediments or accumulating as biomass. This focus on habitat-bound carbon led us to losing sight of the mobile blue carbon fraction. Oceans, the largest active reservoir of carbon, have become somewhat of a blind spot. Multiple recent investigations have revealed high outwelling (i.e., lateral fluxes or horizontal exports) of dissolved inorganic (DIC) and organic (DOC) carbon, as well as particulate organic carbon (POC) from blue carbon habitats. In this paper, we conceptualize outwelling in mangrove, saltmarsh, seagrass and macroalgae ecosystems, diagnose key challenges preventing robust quantification, and pave the way for future work integrating mobile carbon in the blue carbon framework. Outwelling in mangroves and saltmarshes is usually dominated by DIC (mostly as bicarbonate), while POC seems to be the major carbon species exported from seagrass meadows and macroalgae forests. Carbon outwelling science is still in its infancy, and estimates remain limited spatially and temporally. Nevertheless, the existing datasets imply that carbon outwelling followed by ocean storage is relevant and may exceed local sediment burial as a long-term (>centuries) blue carbon sequestration mechanism. If this proves correct as more data emerge, ignoring carbon outwelling may underestimate the perceived sequestration capacity of blue carbon ecosystems.publishedVersio

The renaissance of Odum\u27s outwelling hypothesis in \u27blue carbon\u27 science

The term ‘Blue Carbon’ was coined about a decade ago to highlight the important carbon sequestration capacity of coastal vegetated ecosystems. The term has paved the way for the development of programs and policies that preserve and restore these threatened coastal ecosystems for climate change mitigation. Blue carbon research has focused on quantifying carbon stocks and burial rates in sediments or accumulating as biomass. This focus on habitat-bound carbon led us to losing sight of the mobile blue carbon fraction. Oceans, the largest active reservoir of carbon, have become somewhat of a blind spot. Multiple recent investigations have revealed high outwelling (i.e., lateral fluxes or horizontal exports) of dissolved inorganic (DIC) and organic (DOC) carbon, as well as particulate organic carbon (POC) from blue carbon habitats. In this paper, we conceptualize outwelling in mangrove, saltmarsh, seagrass and macroalgae ecosystems, diagnose key challenges preventing robust quantification, and pave the way for future work integrating mobile carbon in the blue carbon framework. Outwelling in mangroves and saltmarshes is usually dominated by DIC (mostly as bicarbonate), while POC seems to be the major carbon species exported from seagrass meadows and macroalgae forests. Carbon outwelling science is still in its infancy, and estimates remain limited spatially and temporally. Nevertheless, the existing datasets imply that carbon outwelling followed by ocean storage is relevant and may exceed local sediment burial as a long-term ( \u3e centuries) blue carbon sequestration mechanism. If this proves correct as more data emerge, ignoring carbon outwelling may underestimate the perceived sequestration capacity of blue carbon ecosystems

Caregiver Burden is Associated with Cognitive Decline and Physical Disability of Elderly Post-Stroke Patients

Caregiver burden following stroke is increasingly recognised as a significant health care concern. The present study found the prevalence of elderly patient’s post-stroke depression, cognitive impairment and caregiver’s burden to be 32%, 57.6% and 25%, respectively. Caregiver burden was significant, albeit weakly, correlated with cognitive decline (r=0.362, P 0.001) and physical disability (r=0.316, P=0.002) of elderly post-stroke patients. Otherwise, none of the socio-demographic characteristics of caregiver or patient, including depression, were significantly correlated with caregiver burden. This study highlighted the importance of regular assessment of cognitive function and physical disability of elderly post-stroke patients for early detection of caregiver burden, in addition to assessment of caregiver psychological wellbeing

The relationship of values of certification, professionalism, job satisfaction and service quality in the tourism industry of South Sulawesi

One of the strategies to cope with the competition in tourism industry in Indonesia is to implement a better professional certification system in order to have qualified human resources, especially in the era of ASEAN liberalism. The implication of Herzberg’s theory is that values of certification, professionalism, job satisfaction, and service quality are strongly related with the context of this research. Several studies have found inconsistency in the relationship amongst variables and they need to be tested from different perspectives. This research investigated the relationship amongst values of certification, professionalism, job satisfaction and quality service in the tourism industry, and tested professionalism and job satisfaction as mediators. This research attempted to describe problems and solutions for a better implementation of certification specifically, and improve professionalism for quality tourist destinations in Indonesia. This study employed a Sequential Explanatory Design, an analysis based on quantitative method utilizing Structural Equation Modeling and a qualitative method using descriptive approach based on interviews. Using proportionate stratified random sampling, quantitative data were collected from 360 certified professionals. Qualitative data were collected from 16 selected informants. The findings of the relationship amongst variables provided different results whereby the supported hypotheses included the relationships of job satisfaction and service quality, and value of certification and professionalism. The unsupported hypotheses included the relationships of values of certification and job satisfaction, professionalism and job satisfaction, values of certification and service quality, and professionalism and service quality. In this research, professionalism and job satisfaction cannot function as mediators. The most common problems related to the implementation of certification include lack of motivational factors, lack of harmonization amongst stakeholders especially the industry, improper certification scheme and lack of enforcement of regulations and rules. This research contributes to the development of Herzberg’s theory and the model conceptualization in the study of values of certification, professionalism, job satisfaction and service quality specifically for the tourism industry. Findings of this study are practical contributions for tourism stakeholders as they provide guidance for professionals, governments, tourist industry, professional associations and professional certification boards. In addition, the government needs to control the certification system and uphold regulations related to certification. Professionals are expected to improve their services in order to strengthen the quality of human resources. The industry needs to evaluate its role in providing significant values to professionals, and professional associations can strengthen their roles especially in improving standardized practices and competency standards in the tourism industry. Lastly, professional certification boards should be aware of these findings because there are directly related to the process of certification

The Shield 1971

Murray State University Yearbook, 1971https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/yearbooks/1046/thumbnail.jp