Adapted DBT programme for individuals with intellectual disabilities and problems managing emotions: staff awareness training

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the development and evaluation of an original training package for staff members on an awareness of an adapted Dialectical behaviour Therapy programme, the ‘I Can Feel Good’ programme (Morrissey & Ingamells, 2014) designed for individuals with intellectual disabilities and problems managing emotions. The quality and effectiveness of the training was assessed and is reported in this paper. Design/methodology/approach The training was delivered for staff working with individuals with intellectual disabilities in a UK Medium Secure Psychiatric Hospital and was attended by nursing staff. The workshop consisted of six modules: ‘Introduction to the programme’, ‘Mindfulness’, ‘Managing feelings’, ‘Coping in crisis’, ‘People skills’ and ‘Application and summary’. Level of self-reported knowledge, confidence and motivation regarding seven aspects of the training was measured by an evaluation questionnaire completed pre and post training. Findings The results of this study showed that following the training there was a significant increase in self-reported knowledge, confidence and motivation regarding the seven aspects of the training. When perceptions of staff behaviours are observed, although in the right direction, this change was found not to be significant. Originality/value This study highlights the potential for staff training to increase awareness of newly adapted therapeutic programmes for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The staff training may increase their ability and willingness to facilitate the running of such programmes and ability to support learning transfer in group members

Attitudes towards mentally disordered offenders

BACKGROUND This thesis provides an investigation into the assessment of attitudes towards mentally disordered offenders. Attention is paid to the adaptation and application of a psychometric instrument designed to measure attitudes towards this population. The aim is to facilitate attitude improvement of those responsible for the care, treatment, and rehabilitation of mentally disordered offenders. METHODOLOGY The range of methods employed to explore this topic include a systematic review, psychometric critique, and two primary empirical research studies. RESULTS The systematic review yielded 534 publications, seven of which were reviewed. Three instruments assessing attitudes towards prisoners were identified. This was followed by a critique of the most widely used psychometric; the Attitudes Toward Prisoners scale (Melvin, Gramling, & Gardener, 1985). Based upon this, the first empirical study validates an adapted version of the scale; Attitudes Towards Mentally Disordered Offenders scale (ATMDO). Analysis demonstrates a three factor structure, robust reliability (internal consistency and test-retest reliability) and validity. Between groups attitudinal differences are explored and a model is presented. In the second empirical research study the ATMDO demonstrates significant correlation of scores on factor one (Treatment) and three (Risk) with observed negative behaviours of staff members in forensic mental health settings. CONCLUSIONS The ATMDO has robust psychometric properties and demonstrates the potential for application assessing attitudes towards mentally disordered offenders within clinical settings. Findings can inform interventions targeted at staff members to improve their attitudes towards this population. Subsequently avoiding future potential for harm, improving care, treatment, and rehabilitation of mentally disordered offenders

Weakening the glass ceiling: does organizational growth reduce gender segregation in the upper tiers of Danish local government?

The theory of representative bureaucracy highlights gender segregation in the public sector and its detrimental implications for public policy outcomes. Focusing attention on organisational responses to this protracted problem, we supply evidence on whether organizational growth provides potential for change in the upper echelons of the public sector. An evaluation of the relationship between new hires and gender representation within the management tiers of Danish local government reveals an association between the recruitment of additional employees and improved gender integration. This is particularly pronounced for public organizations that employ fewer women. Implications for theory and practice are discussed

Psychological Determinants of Medication Adherence in Stroke Survivors: a Systematic Review of Observational Studies

© 2017 The Author (s). This is an Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.BACKGROUND: Medications targeting stroke risk factors have shown good efficacy, yet adherence is suboptimal. To improve adherence, its determinants must be understood. To date, no systematic review has mapped identified determinants into the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) in order to establish a more complete understanding of medication adherence. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify psychological determinants that most influence stroke survivors' medication adherence. METHODS: In line with the prospectively registered protocol (PROSPERO CRD42015016222), five electronic databases were searched (1953-2015). Hand searches of included full text references were undertaken. Two reviewers conducted screening, data extraction and quality assessment. Determinants were mapped into the TDF. RESULTS: Of 32,825 articles, 12 fulfilled selection criteria (N = 43,984 stroke survivors). Tested determinants mapped into 8/14 TDF domains. Studies were too heterogeneous for meta-analysis. Three TDF domains appeared most influential. Negative emotions ('Emotions' domain) such as anxiety and concerns about medications ('Beliefs about Consequences' domain) were associated with reduced adherence. Increased adherence was associated with better knowledge of medications ('Knowledge' domain) and stronger beliefs about medication necessity ('Beliefs about Consequences' domain). Study quality varied, often lacking information on sample size calculations. CONCLUSIONS: This review provides foundations for evidence-based intervention design by establishing psychological determinants most influential in stroke survivors' medication adherence. Six TDF domains do not appear to have been tested, possibly representing gaps in research design. Future research should standardise and clearly report determinant and medication adherence measurement to facilitate meta-analysis. The range of determinants explored should be broadened to enable more complete understanding of stroke survivors' medication adherence.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Right time to join? Organizational imprinting and women's careers in public service organizations

Women across the economy continue to encounter difficulties in progressing their careers as occupational segregation and precarious conditions symbolized by the “glass ceiling” and “glass cliff” indicate. Theories of imprint‐organization fit indicate that organizational munificence at the time of appointment may be an important influence on individual careers. Prosperous conditions at the time of hire might generate confidence and capability, whilst scarcity may prompt resourcefulness and resilience. While these effects have been examined in small private firms, they have been relatively unexplored in the context of public service organizations. Moreover, there has been little attention to the study of organizational munificence in the context of women's careers. Drawing on the Integrated Database for Labor Market Research in Denmark, this study evaluates the impact of organizational munificence at appointment on subsequent financial career benefits for women in Danish public services. Results indicate that resource scarcity at the time of appointment is related to enhanced career outcomes, and that the influence of conditions at the outset of a woman's career is more pronounced for women with lower levels of experience and education. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed

Psychological Determinants of Medication Adherence in Stroke Survivors: : A Systematic Review of Observational Studies

© 2017 The Author (s). This is an Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.BACKGROUND: Medications targeting stroke risk factors have shown good efficacy, yet adherence is suboptimal. To improve adherence, its determinants must be understood. To date, no systematic review has mapped identified determinants into the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) in order to establish a more complete understanding of medication adherence. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify psychological determinants that most influence stroke survivors' medication adherence. METHODS: In line with the prospectively registered protocol (PROSPERO CRD42015016222), five electronic databases were searched (1953-2015). Hand searches of included full text references were undertaken. Two reviewers conducted screening, data extraction and quality assessment. Determinants were mapped into the TDF. RESULTS: Of 32,825 articles, 12 fulfilled selection criteria (N = 43,984 stroke survivors). Tested determinants mapped into 8/14 TDF domains. Studies were too heterogeneous for meta-analysis. Three TDF domains appeared most influential. Negative emotions ('Emotions' domain) such as anxiety and concerns about medications ('Beliefs about Consequences' domain) were associated with reduced adherence. Increased adherence was associated with better knowledge of medications ('Knowledge' domain) and stronger beliefs about medication necessity ('Beliefs about Consequences' domain). Study quality varied, often lacking information on sample size calculations. CONCLUSIONS: This review provides foundations for evidence-based intervention design by establishing psychological determinants most influential in stroke survivors' medication adherence. Six TDF domains do not appear to have been tested, possibly representing gaps in research design. Future research should standardise and clearly report determinant and medication adherence measurement to facilitate meta-analysis. The range of determinants explored should be broadened to enable more complete understanding of stroke survivors' medication adherence.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Academic Engagement in Public and Political Discourse: Proceedings from the Michigan Meeting

This report and the conference it summarizes are an examination of how we, as academics, practice our craft; how we work to make it more relevant to broader publics and responsive to pressing societal problems. In May 2015, more than 40 speakers (including 4 University Presidents) and 225 registrants attended a three day conference at the University of Michigan to focus on four key themes: (1) What is engagement and should we do it? (2) What are the ground rules for public and political engagement? (3) What models have worked, and what can we learn from them? (4) What are the obstacles to engagement, and how can they be overcome? The contents of this report are about the kinds of research we conduct, but even more, it is about the public meaning and goals of that work. Ultimately, it is about who we are as a university and what it means to be an academic in a society facing complex scientific, technological, and social challenges. We come to this discussion driven by a deep concern that the academy is facing a crisis of relevance.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136652/1/1367_Hoffman.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136652/4/1367_Hoffman.pdfDescription of 1367_Hoffman.pdf : May 2017 revision - updated titl