Tourist experiences of individuals with vision impairments

People with visual disabilities Travel Australia. Tourism Research Australia

Tourist Experiences of Individuals with Vision Impairment

People with visual disabilities Travel Australia. Tourism Research Australia

A systematic review, evidence synthesis and meta-analysis of quantitative and qualitative studies evaluating the clinical effectiveness, the cost-effectiveness, safety and acceptability of interventions to prevent postnatal depression

Background: Postnatal depression (PND) is a major depressive disorder in the year following childbirth, which impacts on women, their infants and their families. A range of interventions has been developed to prevent PND. Objectives: To (1) evaluate the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, acceptability and safety of antenatal and postnatal interventions for pregnant and postnatal women to prevent PND; (2) apply rigorous methods of systematic reviewing of quantitative and qualitative studies, evidence synthesis and decision-analytic modelling to evaluate the preventive impact on women, their infants and their families; and (3) estimate cost-effectiveness. Data sources: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Citation Index and other databases (from inception to July 2013) in December 2012, and we were updated by electronic alerts until July 2013. Review methods: Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts with consensus agreement. We undertook quality assessment. All universal, selective and indicated preventive interventions for pregnant women and women in the first 6 postnatal weeks were included. All outcomes were included, focusing on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), diagnostic instruments and infant outcomes. The quantitative evidence was synthesised using network meta-analyses (NMAs). A mathematical model was constructed to explore the cost-effectiveness of interventions contained within the NMA for EPDS values. Results: From 3072 records identified, 122 papers (86 trials) were included in the quantitative review. From 2152 records, 56 papers (44 studies) were included in the qualitative review. The results were inconclusive. The most beneficial interventions appeared to be midwifery redesigned postnatal care [as shown by the mean 12-month EPDS score difference of –1.43 (95% credible interval –4.00 to 1.36)], person-centred approach (PCA)-based and cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT)-based intervention (universal), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)-based intervention and education on preparing for parenting (selective), promoting parent–infant interaction, peer support, IPT-based intervention and PCA-based and CBT-based intervention (indicated). Women valued seeing the same health worker, the involvement of partners and access to several visits from a midwife or health visitor trained in person-centred or cognitive–behavioural approaches. The most cost-effective interventions were estimated to be midwifery redesigned postnatal care (universal), PCA-based intervention (indicated) and IPT-based intervention in the sensitivity analysis (indicated), although there was considerable uncertainty. Expected value of partial perfect information (EVPPI) for efficacy data was in excess of £150M for each population. Given the EVPPI values, future trials assessing the relative efficacies of promising interventions appears to represent value for money. Limitations: In the NMAs, some trials were omitted because they could not be connected to the main network of evidence or did not provide EPDS scores. This may have introduced reporting or selection bias. No adjustment was made for the lack of quality of some trials. Although we appraised a very large number of studies, much of the evidence was inconclusive. Conclusions: Interventions warrant replication within randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Several interventions appear to be cost-effective relative to usual care, but this is subject to considerable uncertainty. Future work recommendations: Several interventions appear to be cost-effective relative to usual care, but this is subject to considerable uncertainty. Future research conducting RCTs to establish which interventions are most clinically effective and cost-effective should be considered

The embodied tourist experiences of people with vision impairment: Management implications beyond the visual gaze

This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study that investigated the embodied tourist experiences of 40 people who are vision impaired. The study, informed by the concept of "embodied ontology", explored the corporeal and socially constructed experience of tourism. The findings highlighted the benefit of holidays for the participants and de-centred the "visual gaze" in the tourist experience. The quality of the tourist experience related to participants' feelings of inclusion or exclusion in terms of their access to information, experience of wayfinding, travelling with a guide dog, and the knowledge and attitudes of others. It was evident that participants needed to manage their tourist experiences closely and constantly. The paper concludes that the tourism industry and community must understand the multi-sensory nature of the tourist experience if quality accessible experiences are to be available for tourists with vision impairment. Provision of multi-sensory experiences also enhances the experiences of sighted tourists. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd

The Representation of Airbnb in Newspapers: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Since its emergence in 2008, there has been a growing interest in the meaning of Airbnb to various stakeholders. Using Critical Discourse Analysis, this paper examines the representation of Airbnb in the local newspapers of Sydney communities with the largest share of Airbnb listings. Analysis of these texts revealed a strong message concerning the costs to community and issues related to government regulation. Underlying the themes was a discourse of individual host rights to profit versus community wellbeing. The discourse of the industry as a sharing, welcoming form of hospitality was also evident, as was the persuasive language of technology to create an innovative platform and industry. We question the language used and the inherent meaning, arguing that Airbnb can be seen in many ways to fit the bill of ‘platform capitalism’ and ‘techno-chauvinism’, with the fallout being externalities for the communities in which Airbnb resides

Delivery of Energy Services in Unfamiliar Contexts: Learnings from Fiji

How does one best ensure success in photovoltaic (PV) energy access initiatives? By documenting the design process for a technology-based intervention, developed through a UNSW Sydney and University of the South Pacific (USP) collaboration with the Viwa Island community in Fiji, the study presented in this paper investigates, tests and assesses best practices in implementing PV solutions for the purpose of sustainable development. The work serves as a foundation for project continuation, providing recommendations for implementation and arguing that a sociocultural focus must be prioritised when technologies operate within complex systems. Pacific Island countries are experiencing compounding pressures as a result of climate change, urbanisation and population growth. In the broader context of the Sustainable Development Goals, this necessitates the urgent deployment of innovative solutions to build on livelihood assets and enhance the resilience of base of pyramid populations. As the nascent off-grid solar refrigeration sector develops, the possibility of clean and affordable temperaturecontrolled supply chains - cold chains, could play a vital role in empowering remote island communities that are dependent on agriculture or fishing for livelihoods. Through literature review, participatory fieldwork, technology assessment and desk-based ideation, recommendations have been drawn to facilitate the implementation of energy services enabling cold storage within the Viwa community. Based on a systems thinking approach, this study also highlights how a collaboration between UNSW and USP could assist in deployment of new technologies; delivering direct benefits to remote island fisherfolk, whilst providing learning opportunities for the research community as a whole. Importantly, success critically depends on community consensus and specific measures including a comprehensive and ongoing monitoring program

Microbially Mediated Mineral Carbonation: Roles of Phototrophy and Heterotrophy

Ultramafic mine tailings from the Diavik Diamond Mine, Canada and the Mount Keith Nickel Mine, Western Australia are valuable feedstocks for sequestering CO via mineral carbonation. In microcosm experiments, tailings were leached using various dilute acids to produce subsaline solutions at circumneutral pH that were inoculated with a phototrophic consortium that is able to induce carbonate precipitation. Geochemical modeling of the experimental solutions indicates that up to 2.5% and 16.7% of the annual emissions for Diavik and Mount Keith mines, respectively, could be sequestered as carbonate minerals and phototrophic biomass. CO sequestration rates are mainly limited by cation availability and the uptake of CO . Abundant carbonate mineral precipitation occurred when heterotrophic oxidation of acetate acted as an alternative pathway for CO delivery. These experiments highlight the importance of heterotrophy in producing sufficient DIC concentrations while phototrophy causes alkalinization of waters and produces biomass (fatty acids = 7.6 wt.%), a potential feedstock for biofuel production. Tailings storage facilities could be redesigned to promote CO sequestration by directing leachate waters from tailings piles into specially designed ponds where carbonate precipitation would be mediated by both chemical and biological processes, thereby storing carbon in stable carbonate minerals and potentially valuable biomass