Educational and Practice Standard Differences Between Third World Physiotherapy and First World Physical Therapy

In the medical field, physical therapists or physiotherapists as many countries outside the United States refer to the profession as, are “highly-educated, licensed health care professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility...” Physical therapists/physiotherapists are responsible for teaching patients how to prevent or manage their condition so that they will achieve long-term health benefits. Physical therapists/physiotherapists do this by examining each individual and developing a plan, using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness and wellness oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles (APTA). According to the Health Professions Council of South Africa, their definition of a physiotherapist is the same as the United States’ definition for a physical therapist, however, the profession has very different educational standards in the respective countries. One might be tempted to think that this would be obvious due to South Africa’s third world status but when it comes to the medical field, South African medicine is ranked highly in the global standards, in the top 200 according to the World Health Organization

Observational Study to Identify Best Practices of Successful Active Science Programs

Introduction: Obesity amongst our nation’s youth is on the rise and has drastically increased in recent decades. This chronic health issue lends to potential risk of developing comorbidity of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, an increased risk of premature death and many other serious chronic diseases. Obesity prevention and health promotion programs aimed at targeting obesity, and more specifically childhood obesity, should implement nutrition and/or physical activity components. Effective programs have taken into account moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) measurements, class size and class management (if the program utilizes an education or group fitness component), and the demographic needs of the population. Research Questions: The purpose of this research is to develop a plan of best practice for Active Science, a nationwide obesity prevention program, based on classroom management strategies as well as physical activities that maximize MVPA. By implementing effective classroom management techniques and physical activities, MVPA will increase amongst children, decreasing childhood obesity rates and increasing the validity of Active Science. Methods: Active Science classes at the highest performing and lowest performing sites in the Merrimack Valley were observed for three weeks. Detailed notes on 11 observational points (including but not limited to: MVPA, Step Count, Classroom Management Techniques, etc.) were taken and a comparative analysis was performed to produce a comprehensive list of best practices to improve the overall consistency and success of Active Science. Results: The results of this study proved the research hypothesis correct in that effective classroom management techniques and modified physical activities increase MVPA. Conclusions: It can be concluded that this study was successful in identifying several ways to increase MVPA within Active Science classrooms through effective classroom management and modified activities. However, more research is needed to fully create a comprehensive list of best practices for Active Science

Mentors And Social Relationships: The Impact On Adjunct Professors

Adjunct professors are growing in numbers across higher education institutions. There are mentor programs at many universities, but there is little research into the social aspects of mentoring relationships. The traditional format of mentor programs is a structured program between a senior faculty and a new faculty member. This qualitative study of a medium sized public university focused on mentor programs between adjunct and full-time faculty. Three research questions were addressed during the study. The first question was: what is the past experience of the participants in group mentor programs? The second question was: what characteristics were valued within the mentorship relationship? The third question was: how do social aspects of group mentoring impact adjunct and full-time professors? Data was collected by one-on-one interviews which were transcribed and then coded for themes. The interviews uncovered four themes: (1) feelings regarding group mentoring, (2) social aspects of group mentoring (3) important characteristics of group mentoring, (4) informal group mentoring. Recommendations include having more social events off campus to encourage forming relationships and to host a semester workshop on different topics

THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE EVANGELICAL RIGHT’S ANTI-CRITICAL RACE THEORY RHETORIC

Critical Race Theory (CRT), once an abstract principle used in academic circles, has exploded onto the national stage as parents fight against their children supposedly being taught its tenets. Through an analysis of key political and religious leaders, I discuss the right’s obsession with CRT in schools, where it came from, and its political implications

Nurse survey of infection prevention and control practice in Irish public and private general hospitals in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Some healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) can be associated with missed nursing care (MNC) and may result in adverse outcomes for patients. IPC activities are important in reducing HAIs and while MNC is a well-researched phenomenon, data on missed nursing care infection prevention and control (MNCIPC) as a specific component of MNC is limited. COVID-19 brought the role of IPC into sharp focus as IPC practices continue to play a critical role in combating the disease. Aim: The purpose of the study is to understand the factors that influence missed IPC practices in hospitals, including nurse compliance and non-compliance with IPC guidelines. Methods: The study employed a quantitative cross-sectional online survey using the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index, the World Health Organisation COVID-19 Healthcare Worker and the MNCIPC tool, which was developed to explore the failure to perform IPC activities through the lens of MNC. Data were analysed using SPSS Statistics Version 27. Findings: There were 113 registered nurse responses. COVID-19 IPC procedures added strain to nurse workload with staff nurses showing significant differences on ‘risk to families of COVID-19 infection’, and ‘lack of control over IPC activities’ compared to other nurses. ‘Hand hygiene’ and ‘minimising hospital acquired infections’ were most frequently missed. Factors that hindered best practice occurred at systemic (staffing/resources) and environmental level (patient room overcrowding/bathroom sharing). At unit level, EDs showed significantly greater dissatisfaction with ‘IPC Resource Support’. ICU/Critical Care reported significantly greater dissatisfaction with ‘Staffing/Resource Adequacy Subscale’. Conclusion and implications: Best practice IPC care is hampered by factors outside nurse control. Unit-specific IPC training, including support staff recommended because infection risk is associated with unit characteristics

Consequences of removing cheap, super-strength beer and cider: a qualitative study of a UK local alcohol availability intervention.

OBJECTIVES: Increasingly, English local authorities have encouraged the implementation of an intervention called 'Reducing the Strength' (RtS) whereby off-licences voluntarily stop selling inexpensive 'super-strength' (≥6.5% alcohol by volume (ABV)) beers and ciders. We conceptualised RtS as an event within a complex system in order to identify pathways by which the intervention may lead to intended and unintended consequences. DESIGN: A qualitative study including a focus group and semistructured interviews. SETTING: An inner-London local authority characterised by a high degree of residential mobility, high levels of social inequality and a large homeless population. Intervention piloted in three areas known for street drinking with a high alcohol outlet density. PARTICIPANTS: Alcohol service professionals, homeless hostel employees, street-based services managers and hostel dwelling homeless alcohol consumers (n=30). RESULTS: Participants describe a range of potential substitution behaviours to circumvent alcohol availability restrictions including consuming different drinks, finding alternative shops, using drugs or committing crimes to purchase more expensive drinks. Service providers suggested the intervention delivered in this local authority missed opportunities to encourage engagement between the council, alcohol services, homeless hostels and off-licence stores. Some participants believed small-scale interventions such as RtS may facilitate new forms of engagement between public and private sector interests and contribute to long-term cultural changes around drinking, although they may also entrench the view that 'problem drinking' only occurs in certain population groups. CONCLUSIONS: RtS may have limited individual-level health impacts if the target populations remain willing and able to consume alternative means of intoxication as a substitute for super-strength products. However, RtS may also lead to wider system changes not directly related to the consumption of super-strengths and their assumed harms

Sexual behaviour of international backpackers in the context of travel in Australia

This study is the first to collect detailed empirical data on sexual practice among backpackers while exploring the material and social context of backpacking using an ethnographic framework. The theoretical concepts of liminality and sexual scripts were drawn on to analyse the findings. Backpackers were recruited from hostels in Sydney and Cairns; 559 backpackers (243 women, 316 men) completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. In addition, 25 in-depth one-to-one interviews with backpackers and 25 semi-structured interviews were conducted with sexual health and travel clinic staff and hostel service providers. Participant and non-participant observation in backpacker hostels also informed the analysis. Drinking alcohol, often to excess, was central to the backpacking setting and was both a reason for and a post-facto justification of unprotected sex. The backpacking setting encouraged transient liaisons. More than half (55%) of backpackers had sex with someone new during their trip and for 71% of them it was with someone that they had just met that day. Twenty-five per cent of those with no expectations to have casual sex on their trip and 22% of those with no previous experience of casual sex had casual sex during their trip. More than half (53%) of those who had sex with a someone new did so while other people were in the room. Only 55% always used a condom with their last new partner. While most backpackers carried condoms and intended to use them, unprotected sex was common. Perception of risk was low: 78% of those who did not use a condom the last time they had casual sex on the trip perceived their risk of getting HIV to be “low” to “nil”. Three participants acquired HIV during their trip. The culture of backpacking encourages more sexually permissive attitudes but does not encourage condom use, especially for those who did not consistently use condoms at home. These findings highlight the need for more broad-based dissemination of information on STIs to young people, and for future sexual health campaigns to specifically target backpackers in the context in which they travel

An Examination of Differences Associated with Age of Diagnosis in Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive behaviors that are impairing, developmentally inappropriate, and often unrelenting. Researchers and clinicians have mixed views regarding ADHD’s age of onset criterion. ADHD symptoms, symptoms of oft-comorbid conditions, academic achievement and adjustment, self-perception, and risky behavior of college students with pre-existing ADHD diagnoses were assessed through a series of questionnaires. Data were examined to assess the predictive power of several independent variables on such outcomes including (a) gender, (b) age of diagnosis (AOD), severity of (c) childhood inattentive (IA) and (d) hyperactive-impulsive (HI) symptoms, as well as (e) AOD x childhood IA, (f) AOD x childhood HI, and (g) AOD x gender interactions, using hierarchical multiple regression models. Separate regressions were run on each dependent variable: (a) depression, (b) anxiety, (c) stress, (d) oppositional defiant symptoms, (e) self-esteem, (f) academic achievement, (g) academic adjustment, (h) college alcohol problems, and (i) risky sexual behavior. Overall, results indicated AOD for ADHD does not meaningfully, independently predict negative outcomes along these lines in college students; however, a few specific outcomes appeared to have some association with AOD that merits further consideration. Explanations for lack of significant findings, limitations and future directions are explored

Applying a Systems Perspective to Preventive Health: How Can It Be Useful? Comment on "What Can Policy-Makers Get Out of Systems Thinking? Policy Partners' Experiences of a Systems-Focused Research Collaboration in Preventive Health".

Advocates suggest that a paradigm shift in preventive health towards systems thinking is desirable and may be underway. In a recent study of policy-makers' opinions, Haynes and colleagues found a mixed response to an Australian initiative that sought to apply systems theories and associated methods to preventive health. Some were enthusiastic about systems, but others were concerned or unconvinced about its usefulness. This commentary responds to such concerns. We argue that a systems perspective can help provide policy-makers with timely evidence to inform decisions about intervention planning and delivery. We also suggest that research applying a systems perspective could provide policy-makers with evidence to support planning and incremental decision-making; make recommendations to support intervention adaptability; consider potential barriers due to incoherent systems, and consider the political consequences of interventions