Estimating Effects of Poverty on the Survival of HIV Patients on ART and Food Supplementation in Rural Haiti: A Comparative Evaluation of Socio-Economic Indicators

Background: Because economic conditions are both a risk factor for disease and may themselves be objectives for health delivery interventions, monitoring changes in economic outcomes has become a routine priority for health and development efforts. However, the lack of formal commerce in poor agrarian communities creates challenges for measuring economic status. Data on household finances, such as income, are ideal but are time-consuming, costly, and less reliable, whereas proxy measures of wealth such as indices of durable assets are easier to measure but relatively coarse and are less sensitive to rapid changes in underlying drivers. Methods: We used data from a cohort of 528 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) enrolled in a food intervention study on household demographics, agricultural production, cash income, in-kind income, household durable assets and health status, including CD4 count. We created a household economic index using principal components analysis (PCA) and compared it with three other economic indicators generated from the data (income, expenditures, poverty score). Through multivariate logistic regression analysis we evaluated the effect of the economic metric on probability of survival within the first year of study. Results: Socioeconomic status determined by PCA of durable assets, weighted by the square root of the household size, was the only consistently significant economic predictor of probability of death. It remained significant even after controlling for direct health indicators such as CD4 count. There was no significant correlation between CD4 count and the economic indicators, which may be attributable to uniform access to ART among study participants. Conclusion: Among people who have HIV and are all enrolled in ART and food programs, household socioeconomic status is an important predictor of mortality rates, even after controlling for direct health measurements such as CD4 count and other health-related covariates. The SES indicator from PCA is also a simple metric to estimate. The study underscores that poverty is a social determinant of mortality even in the context of equal access to health services, and is suggestive of the importance of poverty alleviation activities as an important supplement to clinical interventions

La confiance entre les enseignants de cégep : dynamique caractérisant le lien entre le leadership transformationnel des dirigeants et l’efficacité collective des enseignants

Affiche présentée dans le cadre du Colloque de l'ARC, «La culture de la recherche au collégial», dans le cadre du 82e Congrès de l'Acfas, Université Concordia, Montréal, le 14 mai 2014.L’efficacité collective des enseignants, qui se définit comme la croyance des membres de ce groupe dans leur capacité de performer ensemble et d’atteindre un objectif, est reconnue comme un facteur clé de la réussite des étudiants. Néanmoins, nous en savons peu sur ses déterminants, ce qui est d’ailleurs déploré par les chercheurs. Deux facteurs ont fait l’objet d’une attention particulière dans le cadre de notre étude : le leadership transformationnel des dirigeants et la confiance entre les enseignants. Le premier est une composante clé ancrée dans la confiance et permettant de développer l’organisation avec une vision à long terme. Le deuxième s’établit avec le temps et les interactions répétées entre les collègues, et est considéré comme un facteur aussi important en milieu scolaire qu’en milieu organisationnel. Cette étude a été réalisée auprès de 436 enseignants provenant de huit cégeps. Deux hypothèses ont été validées : (1) le leadership transformationnel est positivement lié à l’efficacité collective des enseignants et (2) la confiance entre les enseignants agit à titre de variable médiatrice entre le leadership transformationnel et l’efficacité collective. Ainsi, à travers les liens de confiance qui se créent entre les collègues, le leadership des dirigeants joue un rôle important dans la croyance des enseignants quant à leur capacité à atteindre un objectif. Les implications théoriques et pratiques de cette étude seront abordées lors de la présentation

Réduction du ruissellement par l’augmentation de surfaces perméables : évaluation de 2 scénarios d’aménagement d’un ensemble résidentiel à Laval

L’implantation répandue de nouveaux quartiers résidentiels sur le territoire de la périphérie urbaine est en partie responsable de la baisse du couvert végétal et de l’augmentation des surfaces imperméables à grande échelle. Les villes sont maintenant aux prises avec une augmentation constante de la production de ruissellement qu'elles doivent gérer au moyen d’un vaste réseau d’égouts et de canalisations. Des données sur les impacts de ces modèles de quartier résidentiel nous révèlent que cette forme d’habitat provoque la dégradation des milieux naturels et aquatiques. La présente étude vise à mettre à l’épreuve la stratégie d’aménagement de l’Open space design en comparant l’effet de trois situations d’aménagement d’ensembles résidentiels sur le coefficient de ruissellement pondéré (Cp). Les trois situations étudiées sont 1 : le développement actuel tel que conçu par le promoteur, 2 : un scénario de quartier visant la préservation des cours d’eau existants ainsi qu’une réduction des lots et des surfaces imperméables et 3 : un quartier avec des types d’habitation plus denses. Les coefficients pondérés obtenus sont respectivement de 0,50 pour le quartier actuel, de 0,40 pour le scénario 1 et de 0,34 pour le scénario 2. Au terme de cet exercice, il apparaît, d’une part, que la densification du bâti, la nature des surfaces et l’organisation spatiale peuvent concourir à diminuer la production de ruissellement d’un quartier. Cette étude permet de situer l’importance de la gestion du ruissellement dans la planification et l’aménagement du territoire.The widespread introduction of new residential developments in the urban periphery is partly responsible for declining vegetation cover and a large scale increase in impervious surfaces. Cities are now grappling with a constant increase in runoff, which they have to manage through a vast network of sewers and drains. Data on the impacts of current residential models reveal that this form of development causes the degradation of natural and aquatic environments. The present study aims to test Open space design strategy by comparing the effect of three development situations on the weighted runoff coefficient (Cw). The three situations are 1: the actual development as conceived by the project’s promoter; 2: development aimed at preserving existing streams, reducing lot sizes and impervious surfaces; and 3: a higher-density cluster development plan. The weighted coefficients obtained are 0.50 for scenario 1, 0.40 for scenario 2 and 0.34 for scenario 3. As a result, it appears that the density of the structures, the nature of the surfaces and the spatial organization can all contribute to reducing the runoff in a given area. This study underlines the importance of runoff management in planning and land use

Predicting intraindividual changes in teacher burnout : the role of perceived school environment and motivational factors

Based on self-determination theory, this study proposes and tests a motivational model of intraindividual changes in teacher burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment). Participants were 806 French-Canadian teachers in public elementary and high schools. Results show that changes in teachers’ perceptions of classroom overload and students’ disruptive behavior are negatively related to changes in autonomous motivation, which in turn negatively predict changes in emotional exhaustion. Results also indicate that changes in teachers’ perceptions of students’ disruptive behaviors and school principal’s leadership behaviors are related to changes in self-efficacy, which in turn negatively predict changes in three burnout components

The role of job control and job demands in becoming physically active during the covid-19 pandemic : a three-wave longitudinal study

Organizational studies suggest that certain psychosocial working conditions are liable to foster positive health outcomes, such as engaging in leisure-time physical activities. However, the psychosocial factors contributing to this improvement remain unexplored, particularly in the workplace and in the context of the decline observed in the physical activity level of the population worldwide. The objective of the study was to examine whether exposure to different combinations of psychosocial working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic predicts the probability of becoming physically active among Quebec workers. Job demands, job control, and physical activity were assessed three times during the first year of the pandemic via an online questionnaire among physically inactive workers (n = 440). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between various combinations of psychosocial risks and physical activity. A total of 117 participants became physically active during the study. After controlling for covariates, active jobs increased the odds of becoming physically active, compared to high-strain jobs (OR = 2.57 (95% CI 1.13 to 5.87)). Having a highly demanding job may not negatively impact physical activity if workers have enough job control to achieve the required tasks

LA LANGUE ET LE DROIT DANS LES RELATIONS COMMERCIALES INTERNATIONALES

The relationship between language and law is clearly apparent in international organizations. More specifically, international commercial relations show a field of analysis still remains wide clearing. The choice of language is very widely, in international trade, depending on the wish of the parties. The question of free choice is central to the study of the relationship between language and law. But the choice of language is often done without consideration of legal risks, particularly the consequences as regards the implementation and interpretation of the contract. The language issue is generally treated only as incidental, accidental, although it is necessary to comply with a certain number of principles, such as the right to fair trial. It is therefore required to consider the difficulty to express with legal language related to national cultures, a uniform law, particularly as regards international trade. Therefore, tools are available to the lawyer. First, techniques of translation and even co-drafting, legal texts must be exploited to serve the objectives of the formulation of the rule of law, particularly when developing a uniform law. It is all the more necessary that international trade law see the emergence of autonomous concepts, initially difficult to define and formulate with the legal system and the national language and thus related to national culture.RESUME : La langue est saisie par le droit en premier lieu dans le cadre des organisations internationales. Plus spécifiquement, les relations internationales en matière commerciale démontrent qu’un champ d’analyse encore vaste reste à défricher. Le choix de la langue est très largement, en matière de commerce international, dépendant de la volonté des parties. La question de l’autonomie de la volonté est donc centrale dans l’étude du lien entre la langue et le droit. Mais le choix de cette langue est souvent fait sans considération des risques linguistiques, et notamment des conséquences en ce qui concerne la mise en œuvre et l’interprétation du contrat. Par ailleurs, les règles concernant l’instance, qu’elle soit étatique ou arbitrale, sont dispersées. La question de la langue n’est de manière générale abordée que de façon accessoire, accidentelle, alors même qu’elle est nécessaire au respect d’un certain nombre de principes, tels que le droit au procès équitable. C’est pourquoi il est nécessaire de réfléchir à la difficulté à exprimer, avec des langues juridiques marquées par les cultures nationales, un droit uniforme, particulièrement en ce qui concerne le commerce international, où le volontarisme étatique trouve moins matière à s’exprimer. Pour cela, des outils sont à la disposition du juriste. En premier lieu, les techniques de traduction, voire de corédaction, des textes juridiques, doivent être exploitées, afin de servir les objectifs de la formulation de la règle de droit, particulièrement lorsqu’il s’agit d’élaborer un droit uniforme. Cela est d’autant plus nécessaire que le droit du commerce international voit l’émergence de concepts autonomes, qu’il sera dans un premier temps difficile à délimiter et à formuler avec l’appareil juridique et linguistique national, marqué par la culture nationale

Does task-related identified regulation moderate the sociometer effect? : a study of performance feedback, perceived inclusion, and state self-esteem

The aim of this study was to understand the processes explaining the effects of private performance feedback (success vs. failure) on state self-esteem from the stance of sociometer theory and self-determination theory. We investigated whether or not the effect of private performance feedback on state self-esteem was mediated by perceived inclusion as a function of participants’ level of task-related identified regulation (i.e., importance of the activity for oneself). Ninety participants were randomly assigned to one of the following three conditions: failure, success, or control. Our regression analyses based on both original and bootstrap samples indicate that perceived inclusion does not mediate the effect of feedback on state self-esteem for individuals high in task-related identified regulation. Such an effect only operates for individuals low in task-related identified regulation. In sum, our results show that the perceived inclusion process proposed by sociometer theory applies more when individuals find that the activity is less important for them (i.e., identified regulation)

Training needs in dating violence prevention among school staff in Québec, Canada

IntroductionSchool staff play a central role in youth sexual health education (SHE), making them critical actors in dating violence (DV) prevention initiatives. However, since most school staff do not benefit from specific training on SHE, they often report feeling challenged in their roles as sex educators. The mention of a lack of self-efficacy to prevent DV is a concern as self-efficacy is associated with the motivation of adopting new behaviors. To optimize the scope of actions used to prevent DV, the SPARX program team sought to identify priority training needs using a mixed-methods design.MethodsIn the quantitative component of this study, 108 school staff completed an online survey regarding their sense of ease, self-efficacy and barriers faced in regard to DV prevention. For the qualitative component, 15 school staff participated in an individual semi-structured interview, sharing their experiences preventing DV. Descriptive analyses were conducted on the survey data, while direct content analysis using the self-efficacy theory concept was conducted on the interviews.ResultsTo feel confident, school staff members need to learn about DV and healthy relationships and clarify their role in DV prevention. Turnkey activities, preformulated answers to adolescents’ questions, and strategies to reassure reluctant parents can strengthen staff’s sense of self-efficacy. Members of the school staff also want to feel supported and encouraged by their colleagues and school administration in their efforts to prevent DV.DiscussionThe results highlight the importance of providing training beyond acquisition of knowledge, which can improve attitudes toward DV prevention and a sense of self-efficacy used to transmit content and intervention

Un style décisionnel adapté requiert de l’énergie psychologique : étude auprès de dirigeants de PME québécoises = An adaptive decision-making style requires psychological energy: a study among SME managers in Quebec

Résumé : Afin de mieux comprendre l’apport de certains facteurs psychologiques impliqués dans la prise de décision, cette étude examine le rôle médiateur des états psychologiques (engagement au travail et épuisement émotionnel) dans le lien unissant le sentiment de compétence et le style décisionnel adapté. L’échantillon est composé de 201 dirigeants de petites et moyennes entreprises québécoises qui ont répondu à un questionnaire en ligne autoadministré. Les résultats indiquent que l’engagement et l’épuisement agissent distinctement. Seulement l’engagement permet d’expliquer le lien entre le sentiment de compétence et un style décisionnel adapté. En contexte de pandémie, qui met à l’épreuve la santé psychologique, il devient important à la prise de décision des dirigeants de non seulement prévenir leur état d’épuisement, mais surtout d’accroître leur état d’engagement. To better understand the contribution of certain psychological factors involved in decision making, this study examines the mediating role of psychological states (work engagement and emotional exhaustion) in the relationship between the sense of competence at work and adaptive decision-making style. The sample comprised 201 small and medium-sized enterprises managers in Quebec who completed a self-report online questionnaire. Results indicated that work engagement and exhaustion act distinctly. Only engagement explains the relationship between a sense of competence and an adaptive decision-making style. In the pandemic context, which exacts a high toll on psychological health, it becomes important for the decision-making of managers to not only prevent their state of exhaustion, but also improve their state of engagement

Going the extra mile (or not): A moderated mediation analysis of job resources, abusive leadership, autonomous motivation, and extra-role performance

Abusive leadership is particularly prevalent in nursing and it can have multiple adverse effects on performance at work. However, little research has examined whether and under what conditions abusive leadership may be detrimental to nurses’ extra-role performance. This cross-sectional study explores whether abusive leadership intensifies the effects of emotional job resources on autonomous motivation, a psychological mechanism that could be responsible for extra-role performance. Data were collected from dyads of registered French-Canadian nurses and their immediate supervisors (n = 99 dyads). The models were tested with path analysis using Mplus. Our results show that extra-role performance is positively associated with nurses’ job emotional resources and autonomous motivation, but negatively associated with abusive leadership. Nurses’ cynicism is also negatively associated with autonomous motivation. Importantly, the indirect relation between emotional resources and extra-role performance through autonomous motivation is moderated by abusive leadership, providing support for a moderated mediation effect. These results add to those supporting a similar moderated mediation mechanism to explain employee attitudes and demonstrate the relevance of self-determination theory in a work context. These findings reinforce the need to focus on the quality of leadership practices as well as interventions aimed at promoting the performance of nurses at work