9,598 research outputs found
Teaching intercultural communication skills
Aims
The aim of this tool is to develop your understanding of culture, and the need for awareness in intercultural communication. You will be engaged in learning through reflection, knowledge acquisition and practical activities.
Learning outcomes
When you have worked through this tool, you will be able to:
• Articulate the need for the focus on intercultural communication in current
nursing practice;
• Discuss the theoretical underpinnings of intercultural communication, and
the meaning of intercultural communication from different viewpoints;
• Reflect on your own practice in relation to the ability to display intercultural
communication;
• Reflect on when it might be desirable to communicate competently at an
intercultural level;
• Identify strategies to nurture confidence in you
Dipolar and scalar He and Xe frequency shifts in mm-sized cells
We describe a He-Xe comagnetometer operating in stemless
anodically bonded cells with a 6 mm volume and a Xe spin coherence
time of 300 sec. We use a Rb pulse-train magnetometer with co-linear
pump and probe beams to study the nuclear spin frequency shifts caused by spin
polarization of He. By systematically varying the cell geometry in a
batch cell fabrication process we can separately measure the cell shape
dependent and independent frequency shifts. We find that a certain aspect ratio
of the cylindrical cell can cancel the effects of He magnetization that
limit the stability of vapor-cell comagnetometers. Using this control we also
observe for the first time a scalar He-Xe collisional frequency
shift characterized by an enhancement factor .Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Developing tools to promote culturally competent compassion, courage, and intercultural communication in healthcare
Background: Compassion is an important concept in healthcare, and in addition, care should be delivered in a culturally competent manner, taking into account the values, culture, and health beliefs of the individual. However, the training of nurses and other healthcare professionals may not adequately equip them to practice in a manner which is both compassionate and culturally competent. In this paper, we report on the development of three learning tools, designed to promote the skills and strengthen the capacity of nurses and healthcare professionals to provide culturally competent and compassionate care.
Methods: The project involved the participation of six European countries in the development of three learning tools, covering culturally competent compassion, culturally competent courage, and intercultural communication. The principles which informed the methodology derive from the previous work on the Papadopoulos, Tilki and Taylor (PTT) model of transcultural nursing and cultural competence, and were also informed by the Intercultural Education of Nurses in Europe (IENE1 & IENE2) projects. Each partner country was required to produce one tool for each topic area, based on guidance provided by the project co-ordinator, leading to the development of eighteen tools in total. The tools were administered mainly to student nurses to test their feasibility.
Results: The emerging tools contained important theoretical and practical components, whereby innovative learning methods and case studies were included. Student nurses enjoyed using the tools, and enjoyed their flexibility. The learning tools enabled students to become stimulated and to engage together leading to a positive learning experience.
Discussion: The tools allow for a positive learning experience and reflection of good practice to take place. The flexibility and content of the tools allows for them to be of equal value to other healthcare professionals as well as nursing staff.
Conclusion: The tools were initially utilised mainly with student nurses and were received with a positive response. Work is now in place to further implement the tools and evaluate the longer term effects among a range of healthcare professionals and service user health outcomes
On the Interpretation of Supernova Light Echo Profiles and Spectra
The light echo systems of historical supernovae in the Milky Way and local
group galaxies provide an unprecedented opportunity to reveal the effects of
asymmetry on observables, particularly optical spectra. Scattering dust at
different locations on the light echo ellipsoid witnesses the supernova from
different perspectives and the light consequently scattered towards Earth
preserves the shape of line profile variations introduced by asymmetries in the
supernova photosphere. However, the interpretation of supernova light echo
spectra to date has not involved a detailed consideration of the effects of
outburst duration and geometrical scattering modifications due to finite
scattering dust filament dimension, inclination, and image point-spread
function and spectrograph slit width. In this paper, we explore the
implications of these factors and present a framework for future resolved
supernova light echo spectra interpretation, and test it against Cas A and SN
1987A light echo spectra. We conclude that the full modeling of the dimensions
and orientation of the scattering dust using the observed light echoes at two
or more epochs is critical for the correct interpretation of light echo
spectra. Indeed, without doing so one might falsely conclude that differences
exist when none are actually present.Comment: 18 pages, 22 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
A Study of the Coronal Plasma in RS CVn binary systems
XMM-Newton has been performing comprehensive studies of X-ray bright RS CVn
binaries in its Calibration and Guaranteed Time programs. We present results
from ongoing investigations in the context of a systematic study of coronal
emission from RS CVns. We concentrate in this paper on coronal abundances and
investigate the abundance pattern in RS CVn binaries as a function of activity
and average temperature. A transition from an Inverse First Ionization
Potential (FIP) effect towards an absence of a clear trend is found in
intermediately active RS CVn systems. This scheme corresponds well into the
long-term evolution from an IFIP to a FIP effect found in solar analogs. We
further study variations in the elemental abundances during a large flare.Comment: to appear in The Twelfth Cool Stars, Stellar Systems and the Sun,
eds. A. Brown, T.R. Ayres, G.M. Harper, (Boulder: Univ. of Colorado), in
pres
A questionnaire survey reviewing radiologists’ and clinical specialist radiographers’ knowledge of CT exposure parameters
OBJECTIVE: To review knowledge of computed tomography (CT) parameters and their influence on patient dose and image quality amongst a cohort of clinical specialist radiographers (CSRs) and examining radiologists. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was devised and distributed to a cohort of 65 examining radiologists attending the American Board of Radiology exam in Kentucky in November 2011. The questionnaire was later distributed by post to a matching cohort of Irish CT CSRs. Each questionnaire contained 40 questions concerning CT parameters and their influence on both patient dose and image quality. RESULTS: A response rate of 22 % (radiologists) and 32 % (CSRs) was achieved. No difference in mean scores was detected between either group (27.8 ± 4 vs 28.1 ± 4, P = 0.87) although large ranges were noted (18–36). Considerable variations in understanding of CT parameters was identified, especially regarding operation of automatic exposure control and the influence of kilovoltage and tube current on patient dose and image quality. Radiologists were unaware of recommended diagnostic reference levels. Both cohorts were concerned regarding CT doses in their departments. CONCLUSIONS: CT parameters were well understood by both groups. However, a number of deficiencies were noted which may have a considerable impact on patient doses and limit the potential for optimisation in clinical practice. KEY POINTS: • CT users must adapt parameters to optimise patient dose and image quality. • The influence of some parameters is not well understood. • A need for ongoing education in dose optimisation is identified
Decision-making for active living infrastructure in new communities: a qualitative study in England.
BACKGROUND: Urban design can influence population levels of physical activity and subsequent health impacts. This qualitative study investigates local level decision-making for 'active living' infrastructure (ALI)-walking and cycling infrastructure and open spaces in new communities. METHODS: Thirty-five semi-structured interviews with stakeholders, and limited ethnographic observations, were conducted with local government and private sector stakeholders including urban and transport planners, public health practitioners, elected councillors and developers. Interview transcripts were coded and analysed thematically. RESULTS: Public health practitioners in local government could act as knowledge brokers and leaders to motivate non-health stakeholders such as urban and transport planners to consider health when designing and building new communities. They needed to engage at the earliest stages and be adequately resourced to build relationships across sectors, supporting non-health outcomes such as tackling congestion, which often had greater political traction. 'Evidence' for decision-making identified problems (going beyond health), informed solutions, and also justified decisions post hoc, although case study examples were not always convincing if not considered contextually relevant. CONCLUSION: We have developed a conceptual model with three factors needed to bridge the gap between evidence and ALI being built: influential public health practitioners; supportive policies in non-health sectors; and adequate resources.This work was supported by the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Economic and Social Research Council, Medical Research Council, the National Institute for Health Research, and the Wellcome Trust, under the auspices of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration [grant numbers 087636/Z/08/Z, ES/G007462/1, MR/K023187/1 to ALG and DO]; and the National Institute for Health Research [grant number 16/137/34 to LF]. ALG and DO are supported by the Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/6) and Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), a UKCRC Public Health Research Centre of Excellence. LF is supported by the NIHR Global Health Research Group and Network on Diet and Activity. No funder had any role in the study design; data collection, analysis, or interpretation; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the article for publication
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