Companion and Non-Companion Animals’ Impact on People Living with Kidney Disease: A Qualitative Content Analysis

This item is only available electronically.Chronic Kidney Disease is an irreversible progressive disease, and many people require dialysis which is time-consuming and life-limiting. With a compromised immune system, there is a high risk of zoonotic disease (transferred from animals). Psychosocial impact associated with kidney disease include depression, poorer quality of life, and less autonomy. Literature has shown that companion and other animals promote wellbeing of people living with chronic disease, by assisting emotional regulation, social interaction, and enhancing self-identity. There is research into companion animals and other chronic conditions, however limited exploration of companion and other animals and their role in the lives of people with kidney disease. By analysing 518 posts from an online discussion board using Qualitative Content Analysis, this study aimed to explore the impact animals have on the lives of people with kidney disease. Five main categories were identified: ‘Positive Influence and Connection with Companion Animals’, ‘Risk of Companion Animals’, ‘Human and Animal Adaptation’, ‘Patients’ Point of View’ and ‘Healthcare Professionals’ Point of View’. This study contributes knowledge into how people with kidney disease adapt to maintain relationships with companion animals, reinforcing previous research on the strong bonds between humans and animals. It also reveals insight into the importance and concerns of interacting with animals other than companion animals. Lastly, it highlights a gap between patients’ understanding of infection risk, and healthcare professionals’ advice and opinions. This study’s findings provide insight into possible ways to facilitate better communication between healthcare practitioners and patients in the context of kidney disease and treatment.Thesis (B.PsychSc(Hons)) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 202

Exploring The Lived Experiences of African American Male Learners in Higher Education

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how specific factors like college readiness, college affordability, and financial preparedness lead to college success for African American male learners attending historically Black colleges or universities located in Ohio. The state of Ohio continues to experience concerns with the low academic achievement of African American male learners. This study was explored through the implementation of three research questions: How do African American male learners perceive the effectiveness of their college readiness experiences to being successful in college? How do African American male learners perceive the effectiveness of their college affordability experiences to being successful in college? How do African American male learners perceive the effectiveness of their financial preparedness experiences to being successful in college? To ensure both data saturation and data triangulation, this researcher utilized three data collection instruments: face-to-face, in-depth interviews with 16 participants; three focus group sessions; and a researcher journal. The results indicate that successful African American male learners depend on their non-cognitive college readiness skills—self-motivation, family motivation, time management/strategic planning, and strong relationships through engagement and guidance from professors and education leaders— to support their success in college. Many African American male learners are enrolled full-time and work one or two jobs to support their financial preparedness and college affordability responsibility. They perceive their university to offer affordable tuition when compared to other institutions of higher education

Anxious Behaviors Among Elementary Aged Children: Implications for Teachers and Schools

The purpose of this paper is to examine possible factors that might influence third grade students’ anxious behaviors throughout the day. I was interested in discovering if students’ anxiety related behaviors were impacted by the increased curricular demands in the daily schedule. I was also curious about how students feel during and after they complete different routine curriculum assessments and state standardized assessments. Surveys, drawings, interviews, and observations were used to gather data. Analysis indicates that students’ emotional responses and environmental factors all impacted students’ anxiety level. It is critical to be aware of all the possible factors that impact a student’s emotional state so educators can help provide students with the most successful learning environment

Examining the impact of trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy on perinatal mental health outcomes among survivors of intimate partner violence (the PATH study): Protocol for a feasibility study

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive public health problem, impacting the health and quality of life of survivors worldwide. The trauma of IPV is associated with a high incidence of mental illness, namely depressive and anxiety disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Moreover, literature endorses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions as a gold standard for those with symptomatology consistent with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and PTSD. However, efficacy has not been evaluated among a population of pregnant survivors of IPV. Objective: We present the protocol that will be used to explore the efficacy of trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy on maternal and child health outcomes for pregnant women with PTSD, depression, or anxiety symptomatology resulting from IPV. A secondary aim will be to test the validity and feasibility of study methodology to support the successful implementation of a full-scale randomized controlled trial. Methods: The Promoting Attachment Through Healing (PATH) study will use a mixed-methods approach grounded in an intersectional feminist framework to explore the effectiveness of trauma-informed CBT for pregnant survivors of IPV. Study participants will be recruited through the hospital-based Perinatal Mental Health Clinic (London, Ontario, Canada). A feasibility sample of 20 pregnant women (cohort 1) will be selected to engage in an eight-session antenatal CBT intervention facilitated by the program\u27s perinatal clinical nurse specialist, with evaluation at baseline, at two months postpartum (intervention and online questionnaire), and at six and twelve months postpartum (online questionnaire only). Concurrently, we will conduct a retrospective audit of 100 medical charts (cohort 2; 50 charts of perinatal women who received CBT and 50 charts of women who did not receive perinatal CBT) from the past five years. The efficacy of the intervention will be based on a reduction of mental illness symptomatology, improved maternal-infant attachment, maternal coping, and maternal quality of life. Additionally, the feasibility of the protocol and acceptability of the intervention from the women\u27s perspective will be examined. Inductive content analysis of all qualitative data will be used to determine common themes. Additionally, descriptive statistics, including measures of central tendency and dispersion, will be computed for all continuous variables. Alternatively, frequency tables will be constructed for all categorical variables. Results: The work reported here is in the proposal phase. Once the protocol is implemented, we will report the results in a follow-up paper. Participant recruitment for cohort 1 has started and we have finished data collection for cohort 2. It is anticipated that the results will be available by the end of 2018. Conclusions: Findings will assess the acceptability of the study methodology and protocol for a full-scale randomized controlled trial. Furthermore, if CBT is proven effective for pregnant survivors of IPV, this intervention could be readily adopted by health care and social support services, thereby contributing to an improved standard of care for this unique population

Remote Ornithology: Studying Nesting Behavior of Bermuda Petrels via Live Webcam

We observed over 167 hours of video of a Bermuda Petrel Pterodroma cahow nest during the 2019 nesting season. The publicly available webcam feed was provided live over the internet by Nonsuch Expeditions and Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Live webcams open new avenues of data collection resulting in observations previously deemed impractical. They help surpass logistic and financial hurdles in conducting field studies. From our offices and homes in Arkansas and New York, we documented behaviors and involuntary movements of the nesting pair in Bermuda. We noted relative roles played by each parent in incubation, and behaviors of the incubating parents such as resting, sleeping, preening, nest maintenance, and moving around. We also measured orientation within the nest. For the first time in seabirds, we provide data on rates of breathing and head shaking

Criticai discourse analysis of policies impacting the intersection of health and experiences of intimate partner violence for rural women in Ontario, Canada

Introduction: Intimate partner violence (IPV) impacts approximately one quarter of Canadian women, and services provided to support women are heavily influenced by policy. Policy sets the stage and tone for action in all sectors. To date, there have been no critical discourse analyses examining how provincial, hospital, and women\u27s shelter policies intersect and impact women in rural communities. Methods: A critical discourse analysis using a case study of one rural community in south-western Ontario was undertaken by a multisectoral team of researchers using a critical, feminist, intersectional lens. The selected policies were (1) Domestic Violence Action Plan for Ontario (ODVAP), (2) the rural women\u27s shelter policy, and (3) the hospital policy. Results: The internal analysis of the policies revealed that ODVAP Rural and Remote Health rrh. org. au focused on societal solutions to violence requiring cross-sectoral cooperation with a focus on marginalized populations, whereas the rural shelter policy focused on creating a philosophical orientation to underpin their work with clients. There was no formal hospital policy related to the provision of services for women who have experienced violence. The policies revealed a disconnect between the stated goals and the specifics concerning how the policies would come together to achieve these goals. Obstacles such as having no clear link for how ODVAP and the shelter policy would work together, idealization of training but a lack of specificity on what training would be useful, and the requirement of affirmative action on the part of women to engage with services functioned as a means to maintain the status quo, that is, working in a siloed approach to care. Conclusions: Integrative systems are important for women who have experienced IPV given the wide range of health, social, and economic consequences of violence. Policy alignment is important for women who have experienced or are experiencing IPV, particularly in rural contexts where services are fraught with additional barriers

Leader sincerity and empathy boost employee engagement, inclusion, and intent to stay

With the unprecedented workplace disruption brought on by the pandemic, many companies introduced policies to provide additional support for workers with care-giving responsibilities. But the majority of employees doubted the sincerity of their companies. Tara Van Bommel, Kathrina Robotham, Danielle M. Jackson, and Allyson Zimmermann write that leader empathy played an essential role in whether employees viewed COVID-related and racial equity policies positively

Experiences of At-Risk Women in Accessing Breastfeeding Social Support During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Background: With strict public health measures implemented in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many breastfeeding parents, who are within an at-risk population, have experienced limited formal and/or informal breastfeeding social support. In the Canadian context, the experiences of these women is unknown. Research Aim: To explore the experiences of at-risk postpartum breastfeeding women in accessing formal and informal breastfeeding social support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This was a prospective, longitudinal interpretive description study using mixed methods. Data were gathered using an online survey and one 52–112-min semi-structured interview at 12-weeks postpartum. At-risk breastfeeding participants were those who lack social support and had at least one of the following: age \u3c 25 years; experiencing or had experienced intimate partner violence; or of low income. We sought participants’ experiences of accessing breastfeeding social support during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic/lockdown. Seven participants completed the survey and the interview. Results: Participants identified that the COVID-19 pandemic created barriers to accessing formal and informal breastfeeding social support, which stemmed from public health restrictions and difficulties communicating online with families and healthcare providers. Additionally, participants identified that the COVID-19 pandemic/lockdowns facilitated feelings of connectedness, protection, and resiliency. Conclusion: We provide preliminary insight into the experiences of trying to access breastfeeding social support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future researchers should seek to prioritize improved communication and resources in supporting breastfeeding during COVID-19 and future pandemics/lockdowns