Evaluation of a Diabetes Prevention Program for Rural Citizens

Background: Georgia has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the US. Obesity and inactivity contribute to the onset of this disease. Tanner Health System addressed the obesity epidemic in three rural counties of Georgia through a 16-week diabetes prevention program (DPP) for 176 residents. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the DPP. Methods: The multiple methods design of this project used pre- and post-surveys from January/February, 2014, classes to determine diabetes-related lifestyle factors, 11 mid-point telephone interviews, and focus groups with 17 members to identify lifestyle changes that were implemented. Additionally, initial and final measurements of body mass index (BMI), number of sessions attended, and average number of minutes of physical activity (PA) were obtained for 175 participants in classes held in January/February and June/August, 2014. Results: A paired samples t-test showed statistically significant decreases in BMI from initial to final weigh-ins: t(175)=-7.82, p \u3c0.001. Regression analyses revealed that the number of sessions attended was a statistically significant predictor of BMI loss (p \u3c0.001), explaining 13.5% of the variance. PA was also a significant predictor of BMI differences (p\u3c0.05), accounting for approximately 5% of the variation. Pearson product moment correlation coefficients indicated that BMI decreased as the number of sessions increases (r=-.0367, p \u3c0.001) and as the number of minutes of PA increases (r=-.228, p \u3c.05). After completing the DPP, participants had lower blood glucose levels and were able to lower dosages of medicines. They also had decreased blood pressure and blood cholesterol. Conclusions: Participation in the DPP reduced risk factors associated with the onset of diabetes through weight loss, healthy eating, and increased exercise. Course content and participation encouraged accountability of participants

La observación participante como método de recolección de datos

Beobachtung, und insbesondere teilnehmende Beobachtung, kommt in vielen Disziplinen zum Einsatz, um Daten über Personen, Prozesse oder Kulturen im Rahmen qualitativer Forschungsprojekte zu erheben. In diesem Beitrag werden unterschiedliche Definitionen teilnehmender Beobachtung zusammengestellt und deren Geschichte und Ziele sowie die Rolle des Beobachters, d.h. das Wann, Was, und Wie von Beobachtung, skizziert. Anschließend folgen Anmerkungen zum Umgang mit und Schreiben von Feldnotizen, um dann einige Übungen für die Lehre von Beobachtungstechniken vorzustellen. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0502430Observation, particularly participant observation, has been used in a variety of disciplines as a tool for collecting data about people, processes, and cultures in qualitative research. This paper provides a look at various definitions of participant observation, the history of its use, the purposes for which it is used, the stances of the observer, and when, what, and how to observe. Information on keeping field notes and writing them up is also discussed, along with some exercises for teaching observation techniques to researchers-in-training. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0502430La observación, especialmente la observación participante, ha sido utilizada en varias disciplinas como instrumento en la investigación cualitativa para recoger datos sobre la gente, los procesos y las culturas. Este artículo proporciona una revisión de varias definiciones de la observación participante, la historia de su empleo, los objetivos para los cuales se ha usado, las posturas del observador, y cuándo, qué y cómo observar. Se discute asimismo la información para tomar y escribir notas de campo, con algunos ejercicios para enseñar técnicas de observación a investigadores en formación. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs050243

The potential of painting: unlocking Disenfranchised Grief for people living with dementia

As part of the “Creative Well” programme at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHN) North Wales, artist/researchers Megan Wyatt and Susan Liggett qualitatively investigated how painting can access a means of communication for people living with Dementia. In a workshop setting within a gallery environment at Ruthin Crafts Centre, participants living with dementia were facilitated on a one to one basis the opportunity to paint alongside the artist/researchers. The participants were from a wellestablished art group called “Lost in Art” that is managed by Denbighshire Arts Service. During the workshops, a number of experiences were articulated. These included experiences of illness, crisis and loss. They were captured through observations, interviews, visual art and video to contribute to new understandings and models of engagement through art for people living with dementia and their carers. Focusing on theory and practice in arts based research and the social sciences, this paper investigates the potential of painting to unlock experiences such as disenfranchised grief for people living with dementia. The conclusions do not measure how and if participants felt disenfranchised grief but rather provide an alternative to augment the body of knowledge surrounding how people living with dementia can communicate feelings of disenfranchised grief through painting. Objective: In this presentation I aim to outline the main findings from the above paper that is to be published in an academic journal later in the year on Illness Crisis and Loss published by Sage

Design Opportunities for AAC and Children with Severe Speech and Physical Impairments

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technologies can support children with severe speech and physical impairments (SSPI) to express themselves. Yet, these seemingly 'enabling' technologies are often abandoned by this target group, suggesting a need to understand how they are used in communication. Little research has considered the interaction between people, interaction design and the material dimension of AAC. To address this, we report on a qualitative video study that examines the situated communication of five children using AAC in a special school. Our findings offer a new perspective on reconceptualising AAC design and use revealing four areas for future design: (1) incorporating an embodied view of communication, (2) designing to emphasise children's competence and agency, (3) regulating the presence, prominence and value of AAC, and (4) supporting a wider range of communicative functions that help address children's needs

Towards an Effective Multi-Stakeholder Consultation Process: Applying the Imagine Method in Context of Abu Dhabi’s Education Policy

This paper is concerned with the many interleaving issues that emerge when engaging multiple stakeholders in decision-making. Whilst recognising the intrinsic value of group work and keeping in mind the numerous issues that obstruct group work (including multiple roles for participants, bias due to domination and distortion emerging from uneven group inputs), we applied the Imagine method to propose a new framework - the ‘Multiple Formation Consultation Framework’ (MFCF) - for organising effective multi-stakeholder consultations along the Policy Sciences Framework. Our proposed framework was applied in the context of education policy in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, where 24 small group formations were tasked and assessed in a systemic manner. Evidence from the exercise suggests that: (1) when moving participants from heterogeneous to homogenous groups, the working of the groups became more focused and the outcomes gained greater clarity in terms of the thinking of group members. (2) Yet, when groups moved from homogenous formations to heterogeneous, they became more inquisitive and explored broader aspects of the tasks at hand. (3) A repeat of the process over two-day period where different members of the groups experience both homogenous and heterogeneous formations back and forth (in order to capture the unique value emerging from each composition) have led to more efficient and effective working and outcomes of the groups

Participant Observation as a Data Collection Method

Beobachtung, und insbesondere teilnehmende Beobachtung, kommt in vielen Disziplinen zum Einsatz, um Daten über Personen, Prozesse oder Kulturen im Rahmen qualitativer Forschungsprojekte zu erheben. In diesem Beitrag werden unterschiedliche Definitionen teilnehmender Beobachtung zusammengestellt und deren Geschichte und Ziele sowie die Rolle des Beobachters, d.h. das Wann, Was, und Wie von Beobachtung, skizziert. Anschließend folgen Anmerkungen zum Umgang mit und Schreiben von Feldnotizen, um dann einige Übungen für die Lehre von Beobachtungstechniken vorzustellen.Observation, particularly participant observation, has been used in a variety of disciplines as a tool for collecting data about people, processes, and cultures in qualitative research. This paper provides a look at various definitions of participant observation, the history of its use, the purposes for which it is used, the stances of the observer, and when, what, and how to observe. Information on keeping field notes and writing them up is also discussed, along with some exercises for teaching observation techniques to researchers-in-training.La observación, especialmente la observación participante, ha sido utilizada en varias disciplinas como instrumento en la investigación cualitativa para recoger datos sobre la gente, los procesos y las culturas. Este artículo proporciona una revisión de varias definiciones de la observación participante, la historia de su empleo, los objetivos para los cuales se ha usado, las posturas del observador, y cuándo, qué y cómo observar. Se discute asimismo la información para tomar y escribir notas de campo, con algunos ejercicios para enseñar técnicas de observación a investigadores en formación