An Investment Prospectus: Strengthening Education and Democracy through Service-Learning

Service-learning has deep roots in many American reforms, traditions, and disciplines. The cooperative extension movement in higher education, the settlement house work of Jane Addams, the pedagogies of John Dewey, the freedom schools of the African-American community: all these types of experiential education have connected young people to their communities as does service-learning. Service-learning is a teaching method that engages young people in community problem-solving as part of their education, both in school and out-of-school settings

Managing Lead in Drinking Water at Schools and Early Childhood Education Facilities

This report on managing lead in drinking water at schools and early childhood education facilities is an important tool for educators and community leaders to limit children’s exposure to lead. It’s intended to help people learn about the harmful effects of lead and how to test, detect and reduce waterborne lead levels

Putting theory oriented evaluation into practice

Evaluations of gaming simulations and business games as teaching devices are typically end-state driven. This emphasis fails to detect how the simulation being evaluated does or does not bring about its desired consequences. This paper advances the use of a logic model approach which possesses a holistic perspective that aims at including all elements associated with the situation created by a game. The use of the logic model approach is illustrated as applied to Simgame, a board game created for secondary school level business education in six European Union countries

Rediscovering Deep Time: Sustainability and the Need to Re-Engage With Multiple Dimensions of Time in Leadership Studies

The current article makes the case that increasing our comfort with and responsiveness to extended timescales—both the far future and past—is essential to leadership against the backdrop of wicked challenges that shape the current and future leadership landscape. We offer a loose structure of four dimensions of time—present, near, distant, and deep time—to help advance this work. We frequently fail in thinking about the broader impact of our leadership work for generations to come and to ground that work in our extended, collective history. In order to think about lasting leadership, and particularly when utilizing a framework of sustainability and peace, it is essential that we critically examine our relationship with time and better incorporate it into our leadership theory, practice, development, and education. We need to further develop our ability to relate to and make sound decisions based on an informed consideration of the futures we wish to create and the deep histories that have led us to where we are now

Evaluation of a School–Community Linked Physical Activity Intervention Targeting 7- to 12-Year-Olds: A Sociocultural Perspective

ABSTRACT Background: Public health professionals advocate school-based and community physical activity (PA) interventions as an effective method to increase PA levels and improve physical fitness. Purpose: This evaluation independently assessed a school–community linked PA intervention by exploring the provision, process, and impact of the program and its outcomes. Methods: Students 10 aged 7 to 12 years (n = 468, intervention group [IG]; n = 128, control group [CG]), teachers (n = 19), head teachers (n = 4), school program contacts (n = 4), and program administrator (n = 1) took part in the evaluation. Program content and processes were assessed using questionnaires and semistructured interviews. A mixed effect model was used to assess changes in physical fitness, PA levels, and attitudes toward PA at baseline and postintervention. Results: CG increased 15 body mass (P > .001), aerobic capacity (P > .001), and push-ups (P = .005), as well as improved attitudinal scores toward health and fitness and vertigo (P < .05) compared to the IG. Process evaluation revealed struggles with implementation and design, including pedagogical issues to facilitate program goals. The intervention did not improve attitudinal outcomes, PA levels, or physical fitness above that of the CG. Translation to Health Education Practice: Sustainable PA 20 interventions need to adopt a sociocultural approach that is grounded in learning models and delivered by staff with relevant pedagogical content knowledge

An integrated general practice and pharmacy-based intervention to promote the use of appropriate preventive medications among individuals at high cardiovascular disease risk: protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are responsible for significant morbidity, premature mortality, and economic burden. Despite established evidence that supports the use of preventive medications among patients at high CVD risk, treatment gaps remain. Building on prior evidence and a theoretical framework, a complex intervention has been designed to address these gaps among high-risk, under-treated patients in the Australian primary care setting. This intervention comprises a general practice quality improvement tool incorporating clinical decision support and audit/feedback capabilities; availability of a range of CVD polypills (fixed-dose combinations of two blood pressure lowering agents, a statin ± aspirin) for prescription when appropriate; and access to a pharmacy-based program to support long-term medication adherence and lifestyle modification. Methods: Following a systematic development process, the intervention will be evaluated in a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial including 70 general practices for a median period of 18 months. The 35 general practices in the intervention group will work with a nominated partner pharmacy, whereas those in the control group will provide usual care without access to the intervention tools. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients at high CVD risk who were inadequately treated at baseline who achieve target blood pressure (BP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels at the study end. The outcomes will be analyzed using data from electronic medical records, utilizing a validated extraction tool. Detailed process and economic evaluations will also be performed. Discussion: The study intends to establish evidence about an intervention that combines technological innovation with team collaboration between patients, pharmacists, and general practitioners (GPs) for CVD prevention. Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN1261600023342

Development of a program logic model and evaluation plan for a participatory ergonomics intervention in construction

BACKGROUND: Intervention studies in participatory ergonomics (PE) are often difficult to interpret due to limited descriptions of program planning and evaluation. METHODS: In an ongoing PE program with floor layers, we developed a logic model to describe our program plan, and process and summative evaluations designed to describe the efficacy of the program. RESULTS: The logic model was a useful tool for describing the program elements and subsequent modifications. The process evaluation measured how well the program was delivered as intended, and revealed the need for program modifications. The summative evaluation provided early measures of the efficacy of the program as delivered. CONCLUSIONS: Inadequate information on program delivery may lead to erroneous conclusions about intervention efficacy due to Type III error. A logic model guided the delivery and evaluation of our intervention and provides useful information to aid interpretation of results

Studying feasibility and effects of a two-stage nursing staff training in residential geriatric care using a 30 month mixed-methods design [ISRCTN24344776]

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Transfer techniques and lifting weights often cause back pain and disorders for nurses in geriatric care. The Kinaesthetics care conception claims to be an alternative, yielding benefits for nurses as well as for clients.</p> <p>Starting a multi-step research program on the effects of Kinaesthetics, we assess the feasibility of a two-stage nursing staff training and a pre-post research design. Using quantitative and qualitative success criteria, we address mobilisation from the bed to a chair and backwards, walking with aid and positioning in bed on the staff level as well as on the resident level. In addition, effect estimates should help to decide on and to prepare a controlled trial.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>Standard basic and advanced Kinaesthetics courses (each comprising four subsequent days and an additional counselling day during the following four months) are offered to n = 36 out of 60 nurses in a residential geriatric care home, who are in charge of 76 residents. N = 22 residents needing movement support are participating to this study.</p> <p>On the staff level, measurements include focus group discussions, questionnaires, physical strain self-assessment (Borg scale), video recordings and external observation of patient assistance skills using a specialised instrument (SOPMAS). Questionnaires used on the resident level include safety, comfort, pain, and level of own participation during mobilisation. A functional mobility profile is assessed using a specialised test procedure (MOTPA).</p> <p>Measurements will take place at baseline (T0), after basic training (T1), and after the advanced course (T2). Follow-up focus groups will be offered at T1 and 10 months later (T3).</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Ten criteria for feasibility success are established before the trial, assigned to resources (missing data), processes (drop-out of nurses and residents) and science (minimum effects) criteria. This will help to make rational decision on entering the next stage of the research program.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials <a href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN24344776">ISRCTN24344776</a>.</p

Evaluating community-based health programs that seek to increase community capacity

Central to most community-based programs is the goal of improving the community's capacity to address its own problems. Evaluating changes in community capacity requires contextualized definitions that (1) respect geographic, political, academic, and community perspectives and (2) inclusive evaluation approaches.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/35230/1/1144_ftp.pd