Re-Ordering Performance: Finding Joy and Freedom in Oh, What a Lovely War!

The following document is an exploration of pursuing ease and joy in the Theatre@York’s production of Oh, What a Lovely War. This support document gives literal meaning to the phenomenon of stage fright, defines the psychological reasoning behind the reaction of the autonomic nervous system, and tracks the creation of a new methodology based on the acting philosophies of David Mamet, Uta Hagen, and Stanislavski. The process includes pursuing full embodiment of character, creating achievable goals and building a new relationship with the audience. The ultimate goal is to create a new performance methodology that will result in both rehearsal and performance being a joyful experience

Telling the story : the status of accounts describing the death of a spouse

This is an ethnomethodological study of qualitative research interviews concerning the death of a spouse. The focus is on the accounting practices of interview participants. Methods of analysis described by Sacks, membership categorisation analysis (MCDA) and conversation analysis (CA), have been applied to the data. The analysis also draws on Sacks's discussions of storytelling. Three different but related issues are examined in the data: criticism of health professionals, assessment work and doing interview talk. MCDA has been used to document how criticisms of health professionals are produced and to examine how assessment work is done. Criticism involves setting up lay and professional identities, and recipient-design. Interviewees venture their criticisms cautiously, setting up their accounts in such a way that the hearer is co-implicated. A feature of the detailed assessment work undertaken in the accounts is the setting up of entitlements to certain experiences by interviewees, such as being with a spouse when they die. The way in which the identities of the speakers in the (interview) talk are established in the opening turns has been examined using CA. The opening request by the interviewer, 'could you tell me the story of what happened' is produced as an openended question but the response provided is skillfully tied to a story that the interviewer expects to hear. Implications of the analysis are drawn regarding the status of interview data. The value of attending to the accounting practices of participants in producing interview data is also discussed in relation to lay assessments of health care

Exploring attitudes towards a randomised controlled trial of venous access devices – a nested pre-trial qualitative study

Purpose: This pre-trial qualitative research study was carried out to explore patient and clinical staff attitudes to central venous access devices (CVADs). In addition, views about participation in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) were explored with the aim of maximising recruitment to an imminent RCT of three CVADs. Methods: Three patient focus groups (each comprising three patients) and 23 interviews with clinical staff were conducted. Interviews and focus group discussions were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, anonymised, uploaded to the QSR NVivo10 qualitative software programme and thematically analysed. Results: Analysis of focus group interviews revealed the added challenges that a CVAD poses to patients with cancer. Four key themes emerged: continuity of daily life, pain and discomfort, stigma (a mark of disgrace associated with certain conditions) and self-preservation. The findings show the impact of a CVAD on patients’ ability to manage their condition. Clinical staff interviews highlighted several potential barriers to recruitment; a lack of equipoise (genuine clinical uncertainty as to which intervention is the most beneficial), concerns about the logistics of device insertion and a perceived requirement for education and training. Conclusions: This qualitative study raises awareness of key areas of concern to patients who need a CVAD for chemotherapy delivery. It was identified that there is a need for clearer patient information around CVADs. Additionally it allows investigators to identify barriers to recruitment in a timely manner in order to minimise the potential for conflict between the roles of carer and researcher and consequently, maximise recruitment to the RCT

The influence of non-ionisable excipients on precipitation parameters measured using the CheqSol method

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of non-ionisable excipients hydroxypropyl--cyclodextrin (HPCD) and poloxamers 407 and 188 on the supersaturation and precipitation kinetics of ibuprofen, gliclazide, propranolol and atenolol induced through solution pH shifts using the CheqSol method. Methods: The drug’s kinetic and intrinsic aqueous solubility was measured in the presence of increasing excipient concentrations using the CheqSol solubility method. Experimental data for example rate of change of pH with time was also examined to determine excipient induced parachute effects and influence on precipitation rates. Key Findings: The measured kinetic and intrinsic solubilities provide a determination of the influence of each excipient on supersaturation index and the area under the CheqSol curve can measure the parachute capability of excipients. The excipients influence on precipitation kinetics can be measured with novel parameters for example the precipitation pH or percentage ionized drug at the precipitation point which provide further information on the excipient induced changes in precipitation performance. Conclusion: This method can therefore be employed to measure the influence of non-ionisable excipients on the kinetic solubility behavior of supersaturated solutions of ionisable drugs and to provide data, which discriminates between excipient systems during precipitation

Zooplankton variability in the Northern Salish Sea over the past 3 decades, and relationships with Coho salmon

The past 30 years have seen huge changes in the populations of Pacific salmon in the Salish Sea. These changes include very large reductions in the abundances of Chinook and Coho, and high variability of Fraser River Sockeye salmon populations. The Salish Sea Marine Survival Program is a Canada – U.S. collaborative multi-year research initiative established to investigate two main questions: what has driven the very strong declines in abundances of Coho and Chinook populations in the Salish Sea since the 1980s, and what determines the interannual variability of present populations. In this study we examine these two questions from the perspective of zooplankton (including ichthyoplankton) populations in the Salish Sea since 1990. We identify interannual trends of total zooplankton biomass, and of its major constituents including those taxa identified as comprising important dietary items for Coho, Chinook, and Sockeye. We identify years with significant changes in zooplankton taxonomic composition, and compare these with environmental variables to identify potential “drivers of change” in these ecosystem. We conclude with analyses of how these relationships relate to variability in the key salmon species of this region

Boundary-Work and the Distribution of Care for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Abuse in Primary Care Settings:Perspectives From U.K. Clinicians

Health care encounters are opportunities for primary care practitioners to identify women experiencing domestic violence and abuse (DVA). Increasing DVA support in primary care is a global policy priority but discussion about DVA during consultations remains rare. This article explores how primary care teams in the United Kingdom negotiate the boundaries of their responsibilities for providing DVA support. In-depth interviews were undertaken with 13 general practitioners (GPs) in two urban areas of the United Kingdom. Interviews were analyzed thematically. Analysis focused on the boundary practices participants undertook to establish their professional remit regarding abuse. GPs maintained permeable boundaries with specialist DVA support services. This enabled ongoing negotiation of the role played by clinicians in identifying DVA. This permeability was achieved by limiting the boundaries of the GP role in the care of patients with DVA to identification, with the work of providing support distributed to local specialist DVA agencies

How do new midwives’ early workforce experiences influence their career plans? An integrative review of the literature

Aim To explore how the early workforce experiences of new midwives influence their career plans. Background Each year, thousands of new midwives graduate from entry-to-practice midwifery courses, gain professional registration, and enter the workforce. Despite this, the world continues to face a shortage of midwives. The first five years of clinical practice, commonly referred to as the early career period, can be highly stressful for new midwives, contributing to early attrition from the profession. Supporting the transition from midwifery student to registered midwife is vital if we are to grow the workforce. Whilst the early career experiences of new midwives have been more broadly explored; little is currently understood about how these can influence their career plans. Methods Following Whittemore and Knafl’s (2005) five-stage process, an integrative review was conducted. Reporting followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Nineteen studies met the criteria for inclusion. Thematic analysis was undertaken to organise and present the findings. Findings Thematic analysis, guided by the review question led to the identification of three overarching themes: ‘the need for support’, ‘sustaining health and wellbeing’, and ‘being able to provide safe and effective midwifery care’. Conclusion Very little research to date has specifically explored how the early career experiences of new midwives influence their career plans, particularly within the Australian context. Further research is required to better understand how the early workforce experiences of new midwives can either strengthen their commitment to the profession or contribute to the decision to leave midwifery prematurely. This knowledge would provide a basis for the development of appropriate strategies to minimise early attrition from the midwifery profession and promote career longevity