152 research outputs found
Effective teaching strategies in mathematics and science
Seven teaching strategies identified by Sousa (2001) were examined to develop implications to improve teaching in classrooms for deaf students. A literature review and an analysis of my student teaching experience and two videotapes of experienced teachers were related to Sousa\u27s work. These analyses support the recommendations of Sousa that more active, student-centered activities are more effective with deaf learners. Recommendations are provided to teachers based on the literature review
Ethical standards for mental health and psychosocial support research in emergencies: review of literature and current debates (vol 13, pg 8, 2017)
Originally published in Biomedical Optics Express on 01 March 2014 (boe-5-3-907
Advancing and translating knowledge: a systematic inquiry into the 2010–2020 mental health and psychosocial support intervention research evidence base
Abstract
Background and study objectives
MHPSS is increasingly seen as a critical component to effective and responsible humanitarian programming. This review examines the extent to which MHPSS research generated since 2010 has contributed to the public health evidence base and how this has influenced and impacted programming and policy in humanitarian settings.
Methods
This mixed-method study included a scoping literature review (n = 50) and a consultation process with qualitative key informant interviews (n = 19) and online survey responses (n = 52) to identify the facilitating and inhibiting factors for the two areas of inquiry and to understand the broader context in which knowledge is generated and taken up. The interviews were thematically analysed and the survey responses were descriptively analysed.
Results
The review identified a rapidly growing evidence base that has evaluated a range of MHPSS interventions. However, few studies examined long-term impacts of interventions, there was limited direct evidence on outcomes for children and adolescents and whole family approaches, and there were minimal replications of the same approach that could test efficacy across settings and population groups. A general shift was identified in the consultation process away from a focus on disorder towards the more positive aspects of wellbeing. However, there remained a mismatch in many studies included in the literature review, whereby the interventions were broad, community-based but the outcome measures used still focused on changes in symptoms of mental disorders.
Conclusion
The evidence base for MHPSS has grown significantly over the last 10 years. However, several knowledge gaps remain, as does the divide between research and practice. Moving forward, MHPSS intervention research needs to be more responsive to the needs on the ground
Orphans and vulnerable youth in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe: An exploratory study of psychosocial well-being and psychosocial support
This Population Council Horizons report presents findings from an exploratory study by the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative and Catholic Relief Services’ Support to Replicable, Innovative Village/Community-level Efforts Program of vulnerable youth living in and around Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. It describes their demographic characteristics, exposure to stress and trauma, and psychosocial well-being. The report also highlights the relationships between psychosocial well-being outcomes and exposure to stress and trauma, and the differences in psychosocial well-being between males and females, orphaned and nonorphaned youth, and younger and older adolescents. The report concludes with program and research implications
Actividad fĂsica, salud mental y apoyo psicosocial
La actividad fĂsica (incluido el deporte) es una estrategia con base empĂrica, aunque poco reconocida, para proteger y promover la SMAPS entre las poblaciones desplazadas
Cortisol awakening response over the course of humanitarian aid deployment: A prospective cohort study
Alastair Ager - ORCID 0000-0002-9474-3563
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9474-3563Added VoR 2021-01-05Background: Internationally deployed humanitarian aid (HA) workers are routinely confronted with potentially traumatic stressors. However, it remains unknown whether HA deployment and related traumatic stress are associated with long-term changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function. Therefore, we investigated whether cortisol awakening response (CAR) decreased upon deployment and whether this was moderated by previous and recent trauma exposure and parallel changes in symptom severity and perceived social support.Methods: In this prospective study, n=86 HA workers (68% females) completed questionnaires regarding trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depressive symptoms and perceived social support, as well as salivary cortisol assessments at awakening and 30 minutes post-awakening at before, early and 3-6 months post-deployment.Results: Linear mixed models showed significantly decreased CAR (b(SE)=-.036(.011), p=.002) and awakening cortisol over time (b(SE)=-.007(.003), p=.014). The extent of awakening cortisol change was significantly moderated by interactions between previous and recent trauma exposure. Also, a steeper awakening cortisol decrease was significantly associated with higher mean anxiety and PTSD symptoms across assessments. No significant effects were found for social support.Conclusions: We observed attenuated CAR and awakening cortisol upon HA deployment, with a dose-response effect between trauma exposure before and during the recent deployment on awakening cortisol. Awakening cortisol change was associated with PTSD and anxiety symptom levels across assessments. Our findings support the need for organizational awareness that work-related exposures may have long-lasting biological effects. Further research assessing symptoms and biological measures in parallel is needed to translate current findings into guidelines on the individual level.This work was funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Antares Foundation through a cooperative agreement [Grant Number: 5U01EH000217]; The first author Yulan Qing is financially supported by the Chinese Scholarship Council Grant for her Ph.D. (NO. 201504910771). Additionally, Mirjam van Zuiden was supported by a Veni grant from the Netherlands organization for Health research and Development (ZonMw, grant no. 91617037). The funding source had no role in the design or execution of the research.https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.181664911pubpub
Using metaphorical techniques in focus groups to uncover mothers' feelings about family meals
Traditional nutrition education has not been shown to consistently produce behavior change. While it has been suggested that using emotion-based messages may be a better way to influence nutrition behavior change, this has not been well tested. Producing emotion-based messages is a multi-step process that begins with exploring subconscious barriers to behavior change rather than the more obvious and typically reported barriers. The purpose of this research was to uncover the emotional reasons, sometimes referred to as emotional pulse points, for mothers' choosing or not choosing to have more family meals. This would then serve as the first step to developing emotion-based messages promoting the benefits of family meals. Five focus group interviews were conducted with 51 low-income Black (n=28) and white (n=23) mothers. Metaphorical techniques were used to determine underlying feelings toward family and family meals. Discussions were video-taped, transcribed, and manually analyzed using a content-driven, immersion/crystallization approach to qualitative data analysis. Four themes emerged around the definition of family: acceptance, sharing, chaos, and protective/loyal. Some mothers felt mealtime was merely obligatory, and described it as stressful. Some reported a preference for attending to their own needs instead of sitting down with their children, while others felt that mealtime should be used to interact with and educate children and felt guilty when they were not able to provide family meals. Three themes emerged around feelings towards having or not having family meals: unimportant, important, and guilty. When explored further, mothers indicated that using the feeling of guilt to encourage family meals might be effective. Data obtained are being used to develop innovative, emotion-based messages that will be tested for effectiveness in promoting family meals
Psychosocial benefits of a mentoring program for youth-headed households in Rwanda
In Rwanda, the combined effects of the 1994 genocide and the AIDS pandemic have devastated the lives of children and families. More than 300,000 young people have been “left behind,” not only by parents and other caregivers who have died, but also by extended families and communities who stigmatize and fail to support them. The phenomenon of youth-headed households in the region is a relatively recent development. Despite the long history of fostering in sub-Saharan Africa, family and community safety nets are overstretched. Youth-headed households may be a legitimate coping strategy; however, children living in youth-headed households are less likely to attend school, have greater vulnerability to physical and mental health problems, and may demonstrate behavioral problems and hampered development. Although extended family members are a potential source of support, they are at times also the perpetrators of abuse, exploitation, and property grabbing following the parents’ death. The quasi-experimental study described in this brief tested a model of adult mentorship and support to improve psychosocial outcomes among youth-headed households. The study showed that mentoring can measurably mitigate adverse psychosocial outcomes among youth heads of households
Psychological Distress, Depression, Anxiety, and Burnout among International Humanitarian Aid Workers: A Longitudinal Study
Background
International humanitarian aid workers providing care in emergencies are subjected to numerous chronic and traumatic stressors.
Objectives
To examine consequences of such experiences on aid workers' mental health and how the impact is influenced by moderating variables.
Methodology
We conducted a longitudinal study in a sample of international non-governmental organizations. Study outcomes included anxiety, depression, burnout, and life and job satisfaction. We performed bivariate regression analyses at three time points. We fitted generalized estimating equation multivariable regression models for the longitudinal analyses.
Results
Study participants from 19 NGOs were assessed at three time points: 212 participated at pre-deployment; 169 (80%) post-deployment; and 154 (73%) within 3-6 months after deployment. Prior to deployment, 12 (3.8%) participants reported anxiety symptoms, compared to 20 (11.8%) at post-deployment (p-_=-_00027); 22 (10.4%) reported depression symptoms, compared to 33 (19.5%) at post-deployment (p-_=-_00117) and 31 (20.1%) at follow-up (p-_=-_.00083). History of mental illness (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 4.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] 145-1250) contributed to an increased risk for anxiety. The experience of extraordinary stress was a contributor to increased risk for burnout depersonalization (AOR 1.5; 95% CI 1.17-1.83). Higher levels of chronic stress exposure during deployment were contributors to an increased risk for depression (AOR 11; 95% CI 102-1.20) comparing post- versus pre-deployment, and increased risk for burnout emotional exhaustion (AOR 1.1; 95% CI 1.04-1.19). Social support was associated with lower levels of depression (AOR 09; 95% CI 084-095), psychological distress (AOR-_=-_0.9; [CI] 0.85-0.97), burnout lack of personal accomplishment (AOR 095; 95% CI 091-098), and greater life satisfaction (p-_=-_0.0213).
Conclusions
When recruiting and preparing aid workers for deployment, organizations should consider history of mental illness and take steps to decrease chronic stressors, and strengthen social support networks.sch_iih7pub4233pub
Safety and Efficacy of Axicabtagene Ciloleucel versus Standard of Care in Patients 65 Years of Age or Older with Relapsed/Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Purpose: Older patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) may be considered ineligible for curative-intent therapy including high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell transplantation (HDT-ASCT). Here, we report outcomes of a preplanned subgroup analysis of patients >= 65 years in ZUMA-7. Patients and Methods: Patients with LBCL refractory to or relapsed = 65 years were random-ized to axi-cel and SOC, respectively. Median EFS was greater with axi-cel versus SOC (21.5 vs. 2.5 months; median follow-up: 24.3 months; HR, 0.276; descriptive P = 3 adverse events occurred in 94% of axi-cel and 82% of SOC patients. No grade 5 cytokine release syndrome or neurologic events occurred. In the quality-of-life analysis, the mean change in PRO scores from baseline at days 100 and 150 favored axi-cel for EORTC QLQ-C30 Global Health, Physical Functioning, and EQ-5D-5L visual analog scale (descriptive P = 65 and = 65 years with R/R LBCL
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