Can we build on social movement theories to develop and improve community‐based participatory research? a framework synthesis review

A long‐standing challenge in community‐based participatory research (CBPR) has been to anchor practice and evaluation in a relevant and comprehensive theoretical framework of community change. This study describes the development of a multidimensional conceptual framework that builds on social movement theories to identify key components of CBPR processes. Framework synthesis was used as a general literature search and analysis strategy. An initial conceptual framework was developed from the theoretical literature on social movement. A literature search performed to identify illustrative CBPR projects yielded 635 potentially relevant documents, from which eight projects (corresponding to 58 publications) were retained after record and full‐text screening. Framework synthesis was used to code and organize data from these projects, ultimately providing a refined framework. The final conceptual framework maps key concepts of CBPR mobilization processes, such as the pivotal role of the partnership; resources and opportunities as necessary components feeding the partnership's development; the importance of framing processes; and a tight alignment between the cause (partnership's goal), the collective action strategy, and the system changes targeted. The revised framework provides a context‐specific model to generate a new, innovative understanding of CBPR mobilization processes, drawing on existing theoretical foundations

When one is sick and two need help: Caregivers’ perspectives on the negative consequences of caring

Informal or family caregivers contribute significantly to individual care, and to the Canadian healthcare system, yet receive limited support from governments, institutions, and healthcare professionals in recognition of their role, or in response to their health and social care needs – often due to the negative consequences of caregiving. Learning about the diversity of others’ experiences can positively influence personal decision-making, reduce feelings of isolation, as well as promote adjustment to a personal situation. For caregivers, however, few resources exist that provide reliable information on others’ experiences. We collected the narratives of caregivers’ experiences of caring for someone with a chronic physical illness and produced an evidence-based web resource. Through purposive variation sampling, 42 caregivers were recruited across Canada for interviews in their homes or alternate location using video/audio recording. Qualitative data analysis followed a constant comparison approach. 29 thematic pages were developed for the web site (www.healthexperiences.ca) featuring the diversity of lived experiences, and presenting topics important to the caregivers with illustrative video/audio clips, along with other sources of information. Key themes related to caregivers’ perspectives on the negative consequences of caregiving included: the impact upon personal health; challenging interactions with professionals; inconsistent information, limited support from family and friends, and unhelpful societal views. These results contribute to existing evidence of caregiver burden, but uniquely in the voices of caregivers themselves – with constructive insights for understanding the causes of ill health related to caregiving burden and for informing policy and practice

Using virtual world technology to deliver educational services

Despite increasing educational use of immersive virtual environments for seminars, lectures and teaching related events, there is an absence of ceremonial events such as graduation. Graduation is not simply an ‘event’ but a cultural practice, a ritual, marking alife-transition point and public recognition of achievement. This case study reports a recent innovation in the delivery of educational services in which university students take part in an official graduation using the virtual world technology, Second Life (http://​www.​secondlife.​com). This case study has previously been reported in Keeling et al., 2009

Co-evolving E-tail and On-Line Communities: Conceptual Framework

This paper explores the problem of designing a Web site that meets the needs of both an evolving community and an evolving business. It reports a case study of a business that introduced an e-tail site and an associated on-line community. The site development used an existing community-centered development method. The study found that participants had different motivations for visiting the site—some only wanted product information and purchase, some were seeking social support and information, others sought a more intense experience and greater social involvement. Failure to recognize the separate needs of these clusters resulted in not fully achieving business- and community-building goals. The analysis of the relationship between Web site design, cluster needs, and business goals offers a conceptual framework for co-evolving community and business

Development of an effective and acceptable cleaning method to allow safe re-use of plain, uncoated catheters for intermittent catheterisation

Signo y Seña es la revista especializada del Instituto de Lingüística de la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la Universidad de Buenos Aires. Convoca y está destinada a investigadores del lenguaje formados y en formación tanto de la Argentina como del exterior. Es una publicación semestral electrónica y de libre acceso que tiene como objetivo fundamental promover el debate, el intercambio de ideas y la difusión de investigaciones recientes de todas las áreas de la lingüística. Signo y Seña incluye en cada número: una sección temática o monográfica a cargo de reconocidos especialistas en el área,una sección general de resultados investigaciones de todas las áreas de la Lingüística y una sección de reseñas y novedades referentes a la disciplina. En sus páginas se publican trabajos originales e inéditos evaluados con el sistema de pares externos doble ciego en español y en portugués

Higher Medication Adherence and Lower Opioid Use Among Individuals with Autoimmune Disease Enrolled in an Adalimumab Patient Support Program in the United States

Abstract Introduction Opioid use is prevalent among patients with autoimmune conditions, despite not being a recommended treatment. Tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (anti-TNF) therapy is an effective treatment for these autoimmune conditions, and patient support programs (PSPs) have been developed to help patients manage their prescribed treatments. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of PSPs on anti-TNF adherence and opioid use using data on adalimumab (ADA), an anti-TNF. Methods The study used insurance claims data linked to ADA PSP data on patients who initiated ADA after 01/2015, were commercially insured, and had data coverage for 1 year before and after (i.e., during the follow-up period) ADA initiation. Patients with opioid use in the 3 months before ADA initiation were excluded. PSP patients enrolled in the PSP within 30 days of ADA initiation and had 2+ PSP nurse ambassador interactions; non-PSP patients had no PSP engagement. ADA adherence [proportion of days covered (PDC), persistence], opioid initiation, 2+ opioid fills, and opioid supply during follow-up were compared between cohorts using regression models that controlled for patient characteristics. Results Results were obtained for 1952 PSP and 728 non-PSP patients. PSP patients demonstrated better adherence to ADA than non-PSP patients, including higher PDC and persistence (all p < 0.001). PSP patients were 13% less likely to initiate opioids and 26% less likely to have at least 2 fills than non-PSP patients, and they had fewer days of opioid supply (all p < 0.01). Conclusions This study supports the benefit of PSPs and suggests that the ADA PSP is associated with improved adherence and potentially lower opioid use.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/174007/1/40744_2021_Article_309.pd