ETHNIC-RACIAL SOCIALIZATION MAPPING IN ETHNIC-RACIAL MINORITY POPULATIONS: EXPLORING THE EFFICACY OF AN INTERVENTION TO INCREASE WELL-BEING AND SECURE ETHNIC-RACIAL IDENTITY

In this dissertation, I explore the benefits of developing an intervention entitled ethnic-racial socialization mapping. Previously, researchers have developed the importance of establishing a secure ethnic-racial identity in ethnic-racial minority populations, as it is tied with increased well-being. Additionally, researchers have called for interventions that highlight the role of ethnic-racial socialization in minority populations, as this process is connected with a secure ethnic-racial identity. I answer these calls by reviewing current research, leading to the creation of ethnic-racial socialization mapping as an identity intervention. In chapter 1, I explore how ethnic-racial identity and ethnic-racial socialization has been conceptualized, as well as why ethnic-racial socialization mapping offers a unique, visual intervention. In chapter 2, I overview my methodology for answering my hypotheses and research questions. Using a three-group pre-test posttest experimental design, I tested the efficacy of the use of ethnic-racial socialization mapping for improving participant secure ethnic-racial identity and well-being. In one treatment group, participants engaged in ethnic-racial socialization mapping. In another treatment condition, participants engaged in ethnic-racial socialization mapping and reflected on their familial conversations about ethnicity and race. In chapter three, I overview the efficacy of the ethnic-racial socialization intervention. I found partial support for ethnic-racial socialization mapping as an intervention. In chapter four, I examined the ethnic-racial socialization maps to see if there were different types of families. I developed a four-group typology of maps that indicate different dimensions of ethnic-racial socialization. I also compared family types ethnic-racial identity measures and well-being measures. In chapter 5, I overview discourses of ethnic-racial socialization in participant interviews. Overall, I found five themes that characterized participant experiences. Lastly, in chapter 6, I explore the implications of these findings for future researchers, as well as how family communication can move forward using these findings. Superviser Professor Jordan E. Soli

Beyond Blood: Examining the Communicative Challenges of Adoptive Families

This study examined how adoptive families discursively create family identity through their communication. Building on theories of discourse dependence and family communication patterns, this research examined how families whose identity does not meet a bio-genetic view of family must re-define family using communication. Often times, families that are created outside biological means must renegotiate family identity both within the family, and outside the family, from those who feel comfortable commenting and questioning their family composition. Communication becomes a tool that adoptees must use to understand their family identity, as well as their own adoptive identity. Furthermore, this study looked to see how adoptees recall intrusive interactions and memorable messages about adoption, and whether this differed based on transracial or monoracial adoptees. Adult adoptees were asked to fill out an online survey, asking about intrusive interactions, memorable messages, and overall family communication styles. The results indicated that there was small differences between transracial and monoracial adoptees. However, family communication style had an important impact on how adoptees processed their adoption and felt part of the family, regardless of race. Open communication, and positive messages about adoption were associated with lower levels of preoccupation among adoptees as well as higher feeling of inclusiveness within their families. In addition, adoptees who were satisfied with how intrusive interactions were handled, either by themselves or by family members, felt lower preoccupation about their adoption. These results indicate that communication serves as a powerful tool for adoptive families to discursively redefine what family means beyond biological ties

What Is Always Wanting

Table of Contents: I. Her Joy Increasing: Cates Avenue, St. Louis; Palisades Park, Santa Monica; Temple; The Song of Songs I; The New Beatitudes; After the Second Bottle; Dirty Dishes; The Song of Songs VI; Palm Reading; II. Whatever Place You Are Not: Fortuna Major; The Song of Songs VII; Beverley Hills Studio; Soju I; Red Eye, Miami to Seattle; Chess Park, Santa Monica; The Song of Songs V; St. Francis Contemplating; The Hanging Dove; III. A Luminous Poison: Fortuna Minor; The Song of Songs IV; Kumiho; Memento; Dream Escapes; A Vigil; The Song of Songs III; Jawbones for Lullabies; A LamentBachelor of Art

Developing a practice-driven research agenda in implementation science: Perspectives from experienced implementation support practitioners

Background Attention is being placed on the “ironic gap” or “secondary” research-to-practice gap in the field of implementation science. Among several challenges posited to exacerbate this research-to-practice gap, we call attention to one challenge in particular—the relative dearth of implementation research that is tethered intimately to the lived experiences of implementation support practitioners (ISPs). The purpose of this study is to feature a qualitative approach to engaging with highly experienced ISPs to inform the development of a practice-driven research agenda in implementation science. In general, we aim to encourage ongoing empirical inquiry that foregrounds practice-driven implementation research questions. Method Our analytic sample was comprised of 17 professionals in different child and family service systems, each with long-term experience using implementation science frameworks to support change efforts. Data were collected via in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Our analysis followed a qualitative content analysis approach. Our focal conceptual category centered on the desired areas of future research highlighted by respondents, with subcategories reflecting subsets of related research question ideas. Results Interviews yielded varying responses that could help shape a practice-driven research agenda for the field of implementation science. The following subcategories regarding desired areas for future research were identified in respondents’ answers: (a) stakeholder engagement and developing trusting relationships, (b) evidence use, (c) workforce development, and (d) cost-effective implementation. Conclusions There is significant promise in bringing implementation research and implementation practice together more closely and building a practice-informed research agenda to shape implementation science. Our findings point not only to valuable practice-informed gaps in the literature that could be filled by implementation researchers, but also topics for which dissemination and translation efforts may not have yielded optimal reach. We also highlight the value in ISPs bolstering their own capacity for engaging with the implementation science literature to the fullest extent possible.Plain Language Summary In the field of implementation science, increasing attention is being placed on the “ironic gap” or “secondary” research-to-practice gap. This gap reflects a general lag or disconnect between implementation research and implementation practice, often stemming from knowledge generated by implementation research not being accessible to or applied by professionals who support implementation efforts in various service-delivery systems. Several explanations for the research-to-practice gap in implementation science have been offered in recent years; the authors highlight one notable challenge that may be exacerbating the research-to-practice gap in this field, namely that implementation research often remains disconnected from the lived experiences of implementation support practitioners. In this paper, the authors demonstrate the promise of developing a practice-drive research agenda in implementation science, with specific research question ideas offered by highly experienced implementation support practitioners. The paper concludes by expressing enthusiasm for future efforts to bring implementation research and implementation practice together more closely, empirically foreground practice-driven implementation research questions, translate and disseminate existing implementation research findings more widely, and build the capacity of implementation support practitioners to fully engage with the implementation science literature

Co-enrolment of participants into multiple cancer trials: benefits and challenges

Opportunities to enter patients into more than one clinical trial are not routinely considered in cancer research and experiences with co-enrolment are rarely reported. Potential benefits of allowing appropriate co-enrolment have been identified in other settings but there is a lack of evidence base or guidance to inform these decisions in oncology. Here, we discuss the benefits and challenges associated with co-enrolment based on experiences in the Add-Aspirin trial – a large, multicentre trial recruiting across a number of tumour types, where opportunities to co-enrol patients have been proactively explored and managed. The potential benefits of co-enrolment include: improving recruitment feasibility; increased opportunities for patients to participate in trials; and collection of robust data on combinations of interventions, which will ensure the ongoing relevance of individual trials and provide more cohesive evidence to guide the management of future patients. There are a number of perceived barriers to co-enrolment in terms of scientific, safety and ethical issues, which warrant consideration on a trial-by-trial basis. In many cases, any potential effect on the results of the trials will be negligible – limited by a number of factors, including the overlap in trial cohorts. Participant representatives stress the importance of autonomy to decide about trial enrolment, providing a compelling argument for offering co-enrolment where there are multiple trials that are relevant to a patient and no concerns regarding safety or the integrity of the trials. A number of measures are proposed for managing and monitoring co-enrolment. Ensuring acceptability to (potential) participants is paramount. Opportunities to enter patients into more than one cancer trial should be considered more routinely. Where planned and managed appropriately, co-enrolment can offer a number of benefits in terms of both scientific value and efficiency of study conduct, and will increase the opportunities for patients to participate in, and benefit from, clinical research

Paramedic student accuracy at ECG interpretation

It is critical for patients that paramedics are able to correctly interpret and identify ECG rhythms. Management and treatment of several heart related conditions is dependent on the paramedics ability to recognize rhythms.Quantitative analysis study will be undertaken to examine students ECG interpretation abilities

Protocol for a drugs exposure pregnancy registry for implementation in resource-limited settings

BACKGROUND: The absence of robust evidence of safety of medicines in pregnancy, particularly those for major diseases provided by public health programmes in developing countries, has resulted in cautious recommendations on their use. We describe a protocol for a Pregnancy Registry adapted to resource-limited settings aimed at providing evidence on the safety of medicines in pregnancy.METHODS/DESIGN:Sentinel health facilities are chosen where women come for prenatal care and are likely to come for delivery. Staff capacity is improved to provide better care during the pregnancy, to identify visible birth defects at delivery and refer infants with major anomalies for surgical or clinical evaluation and treatment. Consenting women are enrolled at their first antenatal visit and careful medical, obstetric and drug-exposure histories taken; medical record linkage is encouraged. Enrolled women are followed up prospectively and their histories are updated at each subsequent visit. The enrolled woman is encouraged to deliver at the facility, where she and her baby can be assessed.DISCUSSION:In addition to data pooling into a common WHO database, the WHO Pregnancy Registry has three important features: First is the inclusion of pregnant women coming for antenatal care, enabling comparison of birth outcomes of women who have been exposed to a medicine with those who have not. Second is its applicability to resource-poor settings regardless of drug or disease. Third is improvement of reproductive health care during pregnancies and at delivery. Facility delivery enables better health outcomes, timely evaluation and management of the newborn, and the collection of reliable clinical data. The Registry aims to improve maternal and neonatal care and also provide much needed information on the safety of medicines in pregnancy