Living life in residential aged care: A process of continuous adjustment

The aim of this study was to examine whether, and how, residents living in residential aged care homes become involved in their care, and what areas of their care and life they work to influence or negotiate

A social psychological analysis of religious doubts integrative complexity and attribution biases

This research explored religious doubts in two separate investigations, the first an interview study and the second a questionnaire-based survey. In the interview study, 80 persons of varied religious orientations (28 high, 25 middle and 27 low orthodoxy participants) as measured by Fullerton and Hunsberger’s (1982) Christian Orthodoxy Scale, were selected from a sample of approximately 700 introductory psychology students. Respondents were asked about religious doubts they had experienced, the perceived causes of these doubts as well as their resolutions. Responses were coded for complexity of thinking to assess thought patterns related to these doubts. Complexity of thinking about religious doubts was related to experiencing religious doubts for three of four complexity measures with those experiencing more doubts being more complex in their thinking about religious doubts. Attribution biases for perceived causes of these doubts for self and others were also examined. Attributions were predominantly situational with participants making significantly more situational attributions for others’ doubts than for their own. This suggested attributions for others’ doubts are not prone to an actor-observer bias. Additionally, highly orthodox individuals tended to believe others were more like them than they actually were, suggesting support for a self-based false consensus effect. The second (questionnaire) study compared integrative complexity scores for religious and nonreligious content areas for 276 introductory psychology students who reported differing levels of religious doubts. Religious doubts were not correlated with thinking about a nonreligious issue and only weakly correlated with a religious issue. This was consistent with the speculation that complexity of thinking is domain-specific. Religious doubt is moderately related to religious doubts for the religious doubt domain, weakly related for more traditional religious content, and not related for capital punishment (nonreligious domain)

Exploring a problem-based learning approach in pharmaceutics.

Objective. The basis of this study was to explore the impact of the initiation of a Problem-Base Learning (PBL) approach within a second-year pharmaceutics degree on a Master of Pharmacy programme, introduced as a way of improving deep learning and to foster independent learning. Design. A semi-structured interview was used to seek feedback from the students, and feedback from staff was secured though a focus group. A thematic approach was used for the analysis, once data saturation had been reached. Exam pass-rate statistics were also analysed. Assessment. Five parent themes were identified from the student interviews: Module structure, Promoting lifelong learning, Integration and future practice, Outcomes and Student experience. The third year exam pass rate improved by 12% in the year following the introduction of PBL in second year. Conclusions. Various recommendations were proposed to further improve the module, based on the findings of this study. These include improving feedback and support through tutorials, reducing the volume of directed study, as well as highlighting the relevance of pharmaceutics to the pharmacy degree. A long-term review would be needed to assess the full implications of PBL teaching within this course

Information Sources Influencing Fashion Adoption by College Men

Clothing, Textiles and Merchandisin

Shifting focus: how registered nurses in residential aged care organise their work: a grounded theory study

Registered nurses in residential aged care work with older people who have complex care needs. Besides providing direct care, these nurses have a wide range of responsibilities which include supervising staff and attending to the smooth running of the care facility. This grounded theory study using dimensional analysis was aimed at answering the question: How do registered nurses organise their work? Indepth interviews were conducted with 10 registered nurses who worked in a range of positions in aged care facilities. Theoretical sampling and constant comparative analysis was used to guide both ongoing data collectiona and data analysis. Categories were examined for their relationships and dimensions to arrive at a substantive grounded theory which I have named 'shifting focus'. Individual and institutional philosophies of care were core elements in the registered nurses' focus of work. There was a relationship between staffing adequacy, individual and institutional philosophies of care, and the focus of registered nurse work. These relationships created conditions where the registered nurse would focus on ensuring the delivery of individualised resident care or focus on getting through the routine of care. The relationship between staffing adequacy, philosophies of care and the registered nurses' focus of work remained consistent when staffing adequacy changed. In instances of decreased staffing adequacy, the participants' focus shifted to either maintaining individualised care or focusing on safety. When the registered nurse aimed to change the philosophy of care, an increase in staffing adequacy enabled some aspects of cultural change to commence. The relationships between residents, family and staff were significant contrasting elements within an individualised philosophy of care, and an institutional philosophy of care. In the former, relationships were valued and developed. In the latter, they were benevolent, functional or conflicted. The significance of this study is that it reveals how registered nurses and management personnel in aged care facilities, can create conditions where the relationships between residents, their families and staff, are valued and developed to result in positive care outcomes. It is recommended that future research be conducted to examine the resources required to maintain an individualised approach to the nursing care of residents in aged care facilities

The hen’s egg chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM) test to predict the ophthalmic irritation potential of a cysteamine-containing gel: quantification using Photoshop® and ImageJ.

A modified hen’s egg chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM) test has been developed, combining ImageJ analysis with Adobe® Photoshop®. The irritation potential of an ophthalmic medicine can be quantified using this method, by monitoring damage to blood vessels. The evaluation of cysteamine containing hyaluronate gel is reported. The results demonstrated that the novel gel formulation is non-irritant to the ocular tissues, in line with saline solution (negative control). In conclusion, the modification of the established HET-CAM test can quantify the damage to minute blood vessels. These results offer the possibility to formulate cysteamine in an ocular applicable gel formulation

Rowan County - Folklore

A series of interviews with Rowan County residents on local and regional folklore

Imaging fetal brain connectivity in high risk pregnancy

Our hypothesis is that differences in the regional connectivity within the fetal brain (the structural and functional connections between regions of the brain) can be observed with fetal fMRI as early as in the second trimester of pregnancy. If we can detect differences in an at-risk fetal brain and associate that with plancental and maternal data, we could recommend interventions, such as diet or medication changes, and then monitor the impact of treatment on the fetal brain.https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/brainscanprojectsummaries/1000/thumbnail.jp

A social pedagogical intervention to support children in care:Back on Track

This paper focuses on an intervention project, Back on Track (BoT), implemented as a part of the Resilience Revolution: HeadStart Blackpool (RR:HS) programme in the UK. Whilst it is a famous family holiday resort, Blackpool is also one of the most deprived towns in England. This makes life challenging for young people (YP) to maintain wellbeing and reach their potential. Blackpool also has an above average and growing proportion of children in care. They are at a higher risk of developing mental health difficulties and of being permanently excluded from school. BoT aimed to support fostered children who have been referred by schools or social workers to the project for having emotional and behavioural struggles. As a consequence of their difficulties, they were at risk of permanent exclusion from the school. The intervention was grounded in a social pedagogical approach and Resilient Therapy. Resilience Coaches (i.e., wellbeing practitioners) had the role of enhancing communication between YP, family, social care, and school, whilst working with YP to co-produce coping strategies. Between November 2016 and June 2021, 39 YP (61.5% male) aged 10 to 15 (M = 12.74, SD = 1.60) received BoT support over a period lasting between 4 months to 2.5 years (M = 14 months, SD = 6.8 months). Using a mixed-methods design, this paper explored the BoT implementation. YP completed questionnaires before and after BoT. Triangulation interviews were conducted with a randomly selected YP, foster parent and the Resilience Coach. Results showed the benefit of equipping YP with ‘resilient moves’ and joining up systems to work together and better support YP and families. YP reported reduced difficulties, improved strengths (i.e., prosocial behaviour) and educational outcomes. This helped build resilience and reduce the risk of permanent exclusions from school. Policy and practice implications for children in care are discussed

Framing an independent, integrated and evidence-based evaluation of the state of Australia's biophysical and human environments

A new approach was developed for Australia's 2011 national State of the Environment (SoE) report to integrate the assessment of biophysical and human elements of the environment. A Common Assessment and Reporting Framework (CARF) guided design and implementation, responding to jurisdictional complexity, outstanding natural diversity and ecosystem values, high levels of cultural and heritage diversity, and a paucity of national-scale data. The CARF provided a transparent response to the need for an independent, robust and evidence-based national SoE report. We conclude that this framework will be effective for subsequent national SoE assessments and other integrated national-scale assessments in data-poor regions.The work reported here was funded and supported by DSEWPaC, and we recognise the high level of professional support provided by the DSEWPaC SoE Team and other staff, the professional support of Biotext information consultancy (biotext. com.au), the vision of the commissioning Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts (Peter Garrett) in presenting us with this challenge, and the support of the presenting Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Tony Burke) in accepting and delivering the final report to Australia