Assurance of learning : the role of work integrated learning and industry partners

In the partnering with students and industry it is important for universities to recognize and value the nature of knowledge and learning that emanates from work integrated learning experiences is different to formal university based learning. Learning is not a by-product of work rather learning is fundamental to engaging in work practice. Work integrated learning experiences provide unique opportunities for students to integrate theory and practice through the solving of real world problems. This paper reports findings to date of a project that sought to identify key issues and practices faced by academics, industry partners and students engaged in the provision and experience of work integrated learning within an undergraduate creative industries program at a major metropolitan university. In this paper, those findings are focused on some of the particular qualities and issues related to the assessment of learning at and through the work integrated experience. The findings suggest that the assessment strategies needed to better value the knowledges and practices of the Creative Industries. The paper also makes recommendations about how industry partners might best contribute to the assessment of students’ developing capabilities and to continuous reflection on courses and the assurance of learning agenda

Stormy clouds in seventh heaven:A study on anxiety and depression around childbirth

Approximately 10-15% of all women experience symptoms of anxiety or depression during the antenatal or postpartum period. Having elevated stress levels in the antenatal period has been associated with adverse outcomes in the child, but the mechanism behind this observation has not been found yet. Amongst the main risk factors for anxiety or depression in the antenatal or postpartum period are having a history of previous symptoms, traumatic events during childhood, recent major life events and specific personality traits. Chapters 2 and 3 of this thesis focus on the influence of traumatic events specifically during pregnancy, delivery or in the immediate postpartum period on the course of anxiety and depression in the antenatal and postpartum period. Screening for anxiety and depression during pregnancy is generally recommended by guidelines on antenatal and postpartum anxiety or depression, although antenatal screening tools that accurately predict an individual risk on symptoms in the postpartum period are not available yet. Chapters 4 and 5 of this thesis investigate whether two commonly used tools in screening for current symptomatology can be used in predicting later symptomatology. Treatment options for symptoms of anxiety or depression can be divided into pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment. During the antenatal and breastfeeding period, women generally prefer non-pharmacological treatment, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Outside pregnancy, this therapy has been proven to be successful in treating anxiety and depression. Chapter 6 focuses on a randomized controlled trial investigating the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on pregnant women and their babies

Stormy clouds in seventh heaven:A study on anxiety and depression around childbirth

Approximately 10-15% of all women experience symptoms of anxiety or depression during the antenatal or postpartum period. Having elevated stress levels in the antenatal period has been associated with adverse outcomes in the child, but the mechanism behind this observation has not been found yet. Amongst the main risk factors for anxiety or depression in the antenatal or postpartum period are having a history of previous symptoms, traumatic events during childhood, recent major life events and specific personality traits. Chapters 2 and 3 of this thesis focus on the influence of traumatic events specifically during pregnancy, delivery or in the immediate postpartum period on the course of anxiety and depression in the antenatal and postpartum period. Screening for anxiety and depression during pregnancy is generally recommended by guidelines on antenatal and postpartum anxiety or depression, although antenatal screening tools that accurately predict an individual risk on symptoms in the postpartum period are not available yet. Chapters 4 and 5 of this thesis investigate whether two commonly used tools in screening for current symptomatology can be used in predicting later symptomatology. Treatment options for symptoms of anxiety or depression can be divided into pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment. During the antenatal and breastfeeding period, women generally prefer non-pharmacological treatment, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Outside pregnancy, this therapy has been proven to be successful in treating anxiety and depression. Chapter 6 focuses on a randomized controlled trial investigating the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on pregnant women and their babies

Motives for withdrawal of participation in biobanking and participants’ willingness to allow linkages of their data

Data repositories, like research biobanks, seek to optimise the number of responding participants while simultaneously attempting to increase the amount of data donated per participant. Such efforts aim to increase the repository’s value for its uses in medical research to contribute to improve health care, especially when data linkage is permitted by participants. We investigated individuals’ motives for participating in such projects and potential reasons for their withdrawal from participation in a population-based biobank. In addition, we analysed how these motives were related to various characteristics of the participants and their willingness to permit data linkage to their personal data for research. These questions were explored using a sample of participants in the Dutch Lifelines biobank (n = 2615). Our results indicated that motives for participation and withdrawal were premised on benefits or harm to society and to the individuals themselves. Although general values and trust both played key roles in participation, potential withdrawal and willingness to permit data linkage, they were differentially associated with motives for participation and withdrawal. These findings support and nuance previous findings by highlighting the distinctiveness and complexity of decision making regarding participation in or withdrawal from data donation. We suggest some new directions for improving recruitment, retention and safeguarding strategies in biobanking. In addition, our data provide initial evidence regarding how factors may relate with the probability that individuals will agree to data linkages, when controlling for their unique effects. Future research should further investigate how perceptions of harm and benefits may influence decision making on withdrawal of participation

Demographic and prosocial intrapersonal characteristics of biobank participants and refusers:the findings of a survey in the Netherlands

Research in genetics relies heavily on voluntary contributions of personal data. We aimed to acquire insights into the differences between participants and refusers of participation in a Dutch population-based biobank. Accordingly, we assessed the demographic and prosocial intrapersonal characteristics of respondents who participated (n = 2615) or refused to participate (n = 404) in the Lifelines biobank and databank. Our results indicated that health-related values critically influence participation decisions. The participation threshold for Lifelines was determined by an absence of health-related values and of trust in government. Therefore, considering these factors in communication and recruitment strategies could enhance participation in biomedical research. No indications were found of a stronger general prosociality of participants or their trust in researchers beyond the context of biobanking. This emphasizes the contextual understanding of the decision of participation in biobanking. Our findings may contribute to improving recruitment strategies by incorporating relevant values and/or highlighting prosocial benefits. Moreover, they foreground the need to address trust issues in collaborations between data repositories and commercial companies. Future research should explore how prosocial intrapersonal characteristics drive participation and withdrawal decisions and relate to contextual attributes

The resilience of Jewish communities living in the diaspora:A scoping review

Introduction: Throughout history, Jewish communities have been exposed to collectively experienced traumatic events. Little is known about the role that the community plays in the impact of these traumatic events on Jewish diaspora people. This scoping review aims to map the concepts of the resilience of Jewish communities in the diaspora and to identify factors that influence this resilience.Methods: We followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. Database searches yielded 2,564 articles. Sixteen met all inclusion criteria. The analysis was guided by eight review questions.Results: Community resilience of the Jewish diaspora was often described in terms of coping with disaster and struggling with acculturation. A clear definition of community resilience of the Jewish diaspora was lacking. Social and religious factors, strong organizations, education, and communication increased community resilience. Barriers to the resilience of Jewish communities in the diaspora included the interaction with the hosting country and other communities, characteristics of the community itself, and psychological and cultural issues.Discussion: Key gaps in the literature included the absence of quantitative measures of community resilience and the lack of descriptions of how community resilience affects individuals’ health-related quality of life. Future studies on the interaction between community resilience and health-related individual resilience are warranted