Participatory community literacy in Peace Corps training

This exploratory research project compared the goals and components of Participatory Community Literacy (PCL) and Peace Corps Training to determine whether it would be appropriate to integrate a PCL project into Peace Corps training. Literature on both PCL and Peace Corps Training was reviewed, and then comparisons were drawn between the two subjects to find commonalities. Because the competencies for Peace Corps training had commonalities with elements of Participatory Community Literacy, a model of integration of a PCL project into Peace Corps training was designed. This model consisted of an integrated thematic curriculum, based on PCL objectives integrated with Peace Corps competencies. It was recommended that a PCL project be implemented for intermediate and advanced language learner trainees. It was further recommended that a Participatory Community Literacy project be studied in two training centers to determine whether the implementation of a PCL project would improve the relevance of learning and a feeling of empowerment in trainees through the process of doing PCL designed interviews

Effectiveness of Bite Charts in Behavioral Feeding Intervention

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a bite chart as a method of positive reinforcement in behavioral feeding intervention. The bite chart was used to increase bite acceptance. Using a BAB research design, the researchers found the bite chart effective for two subjects with differing diagnoses, ages, environments, and therapists

Imagine all the synchrony: The effects of actual and imagined synchronous walking on attitudes towards marginalised groups

Stereotyping is a pervasive societal problem that impacts not only minority groups but subserves individuals who perpetuate stereotypes, leading to greater distance between groups. Social contact interventions have been shown to reduce prejudice and stereotyping, but optimal contact conditions between groups are often out of reach in day to day life. Therefore, we investigated the effects of a synchronous walking intervention, a non-verbal embodied approach to intergroup contact that may reduce the need for optimal contact conditions. We studied attitude change towards the Roma group in Hungary following actual and imagined walking, both in a coordinated and uncoordinated manner. Results showed that coordinated walking, both imagined and in vivo, led to explicit and implicit reductions in prejudice and stereotyping towards both the Roma individual and the wider Roma social group. This suggests that coordinated movement could be a valuable addition to current approaches towards prejudice reduction

Intentional synchronisation affects automatic imitation and source memory

Acting in synchrony is a fundamental part of many social interactions and can have pro-social consequences. Explanations for this relationship were investigated here using implicit measures of imitation (automatic imitation task) and memory (preference overlap task). In Study 1, participants performed an intentional synchronisation task where they moved sliders in or out of time with another person while a third person observed. Those who had moved in synchrony showed a stronger tendency to imitate their partner’s actions than those who had moved in a non-synchronous way. Similarly, coordinated partners were also more likely to share object preferences. Results also showed that rather than memory blurring between co-actors, participants had improved memories for the self. Study 2 exchanged intentional for incidental coordination (coordinating with a synchronous metronome). None of the findings from Study 1 replicated when synchronisation was incidental rather than intentional, suggesting that having a shared goal may be critical for triggering effects of synchronisation on imitation tendencies and memory. Together these findings favour explanations related to changes in social categorisation over representational overlap between co-actors.Published versio

An audit of paediatric patients presenting for dental general anaesthetic at Wits Dental Hospital in 2011

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Dentistry Johannesburg, 2014Dental caries is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases and its prevalence is increasing globally. Dental general anaesthetic is resource intensive and not without risk. These services exist frequently to manage children with advanced stages of dental disease. The patients accessing this facility, as well as the treatment they receive, require analysis in order to address the demand for this form of treatment. Objectives: • To determine the age, ethnicity, home language, socioeconomic status, distance travelled and how many patients accessing this facility are physically or mentally compromised. • To determine the source of referral and the referral request. • To determine the waiting time before treatment. • To record the treatment received. • To record the average duration of each procedure. ! xi! • To determine how many of the patients were not scheduled but received treatment. • To determine the incidence of repeat dental general anaesthetic. • To assess how gender and ethnicity might influence the treatment outcomes. • To compare the treatment received by the mentally and physically compromised patients to that received by the rest of the study population. Methods: This was a retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study of paediatric patients undergoing dental general anaesthetic at Wits Dental Hospital in 2011. A total of 516 patients were treated at this facility in 2011 and 459 met the inclusion criteria of being ≤ 16 years. A sample size of 300 was calculated. One hundred and ninetyfour( 64.9%) of the sample patient files were retrieved. Data was also collected from the theatre register and day sheet(appointment register). Information was extracted from the various sources and recorded on a data capture sheet. This was then captured in Excel and exported into SPSS, Version 21, for analysis. Results: The mean age of healthy children in this study was 4,90 years. Of the healthy patients 54.3% were male. Black patients were underrepresented in this group. English(27.2%) ! xii! and Zulu(26.5%) were the most commonly reported home languages. As expected most patients were classified as younger than 6 years or committed children according to the hospital classification based on assets and income. More than half the population travelled distances greater than 10km for treatment. Mentally and physically compromised patients comprised 13.7% of the study population. 20.4% of patients had been referred to this facility and private dentists accounted for the majority of the referrals. The waiting time was 5.03 months before treatment. An average of 9.19 extractions were performed on healthy patients and the mean duration of each procedure was 29.07 minutes. 17.4% of patients were found to be unscheduled. Only 1% of the patients had a history of previous dental general anaesthetic. Recommendation: Addressing the social determinants of disease in the study population will reduce the demand for this type of service. The severity of dental disease can be improved with early diagnosis. Prevention and promotion programs need to be designed with the specific demographic characteristics of these patients in mind. The study highlighted areas for further researc

Virilization and abdominal mass in a newborn female: A case report

We describe virilization in a newborn female secondary to bilateral congenital juvenile granulosa cell tumor (JGCT). The patient presented with abdominal mass and ambiguous genitalia at birth, and bilateral ovarian masses were discovered on further imaging. The patient underwent bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in staged procedures, as it became apparent that we could not spare the ovaries. Diagnosis of JGCT was confirmed by surgical pathology. She required no adjuvant therapy and has no signs of recurrence at two-year follow-up

Co-management and adaptive co-management: Two modes of governance in a Honduran marine protected area

Selecting the best mode of governance for marine protected areas (MPAs) especially in developing countries has generated considerable controversy in the academic and policy literature during the last 20 years. In this article, two modes - co-management (CM) and adaptive co-management (ACM) - are analysed in detail, and an examination is made of an attempt to put these modes sequentially into practice in the first (2003-2009) and second (2008-2013) management plans, respectively, of the Cayos Cochinos MPA (CCMPA) in Honduras. Extensive fieldwork was carried out during 2006-2010 in three communities dependent on the CCMPA (Rio Esteban, Nueva Armenia, and Chachahuate) including key informant interviews, focus group meetings, household surveys, and participant observation. The paper's findings are (1) that while the first plan implemented some CM principles (such as sharing responsibility between government, stakeholders and NGOs) it failed to deliver other CM principles (such as transparency and accountability); and (2) that while the second plan increased participation and transparency, and used a more adaptive approach, it still left many stakeholders out of the decision-making process, and its processes of experimentation, monitoring and social learning were very limited. The fact is that CM and ACM are laudable objectives, but very difficult to implement in full

Health Promotion by Using Collaborative Educational Games for the Women of Angeline’s

Introduction Founded in 1894, the Seattle Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) was developed to support and empower women of all ages, races, and backgrounds. Since then, the Seattle YWCA has grown and focused its efforts on addressing racial and socioeconomic disparities, especially inequities found within the female homeless population (Andrews, 2004). Angeline’s Day Center is a program offered by YWCA and is located in downtown Seattle. It serves approximately 200 women a day by providing overnight shelter, breakfast and lunch services, healthcare access, and amenities like showers, bathrooms, and laundry (“Angeline’s Day Center”, 2022). After completing a windshield survey and speaking with Lilliann Hansell, the program lead at Angeline’s, our group realized that there was a need for social interaction and community-based engagement with the women. Early signs indicated knowledge deficits regarding skin protection and breast cancer prevention, therefore, producing our main goal; to increase health literacy about these issues through a community-focused engagement strategy. Background According to the Seattle/King County count, the number of people experiencing homelessness rose 5% between 2019 and 2020, with a total of 11,751 people experiencing homelessness in 2020. Furthermore, the court determined that homelessness disproportionately affects people of color (POC). Though Black/African Americans constitute seven percent of the population in Seattle/King County, twenty-five percent of the respondents were constituted in January 2020 count (Constantine, 2020). When reviewing the health needs of people experiencing homelessness, dermatological concerns ranked high in prevalence and relevance. The unhoused population is at higher risk for skin cancer due to excessive sun exposure, foot condition related to improper supplies and constant standing, and overall, infection (Adly et al., 2021, Skin cancer in people of color, 2022). According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70, however, black patients have only a 71% five-year melanoma survival rate in comparison with a 93% survival rate in white patients (Skin cancer facts & statistics, 2022). Lastly, it is reported that this population experiences higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (Ady et al., 2021). Upon finding the data, it was evident that education regarding preventative and low-cost measures could be resourceful to the women of Angeline’s. Activities with Rationale According to a recent study, bingo showed to increase knowledge relating to health related topics (Flint et al., 2020). Participants reported enjoyment and high likelihood that they would attend the activity again. Using this research, bingo (see Appendix A) and “Fact or Cap” (see Appendix B) were chosen as our interactive interventions to educate women on skin health and breast cancer reduction. Supplemental to the games was an informational pamphlet (see Appendix C) highlighting key features that affect unhoused people of color such as sun protection, STI’s, vitamin D deficiency and written instructions on how to perform a self skin assessment monthly. Bingo was created using a free bingo card generator. We created a four by five grid of facts, even including some fun facts about ourselves. Each participant was given two bingo boards and played three rounds with prizes to incentive and reward participation. Participation was abundant in their excitement and appreciation to play. However, hearing and reading difficulties were drawbacks to the joyous participation. To overcome this, we had one caller and two circulating students helping repeat and find facts with the women. “Fact or Cap” is a play on words using the colloquial term, “cap”, which is used to state that something is a lie. A slideshow was presented with each slide containing a sentence and the group must collaborate and determine whether the sentence was true or false. This game was developed to encourage teamwork and interpersonal communication amongst the group While onsite, we wanted to focus on building therapeutic and trusting relationships with the women by talking with them and getting to know their stories. According to the Community and Public Health Nursing textbook, “active listening with nonjudgmental empathy helps to communicate acceptance and increase trust. It allows for an accurate understanding of another person’s viewpoint and helps to bring issues and concerns into the open, where they can be more easily resolved” (Rector, 2022). Outcomes Due to COVID-19 protocols, only three members of our team could present in the building at one time, splitting the day in half between the teams; morning and afternoon. In order to understand the women of Angeline’s, we conducted a pre-intervention survey (see Appendix D) upon entering and a post-intervention survey provided in the afternoon. The data showed that 100% of the women rated their skin five out of five, or “very important” to them. Happily enough, about 78% of women stated they knew the main cause of skin cancer and 66% of women stated they had seen a healthcare provider in the last six months. Unfortunately, our second intervention visitation was canceled due to a positive COVID case at the shelter. In the following week, only the morning group was able to attend, obtaining a pre-intervention survey (see Appendix E). Minutes after arriving the second group was asked to leave the shelter. With that we were unable to conduct a post-intervention survey and consequently do not have quantitative data to support the effectiveness of the interventions. Results of pre-intervention surveys reflect a knowledge deficit of skin and breast cancer as well as a readiness to learn. Based on the surveys we were able to collect, 100% of women affirmed that playing games are helpful when learning about health-related topics. Second intervention day data: 33% of the women rated their knowledge of how to protect their skin at a 3 or below on a scale from 1 to 5 with one being completely unaware and five representing full knowledge of how to protect their skin. The surveys also affirmed that the use of games for education was valued by the women of Angeline’s. In conversation with the women following the games they provided many compliments, shared their appreciation and even reported learning specific new facts. Notably, many women who reported not having done a breast exam previously affirmed that they would try one soon. Overall, their responses were incredibly positive regarding our interventions. Conclusion Our goal of empowering women with knowledge of the skin, breast, and sexual health by using interactive educational games is the primary impact of this project. It was received well based on active participation and verbalized compliments. The effects of the pandemic led to instability within planning for the intervention days. Limitations included being unable to attend full days, gather data, and feeling unable to create close and trusting relationships with the women. The women demonstrated a genuine eagerness to learn more about health promotion strategies during games, especially Bingo, and many stated that they now understand the importance of skin and breast self-exams and look forward to completing one themself. References Adly, M., Woo, T. E., Traboulsi, D., Klassen, D., & Hardin, J. (2021). Understanding dermatologic concerns among persons experiencing homelessness: A scoping review and discussion for improved delivery of care. Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, 25(6), 616–626. https://doi.org/10.1177/12034754211004558 Andrews, M. (2004, September 1). YWCA -- Seattle-king county/Snohomish county. YWCA -- Seattle-King County/Snohomish County. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://www.historylink.org/File/290#:~:text=In%201894%2C%20a%20group%20of,working%20girl%22%20toward%20self%20support Angeline\u27s Day Center. YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish. (2022). Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://www.ywcaworks.org/programs/angelines-day-center Chen, M. F., Wu, C. S., Tsai, C. C., & Tsai, M. Y. (2021). Enterovirus board game for Elementary School Children: A pilot study. Public Health Nursing, 39(2), 500–505. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.12976 Constantine, D. (2020, July 1). News. Point-in-Time count estimates a 5 percent increase in people experiencing homelessness, newly updated data dashboards reveal more people receiving shelter and services . Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/constantine/news/release/2020/July/01-homeless-count.aspx Flint, J., Morris, M., Nguyen, A. T., Keglovits, M., Somerville, E. K., Hu, Y.-L., & Stark, S. L. (2020). Fall prevention bingo: Effects of a novel community-based education tool on older adults\u27 knowledge and readiness to reduce risks for falls. American Journal of Health Education, 51(6), 406–412. https://doi.org/10.1080/19325037.2020.1822236 Greene, A. M., Hoag, J., Hwynn, K., Johnson, J., Skinner, S., & Wong, J. (2022). Implementation of interactive self-help bingo activities to promote social interaction within Angeline\u27s Women\u27s Shelter. Digital Commons @ SPU. from https://digitalcommons.spu.edu/shs_nlce/10/ Rector, C. L., & Stanley, M. J. (2022). Chapter 10: Communication, Collaboration, and Technology. In Community and Public Health Nursing: Promoting the public\u27s health (pp. 276). Wolters Kluwer. Rutenfrans-Stupar, M., Van Der Plas, B., Den Haan, R., Regenmortel, T. V., & Schalk, R. (2019). How is participation related to well-being of homeless people? An explorative qualitative study in a Dutch homeless shelter facility. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless, 28(1), 44–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10530789.2018.1563267 Seah, E. T., Kaufman, D., Sauvé, L., & Zhang, F. (2017). Play, learn, connect: Older adults\u27 experience with a multiplayer, educational, Digital Bingo Game. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 56(5), 675–700. https://doi.org/10.1177/0735633117722329 Skin cancer in people of color. American Academy of Dermatology. (2022). https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/types/common/melanoma/skin-color Skin cancer facts & statistics. The Skin Cancer Foundation. (2022). https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts/ Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix

Transformative learning through university and prison partnerships: reflections from ‘Learning Together’ pedagogical practice

This paper critically discusses two London-based “Learning Together” prison university partnerships—Middlesex University with Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Wandsworth and London South Bank University (LSBU) with HMP Pentonville. The paper documents how students experienced the shared classroom learning approach designed on principles of “transformative pedagogy”, and how students interpret their personal development and the knowledge and skills gained as a result. We share the steps taken to bring the learning together pedagogical philosophy to life and use evidence from module evaluation findings and critical reflections to demonstrate the transformations that happen. We interpret our findings through the lens of a transformative ripples model. In addition to exploring personal transformation, the wider transformations that occur within the public institutions at the centre of these collaborations—the prisons and the universities —are discussed. We argue that for prison and university partnerships to be truly effective, they must embed transformative pedagogic practices at their heart, ensuring the “how”we teach is as important, and deliberately considered, as the “what” we teach