A Comparison of Individual and Team Learning

The major purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of individual and team learning utilizing competitive and cooperative reward structures in terms of cognitive and affective outcomes. The research hypotheses were: 1. Students who work in learning teams and whose quiz scores are formed into team scores will exhibit greater academic achievement, percentage of time on task, percentage of time spent peer tutoring, and more positive attitudes toward school, self, and others, and will be more motivated and less anxious than will students who work individually and receive individual scores only. 2. Students who are rewarded based on the difference between their quiz scores and an individually prescribed expected score will show greater academic achievement, positive self-concept, and motivation than will control students who receive traditional competitively assigned grades

Primary health care engagement among marginalized people who use drugs in Ottawa, Canada

Introduction Engagement in primary health care may be lower among marginalized people who use drugs (PWUD) compared to the general population, despite having greater mental and physical healthcare needs as evidenced by higher co-morbidity, and more frequent use of emergency department care. Objectives and Approach We investigated which socio-structural factors were related to primary care engagement among PWUD using rich survey data from the Participatory Research in Ottawa: Understanding Drugs cohort study; these data were deterministically linked to several robust provincial-level health administrative databases held at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. We defined primary care engagement over the 2 years prior to survey completion (March-December 2013) as: not engaged (<3 outpatient visits to the same family physician) versus engaged in care (3+ outpatient visits to the same family physician). Multi-variable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with primary health care engagement. Results Among 663 participants, characteristics include: mean age of 41.4 years, 75.6% male, 66.7% in the lowest two income quintiles, and 51.1% with 6+ co-morbidities. 372 (56%) were engaged in primary care, with a mean of 15.97 visits per year (SD=20.18). Engagement was significantly associated with the following factors: receiving drug benefits from either the Ontario Disability Support Program (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 4.48; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 2.64 to 7.60) or Ontario Works (AOR 3.41; 95%CI 1.96 to 5.91), having ever taken methadone (AOR 3.05; 95%CI 1.92 to 4.87), mental health co-morbidity (AOR 2.93; 95%CI 1.97 to 4.36), engaging in sex work in the last 12 months (AOR 2.05; 95%CI 1.01 to 4.13), and having stable housing (AOR 1.98; 95%CI 1.30 to 3.01). Conclusion/Implications Nearly half of PWUD are not engaged in primary care, representing missed opportunities to improve health. Engagement in primary care may reflect both an increased need for health care, such as mental health disability, and increased access to primary care through other health and social services, such as housing support

A needs assessment: resources for males with eating disorders

Approximately 5-10% of all identified eating disorders occur in males. The purposes of this study were to identify resources currently available to males with eating disorders and define what additional resources are needed for support, education, prevention, and recovery. Three research questions guided the study: what treatment resources and educational programs are available in Canada that are geared specifically to males with eating disorders, what do health professionals who work with eating disordered adolescents and adults identify is needed for treatment resources and education for males with eating disorders, and what do males who have anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa identify as being useful, relevant, and accessible to them in terms of treatment resources and education? Qualitative needs assessment methodology was used, which included three phases: pre-assessment, assessment, and post-assessment. Reflexive journal, peer debriefing, member checking, and feedback were also used. A thorough search of eating disorders resources specific to males was conducted through contacts with government and organizations. Fifteen health professionals who work with eating disorders and eight males with anorexia or bulimia (ages 18-42) were interviewed regarding their knowledge and use of treatment and information resources for eating disorders. The health professionals varied in their experience with male eating disorder clients. The males varied in stage and severity of their eating disorder; three men had anorexia, three men had bulimia, one man had both, and one man was pre-anorexic. Results of the resource search showed scattered availability of male specific written information and treatment programs across Canada. There were several combination and non-gender specific resources and educational programs available for use with male eating disorder issues. The internet provided websites (Canadian and international) that contained male specific and general eating disorders information. The health professionals and the male eating disorder participants discussed a number of main themes related to resources, including format and design, focus, access and location, gender specificity, support groups, nutrition information, internet, and personal and community support. There were very specific suggestions from participants for treatment and information resources to be developed. Both the health professionals and the males identified a number of barriers related to resource access and use; these included failure to recognize the eating disorder by health professionals, family and friends, and men themselves, the perception that eating disorders are a "female disease," the need to live up to a "strong man" image, and a sense of isolation. Feedback interviews with three of the men reinforced this input. The implications of this research for health professionals include the need for further self-education about males with eating disorders and recognition of the signs in male clients. For men with eating disorders, the implications lie in becoming aware of available treatment options and written information. Recommendations for developing resources include increasing awareness of eating disorders in men and using gender neutral resources for eating disorders education. Overcoming barriers to increase resource accessibility for males includes communicating availability, encouraging males to come forward with eating problems, and educating the public on eating disorders

Additional file 1: of Swimming against the tide: A Canadian qualitative study examining the implementation of a province-wide public health initiative to address health equity

Examples of activities implemented by SDH-PHN positions Specific examples reported by SDH-PHN participants classified according to public health roles, components of public health action and level of practice, as interpreted by the authors. AdditionalFile_ExamplesSDHPHNactivities.pdf. (PDF 43 KB