A phenomenological study of the lived experiences of patients with complex abdominal wall hernia (CAWH)

This is the first study in the field of Complex Abdominal Wall Hernia (CAWH) that asks patients what matters to them in terms of their Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and how their hernia affects this using qualitative methodology.15 patients with CAWH were purposively sampled from CAWH specialist clinic; 8 men and 7 women, age range of 36-85 years (median = 65 years). They participated in semi-structured interviews February 2020 – June 2020 until thematic saturation. All verbatim interview transcripts were coded and analysed using NVivo12 software and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).Five superordinate themes were identified each with several subordinate themes (in italics):1. Body image – ‘changes to perceptions of self’ and ‘fears concerning perceptions of others’2. Mental health – ‘emotional responses’, ‘disruptions to previously solid aspects of identity’ and ‘developing coping strategies’3. Symptoms – ‘managing pain’, ‘freedom of movement’ and ‘restriction and adaptation’4. Interpersonal relationships – ‘difficulties socially connecting’ and ‘changes in sexual relations’5. Employment – ‘financial pressure’, ‘return to work issues’ and ‘costs to family’The themes presented are interrelated and should shape our understanding of the patients with CAWH. Some themes identified are not incorporated in existing CAWH HRQoL instruments suggesting that we are currently not capturing all data relevant to HRQoL in this specific patient group. Further research is needed in order to generate a standardised CAWH HRQoL instrument which incorporates bio-psycho-emotional-social processes important to patients as identified by patients

Constructs of disability and discrimination in anti-discrimination law: a comparative critique of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Ireland's Employment Equality Act

This thesis critiques particular aspects of the employment discrimination protection afforded in the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 and Ireland' s Employment Equality Act 1998. It addresses specific problems with regard to the operation of the disability non-discrimination system, and it utilises the social model of disability to expose the limitations arising when non-discrimination is adopted as the primary principle of justice and inclusion. The basic premise of the social model of disability, developed from the 1960s, is that disability is a form of oppression imposed upon people with impairments in the way they are unnecessarily isolated and excluded from participation in mainstream society. It refutes the dominance of the medical, individual-limitation construction of disability, which evolved in concert with the welfare state from the nineteenth century. The work begins by tracing the historical development of the category disability as western society moved from feudal ties to a wage-labour capitalist economy. This prompted the establishment of a parallel universe for a large number of disabled individuals. Challenging the hegemony of their displaced existence, the disability movement developed a radical social theory, which shifted the locus of the problem away from impaired bodies and towards the institutional, exclusionary and unchallenged practices of society. ln response to rising inequalities and the political agitation of minority groups, a wave of non-discrimination legislative protections pertaining to disability have been introduced. The concepts of equality and non-discrimination adopted within legal discourse are discussed in order to provide a backdrop against which subsequent analysis of the specifics of the disability non-discrimination system is assessed. The analysis also extends to the constitutional plane and considers the constitutional obstacles to the refonnulated view of disability suggested by social model of disability within disability discourse. Here, the barriers raised by orthodox constitutional reasoning and tradition to the introduction of disability discrimination protection, are addressed. An examination of each jurisdiction' s approach to the distinct and thorny issue of proving disability for the purposes of statutory protection illustrates bow the non-discrimination paradigm continues to sustain and perpetuate the individual, functional-limitation approach to disability-based exclusion. Finally, the reasonable accommodation duty is examined, both as a form oflegal equality and as a tool which "gestures" towards substantive ideals of equality. The discussion considers that anti-discrimination law's reasonable accommodation duties are less extensive than may originally have been conceived. Despite their inclusion of the more expansive equality norm of reasonable accommodation, the limitations that inhere in the disability non-discrimination paradigms, as represented by the ADA and the EEA, provide support for the development of a new synthesis between social model conceptions of disadvantage and equality rights

Learning through Drawing: A Qualitative Descriptive Study of the Experiences of Drawing Practitioners.

Drawing as a tool for learning is both undervalued and underutilised in current educational systems. Outdated understandings and conceptions of what drawing is and what it can be used for are embedded and perpetuated throughout our learning environments. As such, there is a necessity to describe and articulate the process of drawing so that its learning potential may be further explored. Within our educational enviroments there exists hierachies of knowledge that premise rational and logical ways of knowing the world. By succumbing to these hierarchies we invalidate other ways of knowing and experiencing the world.This results in the isolation and neglect of our full range of human capabilites and intelligences. The mystification and spiritualisation of art out of connection with our everyday lives is discussed as it affects the instrumentality of drawing.Through a discussion of the experiences of the participants involved in this research we can come to a fuller understanding of how they use drawing in their daliy lives. The aim of this research is to explore and discuss the possilbities that exist for drawing as a learning tool. The findings of this research relate to and support themes that have emerged throughout the literature review. This research found that drawing as a method of communication, a therapeutic tool, and also as a vital means of self-expression has a large role to play in learning settings

The practicalities of English and Welsh rape trials: Observations and avenues for improvement

English and Welsh rape trials have long been recognized as problematic, with research highlighting the prevalence of rape myths, sexual history evidence and manipulative questioning at trial. Despite this extensive literature, little attention has been paid to the more practical elements of rape trials, but the limited evidence that does exist suggests these may significantly impact survivors. This article therefore draws upon 13 months of court observations to examine how seemingly mundane aspects of rape trials can present substantial barriers to participation. It will argue that ‘special measures’ can cause delays, some witness facilities are inadequate and that the public gallery is frequently a site of intimidation. Ultimately, the research highlights simple changes that could increase opportunities for survivor justice; for example ensuring rape survivors use judicial entrances to court

Thawra

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Languages and Literature of Bard College

SOCIETAL PERCEPTIONS SURROUNDING CHILD MALTREATMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH

Child maltreatment, mental illness, and criminal behavior are all commonly known topics and a wide variety of research has been conducted to investigate the implications of all three concepts. Even though there is quality research on each of these topics, the awareness of important facts and theories in these areas may not be known to the general public. This study surveyed university students on their knowledge of the characteristics and risk factors of victims of child maltreatment, in addition to their perceptions of people with mental illness. Items included in the study were comprised of items from Taylor and Dear’s CAMI Questionnaire (1981) and Price’s Public Perceptions of Child Abuse and Neglect in a Midwestern Urban Community Questionnaire (2001). Majority of the responses regarding the participants’ perceptions of child abusers and child victims were accurate, however, 57% of respondents thought that males were most likely to abuse a child, whereas preexisting data shows that children are more likely to be maltreated by a female. The items in the survey that asked about perceptions of mental health received a relatively acceptant response rate, as well. Fifty-eight participants strongly agreed that our mental hospitals seem more like prisons the mentally ill can be cared for and 53 people strongly agreed or agreed that mental illness is an illness like any other. These results propose the idea that the stigma surrounding mental illness is declining and awareness regarding child maltreatment is increasing. Surveying larger groups of people that span a wider age range would be an area of further research as well as surveying a greater amount of college students to see if their perceptions and stigmas could be dependent on their college major

Visualizing a Woman’s Journey Through the Old Testament Prophetic Books: Improving Female Study Methods Through Visual Supplementation

Christians are often less likely to read the Old Testament prophetic literature compared to other books in Scripture. This poses a problem within the Church for Biblical literacy and understanding Scripture as one complete narrative that points to Christ. The aim of this research was to discover what causes a struggle for Christian women understanding the prophetic literature, why Old Testament prophetic literature is important for women to study, and the best methods for communicating this information to a female audience. The following research questions were asked: 1. What is the standard perspective of an average Christian when studying Old Testament prophetic literature? 2. Why are the Old Testament prophetic books difficult to understand? 3. How does understanding the biblical definition of “prophet” assist in approaching prophetic literature with confidence? 4. Why does Old Testament prophetic literature matter to Christians under the New Covenant? 5. What resources already exist in teaching women Old Testament prophetic literature? Is there a gap in these resources that needs to be filled? 6. How does a resource best illuminate and explain a complex topic? 7. What makes content memorable and eye-catching to a female audience? After researching these questions through a literature review, visual analyses, and content analyses, a solution was created to enhance study methods for women who desire to read the prophetic books of the Old Testament. A handbook was designed, with the target audience of women in mind, to lead women through important things to know when approaching the more difficult prophetic books. Research revealed how the design of the handbook directly impacts cognition and study methods; therefore, the handbook was designed according to that research to make maximum impact. In conclusion, this handbook is a way to solve the problem of Christian women not reading the prophetic literature of the Old Testament

Community Microgrids as an Equitable Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy in California

Climate change summons more extreme and frequent weather events that threaten communities’ access to power. Without power, businesses lose revenue, essential services are limited, people are exposed to extreme temperatures, and lives are lost. California has adopted microgrids as a solution to costly power outages, electrification needs, and renewable energy goals. This work evaluates the adoption of microgrids as an equitable climate resilience and adaptation strategy through a geospatial analysis of California’s resilience investment needs, a case study analysis of 9 existing tribal and rural microgrids, and a gap analysis of California and federal policies and incentive programs. Programs like Electric Program Investment Charge demonstrates that it is possible to identify and prioritize environmental justice (EJ) areas. It is recommended that California expands incentives and technical assistance to EJ communities. Additionally, this work found that Rule 218 is a major barrier to microgrid adoption. It is recommended to first modify the rule to allow community-owned microgrids under the own-use doctrine and second to exempt microgrids from public utility status to mobilize innovation and commercialization, aligned with SB 1339’s goals. Furthermore, the current utility model impedes progress towards climate adaptation. Investor-owned utilities have failed to provide reliable electricity and prevent wildfires. This work recommends shifting to a performance-based utility model that rewards resilience and reliability. Other actions that are needed to mobilize equitable microgrid adoption include raising high-voltage network rates for industrial users and investing in workforce development. Mobilizing microgrids through these actions equips California for equitable climate resilience and adaptation