Distributed Team Communication Preferences: A Case Study Of Community-Based Medical Schools

It’s surprising that in the 50 years since computer networks were created, geographically distributed teams still face communication challenges. Businesses manage geographically distributed teams across the globe seemingly well, but in higher education, communication between geographically distributed teams on different campuses is a challenge. Faculty-administrators, staff and students are focused on their day-to-day tasks, and send e-mails and voicemails without giving much thought to how those messages are received on the other end. Often, the recipient of that communication reacts negatively, causing conflict. This mixed-methods exploratory-sequential study qualitatively explored communication challenges, solutions, preferences, and feelings of connectedness and conflict among a small number of geographically distributed teams at one community-based medical school and measured quantitatively what communication preferences in certain scenarios might improve feelings of connectedness and avoid conflict among community-based medical schools across the United States. In summary, social presence theory as well as conflict was found to be prevalent among the North Dakota community-based medical school but not necessarily in community-based medical schools across the United States

Understanding the Rise of Far-Right Populist Parties in Europe

This paper seeks to answer the question: what drives the recent electoral success of far-right populist parties (RPPs) in Europe? I will argue that it is supply factors, rather than demand factors, united under the theme of mistrust, that drove the recent electoral success of RPPs. To support my argument, I will summarize the ‘losers of globalization’ theory and apply it to the financial and economic crises, the migration crisis, the polarization of politics, and mistrust in governments, and categorize them as supply or demand factors according to Matt Golder’s definitions. For the sake of this paper, I will use a broad description of RPPs: any party that appeals primarily to the middle class while intentionally ‘othering’ the elite and immigrants. ‘Othering,’ in this sense, refers to the process of alienating or excluding a group from society, creating a dichotomy between ‘us’ and ‘them.

Weight Management for the Elderly Population Who have Sustained a Lower Limb Amputation: Resource Manuals for Clinicians

It is becoming more common for individuals to sustain a lower limb amputation, thus impacting their ability to participate in functional tasks of daily living such as ambulation, balance, dressing, driving, and toileting. Approximately two million people within the United States are living with an amputation, most commonly in the lower extremity (Amputation Coalition, 2013). According to Resnik and Borgia (2011), by the year 2050, the number of lower limb amputations will increase significantly due to the aging population who encounter a variety of debilitating diseases such as diabetes, peripheral artery disease (PAD), dysvascular, and/or heart diseases. Weight management is an issue a significant percentage of individuals struggle with. According to the National Center for Health Statistics (2012), 69.2 percent of Americans are overweight. This trend in weight gain is also present in the amputee population and significantly affects the quality of life for these individuals because it is more strenuous on their remaining joints. For those who have a lower limb amputation, the daily battle with weight issues impacts the way the prosthetic fits the affected limb. If an individual is overweight, there is more fatty tissue within their affected limb, thus preventing the prosthetist from firmly applying the socket to the limb. Whereas, for those who have firmer muscles and less fatty tissue, they are able to have a better fit of their prosthetic socket; therefore, giving patients, better control, support, and stability for daily activities (Kahle & Highsmith, 2008). Significant research has been conducted regarding the various aspects of rehabilitation, strengthening, and community reintroduction for elderly clients who have undergone a lower limb amputation. However, these studies have not addressed the need for weight management as an essential aspect in this populations’ life. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to explore and develop a weight management resource for clinicians working with the elderly client who has experienced a lower limb amputation. These resources will consist of nutritional and fitness manuals to help individuals continually manage their weight to ensure their prosthetic device fits properly on a consistent basis. Through extensive research of evidence-based literature, the authors identified key concepts used to develop a product that benefits the elderly population who have a lower limb amputation. With the concepts identified through the literature review, two manuals were produced to guide clinicians on proper implementation of therapeutic exercises and nutritional aspects of weight management to assist their patients. The manuals also contain client handouts, allowing the clients to take the procedures home with them to continue maintaining their weight management routine. The information provided within the manuals was meant to assist elderly individuals develop lifelong routines, habits, and roles to promote independence and quality of life. The anticipated results of this project are to assist clinicians in helping the elderly who have sustained a lower limb amputation maintain their weight on a regular basis, and ensure a consistent fit of their prosthetic device. This will then enable clients to participate more fully in daily occupations with increased volition and performance capacity

Living with a Spinal Cord Injury: A Workshop for Parenting and Play

Individuals with newly acquired spinal cord injuries (SCI) may experience fears of inadequacy with their ability to be parents. This is a problem due to the fact that the average age of individuals who acquire SCIs is between 16 and 30, the prime child bearing years (Martin, Hamilton, Sutton, Ventura, Mathews, & Osterman, 2010; Mathews & Hamilton, 2009). There is a lack of literature to address these fears by supporting and developing parenting skills for individuals with SCIs. The purpose of this scholarly project is to address the fears of individuals with SCIs and their abilities with parenting occupations, as well as the occupations of their children. A literature review was conducted to identify parental options and concerns, current barriers, methods used for successful parenting, and resources available. To guide this scholarly project, the occupational adaptation (OA) model was utilized, as well as Bloom\u27s taxonomy, andragogy, and Fink\u27s methods for coursework design. OA was used because of the strong emphasis on building adaptive capacity that an individual with a SCI will need in order to perform meaningful parental occupations with their child (Cole & Tufano, 2008; Schkade & McClung, 2001). A workshop was created to address concerns/fears, provide ideas and techniques, and supply additional resources for adapting parents\u27 occupations. It also links the occupation of parenting with the child\u27s occupation of play. This workshop was designed to be presented to individuals by occupational therapists (OT) due to their comprehensive knowledge and skill set regarding adaptation of everyday tasks and life roles within individuals with a SCI as well as their children. It is recommended that this workshop also be used to train additional OTs who could then administer the workshop for expansion reasons. For continued improvement and tracking, it is recommended that evaluation outcome measures be utilized for research purposes. Overall, this workshop should be implemented at a substantial sized rehabilitation facility or SCI specialized facility at least annually or more if client needs are warranted

Magnum Opus: A Satirical Rock Opera

Magnum Opus is a satirical rock opera about the college experience and what\u27s to come after graduation