Reluctant Readers: How to Motivate Them

Elementary age children without a desire to read may be reluctant readers. Many factors may contribute to this condition, and research indicates that parents and teachers need to provide ideas and activities to motivate the reluctant reader to enjoy pleasure reading. Reading activities and ideas are compiled to be used by parents and teachers to spark an interest in books in the reluctant reader

Writing a needs assessment to determine the needs of the adult graduate student

The purpose of this thesis project is to review theory and research on adult learners in order to a) combine theories for a new perspective for graduate school administration, and b) devise a needs assessment for newly enrolled adult graduate students

Outcomes of adolescents and younger adults who have mechanical valve replacement surgery for rheumatic heart disease in a low-middle-income country

Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a progressive chronic health condition characterised by damaged heart valves and predominantly occurs in younger adults in low and middle income countries (LMICs). Replacement of the damaged heart valve/s improves patient outcomes, however mechanical valves are often used in LMIC, so ongoing medical monitoring and self-care are required. The Fiji Islands is a LIMC with one of the highest rates of RHD in the world and valve replacement (VR) is often undertaken by humanitarian fly‑in/fly‑out surgical teams. Open Heart International (OHI), is one such team, which has been conducting VR surgery for RHD in Fiji since 1991. Aims: Identify the short and long-term outcomes of mechanical VR surgery for RHD in Fiji since 1991. Specifically: 1) Determine the mortality and morbidity outcomes and identify independent predictors of these outcomes; 2a) Determine what is globally known about the HRQoL of younger mechanical VR patients through an integrative literature review; 2b) Determine pre-and post-operative HRQoL of patients who have VR surgery by OHI and identify independent predictors of these outcomes; and, 3) Determine anticoagulation adherence and predictors of non-adherence of patients who had VR surgery by OHI. Methods: 1) Morbidity and mortality data were collected through medical record audit on all patients (n = 167) with records available on mortality for 149 (89.2% patients, and morbidity for 152 (91%) patients. 2a) A systematic search of the electronic bibliographic databases OVIDMedline, PyscINFO(OVID), PubMED, CINAHL(EBSCO), ProQuest Health & Medicine, Cochrane Library(Wiley), and Google Scholar for studies published between January 2000 and April 2013 was undertaken on HRQoL outcomes post mechanical VR in patients aged < 65 years. 2b) a cross-sectional study of HRQoL was undertaken of patients who had surgery from 1991-2009 (n=72) and pre- and/or post-operatively (mean follow-up time 5.9 years) in patients undergoing surgery from 2010-2013 (n = 56) using the standard SF-36 (v2) survey. 3) Aspects of antithrombotic health self-management were evaluated using a cross-sectional survey study. Results: 1) Patients having VR delivered by the OHI team had 26% mortality and morbidity over the 20 year period at a mean age of 26 years. Half of all mortality and a quarter of all morbidity occurred in the first year postoperatively, with the major causes of both being related to anticoagulation and an absence of RHD-prophylaxis. Females required more hospital admissions for heart failure, were significantly more vulnerable to major adverse outcomes including bleeding and cerebral events, and were three times more likely to die prematurely. 2a) The systematic literature review indicated that post-VR surgery individuals can expect sustained and improved HRQoL, although lower HRQoL occurred in younger people, those in resource-limited regions, and evaluations of factors that may potentially impact HRQoL, such as valve-specific health self-management requirements. 2b) Overall HRQoL outcomes improved substantially for the majority of individuals. Clinically significant decline in mental health domains occurred at one year; domains related to physicality and emotional health significantly declined at two years; and overall, males were independently at risk of impairment in emotional health. 3) Mechanical VR ongoing medical support issues were evident, with more than two-thirds of the younger adults not commenced/re-commenced on postoperative RHD prophylaxis, a quarter reported poor adherence to their warfarin regime, and 13.38% (n=17) had self-ceased warfarin completely. Younger age was strongly associated with poor adherence to warfarin; however, lack of knowledge, routinely forgetting to take warfarin, and a longer travel time to the heart clinic was strongly associated with eventual complete self-cessation of warfarin. Conclusions: This research highlights the important role of Fly In/Fly Out teams in providing VR surgery for people affected by RHD in the LMIC of Fiji. Substantial and ongoing benefits were evident in mortality, morbidity and HRQoL. However, the need for increased surveillance, targeted preoperative education and continued and evolving postoperative education that meets the needs of younger people was also identified. Being a resource-limited country, a sustainable source of funding is unlikely in the short term, and therefore exploring ways that existing health professionals, such as nurses, could be better utilised for increased patient surveillance, support and education is indicated. Engagement with Ministry of Health and the wider medical and nursing workforce is necessary to ensure that once the surgical team departs, these young people remain prioritised. Further research is needed to identify reasons for disparities in gender outcomes and strategies to address this

Volunteering for Wellbeing: Improving Access and Social Inclusion by Increasing the Diversity of Museum Volunteer Training for Public-facing Roles

This article reports outcomes from a 15-month (2018-19) study led by UCL on behalf of the Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance in partnership with three London museums of differing sizes with natural or local history collections. The study aimed to address mental health inequalities by diversifying volunteer populations through reforming recruitment procedures to overcome perceived barriers, and enriching training programmes to improve wellbeing. A mixed methods approach was used to assess wellbeing and mechanisms by which key benefits were derived, such as social interaction and forming connections. The article considers how increasing the diversity of volunteer training in museums can improve wellbeing, widen access and promote social inclusion. Policy and practice implications are discussed in relation to embedding wellbeing training strategies into heritage organizations

The role of museums, collections, and objects in supporting higher education student mental well-being and quality of learning

This chapter focuses on the potential role of museums and cultural collections in facilitating student well-being. In order to investigate the potential relationship between object engagement and student well-being, several groups of students undertaking modules that involved engaging with museum objects were asked to participate in an anonymous online survey. The UCL students who participated in the survey seemed to recognise the need to cope more effectively with stress manifested in the fact that over three-quarters of respondents thought that well-being activities should be incorporated into taught modules, with 30% of them proposing extra curricula relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. Workshops and visits also enhance student engagement and interest, though to a slightly lesser extent than that of well-being. The fact that object-based learning activities, especially when performed outside the regular classroom environment, such as in a museum or collection space, appear to meet the expressed needs of the students is encouraging

Analysis of Factors Associated with Compliance with Taking Medicines for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients at Lut Tawar Health Center, Central Aceh Regency

There is a worldwide epidemic of tuberculosis (TB). As of May 31st, 2021, the Lut Tawar Health Center had recorded 10 instances in 2019, and 17 cases had been recorded as of that date. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the analysis of variables influencing medication adherence in pulmonary TB patients at the Lut Tawar Health Center, Lut Tawar District, Central Aceh Regency. Research is conducted using a cross-sectional design using quantitative analytic techniques. As many as 33 tuberculosis patients are enrolled in the Lut Tawar Health Center's TB treatment program. Total sampling was employed as the sampling strategy. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to analyze the data. There were no statistically significant differences in the p-values for education (0.000), employment (0.000), distance from home (0.000), knowledge (0.00), medication side effects (0.024), or family support (0.024) in the chi square analysis. Multivariate analysis indicated that the pharmacological side effect variable had a value (p=0.000) that was the most significant. Patients and families should be supported by the puskesmas, or health professionals, in charge of running the TB treatment program, so that they can keep tabs on their loved ones' medication compliance and avoid drug withdrawal and resistance. As part of the health education provided by health professionals, they describe the side effects of TB medications and encourage patients to continue taking them until they are well enough to do so