13 research outputs found
De/Centralisation Dataset 1790-2010
The dataset contains measures of de/centralisation across 22 policy areas and five fiscal categories in six federations â Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Switzerland, and the United States â since their foundation.The project measured dynamic centralisation and decentralisation across 22 policy areas and five fiscal categories in six federations â Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Switzerland, and the United States â from their foundation to 2010. </p
Patientsâ Experiences of Web- and Mobile-Assisted Group Therapy for Depression and Implications of the Group Setting: Qualitative Follow-Up Study
Background: Blended group therapy combines group sessions with Web- and mobile-based treatment modules. Consequently, blended group therapy widens the choice within blended interventions at reasonable costs. This is the first qualitative study on blended group therapy.
Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the patient-centered feasibility of blended group therapy for major depression, with special emphasis on the fit and dynamic interplay between face-to-face and internet-based elements.
Methods: A total of 22 patients who had a variety of experiences through participating in one of the two blended group therapy interventions were interviewed following a semistructured interview guide. In-depth interviews were analyzed by three trained psychologists, using thematic analysis and a rule-guided internet-based program (QCAmap). The transcript of the interviews (113,555 words) was reduced to 1081 coded units, with subsequent extraction of 16 themes.
Results: Web- and mobile-based elements were described as a treatment facilitator and motivator, increasing the salience and consolidation of cognitive behavioral therapy materials, resulting in in- and inter-session alignment to the treatment. Additionally, patients valued the option of intimate Web-based self-disclosure (by lateral patient-therapist communication), and therapists were provided with tools for between-session monitoring and reinforcement of exercising. In this context, group phenomena seemed to back up therapistsâ efforts to increase treatment engagement. The dissonance because of noncompliance with Web-based tasks and the constriction of in-session group interaction were considered as possible negative effects. Finally, issues of tailoring and structure seemed to fulfill different preconditions compared with individual therapy.
Conclusions: Blended group therapy constitutes a structured and proactive approach to work with depression, and the integration of both modalities initiates a beneficial interplay. Results support the patient-centered value of blended group therapy and provide the first insight into blended group therapyâs role in fostering therapeutic treatment factors. However, potential negative effects should be considered carefully.© Raphael Schuster, Sophia Sigl, Thomas Berger, Anton-Rupert Laireite
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Online and Blended Therapy: Survey Study Amongst Licensed Psychotherapists in Austria
Background: Web-based and blended (face-to-face plus Web-based) interventions for mental health disorders are gaining significance. However, many licensed psychotherapists still have guarded attitudes toward computer-assisted therapy, hindering dissemination efforts.
Objective: The objective of this study was to provide a therapist-oriented evaluation of Web-based and blended therapies and identify commonalities and differences in attitudes toward both formats. Furthermore, it aimed to test the impact of an information clip on expressed attitudes.
Methods: In total, 95 Austrian psychotherapists were contacted and surveyed via their listed occupational email address. An 8-minute information video was shown to half of the therapists before 19 advantages and 13 disadvantages had to be rated on a 6-point Likert scale.
Results: The sample resembled all assessed properties of Austrian psychotherapists (age, theoretical orientation, and region). Therapists did not hold a uniform overall preference. Instead, perceived advantages of both interventions were rated as neutral (t94=1.89, P=.06; d=0.11), whereas Web-based interventions were associated with more disadvantages and risks (t94=9.86, P<.001; d=0.81). The information clip did not excerpt any detectable effect on therapistsâ attitudes (r95=â.109, P=.30). The application of modern technologies in the own therapeutic practice and cognitive behavioral orientation were positively related to the given ratings.
Conclusions: This study is the first to directly compare therapistsâ attitudes toward Web-based and blended therapies. Positive attitudes play a pivotal role in the dissemination of new technologies, but unexperienced therapists seem to lack knowledge on how to benefit from technology-aided treatments. To speed up implementation, these aspects need to be addressed in the development of new interventions. Furthermore, the preference of blended treatments over Web-based interventions seems to relate to avoidance of risks. Although this study is likely to represent therapistsâ attitudes in countries with less advanced electronic health services, therapistsâ attitudes in more advanced countries might present differently.© Raphael Schuster, Raffaela Pokorny, Thomas Berger, Naira Topooco, Anton-Rupert Laireite
International Social Survey Programme: Work Orientations II - ISSP 1997
Einstellung zur Arbeit. Arbeitsorientierung und Beschreibung derArbeitsinhalte. Themen: GewĂŒnschte Zeitaufteilung fĂŒr ausgewĂ€hlte TĂ€tigkeiten wieArbeit, Freizeit usw.; Arbeitsorientierung (Skala); Erledigung vonArbeiten im Haushalt; Wichtigkeit ausgewĂ€hlter AnsprĂŒche an einenArbeitsplatz; wichtigste Kriterien fĂŒr die Bestimmung der Gehaltshöhe;EinfluĂ neuer Technologien auf Arbeitsplatzangebot und aufArbeitsplatzqualitĂ€t; PrĂ€ferenz fĂŒr die Arbeit im Dienstleistungsbereichoder in der Industrie sowie in der Privatwirtschaft oder im öffentlichenSektor; PrĂ€ferenz fĂŒr Arbeitsnehmerstatus oder beruflicheSelbstĂ€ndigkeit sowie fĂŒr das Arbeiten in einem GroĂunternehmen oder ineinem kleinen Unternehmen; TeilzeitbeschĂ€ftigung; Interesse an einerVollzeitbeschĂ€ftigung; erwartete Schwierigkeiten bei einer Jobsuche;Bezahlung der Arbeit; Beschreibung des eigenen Engagements bei derArbeit; PrĂ€ferenz fĂŒr mehr Arbeit und mehr Lohn oder fĂŒr mehr Freizeit;Sicherheit des eigenen Arbeitsplatzes; Bedeutung vonKarrieremöglichkeiten und flexibler Arbeitszeitgestaltung;Charakterisierung der Arbeit als harte physische TĂ€tigkeit undBeschreibung des AusmaĂes von StreĂ bei der Arbeit; physischeErschöpfung nach der Arbeit; gefĂ€hrliche und ungesundeArbeitsplatzsituationen; eigene EinfluĂmöglichkeit auf die Gestaltungdes Arbeitstages bzw. der ArbeitsablĂ€ufe; allgemeineArbeitsplatzbeschreibung; Nutzen der erlernten FĂ€higkeiten aus derSchul- oder UniversitĂ€tszeit; Beurteilung des VerhĂ€ltnisses zwischenManagement und Mitarbeitern; Betriebsklima; Arbeitszufriedenheit;Abwesenheit in den letzten 6 Monaten; Suche nach neuer Arbeit in dennĂ€chsten 12 Monaten. NichterwerbstĂ€tige wurden gefragt: Arbeit fĂŒr mehr als ein Jahr undZeitpunkt des Endes der letzten bezahlten Arbeit; GrĂŒnde fĂŒr das Endeder BeschĂ€ftigung; erwartete Schwierigkeiten bei der Jobsuche; momentaneSuche nach Arbeit; Art der Arbeitssuche; Haupteinkommensquelle. Demographie: Geschlecht; Alter; Familienstand; Zusammenleben mit einemPartner; Ausbildung und Ausbildungsdauer; momentanerBeschĂ€ftigungsstatus; BeschĂ€ftigung im privaten oder öffentlichenSektor; SelbstĂ€ndigkeit bzw. ArbeitsverhĂ€ltnis; eigene Angestellte;Wochenarbeitszeit; Vorgesetztenfunktion und Kontrollspanne;BetriebsgröĂe; Einkommen; Konfession; ReligiositĂ€t;Gewerkschaftsmitglied; SelbsteinschĂ€tzung der Schichtzugehörigkeit;SelbsteinschĂ€tzung auf einem Links-Rechts-Kontinuum; ParteiprĂ€ferenz;HaushaltsgröĂe und Zusammensetzung; OrtsgröĂe; Region; ursprĂŒnglichesHerkunftsland bzw. ethnische Gruppenzugehörigkeit