Salutogenesis 2.0: An examination of healthy ageing-in-place using a qualitative application of the Sense of Coherence.

The aim of this thesis was to examine the theory of salutogenesis (Antonovsky, 1987; 1996), within the context of later life, and to consider the value of salutogenesis as an analytical perspective applicable to understanding older people’s health and wellbeing as they age-in-place. This was done by applying the theory’s analytical construct, the Sense of Coherence (SOC), qualitatively and using its three components comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness, to make sense of data gathered from life review interviews. These interviews were conducted with a sample of ‘healthy’ and active older people, aged 75 years and older, living independently in the East and South-East of Ireland. The results and analysis presented demonstrate the potential value of the qualitative application of the SOC, and additionally suggest that qualitative methods are underutilised in salutogenic research. Furthermore, using qualitative approaches to explore the SOC provides additional scope to incorporate context and place as central positions of analysis, thereby opening up the theory of salutogenesis more fully to health geographers. The results of this research contribute to the geographies of health and ageing literature by providing a detailed exploration of the theory of salutogenesis as a framework that can contribute to the geographer’s understanding of the health-place relationship. The thesis also contributes to the salutogenic literature by examining the SOC through the lens of relational geographies of health and ageing. What emerges is a complementary dialogue and flow of ideas between diverse perspectives on health and wellbeing in later life

Challenges and Opportunities in the Introduction of a Tertiary Education Program in Regional South Australia: A Case Study

This paper explores the implementation of a Bachelor of Education program in regional South Australia. Using a case study approach, this paper describes the site of implementation, with attention paid to the challenges regional locations experience in attracting and retaining suitably qualified staff. It will explore the program model and consider the challenges and opportunities associated with the implementation and sustainability. At the individual level, it has provided students with an additional study option that negates the costs and stresses of relocation. At an organisational and community level, there is benefit for local schools as the provision of students and future professionals, who already have demonstrated commitment to the region, may assist in reducing staff turnover. The model presented could be adapted to similar locations, and while it is not a panacea to address regional teaching staff shortages, it offers another educational model that can help alleviate the issue

Does humility facilitate Knowledge Sharing? Investigating the role of humble knowledge-inquiry and response

International audiencePurpose-Despite the strong focus on virtues in firms, humility is little recognized in the management literature and, more particularly in the literature about knowledge sharing (KS). Despite efforts to foster KS among employees in firms, the effectiveness of this process narrows down to the dyadic relationship between the knowledge seeker and provider within firm. This paper aims to investigate the role of humility in the KS process in dyadic activity. Design/methodology/approach-The authors undertake an exploratory investigation to fill some of the gaps found in the literature. The paper draws insights from psychology, history, religion, current events and management literature. Findings-The authors identify several individual propensities that help predict humility towards sharing knowledge from seeker (humble knowledge-inquiry) and provider perspectives (humble response). They propose a new conceptual process model of KS with humility as an important variable to consider. This work highlights several promising directions for future research. Originality/value-As per the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper that investigates the role of humility in knowledge sharing from dyadic perspective. The authors also introduce concepts of humble knowledge inquiry and humble response in a dyadic context for effective knowledge sharing process

How do we teach clinicians where the resources for best evidence are?

The Sinai Health System (SHS) Library created an online tool kit that groups electronic resources into tiers based on the hierarchy of evidence, in a step-by-step approach. Mobile application options are available for most of the resources. The goal is to provide a simple, practical teaching tool to help clinicians easily find quality health information from the vast offerings of publishers. Since its publication in 2008, the original tool kit received positive feedback from medical students and in-house clinical staff. As well, the tool kit has been incorporated into the teachings of the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Ontario, Ministry of Public Health, and various hospital and patient libraries across the Greater Toronto Area. The SHS Library encourages other libraries and institutions to adapt the tool kit for their users. In the future, this tool kit will be revised to tailor to the research needs of nursing and allied health staff

Individual Telephone Support For Family Caregivers of Seriously Ill Cancer Patients

Medical-surgical nurses are an important source of information and guidance for family caregivers during health care crises. The concerns expressed by family caregivers to nurse interventionists during a supportive and informational telephone intervention are described in this study. An analysis of telephone call content using constant comparison methods identified major stressors of the family caregiver during the illness trajector

A Pilot Study of a Creative Bonding Intervention to Promote Nursing Students' Attitudes towards Taking Care of Older People

Although numbers of older people are increasing, nursing students have negative attitudes towards older people and do not plan to care for them following graduation. Multiple strategies have been implemented to reverse students' attitudes with mixed results. The purpose of this pilot quasi-experimental study was to test a Creative-Bonding Intervention (CBI) with students implementing art activities with older people to promote students' willingness to take care of them. Using a self-transcendence conceptual framework, control (n = 56) and experimental (n = 14) student groups were pre- and post-tested on attitudes toward older people, self-transcendence, and willingness to serve. The CBI improved attitudes towards older people with negative attitudes significantly changed (P = .008) but with no significant differences on self-transcendence and willingness to serve. However, willingness to serve results approached significance (P = .08). The willingness measure (one question) should be expanded. Curricula changes that incorporate creative activities such as the CBI with larger and equal numbers in student groups and longitudinal follow up to determine long-term results after graduation are suggested

Selective laser trabeculoplasty reduces mean IOP and IOP variation in normal tension glaucoma patients

Mohammed K El Mallah1, Molly M Walsh2, Sandra S Stinnett2, Sanjay G Asrani21Ocala Eye, Ocala, Florida, USA; 2Duke University Eye Center, Durham, North Carolina, USAPurpose: To evaluate the effect of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients.Patients and methods: A retrospective review was performed of NTG patients who had undergone SLT at the Duke University Eye Center between 12/2002 and 7/2005. For each eye of each patient at pre-laser and post-laser time points, the IOP measurements were summarized by mean, standard deviation, and range. Then for each of these descriptive statistics, the differences between pre-laser and post-laser values were obtained. Statistical analysis was performed using a random effects model. Main outcome measures: difference in mean IOP, standard deviation of IOP, and range of IOP.Results: Thirty-one eyes of 18 patients were included for analysis. The average of the mean ­pre-operative IOP measurements was 14.3 ± 2.6 mmHg compared to 12.2 ± 1.7 mmHg (P < 0.001) post-operatively. The mean pre-operative standard deviation was 1.9 ± 0.9 mmHg compared to 1.0 ± 0.6 mmHg (P = 0.002) post-operatively while the mean IOP range prior to treatment was 4.5 ± 2.5 mmHg compared to 2.5 ± 1.9 mmHg (P = 0.017) after treatment.Conclusion: In this pilot study, SLT was found to lower mean IOP and intervisit IOP ­variation in NTG patients. Given the importance of IOP variation and its association with glaucoma ­progression, measurement of IOP variation following treatment with SLT may be considered.Keywords: SLT, NTG, laser, glaucom