Looking Good, Feeling Good – Tac Map: a navigation system for the blind

This paper describes the research and development of a navigation system for the blind that provides a tactile and visual language that can be understood by both sighted and blind users. It describes key work and issues in the development of graphical symbols and in particular the pioneering work of Neurath‟s ISOTYPES, as well as more specific communication systems for blind people. The paper focuses on the development of "TacMap‟, a navigation system for the blind. User engagement has been fundamental in the research and the paper discusses the methodology, the research findings and product‟s potential future opportunities and impact

Influence network linkages across implementation strategy conditions in a randomized controlled trial of two strategies for scaling up evidence-based practices in public youth-serving systems.

BackgroundGiven the importance of influence networks in the implementation of evidence-based practices and interventions, it is unclear whether such networks continue to operate as sources of information and advice when they are segmented and disrupted by randomization to different implementation strategy conditions. The present study examines the linkages across implementation strategy conditions of social influence networks of leaders of youth-serving systems in 12 California counties participating in a randomized controlled trial of community development teams (CDTs) to scale up use of an evidence-based practice.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 38 directors, assistant directors, and program managers of county probation, mental health, and child welfare departments. A web-based survey collected additional quantitative data on information and advice networks of study participants. A mixed-methods approach to data analysis was used to create a sociometric data set (n = 176) to examine linkages between treatment and standard conditions.ResultsOf those network members who were affiliated with a county (n = 137), only 6 (4.4%) were directly connected to a member of the opposite implementation strategy condition; 19 (13.9%) were connected by two steps or fewer to a member of the opposite implementation strategy condition; 64 (46.7%) were connected by three or fewer steps to a member of the opposite implementation strategy condition. Most of the indirect steps between individuals who were in different implementation strategy conditions were connections involving a third non-county organizational entity that had an important role in the trial in keeping the implementation strategy conditions separate. When these entities were excluded, the CDT network exhibited fewer components and significantly higher betweenness centralization than did the standard condition network.ConclusionAlthough the integrity of the RCT in this instance was not compromised by study participant influence networks, RCT designs should consider how influence networks may extend beyond boundaries established by the randomization process in implementation studies.Trial registrationNCT00880126

Urban Vertebrate Pest Management: A Practical Approach

Urban vertebrate pest management is influenced by a variety of factors. Public perceptions of wildlife limit control specialists in their methods of operation. Population density, costs of operation and timing of control are considered. Suggestions are made for operational mode, methods, baits, traps and disposal. Two new trapping concepts are described and experimental data on attractants are given. Computer-summarized data on urban wild life conflicts from one state (Texas) show that most complaints can be handled by extension methods supplemented with direct control by the public and wild life damage control specialists

Urban Vertebrate Pest Management: A Practical Approach

Urban vertebrate pest management is influenced by a variety of factors. Public perceptions of wildlife limit control specialists in their methods of operation. Population density, costs of operation and timing of control are considered. Suggestions are made for operational mode, methods, baits, traps and disposal. Two new trapping concepts are described and experimental data on attractants are given. Computer-summarized data on urban wild life conflicts from one state (Texas) show that most complaints can be handled by extension methods supplemented with direct control by the public and wild life damage control specialists

Social Participation in College Students with Chronic Pain

Background: College students with invisible disabilities, including chronic pain, often experience difficulty engaging in social occupations, both on and off campus, because of stigma, misconceptions, or social exclusion. Previous research has examined the use of academic accommodations to address these concerns or focused on the physical barriers to participation, failing to address the psychosocial and holistic impact of pain. Chronic pain can affect a variety of occupations, including social participation, which is a significant occupation for college students. This research explores the lived experience of chronic pain for college students and the impact of pain on social participation from an occupational perspective. Method: To fully understand the impact that chronic pain has on social engagement, the researchers employed a qualitative phenomenological approach using semi-structured interviews to explore the lived experiences of 15 college students with chronic pain. Results: Four main themes were identified: personality and chronic pain, stigma, the “domino effect,” and self-awareness. College students with chronic pain were able to push through the pain using coping strategies, pain management, and adaptations to promote social engagement. Conclusion: By understanding the lived experiences of college students with chronic pain, occupational therapists can engage in an open dialogue with clients about the holistic nature of their pain and collaborate with them to create strategies to curtail occupational injustice and promote engagement in meaningful social occupation

Social Participation in College Students with Chronic Pain

Background: College students with invisible disabilities, including chronic pain, often experience difficulty engaging in social occupations, both on and off campus, because of stigma, misconceptions, or social exclusion. Previous research has examined the use of academic accommodations to address these concerns or focused on the physical barriers to participation, failing to address the psychosocial and holistic impact of pain. Chronic pain can affect a variety of occupations, including social participation, which is a significant occupation for college students. This research explores the lived experience of chronic pain for college students and the impact of pain on social participation from an occupational perspective. Method: To fully understand the impact that chronic pain has on social engagement, the researchers employed a qualitative phenomenological approach using semi-structured interviews to explore the lived experiences of 15 college students with chronic pain. Results: Four main themes were identified: personality and chronic pain, stigma, the “domino effect,” and self-awareness. College students with chronic pain were able to push through the pain using coping strategies, pain management, and adaptations to promote social engagement. Conclusion: By understanding the lived experiences of college students with chronic pain, occupational therapists can engage in an open dialogue with clients about the holistic nature of their pain and collaborate with them to create strategies to curtail occupational injustice and promote engagement in meaningful social occupation

Mixed Method Designs in Implementation Research

This paper describes the application of mixed method designs in implementation research in 22 mental health services research studies published in peer-reviewed journals over the last 5 years. Our analyses revealed 7 different structural arrangements of qualitative and quantitative methods, 5 different functions of mixed methods, and 3 different ways of linking quantitative and qualitative data together. Complexity of design was associated with number of aims or objectives, study context, and phase of implementation examined. The findings provide suggestions for the use of mixed method designs in implementation research

Video Evaluation of Self-Regulation Skills in Preschool Aged Children with Developmental Delays: Can the impact of Tumbling Together be Measured?

OBJECTIVES This study evaluated the feasibility of video recording to evaluate an innovative, multi-disciplinary exercise medicine intervention, called Tumbling TogetherTM, on the self-regulation skills required for successful group participation. METHODS A photographer, who did not interact with participants and maintained a consistent position outside of the program area, used a digital video camera to record the program activities. Response to a stop command (attempts after the signal), ability to wait for a turn (yes/no), and ability to line up (correct/incorrect position) were the indicators of self-regulation. Video recordings were analyzed to determine each child’s baseline (first two sessions) and post-program (last two sessions) abilities. Chisquare and t-tests identified differences in performance from beginning to end of the program. RESULTS Video recordings were analyzed for 27 children (3 (11%) female, 3.1 to 4.8 years of age) with complex communication/developmental challenges. Response to a stop command improved by 38% (Pre: 2.1 ± 0.9; Post: 1.3 ± 0.4; p<.001). Correct response to a line up signal improved from 26% to 89% (p<.001). The ability to wait for a turn when required increased from 7% to 80% (p<.001). CONCLUSIONS Video recordings suitable for analysis were obtained during all sessions. Children’s skills performed during the first two classes were similar. Their skills improved between the start and end of the program. Video recordings accurately reflected the improved performance subjectively reported by therapists and parents. Therefore, video recording appears to be an appropriate method of evaluating the impact of exercise medicine interventions, such as Tumbling TogetherTM, that are designed to enhance the self-regulation skills of preschool children. Research comparing Tumbling participants to children not offered the program, and examining whether the self-regulation skills improved during Tumbling participation would generalize to other settings is required

Observational measure of implementation progress in community based settings: The Stages of implementation completion (SIC)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An increasingly large body of research is focused on designing and testing strategies to improve knowledge about how to embed evidence-based programs (EBP) into community settings. Development of strategies for overcoming barriers and increasing the effectiveness and pace of implementation is a high priority. Yet, there are few research tools that measure the implementation process itself. The Stages of Implementation Completion (SIC) is an observation-based measure that is used to track the time to achievement of key implementation milestones in an EBP being implemented in 51 counties in 53 sites (two counties have two sites) in two states in the United States.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The SIC was developed in the context of a randomized trial comparing the effectiveness of two implementation strategies: community development teams (experimental condition) and individualized implementation (control condition). Fifty-one counties were randomized to experimental or control conditions for implementation of multidimensional treatment foster care (MTFC), an alternative to group/residential care placement for children and adolescents. Progress through eight implementation stages was tracked by noting dates of completion of specific activities in each stage. Activities were tailored to the strategies for implementing the specific EBP.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Preliminary data showed that several counties ceased progress during pre-implementation and that there was a high degree of variability among sites in the duration scores per stage and on the proportion of activities that were completed in each stage. Progress through activities and stages for three example counties is shown.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>By assessing the attainment time of each stage and the proportion of activities completed, the SIC measure can be used to track and compare the effectiveness of various implementation strategies. Data from the SIC will provide sites with relevant information on the time and resources needed to implement MTFC during various phases of implementation. With some modifications, the SIC could be appropriate for use in evaluating implementation strategies in head-to-head randomized implementation trials and as a monitoring tool for rolling out other EBPs.</p