Drivers for wireless handheld technology: views from Queensland nurses

[Abstract]: The use of wireless hand held devices is becoming popular in healthcare due to its flexibility and mobility. In the nursing domain, the use of handheld devices, a specific component of wireles technology appears to be beneficial for data collection and other information management functions nurses may undertake. Studies in nursing literature have indicated that handheld devices deliver advantages and benefits at the point of care. In this study a set of 30 interviews with Queensland Nursing Staff in one district health centre was conducted over a period of three months to establish the drivers for the introduction of wireless technology among nurses. The outcome of these interviews is developed into a preliminary model and reported in this paper

Reactions and perceptions of healthcare professional towards wireless devices in healthcare environment in the developing world: a case of Pakistan

This study explored reactions and perceptions of medical professionals in the use of wireless technology in the Pakistani healthcare setting. 300 professionals were surveyed with 97 survey forms returned. The regression analysis indicates that clinical performance and better quality of services would be the determinants in using wireless technology in Pakistani healthcare. These medical professionals felt that in order to continuously use the technology, training and technical supports are essential. They also felt that the introduction of such a technology would result in the attraction of more practitioners, save time, save effort and provide high quality information. Collectively, these factors, in the opinion of these professionals will reduce inaccuracies in data

Research Brief No. 20 - Population Growth, Energy Use, and Environmental Impact: Comparing Canadian and Swedish Records on CO2 Emissions

Canada and Sweden are both northern countries with predominantly export-oriented economies that have recently witnessed demographic growth and climbing affluence. However, there is a stark contrast in their respective records on greenhouse gas emissions: Sweden is often considered a world leader in emission reduction, while Canada has largely failed to meet international commitments. This study aims to understand the factors responsible for their differing records. It demonstrates that Canada’s relatively rapid population growth, persistent reliance on fossil fuels, and heavy demand for energy have contributed to its increasing level of CO2 emissions. On the other hand, Sweden has man-aged to move away from fossil fuel dependency and intense energy use while still driving economic activity

Family Transformations and the Well-being of Children: Recent Evidence from Canadian Longitudinal Data

This paper uses longitudinal data to examine negative child outcomes among young children in Canada. In following a cohort of children as they move through their early elementary school years, a slight decline in hyperactivity is documented, as is a slight increase in internalizing difficulties. After introducing a longitudinal dimension to our analysis, both family structure and income poverty are found to have a weaker effect on child outcomes than was initially anticipated. The current analysis also demonstrates the utility of LISREL’s “weighted least squares” estimation procedure in the development of structural equation models while working with ordinal and/or censored variables

In Search of a Theory of Integrated Marketing Communications

For the most part, the literature base for Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) has developed from an applied or tactical level rather than from an intellectual or theoretical one. Since industry, practitioner and even academic studies have provided little insight into what IMC is and how it operates, our approach has been to investigate that other IMC community, that is, the academic or instructional group responsible for disseminating IMC knowledge. We proposed that the people providing course instruction and directing research activities have some basis for how they organize, consider and therefore instruct in the area of IMC. A syllabi analysis of 87 IMC units in six countries investigated the content of the unit, its delivery both physically and conceptually, and defined the audience of the unit. The study failed to discover any type of latent theoretical foundation that might be used as a base for understanding IMC. The students who are being prepared to extend, expand and enhance IMC concepts do not appear to be well-served by the curriculum we found in our research. The study concludes with a model for further IMC curriculum development

Family Relations, Low Income and Child Outcomes: A Comparison of Canadian Children in Intact, Step and Lone Parent Families

This paper examines conditions that are more likely to lead to positive or negative child outcomes in intact, female lone parent and reconstituted families. Family type is found to be more important than low income in predicting a set of behavioural, emotional and psychological difficulties. After establishing measurement equivalence across family types, multiple group analysis using structural equation modelling shows that the explanatory factors also operate differently in the various family settings. In particular, low income has a significant impact on childhood difficulties in lone parent and stepfamilies, but not in intact families. Family functioning has less impact on children’s outcomes in step-families than in intact or lone parent families, and larger family size predicts negative child outcomes only in non-intact families. These observations can be interpreted in terms of the impact of family type on the transfer of financial, human and social capital to children

Emerging Youth Transition Patterns in Canada: Opportunities and Risks

Building on a Government of Canada sponsored seminar on Canadian and international perspectives on youth policy and research, the Policy Research Initiative (2006) has highlighted a resurgence of interest among researchers on the risks, opportunities and challenges that many young people face across industrialized countries. Various social, demographic and economic changes have altered the life experience of the young, which has modified the opportunities and risks encountered in navigating into adult roles. The objective of this study is to largely describe some of the most salient of these changes, with a careful review of existing Canadian literature and published empirical research. Of particular interest are important changes in the life course patterns of the young, in terms of later home leaving, later completion of education, delayed full time entrance into the labour force, later union formation, and later childbearing. We also review available data sources highlighting changes on the basis of existing survey and census data, while carefully considering evidence as to whether we have encountered climbing social inequalities among Canadian youth. While these delayed life cycle transitions are becoming increasingly recognized among researchers and the general public, there is only a limited amount of research in Canada that explicitly considers some of the more important consequences of these changes. For this reason, the study also reviews the limited empirical research that has focused on some of these implications. While the transitions work properly for most youth, we address a fundamental research issue raised by the PRI (2006): what are some of the drivers and impacts on vulnerable youth populations? We place these vulnerabilities into the broader context of population groups that are more vulnerable: female lone parents, unattached adults aged 55-64, recent immigrants and Aboriginal populations. The difficult living circumstances of these groups can be linked either directly or indirectly to family and life cycle questions. Transitions between youth and adulthood are structured by a complex system of socioeconomic structures, institutional arrangements and cultural patterns that can vary in an important manner across nation states. This broader context is examined can potentially provide some insight as to why transitions tend to be more prolonged in certain settings while being relatively short in others. The study includes some international comparisons of different “transition regimes” and discusses related policy implications

Conclusions: Where next for wearables?

© 2018 by IGI Global. All rights reserved. This chapter provides a contemporary example of how data from wearable devices can be used for big data type research. It then asked the question of data policies for the use of data generated by wearable devices. This is followed by an overview of the chapters in the book and how they fit within the general theme of the book. In addition, each chapter is categorised into whether it is social research or more technical type research. The chapter also includes concluding suggestions on the possible future research agenda for privacy and security within the subject domain of the use of wearables. In addition, insights into the future of wearables in relation to ethical considerations, privacy, security and data ownership is also given

Conclusions: Where next for wearables?

©2017, IGI Global. This chapter provides a contemporary example of how data from wearable devices can be used for big data type research. It then asked the question of data policies for the use of data generated by wearable devices. This is followed by an overview of the chapters in the book and how they fit within the general theme of the book. In addition, each chapter is categorised into whether it is social research or more technical type research. The chapter also includes concluding suggestions on the possible future research agenda for privacy and security within the subject domain of the use of wearables. In addition, insights into the future of wearables in relation to ethical considerations, privacy, security and data ownership is also given