Housing Needs of Ageing Veterans Who Have Experienced Limb Loss

Military veterans can experience limb loss as a direct result of conflict, an accident, illness or injury. Whatever the cause, there is a need to recognise the long-term consequences and challenges of limb loss on maintaining independence in one’s home. This study aimed to examine the housing needs of veterans experiencing limb loss, and the impact of limb loss on housing needs and home adaptations of ageing military veterans. Thirty-two military veterans (aged 43–95) participated in this study and up to three life-story interviews were carried out with each participant. Two themes were generated: availability of support and changing housing needs. It is evident from the findings that military veterans are unique in various ways, specifically due to military culture, geographical relocation and the additional support that is available to the Armed Forces Community. This must be considered in long-term support to maintain independence in the home

“What? That’s for Old People, that.” Home Adaptations, Ageing and Stigmatisation: A Qualitative Inquiry

Older people, even those living with long-term conditions or poor mobility, can be supported to live well at home, through adapting their home to meet changing need. Installing home adaptations, from grab rails to walk in shower rooms, is cost effective, may prevent falls, reduce social isolation and improve self confidence. Despite austerity cuts to public spending, the UK government increased home adaptations’ funding. However, not much is known about older people’s experiences and understanding of acquiring and living with home adaptations and uptake of home adaptations could be improved. Using wearable camera and face to face interview data, this qualitative study explored a diverse group of older people’s retrospective experiences (n = 30). Focus group discussions were also carried out with a wide range of professionals involved in the provision of home adaptations (n = 39). Findings suggest people may delay having adaptations, because of perceived stigmatising associations with decline and vulnerability. As delaying the installation of home adaptations until crisis point is known to reduce their effectiveness, such associations need to be challenged

Health professionals' attitudes to patients' use of wearable technology

Objective: Wearable technologies for health monitoring are becoming increasingly mainstream. However, there is currently limited evidence exploring use from the perspective of healthcare professionals. This study aimed to explore health professionals’ attitudes toward their patients’ use of wearable technologies. Methods: A convenience sample of health professionals were recruited to participate in this study. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were carried out either face-to-face, via Skype or telephone. Interviews were recorded using a Dictaphone, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using Thematic Analysis. Results: Four themes emerged from the qualitative findings: ‘opportunities for wearable technology’, ‘usability and understanding’, ‘privacy and surveillance’, and ‘cost’. Conclusions: The findings portray health professionals’ ambivalence to the use of wearable technology, and it was apparent that whilst the participants considered the technology as being beneficial to patients, they still had concerns for its use

Understanding Unique Factors of Social Isolation and Loneliness of Military Veterans: A Delphi Study

Social isolation and loneliness are recognised societal issues, and it is estimated that between 5% and 18% of adults in the United Kingdom feel that they are ‘often’ or ‘always’ lonely (Co-Op Foundation and The Red Cross, 2016; Office for National Statistics, 2018). Furthermore, social isolation and loneliness are highlighted as being central to the narratives of military veterans, and the Armed Forces Community (Kiernan et al., 2018; Stapleton, 2018; Wilson, Hill, & Kiernan, 2018). This study aimed to gather expert consensus relating to the cause, impact and ways to tackle social isolation and loneliness of military veterans. It builds on previous research conducted by the Northern Hub for Veterans and Military Families Research, Northumbria University which highlighted that military veterans can experience social isolation and loneliness in a ‘unique’ way (Kiernan et al., 2018; Wilson, Hill & Kiernan, 2018). This ‘uniqueness’ is due to military-related intrinsic and extrinsic factors including number of transitions, military-related trauma such as limb loss, physical health and mobility, and losing touch with comrades (Kiernan et al., 2018; SSAFA, 2017; Stapleton, 2018; Wilson et al., 2018). Using the Delphi method (Helmer-Hirschberg, 1967) to gather expert consensus of military veterans’ social isolation and loneliness, this study aimed to: • Further explore the concept that veterans are considered as being ‘unique’ to adults to the general population, and other members of the armed forces community in their experiences of social isolation and loneliness. • Consider whether older veterans are ‘unique’ to younger veterans in their experiences of social isolation and loneliness. • Examine perceived factors leading to social isolation and loneliness of veterans. • Identify perceptions of how to tackle veterans’ social isolation and loneliness

Experiences of using a wearable camera to record activity, participation and health-related behaviours: Qualitative reflections of using the Sensecam

Objective: Upcoming technology is changing the way that we are able to collect data looking into activity, social participation and health behaviours. Wearable cameras are one form of technology that allows us to automatically record a collection of passive images, building a visual diary of the user’s day. Whilst acknowledging the usefulness of wearable cameras in research, it is also important to understand individuals’ experiences whilst using them. The aim of this study was to explore the acceptance, experience and usability of a wearable camera (Microsoft_ Sensecam) to record the day-to-day activity and social participation of older people. Methods: A total of 18 older adults, who had worn the wearable camera for seven days, took part in semi-structured interviews. Results: Four themes emerged from the findings: ‘Intrusiveness’; ‘Importance of others’; ‘Remembering the wearable camera’; and ‘Ease of use’. Conclusions: Individuals’ expectations and experiences of using the wearable camera differed considerably. Participants believed that the wearable camera would be intrusive, difficult to use and would evoke public reaction; however, these worries were not borne out in experience. Individuals typically forgot about the presence of the wearable camera during use, remembering it only sporadically. One drawback to its use is that some participants were cautious of using the camera when around others, which impacted the amount of time the camera was worn, and, therefore, the nature of the data recorded. Design issues of the Sensecam were also a problem for the older adults in the study and affected their interaction with the technology

The use of a wearable camera to explore daily functioning of older adults living with persistent pain: Methodological reflections and recommendations

Background: Persistent pain is prevalent within the ageing population and impacts daily functioning. Measuring daily functioning using conventional measures is problematic and novel technologies offer an alternative way of observing these behaviours. Methods: This study aimed to consider the use of a wearable camera as a method of exploring a range of day-to-day patterns of functioning of older adults living with persistent pain. This study followed a mixed methods design. A purposive sample of 13 older adults (65±) with persistent pain (pain >3 months) took part in this study. Two younger adults (<65) with persistent pain and two older adults with no pain also participated. Individuals used a wearable camera (Microsoft SenseCam) for seven days Results: The wearable camera recorded the frequency of body position, movement, and activities of daily living. The wearable camera also presented contextual data of location, social interactions, use of assistive devices, and behavioural adaptations and was used to inform other methods of data collection. Conclusions: The wearable camera allowed insight into patterns and experiences of daily functioning that would not have otherwise been captured. However, not all aspects of functioning were recorded using the wearable camera, including the relationship between functioning and persistent pain

Investigating the evolution of the nuclear magic numbers via single-neutron transfer populating 26Na

The changing shell structure close to the N = 20 shell gap has been explored by studying one-neutron transfer on 26Na in inverse kinematics. The experiment employed a 5MeV per nucleon beam of 25Na, incident on a 0.5mgcm-2 (CD2)n target, produced by the ISAC-II facility at TRIUMF, in Vancouver. A compact, highly-segmented silicon array, SHARC was positioned close to the target for the detection of the ejected protons. Coincident y rays, from the de-excitation of the 26Na recoil nucleus, were detected in the fully-suppressed γ- ray array, TIGRESS. Through the use of P γ: and p γ γ -gating, states in 26Na populated close in excitation energy were able to be resolved, and the proton angular distributions extracted. The proton angular distributions have been analysed for seven states directly populated by (d,p) in 26Na; and compared to theoretical cross-sections generated using TWOFNR. These states, amongst others, were compared to shell model calculations and to the N = 15 isotone 28 Al in order to tentatively assign spin and parity. Different interactions were em- ployed and compared to the experimental data, including USD, USD-A and USD-B calcu- . lations. The experimental data were also compared to SDPF-M Monte-Carlo Shell Model predictions, as well as WBP shell model calculations, in which the single-particle energies of the pf-shell were artificially lowered by 0.7 and 1.0MeV. A new level scheme with spin and parity assignments for states, including the negative parity states from f7/2 transfer, has been determined. It has been found that the gap observed between the f7/2 and SI/2 shells is approximately right, based on the shell model predictions with a 0.7MeV reduction in the shell gap. The gap between the sd- and pf-shells is found to be reduced by 1. 2 MeV, indicating the closure of the N = 20 shell gap for nuclei far from stability.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Exploring the relationship between mentoring and doctors’ health and well-being: A systematic narrative review

The health and well-being of doctors is crucial, both for the individuals themselves and their ability to deliver optimum patient care. With increased pressures on healthcare, support mechanisms that attend to doctors’ health and well-being, may require greater emphasis to safeguard those working in frontline services. To inform future developments, this systematic narrative review aimed to identify, explore and map empirical and anecdotal evidence indicating relationships between mentoring activities and the health and well-being of doctors. Twelve databases were searched for publications printed between January 2006 and January 2016. Articles were included if they involved doctors’ engagement in mentoring activities and, either health or well-being, or the benefits, barriers or impact of mentoring. The initial search returned 4669 papers, after exclusions a full-text analysis of 37 papers was conducted. Reference lists and citations of each retrieved paper were also searched. Thirteen papers were accepted for review. The Business in the Community model was used as a theoretical framework for analysis. Mentoring influenced, collegiate relationships, networking and aspects of personal well-being, such as confidence and stress management, and was valued by doctors as a specialist support mechanism and professional practice. This review contributes to the evidence base concerning mentoring and doctors’ health and well-being. However, it highlights that focused research is required to explore the relationship between mentoring, and health and well-being