Towards Multispecies Interaction Environments: Extending Accessibility to Canine Users

In this paper we discuss the role of mobility assistance dogs in human society and the challenges they face when operating in human environments. We present the findings of an ethnographic study at a training facility as well as the findings of early evaluations of canine-friendly switches. We discuss how the species-specific implementation of core interaction design principles could inform the design of interaction environments that better support these skilled workers

Disseminating early years research: an illustrative case study

Purpose – This paper aims to outline a knowledge translation (KT) case study undertaken as part of a multi-component research programme aimed at evaluating new parenting supports in the earliest years. The study aimed to: explore the influencing factors relating to research use in an early years context; and to use the findings, at least in part, to execute an integrated KT plan – to promote stakeholder engagement, greater research visibility and to enhance the understanding of findings emerging from the research programme. Design/methodology/approach – A mixed-methods study was embedded within a large-scale, longitudinal research programme. In the present study, a national survey (n = 162) was administered to stakeholders working with children and families throughout Ireland. A series of oneto- one interviews were also undertaken (n = 37) to amplify the survey findings. Also, one focus group was carried out with parents (n = 8) and one with members of the research team (n = 3). Several dissemination strategies were concurrently developed, executed and evaluated, based partly on survey and interview findings and guided by the knowledge translation planning template (Barwick, 2008; 2013; 2019). Findings – The main factors influencing the dissemination of evidence, as identified by the stakeholders – were: a lack of resources; an under-developed understanding of research use and dissemination; insufficient collaboration and communication; and conflicting stakeholder priorities. Despite these challenges, the research programme was found to benefit from a multi-component KT plan to achieve the outlined dissemination goals. Practical implications – The KT planning process allowed the research team to be more accountable, introspective and to work more efficiently. This helped increase the likelihood of more targeted and successful dissemination of the research findings, delivering a better return on research investment. Originality/value – This is the first study of its kind (to our knowledge) to provide important insights for stakeholders in Ireland and elsewhere about how to improve the dissemination process. Effective KT planning can ultimately help to bridge the research-policy-practice gap and enable the effective translation of high-quality evidence in the early years’ sector to enhance outcomes for families in the shorter and longer-term

“I just filled out a form” Experiences of Doctoral Students with Disabilities, Long-term Health Conditions and/or Additional Study Needs

This paper reports on an empirical study at a public university in the UK. The project explored the lived experiences of doctoral students with disabilities, long-term health conditions and/or additional study needs. Taking a critical disability studies lens, we investigated how students perceive the university’s social and institutional structures. We used a mixed methods methodology using a survey and semi-structured interviews and adopted a reflexive thematic analysis to discover emerging themes. Three main themes were identified from the students’ data, namely, diversity in disability identity, the impact of supervisors’ attitudes (disclosure, emotional, institutional) and barriers to study. We argue that universities are implicitly organised around the needs of non-disabled, ‘normative’ students, hence perpetuating disadvantage and stigma. The paper makes suggestions for changes to institutions and processes to equitably support disabled doctoral students

Co-abuse of opiates and benzodiazepines.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and pattern of benzodiazepine dependency in a sample of Irish drug users who used both benzodiazepines and opiates, and to compare these with other drug users who did not take benzodiazepines, in order to identify key differences between them. A questionnaire was compiled to achieve this aim, and it was administered to 63 patients admitted consecutively to an inpatient drug treatment unit. The prevalence of benzodiazepine dependency was found to be 54%. In analysing key differences, it was found that patients dependent on both opiates and benzodiazepines were significantly older and had been admitted for methadone stabilisation. They had generally used heroin longer and benzodiazepines more frequently, and tended to use more drugs in general. They were also found to be more psychologically vulnerable, as in many cases they were significantly more likely to have described a past experience of depression and a past episode of deliberate self-harm

The opiate epidemic in Dublin: are we over the worst?

The opiate epidemic in Dublin peaked in 1983 and this paper reports on more recent information from the Jervis Street Drug Centre showing a decline in the number of first attenders for opiate misuse at the Centre from 451 in 1983 to 116 in 1985. However, there were 109 first attenders in the first six months for 1986. Twenty-one per cent of opiate attenders had been using drugs for seven or more years prior to their first contact for treatment at the Centre in 1984, the majority of whom were self-referred. A high proportion of opiate users (85%) attending for treatment in 1984 had needle marks, indicating the preference in Dublin for injecting rather than for sniffing or smoking heroin. Sixty-five per cent who admitted heroin misuse in 1984 were unemployed. While the overall drop in the numbers contacting the service for treatment for the first time for opiate misuse since 1983 is to be welcomed, there is need for concern at the rise in the number of first contacts during the first six months of 1986 and at the major health hazard that may result from infection by the HIV virus responsible for AIDS. In a sample of 398 intravenous opiate users, 27% were positive for the virus

The opiate epidemic in Dublin 1979-1983.

In order to study the problem of heroin abuse in Dublin the Medico-Social Research Board and the National Drug Advisory Centre (Jervis Street Drug Centre) collaborated on a study of some of the characteristics of patients who had received treatment at the centre during the five-year period 1979-1983 inclusive. Jervis Street has been in existence since 1970 and provides confidential and free treatment. The following information was abstracted from patients' records for the years 1979-1983. During those years a total of 2,057 patients made first contact with the Jervis Street Drug Centre. Of those, 1,440 attended because of the abuse of opiates, primarily heroin with the numbers of males exceeding the number of females by three to one for the years of the study. The number of attenders increased during these five years from 294 in 1979 to 1,314 in 1983. This trend confirms the fears of an alarming increase in the abuse of opiates in Dublin since 1979. There is also a trend towards younger age of attenders over the five years. In comparison between heroin users and an age and sex standardised control population in north central Dublin, the heroin users were less likely to socialise, were less influenced by family and had a much poorer educational and employment record. They were also more likely to smoke and smoke heavily and less likely to drink. However they were also more likely to have been arrested for a variety of offences and to have lost one or both parents through death than their counterparts in the control group. Dublin north and south inner city has seen the greatest increase in drug abuse in the five-year period, however the spread across all areas of the city proves the problem is by no means confined to the inner city region

Exploring the potential utility and impact of a universal, multi-component early parenting intervention through a community-based, controlled trial

Background: This paper describes the first phase of a community-based, controlled trial conducted to investigate the potential utility of a new, complex group-based early parenting intervention. In total, 106 parent-infant dyads were recruited to an interagency Parent and Infant (PIN) intervention which combines a range of supports, including the Incredible Years Parent and Baby Programme, baby massage, weaning workshops and paediatric first aid training. A ‘services-as-usual’ comparison group was also recruited (n = 84). Methods: The primary outcome was parenting self-efficacy (Parenting Sense of Competence Scale). Parent well-being, child development and the home environment were also measured. Assessments were conducted at baseline (when infants were 6–20 weeks old) and at follow-up (when infants were aged approximately 8 months). Parent satisfaction with the intervention was examined, as well as uptake of community-based services and health service utilisation. Results: An intention-to-treat analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) examined between-group post-intervention differences, whilst secondary analyses on a ‘per protocol’ sample of participants (who attended at least 50% of the intervention sessions) were also conducted. Satisfaction with the PIN intervention was very high. The intention-to-treat ANCOVA showed no post-intervention between-group differences on measures of parent competency or well-being. At baseline, children in the comparison group were older than those in the intervention group and, at follow-up, fared better than their intervention group counterparts on measures of child development. The per protocol analysis revealed a significant effect for the intervention group on the efficacy subscale of the primary outcome measure (effect size = 0.44, p < 0.05). Intervention group infants attended GP and nursing services on significantly fewer occasions than their comparison group counterparts. Conclusion: The findings provide tentative early support for the utility of the PIN intervention in terms of improving parenting efficacy and reducing reliance on primary health care services. Further follow-ups when infants are 16 and 24 months old are underway

Investigating idiopathic inflammatory myopathy; initial cross speciality experience with use of the extended myositis antibody panel

The discovery of unique autoantibodies has informed and altered our approach to the diagnosis and management of the inflammatory myopathies. This study reports the initial clinical experience of use of the Extended Myositis Antibody (EMA) panel in the largest university teaching hospital in Ireland. We conducted a retrospective review of all patients who had serum samples tested for myositis specific antibodies and myositis associated antibodies from April 2014 to March 2015. A positive EMA panel was of significant clinical utility in facilitating decisions on appropriate investigations, and need for onward referral to other physicians. Furthermore, this paper highlights the diversity of possible presentations of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy with subsequent need for multi-speciality involvement, and serves to heighten awareness among clinicians of the diagnostic use of extended myositis antibody testing in these cases