17,056 research outputs found
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Machines and machinations: The integrated care record service in the UK national health service
This paper examines the use of Actor Network Theory (ANT) as a lens to get a better understanding of the implementation of the Integrated Care Record Service (ICRS) in the UK National Health Service (NHS). Actor Network Theory has been deployed in various environments to achieve a better understanding of the roles of not only the humans but also the artifacts that constitute, in this case, healthcare networks of services and organisations. The theory is used as a means of supporting real world interventions, providing a richer understanding of complexities involved and thereby helps management to make better decisions. This study also explores Latour’s concept of machines as machinations, whose role is to translate other actors into the network. We propose ICRS as a fruitful empirical context for the use of ANT to support decision making for actors in health care provision. Actor Network Theory (ANT) is well-suited for use in the socio-technical evaluation of IS into the ICRS project because this approach treats human and non-human actors symmetrically. This approach facilitates a more thorough examination of the ways in which information technology is enabled or restricted in social processes
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Strategies, contributions and inhibitors of information systems to organizational competitiveness: An empirical analysis within the Caribbean
The study examines the impact of Information Systems (IS) through a consideration of improved competitiveness within a multi-business Caribbean firm. The methodology draws on a participant-observer approach for data collection and compares the application of IS by three business units within each of three organizations. It is argued that while there is already a substantial amount of research on IS effectiveness its value in the context of developing countries such as those of the Caribbean will be most significant. In this context firms are perceived to face more constraints than in developed countries so there is a need to explicitly recognize the effects of ‘inhibitors’.
The study finds that for two of these businesses IS can be shown to have contributed to improved competitiveness, while the third had a less satisfactory experience. Analysis of the data revealed that in the two business units where IS contributed the units had been able to improve specific business processes in pursuit of identified competitive strategies. In the unit that did not derive such advantages, limitations in the functionality of the core application combined with insufficient adjustment of business processes, led to the unsatisfactory results. It is also observed that the explanatory value of the empirical analysis is enhanced if we identify inhibitors of IS for competitive advantage and make their effects more explicit
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REDUCING STRESS AND INCREASING HOPE AMONG TYPHOON YOLANDA SURVIVORS
Hundreds of thousands of people are affected by natural disasters every year. Many of these people face mental and emotional consequences from the traumatic experience. Research indicates that the aftereffects of such experiences can result in social, familial, and educational impairments in children. The current study tested the efficacy of a brief cognitive behavioral intervention on elementary school aged children intended to alleviate the mental and emotional consequences following a natural disaster. The study applied quantitative methods through pre and post intervention assessments measuring stress and hope. The participants assessed included 18 Filipino children between the ages of 10-12 years, who had recently been exposed to one of the strongest typhoons in the country’s history. Incorporating a quasi-experimental design, 12 of these participants were given a brief cognitive behavioral intervention based on their parent / caregiver involvement in a supplemental workshop and 6 participants were engaged in facilitated play acting as a comparison group. Results indicated that the cognitive behavioral intervention was effective in reducing stress in children, but had little to no effect on hope. However, facilitated play proved to be effective in raising hope levels, but also raised stress levels in children. An inference may be made that future interventions embodying both cognitive behavioral therapy and facilitated play could increase hope and decrease stress in children who have experienced a natural disaster. Furthermore, these initial findings contribute to seeking advocacy for inclusion of brief and low cost mental health interventions as part of relief efforts
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BELIEFS ABOUT THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AMONG SOCIAL WORK GRADUATE STUDENTS
This research project was a quantitative survey study design to examine the attitudes of 49 Master of Social Work students attending California State University, San Bernardino. Recently, laws regarding same-sex marriage have been rapidly changing. As of this project completion, 37 states have legalized same-sex marriage. Therefore, now more than ever before, it is imperative that social work graduate students feel prepared to adequately provide services to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) populations.
Additionally, and of primary concern to the researchers, this project sought to determine whether graduate students felt that they had received adequate training and education regarding LGBTQ service, health, youth, elderly, support of same-sex families, rights and discriminatory practice issues while in attendance at this college. Gay affirmative practice is something that should be provided the same as heterosexual service practices.
Similar to previous studies, this study concluded that religion, political affiliation, age and sexual orientation contributed to how prepared an individual felt in providing services to the LGBTQ populations
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