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British Journal of Social Work Jun 2019Despite calls for greater social work attention to the centrality of place in human life, the profession has yet to hone frameworks that fully capture the role of place...
Despite calls for greater social work attention to the centrality of place in human life, the profession has yet to hone frameworks that fully capture the role of place in individual-collective identity and well-being. To move this agenda forward, this article draws on data from a series of focus groups to explore the placed experiences of women in Palestine. Analytically, it is informed by , which emphasises the deeply interactional relationships between people and places, views place-centred practice and research as catalysts for active responses to the spatialised nature of power and injustice, and focuses centrally on the geographic and spatial dynamics of colonisation, and particularly settler colonialism, as key determinants of individual and collective well-being. Women's spatial narratives revolved around individual-collective identity and sovereignty, focusing in particular on three interdependent factors: freedom of movement; possession and dispossession; and continuity of place. Findings also illuminated spatial practices of resistance by which women defend and promote identity and sovereignty. We conclude with recommendations for more explicit, critically informed attention to place in social work practice, education and research.
PubMed: 31308576
DOI: 10.1093/bjsw/bcz049 -
International Journal of Environmental... Dec 2019This study describes the implementation, in North Macedonia, of a "tool", initially devised in Scotland, to generate community and stakeholder discussion about the...
This study describes the implementation, in North Macedonia, of a "tool", initially devised in Scotland, to generate community and stakeholder discussion about the places in which they live and notably a place's capacity to generate health wellbeing and greater equity among citizens. In this study, the "place standard tool" (PST) is viewed from the perspective of creating places which can deliver a triple win of health and wellbeing, equity, and environmental sustainability. Skopje, North Macedonia's capital, inevitably differs economically, culturally, and politically from Scotland, thus providing an opportunity to augment existing knowledge on adaptability of the tool in shaping agendas for policy and action. Тhe PST was tested through seminars with selected focus groups and an online questionnaire. Over 350 respondents were included. Information on priorities enabled the distillation of suggestions for improvement and was shared with the Mayor and municipal administration. Skopje citizens valued an approach which solicited their views in a meaningful way. Specific concerns were expressed relating to heavy traffic and related air and noise pollution, and care and maintenance of places and care services. Responses varied by geographic location. Application of the PST increased knowledge and confidence levels among citizens and enthusiasm for active involvement in decision making. Effective implementation relies heavily on: good governance and top-level support; excellent organization and good timing; careful training of interviewers and focus group moderators; and on prior knowledge of the participants/respondents.
Topics: Focus Groups; Health Promotion; Humans; Latvia; Republic of North Macedonia; Residence Characteristics; Urban Health
PubMed: 31892126
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17010194 -
Future Healthcare Journal Nov 2022Recruitment and retention of medical practitioners is a challenging contemporary issue for rural and remote areas. In this paper, we explore the importance of what it is...
Recruitment and retention of medical practitioners is a challenging contemporary issue for rural and remote areas. In this paper, we explore the importance of what it is that doctors value in rural and remote places from their own personal, organisational, social and spatial lives. We do this by drawing on original research from Scotland that explored doctors' decisions on choosing, or not, to work in remote and rural locations. Three themes are explored: moving and staying, using place to think holistically about places beyond the language of work that recruitment and retention implies; how doctors' professional values and their capacity to enact those values change with time; and how policy landscapes interact and shape rural and remote locations as valued places for doctors to live and work. We end the paper by reiterating the World Health Organization findings that a whole-of-society approach is required to support rural and remote communities to flourish, thus, encouraging doctors and their families to value such places and, ultimately, .
PubMed: 36561806
DOI: 10.7861/fhj.2022-0089 -
Health Promotion Practice May 2016This article provides a review of spatial analysis methods for use in health promotion and education research and practice. Spatial analysis seeks to describe or make... (Review)
Review
This article provides a review of spatial analysis methods for use in health promotion and education research and practice. Spatial analysis seeks to describe or make inference about variables with respect to the places they occur. This includes geographic differences, proximity issues, and access to resources. This is important for understanding how health outcomes differ from place to place; and in terms of understanding some of the environmental underpinnings of health outcomes data by placing it in context of geographic location. This article seeks to promote spatial analysis as a viable tool for health promotion and education research and practice. Four more commonly used spatial analysis techniques are described in-text. An illustrative example of motor vehicle collisions in a large metropolitan city is presented using these techniques. The techniques discussed are as follows: descriptive mapping, global spatial autocorrelation, cluster detection, and identification and spatial regression analysis. This article provides useful information for health promotion and education researchers and practitioners seeking to examine research questions from a spatial perspective.
Topics: Accidents, Traffic; Cities; Geographic Information Systems; Health Education; Health Promotion; Humans; Research Design; Spatial Analysis; Spatio-Temporal Analysis
PubMed: 26315032
DOI: 10.1177/1524839915602438 -
The Gerontologist Feb 2024Response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic required rapid changes to physical, social, and technological environments. There is a need to understand how...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic required rapid changes to physical, social, and technological environments. There is a need to understand how independent-living older adults are adapting to pandemic-borne transformations of place and how environmental factors may shape experiences of aging well in the context of a public health emergency response.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
We conducted a photovoice study to examine the characteristics associated with aging in place. Our study investigated how independent-living older adults characterized aging in a "right" place approximately 1 year after the onset of the pandemic.
RESULTS
Six themes categorized into 2 groups capture how older adults describe a "right" place to age. The first category, "places as enactors of identity and belonging," describes the significance of places contributing to intimate relationships, social connections, and a sense of personal continuity. The second category, "places as facilitators of activities and values," recognizes environments that promote health, hobbies, goals, and belief systems. Participants reported modifying their daily living environments with increased use of technology and more time outdoors.
DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS
Our findings emphasize older adults' active engagement with place and strategies used to maintain healthy aging despite public health restrictions. The results also identify place-based characteristics that may help overcome stressful circumstances from older adults' perspectives. These findings inform pathways to pursue to facilitate resiliency for aging in place.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Independent Living; Health Promotion; Pandemics; Housing; Aging
PubMed: 37417468
DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnad087 -
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual... Mar 2017To compare visually guided manual prehension in participants with primarily central field loss (CFL) due to age-related macular degeneration and peripheral visual field... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
PURPOSE
To compare visually guided manual prehension in participants with primarily central field loss (CFL) due to age-related macular degeneration and peripheral visual field loss (PFL) due to glaucoma. This study extends current literature by comparing directly "reach-to-grasp" performance, and presents a new task of "transport-to-place" the object accurately to a new location. Data were compared to age-matched controls.
METHODS
Three-dimensional motion data were collected from 17 glaucoma participants with PFL, 17 participants with age-related macular degeneration CFL and 10 age-matched control participants. Participants reached toward and grasped a cylindrical object (reach-to-grasp), and then transported and placed (transport-to-place) it at a different (predefined) peripheral location. Various kinematic indices were measured. Correlation analyses explored relationships between visual function and kinematic data.
RESULTS
In the reach-to-grasp phase, CFL patients exhibited significantly longer movement and reaction times when compared to PFL participants and controls. Central field loss participants also took longer to complete the movement and made more online movements in the latter part of the reach. During the transport-to-place phase, CFL participants showed increased deceleration times, longer movement trajectory, and increased vertical wrist displacement. Central field loss also showed higher errors in placing the object at a predefined location. A number of kinematic indices correlated significantly to central visual function indices (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Significant differences in performance exist between CFL and PFL participants. Various indices correlated significantly with loss in acuity and contrast sensitivity (CS), suggesting that performance is more dependent on central visual function irrespective of underlying pathology.
Topics: Aged; Contrast Sensitivity; Female; Glaucoma; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Macular Degeneration; Male; Motion Perception; Movement; Psychomotor Performance; Scotoma; Visual Fields
PubMed: 28282488
DOI: 10.1167/iovs.16-20273 -
JDR Clinical and Translational Research Jan 2022A European Union amalgam phase-down has recently been implemented. Publicly funded health care predominates in the United Kingdom with the system favoring amalgam use....
INTRODUCTION
A European Union amalgam phase-down has recently been implemented. Publicly funded health care predominates in the United Kingdom with the system favoring amalgam use. The current use of amalgam and its alternatives has not been fully investigated in the United Kingdom.
OBJECTIVES
The study aimed to identify direct posterior restorative techniques, material use, and reported postoperative complication incidence experienced by primary care clinicians and differences between clinician groups.
METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was distributed to primary care clinicians through British dentist and therapist associations (11,092 invitations). The questionnaire sought information on current provision of direct posterior restorations and perceived issues with the different materials. Descriptive statistical and hypothesis testing was performed.
RESULTS
Dentists' response rate was 14% and therapists' estimated minimum response rate was 6% (total = 1,513). The most commonly used restorative material was amalgam in molar teeth and composite in premolars. When placing a direct posterior mesio-occluso-distal restoration, clinicians booked on average 45% more time and charged 45% more when placing composite compared to amalgam ( < 0.0001). The reported incidences of food packing and sensitivity following the placement of direct restorations were much higher with composite than amalgam ( < 0.0001). Widely recommended techniques, such as sectional metal matrix use for posterior composites, were associated with reduced food packing ( < 0.0001) but increased time booked ( = 0.002).
CONCLUSION
Amalgam use is currently high in the publicly funded sector of UK primary care. Composite is the most used alternative, but it takes longer to place and is more costly. Composite also has a higher reported incidence of postoperative complications than amalgam, but time-consuming techniques, such as sectional matrix use, can mitigate against food packing, but their use is low. Therefore, major changes in health service structure and funding and posterior composite education are required in the United Kingdom and other countries where amalgam use is prevalent, as the amalgam phase-down continues.
KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT
This study presents data on the current provision of amalgam for posterior tooth restoration and its directly placed alternatives by primary care clinicians in the United Kingdom, where publicly funded health care with copayment provision predominates. The information is important to manage and plan the UK phase-down and proposed phase-out of amalgam and will be of interest to other, primarily developing countries where amalgam provision predominates in understanding some of the challenges faced.
Topics: Composite Resins; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental Amalgam; Dental Materials; Dental Restoration, Permanent
PubMed: 33300416
DOI: 10.1177/2380084420978653 -
Physiological Measurement Sep 2018We designed an automated algorithm to classify short electrocardiogram (ECG) strips into four categories: normal rhythm, atrial fibrillation, noisy segment, or other...
OBJECTIVES
We designed an automated algorithm to classify short electrocardiogram (ECG) strips into four categories: normal rhythm, atrial fibrillation, noisy segment, or other rhythm disturbances.
APPROACH
The algorithm is based on identification of the R peak and recognition of the other ECG waves. Time-frequency domain features, the average and variability of the intra-beat temporal interval, and the average beat morphology were also calculated. These features (61 features at all) were the input to a support vector machine (SVM) with and without a feed-forward 2-layer neural network consisting of 20 neurons trained on an annotated database. Data were drawn from the PhysioNet Challenge 2017 dataset, consisting of 8528 recordings, of which 60.43% are normal, 0.54% are noisy, 9.04% are AF, and 30% are other rhythm disturbances. The results were validated on 3658 ECG recordings of similar length and percent from each of the four groups.
MAIN RESULTS
We used a quadratic SVM classifier with a combination of 61 features to classify the short ECG recordings into one of the four categories mentioned above. The use of an additional neural network to improve the identification of 'other' rhythms that were misclassified as 'normal' did not statistically affect the results. Our algorithm obtained a total score (F1) of 0.80 on the hidden dataset (placing 18th-24th out of all the algorithms participating in the challenge; places 18-24 received the same score).
SIGNIFICANCE
Our algorithm was also able to classify AF versus non-AF and normal versus abnormal (arrhythmia or noise) records.
Topics: Atrial Fibrillation; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; Electrocardiography; Humans; Pattern Recognition, Automated; Support Vector Machine
PubMed: 30187892
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6579/aadf49 -
Journal of Interprofessional Care 2021Interprofessional education (IPE) aims to prepare health-care students to provide patient care in a collaborative team environment. However, much health-care education...
Interprofessional education (IPE) aims to prepare health-care students to provide patient care in a collaborative team environment. However, much health-care education is delivered in places and spaces which do not support interprofessional interaction. To examine the consequences of this, we explored how a relatively new health-care education center (the "space" and "place") impacted interprofessional learning. This qualitative study drew on two data sources. Documents (n = 50) related to building design and curricula plans, and focus groups with medical and physician associate students co-learning within the building to explore their experiences of the building in relation to IPE (17 participants). Data coding and analysis were inductive, using thematic analysis. A key objective for the building was to support IPE. This objective was not translated into operational detail in later documents or into practice, as indicated by student experiences. Students experienced tensions and isolation from each other and other health-care students because of the building's place (i.e. separate from other health-care programs), the learning space within the building, and the interplay between the space and timetables. This empirical study suggests that space and place can impact on interprofessional learning, emphasizing the importance of clearly conceptualizing educational spaces and places to underpin successful IPE.
Topics: Curriculum; Humans; Interprofessional Education; Interprofessional Relations; Learning; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 32917110
DOI: 10.1080/13561820.2020.1812551 -
Applied Bionics and Biomechanics 2023This study aimed to design a three-dimensional (3D) guide plate using computer-aided design and a 3D printing system for precise implantation of microimplants for...
This study aimed to design a three-dimensional (3D) guide plate using computer-aided design and a 3D printing system for precise implantation of microimplants for orthodontic treatment and investigate the accuracy and feasibility of a 3D guide plate in clinical practice. A total of 30 microimplants were placed in 15 patients in the Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University. Before surgery, DICOM data from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and STereoLithography data from the 3D model scan were imported to 3Shape Dental System. Data fitting and matching were performed, and 3D guide plates were designed primarily focusing on the thickness of guide plates, amount of concave compensation, and dimensions of the ring. Assist implantation method was used to place the microimplants, and postoperative CBCT images were used to evaluate the position and implantation angle. The feasibility of placing microimplants and precise implantation guided by the 3D guide plate. CBCT data before and after the placement of microimplants were compared. Regarding the secure positioning of microimplants based on CBCT data, 26 implants were categorized as Grade i, four as Grade ii, and none as Grade iii. No loosening of microimplants 1 and 3 months after surgery was reported. The implantation of microimplants is more accurate under the guidance of a 3D guide plate. This technology can achieve accurate implant positioning, thus ensuring safety, stability, and improved success rates after implantation.
PubMed: 37404956
DOI: 10.1155/2023/9060046