17. PATIENTS' PERSPECTIVES ON THE BEST WAYS TO TELL PARTNERS ABOUT CHLAMYDIA: HOW ACCEPTABLE ARE THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES?

Sexual Health ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 291
Author(s):  
C. A. Hopkins ◽  
M. J. Temple-Smith ◽  
C. K. Fairley ◽  
J. E. Tomnay ◽  
N. L. Pavlin ◽  
...  

As part of a larger, combined qualitative-quantitative methods study of partner notification, 40 in-depth telephone interviews were conducted with patients diagnosed with Chlamydia from clinics in Victoria, ACT and Queensland to determine their usage and opinions of different methods partner notification. Overwhelmingly, personal methods such as telling partners face-to-face or over the phone were preferred to impersonal methods such as email, SMS and letter. Face-to-face was considered the "gold standard" in partner notification because it demonstrated courage, caring and respect. Phone contact, while considered insensitive and cowardly by some, was often used because it was quick, convenient and less confronting. Email was viewed as only being acceptable in certain circumstances, such as if the partner was overseas, because it was seen as impersonal and uncaring. SMS was considered the least acceptable method for telling partners with most interviewees seeing it as cold, disrespectful and "gutless". However, interviewees who were fearful of their partner's reaction or who had high numbers of casual partners were enthusiastic about an anonymous SMS facility. For both emails and SMS, interviewees were concerned that the message could be misunderstood, not taken seriously or shown to others. Letters, both from the patients or from their doctor, while not viewed as unfavourably as the newer technologies were less likely to be used. These findings suggest that people diagnosed with Chlamydia are reluctant to use the new technologies for partner notification, except in specific circumstances, and our efforts in developing partner notification resources may best be focused on giving patients the skills and confidence for personal interaction.

Sexual Health ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 308
Author(s):  
M. J. Temple-Smith ◽  
C. A. Hopkins ◽  
C. K. Fairley ◽  
J. E. Tomnay ◽  
N. L. Pavlin ◽  
...  

Partner notification for patients diagnosed with chlamydia is recommended to assist in controlling the increasing incidence of this often asymptomatic but treatable infection. Few studies, however, have ascertained the views on partner notification from those who are often expected to perform it - the individuals who have been diagnosed with chlamydia. As part of a larger combined qualitative-quantitative methods study of partner notification, 40 in-depth telephone interviews were conducted with people diagnosed with chlamydia from clinics in Victoria, ACT and Queensland. Reactions to chlamydia diagnosis, as well as reasons for, and feelings about, telling their sexual partners about this infection were explored. Common reactions to initial diagnosis were surprise, shock and shame, as well as relief about being able to put a name to symptoms. Many spoke of relief on learning the condition was treatable. Both men and women commonly saw partner notification as a social duty, and cited concerns about their own health and the health of others as a reason for telling partners and ex-partners about the diagnosis. An infrequent reason offered for partner notification was to confront a partner to clarify fidelity. Reasons for not contacting a partner were typically fear of reaction, or a lack of contact details. Although participants reported sexual partners exhibiting a variety of reactions when told of the diagnosis, results showed that for almost everyone, the experience of notifying their partner was better than they had expected. Views about taking antibiotics to the partner varied according to the currency of the relationship, with some feeling it could be offered as appeasement, and others feeling it might be seen as intrusive. Overall, the findings from this study suggest that partner notification by people diagnosed with chlamydia is achievable, with many of these results likely to be transferable to other settings.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1146
Author(s):  
Charlotte L. Lee ◽  
Paul N. Aveyard ◽  
Susan A. Jebb ◽  
Carmen Piernas

Background: The ‘Primary Care SHOPping Intervention for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention’ (PCSHOP) trial tested the effectiveness and feasibility of a behavioural intervention to reduce saturated fat in food purchases. The intervention offered feedback from data collected through a supermarket loyalty card to supplement brief advice from a nurse. This qualitative study aimed to describe participants’ experiences of receiving this intervention. Methods: We conducted semi-structured, one-to-one, telephone interviews with participants from the PCSHOP trial. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. We employed the one sheet of paper technique and a thematic analysis to develop high-level themes in NVivo software. Results: Twenty-four participants were interviewed (mean age: 63 years (SD 12)). They reported that the brief advice did not provide any new information but they welcomed the sense of accountability the nurse provided. The personalised shopping feedback and healthier swap suggestions provided novel information that challenged previously held beliefs about the saturated fat content of food purchases and encouraged some positive dietary changes. However, the taste preferences of the participant or other household members were a barrier to changing food shopping behaviours. Conclusion: Harnessing loyalty card data is a novel and acceptable method to offering personalised dietary feedback. Yet, issues on the suitability of the healthier swap suggestions limited the extent of dietary change. Trial registration: ISRCTN14279335. Registered 1 September 2017.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simeon Floyd

Conversation analysis is a method for the systematic study of interaction in terms of a sequential turn-taking system. Research in conversation analysis has traditionally focused on speakers of English, and it is still unclear to what extent the system observed in that research applies to conversation more generally around the world. However, as this method is now being applied to conversation in a broader range of languages, it is increasingly possible to address questions about the nature of interactional diversity across different speech communities. The approach of pragmatic typology first applies sequential analysis to conversation from different speech communities and then compares interactional patterns in ways analogous to how traditional linguistic typology compares morphosyntax. This article discusses contemporary literature in pragmatic typology, including single-language studies and multilanguage comparisons reflecting both qualitative and quantitative methods. This research finds that microanalysis of face-to-face interaction can identify both universal trends and culture-specific interactional tendencies. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Anthropology, Volume 50 is October 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.


2013 ◽  
Vol 71 (9B) ◽  
pp. 677-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helio Rodrigues Gomes

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is a major complication of haematological and solid tumors with an incidence that ranges from 10% in solid malignances up to 25% in specific leukaemia or lymphoma subtypes. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) patterns are unspecific. Though CSF cytology has a high specificity (up to 95%), its sensitivity is generally less than 50% and no diagnostic gold standard marker is available, yet. New technologies such as flow cytometry, molecular genetics and newer biomarkers may improve diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, leading to the CNS involvement diagnosis, and consequently, to an effective prophylaxis and successful treatment.


1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 539-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. S. KENDLER ◽  
L. M. KARKOWSKI ◽  
C. A. PRESCOTT

Background. Familial factors, which are partly genetic, influence risk for phobias. Prior family and twin studies, however, were based on a single lifetime assessment, which may be only moderately reliable.Methods. We obtained, 8 years apart, two assessments of lifetime history of five unreasonable fears and phobias (agoraphobia and social, situational, animal and blood-injury phobia) from face-to-face and telephone interviews from 1708 individual female twins from a population-based registry. We also obtained, 1 month apart, test–retest reliability on 192 twins. We fitted, using the program Mx, a measurement model that estimates the role of genetic and environmental risk factors correcting for measurement error.Results. Short-term reliability of the five phobias was modest (mean κ=0·46), but higher than long-term stability (mean κ=0·30). Unreliability occurred both for subject recall of unreasonable fears and for interviewer assessment of which fears constituted phobias. Examining fears and phobias together, in a multiple threshold model, results suggested that twin resemblance was due solely to genetic factors, with estimated total heritabilities, corrected for unreliability, of: any 43%, agoraphobia 67%, animal 47%, blood/injury 59%, situational 46% and social 51%. With the exception of animal phobia, similar results were obtained analysing phobias alone.Conclusions. Lifetime histories of unreasonable fears and phobias assessed at personal interview have substantial unreliability. Correcting for unreliability, the liability to fears and their associated phobias is moderately heritable. Individual-specific environmental experiences play an important role in the development of phobias, while familial–environmental factors appear to be of little aetiological significance.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abel Duarte Alonso ◽  
Alessandro Bressan

Purpose – Collaboration among businesses, particularly in the current global economic downturn, can be a key strategy contributing to their survival. This study examines the case of micro firms involved in Terracotta art in Impruneta, Italy, and the extent to which collaboration occurs among the local artisans. In doing so, the study aims to consider collaboration theory in the context of micro firms. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured, face-to-face and telephone interviews were conducted among the owners and managers of ten of Impruneta's 16 Terracotta firms. Findings – Whilst much of the academic literature highlights the multiple benefits of collaborative relationships, most participants acknowledge very limited engagement in collaboration. From the comments gathered, two distinct groups emerged, one composed of members of the local Terracotta association, who to some extent collaborate with one another, and the second, the non-members, who pursue their interests individually, or marginally collaborate outside Impruneta. Further, a number of barriers preventing collaboration were identified. Practical implications – The apparent weak collaborative relationships among respondents may have ramifications for the further development of their sector, for instance, restricting innovation and marketing know-how, both of which could help address such external pressures as competition. The involvement of third parties, such as the local town hall or chambers of commerce, was suggested by several participants to help increase collaboration. Originality/value – The study focuses on micro firms, a group that, despite its relevance for many countries' economies, has received limited attention from academic research, including with regard to collaboration and collaboration theory.


2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 35-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
L E Graham ◽  
S Mcgimpsey ◽  
S Wright ◽  
G Mcclean ◽  
J Carser ◽  
...  

We have investigated prospectively the diagnostic accuracy, specialist satisfaction and patient–specialist rapport of a low-cost audio-visual link between a junior doctor with a patient and a consultant rheumatologist. Using a telephone link and subsequently a video-phone link, 20 patients, with various rheumatological problems, were presented by a junior doctor to the consultant rheumatologist for provisional diagnosis. All patients were then seen face to face by the consultant, when a final diagnosis was made. An independent consultant rheumatologist made a ‘gold standard’ diagnosis. Thirty-five per cent of diagnoses were made correctly over the telephone and 40% over the video-phone – there was no significant difference in the diagnostic accuracy between these two methods of communication. Rapport over the video-phone was universally poor. Where it was important, clinical signs could not be visualized over the video-phone and in more than 85% of cases small joint swellings could not be seen clearly.


2007 ◽  
Vol 46 (03) ◽  
pp. 332-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Knaup ◽  
E. J. S. Hovenga ◽  
S. Heard ◽  
S. Garde

Summary Objectives: In the field of open electronic health records (EHRs), openEHR as an archetype-based approach is being increasingly recognised. It is the objective of this paper to shortly describe this approach, and to analyse how openEHR archetypes impact on health professionals and semantic interoperability. Methods: Analysis of current approaches to EHR systems, terminology and standards developments. In addition to literature reviews, we organised face-to-face and additional telephone interviews and tele-conferences with members of relevant organisations and committees. Results: The openEHR archetypes approach enables syntactic interoperability and semantic interpretability – both important prerequisites for semantic interoperability. Archetypes enable the formal definition of clinical content by clinicians. To enable comprehensive semantic interoperability, the development and maintenance of archetypes needs to be coordinated internationally and across health professions. Domain knowledge governance comprises a set of processes that enable the creation, development, organisation, sharing, dissemination, use and continuous maintenance of archetypes. It needs to be supported by information technology. Conclusions: To enable EHRs, semantic interoperability is essential. The openEHR archetypes approach enables syntactic interoperability and semantic interpretability. However, without coordinated archetype development and maintenance, ‘rank growth’ of archetypes would jeopardize semantic interoperability. We therefore believe that openEHR archetypes and domain knowledge governance together create the knowledge environment required to adopt EHRs.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
JY Hur ◽  
Wonhyuk Cho ◽  
G Lee ◽  
Sarah Bickerton

© 2019, © 2019 Asian Studies Association of Australia. Starting in 2012, the South Korean government has implemented a large-scale relocation of its central government agencies, which are now split between the existing capital city (Seoul) and a new administrative-capital city (Sejong). One of the most controversial aspects of the relocation has been the bureaucratic inefficiency caused by its split nature. ICT-enabled solutions, dubbed “Smart Work”, were adopted to deal with this challenge, but have not been effective in avoiding inefficiency. In this article, we argue that different forms of organisational inertia created resistance to switching from traditional work routines to Smart Work’s ICT-assisted equivalents. Various forms of inertia–psychological (anxiety around learning new technologies), cognitive (culture/norms in face-to-face work routines), technological (stickiness of pre-existing IT system), political (continued influence from elected officials), and resource allocation (success bias from previous digital government projects)–significantly influenced public managers’ work practices in Sejong. These types of inertia, we argue, have reinforced face-to-face communication rather than digital communication, on-site visits rather than video-conferencing, and fixed-time work rather than flex-work. Our findings challenge dominant views from functionalist models of digital transformation and emphasise the importance of cultural congruency between workplace norms and technophilic business processes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 329
Author(s):  
Fahmeeda Gulnaz ◽  
Amani Dakheel Allah Althomali ◽  
Daliyah Hesham Alzeer

The traditional face-to-face teaching, despite being constantly criticized by the methodologists and ever-emerging modern approaches, has never lost its scope in the (EFL) English as a Foreign Language context. Researchers and pedagogues, in order to get the both ends meet, have converged traditional face-to-face instructions and online activities into the concept of blended learning. By establishing on previous works and contexts, the present study aims at investigating Taif University’s EFL teachers and learners’ positive and negative perceptions and experiences towards the effectiveness of online (CLMS) Cambridge Learning Management System and on-site learning environments. The work utilized triangulation in the use of research methods, i.e., both qualitative and quantitative methods overlap each other: (i) structured interview of experienced EFL (4 male and 4 female) teachers of Taif University, with maximum open ended questions, exhibit qualitative dimensions of the study; (ii) an opinionnaire developed with closed ended questions by employing Likert’s five point scale to collect the data from 100 male and 100 female EFL learners of Taif University, represents quantitative perspective of the work. The opinionnaire includes 22 items and has been developed to measure the four subscales; learners’ beliefs and attitudes, promising strands that help develop learners’ confidence and language coupled with the perils that impede their creativity and motivation to learn. The findings of the study indicate that the level of strengths of blended learning is higher than its limitations. Learners found themselves satisfied being more exposed to the target language through vivid images, videos, audios, reading texts, chatting and discussion forums and acknowledged that (BLE) blended learning environment enhanced their language proficiency.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document