scholarly journals CREATING DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES IN CENTRAL FLORIDA IN THE UNITED STATES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S444-S444
Author(s):  
Tracy Wharton ◽  
Daniel Paulson ◽  
Courtney Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Culturally Competent ◽  
Social Service Agencies ◽  
Central Florida ◽  
Emergency Personnel ◽  
Training And Support

Abstract The Dementia Care & Cure Initiative in Florida is a statewide movement to advance dementia friendly communities. With 25% of the state over the age of 65, Florida has one of the highest rates of dementia in the nation. The taskforce based in Orlando involves a partnership of representatives from social service agencies, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and research partners, as well as consumers. The task force commissioned a series of five focus groups with 43 consumers. These focus groups produced short and long-term recommendations, identifying such issues as needed training for emergency personnel and law enforcement, improving inter-provider communication, and providing culturally competent programming for a diverse region. The taskforce has been planning with the Mayor’s office and law enforcement to initiate training and support for community engagement, and planning for implementation of these goals. Recommendations from the groups and from the taskforce to community leaders will be discussed.

The Future of RT/TR Education: Results from the ATRA Higher Education Task Force Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Craig ◽  
Brent Hawkins ◽  
Lynn Anderson ◽  
Candy Ashton-Forrester ◽  
Marcia Carter
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Task Force ◽  
The United States ◽  
Therapeutic Recreation ◽  
Bachelor's Degree ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Recreational Therapy ◽  
Student Groups ◽  
Entry Level

In 2016, the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) Board of Directors created a task force within its Higher Education Committee to study the educational requirements for entry-level education in recreational therapy/therapeutic recreation (RT/TR) and make recommendations to the Board. From 2016-2018, the task force planned and implemented a multiphase mixed methods study with approximately 2,000 RT/ TR practitioners, educators, students, and credentialing and accrediting bodies from across the United States and Canada. During the first phase of the study, in-person focus groups were completed with 25 practitioner groups (N=257), 10 educator groups (N=49), and 17 student groups (N=222) at 19 state and regional conferences and meetings, as well as during four online focus groups using the Zoom videoconferencing platform. Interviews were conducted with board members of six RT/TR credentialing and accrediting bodies. During the second phase of the study, online surveys were completed by RT/TR practitioners (N=1,663), educators (N=141), and students (N=483). The central finding suggests the most current and pressing need in higher education is to improve the quality and consistency of the bachelor’s degree in RT/TR. Five mixed-method results supporting the central finding are presented, and data-driven recommendations to improve professional preparation in RT/TR are discussed.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Linguistic Appropriateness and Cultural Sensitivity of a Self-Report System for Spanish-Speaking Patients with Cancer

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cindy Tofthagen ◽  
Barbara Halpenny ◽  
Maribel Melendez ◽  
Laura Gonzalez ◽  
Veronica Sanchez Varela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Cultural Sensitivity ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Spanish Speakers ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Spanish Version ◽  
Spanish Speaking ◽  
Sensitivity Assessment

Spanish speakers in the United States encounter numerous communication barriers during cancer treatment. Communication-focused interventions may help Spanish speakers communicate better with healthcare providers and manage symptoms and quality of life issues (SQOL). For this study, we developed a Spanish version of the electronic self-report assessment for cancer (ESRA-C), a web-based program that helps people with cancer report, track, and manage cancer-related SQOL. Four methods were used to evaluate the Spanish version. Focus groups and cognitive interviews were conducted with 51 Spanish-speaking individuals to elicit feedback. Readability was assessed using the Fry readability formula. The cultural sensitivity assessment tool was applied by three bilingual, bicultural reviewers. Revisions were made to personalize the introduction using a patient story and photos and to simplify language. Focus group participants endorsed changes to the program in a second round of focus groups. Cultural sensitivity of the program was scored unacceptable (x¯=3.0) for audiovisual material and acceptable (x¯=3.0) for written material. Fry reading levels ranged from 4th to 10th grade. Findings from this study provide several next steps to refine ESRA-C for Spanish speakers with cancer.

scholarly journals Adaptation of a mobile health platform to the needs of cystic fibrosis patients, caregivers, and clinicians in the United States (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah B. Rutland ◽  
Rikard Palmer Bergquist ◽  
Andreas Hager ◽  
Robin Geurs ◽  
Cathy Mims ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Standards Of Care ◽  
Healthcare Team ◽  
Daily Care ◽  
Clinic Visits

BACKGROUND Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited chronic condition that requires extensive daily care and quarterly clinic visits with a multidisciplinary care team. The limited exchange of information outside of the quarterly clinic visits impedes optimal disease self-management, patient engagement, and shared decision-making. OBJECTIVE This study adapted a mobile health (mHealth) application originally developed in Sweden to the needs of people with CF, their caregivers, and healthcare providers in the United States, and tested it as a platform for sharing patient-generated health data (PGHD) with the CF healthcare team. METHODS Focus groups with CF healthcare providers, adolescents with CF, and caregivers of children and adolescents with CF were conducted to determine what modifications were necessary. Focus group data were analyzed using a thematic analysis, and emergent themes were ranked according to desirability and technical feasibility. The mHealth platform was then modified to meet the identified needs and preferences, and the flow of PGHD to a secure REDCap database was tested. Protocols for data management and clinical follow-up were also developed. RESULTS Five focus groups with 21 participants were conducted. Recommended modifications pertained to all functionalities of the mHealth platform, including tracking of symptoms, treatments, and activities of daily care; creating and organizing medication lists and setting up reminders; generating reports for the healthcare team; language and presentation; sharing and privacy; as well as settings and accounts. Overall, healthcare providers recommended changes to align the mHealth platform with U.S. standards of care, people with CF and their caregivers requested to track more disease symptoms and clinical outcomes, and both groups suggested the inclusion of a mental health tracker as well as more detailed response options and precise language. Beta-testers of the modified platform reported issues related to translatability to U.S. environment and various bugs. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated the importance of identifying the needs and preferences of target users and stakeholders before adopting existing mHealth solutions. All relevant perspectives, including those of clinicians, patients, and caregivers, should be thoroughly considered in order to meet both end-user needs and evidence-based practice recommendations. CLINICALTRIAL NCT03910881

Using Focus Groups to Investigate Issues of Red Light Running

2000 ◽  
Vol 1734 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leanne M. Wissinger ◽  
Joseph E. Hummer ◽  
Joseph S. Milazzo
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Traffic Engineering ◽  
Red Light ◽  
The United States ◽  
Red Light Running ◽  
Grace Period ◽  
The Public ◽  
Red Light Cameras

Red light running (RLR) has been an important issue among transportation officials seeking to make intersections safer for drivers and pedestrians. Many cities in the United States have started programs aimed at reducing the number of red light violations, and many of these programs include the use of automated enforcement utilizing a camera to record violations. Previous research on such enforcement has quantified the rate of its public acceptance through surveys; however, little research has been performed probing the reactions and concerns of the public toward red light cameras. For this study, focus groups were used to investigate the attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of the public toward RLR and red light cameras. Fifteen focus groups were held throughout North Carolina with representatives from organizations interested in and knowledgeable about traffic safety, traffic engineering, and traffic law enforcement, as well as with people not professionally involved in law enforcement or traffic engineering. Some of the focus group discussions involved such issues as determining an appropriate RLR grace period, developing an educational campaign, addressing financial issues, and determining appropriate penalties for RLR violations. Participants voiced their opinions on both sides of the issues; for instance, many participants said they strongly believed there should be some sort of grace period with automated enforcement, whereas others said they felt a zero-tolerance policy should be used. Also, many participants voiced their unequivocal support for automated enforcement, whereas others expressed concerns.

Recruit conservation warden field training: A qualitative analysis of the San Jose Police Department Field Training Model applied to natural resource law enforcement

2021 ◽  
pp. 146135572110164
Author(s):  
Matthew Groppi
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Police Department ◽  
Police Training ◽  
Training Model ◽  
The United States ◽  
San Jose ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Field Training

This article reviews the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing (hereafter President’s Task Force) findings on law enforcement field training. The President’s Task Force was critical of the San Jose Police Department Field Training Model (hereafter the San Jose Model), the most common model used by law enforcement agencies within the United States. These criticisms were the impetus for an assessment of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Law Enforcement Field Training Program which was based on the San Jose Model. The WDNR employs conservation wardens who primarily enforce wildlife, environmental, and recreational vehicle laws. This study evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the WDNR field training program through surveys of the perceptions and experiences of the field training officers, recruit conservation wardens, and warden supervisors. These findings also permit analysis regarding the criticisms identified by the President’s Task Force. The author found very little existing research pertaining to field training programs and little existing research on conservation law enforcement. The findings of this study persuaded command staff within the WDNR to follow the recommendations of the President’s Task Force and adopt the Police Training Officer (PTO) Model because it incorporated adult learning concepts, problem-based learning, and was more focused on community policing. Practical applications for other agencies are discussed and needs for future empirical research related to law enforcement field training are identified.

Food Assistance Deserts in Central Florida: Identifying Service Gaps Using Spatial Analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 193672442098440
Author(s):  
Emily Curran ◽  
Amy Armenia
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Spatial Inequality ◽  
Food Assistance ◽  
Social Service Agencies ◽  
Community Based Research ◽  
Persistent Problem ◽  
Marginalized Communities ◽  
Central Florida ◽  
Collaborative Community ◽  
Service Agencies

Food assistance works to relieve food insecurity, a persistent problem in the United States disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. In this study, we take a closer look at geographical service gaps in food assistance using Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis to measure food assistance deserts, a term for areas where the nearest food assistance location is more than a mile away from the population centroid of a block group. By combining geographic data with data from the American Community Survey, we identified characteristics and predictors of food assistance deserts. Our results indicate that locations of food assistance in Central Florida are generally responsive to the needs of the community but are lacking in more affluent areas. This research was made possible through a partnership between our institution and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. The affordability and accessibility of this project should serve as a model for assessing spatial inequality in social service agencies through collaborative community-based research.

Education and Support: Tilting the Scale Toward Exclusive Breastfeeding

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-90
Author(s):  
Naomi Pitcock ◽  
Kimberly Pineda ◽  
Natasha Ossinova ◽  
Laura Yoder
Keyword(s):  
Peer Support ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
The United States ◽  
Peer Counseling ◽  
Culturally Competent ◽  
Breastfeeding Intention ◽  
Quasi Experimental

The Hispanic population in the United States is growing, and healthcare providers are challenged to design targeted, culturally appropriate programs to improve health outcomes related to breastfeeding.ObjectivesThis study was designed to detect the exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate among Hispanic women who chose education plus peer support versus peer support only. In addition, this study further evaluates ¡Tengo Leche!, an educational program previously evaluated in the literature.MethodsThe sample (n = 103) consisted of Hispanic pregnant, low-income, and uninsured women. A two-group quasi-experimental design was used to test the educational intervention combined with peer support (n = 35) versus stand-alone peer support (n = 68). The education-plus group (n = 35) voluntarily participated in the education portion. All participants received the inpatient peer counseling. The participants' breastfeeding intention was gathered through chart review.ResultsEBF at discharge was significantly higher (c2 = 4.51, p = .02) among mothers in the education plus peer support group, who were more likely to be exclusively breastfeeding at discharge (46.7%) versus the peer-support-only group (24.6%).ConclusionsThe outcomes of this study may provide guidance for designing culturally competent interventions with a focus on cost-effective and outcome-driven interventions to increase EBF.

scholarly journals Promoting Safe and Effective Genetic Tests in the United States: Work of the Task Force on Genetic Testing

1999 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 732-738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil A Holtzman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Genetic Testing ◽  
Human Services ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Appropriate Use ◽  
Genetic Tests ◽  
Health And Human Services ◽  
Other Information

Abstract The Task Force on Genetic Testing was created to review genetic testing in the United States and, when necessary, to make recommendations to ensure the development of safe and effective genetic tests. A survey to explore the state of genetic testing was undertaken for the Task Force and completed in early 1995. The survey, as well as literature reports and other information collected for the Task Force, showed problems affecting safety and effectiveness, as defined by the Task Force: validity and utility of predictive tests, laboratory quality, and appropriate use by healthcare providers and consumers. On the basis of these findings, the Task Force made several recommendations to ensure safe and effective genetic testing. The Secretary of Health and Human Services followed up one recommendation by creating the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing. One of its functions will be to implement other recommendations of the Task Force.

scholarly journals Advancing the Development of Patient-reported Outcomes for Adult Myositis at OMERACT 2016: An International Delphi Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (11) ◽  
pp. 1683-1687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Kyun Park ◽  
Christopher A. Mecoli ◽  
Helene Alexanderson ◽  
Malin Regardt ◽  
Lisa Christopher-Stine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Patient Reported Outcomes ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Delphi Survey ◽  
Modified Delphi ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industries

Objective.To define a set of core patient-reported domains and respective instruments for use in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). Previously, we reported a systematic literature review on patient-reported outcomes (PRO) in IIM followed by conducting international focus groups to elicit patient perspectives of myositis symptoms and effects.Methods.Based on qualitative content analysis of focus groups, an initial list of 26 candidate domains was constructed. We subsequently conducted an international modified Delphi survey to identify the importance of each of the 26 domains. Participants were asked to rate each domain on a scale of 0–10 (0 = not important, 10 = very important).Results.In this first round of the Delphi survey, 643 patients participated from the United States (n = 543), Sweden (n = 49), and South Korea (n = 51). Of the 26 domains, 19 (73%) were rated of high importance (≥ 7/10). The top 5 domains were muscle symptoms, fatigue, interactions with healthcare, medication side effects, and pain. During Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) 2016, we discussed the goal for ultimate reduction in the number of domains and the importance of considering representation of healthcare providers from other specialties, caregivers, representatives of pharmaceutical industries, and regulatory authorities in the next rounds of Delphi to represent broader perspectives on IIM.Conclusion.Further prioritization and a reduction in the number of domains will be needed for the next Delphi. At the next biennial OMERACT meeting, we aim to present and seek voting on a Myositis Preliminary PRO Core Set to enable ultimate measure selection and development.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 136-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janne E. Gaub ◽  
Natalie Todak ◽  
Michael D. White
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
The United States ◽  
Potential Utility ◽  
Police Departments ◽  
Policy And Procedure

Although body-worn cameras (BWCs) have diffused rapidly in law enforcement both in the United States and abroad, questions have emerged regarding the potential utility of BWCs for specialized police units. Given the near-sole focus on patrol during BWC implementation, the role of specialty units in BWC deployment is often overlooked. Further, the advantages, disadvantages, and challenges associated with BWCs may be unique for specialty units compared to patrol, given their differences in mission and operational focus. We explore this issue using qualitative data from 17 focus groups with 72 officers assigned to specialty units in two midsize Western police departments. The findings highlight the importance of carefully considering unit mission when making decisions about BWCs, especially related to policy and procedure.

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