Exploring service users’ experience of community meetings in a high secure service

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 200-212
Author(s):  
Danielle Mayes ◽  
Sarah Victoria Ramsden ◽  
Louise Braham ◽  
Zoe Whitaker ◽  
Mark Norburn
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Therapeutic Milieu ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Positive Experiences ◽  
Saliency Analysis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore service users’ experience of community meetings (CMs) within a high secure setting. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative design was employed in which focus groups were used to capture service users’ experience of CMs. In all, 12 focus groups comprising a total of 27 participants were carried out using a semi-structured interview schedule. Data were analysed using thematic and saliency analysis, identifying themes which were pertinent to the research aims. Findings Positive experiences reported by service users included a safe space to explore ward issues and develop skills, with some viewing the meeting as a therapeutic forum in which to facilitate personal growth. Research limitations/implications There were a wide range of patient presentations and views. Furthermore, only 20 per cent of the patient population were included within this study. Practical implications A number of recommendations have been identified that can have positive implications for patients (quality of life and recovery), staff (resolving conflicts and problem-solving) and the overall therapeutic milieu of the ward. Originality/value There are no reviews looking at CMs within the last decade. This paper brings the understanding up to date to allow the development of this potentially positive tool.

Factors affecting the development of e-government using a citizen-centric approach

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 206-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanda Sorn-in ◽  
Kulthida Tuamsuk ◽  
Wasu Chaopanon
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Government Services ◽  
Government Sector ◽  
The Government

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the factors affecting the development of e-government by using a citizen-centric approach. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is a mixed-methods study consisting of qualitative and quantitative research. Data were collected from government agencies using a structured interview and questionnaire about e-government services. The research was collected from the people responsible for the management of an e-government project in 75 government agencies. In addition, the researcher collected data from 1,400 citizens by using an e-Survey questionnaire that grouped participants by age. Findings – By using a citizen-centric approach, the paper identified the factors affecting the development of e-government. There were five factors from the viewpoint of government agencies and citizen groups: quality of e-government services, policy and governance, information technology infrastructure, organization and economy and society. Research limitations/implications – The research covered the development patterns of e-government for services from government to citizens only. Practical implications – Seeing the importance of environmental factors for both service providers and service users would facilitate continuous improvement of e-government service provision by government agencies. Social implications – The results reflect citizens’ need for e-government services; quality is their priority. Hence, government agencies must consider the quality of the delivery of information and e-government services as they relate to the lifestyles and needs of citizens. Originality/value – The creation of knowledge from merging e-government concepts with citizen-centric principles is a modern government sector management theory. This research stresses the need for the government sector to see the need for e-government and to recognize the factors for its successful development. This means the design and development of e-government services should respond to the increasing needs of the citizens.

scholarly journals An Adaptive Bitrate Switching Algorithm for Speech Applications in Context of WebRTC

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Mohannad Alahmadi ◽  
Peter Pocta ◽  
Hugh Melvin
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Data Exchange ◽  
Quality Of Experience ◽  
End User ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Switching Algorithm ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) combines a set of standards and technologies to enable high-quality audio, video, and auxiliary data exchange in web browsers and mobile applications. It enables peer-to-peer multimedia sessions over IP networks without the need for additional plugins. The Opus codec, which is deployed as the default audio codec for speech and music streaming in WebRTC, supports a wide range of bitrates. This range of bitrates covers narrowband, wideband, and super-wideband up to fullband bandwidths. Users of IP-based telephony always demand high-quality audio. In addition to users’ expectation, their emotional state, content type, and many other psychological factors; network quality of service; and distortions introduced at the end terminals could determine their quality of experience. To measure the quality experienced by the end user for voice transmission service, the E-model standardized in the ITU-T Rec. G.107 (a narrowband version), ITU-T Rec. G.107.1 (a wideband version), and the most recent ITU-T Rec. G.107.2 extension for the super-wideband E-model can be used. In this work, we present a quality of experience model built on the E-model to measure the impact of coding and packet loss to assess the quality perceived by the end user in WebRTC speech applications. Based on the computed Mean Opinion Score, a real-time adaptive codec parameter switching mechanism is used to switch to the most optimum codec bitrate under the present network conditions. We present the evaluation results to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach when compared with the default codec configuration in WebRTC.

Meaningful Ways of Understanding and Measuring Change for People with Borderline Personality Disorder: A Thematic Analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 528-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise McCusker ◽  
Marie-Louise Turner ◽  
Georgina Pike ◽  
Helen Startup
Keyword(s):  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Measuring Change

Background:The effective treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) presents healthcare providers with a significant challenge. The evidence base remains limited partially due to a lack of professional consensus and service user involvement regarding ways of measuring change. As a result, the limited evidence that is available draws on such a wide range of outcome measures, that comparison across treatment types is hindered, maintaining a lack of clarity regarding the clinical needs of this group.Aims:This investigation aimed to follow the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE, 2009) research recommendations by asking service users about meaningful change within their recovery. This forms a starting point for the future development of a tailored outcome measure.Method:Fifteen service users with a diagnosis of BPD participated in three focus groups across two specialist Personality Disorder services. The focus groups were analysed using Thematic Analysis.Results:Two superordinate themes were synthesized from the data: (1) recovery to what?: ‘How do you rewrite who you are?’; and (2) conditions for change. Each superordinate theme further consisted of three subordinate themes which elucidated the over-arching themes.Conclusion:This investigation highlights the complex nature of measuring change in people who have received a BPD diagnosis. Further research is needed to develop meaningful ways of measuring change according to the needs and priorities of people with BPD.

Heuristics in financial decision-making: the selection of SME financing by advisers in an increasingly diverse market

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Rauwerda ◽  
Frank Jan De Graaf
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Ecological Rationality ◽  
Personal Network ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Less Is More ◽  
Fast And Frugal Heuristics ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Simple Rules

PurposeIn order to better understand how heuristics are used in practice, the authors explore what type of heuristics is used in the managerial domain of financial advisors to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and what influences the shaping of these heuristics. In doing so, the authors detect possible fast-and-frugal heuristics in day-to-day decision-making of independent financial advisers who help owners of SMEs to acquire capital (e.g. loans, factoring, leasing and equity).Design/methodology/approachThe authors inductively assessed the work of financial advisers of SMEs. Based on group discussions, the authors drew up a semi-structured interview-protocol with descriptive questions about how financial advisers come to a deal for their clients. The interviews of 19 professionals were analysed by relating them to the theory of fast-and-frugal heuristics.FindingsWithin their decision-making, advisers estimate the likelihood of acceptance by a few financial providers they know well in their personal network with a strong bias towards traditional banking products, although there are a large number of alternatives on the Dutch market. “Less is more” seems to be a relevant principle when defined as satisficing. Heuristics help advisers to deal with behavioural and economic limitations. Also, the authors have found that client interaction, previous working experience and the company the adviser is working for influences the shaping of the simple rules the adviser is using.Research limitations/implicationsThe study shows how difficult it is to understand the ecological rationality of a certain group of professionals and to understand the “less is more” principle. Financial advisers to SMEs use cognitive shortcuts and simple rules to advise SME-owners, based on previous experiences, but it is difficult to determine whether that leads to the same or even better solutions for them and their clients than using probability theory and financial optimisation models. Within heuristics, satisficing seems to be a dominant mechanism. Here, heuristics help advisers in recognising possibilities by searching for similarities between a current financing case and previous experiences. The data suggests that if “less is more” is defined as satisficing for one or more stakeholders involved, the principle dominates the decision making of financial advisers of SME's.Practical implicationsThe authors suggest the relevance of a behavioural approach to finance by assessing the day-to-day decisions of financial advisers of SMEs. Also, the authors suggest that financial advisers are guided by previous experiences, and they do not fully assess a wide range of options in their work but need shortcuts to fulfil the needs of their clients.Originality/valueThe study comes close to day-to-day decision-making in finance by assessing how professionals make decisions. The authors try to understand types of heuristics in relation with “ecological rationality” and the less is more principle. The authors assess financial advisers of SME-companies, a group that has gotten little research attention until now. The influence of client interaction and of the company the adviser is working for is remarkable in the shaping of the advisers' simple rules.

From surviving to thriving: how does that happen

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 337-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Bertram ◽  
Sarah McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experience ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Employment Education ◽  
Vocational Goals ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore what helped seven people in contact with secondary mental health services achieve their vocational goals, such as: employment, education, training and volunteering. Design/methodology/approach – The authors used the practice of co-operative inquiry – staff and peer supporters co-designed an evaluation of vocational and peer support work with service users. Findings – Service users experienced invalidating living conditions that caused serious distress. These life struggles included: isolation, trauma events and stigma. The impact involved distressing emotions such as: despair, fear, pain and confusion. In contrast, when service users experienced supportive validating conditions (trusting relationships, engaging in valued activity and peer support) they reported being able to learn, change and grow – finding their own way forward, to improve well-being and quality of life. Research limitations/implications – Qualitative analysis from in-depth interviews revealed a range of consistent themes that enabled the authors to visually represent these and “begin” developing a model of change – grounded in lived experience. Further research is required to develop this model. Originality/value – The development of a model of change grounded in an invalidation/validation framework offers a different approach – in terms of how people are perceived and treated. This has relevance for Government policy development, clinical commissioning groups and practitioners.

Health literacy and its effects on well-being: how vulnerable healthcare service users integrate online resources

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 697-715
Author(s):  
Justine Virlée ◽  
Allard C.R. van Riel ◽  
Wafa Hammedi
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Healthcare Service ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Individual

Purpose This study aims to develop a better understanding of how online health community (OHC) members with different health literacy (HL) levels benefit from their participation, through the analysis and comparison of their resource integration (RI) processes. It investigates through a RI lens how the vulnerability of community members – captured as their level of HL – affects the benefits they derive from participation. Design/methodology/approach Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to investigate the effects of healthcare service users’ vulnerability. Data were collected about their profiles and levels of HL. Furthermore, 15 in-depth interviews were conducted. Findings The study demonstrates how low levels of HL act as a barrier to the integration of available online health resources. Participation in OHCs appears less beneficial for vulnerable users. Three types of benefits were identified at the individual level, namely, psychological quality-of-life, physical quality-of-life and learning. Benefits identified at the community level were: content generation and participation in the development of the community. Originality/value This study has implications for the understanding of how service users’ activities affect their own outcomes and how the vulnerability of users could be anticipated and considered in the design of the community.

Lean Six Sigma leadership in higher education institutions

2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 638-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Lu ◽  
Chad Laux ◽  
Jiju Antony
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Leadership Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Leadership Framework

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate whether a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) leadership model could be effectively utilized to resolve efficiency and effective issues like rising costs, quality of education, graduation and retention rates encountered in higher education institutions (HEIs) in the modern era. Design/methodology/approach The authors systematically reviewed the literature on key concepts of LSS and leadership in HEIs in to develop a theoretical model using an inductive theory-building approach in accordance with the exploratory nature of the study. Findings The results of the study proposed a conceptual LSS leadership framework, which provides a basis for testing of LSS leadership representations in HEIs. The results suggest that LSS leadership has advantages for HEI to overcome currents issues and challenges. Research limitations/implications This research is a theoretical study based on the existing literature that identified characteristics that may be adopted in higher education. The proposed LSS leadership framework is based upon leadership, statistical thinking, continuous change and improvement. This model is based upon service and the concepts of adaptive, rather than technical work, of leaders in higher education. Practical implications The proposed LSS leadership framework brings new aspects and perspectives of leadership in HEIs. LSS leadership model has its practical meaning in providing a fundamental base for HEIs to overcome challenges, fulfill missions, and sustain improvements. Social implications HEIs are a foundation for principles of democracy, equality and diversity. HEIs have been a path for citizens but HEIs are facing challenges that are reducing the ability of individuals to improve themselves. Leadership of HEI needs to incorporate new principles to adapt to a changing society. Originality/value LSS project leaders have achieved improved bottom line results and customer satisfaction in a wide range of industries, but LSS application in the HEIs remains to be explored. This paper proposes an effective LSS leadership model, which can help improve the quality of education, reduce non-value added costs and enhance operational efficiency of HEIs.

scholarly journals Qualitative systematic literature review: the experience of being in seclusion for adults with mental health difficulties

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Mellow ◽  
Anna Tickle ◽  
Michael Rennoldson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Positive Experiences

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to conduct a systematic search of the peer-reviewed qualitative literature investigating the lived experience of seclusion for adults with mental health difficulties, to appraise the quality of the existing literature and synthesise findings. Background: seclusion is a controversial intervention for the short-term management of unsafe behaviours in inpatient mental health services. There has been some sporadic interest in service users’ experiences of this. Design/methodology/approach Systematic literature review and meta-synthesis: data sources – databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PSYCINFO were searched in July 2015; review methods – the Joanna Briggs Institute’s Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument tools for critical appraisal and data extraction were used to review papers and synthesise findings. Findings A small number of papers were found, which were of mixed quality. Originality/value The existing research is limited in both quantity and quality. Although most participants from the existing research described seclusion as mostly negative with the potential for causing iatrogenic harm, some described more positive experiences, often in the context of compassionate interactions with staff.

The Life Tape Project, an existential intervention for cancer patients: A report on perceived benefits and changes in quality of life

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8604-8604
Author(s):  
E. H. Rosenbaum ◽  
R. W. Garlan ◽  
A. L. Siegel ◽  
S. Henderson ◽  
N. Hirschberger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Life Story ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Repeated Measure ◽  
Perceived Benefits ◽  
Symbolic Immortality

8604 Background: Facing cancer, most patients struggle with mortality and threats to their emotional equilibrium and that of their families. Families may become closer, but often communication difficulties and isolation increase. The Life Tape Project (LTP) is an intervention—involving a two hour video-taped genealogy and life story in the presence of family—designed to help patients and families confront this existential crisis. An important aspect is the cultivation of Symbolic Immortality—that some important part of the person continues to exist symbolically, even after death—helping patients identify with things greater and more enduring than themselves, and providing a sense of what will remain with the family after they are gone. Observation and pilot data suggested patients receive substantial benefits from the LTP. Results from an ongoing study designed to quantify and extend these observations are reported. Method: Adults with any cancer diagnosis are recruited from the general population. Patients complete baseline questionnaires before the LT interview and follow-up packets two and ten weeks after. Measures include the FACT-G for Quality of Life (QOL) and a Perceived Benefits Questionnaire covering eight themes suggested by previous research. A final semi-structured interview probes for unwanted effects. Results: At first follow-up (N = 23 as of 1/8/06) repeated measure t-tests revealed significant increases in FACT-G Functional and QOL (Total) scales; and a majority of patients reported substantial benefits (endorsing “very” or “extremely true for me”) in at least one theme. Final interviews revealed no unwanted effects. Conclusions: The LTP is a powerful, safe, and accessible intervention that can improve family communication and connectedness, promote personal growth, and reduce existential anxiety through the creation of symbolic immortality. Requiring minimal equipment and time, it would make an excellent addition to any supportive care program. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Health information seeking of low socioeconomic status Hispanic adults using smartphones

2015 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 542-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henna Kim ◽  
Yan Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Low Ses ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Low Socioeconomic ◽  
Wide Range

Purpose – Smartphones have great potential to bridge the digital divide that low-socioeconomic status (SES) Hispanics have been experiencing. However, little is known about this group’s use of smartphones for health information. The purpose of this paper is to fill the gap by exploring the context in which smartphones were used for health information. Design/methodology/approach – The authors interviewed 20 low-SES Hispanic participants using the semi-structured interview method. Participants had not obtained college degrees and had annual incomes less than $30,000, but had used their smartphones for health information. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using the qualitative content analysis method. Findings – Being economical was an important reason for low-SES Hispanic users to use smartphones for health information. The users relied heavily on public Wi-Fi to access the internet. They searched a wide range of health topics, mostly using the mobile web rather than apps. They lacked knowledge and skills to effectively using apps, evaluating the quality of health information, and comprehend information. Research limitations/implications – Having access to smartphones alone does not help bridge the digital gap for low-SES Hispanics. Interventions need to consider improving these users’ smartphone literacy and health literacy, as well as improving their access to Wi-Fi services and to more quality content in Spanish. Originality/value – Prior studies speculated that smartphones could be a means to bridge digital divide experienced by the Hispanic ethnic group. This study provided empirical knowledge about how smartphones are used by these users for health information, and shed light on the design of future informational interventions.

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