scholarly journals Worth living or worth dying? The views of the general public about allowing disabled children to die

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Brick ◽  
Guy Kahane ◽  
Dominic Wilkinson ◽  
Lucius Caviola ◽  
Julian Savulescu
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Treatment Withdrawal ◽  
Worth Living ◽  
Ethical Frameworks ◽  
Role Of Parents ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Public Views

BackgroundDecisions about withdrawal of life support for infants have given rise to legal battles between physicians and parents creating intense media attention. It is unclear how we should evaluate when life is no longer worth living for an infant. Public attitudes towards treatment withdrawal and the role of parents in situations of disagreement have not previously been assessed.MethodsAn online survey was conducted with a sample of the UK public to assess public views about the benefit of life in hypothetical cases similar to real cases heard by the UK courts (eg, Charlie Gard, Alfie Evans). We then evaluated these public views in comparison with existing ethical frameworks for decision-making.ResultsOne hundred and thirty participants completed the survey. The majority (94%) agreed that an infant’s life may have no benefit when well-being falls below a critical level. Decisions to withdraw treatment were positively associated with the importance of use of medical resources, the infant’s ability to have emotional relationships, and mental abilities. Up to 50% of participants in each case believed it was permissible to either continue or withdraw treatment.ConclusionDespite the controversy, our findings indicate that in the most severe cases, most people agree that life is not worth living for a profoundly disabled infant. Our survey found wide acceptance of at least the permissibility of withdrawal of treatment across a range of cases, though also a reluctance to overrule parents’ decisions. These findings may be useful when constructing guidelines for clinical practice.

scholarly journals Chinese views on nuclear weapons: Evidence from an online survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 205316802110328
Author(s):  
Naomi Egel ◽  
R. Lincoln Hines
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Weapons ◽  
Text Analysis ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
The Public ◽  
Self Defense ◽  
Public Views ◽  
Chinese Public

What are Chinese public attitudes regarding nuclear weapons? Although scholars have studied Chinese elites’ views on nuclear weapons, surprisingly little is known about the views of China’s public. To understand Chinese public views on nuclear weapons, we conduct an online survey ( N = 1066) of Chinese respondents. This is, to our knowledge, the first survey of Chinese public attitudes towards nuclear weapons. We find that although Chinese citizens view the possession of nuclear weapons as important for their country’s security, they strongly oppose the use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances. We also provide respondents an opportunity to describe their views on nuclear weapons in their own words. Using computer-assisted text analysis, we assess patterns in these open-ended responses and compare across age groups. We find that younger respondents emphasize non-material factors such as having a greater voice internationally, whereas older respondents emphasize self-defense. Overall, this analysis sheds light on the public attitudes that may shape China’s evolving approach to nuclear weapons.

scholarly journals Doctors’ perception of support and the processes involved in complaints investigations and how these relate to welfare and defensive practice: a cross-sectional survey of the UK physicians

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. e017856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Bourne ◽  
Bavo De Cock ◽  
Laure Wynants ◽  
Mike Peters ◽  
Chantal Van Audenhove ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Perceived Support ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Perception Of Support ◽  
The Uk

ObjectiveHow adverse outcomes and complaints are managed may significantly impact on physician well-being and practice. We aimed to investigate how depression, anxiety and defensive medical practice are associated with doctors actual and perceived support, behaviour of colleagues and process issues regarding how complaints investigations are carried out.DesignA survey study. Respondents were classified into three groups: no complaint, recent/current complaint (within 6 months) or past complaint. Each group completed specific surveys.SettingBritish Medical Association (BMA) members were invited to complete an online survey.Participants95 636 members of the BMA were asked to participate. 7926 (8.3%) completed the survey, of whom 1780 (22.5%) had no complaint, 3889 (49.1%) had a past complaint and 2257 (28.5%) had a recent/current complaint. We excluded those with no complaints leaving 6144 in the final sample.Primary outcomes measuresWe measured anxiety and depression using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale 7 and Physical Health Questionnaire 9. Defensive practice was assessed using a new measure for avoidance and hedging.ResultsMost felt supported by colleagues (61%), only 31% felt supported by management. Not following process (56%), protracted timescales (78%), vexatious complaints (49%), feeling bullied (39%) or victimised for whistleblowing (20%), and using complaints to undermine (31%) were reported. Perceived support by management (relative risk (RR) depression: 0.77, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.83; RR anxiety: 0.80, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.87), speaking to colleagues (RR depression: 0.64, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.84 and RR anxiety: 0.69, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.94, respectively), fair/accurate documentation (RR depression: 0.80, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.86; RR anxiety: 0.81, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.87), and being informed about rights (RR depression 0.96 (0.89 to 1.03) and anxiety 0.94 (0.87 to 1.02), correlated positively with well-being and reduced defensive practice. Doctors worried most about professional humiliation following a complaint investigation (80%).ConclusionPoor process, prolonged timescales and vexatious use of complaints systems are associated with decreased psychological welfare and increased defensive practice. In contrast, perceived support from colleagues and management is associated with a reduction in these effects.

scholarly journals Perspectives of Parents of Children with Special Educational Needs: Self-Efficacy and School Supports During COVID-19

2022 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Whitley ◽  
Ian Matheson ◽  
Jacqueline Specht ◽  
Jeffrey MacCormack
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Educational Needs ◽  
Special Educational Needs ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Academic Supports ◽  
Role Of Parents ◽  
Emotional Supports ◽  
Remote Learning

The role of parents in supporting at-home learning increased dramatically in the spring of 2020. Schools in most Canadian provinces closed physically due to COVID-19, and remote-learning options were quickly developed to ensure continued education for students. Many students with special educational needs, who typically benefit from a range of supports from school, became reliant on parents to provide means of access to and participation in remote learning. Using an online survey, we explored the perceptions of 263 Canadian parents of children with special education needs with regard to their self‑efficacy and supports from schools. We conducted multiple linear regression analyses for each of three dependent variables (academic supports, parent self‑efficacy, and social-emotional supports); independent variables included student grade level, education placement, and total school-provided supports prior to the pandemic. Findings indicated that most parents engaged in remote learning and lacked confidence in their ability to support the learning of their child. Parent self-efficacy was related to social-emotional supports from schools and not to academic supports. Parents of children in elementary grades, and of those who had received more supports from school prior to COVID‑19, reported feeling better supported in social-emotional areas by the school. Schools should explore ways of building strong collaborative relationships between educators and parents, as well as continuing to find ways of supporting families and students in both in- and out-of-school places. The pandemic, and school-building closures, have reminded us how partnerships between parents and schools are crucial for the well-being of all involved.  

Street pastors as substitutes for trust in the context of plural policing

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 168-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Swann ◽  
Alison Green ◽  
Nick Johns ◽  
Luke Sloan
Keyword(s):  
Community Involvement ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The City

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the work of the Street Pastors, a Christian organisation offering support to people in the night time economy (NTE), through the perceptions of students. The role played by this organisation is becoming more important as a shift from policing “by”, “through” and “beyond” to policing from “below” occurs (Jones and Lister, 2015). While the Street Pastors would not regard themselves as “police agents” there is undoubtedly a close connection albeit with geographical variation (Johns et al., 2009b). An evaluation of their activities and of public attitudes particularly around issues of trust is therefore important. Design/methodology/approach – An online survey using the university’s student “portal” invited students to participate. A small incentive was offered, in the form of a prize draw for £50 worth of shopping vouchers. The survey took place during the first part of the Spring term during 2012 (January and February). The study analyses the 361 responses in reference to their knowledge of the Street Pastors, whether they had any “interactions” with them and whether they were regular users of the NTE. Findings – Overwhelmingly respondents were either positive or completely ambivalent about the Street Pastors. The responses to the attitude statements indicated that the Street Pastors are seen as “independent” of police officers. The links between Street Pastors and crime reduction are not clear, however, respondents agreed that the Street Pastors did contribute to safety in the city. Research limitations/implications – There are more than 20,000 students in the city and the findings can therefore be seen as tentative and indicative rather than generalisable to the entire student population. With the increasing emphasis on community involvement in “policing”, the findings from the research does suggest that the street pastor’s voluntary patrols are beneficial in terms of enhancing perceptions of safety. Practical implications – Street Pastors do have an important role in the policing of the NTE, from handing out water and flip flops to comforting those who are in distress. Within the broader “police family” their role can then make a positive contribution to the practical challenges associated with a volatile environment. Social implications – The NTE is associated with considerable public health and safety issues and the contribution of a voluntary group to easing some of these problems is significant. Whilst their presence is not entirely unproblematic, particularly in raising questions of accountability, their activities could be argued to contribute to the well-being of revellers. Originality/value – Research on policing “below” the level of the state is street pastors is an under-explored area. Street pastors have attracted very little attention despite their being a large organisation that are a feature of NTEs throughout the UK.

scholarly journals Wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK: a secondary data analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jen Murphy ◽  
Mark Elliot
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
National Level ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: In March 2020 in response to the COVID pandemic the UK government declared a national lockdown where citizens were required to stay at home. The impact of this lockdown on levels of well-being has been a source of concern for citizens and mental health professionals.Objectives: We investigated the trajectory of well-being over the course of the ?first wave and sought to determine whether the change in well-being is distributed equally across the population. Speci?fically we investigated pre-existing medical conditions, social isolation, ?financial stress and deprivation as a predictor for well-being and whether there were community level characteristics which protect against poorer well-being.Methods: Using online survey responses from the COVID19 modules of Understanding society, we linked 8,379 English cases across ?five waves of data collection to location based deprivation statistics. We used ordinary least squares regression to estimate the association between deprivation, pre-existing conditions and socio-demographic factors and the change in well-being scores over time, as measured by the GHQ-12 questionnaire.Results: A decline in well-being was observed at the beginning of the fi?rst lock down period at the beginning of March 2020. This was matched with a corresponding recovery between April and July as restrictions were gradually lifted. There was no association between the decline and deprivation, nor between deprivation and recovery. The strongest predictor of well-being during the lockdown, was the baseline score, with the counterintuitive finding that for those will pre-existing poor well-being, the impact of pandemic restrictions on mental health were minimal, but for those who had previously felt well, the restrictions and the impact of the pandemic on well-being were much greater.Conclusion: These data show no evidence of a social gradient in well-being related to the pandemic. In fact, wellbeing was shown to be highly elastic in this period indicating a national level of resilience which cut across the usually observed health inequalities.

scholarly journals Paradise Regained? Localised and Limited Nature Connexions in the UK's Covid-19 Lockdown

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Dobson ◽  
Tony Gore ◽  
Kim Graham ◽  
Kate Swade
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Environmental Attitudes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Paradise Regained ◽  
Nature Connectedness ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Purposive Sample

Research has suggested that connexions between humans and the natural world lead to increased well-being and generate pro-environmental attitudes, which in turn benefit nature. This article asks whether users of outdoor public spaces in the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 experienced greater connectedness with nature, consistent with the five “pathways to nature connectedness” identified in previous research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 42 individuals on their use of green and public spaces during the UK's lockdown, while a further 29 participants responded to an online survey. While the research revealed the importance of nature connectedness, only three of the five pathways were well-evidenced, and these connexions were frequently mediated by social activities. The article advances the study of nature connectedness by identifying challenges in applying the pathways framework and suggesting areas for further research to understand how the pathways operate in real-world conditions.

scholarly journals Global Imperative of Suicidal Ideation in 10 Countries Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teris Cheung ◽  
Simon Ching Lam ◽  
Paul Hong Lee ◽  
Yu Tao Xiang ◽  
Paul Siu Fai Yip ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Health Beliefs ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Uk

Background: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a detrimental impact on individuals' psychological well-being; however, a multi-country comparison on the prevalence of suicidal ideation due to the virus is still lacking.Objectives: To examine the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation among the general population across 10 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study which used convenience sampling and collected data by conducting an online survey. Participants were sourced from 10 Eastern and Western countries. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to measure the outcome variable of suicidal ideation. Ordinal regression analysis was used to identify significant predictors associated with suicidal ideation.Results: A total of 25,053 participants (22.7% male) were recruited. Results from the analysis showed that the UK and Brazil had the lowest odds of suicidal ideation compared to Macau (p < 0.05). Furthermore, younger age, male, married, and differences in health beliefs were significantly associated with suicidal ideation (p < 0.05).Conclusions: The findings highlight the need for joint international collaboration to formulate effective suicide prevention strategies in a timely manner and the need to implement online mental health promotion platforms. In doing so, the potential global rising death rates by suicide during the pandemic can be reduced.

scholarly journals Negative surprise in UN Security Council authorization: Do the UK and French vetoes influence the general public’s support of US military action?

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-409
Author(s):  
Naoko Matsumura ◽  
Atsushi Tago
Keyword(s):  
Security Council ◽  
General Public ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Use Of Force ◽  
United Nations Security Council ◽  
Military Action ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Military

Authorization of the use of force by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is believed to increase levels of public support for military action. While scholars have performed sterling research both in theory and empirics on the power of UNSC authorization, there is still much that we do not understand. In particular, we believe that it is necessary to conduct a further study on ‘failed’ authorization cases. As Terrence Chapman points out in his theoretical framework, the general public can derive valuable information based on which of the permanent members of the Council casts a veto; this in turn affects public attitudes towards the use of force. An expected veto cast by the perpetual nay-sayer would not serve as information for the general public. However, if the veto is cast by an allied state of a proposer of the authorizing resolution, the negative vote functions as an information short-cut signaling that the use of force presents a variety of problems, thus reducing public support for the military action. Using online survey experiments, we find supportive evidence for this argument. Our data also suggest that surprising negative information changes the perceptions of legitimacy, legality, public goods, and US interest in a proposed military action, but is unrelated to the perception of costs, casualties or duration.

scholarly journals The mental health of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: An online survey in the UK

PLoS ONE ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e0262562
Author(s):  
Tianhua Chen ◽  
Mike Lucock
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
University Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
The North ◽  
Mental Health Support ◽  
The Uk

Higher education students’ mental health has been a growing concern in recent years even before the COVID-19 pandemic. The stresses and restrictions associated with the pandemic have put university students at greater risk of developing mental health issues, which may significantly impair their academic success, social interactions and their future career and personal opportunities. This paper aimed to understand the mental health status of University students at an early stage in the pandemic and to investigate factors associated with higher levels of distress. An online survey including demographics, lifestyle/living situations, brief mental well-being history, questions relating to COVID-19 and standardised measures of depression, anxiety, resilience and quality of life was completed by 1173 students at one University in the North of England. We found high levels of anxiety and depression, with more than 50% experiencing levels above the clinical cut offs, and females scoring significantly higher than males. The survey also suggested relatively low levels of resilience which we attribute to restrictions and isolation which reduced the opportunities to engage in helpful coping strategies and activities rather than enduring personality characteristics. Higher levels of distress were associated with lower levels of exercising, higher levels of tobacco use, and a number of life events associated with the pandemic and lockdown, such as cancelled events, worsening in personal relationships and financial concerns. We discuss the importance of longer-term monitoring and mental health support for university students.

scholarly journals Socio-Economical Risks of the Pandemic Period and Practices to Overcome Them: Governments’ Policies and Citizens’ Strategies

2021 ◽  
pp. 78-88
Author(s):  
Nataliya Velikaya ◽  
Natalia Belova
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Social ◽  
Public Consciousness ◽  
The Face ◽  
Individual Strategies ◽  
Spread Of Infection ◽  
Economic Risks

The article is devoted to the reaction of the societies of four countries (the United States, Great Britain, Italy and Russia) to the global risks and challenges associated with the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, which has grown from a health problem to a global political and economic one. Considering the socio-economic risks of the pandemic as the most significant for the lives of citizens of different countries, the authors operationalize them through the fears of public consciousness. The events of the last year have shown that the increased fear and panic among the population in the face of "new infections" has turned into a global problem. The specifics of the life organization in the context of the spread of the pandemic have contributed to the emergence of new distinct socio-economic and socio-political practices that require analysis. The obvious request to the authorities from the population of different countries to ensure the adoption of timely and effective measures to prevent the spread of infection and minimize its consequences also actualize the study of public attitudes during the pandemic in a comparative context. Based on a comparative international online survey, the main socio-economic risks and fears of residents of the four countries were identified, which included both general threats to well-being (low incomes, unemployment, lack of prospects in life, housing problems, etc.) and threats actualized by the pandemic situation (difficulties in obtaining medical care, the high cost of medicines, the inability to go on vacation, difficulties with obtaining education). The differences in satisfaction with the socio-economic situation in the countries, including the response to the actions of governments and local authorities, were analyzed. The review of individual strategies for coping with crisis situations showed significant differences across countries. At the same time, in assessing the activities of the authorities, respondents demonstrate unanimity, showing dissatisfaction with the measures taken and concern for their well-being in the future. The conclusion is made about the actualization of socio-economic fears during the spread of the pandemic and the widespread deterioration of the social well-being of the population.

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