scholarly journals “Squeeze and Lift”: A Design Ethnography of Learning and Teaching Pelvic Floor Exercises

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ruth Emma Barnard

<p>Pelvic floor exercises are an important practice in the prevention and resolution of pelvic floor disorder. However, pelvic floor exercises are often not practiced regularly or correctly which puts women at high risk of experiencing pelvic floor disorder symptoms. These symptoms are debilitating in terms of physical and mental health, and when ignored can worsen over time. In particular, pregnant and postnatal women are at the most risk of this disorder and still do not practice the exercises as required. This study identifies the lack of correct and regular exercises being practiced as a complex social and cultural issue which is best explored with ethnographic design research. The use of semi structured interviews, narrative analysis and informational probes enabled an open ended exploration of pregnant and postnatal women‟s experiences with learning and practicing pelvic floor exercises. Health professionals experience with teaching pelvic floor exercises has also been explored and findings have shown that to assist regular and correct exercise there is a need for professional diagnosis and guidance, suitable to each women‟s health, lifestyle, and way of learning. Themes in the findings included; Safety and Professional Support, Teaching PFX with Metaphor, Integrating PFX into Daily Life and Device Concerns and Feedback. Design recommendations which correspond to each of these themes were formed. Discussion of these findings using background literature also gave crucial context to this study, underscoring overarching key themes of education and empowerment which future pelvic floor exercise designs should embrace. Finally, this study addresses the strengths and weaknesses of an ethnographic design research approach in informing the development of future designs and systems for healthcare, and opens spaces for future work.</p>

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ruth Emma Barnard

<p>Pelvic floor exercises are an important practice in the prevention and resolution of pelvic floor disorder. However, pelvic floor exercises are often not practiced regularly or correctly which puts women at high risk of experiencing pelvic floor disorder symptoms. These symptoms are debilitating in terms of physical and mental health, and when ignored can worsen over time. In particular, pregnant and postnatal women are at the most risk of this disorder and still do not practice the exercises as required. This study identifies the lack of correct and regular exercises being practiced as a complex social and cultural issue which is best explored with ethnographic design research. The use of semi structured interviews, narrative analysis and informational probes enabled an open ended exploration of pregnant and postnatal women‟s experiences with learning and practicing pelvic floor exercises. Health professionals experience with teaching pelvic floor exercises has also been explored and findings have shown that to assist regular and correct exercise there is a need for professional diagnosis and guidance, suitable to each women‟s health, lifestyle, and way of learning. Themes in the findings included; Safety and Professional Support, Teaching PFX with Metaphor, Integrating PFX into Daily Life and Device Concerns and Feedback. Design recommendations which correspond to each of these themes were formed. Discussion of these findings using background literature also gave crucial context to this study, underscoring overarching key themes of education and empowerment which future pelvic floor exercise designs should embrace. Finally, this study addresses the strengths and weaknesses of an ethnographic design research approach in informing the development of future designs and systems for healthcare, and opens spaces for future work.</p>


Author(s):  
Juan David ROLDAN ACEVEDO ◽  
Ida TELALBASIC

In recent history, different design approaches have been entering fields like management and strategy to improve product development and service delivery. Specifically, entrepreneurship has adopted a user-centric mindset in methodologies like the business canvas model and the value proposition canvas which increases the awareness of the users’ needs when developing solutions. What happens when a service design approach is used to understand the entrepreneurs’ experience through the creation of their startups? Recent literature suggests that entrepreneurial activity and success is conditioned by their local entrepreneurship ecosystem. This study investigates the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem of Medellín, Colombia - an ecosystem in constant growth but that lacks qualitative analysis. The sample consists of 12 entrepreneurs in early-stage phase. The data was gathered with two design research methods: Cultural Probes and Semi-structured interviews. The analysis of the information collected facilitated the development of 4 insights about the entrepreneurs and an experience map to visualise and interpret their journey to create a startup. The results of this study reflected the implications of the ecosystem, the explanation of the users’ perceptions and awareness and propose a set of ideas to the local government to improve the experience of undertaking a startup in Medellín.


Mousaion ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samson Mutsagondo ◽  
Getrude Maduyu ◽  
Godfrey Tsvuura

This paper discusses the challenges of records management that arise from the use of adapted buildings as records centres in Zimbabwe, despite the advantages of using such buildings. A qualitative research approach was used as well as a case study research design. Data were collected from seven officers of the Gweru Records Centre through semi-structured interviews. Personal observation was used to triangulate findings from interviews. It was found that the use of adapted buildings as records centres was a cheaper and quicker way of establishing records centres throughout the country. However, a number of preservation, security and management challenges cropped up as the conditions of the buildings and the environment of the adapted buildings were not conducive to the proper and professional management of records. This study is important in that it explores the prospects and challenges of using adapted buildings as records centres in Zimbabwe, an area that has not been researched by many authors. This provokes archival authorities and the government to seriously consider establishing purpose-built records and archival centres.


2021 ◽  
pp. 089202062199967
Author(s):  
Josephine Marchant

Drawing on data from 116 survey responses by School Business Managers, and 7 semi-structured interviews with education professionals carried out between October 2017 and February 2018, this article reports on findings from a research project focussing on the opportunities and constraints for career progression into leadership roles for School Business Managers (SBMs) in the state sector in England. The article considers the differing roles and responsibilities of SBMs, how leadership is perceived in schools, the visibility of the SBM role, career aspirations of the SBMs who were surveyed, and the perceived constraints to progression to leadership roles. Analysis of the data was carried out using an inductive research approach using mixed methods. Snowballing was used to obtain a meaningful sample size for survey responses. Interviewees were chosen on the basis of judgement sampling. The sampling design for the survey and the interviews was one of non-probability. Findings suggest that leadership roles for SBMs do exist but that there are considerable constraints to these being achieved, not least the lack of appetite amongst SBMs to do so.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorien H. Braam ◽  
Sharath Srinivasan ◽  
Luke Church ◽  
Zakaria Sheikh ◽  
Freya L. Jephcott ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Authorities in Somalia responded with drastic measures after the first confirmed COVID-19 case in mid-March 2020, closing borders, schools, limiting travel and prohibiting most group functions. However, the impact of the pandemic in Somalia thereafter remained unclear. This study employs a novel remote qualitative research method in a conflict-affected setting to look at how some of the most at-risk internally displaced and host populations were impacted by COVID-19, what determined their responses, and how this affected their health and socio-economic vulnerability. Methods We conducted a remote qualitative study, using Katikati, a 1-to-1 conversation management and analysis platform using short message service (SMS) developed by Lark Systems with Africa’s Voices Foundation (AVF), for semi-structured interviews over three months with participants in Mogadishu and Baidoa. We recruited a gender balanced cohort across age groups, and used an analytical framework on the social determinants of health for a narrative analysis on major themes discussed, triangulating data with existing peer-reviewed and grey literature. Results The remote research approach demonstrated efficacy in sustaining trusted and meaningful conversations for gathering qualitative data from hard-to-reach conflict-affected communities. The major themes discussed by the 35 participants included health, livelihoods and education. Two participants contracted the disease, while others reported family or community members affected by COVID-19. Almost all participants faced a loss of income and/or education, primarily as a result of the strict public health measures. Some of those who were heavily affected economically but did not directly experienced disease, denied the pandemic. Religion played an important role in participants’ beliefs in protection against and salvation from the disease. As lockdowns were lifted in August 2020, many believed the pandemic to be over. Conclusions While the official COVID-19 burden has remained relatively low in Somalia, the impact to people’s daily lives, income and livelihoods due to public health responses, has been significant. Participants describe those ‘secondary’ outcomes as the main impact of the pandemic, serving as a stark reminder of the need to broaden the public health response beyond disease prevention to include social and economic interventions to decrease people’s vulnerability to future shocks.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stelliana Goutzamanis ◽  
Danielle Horyniak ◽  
Joseph S. Doyle ◽  
Margaret Hellard ◽  
Peter Higgs ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Novel health promotion and treatment uptake initiatives will be necessary to ensure Australia meets 2030 hepatitis C elimination targets. Increasing treatment uptake will be assisted by a better understanding of the treatment experience and patient-perceived benefits. This study describes the perceived physical health benefits from direct-acting antiviral (DAA) hepatitis C treatment among people who inject drugs in Melbourne, Australia. Methods Twenty participants were recruited from a community treatment trial and community health clinics. Semi-structured interviews were performed with each participant before, during and following treatment. Interviews focused on treatment experiences, attitudes and motivations. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. Results Two themes relating to the physical experience of treatment developed; intersection between physical and mental health and “maybe it’s working”. Participants reported various physical benefits, most prominently, reduced fatigue. Reductions in fatigue resulted in instant and meaningful changes in everyday life. Some participants did experience side effects, which they described as mild. Experiencing noticeable physical benefits during treatment was perceived as validation that treatment was working. Conclusion Physical health benefits of DAA treatment may have carry-on effects on cognitive, emotional or social wellbeing and should be incorporated into how treatment is promoted to those who require it.


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