scholarly journals Factors Affecting the Initial Engagement of Older Adults in the Use of Interactive Technology

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 2847
Author(s):  
Lina Lee ◽  
Mary Lou Maher
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Interactive Technology ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Interactive Technologies ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Diary Studies ◽  
User Focus ◽  
Depth Interviews

Smart environments and the use of interactive technology has the potential to improve the quality of life for the senior community as well as to support the connections among the senior community and the world outside their community. In addition to the increasing number of studies in the field of aging and technologies, research is needed to understand the practical issues of user focus, adoption, and engagement for older adults to accept interactive technologies in their lives. In this study, we use two commercial technological interventions (uDraw and GrandPad) to understand technology-related perceptions and behaviors of older adults. We present five case studies that emerge from empirical observations of initial engagement with technology through research methods such as focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, observations, and diary studies. The contributions of this study are identification of the key factors that influence the initial engagement with interactive technology for older adults.

Perspectives of Nurses About Factors Affecting Quality of Care at the Solomon Islands National Referral Hospital During the 2016-2017 Dengue Outbreak: A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 101053952110362
Author(s):  
Norma Denty Goulolo ◽  
Hugo Bugoro ◽  
Maxine Whittaker ◽  
Sarah Larkins ◽  
Humpress Harrington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Nursing Care ◽  
Solomon Islands ◽  
Referral Hospital ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Dengue Outbreak ◽  
National Referral Hospital

During the 2016-2017 Solomon Islands dengue outbreak, the National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara was the epicenter for the national response. High-quality nursing care is critical for successful management and this study investigated the factors affecting the quality of nursing care for patients admitted to NRH with dengue. Data were collected using 2 methods: ( a) Focus group discussions with nurses who cared for dengue patients and ( b) a self-administered questionnaire completed by a senior manager. Analysis of qualitative data using a thematic technique found 2 key factors affected care: ( a) training on protocols and guidelines for clinical management and ( b) planning and preparedness of NRH. Quality of care was influenced by lack of basic equipment, transport provided for nursing staff to attend shifts, and confusion between allowances for regular salaried staff and extra staff assisting with the outbreak. Specific attention is needed in future outbreaks to ensure staff understand protocols, follow guidelines, and that adequate equipment is provided.

scholarly journals Nairobi Early Childcare in Slums (NECS) Study Protocol: a mixed-methods exploration of paid early childcare in Mukuru slum, Nairobi

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e000822
Author(s):  
Robert C Hughes ◽  
Patricia Kitsao-Wekulo ◽  
Sunil Bhopal ◽  
Elizabeth W Kimani-Murage ◽  
Zelee Hill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Epidemiological Methods ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Early Childcare ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Childcare Providers

IntroductionThe early years are critical. Early nurturing care can lay the foundation for human capital accumulation with lifelong benefits. Conversely, early adversity undermines brain development, learning and future earning.Slums are among the most challenging places to spend those early years and are difficult places to care for a child. Shifting family and work structures mean that paid, largely informal, childcare seems to be becoming the ‘new normal’ for many preschool children growing up in rapidly urbanising Africa. However, little is known about the quality of this childcare.AimsTo build a rigorous understanding what childcare strategies are used and why in a typical Nairobi slum, with a particular focus on provision and quality of paid childcare. Through this, to inform evaluation of quality and design and implementation of interventions with the potential to reach some of the most vulnerable children at the most critical time in the life course.Methods and analysisMixed methods will be employed. Qualitative research (in-depth interviews and focus group discussions) with parents/carers will explore need for and decision-making about childcare. A household survey (of 480 households) will estimate the use of different childcare strategies by parents/carers and associated parent/carer characteristics. Subsequently, childcare providers will be mapped and surveyed to document and assess quality of current paid childcare. Semistructured observations will augment self-reported quality with observable characteristics/practices. Finally, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with childcare providers will explore their behaviours and motivations. Qualitative data will be analysed through thematic analysis and triangulation across methods. Quantitative and spatial data will be analysed through epidemiological methods (random effects regression modelling and spatial statistics).Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been granted in the UK and Kenya. Findings will be disseminated through journal publications, community and government stakeholder workshops, policy briefs and social media content.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL WORK SERVICES FOR CANCER PATIENTS AT THE VIETNAM NATIONAL CANCER HOSPITAL

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (11) ◽  
pp. 132-143
Author(s):  
Nam Pham Tien
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Policy Regimes ◽  
Financial Factor ◽  
Cancer Hospital ◽  
Depth Interviews

The provision of social work service for cancer patients is facing many challenges. Therefore, this study aims to explore factors affecting the provision of social work services for cancer patients at the Vietnam National Cancer Hospital. This is a cross-sectional study that used 10 in-depth interviews, and three focus group discussions to collect data. Our findings showed that the factors such as specialized qualifications of social workers, available facilities, the network of social work collaborators, finance, and policy regimes hindered the provision of social work services for cancer patients at the hospital. Meanwhile, the financial factor contributed to promote social work services for cancer patients at the hospital. Besides, the demands for the provision of social work services for cancer patients were one of the factors that should be considered in the coming time. Our study suggested stakeholders pay more attention to these factors.

Compulsory Science Policy: Enhancing Gender Equality In Education? A Case Study Of Academic Achievement In Uganda

2021 ◽  
pp. 183-194
Author(s):  
Joyce Ayikoru Asiimwe
Keyword(s):  
Science Policy ◽  
Policy Design ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Physical Sciences ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Equality In Education ◽  
Depth Interviews

This paper communicates the results of a diagnostic evaluation of the performance of boys and girls in physical sciences at Ordinary level in Uganda after the adoption of the compulsory science policy. The objectives of the study were twofold: to examine the academic performance of boys and girls in the Uganda National Examinations from 2007 to 2010, and to highlight key factors that continue to influence the achievement of students, especially girls in sciences. Data was obtained from five co-educational secondary schools using documentary reviews, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The results revealed that the performance of both boys and girls have further declined after the implementation of the compulsory science policy. However, in comparison to the boys, girls in co-educational schools were still more likely to be among the poorest performers in sciences. This was attributed to a number of factors, key among them being girls' self-concept in sciences, and teachers' perception of girls' abilities in sciences. These findings reiterate the need to mainstream gender into both policy design and implementation.

Grain Refinement and Hot Tearing of Aluminium Alloys - How to Optimise and Minimise

2009 ◽  
Vol 630 ◽  
pp. 213-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Easton ◽  
David H. StJohn ◽  
Lisa Sweet
Keyword(s):  
Grain Refinement ◽  
Aluminium Alloys ◽  
Hot Tearing ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Grain Refiner ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Equiaxed Grains

Grain refinement and hot tearing are important key factors affecting the quality of castings. There have been substantial advances in the understanding of both of these phenomena over the last two decades. The paper discusses strategies for obtaining the lowest cost grain refiner addition and provides an explanation for how the refinement of equiaxed grains leads to a reduction in hot tear susceptibility. However, it also provides a warning that adding more grain refiner may not be better for reducing hot tear susceptibility. Alloy factors affecting hot tearing are also discussed. Finally, a list of six key considerations is provided to help casthouse and foundry engineers when trying to optimise grain refinement and reduce hot tearing.

Factors Affecting the Extent and Quality of Nature Engagement of Older Adults Living in a Range of Home Types

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 799-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yolanda van Heezik ◽  
Claire Freeman ◽  
Yvette Buttery ◽  
Debra L. Waters
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Older People ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Frailty Status ◽  
Nature Contact ◽  
Nature Connectedness ◽  
Nature Experience ◽  
Access To Nature

Nature interaction is seen as a potentially inexpensive intervention to address many health issues. Aging is associated with declining health and mobility. Older people are known to benefit from nature contact; however, less is known about how aging limits access to nature. We investigated older adults occupying family, downsized, and rest homes to determine factors driving changes in nature engagement, and the quality of available nature. Less time was spent in natural places as people aged, depending on the extent of nature connectedness, frailty status, home type, and whether they lived alone or not. Most reported reduced nature engagement and expressed feelings of sadness, frustration, and anger. Gardens assumed an important role in enabling nature contact to continue, in that time spent in gardens was unrelated to age or frailty. Garden variability meant the quality of the nature experience was likely lower for those living in downsized and rest homes.

scholarly journals Reinforcement of human resources in implementing healthy indonesian program with family approach

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Retno Widiarini ◽  
Djazuly Chalidyanto ◽  
Eva Rusdianah
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources ◽  
Continuous Training ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Center Staff ◽  
Family Approach ◽  
Design And Methods ◽  
Document Review ◽  
Feeling Overwhelmed ◽  
Depth Interviews

Background: The Healthy Indonesia Program is a government program implemented with the Family Approach (HIP-FA) through a survey on healthy families. However, the quality of the program depend on the performance of the Human Resources (HR). This study aims to examine various aspects of HR in implementing the program at health centers. Design and methods: Data were collected through in-depth interviews, Focus Group Discussions, and document review on eight informants at the Health Office center. Results: Four themes revealed from the study: being burdened, feeling overwhelmed, feeling incompetent, and confused managing technology. The results showed that the implementation of the HIP-FA survey is an additional burden for health center staff. Conclusions: It is necessary to strengthen the implementation of all programs through continuous training and education, positive affirmation, recalculating employee workload and remunerations.

ANALYSIS OF KEY TRENDS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COAL MARKET (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE COUNTRIES OF NORTH-EASTERN ASIA)

2021 ◽  
pp. 96-105
Author(s):  
Andrey V. Cherechukin ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Raw Materials ◽  
Northeast Asia ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
The World ◽  
Coal Market ◽  
National Economies

The article provides an analysis of key trends in the international market, using the example of the countries of Northeast Asia. In 2019, the world coal market amounted to 1,424.5 million tons, of which 78.1% are energy grades to produce electricity and heat, and 21.9% are in metallurgy, the reserves of which are significantly less. The import coal market of the countries of Northeast Asia in 2019 was already 680 million tons, covering 48% of the entire world coal market. The paper provides an overview of the key importers and exporters of coal in the world, the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the supplied raw materials, and analyzes the key factors affecting the pricing of coal. In the conclusions, the main trends in the international coal market of the countries of Northeast Asia are presented, including "geographical" — the shift of the center of world trade from Europe to Asia, and "types and quality of imported coal" — an increase in the share of high-quality premium energy and coking (metallurgical). Trends can be clearly seen in the countries of Northeast Asia, which actively use coal, and are making efforts to decarbonize their national economies, while intensifying inter-fuel competition with other primary energy sources.

Whose Quality of Life is it Anyway? Why Not Ask Seniors to Tell US about IT?

2000 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 361-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prem S. Fry
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
External Factors ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Depth Interviews

Three hundred and thirty-one older adults participated in a study designed to examine their perceptions of what constitutes a reasonable quality of life. Participants responded to an open-ended questionnaire in which they were asked to state their priorities, preferences, aspirations, and concerns about their present and future quality of life. Responses were subjected to a principal components factor analysis which yielded four factors: 1) respondents' demands for specific guarantees; 2) respondents' aspirations and expectations for future quality of life; 3) fears and anxieties; and 4) external factors presenting a threat to quality of life. These factors accounted for 15 percent, 12 percent, 9.2 percent, and 7.1 percent, respectively, of the total variance. Additionally, data obtained from in-depth interviews with thirty-seven older adults were analyzed using a qualitative approach. Contrary to stereotypic notions that elderly persons are frail, vulnerable, and resigned to deteriorating conditions of well-being in late life, the results of both the qualitative and quantitative components of the study showed the majority of respondents as having clear demands for autonomy, control, and independence in making decisions, including the decision to terminate life. Implications are discussed in terms of future research on quality of life of older adults.

Effect of the particulate morphology of resin on the gelation process of PVC plastisols

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 757-764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yubi Ji ◽  
Zhao Yang ◽  
Min Shi ◽  
Hong Tan
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Gelation Process ◽  
Secondary Particles ◽  
Poly Vinyl Chloride ◽  
Opposite Behavior

Abstract The gelation process of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) plastisol is very important to ensure the quality of the product and is affected by the type of resins, plasticizers, and other additives. In this study, the gelation process of the as-prepared PVC plastisol was characterized by measuring the evolution of vibrational viscosity with temperature or time using a vibrational viscometer. Furthermore, the effect of some commercial resins with different particulate morphologies on the gelation process was investigated by synchronously combining scanning election microscopy and laser particle size analyses. The results of this study proved that the particle size distribution and the aggregation degree of the secondary particles of a resin are the key factors affecting the gelation process. For the resin with bimodal particle size distribution, the closer the aggregation of the secondary particles, the slower the gel speed; however, an opposite behavior was observed for the resins with unimodal particle size distribution.

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