scholarly journals Assistive Technology Provider Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author(s):  
Louise Puli ◽  
Natasha Layton ◽  
Daniel Mont ◽  
Kylie Shae ◽  
Irene Calvo ◽  
...  

Globally, health systems face challenges in the delivery of assistive technology (AT) and only 10% of people are currently able to access the assistive products they need. The COVID-19 pandemic presented an uncharted path for AT providers to navigate, placing them under pressure to be agile and rapidly adapt. This article, part of a series, explores the experiences and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on AT providers and aims to inform how AT providers can be better prepared and supported in the future. A mixed methods approach was used to gather service data and perspectives from AT providers via a survey. A total of 37 responses were received from 18 countries. Service data showed extensive service disruption throughout 2020. Thematic analysis suggested significant changes to routine AT service delivery including rapid momentum towards home-based, decentralised, and digital services for which many AT providers were not prepared. Providers were required to make difficult decisions and deliver services in new ways to balance meeting demands, complying with government restrictions, and ensuring the safety of staff and clients. Few but important positives were expressed including the belief that expanded capacity to use remote and digital AT service delivery would remain useful in the future.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandani Nekitsing ◽  
Pam Blundell-Birtill ◽  
Marion Hetherington

This study explored strategies implemented by parents to encourage their children to eat vegetables, especially when children exhibit fussy eating. The study involved a mixed methods approach using semi-structured interviews with twenty parents of preschool children (aged 2-5 years) with a high and low level of food fussiness (established by questionnaire). All interviews were audio recorded, then verbatim transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Thematic analysis revealed seven main themes with sixteen subthemes encompassing various vegetable promoting strategies. These included (1) Instructed knowledge, (2) Experiential learning, (3) Food manipulation, (4) Reinforcement, (5) Encouragement of autonomy (6) Commitment to a food ideal and (7) Inherent values. Parents used a range of methods to encourage their children to eat vegetables but there were no major differences by level of food fussiness. Parents talked about variable success in applying strategies even with the same child. Home based strategies were more diverse and personalized to the child than those tested in most research studies. Therefore, interventions to promote vegetable intake in preschool children will benefit from co-production with parents adopting a tailored approach to match the needs of the specific child.


Author(s):  
Minna Lyons ◽  
Gayle Brewer

AbstractPrevious studies have demonstrated that there is an increase in Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) during times of crisis (e.g., financial, environmental, or socio-political situations). The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an unprecedented global health and financial tragedy, but research is yet to establish exactly how the situation may impact on IPV. The present study investigates victims’ experience of IPV during lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic. We report a qualitative thematic analysis of 50 discussion forum posts written by victims of IPV. Of these, 48 forum posts were written by female victims of male perpetrated violence. All forum posts were obtained from the popular online platform, Reddit. We identified four themes associated with IPV victims’ experiences during lockdown and the global pandemic: (i) Use of COVID-19 by the Abuser, (ii) Service Disruption, (iii) Preparation to Leave, and (iv) Factors Increasing Abuse or Distress. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on those living with IPV, often increasing the severity of IPV experienced. The experiences of those affected by IPV during this period inform interventions and the guidance and support provided to IPV victims during times of crisis.


2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard P. Parette ◽  
Mary Blake Huer ◽  
Marcia Scherer

Author(s):  
Oladele Atoyebi ◽  
Maude Beaudoin ◽  
François Routhier ◽  
Claudine Auger ◽  
Louise Demers ◽  
...  

Family carers of older adults with disability often both experience stress that may affect their ability to provide care, and find some caregiving activities differentially challenging. The objectives of this research are to identify the caregiving activities that are most problematic to carers and to explore the reasons why carers found these activities challenging. Participants were past or current carers aged 19 years and older. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach, data were collected through a survey and open-ended interviews. Thematic analysis revealed that an activity was likely to be more problematic if it had to be coordinated with other caregiving needs or where a care recipient’s disability was severe.


Refuge ◽  
2001 ◽  
pp. 17-22
Author(s):  
Jackie King

Australia's decision to provide temporary safe haven protection to 4000 Kosovars in response to the UNHCR request for assistance in their humanitarian evacuation from refugee camps in surrounding countries, required quick action by the government to provide for an unprecedented legislative and service delivery framework. This paper looks at the notion of temporary protection, both in international and specifically Australian context, before describing and assessing the legislative and service delivery mechanisms that facilitated Australia's response. This paper concludes that the risk of selective intepretation of the legislation and the denial of democratic rights to the subjects of legislation, and the less than adequate service delivery to the Kosovars, and the arguable breach of its international obligations, suggests that Australia will have to think twice before engaging in such a mechanism in the future.


Retos ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 623-633
Author(s):  
Juan Antonio Sánchez-Sáez ◽  
Juan Pablo Morillo-Baro ◽  
José Miguel Sánchez Malia ◽  
Daniel Lara Cobos ◽  
Jose Luis Arias-Estero

 Recientemente se ha planteado una propuesta de reglamento de mini-balonmano playa para adaptar el juego adulto a los jugadores en formación de hasta 11 años. El objetivo del estudio fue conocer las respuestas motrices y psicológicas de jugadores y entrenadores tras haber entrenado y jugado con el reglamento propuesto para mini-balonmano playa. Participaron 35 jugadores (16 niños y 19 niñas, edad: 8-11 años, M = 10.06, SD = 0.91) y cinco entrenadores (4 hombres y 1 mujer). El estudio siguió un enfoque de métodos mixtos, cuantitativo y cualitativo. El diseño fue cuasi-experimental con medidas post-test. La intervención siguió tres procesos: (a) la presentación del reglamento a los entrenadores, (b) el entrenamiento aprovechando las ventajas del nuevo reglamento, (c) la competición en un torneo de mini-balonmano playa. Cuantitativamente, las variables dependientes fueron motrices y psicológicas. Cualitativamente, se preguntó a los participantes por sus experiencias habiendo entrenado y jugado con el nuevo reglamento. Se obtuvieron valores elevados en cuanto a la igualdad en la participación, roles desempeñados, decisiones adecuadas en pase, giro y shoot-outs, competencia percibida, disfrute e intención de práctica futura. En conclusión, el reglamento propuesto para mini-balonmano playa parece que estuvo adaptado para los jugadores en formación del presente trabajo (hasta 11 años), dado que, en general, favoreció la participación de los jugadores por igual, sin especializarse en un rol, la equidad entre niños y niñas, las decisiones adecuadas y la adherencia hacia la actividad. Abstract. A proposal for a mini-beach handball regulation has recently been put forward to adapt the adult game to children up to 11 years of age. The aim of the study was to find out the motor and psychological responses of players and coaches after training and playing with the proposed mini-beach handball rules. Thirty-five players (16 boys and 19 girls, age: 8-11 years, M = 10.06, SD = 0.91) and five coaches (4 males and 1 female) participated. The study followed a mixed methods approach, quantitative and qualitative. The design was quasi-experimental with post-test measures. The intervention consisted of three procedures: (a) the presentation of the regulation to the coaches, (b) to train taking advantage of the new regulations, (c) to compete in a mini-beach handball tournament. Quantitatively, the dependent variables were motor and psychological. Qualitatively, participants were asked about their experiences training and playing with the new rules. High values were obtained in terms of equality in participation, roles played, appropriate decisions in passing, turning and shoot-outs, perceived competence, enjoyment, and intention to practice in the future. In conclusion, the proposed rules for mini-beach handball seem to be adapted for participants in the present study (up to 11 years of age), given that, in general, it favoured equal participation of players, without specialising in one role, equity between boys and girls, appropriate decisions and adherence to the activity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Szablewska ◽  
Krzysztof Kubacki

This study aims to systematically identify and review studies on anti-human trafficking campaigns published in peer-reviewed journals to determine the extent to which such campaigns have been critically and rigorously evaluated so as to guide future policies and practice in this area and to identify the main characteristics, problems, and challenges associated with the campaigns in the identified studies. This systematic literature review identified 16 studies that have assessed anti-human trafficking campaigns but found that none of these included outcome, process, or impact evaluations. As identified in our study, anti-human trafficking campaigns tend to rely on advertising techniques to target vulnerable groups and the wider public, with the primary aim of informing and educating. Further, a thematic analysis of the studies identified problems in eight areas that require attention in the future development of anti-human trafficking campaigns: stereotyping, compounding human trafficking with migration, conflating prostitution with human trafficking, sexualization/erotization of women, victimization, role of anti-human trafficking organizations, data shortcomings, and oversimplification of human trafficking. Studies presenting the results of evaluations of social marketing anti-human trafficking campaigns are urgently needed to show which social marketing tools work and to provide an evidence base for future campaigns.


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 127-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renzo Andrich ◽  
Niels-Erik Mathiassen ◽  
Evert-Jan Hoogerwerf ◽  
Gert Jan Gelderblom

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