scholarly journals ASSESSING THE DISABILITY INCLUSIVENESS OF UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS IN HONG KONG

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wai Kin LAU ◽  
Daniel Chi Wing HO ◽  
Yung YAU
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Physical Disability ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Building Performance ◽  
Environmental Friendliness ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
University Buildings

Tended to view disability inclusion as merely another mandate, building and construction practitioners have yet to recognize its value in social sustainability. In academia, similarly, it has received less attention than other building performance attributes such as environmental friendliness and indoor air quality. With rights to access now acknowledged as basic human rights, there is demand for a tool to assess building disability inclusiveness, indicating the extent to which building considerations include persons with disabilities (PWDs). This paper proposes a Building Inclusiveness Assessment Score (BIAS) to fill the existing gap. The BIAS framework comprises two hierarchies of inclusion attributes identified from literature, guides, and standards of barrier-free access and universal design. The final product consists of two building disability inclusiveness assessment tools: the Physical Disability Inclusion Sub-score (PDIS) and the Visual Impairment Inclusion Sub-score (VIIS). These are simple, quantitative, objective tools for assessing buildings. We performed a Monte Carlo simulation to validate the assessment protocols. Following the validation, we assessed 48 university buildings at four universities in Hong Kong to illustrate the real-life application of the tools.

The validity of mobile applications to facilitate patient care provided to cancer patients: opportunities and limitations

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haneen Amawi ◽  
Sayer Alazzam ◽  
Tasnim Alzanati ◽  
Neveen Altamimi ◽  
Alaa Hammad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Free Access ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Detailed Assessment

Background: The use of health-related applications (apps) on smartphones has become widespread. This is especially of value during the ongoing SAR-COV-2 pandemic, where the accessibility for health care services has been greatly limited. Patients with free access to apps can obtain information to improve their understanding and management of health issues. Currently, there are cancer-related apps available on iPhones and androids. However, there are no guidelines to control these apps and ensure their quality. Furthermore, these apps may significantly modify the patients’ perception and knowledge toward drug-related health services. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the convenience, quality, safety and efficacy of apps for cancer patient care. Methods: The study was conducted by searching all apps related to cancer care on both Google Play Store and Apple iTunes Store. A detailed assessment was then performed using the mobile application rating scale (MARS) and risk assessment tools. Results: The results indicated that on a scale from 1-5, 47% of the apps were rated ≥ 4. The MARS assessment of the apps indicated an overall quality rating of 3.38 ± 0.9 (mean ± SD). The visual appeal of the app was found to have a significant effect on app functionality and user engagement. The potential benefits of these apps come with challenges and limitations. Patents related to smartphone applications targeting patients were also discussed. Conclusion: We recommend a greater emphasis toward producing evidence-based apps. These apps should be rigorously tested, evaluated and updated by experts, particularly clinical pharmacists. Also, these may alter patient attitudes toward services provided by physicians and pharmacists. Finally, these apps should not replace in-person interactive health services.

scholarly journals Building condition assessment: adjustments of the Building Performance Indicator (BPI) for university buildings in Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 215-230
Author(s):  
Francisco Morato Leite ◽  
Renan Alves Volse ◽  
Humberto Ramos Roman ◽  
Fernanda Aranha Saffaro
Keyword(s):  
Research Laboratory ◽  
Performance Indicator ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Maintenance Management ◽  
Building Performance ◽  
Maintenance Strategy ◽  
Building Systems ◽  
Different Types ◽  
University Buildings ◽  
Building Condition

Abstract The Building Performance Indicator (BPI), not fully applied in Brazil, expresses objectively the overall condition of a building based on the performance assessment of the building systems that comprise it. Although BPI was originally developed for hospital facilities, it can be used in different types of buildings since its methodology is generic. The objective of the study is to adjust the BPI to allow its application in the maintenance management of Brazilian university buildings. The stages of the research consist of (1) adjusting the factors and criteria that comprise the BPI; (2) implementing the adapted BPI; and (3) verifying its utility and ease of use. The adjustment and implementation included a building for classrooms and another that houses a teaching and research laboratory, both located at University X. The results obtained allowed the comparison of the overall condition between the inspected buildings, which establishes the intervention priority helping to adopt the most adequate maintenance strategy.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

2021 ◽  
pp. 134-147
Author(s):  
Kirstin Painter ◽  
Maria Scannapieco
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Brain Research ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Class Discussion ◽  
Statistical Manual ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽  
Prevalence Estimates

Chapter 9 begins with prevalence estimates for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity, and impulsivity are addressed, followed by descriptions of how these symptoms present in children and adolescents. An overview of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria for diagnosing ADHD is presented. The chapter includes a discussion of the causes of ADHD and current research, with a focus on possible linkages between ADHD and biological, genetic, environmental, and nutritional causes and current brain research. Diagnosing youth using DSM criteria along with differentiating ADHD and other disorders is discussed. Common assessment tools used to screen for symptoms of ADHD are presented. Chapter 9 ends with two real-life case studies and questions for class discussion.

scholarly journals A Framework of Building Sustainability Assessment System for the Commercial Buildings in Kazakhstan

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 4754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akhanova ◽  
Nadeem ◽  
Kim ◽  
Azhar
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Building Performance ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
The Public ◽  
Climatic Regions ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Economic Perspectives

: Many building assessment tools exist for guiding building facilities toward sustainability. Some tools are internationally recognized while others are for specific countries based on local needs. This study endeavored to develop a building sustainability assessment framework for Kazakhstan. The framework was developed based on the review of building performance assessment methods such as leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED), building research establishment environmental assessment methodology (BREEAM), comprehensive assessment system for building environmental efficiency (CASBEE), and international initiative for sustainable built environment (SBTool), and considering the local conditions in Kazakhstan. A two-round Delphi survey was employed to develop the assessment categories and indicators by local experts from the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Mean and standard deviation values were used to analyze the survey data and to make the decision on the level of agreement amongst the Delphi panelists. The proposed framework consists of nine assessment categories, 46 assessment indicators, and 142 parameters covering the four climatic regions in Kazakhstan and considering the environmental, social, and economic perspectives of the country’s sustainable development goals. The introduction of the framework is expected to serve as a reference for establishing the regional building sustainability assessment tool that will aid to increase the awareness of the public and help policymakers to solve sustainability-related issues in Kazakhstan.

Chinese travelers’ preferences for hotel amenities

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1956-1976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deniz Kucukusta
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Local Area ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Wireless Internet ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leisure Travelers ◽  
Hotel Managers

Purpose This research aims to investigate how Chinese leisure travelers value hotel amenities when they book hotel rooms in Hong Kong. Design/methodology/approach The research method was based on a conjoint analysis approach. Conjoint models were developed to determine how people make decisions and what they really value in products or services. Findings Price had the highest average importance value, followed by airport/local area shuttles, wireless internet, breakfast and quality of coffee/tea. Price, airport/local area shuttles and wireless internet were rated as being relatively more important than breakfast and quality of coffee/tea. Research limitations/implications This research has some limitations in terms of the generalizability of its findings to all hotels and travelers. First, only four hotel amenities were considered. Second, the research focused on Chinese leisure travelers staying in hotels in Hong Kong. Finally, the sample only consisted of leisure travelers. Practical implications This research shows that providing complimentary breakfast and free access to quality coffee/tea when a hotel already provides a shuttle service and free wireless internet does not add much value to the overall hotel product from the customer’s point of view. Moreover, it provides insights into how hotel professionals can customize and select the amenities they provide to impress their customers. Originality/value This research has significant implications for hotel managers’ efforts to formulate and implement strategies or tactics in their daily operations or long-term plans through the selection of hotel amenities.

scholarly journals Perceptions of factors associated with condom use to prevent HIV/AIDS among persons with physical disability in an urban town of Cameroon: a qualitative study

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elvis E. Tarkang ◽  
Awolu Adam ◽  
Maragret Kweku
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Physical Disability ◽  
Health Belief ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Condom Negotiation ◽  
Belief Model ◽  
Not At Risk ◽  
Hiv Aids

Persons with disabilities have been identified as one of the groups vulnerable to HIV, due to several challenges posed by their disabilities. They also suffer external stigma from their able bodied peers. However, they have largely been ignored as part of HIV prevention programs, largely due to the perceptions that they are not at risk, and information is not being accessible. About 5.4% of the Cameroon population lives with a disability. In Cameroon, no official statistics exist on perception of factors associated with condom use to prevent HIV among persons with disabilities, which creates a challenge for understanding the extent of the pandemic in this population. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate perceptions of factors associated with condom use among persons with physical disability in an urban town of Cameroon. The qualitative study from which this paper is based, used semi-structured in-depth interviews, conducted with a purposive sample of ten (5 male and 5 female) persons with physical disability, aged 18 years and above, in April 2015. The findings of this study as interpreted according to the components of the Health Belief Model, indicated that perceived susceptibility to HIV, perceived severity of HIV, perceived benefit of condom use, perceived barriers to condom use and perceived self-efficacy for condom use were the factors perceived by persons with physical disability, to be associated with condom use. It is therefore recommended that there should be educational programs in HIV/AIDS targeted specifically at persons with physical disability. These programs should pertinently promote the understanding and perceptions of persons with physical disability of the real threat of HIV/AIDS, and also equip them with condom negotiation skills and strategies to overcome barriers to condom use.

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