scholarly journals A sociological study of children with albinism at a special school in the Limpopo province

Curationis ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
R.J. Gaigher ◽  
P.M. Lund ◽  
E. Makuya
Keyword(s):  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Medical Intervention ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Special School ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sociological Study ◽  
Social Construct ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Physical Environments ◽  
The Social

This article maintains that it is the social context, as much as, and sometimes more than the physical condition, that largely structures and limits the lives of people with albinism. It deals with albinism from a sociological, rather than a medical perspective. Viewed as such the problems experiencing by affected people stem primarily not from their physical differences but from the way others respond to those differences and from the social and physical environments they have to cope with. The article is based on a study of 32 children with albinism from a special school in the Limpopo province. Educational, health and social problems, attitudes and perceptions about albinism were tested by way of structured interviews. The data reveal an acute lack of information about the causes and consequences of albinism. It projects it as a condition still deeply immersed in myths and superstition resulting in the stigmatising and rejection of affected people. It also discloses a physical environment which is preventing rather than supporting people with albinism from reaching their potential. It calls for a reorientation in dealing with albinism -away from just medical intervention to treating it as a social construct requiring a holistic approach.

Caregiver Experiences and Roles in Care Seeking During COPD Exacerbations: A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhuvanthi Suresh ◽  
Jessica Young ◽  
Vincent Fan ◽  
Carol Simons ◽  
Catherine Battaglia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Intervention ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
Management Support ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Copd Exacerbations ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Lack Of Information

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive, debilitating illness characterized by exacerbations that require timely intervention. COPD patients often rely on informal caregivers—relatives or friends—for assistance with functioning and support. Caregivers perform roles that may be particularly important during acute exacerbations in monitoring symptoms and seeking medical intervention. However, little is known about caregivers’ roles and experiences as they support their patients during exacerbations. Purpose To explore the experiences, roles in care seeking, and needs of caregivers during COPD exacerbations. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 caregivers of Veterans with COPD who experienced a recent exacerbation. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results Five themes arose: (a) caregivers reported continuously monitoring changes in patients symptom severity to identify exacerbations; (b) caregivers described emotional reactions evoked by exacerbations and constant vigilance; (c) caregivers described disagreements with their patient in interpreting symptoms and determining the need for care seeking; (d) caregivers noted uncertainty regarding their roles and responsibilities in pursuing care and their approaches to promote care varied; and (e) expressed their need for additional information and support. Caregivers of patients with COPD often influence whether and when patients seek care during exacerbations. Discrepancies in symptom evaluations between patients and caregivers paired with the lack of information and support available to caregivers are related to delays in care seeking. Clinical practice should foster self-management support to patient–caregiver dyads to increase caregiver confidence and patient openness to their input during exacerbations.

scholarly journals Collaborative procurement and private-sector housebuilding and refurbishment works

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 699-717
Author(s):  
Glenn Costin ◽  
Akari Nakai Kidd ◽  
Timothy Simon ◽  
David John Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Design Stage ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sociological Study ◽  
Social Constructs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Regional Area ◽  
The Social ◽  
Procurement Procedure ◽  
The Uk

Purpose Framed as a pilot study, the purpose of this paper is to study the perceived appropriateness of an existing collaborative procurement procedure (CPP) framework from the housebuilder’s perspective, seeking to improve its utility and stimulate further exploration. Design/methodology/approach Informed by an existing CPP framework and conducted by a UK-based development professional, four in-depth semi-structured interviews were undertaken with senior housebuilding practitioners from London and surrounding counties. A qualitative analysis was then conducted for this sociological study. Findings Perceived appropriateness of the framework was high; however, a number of procedural improvements were identified, along with limitations. Future studies are recommended including the influence upon project performance of groundworker integration at the design stage. Research limitations/implications Limited to four interviews from one regional area, the study provides an initial insight into the appropriateness of an existing CPP framework. Insights into why CP uptake is marginal within housebuilding were also gained. The research purpose was achieved but by offering a self-reflection upon practice (vis-à-vis wider generalisations), the findings provide a springboard for further studies. Practical implications The research identifies with current practice, industry perceptions and paths towards improving the utility of the CPP framework. Social implications This study offers insights into the perceptions of private housebuilding practitioners of their own practices and the factors they find challenging within the social constructs of their industry. Originality/value This research constitutes one of the first studies in the UK to examine the CPP framework from the perspective of the private housebuilder and is undertaken with the express purpose of furthering that framework’s utility.

scholarly journals Social-humanitarian trades in a digital society: the perceptions and professional adaptation of Moscow’s college students

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 43-60
Author(s):  
Antonina N. Pinchuk ◽  
Svetlana G. Karepova ◽  
Dmitry A. Tikhomirov
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
College Graduates ◽  
Social Adaptation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Sociological Study ◽  
Digital Society ◽  
Digital World ◽  
The Social ◽  
Professional Fields

This article examines matters associated with social-humanitarian professions in the emerging “digital society” as regarded by current college students, who are slated to look for jobs in the near future and, consequently, to adapt to swiftly changing conditions on the labor market. Based on material from a sociological study conducted by the authors in 2019, it is shown how students who are absorbing professional social-humanitarian knowledge perceive and assess the role and significance of their own profession in a digital world, with their expectations, apprehensions and methods of social adaptation being subject to analysis. The basis for analyzing subjective representations was 26 semi-structured interviews with Moscow students mastering educational programs of social-humanitarian professional training orientation. The respondents admitted that the world is quickly changing, and that in a digital society we should expect a restructuring of the professional realm. Young people assume that social-humanitarian professions will be in demand in the future, though they could gain new substance as a result of the extensive adoption of digital technologies in professional practices. The study allowed for determining young students’ views on what sort of competences will be the most demanded of specialists in the social-humanitarian field once we build a digital society. Within the model of competencies formulated by the respondents, the highest ranking turned out to be skills of the cognitive, communicative and digital variety. However, students are concerned with potentially excessive demands for qualification on behalf of employers when it comes to the “digital” competencies of humanitarian college graduates. According to respondents, encountering such demands will be the most serious risk when the time comes to find a job. Also, in the minds of respondents, the traits required of modern specialists also include adaptability and the ability to continuously learn. Surveyed students emphasized the growing role of professional mobility among specialists with a social-humanitarian education, with them having to be able to attain qualification in neighboring professional fields if the situation calls for it. This affects the means of respondents’ professional adaptation, within which guidelines are shaped for continuous education, which is in turn linked to retraining, and independently attaining new competencies, reinforcing the digital component of one’s professional knowledge and skills.

Patient’s experience with comorbidity management in primary care: a qualitative study of comorbid pain and obesity

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (01) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Amy Janke ◽  
Michelle L. Ramirez ◽  
Brittany Haltzman ◽  
Megan Fritz ◽  
Andrea T. Kozak
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Primary Care Settings ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Motivation Enhancement ◽  
Primary Care Patients ◽  
Clinical Interactions

AimThe aim of this research is to examine perceptions of those with comorbid chronic pain and obesity regarding their experience of comorbidity management in primary care settings.BackgroundChronic pain and obesity are common comorbidities frequently managed in primary care settings. Evidence suggests individuals with this comorbidity may be at risk for suboptimal clinical interactions; however, treatment experiences and preferences of those with comorbid chronic pain and obesity have received little attention.MethodsSemi-structured interviews conducted with 30 primary care patients with mean body mass index=36.8 and comorbid persistent pain. The constant comparative method was used to analyze data.FindingsParticipants discussed frustration with a perceived lack of information tailored to their needs and a desire for a personalized treatment experience. Participants found available medical approaches unsatisfying and sought a more holistic approach to management. Discussions also focused around the need for providers to initiate efforts at education and motivation enhancement and to show concern for and understanding of the unique difficulties associated with comorbidity. Findings suggest providers should engage in integrated communication regarding weight and pain, targeting this multimorbidity using methods aligned with priorities discussed by patients.

scholarly journals Nursing work in assisted human reproduction: between technology and humanization

2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Beatriz Azevedo Queiroz ◽  
Renata Porto dos Santos Mohamed ◽  
Maria Aparecida Vasconcelos Moura ◽  
Ivis Emília de Oliveira Souza ◽  
Maria Cristina de Melo Pessanha Carvalho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Care ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
Social Representation ◽  
Human Reproduction ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Health Care Practice ◽  
Assisted Human Reproduction ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
The Social

ABSTRACT Objectives: To analyze the social representations of nurses who work with assisted human reproduction about the operation with reproductive biotechnologies. Methods: Qualitative approach, supported by the Theory of Social Representations, with sixteen participants. Individual, semi-structured interviews, analyzed through the Alceste software. Results: Pragmatic elements related to nurses’ performance from a professional, institutional, and public policy perspective in reproductive biotechnologies emerged, demonstrating the practical dimension of these representations. The characteristics of the professional to act in this area were addressed, showing the lack of information and search for scientificity; precarious perception of the organizational structure of health services; and attributions of nursing care arising from the health care practice in assisted human reproduction. Final considerations: Social representation is anchored in the link between technology/medicalization and humanization/reception regarding reproductive biotechnologies. Working in assisted human reproduction involves a new and challenging nursing care, requiring specific and ethical knowledge.

scholarly journals The Interpretation of Prescribed Medication Instructions by Diabetes Mellitus Patients at a Selected Clinic in the Capricorn District of Limpopo Province, South Africa: A Pilot Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 374-378
Author(s):  
C. Ngoatle ◽  
T.M. Mothiba ◽  
M.J. Themane
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Medication Therapy ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Poor Health Literacy

Background: Misinterpretation of medications instructions due to poor health literacy is common in diabetic patients, leading to suboptimal medication therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate patients’ interpretation of prescribed medication instructions at a selected Clinic in the Capricorn District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Methods: The study used a qualitative research approach. Non-Probability purposive sampling was used to select five participants for the study. Semi-structured interviews with a guide were used to collect data. Tesch’s steps for qualitative data analysis were adopted. Results: The study findings revealed inadequate explanation of instructions, poor health outcomes, lack of information related to poor health outcomes, lack of knowledge on using the medication correctly, and medication noncompliance. The findings imply that there is poor education regarding medication use by diabetic patients. Conclusion: The study indicated that diabetic patients have poor medication instructions comprehension such as an inadequate explanation of the medication instructions. Therefore, healthcare professionals must provide in-depth explanation of medication instructions to enhance comprehension.

The Alluring Nature of Children's Culture: Fairy Tales, the Carnival and the World Wide Web

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-184
Author(s):  
Željka Flegar
Keyword(s):  
Children's Literature ◽  
Fairy Tales ◽  
Fairy Tale ◽  
Mikhail Bakhtin ◽  
Children’S Literature ◽  
Social Construct ◽  
Time Out ◽  
The Social ◽  
Children's Culture ◽  
Language And Ideology

This article discusses the implied ‘vulgarity’ and playfulness of children's literature within the broader concept of the carnivalesque as defined by Mikhail Bakhtin in Rabelais and His World (1965) and further contextualised by John Stephens in Language and Ideology in Children's Fiction (1992). Carnivalesque adaptations of fairy tales are examined by situating them within Cristina Bacchilega's contemporary construct of the ‘fairy-tale web’, focusing on the arenas of parody and intertextuality for the purpose of detecting crucial changes in children's culture in relation to the social construct and ideology of adulthood from the Golden Age of children's literature onward. The analysis is primarily concerned with Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes (1982) and J. K. Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard (2007/2008) as representative examples of the historically conditioned empowerment of the child consumer. Marked by ambivalent laughter, mockery and the degradation of ‘high culture’, the interrogative, subversive and ‘time out’ nature of the carnivalesque adaptations of fairy tales reveals the striking allure of contemporary children's culture, which not only accommodates children's needs and preferences, but also is evidently desirable to everybody.

“We Speak the Truth!”

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-80
Author(s):  
Sari Hanafi
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Social Science ◽  
The Political ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Phenomena ◽  
The Social ◽  
Academic Qualifications

This study investigates the preachers and their Friday sermons in Lebanon, raising the following questions: What are the profiles of preachers in Lebanon and their academic qualifications? What are the topics evoked in their sermons? In instances where they diagnosis and analyze the political and the social, what kind of arguments are used to persuade their audiences? What kind of contact do they have with the social sciences? It draws on forty-two semi-structured interviews with preachers and content analysis of 210 preachers’ Friday sermons, all conducted between 2012 and 2015 among Sunni and Shia mosques. Drawing from Max Weber’s typology, the analysis of Friday sermons shows that most of the preachers represent both the saint and the traditional, but rarely the scholar. While they are dealing extensively with political and social phenomena, rarely do they have knowledge of social science

The identity policy and its effect in the stability of Middle East after 2010

2019 ◽  
pp. 434
Author(s):  
Ali Hussein Kadhim Alesammi
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Social Construct ◽  
Stability And Instability ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Stability ◽  
International Interactions ◽  
Regional Interests ◽  
Political Groups ◽  
Identity Policy

Since 2010 Middle East have many events or what they call "Arab spring events" which it result of overthrow governments and the rise of new political groups, all of this elements was resulting of many international and regional activities and making new regional and international axles, as well as the intersections of the different regional interests, therefore this research will try to study the stability and instability in the region as an independent variable not according to the neorealism or neoliberalism theories, but according to the constructivism theory which it base their assumptions on:  "In the international relations the non-physical structures of international interactions are determined by the identities of the players, which in turn determine the interests that determine the behavior of international players." So the research questions are: 1-What is the identity policy and haw affect in international relations? 2-How the social construct affect in international relations? 3-How the elite's identities for the main actors in the Middle East affect in the regional axles?  

Performing Masculinity and the Crisis of Transclass Man in August Wilson’s Drama

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khatija Bibi Khan ◽  
Owen Seda
Keyword(s):  
Social Identity ◽  
Social Values ◽  
Social Construct ◽  
Cultural Experience ◽  
Great Cost ◽  
Social Milieu ◽  
Male Characters ◽  
The Social ◽  
North End

Feminist critics have identified the social constructedness of masculinity and have explored how male characters often find themselves caught up in a ceaseless quest to propagate and live up to an acceptable image of manliness. These critics have also explored how the effort to live up to the dictates of this social construct has often come at great cost to male protagonists. In this paper, we argue that August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone present the reader with a coterie of male characters who face the dual crisis of living up to a performed masculinity and the pitfalls that come with it, and what Mazrui has referred to as the phenomenon of “transclass man.” Mazrui uses the term transclass man to refer to characters whose socio-economic and socio-cultural experience displays a fluid degree of transitionality. We argue that the phenomenon of transclass man works together with the challenges of performed masculinity to create characters who, in an effort to adjust to and fit in with a new and patriarchal urban social milieu in America’s newly industrialised north, end up destroying themselves or failing to realise other possibilities that may be available to them. Using these two plays as illustrative examples, we further argue that staged masculinity and the crisis of transclass man in August Wilson’s plays create male protagonists who break ranks with the social values of a collectively shared destiny to pursue an individualistic personal trajectory, which only exacerbates their loss of social identity and a true sense of who they are.

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