Developing Mindsets: A Qualitative Study among First-Year South African University Students

This article reports on a qualitative study that evaluated first-year students’ lived experiences of attending a 12-week student support programme focused on fostering mindsets. Participants included 545 first year Engineering students enrolled for academic studies at a South African university. All participants completed qualitative narrative sketches depicting their experiences. A random sample of 300 students’ narrative sketches was included as data in the qualitative study. The data were analysed using thematic analysis, and Dweck’s theory on mindsets served as the theoretical lens through which the data were interpreted. The results indicate that the majority of students experienced significant personal growth from attending the student support programme. Additionally, the findings point to the relevance and importance of offering student support programmes focused on exploring mindsets to first-year students. The results of this exploratory study suggest that mindset theory should be considered as an essential component when advising first-year South African Engineering students. Furthermore, we make a case for the relevance of positive psychology-based development programmes for first-year students.

The effects of IPA II pre-accession assistance instruments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Turkey

Provided that one of the goals of the European Union (EU) is the economic development and possibility of integration by implementing fundamental reforms through an adequate strategic approach, this paper aims to determine the impact of the EU policy and the Instrument for PreAccession Assistance (IPA Fund) on the international business environment with special emphasis on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Turkey. It is obvious that the EU not only provides assistance to candidate countries but also contributes to the stability, security, and prosperity of beneficiary countries. However, by adopting this approach, the EU imposes certain changes in the instruments of financial support. Namely, by launching the IPA II programme it surpassed IPA I, covering five priority areas as the key segments of development. It has been shown that this support programme is of great importance for the development of the countries covered in this study. Our research also indicates that IPA funding aids in the political and economic reforms of transition countries, preparing them for the rights and duties that come with the Union membership. Secondary data available on the official website of the European Union were used in this study. The hypothesis is confirmed by quantitative data analysis showing a significant impact of the IPA II programme on defined sectors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Turkey.

Layering of a health, nutrition and sanitation programme onto microfinance-oriented self-help groups in rural India: results from a process evaluation

Background The state of Bihar has been lagging behind Indian national averages on indicators related to maternal and child health, primarily due to lack of knowledge among mothers of young children on lifesaving practices and on where to seek services when healthcare is needed. Hence, the JEEViKA Technical Support Programme was established in 101 blocks to support the state rural livelihood entity, JEEViKA, in order to increase demand for and link rural families to existing health, nutrition and sanitation services. Programme activities were geared to those engaged in JEEViKA’s microfinance-oriented self-help groups. These groups were facilitated by a village-based community mobilizer who was trained on health, nutrition and sanitation-related topics which she later shared in self-help group meetings monthly and during ad hoc home visits. Further, a block-level health, nutrition and sanitation integrator was introduced within JEEViKA to support community mobilizers. Also, indicators were added into the existing monitoring system to routinely capture the layering of health, nutrition and sanitation activities. Methods A process evaluation was conducted from August–November 2017 which comprised of conducting 594 quantitative surveys with community mobilizers, from program and non-programme intervention blocks. Linear and logistic regressions were done to capture the association of at least one training that the community mobilizers received on knowledge of the topics learned and related activities they carried out. Results Community mobilizers who had received at least one training were more likely to have higher levels of knowledge on the topics they learned and were also more likely to carry out related activities, such as interacting with block-level integrators for guidance and support, routinely collect data on health, nutrition and sanitation indicators and spend time weekly on related activities. Conclusions Successful integration of health, nutrition and sanitation programming within a non-health programme such as JEEViKA is possible through trainings provided to dedicated staff in decentralized positions, such as community mobilizers. The findings of this evaluation hold great promise for engaging existing non-health, nutrition and sanitation systems that are serving vulnerable communities to become partners in working towards ensuring stronger health, nutrition and sanitation outcomes for all.

An affordance lens on the influence of incubators on firms’ strategy development

<p>Business incubators provide resources to help create successful new ventures (Hackett & Dilts, 2004b). However little is known about how the strategies of the incubated firms develop and the specific role of incubators in this process. While incubators have received increased attention in academic literature in recent years, most of this research has focused on the economic benefits of incubators, the firms’ survival rates, and on the incubators’ provisions to firms. There has been minimal attention on how incubators influence what firms actually do and about strategy development in new entrepreneurial firms. This thesis explores how incubators influence firms’ strategy developments. The theory of affordances (TOA) recognises that objects allow for varying opportunities for action (Gibson, 1977) and provides the theoretical lens for this study. This lens was chosen due to its inherent acknowledgement of the complexity of relationships between objects, actors and the environment. First the TOA, incubator, and strategy development literature are examined. This examination concludes with the development of a conceptual model to operationalise incubators’ provisions and firms’ strategy developments. The conceptual model highlights that the relationship between incubators’ provisions and firms’ strategy developments may not simply be one of cause and effect; it takes into account how the affordances of the provisions are perceived and realised, and how this is related to the incubators’ influence on the firms’ strategy development. The conceptual model also identifies contextual factors that could impact this process. A mixed methodology approach was employed which involved in-depth interviews and a survey. The participants were from all six incubators that were in the New Zealand Government’s incubator support programme and included both the incubators and their firms, enabling a triangulated analysis of this primarily qualitative data. The application of the TOA aided the contribution to incubator knowledge. It was found that firms’ judged the value of provisions differently depending on use, and the affordances arising from the provisions varied in scope and changed over time. The firm’s product type, governance structure, duration-factors and the breadth of focus of the incubators, may be associated with how the firms perceived and realised affordances from the incubators’ provisions and, in turn, how their strategies were influenced. In the process of applying the TOA in organisational studies three underlying themes emerged regarding its application; the specificity of affordances, the substitutability of objects and path dependency. Based on these three themes, contributions to the TOA are also proposed. Knowledge gained from this study could inspire further use of the TOA to gain a greater understanding of its application, particularly in organisational settings. From a practice standpoint, knowledge gained should lead to enhancements and greater efficiencies in the incubation sector.</p>

An affordance lens on the influence of incubators on firms’ strategy development

<p>Business incubators provide resources to help create successful new ventures (Hackett & Dilts, 2004b). However little is known about how the strategies of the incubated firms develop and the specific role of incubators in this process. While incubators have received increased attention in academic literature in recent years, most of this research has focused on the economic benefits of incubators, the firms’ survival rates, and on the incubators’ provisions to firms. There has been minimal attention on how incubators influence what firms actually do and about strategy development in new entrepreneurial firms. This thesis explores how incubators influence firms’ strategy developments. The theory of affordances (TOA) recognises that objects allow for varying opportunities for action (Gibson, 1977) and provides the theoretical lens for this study. This lens was chosen due to its inherent acknowledgement of the complexity of relationships between objects, actors and the environment. First the TOA, incubator, and strategy development literature are examined. This examination concludes with the development of a conceptual model to operationalise incubators’ provisions and firms’ strategy developments. The conceptual model highlights that the relationship between incubators’ provisions and firms’ strategy developments may not simply be one of cause and effect; it takes into account how the affordances of the provisions are perceived and realised, and how this is related to the incubators’ influence on the firms’ strategy development. The conceptual model also identifies contextual factors that could impact this process. A mixed methodology approach was employed which involved in-depth interviews and a survey. The participants were from all six incubators that were in the New Zealand Government’s incubator support programme and included both the incubators and their firms, enabling a triangulated analysis of this primarily qualitative data. The application of the TOA aided the contribution to incubator knowledge. It was found that firms’ judged the value of provisions differently depending on use, and the affordances arising from the provisions varied in scope and changed over time. The firm’s product type, governance structure, duration-factors and the breadth of focus of the incubators, may be associated with how the firms perceived and realised affordances from the incubators’ provisions and, in turn, how their strategies were influenced. In the process of applying the TOA in organisational studies three underlying themes emerged regarding its application; the specificity of affordances, the substitutability of objects and path dependency. Based on these three themes, contributions to the TOA are also proposed. Knowledge gained from this study could inspire further use of the TOA to gain a greater understanding of its application, particularly in organisational settings. From a practice standpoint, knowledge gained should lead to enhancements and greater efficiencies in the incubation sector.</p>

Physiotherapy support for self-management of persisting musculoskeletal pain disorders

Background: Musculoskeletal pain (MSKP) is an extremely common pain disorder in almost all populations. Self-management (SM) support is a programme to prepare people to self-manage their health condition effectively, while maintaining quality of life. SM is a cost-effective and context-specific strategy to address the global public health burden.Objectives: Self-management needs a change in behaviour from seeking unnecessary medical care to safely self-managing symptoms. As changing individuals’ behaviour is challenging, the objective of my literature review was to identify the characteristics, in both therapist and patient, to successfully engage in SM.Method: A narrative literature review, that could inform evidence-based support programmes for SM of MSKP.Results: Studies on successful implementation of SM of MSKP do not report strong outcomes. However, in more recent years a few positive outcomes were reported, possibly as a result of research evidence for the application of psychosocial skills and contemporary pain neuroscience in the management of persistent MSKP.Conclusion: Psychologically-informed physiotherapy, addressing psychosocial barriers to the maintenance of SM programmes, could facilitate more successful outcomes.Clinical implications: Before engaging in a SM support programme, obstacles to behaviour change must be identified and addressed in a SM support programme, to facilitate individuals towards taking safe responsibility for their healthcare. Therapists working with patients with persistent MSKP, should upskill themselves to be in line with the latest pain and psychosocial research literature. Moreover, communication skills training seems to be a priority for effective SM support programmes.

“You can go out 14 miles away with the knowledge that you’ve got the battery to help you back if you need it!” Narratives of ranging behaviour and wellbeing in diaries of e-bike trial participants.

Increasing use of electric power assisted bikes (‘e-bikes’) could play a significant part in expanding the variety of people participating in cycling and contribute to replacing a greater range of journeys that are currently made by car. E-bike use is growing across the Europe and the UK government has committed to establishing a national e-bike support programme (DfT, 2020). This may have a significant impact on the requirements for planning and designing cycle infrastructure. Authorities will need to consider where e-bikes fit within wider policies to promote zero-emission cities.&nbsp;This paper draws on data from a large study on cycling and wellbeing - XXXXXX. Thirty-eight participants aged 50 and over, returning to cycling after a hiatus, were asked to keep a ‘Diary of Cycling Experience’ (DoCE) to record how their experiences of using an e-bike unfolded during an eight-week trial period. Standard tests pre and post revealed that e-bikes, through enabling increased physical activity and engagement with the outdoor environment, can provide positive benefits to cognitive function and wellbeing as reported in XXXXXX (XXXX). The paper expands these findings, drawing specifically on the qualitative component, namely the written and visual material provided in participant diaries to reveal the embodied nature of e-biking, and in particular, the opportunity it provided for longer distance travel, (re)discovery of spaces and places, and human flourishing. It argues for a reappraisal of what constitutes ‘active’ travel and what this might mean for the emerging practice of e-biking in relation to longer distance cycling, for different purposes and in different contexts. This is particularly pertinent in the context of an ageing society, the push towards zero-emission cities and the need to ensure socially inclusive mobility particularly in the time of Covid.Keywords: e-bikes; diary approach; ageing; wellbeing; social inclusion.

“The balloon was just the kick start, I had to do the rest myself”: Adolescents living with severe obesity experiences of an intra-gastric balloon alongside a lifestyle support programme

Background Few treatments exist for adolescents living with severe obesity. This qualitative study explored the experiences of severely obese adolescents and their families who participated in the BOB study. Methods Twelve adolescents (5 males;7 females; mean age 15 years; BMI > 3.5 s.d; puberty stage 4 +) who were engaged with the research study BOB (a non-randomised, pilot novel obesity treatment programme that involved the insertion of an intra-gastric balloon coupled with a family lifestyle behavioural support programme). Adolescents attended weekly lifestyle sessions before, during and post balloon insertion. All participants were interviewed at 3 months, (halfway through intra-gastric balloon insertion) and at 12 months follow-up (6 months post intra-gastric balloon removal, 3 months post lifestyle intervention). Results All BOB participants had exhausted all treatment options deeming this study their final option. Many alluded to feelings of desperation and referred to a sense of hope that this intervention would be effective. Family involvement and attendance within the structured sessions differed significantly. Adolescents and parents perceived support from the research study ceased when the intra-gastric balloon was removed at 6-months despite attendance post balloon removal being poor. All participants emphasised a need for further support longer term with the integration of the family a critical factor. Conclusions Further research is needed to explore the specific role families play within treatment to optimise health and wellbeing outcomes. Adolescents perspectives should be integrated within treatment to inform and improve the effectiveness of future treatment programmes for severely obese adolescents and their families.

436 - Scaling up a community-based intervention for people affected by dementia: what is the value?

The Meeting Centres Support Programme [MCSP] provides community-based social, emotional and practical support for people affected by dementia to adjust to the changes dementia brings. Since development in the Netherlands the MCSP has been successfully adapted and implemented in the UK led by the Association for Dementia Studies, University of Worcester. In January (2020), Worcestershire County Council announced £540,000 to scale up the provision of MCSPs across the county: Worcestershire Meeting Centres Community Support Programme [WMCCSP].The novel county-wide approach will build real capacity, increasing the amount of people accessing post-diagnostic support, integrating services, reducing inequalities, and improving health and wellbeing; fundamental to the COVD-19 recovery plan (Department of Health and Social Care, 2020). This raises questions about the type of ‘value’ interventions such as the WCCMCSP should seek to achieve, including how it is captured and measured (Redding, 2016). This becomes more relevant when recognising only a portion of outcomes will be related to health, but much of it is likely to support individual and community wellbeing and development. In this context, understanding and measuring the ‘value’ is timely.A Concept Analysis (Rogers, 2000) of value in the context of community-based interventions for people affected by dementia informed a robust and systematic definition to assess the value created and/or destroyed by the WMCCSP. The research will develop definitions of value in this area from the perspective of key stakeholders including people affected by dementia.Social Return on Investment principles will be employed to understand outcomes created and/or destroyed by the WMCCSP for stakeholders and measure them within an endogenous framework that encapsulates what is, per say, valuable. Progress on the process, challenges, and breakthroughs of this innovative and developmental approach will be presented at the conference.