Dalarna University College Electronic Archive
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Returning to the river : the salutogenic model as a theory to explore the relation between outdoor activities and health
No full textAn ongoing discussion is a debate about the benefits of outdoor activities for health, where a narrowness regarding the benefits as a matter of curing or preventing disease has been questioned. Hence, there is an urgent need to theorize further the relationship between outdoor activities and health with robust theoretical frameworks that can guide research and practice, taking different aspects of human-nature relations into account. In the paper, a critique of pathogenic perspectives of health is forwarded, as well as a critique of an anthropocentric human centeredness of health. Instead, a salutogenic model and the metaphor of the swimmer in the river is used to discuss the relation without being restricted to health as the absence of disease or to human health and wellbeing. In the paper, seven different relations, or salutogenic questions, are provided, moving from the swimmer in the foreground, to swimmers in the river to finally foregrounding the river
Neuroevolution gives rise to more focused information transfer compared to backpropagation in recurrent neural networks
No full textArtificial neural networks (ANNs) are one of the most promising tools in the quest to develop general artificial intelligence. Their design was inspired by how neurons in natural brains connect and process, the only other substrate to harbor intelligence. Compared to biological brains that are sparsely connected and that form sparsely distributed representations, ANNs instead process information by connecting all nodes of one layer to all nodes of the next. In addition, modern ANNs are trained with backpropagation, while their natural counterparts have been optimized by natural evolution over eons. We study whether the training method influences how information propagates through the brain by measuring the transfer entropy, that is, the information that is transferred from one group of neurons to another. We find that while the distribution of connection weights in optimized networks is largely unaffected by the training method, neuroevolution leads to networks in which information transfer is significantly more focused on small groups of neurons (compared to those trained by backpropagation) while also being more robust to perturbations of the weights. We conclude that the specific attributes of a training method (local vs. global) can significantly affect how information is processed and relayed through the brain, even when the overall performance is similar
Nurses' experiences of pressure ulcer prevention work in inpatient care : A literature review
No full textBakgrund Trycksår är ett förekommande problem inom hälso- och sjukvården som orsakar stort lidande för patienter, leder till onödiga kostnader för samhället och förlänger vårdtiden. Sjuksköterskor har en avgörande roll i förebyggandet av trycksår då kan sjuksköterskor identifiera och behandla trycksår i ett tidigt skede. Syfte Syftet var att beskriva sjuksköterskors erfarenheter av trycksårsförebyggande arbete för patienter inom slutenvården. Metod Litteraturöversikten baserades på 12 vetenskapliga artiklar som inhämtades genom systematiska sökningar i databaserna CINAHL och PubMed. Resultat Resultaten visade att sjuksköterskor hade grundläggande förståelse för trycksårsprevention, men saknade djupare kunskap om moderna metoder, vilket ledde till osäkerhet och ineffektiva åtgärder. Brist på resurser, hög arbetsbelastning och otillräckligt stöd från ledningen hindrade genomförandet av förebyggande åtgärder. Samverkan, tydlig kommunikation och kontinuerlig utbildning var avgörande för att förbättra preventionen och säkerställa god vård. Slutsats Utmaningar som kunskapsbrist, utbildningsbehov, organisatoriska hinder samt stresspåverkade sjuksköterskor förmåga att förebygga trycksår. Studien belyser även vikten av kontinuerlig utbildning och en stödjande arbetsmiljö för att stärka sjuksköterskornas kompetens och förbättra trycksårsprevention inom sluten vården.Background Pressure ulcers are a common problem in healthcare that causes great suffering for patients, leads to unnecessary costs for society and prolongs the length of hospital stay. Nurses have a crucial role in the prevention of pressure ulcers as nurses can identify and treat pressure ulcers at an early stage. Aim The purpose was to describe nurses' experiences of pressure ulcer prevention work for patients in inpatient care. Method The literature review is based on 12 scientific articles, which were obtained through systematic searches in the CINAHL and PubMed databases. Results The results showed that nurses had a basic understanding of pressure ulcer prevention, but lacked deeper knowledge of modern methods, which led to uncertainty and ineffective interventions. Lack of resources, high workload and insufficient support from management hindered the implementation of preventive measures. Collaboration, clear communication and continuous education were crucial to improve prevention and ensure good care. Conclusions Challenges such as lack of knowledge, training needs, organizational barriers and stress affected nurses' ability to prevent pressure ulcers. The study also highlights the importance of continuous education and a supportive work environment to strengthen nurses' competence and improve pressure ulcer prevention in inpatient care.
Religionskunskap och acceptans för mångfald : Lärares erfarenheter och uppfattningar av religionskunskapsämnets möjligheter och hinder i relation till främjandet av förståelse och acceptans för mångfald
No full textIn an era characterized by religious and cultural diversity, the subject of Religious Education can be viewed as a central component in the pursuit of cultivating conscious, educated, and empathetic citizens who recognize the potential of a society shaped by this diversity. This study aims to contribute by examining, based on the experience and perspectives of four highschool teachers, the opportunities and challenges they encounter in promoting understanding and acceptance of others religious and worldview affiliations. Through four semi-structured personal interviews, the discussions primarily revolved around (1) the teachers varying views on the subject’s purpose, (2) which content and teaching methods are deemed effective and ineffective in fostering understanding and acceptance for others, and (3) the teaching strategies employed by the teachers when promoting acceptance and understanding in the classroom. The results reveal a broad variation in the approaches used to promote acceptance and understanding. A notable finding was that what one teacher regarded as effective in promoting these goals, another could consider as a barrier to achieving them. For example, half of the teachers preferred to present an insider and individual perspective of religion in their teaching, while the other half viewed such a perspective, more or less, as an obstacle in their pursuit of achieving acceptance and understanding of others. These divergent views appeared to stem from various factors, such as the teachers’ different pedagogical approaches, their varying interpretations of the purpose of the subject, their individual reading of curriculum guidelines, as well as the prior knowledge and attitudes within the student groups which they teach. Nevertheless, the teachers were unanimous in agreeing that the primary task of Religious Education is to promote acceptance and understanding of others. All teachers were also in agreement that classroom discussions, variations in interpretation in relation to religion, and a comparative and unifying perspective were to be preferred. However, the way in which these aspects were practically addressed varied among them. The variation in teachers’ practices and views on what is effective or counterproductive in promoting acceptance and understanding is regarded in this study as an asset, rather than a hindrance, to teaching aimed at achieving these goals. It is hoped that reflective and professional educators, engaging in the findings of this study, can translate the insights shared by the participants into their own teaching context and practices
What do you think you are doing? : How physical education researchers make scientific contributions
No full textScholars have expressed concern about stagnation in physical education research. Specifically, they have claimed that physical education researchers have been investigating the same topics, presenting the same solutions, and at times fail to build on - or in some cases, even acknowledge - existing scientific findings. These are serious assertions that call into question the enterprise of researching in physical education. In this paper, we evaluate the merits of these claims. Through a Bernsteinian reading of four illustrations, the thesis we develop is that physical education has a horizontal knowledge structure. This knowledge structure affects the ways that scholars make scientific contributions, or in other words, how they develop knowledge. Understanding the connection between the knowledge structure and how knowledge is developed draws attention to: (1) the modest ways in which researchers typically make contributions, (2) the routine nature of repetition in research, and (3) the responsibilities researchers have to acknowledge the work of other researchers. We suggest that more generally, a Bernsteinian interpretation of the examples may help researchers acknowledge and accept slow disciplinary development and gain clarity regarding how and in which areas they can contribute in the future
A community’s practice : A case study of professional development among vocational and arts teachers
No full textWomen's experiences of participating in a digital continuity of care model designed for fear of birth in a rural setting
No full textBACKGROUND: Midwifery continuity models are highly recommended. Women with fear of birth living in rural areas might have difficulties accessing such care. Technology can play a role in enhancing contact with midwives during pregnancy and childbirth for these women. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to elucidate women's experiences of participating in a digital continuity of care model designed for pregnant women with fear of birth. METHODS: A qualitative interview design, employing interviews with 15 women participating in a midwifery continuity project directed towards women with fear of birth. The participants used e-health tools for communication with midwives during their pregnancy and childbirth. Reflexive thematic analysis was used. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in an overarching theme: 'A digital continuity model of midwifery care for women with fear of birth in a rural area is attractive'. The model created positive outcomes in terms of sustainability and use of resources. The women reported enhanced autonomy and reduced stress. Continuity of care fostered confidence and security throughout childbirth for the women, supported by a strong relationship with their midwives. The individualised care, which addressed mental health challenges and fears stemming from past childbirth experiences, led to positive outcomes. CONCLUSION: A model with continuity using digital e-health could be a solution to meet women's needs in rural areas during childbirth, who suffer from fear of birth or have mental health problems. Care models need to be tailored to regional conditions, considering factors such as midwifery availability and geographical challenges
Migration and Self-Continuity : The Narrated Self in Selected Works by Aleksandar Hemon
No full textThis thesis investigates the impact of migration on the sense of self. It does so through the lens of self-continuity, a psychological concept that focuses on maintaining a subjective and diachronic sense of connection to the self. The analysis focuses on the experiences of two protagonists from works by Aleksandar Hemon: Jozef Pronek, a refugee navigating the complexities of immigrant life in the United States, and Vladimir Brik, who returns to Bosnia after establishing himself in America. Through their narratives, the thesis explores the dislocation of the self and resulting mental health crises that arise from their migrations: Pronek’s forced displacement due to war and Brik’s voluntary return home, with the emphasison how their journeys impact their self-continuity. By applying psychological criticism to migration literature, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of how migrant experiences shape personal narratives and wellbeing, demonstrating the protagonists’ use of autobiographical reasoning in creating a narrative identity and the recovery of self-continuit
The Complex Relationship between Teachers’ Instructional Practices and Students’ Reading Amount
No full textThe purpose of this study is to develop understanding of the relation be-tween instructional practices and students’ reading amount. As part of alarger mixed-methods study of reading practices across the curriculum inSwedish compulsory school, a selection of 14 classes from Grades 6 and 9were observed over a total of 59 lessons. The data generated were codedand analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The resultsreveal a great variation in teachers’ instructional practices which is shownto have both direct and more indirect consequences for students’ readingamount. By combining the results from quantitative and qualitative analy-ses in the light of Self-Determination Theory, the study shows that mostreading is done in classrooms where teachers manage to fulfill students’need for competence, relatedness, and autonomy while maintaining class-room structure and ensuring lesson time for reading. The findings are dis-cussed considering previous research on instructional practices in relationto students’ reading motivation and reading amount, adding to our under-standing of what makes students read in everyday classrooms. Limitationsof the study, directions for further research, and implications for practiceare also discussed
Effects of preventive measures against pressure ulcers : A literature review
No full textBakgrund Trycksår är en komplikation vid sjukdom och vård som kan orsaka mycket lidande för patienterna. Trycksår kan förebyggas med hjälp av vissa förebyggande metoder som har identifierats för att minska antalet trycksår med varierande framgång. Syfte Syftet med denna litteraturöversikt är att undersöka effekten av olika förebyggande åtgärder för att förhindra uppkomsten av trycksår hos patienter inom slutenvård. Metod Litteraturstudien har genomförts som en litteraturöversikt genom systematisk sökning av artiklar, som baserades på femton artiklar från Pubmed och CINAHL. Resultat Det många olika typer av förbyggande åtgärder för att förhindra utveckling av trycksår hos patienter med olika effektivitetsnivåer. Några av dessa förbyggande åtgärder inkluderar hudvård, riskbedömning, tryckavlastande material, hudbarriärer, lägesändring och även utbildning. Förebyggande vårdpaket visar också upp lovande effekter för att förebygga trycksår och genomförs i många fall med medverkan av patienter. Slutsats Implementeringssvårigheter identifierades men förebyggande åtgärder har visat sig ge en positiv effekt för att förebygga trycksår. Vårdpaket där flera av de förebyggande åtgärderna vidtagits samtidigt för att uppnå en synergistisk effekt och fungera optimalt visade sig också ha en positiv effekt när det gäller att minska trycksår.Background Pressure ulcers are a complication of disease, care and can cause a lot of suffering for the patients. Pressure ulcers can be preventable using certain prevention methods that have been identified to reduce the numbers of pressure ulcer with varying degrees of success. Aim The purpose of this literature review is to investigate the effect of various preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of pressure ulcers in inpatients. Method The literature study has been conducted as a literature review through a systematic search of articles, which was based on fifteen articles from Pubmed and CINAHL. Results There are many different types of preventive measures to prevent the development of pressure ulcers in patients with varying levels of effectiveness. Some of these preventive measures include skin care, risk assessment, pressure relief materials, skin barriers, positioning and even education. Preventive care packages also show promising effects in preventing pressure ulcers and are often implemented with the participation of patients. Conclusions Implementations difficulties were identified but preventive measures have shown to give a positive effect in preventing pressure ulcers. Care bundles where several of those preventive measures were applied simultaneously to achieve a synergistic effect and operate optimally were also shown to have a positive effect when it comes to reducing pressure ulcers