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Improving Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (Wash) Outcomes for Mental Health Patients in Zimbabwe: Analysis of Factors and Solutions
Get PDFThis study examines the link between mental health outcomes and access to WASH services in urban and rural Zimbabwe, as well as discussing how poor WASH conditions exacerbate mental health challenges. We’ll propose innovative solutions to improve WASH and mental health services, emphasizing the need for an integrated approach
The Influence of Paint
Get PDFThis thesis is made up of multiple essays aimed at examining the relationship between identity, craft, and narrative development. It emphasizes how societal expectations affect self-worth, personal happiness, and identity development. It combines literary, sociological, and Christian viewpoints to highlight the significance of portraying complex and diverse individuals to reflect on the relational nature of identity. This thesis also provides a thorough analysis of theoretical frameworks and practical methodologies for creating compelling characters. By examining psychological models, sociocultural influences, conflict, voice, and genre-specific techniques, it demonstrates how complex character creation enhances narrative. The culmination of this thesis, a novel called Paint, revolves around the quest for life’s meaning and the intrinsic worth of individuals. These ideas are explored through the lives and experiences of four inhabitants of a provincial town. Their lives go awry after they meet a strange woman who suddenly vanishes. Using multiple points of view and anatomically organized narration, the reader is exposed to the detailed internal struggles of every character as they process of their identity crises and self-observations in the aftermath. The novel concludes with an open ending. They do not find the mysterious stranger they have spent the entire novel in pursuit of, and not all of their questions are answered. Instead, they conclude that they cannot determine their value based on the interpretations of a woman whose name they never learned. The group goes their separate ways and begin independent journeys to discover their identities
Out-of-Body Experiences: Plausibility of a Separate Soul and Body
Get PDFNear-death experiences (NDEs) and out-of-body experiences (OBEs), as reported by experiencers, contradict beliefs that when a person dies, they cease to exist. This view is opposite to the teachings of Jesus who taught that there is a separation between body and soul and the Apostle Paul who taught there is life after death. NDEs, and especially OBEs, support biblical teachings and the belief that the soul can be separate from the body. Case reports from the literature demonstrate veridical OBEs and encounters with deceased loved ones. Experiencers state that NDEs and OBEs are real in contrast to the arguments of naturalists that they simply occur in the dying brain like dreams, hallucinations or illusions. Arguments against the validity of NDEs, OBEs, and the concept of a separate soul and body stand in contrast with the arguments in defense of NDEs, OBEs, and the plausibility of a separate soul and body. An honest review of literature regarding NDEs, and OBEs does support the plausibility of a separate soul and body as well as the possibility of life after death
Mindful Parenting and Parental Stress Relation in Parents of Children with Autism
Get PDFThe current study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of mindfulness and mindful parenting in reducing the stress and anxiety levels of parents with children who have autism. This study utilized pre- and post-surveys to assess parents\u27 stress and anxiety levels before and after participating in the mindfulness component of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy course. These levels were compared to those of parents involved in an Applied Behavior Analysis program, where a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) conducted parent training at least once a month.
Participants were recruited by posting research flyers on social media platforms, including the Autism Facebook group. Participation was voluntary, allowing participants to leave the program at any time without penalty. A total of ten families were recruited. At the end of the eight-week program, the researcher compared data from participants who participated in the mindfulness component of the DBT course with those receiving regular training by a BCBA. Participants who attended the mindfulness program for eight weeks experienced reduced stress levels, as evidenced by comparing the DASS scores from baseline to post-intervention using a matched t-test. In contrast, participants who received parent training from the BCBA as part of their child’s ABA program did not show a reduction in their DASS scores when comparing baseline scores to those after eight weeks using matched-pairs t-tests. The comparison of mindful parenting levels indicated no significant changes. Additionally, participants’ scores in mindful parenting did not correlate with their stress levels
Implementation of Social Support Assessment in Patients Aged 65 and Older with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus to Improve Treatment Adherence in a Primary Care Setting
Get PDFBackground: There is a growing number of adults aged 65 years and older living with type 2 diabetes. Research shows this population is at a higher risk of losing independence due to diabetic complications. Social support is a key component to help assist patients with taking medications properly, preparing diabetic meals and monitoring blood glucose. Adequate social support may improve the quality of health and well-being in older adults. Social support is not routinely assessed in primary care, but it is routinely treated. This evidence-based practice project aimed to educate clinicians about social support assessment and facilitate implementation of a social support assessment tool in practice. Clinicians were evaluated regarding their use of social support assessment and likelihood to assess for social support in the future. Method: Pretest and posttest questionnaires. The sample group consisted of a small group of clinicians (n=4) and a social support assessment tool was added to patients’ charts (n=34). The data was collected over 3 weeks and documented in Excel. Data analysis was performed using Excel. Results: Results indicated that seventy-five percent (3 out of 4 clinicians) did not assess social support due to time constraints and volume of patients. Twenty-five percent (1 out of 4 clinicians) used the social support assessment tool and found the tool useful in clinical practice. Conclusion: Future implications include reinforcement of educational opportunities such as periodic in-services regarding the importance of social support assessment in clinical practice to improve patients’ conditions and considering uploading the assessment tool to the electronic health record to promote feasibility of its use in practice
The \u27It\u27 Factor: The Intersection of Leadership and Personality and the Music Ensemble Director\u27s Influence on Member Retention
Get PDFThis predictive correlational study aims to examine the influence of the leadership style and personality traits of music ensemble directors on the retention of students in their programs. The study explores music ensemble directors\u27 leadership qualities and personalities and their ability to maintain student enrollment in their ensembles over the last five years. Participants completed a demographic survey, the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, and the NEO-PI-3 Personality Assessment. A convenience sample of music educators provided the data for the study. The researcher compared these results to the participants\u27 leadership and personality identities determined in the initial surveys to establish potential intersections and commonalities. Data analysis identified the characteristics of music ensemble directors possessing the factors that affect student retention. The data examined in this analysis sought to reveal the \u27It Factor\u27 that encourages student motivation and persistence in music ensembles. The researcher used SPSS to analyze and compare the data compiled from individual participants to the music ensemble director\u27s leadership skills and personality trait assessments, determining intersections and relationships due to the study\u27s data analysis. These results provide the foundations for the study findings
Living Art: The Arabian Horse Industry Boom and Bust, 1970-1990
Get PDFThe Arabian horse world in the 1980’s was characterized by high prices followed by an unprecedented fall of the market. The Arabian horse industry was a boom and bust cycle, much like the Dutch Tulipmania of the 1630’s. Many breeders reveled in the status of owning an Arabian and prospered in this inflated market. They could make a quick profit buying a horse and reselling it a short time later, as the prices quickly rose. High prices, which were the boom, turned out to be the issue. The horses, referred to by many as living art, were not a good investment as many thought they would be. The culture of the Arabian horse industry was one of luxury. With auctions that combined entertainment, décor and hype, buyer overspent on horse purchases, thinking they could make a profit breeding the exotic Arabians. The upkeep alone was enough to negate profit. However, this living art that could reproduce itself was seen as not only profitable, but it was trendy as well. When the market corrected, following a change in tax laws that ended non-racing horses as depreciable, many woke up to realized they had overpaid for horses. Some discovered their horse was not as valuable as it was presented to them. Others found out that their valuable mare could not produce foals that could sell for the high prices to make up for the initial investment. The tax laws changed in 1986, closing a loop hole that investors relied on. In short, those who sought to profit off the trendy Arabian horse found themselves with animals that they could not sell for what they bought them for. Into the 1990’s and 2000’s, some remaining herds fell into despicable conditions. Many breeders got out of the business altogether. Due to market decline, Lasma Arabians folded. Other large farms closed their doors or simply retired. A few of the respectable breeders, such as Varian Arabians, were able to survive the market crash due to their impeccable reputation and high quality horses. Almost a decade after the death of founder Sheila Varian, horses bred by her are still winning and producing winners at the National level. Greed and horses are not a good combination. This is the lesson learned from the tale of the 1980’s Arabian market. Animals are not the same as artwork, and while their beauty is unmatched in the equine world, those who sought to make a sizable profit from them should have stuck with buying works of art
Examining the Impact of Leader-Member Exchanges on Creativity and Innovation in Information Technology Projects: A Pathway to Competitive Advantage
Get PDFUsing a qualitative single case study, I explored the influence of Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) quality on creativity and innovation in IT projects within Federal Government IT divisions in the Northeastern United States. I examined leadership challenges in gaining employee support for IT modernization, and how trust, communication, digital competency, and organizational culture shaped engagement. Guided by social exchange theory and self-determination theory, I used data triangulation through semistructured interviews, observations, and surveys with 16 participants. The results of thematic analysis revealed 5 key themes: (a) trust and transparency in leadership, (b) leadership competency, (c) resistance to change and organizational barriers, (d) employee autonomy, and (e) emotional intelligence. High-quality LMX relationships enhanced motivation, reduced resistance, and reflected innovation through trust, empowerment, and psychological safety. In contrast, low-quality LMX relationships led to skepticism, disengagement, and reluctance to adopt IT changes. A notable finding was the impact of digital leadership competency on employee confidence in IT transformation. Leaders lacking technical proficiency struggled to guide teams effectively, limiting success. The results of the study’s conclusions offer recommendations for IT leadership development, including mentorship, technical training, and trust-building strategies. In addition, the results reflected the incorporation of a biblical leadership perspective rooted in stewardship, integrity, and servant leadership. These findings contribute to scholarships and provide practical guidance for improving leadership effectiveness in public sector IT transformation, filling a gap in the literature on leadership behaviors and organizational readiness for innovation