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Social Media as an Opportunity for Public Health Interventions: The #Metoo Movement as an Exemplar
Get PDFBackground: Social media have been used exponentially and globally, providing a means for billions of users to connect, interact, share opinions and criticise, becoming one of the main channels of communication for users around the world. One of the most popular free social media networks is Twitter, with more than 100 million active users per day worldwide. Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyse a sample of the public conversations generated, using the hashtag #MeToo, around the topic of sexual abuse on Twitter. Methods: Using social media marketing software, the use of the #MeToo hashtag was analysed over a period of 60 days (14 September 2017 to 13 November of 2017). Results: The #MeToo conversation was mainly in English (79.3%), located in the United States (48.2% of cases), but with global repercussions. The volume of mentions of the #MeToo hashtag was far greater (97.7%), compared with other hashtags related to violence over this period of time, using mostly Twitter (96.2%). Conclusions: These results suggest that it is possible to describe different groups using the social media, and analyse their conversations to identify opportunities for successful public health interventions. If the topic is relevant for the general public, it will generate interest and conversations at the global level, supported by a universal and borderless channel such as Twitter
Development and Presentation of an Ethical Framework for Health and Medical Apps
Get PDFThe ubiquity of mobile applications makes it difficult to weigh up opportunities and potential risks. One significant aspect of an ethical assessment regarding the development and use of health and medical apps is the lack of clear and consistent guidelines and measures of value. Aim: The aim of this paper was to identify the main ethical determinants associated in the context of health and medical apps and develop a framework for ethical reflection. Methods: A systematic literature search in the database PubMed was undertaken and the journal Biomed Central Medical Ethics was hand searched and 32 met the review criteria. On this basis of the review an interview guide was developed and five purposively selected experts on the field of payers, science, consumers, medical ethics and society were interviewed regarding health and medical apps. Results: There is a lack of consistent and clear guidelines regarding the use of health and medical apps in literature. Indeed, findings refer to established biomedical principles. The interviews identified that several insecurities related to legal and regulatory issues are common. On the other hand, many advantages of the use of health and medical apps have been pointed out by experts. Conclusion: Debates on ethics and the use of health and medical apps should play a significant role in public discussion. Ethical endpoints cannot be considered isolated from each other, and must be regarded as a complex network of aspects connected with each other. Further research should concentrate on the development of consistent guidelines and a framework for reflection of occurring ethical concerns
Current State of Teledentistry in Chile
Get PDFChile is a country where the geography and territorial distribution of the population make healthcare a constant challenge. Despite a reported improvement on oral health indicators, some levels of inequality are still noted in terms of access to healthcare services. In this context, teledentistry has been considered an effective tool to respond to the population’s healthcare needs. The aim of this paper is to present the current state of teledentistry in Chile. This paper describes the initiatives and programmes of teledentistry developed in Chile, the ethical and legal aspects, financing sources and pending challenges for its consolidation. It is expected that teledentistry will contribute toward an increase in coverage and access to specialists, improve the appropriateness of referrals and reduce costs of specialist care
Organisation development: The argument still stands
Get PDFAfter the national transition in 1994, SA was welcomed back into the international political and economic arena. Becoming part of the global community, including emerging economies, has had major implications for the country, including its school system. A previously relatively stable and predictable, if unjust, school system needed radical change. This paper reports on how Organisation Development (OD) as an action research school change strategy was introduced to a school staff. The outcome has been a gradual change in the organisation culture of the school. This includes more collaborative decision-making, open communication, teacher leadership, increased enthusiasm among teachers and an on-going process of incremental school change. We suggest that OD is a feasible change strategy for schools and school systems in emerging contexts of rapid and ongoing change and where schools are expected to take increasing responsibility for themselves
The influence of ideology on black African students’ perceptions of the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s bilingual policy
Get PDFThe authors’ chosen theoretical framework posits that how black students perceive bilingual instruction in higher education is largely influenced by the various ideological perspectives they have been socialised into in different contexts where African languages are used but also continue to be diminished for different objectives. Through individual interviews, the study explored which ideological frameworks participants drew on when discussing their general perspectives, as well as perceived benefits and challenges of bilingual instruction at UKZN. They were also asked what their recommendations for the policy’s implementation process were. The students who had experienced bilingual instruction explained how they started understanding the content of their studies as well as the meaning of previously difficult English concepts better. Students who had not experienced bilingual instruction mainly discussed that they think the use of isiZulu could facilitate better understanding only for students who struggle to understand English. However, they warned that an extended use of isiZulu would hinder upward socioeconomic mobility for graduates who struggle to communicate in English. In light of the study’s findings and the conflicting ideologies shared in South Africa, the authors recommend that when planning their respective implementation processes for bi/multilingual instruction for higher education, national and institutional policymakers should consider students’ various ways of perceiving different languages’ levels of use and esteem and how this could influence their different objectives
Book review: Going to University. The influence of higher education on the lives of young South Africans.
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Going to University. The Influence of Higher Education on the Lives of Young South Africans by Jennifer M. Case, Delia Marshall, Sioux McKenna and Disaapele Mogashana. Bloemfontein: African Minds, 2018
Current Scenario of Teledentistry in Public Healthcare in India
Get PDFIndia is the largest democracy and the second most populated nation in the world. Although with 190,000 dentists, India ranks top in the absolute number of dental graduates, rural Indians and urban slums remain deprived of quality dental healthcare due to unequal distribution and access. About 1,000 telemedicine nodes have been established by Government/Private/Trust agencies to reinforce the national healthcare delivery system in India however an organised and dedicated teledentistry network is non-existent but for the Collaborative Digital Diagnosis System (CollabDDS). CollabDDS was developed in India for tele-consultation, diagnosis, remote education and as a data repository. It is a remote expert dental programme served between three dental schools with the Centre for Dental Education and Research at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. There are some major challenges which exist and need to be addressed including lack of government initiatives, reimbursement schemes, data protection laws, technical infrastructure, advanced biological sensors, bandwidth support, orientation among doctors, and linguistic diversity, along with patients’ fear and unfamiliarity. With an area of 3,287 million km2, an urban-rural divide, inaccessible areas, the country is an ideal setting for the provision of eHealth. This paper highlights the present status, challenges and future of teledentistry in India
Compliance to quality assurance principles of recognition of prior learning (RPL) by library and information science schools in South Africa
No full textEstablishing an enabling environment by committing to legislative and regulatory framework in the implementation of recognition of prior learning (RPL) is a potentially valuable prerequisite for an effective and credible RPL system in higher education in South Africa. RPL is broadly defined as the principles and processes through which prior experiences, knowledge, skills and attitudes acquired outside the formal learning programme are recognised and assessed for purposes of certification, alternative access and admission, and further learning and development (SAQA 2013). This paper seeks to highlight the importance of an enabling environment in the development and implementation of RPL in library and information science (LIS) in South Africa. The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) RPL policy (2002:18) makes it explicitly clear that ‘an enabling environment’ demonstrating commitment to RPL is essential. It is evident from the document that unless proper policies, structures and resources were allocated to a credible assessment process, it can easily become an area of contestation and conflict. The study adopted quantitative methods, and utilised questionnaires and document analysis to collect data. The study found that the LIS schools have aligned most of their institutional RPL policies and procedures with SAQA’s national RPL policy (2013). However, in terms of the institutional RPL policy environment, the study found that there was a low level of compliance regarding certain aspects of the policy environment among LIS schools despite their express explicit commitment to the principles of equity of access and redress. The study recommends that universities and LIS schools need to establish resonance between the policy framework and RPL implementation and practice in order to enhance good RPL practices