Research Bank
Not a member yet
5195 research outputs found
Sort by
Assessing the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a telehealth psychoeducation and progressive muscle relaxation programme over three weeks in adult females
No full textINTRODUCTION AND AIM
Chronic stress is associated with a broad range of adverse health outcomes, and there is a particularly high incidence of stress among women. The covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the rise in global stress levels and contributed to increased utilisation of telehealth in place of, or as an adjunct to, face-to-face healthcare. As stress is complex and multidimensional, there is a need for a multi-modal approach to stress management. Psychoeducation (PE) and progression muscle relaxation (PMR) are effective stress management tools; however, there is limited research on online multi-modal stress management programmes that incorporate PE and PMR. Therefore, the aim of this project was to conduct a pilot study assessing the feasibility of an online combined PE and PMR therapy programme on reducing stress in women.
METHOD
An uncontrolled, nonrandomised, feasibility (pilot) interventional trial with a mixed pragmatic and exploratory design and a mixed-methodological approach was conducted. A therapy programme consisting of brief PE and guided PMR was delivered using videoconferencing over three sessions on three consecutive weeks. Participants completed psychometric questionnaires to assess perceived stress and mood, and participant and researcher feedback was collected via semi-structured questions and informal discussions. Feasibility data underwent qualitative analysis using a descriptive method and psychometric data underwent t-test analysis.
RESULTS
A total of eight female participants (age range 26 to 64, mean age 45) were enrolled, with a 100% retention rate. All aspects of the therapy programme (recruitment and retention; application of PE and PMR; duration and period of programme application; use of psychometric tools; application of programme via telehealth; and data collection) were feasible and participants felt “relaxed” after the sessions with no reported adverse effects. Significant decreases were observed across participants in all measures of perceived stress (all p = <.005) and all measures of negative mood (e.g., anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, tension, all p = <.03).
CONCLUSIONS
The application of the online therapy programme was feasible, and preliminary evidence may indicate the programme’s potential effectiveness on perceived stress. Future studies may benefit by employing a randomised controlled study design with a larger sample size that serves a broader population demographic, including Māori. The addition of objective measures such as heart rate variability may help to strengthen the interpretation of any future findings
Henry Kulka in Samoa: A Methodist Church in Apia [1947-1951]
No full textAdolf Loos with Heinrich Kulka: Country House Khuner, Payerbach, Austria, 1929
Kulka in Auckland – working for Fletcher Construction from 1940 onwards
Kulka in Auckland – having left Fletcher Construction in 1960, he designed mostly houses
Samoa
A fale tele under construction
A map of Apia
A map of the site: Ekelesia Metotisi Samoa Matafele
F H Beckett, Morris Hedstrom Offices in Apia, Fletcher Construction’s first accomplished job in Samoa
Morris Hedstrom offices and Methodist Church under construction in Apia in 1950
The Methodist Church in Apia, Samoa
A view from the Government Building (2015)
The Methodist Church in Matafele, Apia
Apia Catholic Cathedral of ca. 1890
The Methodist Church in Apia, Samoa, designed by Henry Kulka (1947–1951)
A first iteration? Drawing as of 9 July 1947
Drawing as of 15 July 1947
Interesting to note the modernist apartment building by the church’s side
A second iteration: proposed elevation, stepping down towards the Mulivai Stream
Kulka’s Methodist Church in Apia, Samoa and August Stüler, St. Jacob’s in Berlin, 1845
Albert Schaaffhausen (1876 – 1960), Anglican Church in Apia, Samoa (1945–1958)
Albert Schaaffhausen’s Anglican
Church in Apia, Samoa ... …and Peter Behrens’ Crematorium in Hagen, Germany, 1907.
Samoan-European blended buildings - Church in Malua, 1905
Vetle Jørgensen: Aiavao House, Moto’otua, Apia, 1970
Zbginiew Marek Wolak: Maota fono in Mulinu’u, 1972
The Methodist Church in Apia, Samo
Bringing back hands-on type learning for interior design students Down Under
No full textDuring the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown in New Zealand, and the attendant Zoom sessions that proved exhausting for both Design students and tutors alike, it seemed a reset was required to encourage a more enjoyable, tactile way of learning and assessment for these drained students. Based on a cohort of over 40 Interior Design Students in a 2021 Construction type course at Unitec / Te Pukenga, this paper case studies a proposal to abandon essay writing and embark on a 1:20 scaled model of a partial interior as a new form of assessment for this course. Light timber balloon framing is the mainstay of residential construction in New Zealand, and knowledge of this construction method is at the core of the required learning. Allowing the students to ‘design’ their own interior space on the inside of the walled model allowed real ‘buy-in’ for them. This assignment was transformed from a chore to a form of enjoyment. The students were given an in-the-flesh cooking-school-type demonstration on model-making, tools, materials, and model-making techniques. The students were then allowed to bring in partially completed models to get one-on-one feedback from the tutor in the classes leading up to the final hand-in. For the tutor, these models provided rich material for their individual formative and summative assessments. This paper will unpack this ‘on-the-fly’ experiment and research various pedagogies to ground this application as a valid way of providing an experiential way of learning for the student and speedy marking for the tutor
Management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease: A content analysis review
No full textAim of research
Whaat is acute rheumatic fever?
Rheumatic heart disease
Method
Framework
Findings - access equity
FIndings - technology
Findings – cultural sensitivity and cultural safety
Findings – intersectional collaboration
Findings – community participation
key takeaways
reference
Fostering active assessment: Re-convergence of student learning profile and assessment methods
Get PDFCurrent practice
Research questions
Are memory-based assessment methods used in tertiary education institutes valid for today’s students?
• How valid is memory-based assessments in tertiary education programmes of study?
• What is the impact of the ever-expanding information technology on student memories?
• What are the barriers to implement authentic assessment in vocational education
Sustaining a culture of innovation delivery in society. A practice-led study of the role of design thinking frameworks
No full textThis study delves into the mechanisms driving the adoption and cultivation of innovation across various sectors, particularly within design, education, and business realms. It investigates the social dynamics surrounding knowledge dissemination and the societal reception of innovative practices. Drawing upon insights gathered from a diverse cohort of design practitioners over a span of twenty-five years, this research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of innovation's role in shaping societal progress. Utilising a constructivist approach, this study evaluates design innovation through the lens of Human-Centred Design (HCD). By adopting this perspective, the research transcends traditional boundaries of innovation confined within business and educational domains, extending its inquiry to explore the broader societal implications of innovative endeavours. Central to this investigation is the recognition of designers as pivotal actors in the innovation ecosystem, facilitating knowledge exchange and contributing significantly to the perpetuation of a culture of innovation. Through an examination of international case studies showcasing collaborative efforts between academia and industry aimed at societal betterment, this study identifies avenues for fostering innovation within the fabric of society. In response to the findings, the author proposes an Interrelated Innovation Framework (IIF) tailored to the unique context of New Zealand. This framework offers a systematic approach to nurturing a culture of innovation within the social framework, emphasising collaboration and synergy between various stakeholders. This study illuminates the intricate interplay between design, education, business, and society in sustaining a culture of innovation delivery. By clarifying the roles of different actors and proposing actionable frameworks, it seeks to inform policymakers, educators, businesses, and designers alike, fostering an environment conducive to continuous innovation and societal advancement
Developing a collaborative and cooperative delivery network
No full textWhat? Cooperation vs collaboration
Why? Our vision for the future
How? Communities of practice
What? Content delivery
Questions/Comments/Disagreement
Observations of avifauna on Rēkohu / Wharekauri / Chatham Island, Chatham Islands group, in February 2023
No full textRēkohu / Wharekauri / Chatham Island (hereafter Rēkohu) is the largest island in the Chatham Islands group, 800 km east of Te Wai Pounamu / South Island, Aotearoa / New Zealand. This island has an avifauna of 170 taxa. Here, we present a list of bird species encountered during an eight-day undergraduate field trip in February 2023. Based on visual encounters or via calls heard, we encountered 38 species of bird (two seabirds, eight coastal birds, six freshwater birds and 22 terrestrial birds) across 13 locations over six days. The most common species sighted were common starlings (Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris), followed by white-fronted terns (Sterna striata) and black swans (Cygnus atratus). We encountered a Chatham Island tūī (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae chathamensis) in Nīkau Bush Reserve, c.35 km north of the translocated population in Awatotara Valley. We also present the first list of bird species for Motuhinahina and a nearby limestone rock stack in Te Whanga Lagoon. Birds encountered there included Chatham Island shag (Leucocarbo onslowi), Pitt Island shag (Phalacrocorax featherstoni), buff weka (Gallirallus australis hectori) and New Zealand little penguin (Eudyptula minor minor). We formally report the presence of feral emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), including chicks, at Te Matarae, where there is self-sustaining population following their release to the wild years ago. In previous observations, feral chicken (Gallus gallus gallus) and turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) were ‘semi-wild’ on the basis that observations made of these species were well outside sites of human habitation. In the case of turkey, they are in the process of self-establishing. We suggest a full census is required to determine the status of these populations, particularly emu. As the emu population is self-sustaining, they should be considered as a new addition not only to the avifauna of the Chatham Islands group but to Aotearoa / New Zealand
Understanding the plastic component of construction and demolition waste to increase landfill diversion
No full textConstruction & demolition waste
Plastic waste
Typical waste composition
Project aims
Methodology
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
Polymer type & construction stag
Exposure to waste anaesthetic gases in New Zealand veterinary practices: Mitigation protocols and levels of staff awareness
No full textAIM:
To determine
i) the extent of knowledge of WAG hazards; and
ii) the measures taken by staff to mitigate the effects of such hazards
OBJECTIVES
Gauge employee understanding of WAG exposure, risks, and regulations in NZ veterinary clinics.
What safety protocols and mitigation techniques are in place regarding anaesthetic gases in NZ veterinary clinics?
How well do these processes comply with minimum safe practicing standards internationally