DTheses (Athabasca University)
Not a member yet
487 research outputs found
Sort by
Understanding the Bullying Experiences of Virtual Workers
No full textThe purpose of this study was to explore workplace bullying that occurs in the virtual workplace through the experiences of workers who have observed or experienced the phenomenon. This qualitative study investigated the experiences of workplace bullying as lived by virtual workers, shedding light on how workplace bullying occurs in a virtual context, as well as enhancing our understanding of the impacts on workers. Using an exploratory qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were held in 2018 with 12 adults who worked as virtual workers and either observed or experienced negative acts associated with workplace bullying in their virtual roles. The results confirmed that virtual workers are at risk of workplace bullying and that the effects are consistent with the physical, psychological, and social effects found in many studies regarding collocated workers. Findings also show that the nature of virtual work may bring some additional risk of incivilities that workers have to manage, which could increase the likelihood of bullying in this context.2020-1
Characteristics of patient education in self-administration of home intravenous antimicrobials: A multiple case study and logic model
Get PDFSelf-administration of intravenous antimicrobials has been designated as a healthcare innovation practice; however, there has been limited national uptake. The aim of this descriptive-explanatory multiple case study is to describe the characteristics of a self-administration patient education program and to explain the mechanisms used to activate learning. Data was triangulated from two cases of home infusion programs, including direct observations of 18 nurse-patient teaching sessions, three focus groups of 18 nurses and four patient interviews. Results are synthesized as a program theory logic model and toolkit for patient education in self-administration, which includes program inputs (e.g., willing and able patients, competent and patient nurse coaches, easy-to-use supplies and personalized patient education materials) applied to tailored patient education which triggers mechanisms such as patient self-efficacy and empowerment to perform self-administration which fits their lifestyle, leading to outcomes such as patient satisfaction, adherence to therapy, and improved healthcare resource utilization.2020/1
EFFECTS OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES AND VISUAL INFORMATION SEEKING ON LEARNING STRATEGIES IN ESSAY WRITING
Get PDFWhen learners seek information on unfamiliar topics, one technique used is exploratory search. Broadly speaking, there are three different searching activities; lookup, learning, and investigating. Exploratory searching focusing on the learning and investigating activities, and primarily relies on navigation, selection, and trial-and-error strategies. Researchers have proposed using visual representations of topics called concept maps to allow learners to better deal with large quantities of information. In this work, we investigate the effects of individual differences and information visualization on exploratory search with respect to self-directed learning. Our findings indicated a positive correlation between perceived prior knowledge and the time spent on task, as well as a positive correlation between time on task and the overall score achieved on the task. However, we were unable to find a correlation between other individual differences, the use of the concept map tool, and the learning outcomes in the assigned exploratory learning tasks.2020-0
EXPLANATORY STYLES OF COUNSELLORS IN TRAINING: A CONTENT ANALYSIS AND QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF WRITING SAMPLES
Get PDFHow we explain good events and bad events is based on the extent to which we personalize events and view them as permanent and pervasive. By optimistically interpreting events, counsellors can help clients accentuate the good and minimize the bad. Optimistic problem-focused coping comprises a considerable part of what counsellors do to respond to varied worldviews and perspectives. This research study explored the development of optimism in counsellors in training over the course of their program. Across the three optimism dimensions and within good events and bad events, there was only one occurrence of a positive relationship between counsellor training time and expressed optimism. The results were surprising because they contrasted with counselling psychology literature that has implied a positive developmental trajectory for counsellors in training. The implications for future research and changes in practice and training have the potential to support optimism and hope for counsellors and their clients.2020-0
Educational interventions to improve access to living kidney donation
Get PDFFor many patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the preferred treatment is kidney transplantation via living kidney donor transplantation (LKDT). When compared to renal dialysis, LKDT offers improved patient outcomes and greatly reduced healthcare spending. However, in recent years, living donation rates have stagnated. To identify patient education, as a means of improving living donation rates, this thesis aimed to review and synthesize findings from patient education intervention studies aimed at improving informed consent and patient knowledge related to LKDT. This is a Cochrane style systematic review protocol (outlining the plan for the review) and systematic review with a descriptive synthesis of quantitative studies adhering to PRISMA guidelines. The systematic review identified 27 outcomes across 15 studies that met our inclusion criteria. Findings from this review demonstrate that patient education is linked with improved self-efficacy, increase in knowledge, and decreased concerns on the part of patients. More research is needed, however, to consider how these findings can apply in Canadian contexts.2020-0
College Leadership Approach and Impact on Online and Blended Learning
Get PDFAs the economy continues to transition from the Industrial Age to the Digital Age, employers have a greater need for more people with trained skills and higher levels of education. A college education in today’s society is becoming vital as this need for knowledge and skills in the workforce increases, and this trend towards higher educational requirements poses a significant challenge for many prospective students who cannot commit to attending a college campus on a full-time basis due to work and family demands. As well, the resulting increase in student demand requires that colleges and their executives, who have traditionally operated within restrictive administrative
parameters and a dependency on local governments, must now approach student access in new and novel ways. Consequently, the role and influence of the college president is especially critical in order to deal with the resulting complex, long-term challenges of
leading the evolution of our post-secondary institutes. If these institutes are to change to accommodate these changing external pressures, this change must come from within the colleges, and be embraced by both faculty and administration alike. College presidents
must provide the leadership and vision to guide and facilitate these changes.
It is a significant shift for traditional post-secondary institutes to consider a greater focus on online and blended programming when their structures and models were developed according to more traditional educational models (e.g. in-class, F2F programming); however, Canadian colleges must adapt to meet these changing and evolving needs of a growing population of employers as well as prospective students. Despite the cited advantages for student access to online and blended learning, there are still barriers an institute and its leaders must overcome to be successful, with faculty acceptance consistently cited as one of the leading challenges. Therefore, effective
leadership could play a crucial role in the success of post-secondary institutes
endeavoring to increasingly include online and blended learning in their institute’s longterm strategic plan. The purpose of this study was to explore specific leadership characteristics that enable Canadian College Presidents to influence the growth of online and blended learning.TB
Associations between essential medicine listing and health outcomes for cardiovascular disease
Get PDFContext: National essential medicines lists are used to guide medicine selection, appropriate use, medicine reimbursement and public sector medicine procurement for many countries therefore medicine listings may impact health outcomes.
Methods: Countries’ national essential medicine lists were scored on whether they listed medicines for ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and hypertensive heart disease was synthesized. Linear regression was used to measure the association between countries’ medicine coverage scores and healthcare access and quality scores.
Results: There was no association between medicine coverage scores and healthcare access and quality scores when country characteristics were accounted for. However, there was an association between health outcome scores and health expenditure for ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and hypertensive heart disease.
Conclusion: Listing more medicines on national essential medicine lists may not improve health access and quality scores; rather it may only be one factor in reducing mortality from cardiovascular disease.July 3, 202
Understanding Resiliency of Aboriginal Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
No full textFetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a life-long issue, but the focus of research is primarily on prevention. This study aims to understand the development of resiliency in Aboriginal adults with FASD. Aboriginal adults with FASD have experienced stigmatization, high criminal recidivism rates, misinformation about FASD, and intergenerational trauma from colonization. Despite these obstacles, Aboriginal adults with FASD have developed the resiliency to survive. Using a qualitative, two-eyed seeing approach combining Indigenous methodology and phenomenological inquiry, participants were interviewed about their life experiences to understand how they developed resiliency despite the obstacles they faced. It was discovered that Aboriginal adults with FASD face barriers that develop dysfunctional resiliency, shown in the ways that they adapted and developed skills through means that were not positive aspects in their lives. However, resiliency is developed through a combination of personality traits, structure, and external support. Understanding the development of resiliency in Aboriginal adults with FASD will help improve current programs and create new programs for adults with FASD.2020-0
HOW SELF-REGULATORY FOUNDATIONS OF RELIGION INFORM ONLINE TEACHING PRACTICE: A STUDY OF HINDU MONKS WHO TEACH ONLINE
Get PDFThis ethnographic case study explored how self-regulatory foundations of the educator’s
religious beliefs inform online teaching practice. To understand this phenomenon, the
culture and practices of five Hindu monks who teach in online environments were
studied, adopting observational, interviewing, and artefact analysis for data collection
techniques. The seven major themes that were abstracted from the data reveal that (1)
spirituality modulates the emotional, cognitive, social, prosocial, dimensions of self-
regulation for overall balance; (2) self-regulation comes from an awareness and the
movement of life forces and energies within every being; (3) praxis supports a disciplined
life in the forms of codes of conduct, responsibilities and life skills throughout one’s
lifespan; (4) an educator-student tradition that embraces teacher presence, authentic
listening, developing a sensitivity to unspoken words supports self-directedness; (5) self-
regulation is a supported process where self and communal support are equally important.
(6) adaptivity and responsiveness to the environment in a timely, relevant, meaningful
and responsible manner are key characteristics of self-regulation; and (7) feedback and
collaboration strengthen educator self-regulation. These findings indicate an acceptance
and practice of self-regulation in online teaching as an intricately integrated construct,
individualized and yet highly collaborative. The monks’ indiscriminate stance on self-
regulation comes from their religion. To the monks, all of life and the universe are based
on principles of self-regulation. It is this exact way of being that is translated into their
online teaching practice. These findings may deepen our understanding of the influence
of an online educator’s personal religious beliefs on their teaching practice.2019-0
Barriers to increasing nursing job satisfaction in emergency departments
Get PDFIncreasing volumes of patients, violence against healthcare providers, and budgetary constraints are making it progressively difficult for emergency departments (EDs) to retain emergency nursing personnel and to provide patients with safe and effective emergency care. Influencing job satisfaction of ED nurses can increase staff retention and patient safety, but existing literature lacks research on how to get job satisfaction interventions implemented into practice. This thesis provides a practical synthesis of workplace factors affecting job satisfaction of ED nurses, and identifies the practical barriers nursing leaders face when implementing job satisfaction interventions. Results provide evidence of levels of job satisfaction measurement and job satisfaction interventions in the ED, recognize gaps in our knowledge, and identify which stakeholders need to take action in order to make real changes in ED environments to benefit patients, nurses, leaders, and the healthcare system as a whole.2020-0