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Tools for learning or tools for power? Middle school students\u27 use of engineering tools
No full textEffectiveness of a Community-Based Exercise Program in an American Indian Population
No full textPURPOSE:American Indians face a multitude of health disparities after a long history of relocation and intergenerational trauma. In order to alter these disparities, community based programs like the Fitness and Nutrition (FAN) program at the Minneapolis American Indian Center (MAIC), have been developed to confront high rates of preventable disease in American Indian communities. In collaboration with MAIC, the purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the self-reported physical and mental health of elders to guide program development. DESCRIPTION: A survey was created that inquired about physical and mental health both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. 115 surveys were distributed to MAIC elders during a community lunch distribution. OBSERVATIONS/RESULTS: There were 40 respondents to the survey. No significant difference was found in physical activity between pre-COVID reports compared to current reports. Between BMI classification groups, no significant difference was found in the impact on physical health, self-perceived rating of general health, or confidence in ability to be physically active. There was a significant difference in number of days per month impacted by mental health between BMI classification groups, with individuals classified as obese reporting 9.9 days per month of suboptimal mental health compared 1.2 days per month for individuals classified as normal BMI (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported amount of weekly physical activity did not significantly change during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-COVID amount. Individuals classified as obese based on BMI standards experienced significantly greater number of days per month with suboptimal mental health compared to individuals classified as normal BMI. IMPLICATIONS: Consistent physical activity during COVID could be related to the strong programming MAIC provides to its constituents. MAIC may want to target future programming to individuals with high BMI to mitigate the mental health impacts
Assessment of Pediatric Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Using a New Patient-Reported Outcome Measure: The P-CIN
No full textBackground: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is commonly experienced by children receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy. No validated pediatric CIPN patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures exist. Purpose: To test sensitivity, internal consistency reliability, content and convergent validity, and feasibility of the Pediatric Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy (P-CIN), an electronic PRO measure for assessing CIPN in children who received neurotoxic chemotherapy. Method: Five experts evaluated content validity of the 14-item P-CIN. Children 5 to 17 years old with CIPN (N = 79) completed the P-CIN via tablet computer; a subset (n = 26) also underwent neurological examinations using the Pediatric-Modified Total Neuropathy Score. Following preliminary analyses, one item was deleted and three others modified. The revised P-CIN was retested with patients (n = 6) who also completed the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency motor function assessment. Means, item response ranges, standard deviations, content validity indexes, Cronbach\u27s alphas, and correlation coefficients were calculated. Results: Mean participant age was 11.25 (SD = 4.0) years. Most had acute leukemia (62.5%) and received vincristine (98.7%). Content validity index coefficients ranged from .80 to 1.0 (p = .05). For 9 of 14 items, responses ranged from 0 to 4 or 5; response ranges for toe numbness, pick up a coin, and three of four pain items were 0 to 3. After deleting one item, Cronbach\u27s alpha coefficient was .83. P-CIN scores were strongly associated with Pediatric-Modified Total Neuropathy Score (r = .52, p \u3c .01) and Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (r = -.83, p = .04) scores. Sixty-eight percent of children 6 to 17 years old completed P-CIN independently. Discussion: Preliminary evidence suggests that the 13-item P-CIN is internally consistent, is valid, and can be completed independently by children ≥ 6 years. However, we recommend additional testing
Kenyan Women Bearing the Cost of Climate Change
No full textBackground:Climate change-induced crises can aggravate gender-based violence; the loss of income when weather affects the agricultural industry can exacerbate violence at home. In Kenya, the effect of climate change on weather patterns has led to increased precipitation and temperature. These weather changes lead to more intense flooding during the rainy seasons and droughts during the dry season. For 75% of Kenyans, agricultural activities are their primary source of income. With 98% of agriculture depending on rainfall, the change in weather patterns has provided farmers with a challenge when timing the planting and harvesting of crops. The aim of this research is to assess patterns in domestic violence (DV) and severe weather events (SWE) over a 6-year period in Kenya.Methods:We examined IPUMS-DHS data from 2008, and 2014 for DV severity and frequency. We used EM-DAT data along with GPS coordinates to identify SWEs (defined as any drought or flood \u3e 10 days) by county in Kenya in the year of DV data collection. We conducted a logistic regression using a mixed effects model grouped by 8 counties in Kenya. We also evaluated whether changes in weather in each county in the two years leading up to DV data collection is associated with an increase in domestic violence. All analyses were controlled for rural/urban residence, husband drinking status, husband working in agriculture. Findings:We identified a significant association between weather patterns and reporting DV. Having a partner who worked in agriculture increased the odds of reporting domestic violence (OR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1-1.3). The odds of reporting experiences of DV were 1.4 times greater in areas that experienced a major flood (OR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.3-1.6). We also noted an increase in odds of reporting experiences of DV in areas that reported an increase in floods as compared to areas where no floods occurred (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.4-1.9). The association between severe flooding and DV warrants a deeper look how changing weather patterns affect DV worldwide. Interpretation:Climate action is an essential component in the ongoing fight to eliminate violence against women and girls. This analysis adds to the urgency of addressing action to stop environmental degradation, action to stop gender-based violence, and demonstrate that the two issues often need to be addressed together
The Private Cost of Climate Change on Kenyan Women: The Relationship between Severe Weather Events and Domestic Violence in Kenya-itle
No full textRefugee Women Gardening: “Because we plant things, gardening makes our heart feel pleased.”
No full textThere are multiple social, and institutional barriers for refugees adapting to life in any new country. In this study, we explored how community gardens serve as a structural intervention to mitigate the mental and social stressors for refugee women in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. We conducted focus groups and interviews with 30 Karen, Bhutanese and Hmong gardeners about the value of gardening. We identified six themes: (1) the challenges of living in the U.S.; (2) gardening as a coping mechanism for depression; (3) the satisfaction from growing vegetables; (4) the physical benefits of gardening; (5) a connection with their home country; and (6) their gender role as a woman. Recognizing the common isolation of refugee women and supporting place-based interventions like gardens may facilitate their social and emotional well-being as they transition to living in a new country
Mental Health and Adolescents: The Role of Occupational Therapy in Mental Health Promotion
Get PDFMental health and well-being are essential to allow individuals to participate in occupations, activities that bring meaning and value to their lives, across their lifespan. This is especially important during the adolescent years, ages 10-19, where brain development and growth are vital and have lifelong functional implications. Positive mental health allows individuals to fully function across environments and involves positive experiences, environments, and internal well-being. Using Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), positive mental health initiatives can be implemented to reach all individuals within a community (Bazyk, 2011). Schools are the places where youth spend the majority of their waking hours. Initiatives to address positive mental health and well-being from a proactive perspective using MTSS can be introduced in the school environment to impact the individuals, including students and staff, throughout all parts of the school day (Bazyk, 2011; Kumar & Mohideen, 2019). Positive mental health impacts academic success, extracurricular participation, and overall well-being. This culminating portfolio of three knowledge translation projects examined three different approaches to understanding, implementing, and advocating for children and youth\u27s positive mental health needs. In knowledge translation project one, research supporting MTSS and a public health model through interdisciplinary approaches was culminated and disseminated to practicing occupational therapy practitioners and students in a presentation through the Minnesota Occupational Therapy Association (MOTA). In knowledge translation project two, a school-wide initiative on mental health promotion was designed and implemented to a middle school community, including teachers, staff, and students, over six weekly lessons over Zoom. In the third knowledge translation project, resources are outlined to assist other practicing therapists and students in advocating for their role in mental health promotion within a school-based setting in a poster presentation to be completed at the Minnesota School-Based OT/PT Institute. The knowledge translation projects and background research to support evidence-based practice in mental health promotion demonstrated the role that occupational therapy could play within the school-based setting. Mental health, including positive mental health and well-being, are foundational to full participation in lifelong occupations. Occupational therapists have background knowledge and training in mental health that should be considered for active involvement on mental health teams to support student mental health and well-being
Factors that Impact Career Development in Virtual Environments
Get PDFThe number of women in senior leadership positions compared to men in the same roles is significantly lower despite efforts in recent decades to reach equal status (Travis et al., 2013). Career development activities such as mentoring programs are helpful for employees trying to advance their career; however, sponsorship is a more effective method for women to be promoted (Travis et al., 2013). This thesis examines how financial institutions can incorporate sponsorship activities during times of crisis. This research focuses on the COVID-19 as crisis moving many employees into a virtual environment for day-to-day work and career development activities. I interviewed six individuals who actively participate in career development programs within their organization to gain better understanding of their experiences. I identified several recommended best practices for organizations to follow during times of crisis such as COVID-19 and virtual working environments to best incorporate sponsorship into their institutions