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Evaluating Communication and Collaboration Among Healthcare Students
Get PDFThe purpose of this pilot study was to determine if the Interprofessional Collaborator Assessment Rubric (ICAR): Communication and Collaboration Dimensions would demonstrate good inter-rater reliability and be a useful and efficient tool to evaluate professional communication and collaboration between occupational therapy (OT) and physician assistant (PA) students. An additional aim of this study was to assess students’ thoughts, perceptions, and perceived value regarding these types of interprofessional opportunities. A sequential explanatory mixed methods design was used. An interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) examined the inter-rater reliability of the instrument for both faculty raters (n = 7) and standardized patient (SP) raters (n =5). Qualitative data was gathered from focus groups to assess the utility of the ICAR: Communication and Collaboration. Quantitative and qualitative data were also gathered from a convenience sample of student participants (n =19) to investigate the perceived value of this interprofessional experience. Quantitative data revealed that there was moderate inter-rater reliability for four out of five of the subscales. Three themes emerged from the rater and student focus groups. Students found the interprofessional education (IPE) opportunity to be valuable. They also felt that it enhanced their understanding of the OT/PA profession, as well as their comfort and ability to collaborate and communicate with other professionals. The results of this study suggest that the ICAR: Communication and Collaboration Dimensions has the potential to maintain inter-rater reliability among healthcare students. The results of this study also indicate that healthcare students view IPE events as being highly valuable and beneficial
A Simulation of Auditory Hallucinations Improved Empathy among Occupational Therapy Students
Get PDFClinical empathy has been identified as an essential skill for healthcare workers to provide quality healthcare. One teaching strategy for improving clinical empathy towards people with psychiatric disabilities is the Hearing Voices Simulation. This study used an explanatory sequential mixed methods design to evaluate change in clinical empathy among occupational therapy students after participating in the Hearing Voices Simulation. Participants (N=71) completed the Jefferson Scale of Empathy- Health Professions Student Version (JSE-HPS) prior to and following the simulation. A paired samples t-test compared whether the change in scale scores was equal to zero. Subsequently, focus groups were used to collect qualitative data. This study found that although already high at baseline, mean JSE-HPS scores increased significantly following the simulation experiences (p=.004). Four main themes emerged from the focus groups: 1) temporary discomfort, 2) improved understanding, 3) reformulating stigmatizing attitudes and sharing with others, and 4) planned changes for fieldwork and future clinical practice. Auditory simulations may increase occupational therapy students’ empathy. Occupational therapy programs may consider the Hearing Voices Simulation or other simulations for improving clinical empathy among students
Women In Sports: The New Model of Equity for Female Representation in Athletics and Sports
No full textDespite the steady attention and attempts of generating more and more opportunities for female athletes and sports over the last centuries and decades, female underrepresentation in sports is still causing quite the challenge in a variety of different ways. Thus, women over the last century continue to be underrepresented across all platforms of different areas, leading to discussion of inequalities, unfairness and other discrepancies. The understanding of the value of female athletes and what they could provide needs to be understood and presented right away, as the potential of the modern sports woman has been untouched so far. While the global interest in women’s sports is on the rise, the former analysis and inclusion of new methods and ways as an outlook to create intentional growth for all athletes could initiate power, stability, and protection that women need to continue to grow. The understanding of the value of female athletes, as well as what they could provide, needs to be understood and presented in the right way, as the real potential of the modern sports woman has been untouched so far. Utilizing scholarly research, with the help of applying sporting articles, journals and media reports, generated the attempts of evaluating given objectives and observations and introducing the new provided model of equity for female representation in sport. Furthermore, businesses additionally are able to utilize provided and recognizable ways to change and challenge those present existences of all pre-existing traditional models and determine that change of the game.
Keywords: women’s sports, sports media, gender equalityhttps://encompass.eku.edu/swps_graduategallery/1152/thumbnail.jp
Identifying Discrepancies in a Local or Regional Parks Department in Kentucky
No full textKentucky, like many other lower-Appalachian states, are experiencing a bourgeoning recreation and tourism industry growth. A staple of many communities is a healthy and growing parks program. To achieve a popular and successful local or regional parks program, a fair deal of community involvement is required. Soliciting feedback from the citizens of a parks program is a key method to assuring this success marker is achieved. Another function for this data is to use it as a tool for comparison between the different parks departments in the state. A primary benefit for this data collection is for each individual agency to identify key areas and earmark them for improvement based on community feedback. Measuring the success of these different agencies also provides a secondary benefit in that an agency can use their collected data and compare that to other local and regional parks departments to provide a comprehensive analysis of where each department relates in terms of community satisfaction. The problem being addressed with this research will be the ensuring of proper amenities and recreational opportunities comparable to that of other departments in the state.https://encompass.eku.edu/swps_undergraduategallery/1371/thumbnail.jp
Programming Change Among Nonprofit Human Service Organizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic
No full textEvery several years, the human service sector equilibrium is punctuated with a crisis that impacts the sector (Alexander, Citation2000; Chen, Citation2022; Horvath et al., Citation2018; Lin & Wang, Citation2016; Never, Citation2011). In many ways, however, the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic were unique (Dass et al., Citation2020; Kuenzi et al., Citation2021), being referred to as a “perfect storm” (Stewart et al., Citation2021) and a “black swan” event (Irvin & Furneaux, Citation2022). Indeed, the pandemic was unparalleled in its pervasiveness and intensity (Dass et al., Citation2020; Kuenzi et al., Citation2021; Shi et al., Citation2020), posing many challenges for nonprofit human service organizations (NHSOs) and their service populations (Vogel et al., Citation2022).
At a time when NHSO services were deeply needed, pandemic-related environmental changes altered both the supply and the demand sides of NHSO service provision (Ben-Ner & Hoomissen, Citation1993; Shi et al., Citation2020). On the supply side, NHSOs were faced with an uncertain and shifting funding environment. In many cases the pandemic had a dampening impact on funding, but there were some new opportunities such as the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and pandemic relief grants from foundations (Stewart et al., Citation2021). On the demand side, both the intensity and scale of client need were heightened due to worsening economic and social conditions (Shi et al., Citation2020). In response to these challenges, many NHSOs needed to change the very ways they delivered their programming and to develop new services (Newby & Branyon, Citation2021). When making decisions about programming change – including program addition, service population expansion, and program discontinuation – NHSO leaders had to carefully consider their available resources (Addison & Rubin, Citation2023) and the needs of the populations they serve (Vogel et al., Citation2022). To date, it is unclear how common or how meaningful NHSO programming change was during the pandemic and which factors were the most important considerations for organizational leaders as they enacted them. Therefore, in this study, we ask two research questions: first, what was the prevalence and perceived permanence of programming change among NHSOs in the wake of the pandemic; second, what factors are associated with programming change among NHSOs?
To answer these questions, we draw on data from a two-wave statewide survey of NHSOs asking about programming change during the first five months of the pandemic, as well as the NHSOs’ leaders’ perceived permanence of these changes. We describe the prevalence of the changes and investigate the contributing factors, including the role of organization size (Mosley et al., Citation2012), capacity (Barman & MacIndoe, Citation2012), new funding sources (MacIndoe, Citation2021; Never & de Leon, Citation2014), financial stability (Kim & Mason, Citation2020), and concerns for clients regarding disruptions to service and increased demand (Mion & Chiaramonte, Citation2022; Stewart et al., Citation2021). To assist in the interpretation of our results, we utilize the strategic change literature from the field of management (Müller & Kunisch, Citation2018). When programming change is theorized as strategic change, our findings have important implications for the future of the human service nonprofit sector. Research on strategic change tells us that environmental jolts, like the pandemic (M. Meyer et al., Citation2023), often lead to revolutionary shifts and leave an imprint on organizational fields (Dieleman, Citation2010; M. Meyer et al., Citation2019). If we want to understand the long-term impact of the pandemic on NHSOs, we can begin by combining the strategic change literature with data on initial programming change, especially when these changes were intended to outlast the pandemic
Ethics, Crisis Communication, and Gucci’s Blackface Sweater
No full textFashion commentators reacted with fury when Gucci fashion house introduced a black sweater with a collar that covered the lower part of the wearer\u27s face with an exaggerated red lip outline (Held, 2019). Critics called it blackface, a racially charged costume that dates to before the U. S. Civil War. White musicians in minstrel shows covered their faces with black soot and painted their mouths red, then performed with exaggerated movements mocking and belittling Black people. The style grew out of favor but nonetheless resurfaces, often with the wearer claiming a misunderstood attempt at humor or ignorance of its meaning
Enhancing Support Staff Self-Efficacy in Supporting Neurodiverse Students’ Classroom Engagement
Get PDFExecutive Summary
Background: Neurodiverse students often face many challenges within their classroom environment due to a mismatch of the environmental demands and the student’s unique processing. This mismatch is often not understood by school support staff which can lead to adverse student outcomes in academic achievement and graduation rates. Support staff are often undertrained and unsupported in meeting the complex needs of neurodiverse students and OTs are often underutilized in this deficit.
Purpose: The purpose of this capstone project was to measure the knowledge and self-efficacy gained by an evidence-based training module for school support staff that promoted increased classroom engagement and regulation of neurodivergent students. Objects for this project included increasing staff competence, self-awareness, and confidence in how to support the regulation of neurodivergent students.
Methods: A quasi-experimental cross-sectional quantitative survey design was utilized to assess the effectiveness of a one-hour training on supporting the regulation of neurodivergent students. The data results obtained were de-identified. The survey was created and data results were analyzed through Qualtrics Software.
Results: A total of 26 district-employed special education support staff completed the posttraining survey. Most participants (81%) strongly agreed the training was helpful and none of the participants disagreed that the training was helpful. Many of the participants, (76.9%) strongly agreed the training increased their confidence in supporting neurodivergent students and reported many strategies they felt comfortable implementing including co-regulation and sensory-based strategies, and environmental supports. Paraprofessionals gained the most new knowledge and least reported gained confidence. The data showed there was not a direct correlation between increased experience and increased confidence gained. Overall, paraprofessionals were more willing to change their interactions with their neurodiverse students compared to teachers.
Theoretical Framework: This capstone project supports reducing the disparity students with disabilities face within their educational environments by addressing environmental barriers and changing attitudes and interactions of special education staff as described in the social model of disability within the PEOP model. Results of this study also indicated other variables impacting confidence levels beyond years of experience supporting the humanistic learning theory of how individuals have their own lived experiences, values, and attitudes that can shape their personal learning.
Conclusions: In conclusion, this capstone project supported the research gap and demonstrated the benefit of OTs supporting school-wide diversity training in promoting increased inclusion and optimum engagement of neurodivergent students
Artificial Intelligence and bioinformatics applications in precision medicine and future implications
No full textArtificial intelligence (AI) and bioinformatics have emerged as key technologies for advancing precision medicine. Many tools of AI and bioinformatics have been applied in healthcare that would be of great value to advance the goals of precision medicine. AI is a branch of computer science that deals with the automation of intelligent behavior. Bioinformatics is a field of study that combines biology, computer science, and statistics to analyze and interpret biologic data. The latter involves the development and application of computational methods and tools for storing, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting biologic information, including genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data. AI and bioinformatics are well-positioned to help tailor medical decisions and treatments at the individual and population levels. Some of those applications and the multidisciplinary implications are presented in this chapter
Sunburn Frequency and Sun Protection Attitudes among Ocean Lifeguards at Florida Beaches
No full textObjective. Research exists examining sunburn risks, sun protective behaviors, and interventions among pool lifeguards; however, ocean lifeguard research is limited. This study aimed to determine sunburn prevalence and associations between sunburn with photoprotective attitudes and habits among Florida ocean lifeguards.
Methods. A cross-sectional study was electronically administered in 2021 to ocean lifeguards using sun protection questions. Recruitment occurred through three lifeguard agencies. The frequency of self-reported sunburns from the prior season and the opinions and practices related to photoprotection and tanning were obtained.
Results. Complete data were obtained from 77 (37%) of 207 lifeguards who served during the 2020 swimming season (mean [SD] age, 22.9 [8.31] years; 40 male (52.0%) and 37 female (48.0%)). Sunburn was common with only four (5.2%) lifeguards reporting no sunburn. In total, 26 (33.8%) reported five or more sunburns. The median sunburn frequency was three. Reporting three or more sunburns was positively associated with being a teenager (16 to 18 years) (aOR: 14.9, 95% CI 3.5 to 64.2) or young adult (19 to 23 years) (aOR: 6.4, 95% CI 1.6 to 25.2) and having a neutral opinion regarding sunscreen effectiveness (aOR: 4.5, 95% CI 1.1 to 18.7) in logistic regression models.
Limitations. Self-reported sunburns were recalled and not clinically evaluated. Recall, participation, and social desirability biases may have been present.
Conclusion. Ocean lifeguards reported appreciably high rates of sunburn, especially younger lifeguards. Increased photoprotection education, engineering controls, and research are warranted for this occupational group
Attempted predation of live-captured Neotoma Magister (Allegheny woodrat) by Strix varia (barred owl) and buteo jamaicensis (red-tailed hawk) in Kentucky
No full textWe documented multiple attempted predation events of Neotoma magister (Allegheny Woodrat) by Strix varia (Barred Owl) and Buteo jamaicensis (Red-tailed Hawk) using camera traps paired with live-traps. Given our observations, the life histories of these predators and how they relate to Allegheny Woodrats needs to be further investigated. Pairing passive monitoring tools with live-trapping efforts will not only improve the safety and efficacy of live-trapping practices, but can also elucidate temporal activity patterns of study species and provide natural history observations as outlined here