Social Science Protocols (E-Journal)
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Enhancing Employability and e-Business Capacities for Arabic-Speaking Residents of Australia through START Online Training
Get PDFBackground: Arabic minority groups in Australia face language barriers and shortage of computer skills, which cause unemployment and/or an inability to establish their own businesses. The unemployment rate for this group is ~ 20.5%, which is 3-times higher than the average unemployment rate in Australia (~7%). The unemployment will get worse due to COVID-19 pandemic. The current provision of computer and language training in Australia is in English, which results in longer training times and higher chances of non-completion.
Objective: The Smart Training for Arabic Residents on Technology (START) is an interventional online bi-lingual training that assists Arabic-speaking residents of Australia to establish an online business with minimum resources (money, space, and infrastructure) or at least help them find suitable employment.
Methods: START uses Design-Based Research DBR, as it has its own progressive refinement approach. Both qualitative methods (skills assessment interviews, semi-guided observation, and final follow-up interviews) and quantitative methods (practical tests, log analysis/learning analytics, feedback surveys) contribute to evaluation and improvement cycles.
Discussion: DBR has not been applied to vocational immigrant education previously. This research project contributes to a better understanding of the relationships between educational theory, designed learning and outcomes, to help advance learning and teaching environments by refining critical factors that lead to success for trainees. Practically, Arabic residents are provided opportunities to master computer and English skills for establishing their own online businesses. This research, however, has some limitations. Usually a team of teacher, learning designer, and researcher is recommended for DBR, but that is not possible in this PhD study. It is also acknowledged that although this study aims for optimal refinement of the START program, through multiple cycles of improvement, realistically it will be difficult to “recreate” the exact learning environment in future programs
Mapping the Knowledge on Coping Processes in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer: A Scoping Review Protocol
Get PDFBackground: Pancreatic cancer is one of the malignant diseases with the highest cancer-specific mortality. At the time of diagnosis, life expectancy is often already very limited, as it is usually discovered late and in an advanced stage. Coping with cancer is a complex process. Coping strategies of patients with pancreatic cancer probably differ from those of other malignancies. Yet to date, there exists no pancreatic cancer-specific coping model.
Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to explore and characterize the academic literature related to coping processes in patients with pancreatic cancer.
Methods/Design: The JBI\u27s three-step search strategy, combined with the Arksey and O\u27Malley framework, will be used to identify articles via PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, CAMbase, CareLit, CC Med, Scopus, and PsycARTICLES (Arksey & O\u27Malley, 2005; Peters et al., 2017). It follows the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews (Tricco et al., 2018). Primary and secondary studies and reviews which report on coping with pancreatic cancer (adenocarcinoma) in adults in English or German language will be included in this scoping review, regardless of publication date or study design.
Discussion: This scoping review will add new insights on coping with pancreatic cancer by summarizing current knowledge, and identifying research 
Predictors of Intershift Fatigue Recovery Among Doctors: A Protocol
Get PDFIntroduction: Doctors are exposed to various psychosocial hazards such as high task demands and demanding work schedule which may influence fatigue, recovery, stress, job satisfaction, wellbeing, and work-family interface. This research generally aims to examine the interrelationship between work-home domain variables with outcomes of fatigue, its recovery, and others related outcomes such as work-to-family conflict, general wellbeing, and perceived stress level among doctors working at public hospital at general and day-level on-call duty.
Methods: This is a multicenter analytical mix cross sectional (general) and longitudinal (day-level) research among proposed 390 randomly-sampled on-call doctors working at seven core clinical disciplines from seven public tertiary hospitals in Malaysia. Data will be collected three times: (a) any days after obtaining informed consent (cross sectional), (b) at the end of on-call duty (first wave longitudinal), and (c) at the beginning of subsequent work period (second wave longitudinal). Data will be modelled by covariance-based structural equation modelling (SEM).
Conclusion: This research is well justifiable in view of limited available research on complex interrelationship of work domain, home domain and work-home boundary control with fatigue, recovery and other psychological health consequences (e.g. stress, wellbeing, work-home conflict) among doctors, particularly in Asia and developed countries, including Malaysia. This research is expected to provide strong evidence to policy makers in developing prevention and management policy related to fatigue, recovery and other psychological health consequences among doctors.
Keywords: doctor, fatigue, recovery, on-call, intershift, wellbeing, stress
A Scoping Review Protocol to Map Empirical Evidence that Illuminates the Dark Side of Occupations Among Adults
Get PDFThe objective of this review is to explore existing literature to identify, map, and synthesise past accounts of occupations that could be considered as constituting the dark side of occupation and which could, consequently, be identified and discussed as such. Presenting findings through use of a synthesis matrix, and formulating a descriptive account of the types of occupations (including their form, function, meaning, and contribution to identity and becoming) that constitute the dark side of occupation, is anticipated to assist with prioritising future collaborative research endeavours, as part of an intended programme of research.
Specifically, the review questions are:
What past accounts of occupations have been discussed or explored in the literature that would constitute falling under the conceptual ‘umbrella’ of the dark side of occupation?
What specific occupations that challenge the pervasive belief in the link between health and occupation have been discussed for the adult population, across all cultures?
Where do gaps of knowledge remain regarding the less explored occupations people subjectively experience, and which indicate the priority research areas that need to be explored from an occupational perspective
The The Barriers and Facilitators of Physical Activity Participation Among People Living with Type 2 Diabetes: A Mixed Method Systematic Review Protocol
No full textBackground: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is among the leading causes of serious mortality and health burden globally. Exercise is one of the commonly suggested preventions/ interventions for T2DM. However, many adults with T2DM are not achieving the recommended levels of physical activity. The objective of this systematic review is to investigate the barriers and facilitators to physical activity among people living with type 2 diabetes.
Methods/Design: This review will be undertaken using the Preferred Reporting Items and Meta-analysis (PRISMA). The database search will be performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, and Web of Science. Studies included will report primary data (qualitative and quantitative) on people with T2DM (18 and over years of age). The review will be limited in English published between 2009 and 2020. A study design describing reasons for barriers, facilitators or both of physical activity among people with T2DM will be included. The risk of bias will be evaluated with Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Data synthesis will be conducted with narrative synthesis for quantitative studies, and thematic synthesis for qualitative studies followed by a mix-method synthesis to combine the previous synthesis.
Discussion: This review will provide evidence for better understanding the facilitators and barriers to physical activity among people with T2DM. This information will also guide future research and support the development of the intervention to expand and increase facilitator factors determined by people with T2DM.  
Settlement Service Literacy and the Relationship Between Service Utilisation and Wellbeing Among Newly Arrived Migrants: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review Protocol
Get PDFBackground: Settlement service literacy refers to the ability of migrants to access, understand and critically navigate settlement services. In Australia, increasing numbers of culturally and linguistically diverse migrants require settlement services to assist their transition. However, there are barriers to migrant’s ability to utilise settlement services which are related to their level of settlement service literacy. This review aims to shed light on how settlement service literacy influences new migrant’s utilisation of settlement services, and the consequences that it has for health, well-being and sense of belonging.
Methods: The review will follow the guidelines laid out by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Literature searches will be undertaken in CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, Sociological Abstracts, SocIndex, ProQuest Social Science Database, and Google Scholar. Grey literature and relevant government bodies, non-government organisations, service providers and research institutes will also be searched. Studies included will report primary data (qualitative and quantitative) on new migrant’s (under five years) ability to utilise settlement services in high income countries. Studies that meet the inclusion criteria will be imported to Covidence, two researchers will screen the studies in a two part process (title and introduction scan; and full text) for relevance. Data extracted will include general publication information (author, country, year, and publication), type of study, participants, type of settlement service, measured outcomes, and the study aims, methods and results. Finally, data will be synthesised using a narrative approach.
Discussion: The review will provide insight into the relationship between settlement service literacy and service utilisation and wellbeing for new migrants. The review will also provide data to inform settlement service policy to better cater for the needs of migrants.
Systematic review registration:This protocol has been submitted to international prospective register of systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PROSPERO) and is currently under review
Services and Interventions for People who are Homeless with Companion Animals (Pets): A Systematic Review Protocol
Get PDFBackground: Many people who are homeless own a companion animal (a ‘pet’). Pet ownership has positive impacts on health and wellbeing. However, for people who are homeless, pet ownership also creates multiple challenges and may be a barrier to exiting homelessness. This systematic review will identify the types, and outcomes, of services and interventions to support people who are homeless with pets.
Methods/Design: This review will be conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Searches will be undertaken on five databases. Combinations of search terms and subject headings or index terms will be used. Citation chaining and citation tracking will also be undertaken. Literature will be screened for relevance in a two-step process. Each study will be quality assessed using an evidence-based tool relevant to its methods. Relevant data will be extracted and synthesised using a meta-analytic, or narrative, approach.
Discussion: This review will address an identified gap in the knowledge about the types, and outcomes, of services/interventions for people who are homeless with pets. The results may increase recognition about the importance of protecting and promoting the relationship between people who are homeless and their pets, and inform future work
Pathways to Employment: Study Protocol for a Theory-Based Non-Randomized Controlled Trial of Active Labor Market Programs Designed to Move the Long-Term Unemployed Closer to the Labor Market
Get PDFBackground This project’s aims are twofold (1) to uncover and define the underlying theories of change guiding competing active labor market programs (ALMP) in Sweden, and (2) to assess the relative effectiveness of these competing programs in a theory-based non-randomized controlled trial. The purpose is to assess the extent to which competing ALMPs are effective in moving long-term unemployed individuals (i.e. unemployed for 6 months or more) closer to the labor-market. Methods/Design This project will engage ALMP program administrators and service providers in semi-structured interviews. The transcribed interview material will be used as a basis for program theory reconstruction. All specified program theories will be presented back to program stakeholders for validation. ALMP program effectiveness will be assessed quasi-experimentally with pre- (T1) and posttest (T2) collection of self-reported data. Additionally, official register data from the Longitudinal integrated database for health insurance and labor market studies (LISA) will be collected for all participants. In addition, a matched sample will be collected from LISA to be used as a non-treated control group on final policy outcomes (e.g., employment, salary/wage). This study also assesses program implementation and economic outcomes of the included ALMPs. Discussion Long-term unemployment has profound impact of the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities. In addition, the effects of long-term unemployment have been found to impact subgroups differently. Today we have scant knowledge on the mechanisms that are influential in moving individuals from long-term unemployment closer to the labor market. This study is designed to answer six research questions using a variety of methods (mixed-methods) and outcome measures (self-report, official register). In addition, this study leverages official register data to construct an untreated control group. This study will assess the extent to which an emerging theory of becoming job ready holds under experimental scrutiny
Social, Economic and Health Impact of Industrial Pollution in Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu: Protocol for an Explanatory Study
Get PDFBackground: Pollution of air, water and soil poisons the environment and cause diseases. The illness in a social context needs further exploration in this particular context. That also led to a reduction in agricultural production, drinking water contamination, and cause illness to both human and animal. That is how it is contributing to alterations in social structure specifically the social institutions. By studying the problem of pollution, we address the impact of pollution on health, society and the environment as a whole.
Methods/Design: For the mentioned objectives, the explanatory design was adapted. The study will have three components. A quantitative survey using an interview schedule conducted among the members of the selected villages of Dindigul, district. Specific questions on Social, Economic and Health impacts of industrial pollution will be administered. There will be two different locations, one closer to the Tanneries and villages located 10 Kilometers away from the Tanneries. Even the later villages there are other industries such as handlooms. This will help to understand the difference in the impact of industrial pollution with specific reference to tanneries. Qualitative data aims to conduct in-depth interviews among the village leaders and Focus Group Discussions among the community members. The basic water and soil tests form the villages near tanneries will give additional evidence to understand the physical effects of pollution on the rural environment. The study has received ethical approval from the Institutional Ethics committee.
Discussion: Due to the industrialization in the city of Dindigul and the surrounding area, the pollution from industrial outlets not only affect the environment, but it also affects the social structure, interactions, and employment
Abuse Experienced by Persons with Severe Mental Illness: Risk and Protective Factors
Get PDFBackground: Abuse among person with severe mental illness is a serious public health concern and over the several decades researchers have focused on violence perpetrated by person with mental illness giving little consideration to the fact that severity and chronicity of mental disorder makes a person susceptible to all kinds of abuse. The current study attempts to identify three types of abuse-physical, sexual and psychological by using socio-ecological framework which takes into consideration individual, family and socio-cultural factors which acts as a risk or protective factors against abuse.
Methods/Design: The study will screen severity of mental illness and abuse among men and women by using standardized screening tools. The first phase of the study focuses on developing risk and protective factors checklist through in-depth interviews and focused group discussions. The second phase of the study is identifying risk and protective factors of abuse by administering the checklist on 257 persons with severe mental illness. Qualitative data will be analyzed by using thematic analysis and quantitative data will be analyzed by testing for normality and accordingly using parametric and non-parametric test. Logistic regression model will be used to identify risk and protective factors for the abuse.
Discussion: This study would help to understand abuse from ecological perspective and develop a framework for risk management by capitalizing on what people know, what they can do, where they can go and how they can utilize indigenous resources to buffer the effect of abuse