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Establishing local sustainability projects that address the UN Sustainability Development Goals
Get PDFBefore global disruptions and uncertainties, it is pertinent to prepare students with capabilities, and to nurture their agency, to influence change. This case examines a pilot student sustainability leadership initiative, comprising a ‘living lab’ model, and run at an English university. It engaged undergraduates, in partnership with academics, in projects they co-created to address campus and curriculum challenges. These were framed in relation to delivery of the UN Sustainability Development Goals. The model, underpinned by constructivist and experiential learning pedagogies, harnesses creativity and enthusiasm. A multi-level evaluation identified the impacts of the experience on students and academics and the outputs which delivered on key indicators of the University’s strategies. Such outcomes demonstrate the model to be effective and efficient and – in the context of limited resources – institutionally sustainable and transferable. This case is authored by the key staff and students involved
Defensive dentistry: perceptions and experiences among general dental practitioners in primary care
Get PDFIntroduction Although the term 'defensive dentistry' is documented, with a range of opinions around practising dentists, little is understood about the perception and the lived experiences of general dental practitioners (GDPs) about practising in a defensive way.Aim To explore how defensive dentistry is understood and experienced by GDPs working in primary care.Methodology An interpretive mixed-methods approach was adopted using an online questionnaire followed by semi-structured interviews. In total, 25 participants completed the questionnaire and six follow-up interviews were completed.Results Three main themes were identified: the sense of fear; practising the 'act of avoidance' with certain patients and/or procedures; and the overall impact on the profession.Conclusion GDPs unanimously identified the negative aspects of defensive practice as actions carried out for self-protection rather than the interests of patients. The reasoning for such practices included fear of litigation and/or investigation by the General Dental Council, heightening in recent years due to increased public awareness of litigation, and loss of public trust. Participants reported stress, low morale and deskilling as outcomes for practising defensively
Accounting for gender and sexuality in social work leadership: an exploratory study of lesbian leader perspectives
Get PDFIn a women-majority profession, white heterosexual men disproportionately hold senior leadership positions in social work and social care. Within the literature that examines diversity in leadership, including gender, less is known about sexuality and sexual identity. This study contributes to this area by exploring senior lesbian leaders’ experiences and perspectives on leadership in social work and social care. Their accounts of the leadership styles and approaches used helps to understand more about how being lesbian affects their experience of ‘doing’ leadership. Twenty-three senior lesbian leaders who were ‘out’ at work engaged in focus groups and semi-structured interviews across England. Thematic ‘framework’ data analysis generated key themes. These addressed the intersectionalities of leadership identity with gender, sexual identities, and experiences of discrimination; the role and significance of feminist thinking; and a strong and consistent values base informing their lesbian leadership styles. Findings enable more nuanced thinking on the complexities of identities in social work and social care leadership and how these are enabled and supported within diversity and inclusion strategies
The impact of academic success tutors and coaches on first-year student outcomes
Get PDFThis study presents findings from the evaluation of the Academic Success Tutors/Coaches (AST/C) initiative in the 2023/24 academic year at a widening participation university in England. Aimed at improving student continuation in target areas, the AST/Cs were deployed across faculties to provide extra support, acting as a bridge between academic staff and foundation or first-year students. The study encompasses a multi-faceted analysis, including comparisons with data from previous years. It seeks to understand the initiative's influence on student outcomes and experiences. Quantitative data from assessment results in the 2023/24 academic year were compared to those from the previous two years. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used to examine first-assessment pass rates, resit occurrences, and student withdrawals across faculties. In parallel, qualitative data were collected through an online survey with 112 students, interviews with 15 students and focus groups with 10 tutors/coaches. These data explored the effectiveness of the AST/C intervention and provided detailed accounts of support experiences. Overall, the AST/C intervention improved pass rates and reduced resit rates compared to the previous two years in all but one faculty. In terms of withdrawals, there was a decrease in all of the target faculties. Feedback from both students and tutors/coaches provided additional evidence of the intervention’s positive impact. Limitations were acknowledged, and considerations for future improvements were discussed
Meaningful work, psychological well-being, thriving at work and patient aggression: testing a moderated-mediation model
No full textDrawing on the socially embedded theory of thriving, our article investigates the mediating role of thriving at work between work meaningfulness and psychological well-being (PWB). It also examines patient aggression as a moderator of the effect of work meaningfulness on thriving at work. Data were collected from 103 employees working in private hospitals in Northern Cyprus and analyzed via structural equation modeling. The results indicated that work meaningfulness has a significant impact on PWB mediated via thriving at work. Moreover, the findings revealed the positive effect of work meaningfulness on thriving at work in low-aggression contexts. To our knowledge, this study is the first to assess thriving at work as a mediator linking work meaningfulness and PWB, highlighting the moderating role of patient aggression in a single study. Based on the paper’s findings, theoretical and managerial implications, as well as future research suggestions, were discussed
Future directions for the discipline of health psychology
No full textFor the profession of health psychology to continuously evolve, we need to consider our history, roots, and core philosophy. We further need to embrace teachable moments, critically evaluate where we may have missed opportunities to contribute or lead and identify how we can overcome historical challenges for the discipline and profession. In doing so, we can strategically consider where we are heading and how we can work together to achieve great things. This chapter will consider the previous four chapters in this section, and offer a strategic vision of the future direction of health psychology. This will include a global view of the growth of the discipline, linking to research and the paradigms that are drawn upon, education, policy and practice. The relevance of health psychology to achieving national and international goals will be highlighted, and the need for wider funded opportunities, placements, mentoring, career pathways, and connections with stakeholders, employers, and policy will be discussed. The chapter will set the scene for future sections of the book that will discuss these issues in more detail. This chapter will end with a call to action to unite the global ‘divisions’ of health psychology, connecting countries to a central family tree, reducing structural barriers and silos, and optimising opportunities wherever they may lie
Leading evidence-based practice: nurse managers' strategies for knowledge utilisation in acute care settings
Get PDFBackground: The implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing is essential for improving patient care outcomes, yet systemic barriers, leadership challenges, and resource limitations continue to hinder its integration into clinical practice. Nurse managers (NMs) play a crucial role in bridging the gap between policy directives and frontline implementation, yet the dynamic interplay between leadership strategies, knowledge utilisation, and organisational barriers remains underexplored, particularly in resource-constrained settings. This study examines how NMs navigate these challenges to sustain EBP adoption in acute care environments. Methods: This collective case study employed a longitudinal qualitative design across two acute care settings in the UK. Data were collected over eight months through semi-structured interviews with NMs, nonparticipant observations, and document analysis of clinical guidelines and internal reports. A thematic analysis approach was used to synthesise findings and provide a nuanced understanding of leadership strategies and systemic factors influencing EBP adoption. Findings: Six interconnected themes emerged: (1) Adaptive leadership strategies, where NMs employ a hybrid of directive and collaborative leadership approaches to drive EBP; (2) Overcoming organisational and resource barriers, including staff shortages, financial constraints, and competing priorities; (3) Knowledge utilisation and learning networks, highlighting the role of informal mentorship, structured CPD, and peer learning in sustaining EBP; (4) Digital transformation and EBP, examining the benefits and challenges of integrating digital tools and addressing IT literacy gaps; (5) Patient-centred adaptations, exploring how NMs balance evidence-based interventions with patient preferences and cultural considerations; and (6) Emotional and psychological support, underscoring the importance of managing staff resistance and mitigating change fatigue. Conclusion: Findings of this study emphasise the pivotal role of NMs in driving EBP implementation through adaptive leadership, strategic resource management, and fostering learning networks. Addressing organisational barriers requires multi-level interventions that integrate leadership actions with systemic enablers to promote sustainable, evidence-informed nursing practice. Findings provide critical insights for healthcare policymakers, hospital administrators, and educators in enhancing EBP uptake within resource-limited settings.</p
"In weapons we trust?" four-culture analysis of factors associated with weapon tolerance in young males
Get PDFAddressing the under-researched issue of weapon tolerance, the paper examines factors behind male knife and gun tolerance across four different cultures, seeking to rank them in terms of predictive power and shed light on relations between them. To this end, four regression and structural equation modelling analyses were conducted using samples from the US (n = 189), India (n = 196), England (n = 107) and Poland (n = 375). Each sample of male participants indicated their standing on several dimensions (i.e., predictors) derived from theory and related research (i.e., Psychoticism, Need for Respect, Aggressive Masculinity, Belief in Social Mobility and Doubt in Authority). All four regression models were statistically significant. The knife tolerance predictors were: Aggressive Masculinity (positive) in the US, Poland and England, Belief in Social Mobility (negative) in the US and England, Need for Respect (positive) in India and Psychoticism (positive) in Poland. The gun tolerance predictors were: Psychoticism (positive) in the US, India and Poland, Aggressive Masculinity (positive) in the US, England and Poland, and Belief in in Social Mobility (negative) in the US, Belief in Social Mobility (positive) and Doubt in Authority (negative) in Poland. The Structural Equation Weapon Tolerance Model (WTM) suggested an indirect effect for the latent factor Perceived Social Ecological Constraints via its positive relation with the latent factor Saving Face, both knife and gun tolerance were predicted by Psychoticism
True awareness of mental health remains in the shadow: an exploratory study on implementing mental health support in the workplace
Get PDFMental health in the workplace is critical for employee engagement, productivity, and profitability. In India, only 0.09% of the 1.1 million registered companies have implemented Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) for providing mental health support. This study leverages the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) framework to examine the multi-layered dimensions impacting the implementation of mental health activities in the corporate sector in emerging economies, such as India. For a qualitative study, interviews were conducted with thirty-six industry experts representing diverse sectors to glean insights into the implementation of EAPs. Our analysis indicates that while the advantages of EAPs in early detection, proactive support, and mental well-being are widely recognized in the selected Indian corporate environments, the implementation of EAPs is restricted by the cultural-specific barriers, as well as quantitative measure of ROI, among other factors. Our findings will inform practitioners and policymakers in designing tailored strategies to encourage successful EAP implementation in the Indian corporate sector
Internet of Things to Internet of humans: a perception
Get PDFThe use of internet has grown significantly in the last three decades. Various technologies such as social media and networking, cloud systems, Blockchain technology etc., have been developed which have significantly improved the communication between the humans across the globe; and also, between the devices which has led to the development of approaches like the internet of things (IoT). These approaches have been increasingly adopted in various sectors including healthcare, education, retail, financial, and many other sectors. However, the development of the internet and its relevant technologies were mainly focusing on the technical aspects undermining the human-centric aspects which has led to the development of new concept called ‘Internet of Humans (IoH)’. There is a lack of research and understanding relating to the internet of humans, and no clear definition was identified. In this context, this paper tries to explore the concept of the Internet of Humans from different perspectives including advanced and innovative supporting technologies, human-centric factors, and areas of application. Thus, this paper contributes to the development of literature for understanding the internet of humans and proposes future research issues and challenges
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