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Compassion in health professionals: development and validation of the Capacity for Compassion Scale
No full textBackground
Health professionals witness pain and suffering when they care for sick people and their families. Compassion is a necessary quality in their work as it combines the will to help, alleviate suffering and promote the well-being of both the people they are attending and the professionals themselves. The aim of the study was to design and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Capacity for Compassion Scale (CCS).
Design
A quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale (reliability, temporal stability, content validity, criterion validity and construct validity).
Methods
The study was carried out in two phases: pilot study and final validation. The data were collected between April and May 2022. The sample was selected by convenience sampling and was made up of a total of 264 participants, 59 in the pilot phase and 205 in the final validation.
Results
The Capacity for Compassion Scale has been shown to have good psychometric properties in relation to reliability, temporal stability, and content, criterion, and construct validity. Factor analysis showed that there were four subdimensions of the scale: motivation/commitment, presence, shared humanity and self-compassion. The results also indicate that compassionate ability is significantly correlated with age and work experience.
Conclusions
The Capacity for Compassion Scale shows adequate psychometric properties. This instrument measures the compassion capacity of health professionals, which is a valuable discovery for new lines of research in this field.
Impact
Through this scale, low levels of capacity for compassion can be detected that negatively influence the quality of care provided by health professionals. The Capacity for Compassion Scale can therefore contribute to the identification of needs and promote training around compassion for health professionals.
Patient or Public Contribution
No patient or public contribution.
What Problem did the Study Address?
Compassion in health professionals has positive effects on improving the quality of care, the satisfaction of professionals and the work environment.
There are compassion cultivation programmes whose validity has been proven for the development of the dimensions of compassion.
There is no specific instrument that measures capacity for compassion in healthcare professionals.
What were the Main Findings?
A scale is designed to measure capacity for compassion in health professionals. This is the only such scale available up until now.
The scale measures four dimensions of compassion: motivation/commitment, presence, shared humanity and self-compassion.
Where and on Whom will the Research Have an Impact?
The development of specific programmes that can increase the compassion of health professionals with all the benefits that this can bring to health care is encouraged.
It will be possible to analyse the effects of training programmes on the cultivation of compassion
The global scenario and challenges of radioactive waste in the marine environment
No full textPREFACE for the PAC special issue “The Global Scenario and Challenges of Radioactive Waste in the Marine Environment
Employee learning for workplace training and national culture: insights from Canada and Morocco
Get PDFThis two-pronged cross-cultural comparative study investigates the influence of national culture on learning for work. The premise is that one’s national culture has an influence on how employees learn. The purpose is two-fold; first, to present a comparative, exploratory and interpretative analysis of how national culture influences learning in a Canadian and Moroccan context; and second, to examine how complexities of culture such as globalisation, agency, gender, and power dynamics play a role in employee learning. The primary objective was to describe and explain the what and how of participants’ insights from a cross-cultural management perspective; a secondary analysis focused on current debates about complexities of national culture to examine why such things may be happening.
This study contributes to bridging the gap in the literature and to understanding how culture influences learning because despite a century of research on the topic, the influence of national culture on learning for work has been virtually ignored. Research also indicates a dearth of comparative studies, particularly in the Canadian and Moroccan context. Understanding norms, beliefs, and diverse ways of doing things is due to influences inherent in one’s national culture. Moreover, recognizing various perspectives to better grasp how complexities of culture may play a role in employee learning also inform the study.
This comparative study described, compared, and interpreted insights about how national culture influences learning from two diverse cultures. 46 semi-structured interviews were conducted between March and November 2020. Participants were selected from a cohort of employees on corporate training for both samples. The interviews were analysed by means of content analysis with cultural differences explained from a cross-cultural management perspective. Additionally, various approaches to understanding complexities contributed more insight to the research.
The findings illustrated that Canadian participant’s learning practices aligned with a decentralized, flexible, individualistic, and an outcome-based learning approach. Conversely, Moroccan respondents revealed that practices in this study were more centralized, rigid, collectivistic, and less outcome based. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of complexities related to varying issues also provided more understanding about employee learning.
The conclusion of the study is that norms, beliefs, and diverse ways of doing things are due to influences inherent in one’s national culture. How complexities of culture may influence employee learning also require consideration in cross-cultural comparative studies. Various stakeholders working in diverse spaces need to understand differences in national culture and complexities of national culture to efficiently manage, design, and deliver well-structured learning programs. A practical implication is that custom designed corporate training programs fitting cross-cultural realities will be more efficient and effective. To better adapt in cross-cultural situations, cultural awareness of underlying complexities of culture needs thorough consideration and should be approached openly. Also, international organizations benefit from comparative insights when working on training and learning for employees in diverse cultural contexts. This study helps to understand what specific aspects require reflection based on their cultural appropriateness rather than just resorting to standardized approaches. Organizations ought to be aware of these cultural differences and to tailor their learning and training activities to meet the needs of their employees. This ensures that a training is helpful and that employees can apply what they have learned at work
Honourable subordination: reading 1 Peter in the light of contemporary Graeco-Roman texts
No full textOur study interprets 1 Peter from an honour/shame perspective, focusing on the theme of ‘honourable subordination.’ The author and recipients of the epistle were part of the first-century Graeco-Roman world where the honour/shame dynamic was pivotal. The strategy of 1 Peter regarding Christian interactions with non-Christians and the wider society is a subject of extensive debate. To assist his audience, who faced hostility and challenges for being Christians, the author offers advice on how to engage with non-Christians, recommending that believers demonstrate appropriate subordination in various social contexts. While these instructions seem to promote alignment with social norms, whether they actually encourage conformity to prevailing social expectations and values remains a question.
We aim to discern whether the Petrine exhortations to subordination present a distinct Christian perspective that contrasts with contemporary non-Christian writings. To achieve this purpose, we examine non-Christian philosophical and moral writings on subordination and undertake an exegesis of the subordination exhortations in 1 Peter. This examination covers works by first- and early second-century Graeco-Roman authors including Dio, Plutarch, Epictetus and Josephus, as well as popular morality sayings that circulated widely across the Roman Empire during this period.
Through a comparative analysis of the Petrine text and the contemporary materials, we seek to assess how the Petrine author directs his audience in engaging with and responding to their societal milieu. This analysis will illuminate the practical implications of the Petrine teachings for providing guidance and support to believers facing their challenges. Such insights will deepen our understanding of the author’s strategic approach to Christian interactions with non-Christians. Ultimately, our research contributes to the discussion on the author’s Christian strategy by elucidating his teachings on 'honourable subordination' within the context of the first-century Graeco-Roman world
Leader feedback seeking from peers: extending the boundary of lateral feedback seeking
No full textPurpose
The lateral feedback seeking literature has primarily examined lower-level employees’ feedback seeking from peers. Thus, the authors still know very little about feedback seeking when the leader is the “seeker” and peers are the “targets” of such seeking. The purpose of this paper is to expand existing discussions on lateral feedback seeking by discussing the types of feedback leaders may seek out from their peers.
Design/methodology/approach
The views presented here have been derived from the authors’ personal opinions on the topic of feedback seeking and a review of the academic and practitioner literature on feedback seeking.
Findings
The viewpoint suggests that leaders may engage in two forms of feedback seeking from peers – performance and growth feedback seeking – with each type of feedback seeking holding relevance to leader effectiveness.
Originality/value
Challenging previous research that argues that leaders may avoid seeking feedback from peers, this viewpoint suggests that leaders may seek feedback from peers because they stand to benefit from doing so
Holding the baby: the contribution of Early Years Teachers to leading practice with babies
Get PDFPedagogical practice and leadership with babies in nursery settings requires professionals who understand how babies learn and develop within the context of loving relationships with adults who know them well. Experiential placements with babies in supportive early years settings facilitate this. But, further opportunities for reflective supervision to explore their thoughts and feelings about their experiences helps to shed light on the values and beliefs they hold about what pedagogy with babies means in practice. This is particularly relevant for Early Years Teacher trainees working towards Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) who are expected to become early years specialists and pedagogical leaders with babies.
The research project used insider research to engage with two groups of postgraduate trainees working towards EYTS on their experience of taking part in reflective supervision and experiential learning from their training placements with babies. The first phase of the research took place at the end of the training period and used focus groups and interviews to explore the participants’ insights on pedagogical leadership and practice with babies and their views on the effectiveness of Work Discussion seminars as a reflective supervision strategy. The second phase of the research, presented as a Case Study, focused on the process of working as a group supervisor and placement tutor with a small group of trainees. This phase of the research continued to explore the contribution of Work Discussion group reflection on the group’s engagement with the emotional aspects of professional practice with babies. It also considered how they made use of the individual tutor support they received during their baby placement experience and the influence that had on their reflective learning about pedagogical leadership with babies and their readiness for this professional role.
Findings highlighted that trainees were able to make effective use of Work Discussion group reflection to explore their personal responses to professional issues and find their own solutions to practice challenges from sharing emerging ideas and thoughts with others. Together with targeted individual support during their training placements with babies these opportunities for reflection helped them to develop their confidence to articulate a more nuanced understanding of pedagogical practice and leadership with babies. This led to an increase in their perception of themselves as pedagogical leaders and their confidence in applying their learning in their employment practice. The relationships and peer support that developed in the trainee supervision groups over the training period was shown to have had a significant influence on their empowerment as professionals and their advocacy for babies in nursery settings.
Conclusions drawn from the research suggested that professionals preparing for caring and pedagogical leadership roles with babies benefit from group and individual reflective supervision opportunities where they can share and process their thoughts and feelings about their work. Facilitated Work Discussion groups provided an open-ended space to share personal reflections on work and placement experiences and dilemmas. Thinking together in a group allowed personal understanding and exploration to flourish. These experiences empowered the trainees’ professional confidence, wellbeing and development and led to the development of a community of practice that extended beyond the training context. Recommendations include the recognition of and continued funding for a specialist graduate pedagogical leadership role for professionals working with babies in nursery settings that has parity with other graduate professionals employed in practice roles with children
Cultural differences impacting on therapists’ interpretation and understanding of clients’ appraisals in post-traumatic stress disorder
Get PDFThe primary aim of this study is to explore the impact of cultural differences on therapists' interpretation and understanding of clients' appraisals in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A review of the literature provides only limited information on how therapists interpret and understand clients' appraisals in PTSD. Most of the studies reviewed indicate that cultural differences impact clients' appraisals in PTSD. Thematic analysis has been selected as the research methodology for this study. A qualitative approach is employed, with data collected through semi-structured interviews from the lived experiences of therapists from various modalities. Eight participants were selected from different organisations, including the independent sector, Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) within the National Health Service (NHS), and a third sector charity/voluntary organisation. A thematic approach was used to analyse the data obtained from the therapists' lived experiences. The emerging themes are critically analysed and discussed in the context of exploring how cultural differences impact therapists' interpretation and understanding of clients' appraisals in PTSD. The findings indicate that cultural differences affect therapists' interpretation and understanding of clients' appraisals, as evidenced by the emerging themes of cultural differences in clients' appraisals of their trauma. As this study is only an exploration of how cultural differences impact therapists' interpretation and understanding of clients' appraisals in PTSD, further research is required in this area of psychotherapy
Tertullian’s conversion to Montanism as the root cause of the dispute between Cyprian and Novatian over the treatment and fate of the Lapsed
Get PDFWith Tertullian’s conversion to Montanism, a revision came in his penitential theology and ecclesiology. As a catholic he admitted sinners to repentance who would eventually be reconciled to the church in this life. After his conversion he reversed this and barred all grave sinners from knowledge of their reconciliation, though still making them perform penance. Cyprian and Novatian, both readers of Tertullian, took from the two distinct theologies Tertullian produced. Cyprian innovated upon Catholic Tertullian’s foundation and championed episcopal reform by using it. He also used Catholic Tertullian’s penitential theology to claim as his own and mould to his own needs. Novatian used Montanist Tertullian’s rigoristic concepts and practices to help him in his schismatic efforts to make the church the home of the pure. The irremissibility of grave sin which Montanist Tertullian championed would be the main grounds for Novatian’s denial of Cornelius and the setting up of himself as the bishop of Rome and defender of Evangelical Rigor
Design and implementation of a web-based application for managing agricultural health products
No full textCaring for the health of food crops and plants can help boost food production and eradicate hunger according to the second United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). The procurement of agricultural health products such as fertilizers, fungicides, pesticides, and herbicides are a major problem for an average Nigerian farmer. This results in low crop yield and negatively impacts on food production which eventually causes hunger in the land. Existing methods of procuring these health products have majorly been through offline platforms such as agricultural stores and other relevant stores. This has its disadvantages such as inaccessible roads to stores where such products can be obtained, varying prices, health products out of stock, ignorance in the application of such products. These barriers deter farmers from procuring these health products. In this paper, a survey was conducted on the needs and problems of farmers. The results of the survey informed the design and implementation of an agricultural health Informatics web application for health product management for food crops. The application was designed using unified modelling language class diagram and implemented using Python. SQLite3 serves as the backend database. The agricultural informatics solution will help farmers in Nigeria to easily procure health products for food crops and get the products delivered without stress and worry when fully deployed. This will boost food production, thus eradicating hunger; it will also help in exporting food crops to other countries