50716 research outputs found
Sort by
The Evolution of Participatory Local Democracy in Nepal
No full textNepal is, according to its constitution, among the world’s most decentralized countries, with a long and complex tra- dition of local-level public participation. This paper traces the evolution of Nepal’s modern participatory institutions, examining the extent to which they are “induced” by external interventions versus being “organically” rooted in indige- nous practices. The paper identifies three broad phases: an initial focus on participation in project implementation; a subsequent phase that expanded citizen engagement; and a third phase of citizen empowerment, culminating in the 2015 federal constitution, which granted unprecedented local autonomy. The analysis yields five key findings. First, over the past 50 years, successive reforms have progres- sively expanded opportunities for citizens to influence local decision-making. Second, these reforms have integratedtraditional participatory mechanisms into formal institu- tions of local government. Third, although central-level initiatives exist, most participatory platforms continue to operate at the local level. Fourth, the federal constitution has created a new landscape of local democracy, embedding autonomy and accountability. Fifth, although they are still valued in many ethnic and territorial communities, tra- ditional participatory practices are gradually disappearing. The paper concludes by offering policy recommendations to help donor agencies and governments strengthen Nepal’s democratic trajectory. It argues that effective interventions should build on Nepal’s deep participatory traditions while recognizing the constitutional reality of far-reaching local autonomy
What is the Lived Experience of People Affected by Cancer, Family Members, and Their Treatment Team Engaged in Patient Initiated Follow-Up and Preferences in Cancer Care:A Qualitative Systematic Review
No full textObjectives: This qualitative systematic review aimed to explore the lived experiences of people affected by cancer, their families, and health care professionals involved in patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU). It sought to understand how PIFU is experienced in practice and what factors support or hinder its use. Methods: A qualitative systematic review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute meta-aggregation approach. Six databases were searched in July 2025. Studies were included if they reported qualitative data on the experiences of PIFU in cancer care. The findings were synthesized into overall findings and reviewed by multiple authors. The review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251103470). Results: Eight studies (all UK-based) were included, involving 120 cancer survivors, 63 health care professionals, and 3 family members. Four synthesized findings emerged: (1) PIFU empowers patients but requires risk-based and personalized implementation; (2) PIFU supports self-management, but disparities in education, support, and communication exist; (3) PIFU is valued for cost-efficiency, convenience, and emotional relief; and (4) some patients still require face-to-face reassurance. PIFU was considered more suitable after a period of adjustment post-treatment and less suited for patients with high anxiety, limited health literacy, culturally and linguistically diverse, or psychosocial vulnerabilities. Conclusions: PIFU can be a valuable follow-up option when aligned with individual capability and support needs. Implementation must consider psychosocial readiness, access to care, and preferences for reassurance. Implications for Nursing Practice: Cancer nurses play a key role in preparing patients for PIFU by providing tailored education, supporting self-management, assessing readiness, and offering ongoing support. A nurse-led, flexible approach can ensure that follow-up care is both safe and person-centered.</p
‘It’s upside down, as nearly everything is these days’:Mr Squiggle and Friends, National Museum of Australia
No full textFULL STACK FABULATOR (OR THE PROMETHEAN CURATOR)
No full textCuratorial practice is often associated with open processes of meaning-making (and -unmaking), as provisional relations between artworks are catalysed through artful exhibition design, writing and live programming. In the process, ‘curatorial fabulation’ may conjure speculative worlds, while also allowing us to reconsider persistent holes of official histories. Building on the thought of Ursula Le Guin, curators may be seen as stitching temporary ‘carrier bags’, for divergent histories and futures; a practice that is particularly pertinent to online curating. The work of online curating requires beguiling storytelling, where multi-layered fabulations of back- and front-end forms, are replete with gaps that invite recursive re-thinking. FULL STACK FABULATOR is an experimental work of confessional fictocriticism that uses programmatic citation, free-association and readymade pop graphics to tell one of many possible stories of online curating. Drawing on source materials from seminal texts, Curating Digital Art (Dekker 2021), Patchwork Girl (Jackson 1995) and Frankenstein (Shelley 1818), the essay highlights how online curating engages in a process of narrating itself into existence, knitting itself a loose ‘carrier bag’ to gather invisible and invisible forms. Through this work, FULL STACK FABULATOR, invites readers to consider house online curating destabilises technological and cultural fictions, while weaving its own tales
Interplay of traumatic birth experiences and postnatal depression in Pakistani women.
No full textPostnatal depression is a global challenge for healthcare system, affecting a large number of mothers globally. The present study was designed to examine the role of obstetric factors such as delivery method, birth complications, perceived birth trauma, and satisfaction with childbirth in postnatal depression (PND) among Pakistani women. By adopting a cross-sectional research design, a purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from the 335 women within the postpartum period (42–84 days) from six public and private hospitals and clinics of Punjab, Pakistan. Age of the sample ranged between 18 and 47 years (M = 29.41, SD = 5.32). Demographic and Birth Information sheet, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised were used to collect data for hypotheses testing. After assessing intercorrelations between the study variables, a hierarchical regression analysis was run by controlling age and education. The results showed that a significant amount of variance (R2 = 0.39) in PND was accounted for by low birth satisfaction, mother birth complications, previous birth trauma, and birth trauma perception. The findings suggest that providing a secure, respectful, and supportive environment during childbirth can substantially reduce the risk of PND. Positive childbirth experiences—characterized by care, respect, and fulfillment of psychological needs—serve as protective factors against PND. Study has implications for researchers, midwives, and obstetricians
Hydration Responses to Pre-Exercise Sodium Hyperhydration at Rest and During Cycling in the Heat and Across Menstrual Cycle Phases
No full text Purpose: This study examined hydration responses to sodium hyperhydration in female athletes at rest and during cycling across the early follicular and mid-luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Methods: Twelve cyclists/triathletes consumed 30 mL·kg -1 fat-free mass fluid with either sodium chloride (7.5 g·L -1) or placebo (sucrose) 2 h before 75 min of steady-state cycling (60% VO 2peak) and a 200 kJ time trial (TT) in a hot environment (34 °C, 60% RH). Body mass was measured, and urine was collected every 30 min, whilst blood samples were taken hourly pre-exercise, post-steady-state, and post-TT. Results: During pre-exercise, sodium hyperhydration increased fluid retention (509.0 mL, 95% CI: [349.0, 669.0]; p < 0.001), while reducing urine volume (-107.4 [-146.7, -68.1] mL; p < 0.001). During exercise, body mass loss was lower with sodium during steady-state (-0.20%; p = 0.001) and TT (-0.15%; p = 0.037), but sweat rates were reduced with sodium only during steady-state (-0.08 L·h -1; p = 0.001). Exploratory analyses showed greater effects in the early-follicular phase, with reductions in body mass loss (-0.26%; p = 0.004), sweat rate (-0.1 L·h -1; p = 0.003), and post-TT arginine vasopressin (-10.8 [-19.2, -2.3] pg·mL -1; p = 0.013). Conclusions: Sodium hyperhydration effectively enhanced fluid retention and reduced body mass loss during exercise in the heat. While no consistent main effects of menstrual cycle phase were observed, some phase-specific differences emerged, particularly in the early-follicular phase. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring hydration responses across the menstrual cycle and tailoring strategies to individual needs, rather than applying universal phase-specific recommendations. </p
Examining Technology Perspectives of Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: Scoping Review
No full textBackground: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) affects up to 20% of people older than the age of 65 years. The global incidence of MCI is increasing, and technology is being explored for early intervention. Theories of technology adoption predict that useful and easy-to-use solutions will have higher rates of adoption; however, these models do not specifically consider older adults with cognitive impairments or the unique human-computer interaction challenges posed by MCI. There are gaps in understanding the combined impacts of aging and cognitive impairment on factors affecting technology adoption for older adults with MCI, and it is not clear how MCI impacts human-computer interaction and device and interaction modality preferences in this population. Objective: This study aimed to collate perspectives from older adults with MCI about technology solutions proposed for them, to understand whether solutions are perceived as useful, easy to use, and what changes are suggested. It also identifies which devices and interaction modalities are preferred, and other factors that may affect usage and adoption. Methods: This scoping review was completed according to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. A consistent search was performed across 9 electronic databases (ACM Digital Library, EBSCOhost CINAHL Plus with Full Text, EBSCOhost Computers and Applied Sciences Complete, Google Scholar, JMIR Publications, IEEE Xplore, EBSCOhost MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection) for studies published between January 1, 2014, and May 1, 2024. Extracted data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: We identified 4271 studies, and after the removal of duplicates and screening, 83 studies were included for data extraction. Inductive thematic analysis of feedback from older adults with MCI about technology solutions proposed for them identified five themes: (1) purpose and need, (2) solution design and ease of use, (3) self-impression, (4) lifestyle, and (5) interaction modality. Solutions were perceived as useful, even though gaps in functional support exist; however, they were not perceived as entirely easy to use due to issues related to usability and user experience. Devices that are lightweight, portable, familiar, and have large screens are preferred, as is multimodal interaction—particularly speech, visual or text, and touch. Conclusions: Using technology can create feelings that positively or negatively affect a user’s comfort, confidence, and overall well-being. Older adults with MCI value independence and autonomy, and solution designs should support these. Usefulness, ease of use, security, privacy, cost, physical comfort, and convenience are important considerations for technology use. Reliable technology creates trust, confidence, and feelings of empowerment. This review recommends future work to (1) improve usability and user experience, (2) enhance personalization, (3) better understand interaction preferences and effectiveness, (4) enable options for multimodal interaction, and (5) more seamlessly integrate solutions into users’ lifestyles.</p
Physical Activity in the Heat:Closing the Guidance Gap for Adults with Cardiovascular Disease
No full textImplementation of the Allied Health Assistant Workforce in the Australian Context:An Integrative Review
No full textThe Allied Health Assistant (AHA) workforce plays a critical role in enhancing the capacity, efficiency, and accessibility of allied health services across Australia. Considering significant structural reforms in sectors in which AHAs are employed, including the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and changes to aged care funding, this integrative review synthesizes current evidence on the utilization of AHAs across diverse settings, disciplines, and sectors. A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed and government literature from 2007 to 2025 identified 38 studies and 18 policy documents. A concept analysis identified four key concepts: service efficiency and quality, capacity building through training, contextual and structural determinants of role implementation, and tensions between role innovation and professional boundaries. Findings highlight the positive impact of AHAs on therapy access and service delivery, the importance of context-specific training and supervision, and the need for supportive organizational structures. Despite growing recognition of the AHA role, gaps remain in outcome-focused research, particularly in mental health, disability, and aged care settings. This review underscores the need for targeted workforce strategies and policy development to optimize the integration and sustainability of the AHA workforce in Australia’s evolving health landscape.</p
The AI’s Role in Project Manager Activities in terms of People, Process, Data, Technology and Continuous Improvement (2PDTC): Results from Qualitative Cases
No full textRecent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have significantly influenced various fields and industries. Although some studies have looked into AI's role in project management, there is no comprehensive framework to support this shift. Most approaches to AI implementation focus on delivering project outcomes more efficiently and effectively. This study investigated the conceptualised AI in terms of People, Processes, Data, Technology, and Continuous improvement (2PDTC) to explore its use in project managers’ activities. This research addressed the question of how AI can positively impact PM’s activities. The conceptualised 2PDTC framework is evaluated through a qualitative study utilising thematic analysis. The explored themes highlighted the usefulness of the 2PDTC framework in formulating the research, designing data collection instruments, and investigating this phenomenon, suggesting practical insights. It is concluded by implying that AI should be viewed as a culture where it is agreed upon, reviewed continuously and prepared to adopt