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The “what, why, and how?” of story completion in health services research: a scoping review
Get PDFBackground: The story completion method provides a different way of doing qualitative research. We note the emergent popularity of this method in health-related research, while much remains to be negotiated in terms of best practices for such studies. This scoping review aims to provide a synthesis on how researchers have used the story completion method in health services research. We offer implications for research and practice for further discussion by the scholarly community. Methods: We used the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Six databases were searched for published literature till March 1, 2023: Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SAGE Journals Online databases, and SAGE Research Methods. We included primary studies of any study design using the story completion method in health services research. Results: A total of 17 studies were included. Findings suggest that the story completion method is useful for research on sensitive topics, and affords the use of comparative study designs and large sample sizes which may be difficult with conventional qualitative research methods. More than 80% of included studies used story completion as the sole method. However, the data collected from this method were limited in terms of the inferences that can be drawn; and richness of participant responses may vary widely. Less than 30% of included studies reported piloting of the story stems. Most studies were conducted online and analyzed qualitatively, though the story stem design and sample size varied widely. Conclusion: The story completion method, with its attendant affordances for larger sample sizes, comparative study designs, and streamlined data collection is an innovative and useful stand-alone or adjunct qualitative method for health services research
Optimizing Carbon Structures in Laser-Induced Graphene Electrodes Using Design of Experiments for Enhanced Electrochemical Sensing Characteristics
Get PDFIn this study, we explored the morphological and electrochemical properties of carbon-based electrodes derived from laser-induced graphene (LIG) and compared them to commercially available graphene-sheet screen-printed electrodes (GS-SPEs). By optimizing the laser parameters (average laser power, speed, and focus) using a design of experiments response surface (DoE-RS) approach, binder-free LIG electrodes were achieved in a single-step process. Traditional trial-and-error methods can be time-consuming and may not capture the interactions between all variables effectively. To address this, we focused on linear resistance and substrate delamination to streamline the DoE-RS optimization process. Two LIGs, designated LIG A and LIG B, were fabricated using distinct and optimized laser settings, which resulted in a sheet resistance of 25 ± 2 Ω/sq and 21 ± 1 Ω/sq, respectively. These LIGs, characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and contact angle analysis, exhibited a highly porous morphology with 13% pore coverage and a contact angle <50°, which significantly increased their hydrophilicity when compared to the GS-SPE. For the electrochemical studies, the oxidation of NO2– ion by the graphene-based working electrodes was investigated, as it allowed for the direct comparison of the LIGs to the GS-SPE. These included cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and differential pulsed voltammetry studies, which revealed that LIG electrodes displayed a remarkable 500% increase in peak current during NO2– oxidation compared to the GS-SPE. The LIGs also demonstrated improved stability and sensitivity (420 ± 30 and 570 ± 10 nAμM–1 cm–2) compared to the GS-SPE (73 ± 4 nAμM–1 cm–2) in the oxidation of NO2– ions; however, LIG B was more susceptible to ionic interference than LIG A. These findings highlight the value of applying statistical approaches such as DoE-RS to systematically improve the LIG fabrication process, enabling the rapid production of optimized LIGs that outperform conventional carbon-based electrodes
Metacollinia emscheri n. sp., a novel sanguicolous apostome ciliate of freshwater amphipods (Gammarus spp.)
Get PDFWe describe a novel sanguicolous parasitic ciliate, Metacollinia emscheri n. sp., found in the freshwater amphipods Gammarus pulex and G. fossarum. This ciliate infected 8.05 % of the amphipods collected in a German stream catchment, the Boye, a tributary of the river Emscher. The ciliate showed morphological characteristics fitting the genus Metacollinia. Different life stages of variable size occurred simultaneously in the hemocoel throughout the hosts’ body. The tomont had 40–47 slightly spiraled kineties, a non-ciliated cortical band, a large macronucleus, and contractile vacuoles arranged in rows or scattered throughout the cytoplasm. The protomites/tomites with nine somatic kineties presented evidence of the buccal kineties x, y, and z reminiscent of those of the order Foettingeriida. Phylogenetic analyses of the 18S rRNA and COI regions confirm the ciliate placement in the Collinidae and a close relatedness to the type species of the genus Metacollinia, Metacollinia luciensis.We formally describe this new parasite as Metacollinia emscheri n. sp. using pathological, morphological, and nuclear/mitochondrial genetic data. The systemic infections observed in histological preparations and the pathogenicity of Metacollinia emscheri n. sp. suggest that this parasite might influence host population dynamics. Given the ecological importance of amphipods as keystone species in freshwater ecosystems, an outbreak of this parasite might indirectly impact ecosystem functioning
Digital Twin-empowered Green Mobility Management in Next-Gen Transportation Networks
Get PDFEvolving transportation networks need seamless integration and effective infrastructure utilisation to form the next-generation transportation networks. Also, they should be capable of capturing the traffic flow data at the right time and promptly applying sustainable actions toward emission reduction. However, traditional transportation networks cannot handle right-time updates and act upon the requirements in dynamic conditions. Here, Digital Twin (DT) enables the development of enhanced transportation management via robust modelling and intelligence capabilities. Therefore, we propose a DT-empowered Eco-Regulation (DTER) framework with a novel twinning approach. We define a transport-specific twin sampling rate to catch right-time data in a transportation network. Besides, we perform emission prediction using Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi-LSTM), and BANE embeddings. We perform Laplacian matrix analysis to cluster the risk zones regarding the emissions. Thereafter, we recommend actions by setting the number of vehicle limits of junctions for high-emission areas according to the outputs of Q-learning. In summary, DTER takes control of the emission with its transport-specific twin sampling rate and automated management of transportation actions by considering the emission predictions. We note DTER achieves 19% more successful right-time data capturing, with 30% reduced query time. Moreover, our hybrid implementation of intelligent algorithms for emission prediction resulted in higher accuracy when compared to baselines. Lastly, the autonomous recommendations of DTER achieved ∼ 20% decrease in emissions by presenting an effective carbon tracing framework
White Paper on Clean Heating & Cooling Technologies and Thermal Energy Storage for Buildings
No full textThe built environment is responsible for 35% of the greenhouse gas emissions and 85% of the buildings in Europe are older than 25 years. It is therefore a big task to reach a 100% renewable heated and cooled built environment. This White Paper describes how clean heating and cooling technologies and thermal energy storage can enable the uptake and utilisation of renewable energy and be integrated seamlessly in all buildings. The technologies concerned are heat pumps, solar thermal energy technologies, thermal storage, micro-cogeneration, and district heating & cooling
The RESIST Project Report. Effects of, and Resistances to 'Anti-Gender' Mobilisations Across Europe: A Report on Poland
Get PDFPoland's transforming socio-cultural landscape has witnessed across the years an intensified political focus on issues of gender and sexuality, which have become a battleground for a diverse spectrum of views and group interests. There has been notable persistence of conservative, and indeed hostile, stances towards gender andsexual equalities. To understand the effects and impacts of ‘anti-gender’ politics in everyday life of people in Poland, we organised four focus groups (FG) and 12 individual interviews. Recruitment of participants (33 in total) followed clustered sampling principles and snowballing methodology of reaching out to potential participants.There are several different ways in which ‘anti-gender’ politics impacts the everyday lives of people in Poland. Common experiences are those of bullying and intimidation, and of systemic, institutional discrimination. Social media is a platform where much of the hateful language and attitudes are experienced. Public institutions fail toadequately address the issues of gender and sexual diversity. Oftentimes, officers and administrators lack language and knowledge to address individual cases; nor can they implement policies and regulations as these are largely non-existent.The resulting effects include burnouts and depletions among participants, who highlight the high emotional costs of dealing with a discriminatory and hateful atmosphere on a daily basis. There are clear negative impacts on the mental health and general well-being of minoritised communities in Poland, the predominant target of the‘anti-gender’ politics in Poland. Other observed effects are fearful self-censorship, where people actively hide information about themselves to avoid self-exposure to potential discriminatory attitudes. There were also more grave instances of harm to bodiesand property reported. However, it was also noted that ‘anti-gender’ politics have produced some ‘ricochet effects’ such as greater social mobilisation for the queer-feminist causes, and that social attitudes are positively changing towards greateracceptance and support for minoritised groups. People multiply marginalised and minoritised due to their intersectional positionalities are usually more adverselyaffected. Their gendered and sexual identities are oftentimes forced into secondary positions of consideration, when people are being put in a position of forced choices between multiple problems they face or are committed to changing.Our participants navigate the impacts of ‘anti-gender’ on their lives in different ways: by shielding or withdrawing, or conversely, re-mobilising. A strong ethos of community support, mutual care and solidarity practices was also clearly pronounced as a common way of coping with the pressures of ‘anti-gender’ politics. Keywords: 'Anti-gender' politics in Poland; queer-feminist mobilisations; mental health; hope and persistence; activis
Navigating transitions into, through, and beyond peer worker roles: insider insights from the Supporting Harm Reduction through Peer Support (SHARPS) study
Get PDFBackground: Peer workers are individuals who draw on their personal experiences in a professional capacity to support clients. Existing research on the role of peer workers in mental health, homelessness, and substance use services has primarily focused on their impact on client outcomes. This paper describes the development of peer workers as they transition into, through, and beyond this role. Utilising data from the Supporting Harm Reduction through Peer Support (SHARPS) study, where Peer Navigators supported people experiencing homelessness and substance use challenges, this paper explores the sense-making involved in an intensive peer support worker role, adaptation to organisational culture, and engagement with opportunities for professional advancement. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with three Peer Navigators were conducted by two SHARPS study researchers at four time points in 2018 and 2019 corresponding with the beginning, middle, and end of the intervention. These data were analysed along with entries from the three Peer Navigators’ reflective diaries. Analysis followed a multi-stage approach to thematic analysis utilising both inductive and deductive processes. The Peer Navigators’ personal reflections have also been incorporated into the recommendations. Results: The foundational training provided to the Peer Navigators before taking up their role helped to ensure readiness and build confidence. This training illuminated the dynamics of supporting individuals with complex health and social challenges. Integrating into diverse organisational environments, the Peer Navigators adapted to new professional expectations and consistently advocated for harm reduction and psychologically informed approaches, sometimes encountering resistance from other professionals. Establishing effective relationships with participants and professionals was essential and involved dealing with challenges such as overcoming personal biases and navigating systemic obstacles. the Peer Navigators benefitted from the specially designed training to support career progress with personal and professional development opportunities which enabled successful transitions beyond the SHARPS study. Conclusions: Pre-work training, coupled with support and adherence to key principles, enabled the Peer Navigators to integrate effectively into diverse organisations. Quality relationships were vital in achieving client outcomes and supporting the professional growth of the Peer Navigators. These findings are important for services employing peer workers and underscore the importance of a commitment to training and continuing professional development
Quality prescribing for Benzodiazepines and z-drugs: guide for improvement 2024 to 2027
Get PDFBenzodiazepines and z-drugs are indicated for a variety of conditions including the short-term relief of severe insomnia and some anxiety disorders. People can quickly become tolerant to the therapeutic effects of benzodiazepines and z-drugs, rendering them ineffective. Nonetheless chronic use is common, exposing people to avoidable adverse drug effects and harms, and associated increased mortality risks with their use.This guide is primarily intended to support healthcare professionals and others in the appropriate prescribing of benzodiazepines and z-drugs; supporting and enabling proactive person-centred reviews, and continuation, reduction and stopping of these medicines where appropriate.An important principle in improving the care of individuals on benzodiazepine and z-drugs is to consider the role of the individual in shared decision-making and adopt a person-centred approach when discussing treatment options available. The 7-Steps medication review process allows a person-centred approach to both the initiation and review of existing treatment, centred around the needs of the individual
A Pragmatic Delphi Exploring Barriers and Facilitators to Emergency Responder/Healthcare Workers' Participation in the Blue Light Surf Club Therapy Intervention
Get PDFEmergency responders/healthcare workers face significant mental health burdens associated with their integral roles within society. Alongside the need for more mental health support, a major contributing factor to this burden are barriers to accessing suitable support. The aim of this study was to build consensus on the barriers/facilitators to a proposed surf therapy intervention supporting this population, the Blue Light Surf Club (BLSC). Where possible the study also explored pragmatic solutions from the perspectives of potential participants. Given the primary aim of building consensus, a Delphi method was utilised alongside 18 emergency responders/healthcare workers from a range of different roles in central Scotland (7 males and 11 females; mean age = 38.2 years; standard deviation = 11 years; range 19-54). Participants were surveyed about their perceptions of barriers/facilitators to accessing the proposed BLSC surf therapy programme. Four rounds of questions were required before a priori defined consensus was reached across all generated items. The outcome of the research was a set of recommendations for the implementation of the BLSC grouped around three themes: Intervention Access, Intervention Delivery and Intervention Structure. These recommendations offer insight and practical suggestions for overcoming established barriers to accessing mental health support for this population. The findings of this study have direct implications for the design stage of the BLSC surf therapy intervention while also supporting a wide range of similar interventions aimed at the emergency responder/healthcare population. These pragmatic recommendations are of value both in terms of their contribution to academic discussion around supporting this population, and the direct support they offer to comparable community-based organisations
Identifying how pre-existing resources combine to shape the experiences of work and family life of a diverse sample of working parents with at least one child in primary school in Scotland during COVID-19 pandemic-related social restrictions: a qualitative descriptive design
Get PDFObjectives: This study aimed to identify factors that shaped working parents (WPs’) experiences of COVID-19-related social restrictions and analyse the relationships between those factors. Design: A qualitative descriptive design was used to collect five time points of data including two online questionnaires and three telephone or online interviews between March 2021 and August 2021 with some follow-up interviews in December 2022. Setting: The COVID-19 pandemic led to social restrictions which greatly impacted WPs who had to both work and look after their children within their home space without any formal childcare. Participants: 19 participants living in Scotland who had at least one child of primary school age and who had been working in March 2020. Results: All parents were affected by social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the flexibility of employers, their socioeconomic situation and the amount of space in their home environment being particularly influential. The impact of social restrictions was greater for lone parents (LPs) due to the inability to share childcare with another adult in the home. Parents in low-income households were affected due to pre-existing inequalities of resources. Conclusions: These findings indicate several policy options that could mitigate negative outcomes for parents in the case of a future pandemic, including options to lessen inequities experienced by LPs. These include priority access to school places (particularly for children with underlying chronic medical conditions), the ability to establish a ‘support bubble’ at the beginning of social restrictions and being given access to safe outside places for children without a garden
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