A bivouac survival guide: Toward more efficient co-creation through tourist skills and affordances

ABSTRACTWomen who decide to leave street-based sex work often struggle with addiction, trauma-related mental health consequences, and exclusion from employment and housing. To offer recommendations for social service providers, this article draws upon primary data from interviews and surveys with 87 residents at a transitional housing facility for women leave sex work to elucidate: 1) a demographic profile of the women, 2) life history patterns and circumstances that encourage women to leave street-based sex work and 3) recommendations for service providers. Results indicate the need for service providers to assist women with basic needs, strengthen referral networks, and extend trauma-informed services.

ABSTRACTAims: This study investigated the experiences and perceptions of parents of children with cerebral palsy (CP) when classifying their children using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), and the Communication Function Classification System (CFCS). The second aim was to collate parents’ recommendations for service providers on how to interact and communicate with families. Methods: A purposive sample of seven parents participating in the On Track study was recruited. Semi-structured interviews were conducted orally and were audiotaped, transcribed, and coded openly. A descriptive interpretive approach within a pragmatic perspective was used during analysis. Results: Seven themes encompassing parents’ experiences and perspectives reflect a process of increased understanding when classifying their children, with perceptions of utility evident throughout this process. Six recommendations for service providers emerged, including making the child a priority and being a dependable resource. Conclusions: Knowledge of parents’ experiences when using the GMFCS, MACS, and CFCS can provide useful insight for service providers collaborating with parents to classify function in children with CP. Using the recommendations from these parents can facilitate family–provider collaboration for goal setting and intervention planning.

Group interventions have assumed a growing role in primary prevention and supportive care for cancer and HIV disease. Earlier sections of this Special Report examined empirical findings for these interventions and provided recommendations for future research. The current section offers brief recommendations for service providers, policymakers, and stakeholders.Group services now occupy an increasingly prominent place in primary prevention programs and medical settings. In previous sections of this Special Report (Sherman, Leszcz et al., 2004; Sherman, Mosier et al., 2004a, 2004b) we examined the efficacy of different group interventions at different phases of cancer or HIV disease, considered characteristics of the intervention and the participants that might influence outcomes, and discussed mechanisms of action. Methodological challenges and priorities for future research were highlighted. In this, the final section, we offer brief recommendations for service providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders. We consider some of the barriers that constrain use of empirically-based group interventions and note how these programs might be implemented more widely and effectively.

Engaging with formal intimate partner violence (IPV) services can buffer the impacts of violence and reduce future risk. Many survivors do not access or engage with such services. However, much of our knowledge related to the experiences and perspectives of IPV survivors comes from samples drawn from those seeking formal services. Qualitative interviews with 23 survivors of violence who are not currently engaged with formal IPV services were conducted, focused on the process and outcomes of choosing to seek help. Themes emerged within the categories of formal help-seeking experiences, informal help seeking, and recommendations for providers.

Millions of people worldwide visit social network sites (SNSs) daily, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat. We examined a model based on the privacy calculus theory to better understand and determine what motivates users to disclose personal information on SNSs in Saudi Arabia. A total of 550 respondents participated in an online survey. The analysis results indicate that Saudi SNS users are primarily motivated by the convenience of maintaining and developing new relationships, self-presentation, and platform enjoyment. The results also indicate that privacy risks are a critical barrier to information disclosure. However, users become less concerned about privacy risks—and are thus more likely to disclose personal information—if they trust other SNS members and the service provider. Trust in the service provider increases if privacy control options are provided. In addition, the results show that gender influences the motivations to self-disclose personal information. Based on the analysis results, recommendations for service providers are provided.

Multimedia conferencing is the real-time exchange of multimedia content between multiple parties. It is the basis of several interactive multiuser applications, such as distance learning and multimedia multiplayer online games. The cloud-based provisioning of the conferencing services on which these applications rely on can have several benefits, including the easy provisioning of new applications, efficient use of resources, and elastic scalability. This paper proposes a holistic cloud-based architecture for conferencing service provisioning, which covers both the infrastructure and platform layers of the cloud. The proposed infrastructure layer offers conferencing substrates-as-a-service (e.g., dial-in signaling, video mixing, and audio mixing), instead of virtual machines or containers. The platform layer abstracts the details of the conferencing concepts and offers a high-level interface to simplify conference service provisioning for a wide range of service and application providers (experts versus non-experts). It also enables the on-the-fly scaling of the running conferences while guaranteeing the required quality of service, enables substrates composition to create new conferencing services, and eases the reuse of conferencing services in building new applications. The presented architecture is supported by a proof-of-concept prototype and performance measurements. The latter provides the analysis of resource allocation efficiency and response time, as well as the scalability of the system under suboptimal and over-provisioned conditions. It also provides recommendations for service providers regarding the best alternatives for provisioning their service.

AimTo explore and understand the experiences of counsellors who were trained in English, but used another language when counselling clients who did not speak English or had limited English language proficiency. Although multilingual counselling is growing, this had seldom been specifically researched, with the experiences of counsellors being even more neglected.MethodThis research adopted a qualitative methodology which involved interviewing 11 participants trained in different modalities, using different languages with varied levels of experience of counselling in another language, to obtain a range of narratives. Interviews were audio recorded, followed by verbatim transcriptions and thematic analysis.FindingsThe study found participants had not previously had an opportunity to discuss their experiences of offering multilingual counselling. A discussion around counselling in a language other than English had not taken place during training, in their workplace, in supervision or with peers. They described many difficulties that influenced client work. Participants reported feeling isolated, tired and bearing full responsibility for their work. They described significant differences between counselling in English and other languages, with the clients of the latter receiving a less useful service than English speaking clients.DiscussionAn exploration of the research findings alongside contemporary literature highlights the possibility that further training and support may be needed for multilingual counsellors. Recommendations for service providers, future research and training are suggested.

In our high-tech society, the design process involves profound questions about the effects of the resulting goods, and the responsibilities of designers. In the philosophy of technology, effects of "things" on user experience and behaviour have been discussed in terms of the concept of technological mediation. Meanwhile, what we create has moved more and more towards services (processes) rather than products (things), in particular in the context of information services. The question is raised to what extent the concept of technological mediation is adequate to understand effects and responsibilities in information services as well. Therefore, this paper discusses differences between product aspects and service aspects of our creations, and evaluates the applicability of the concept of technological mediation to information services. Specific features of a notion of technological mediation for information services are highlighted, in particular with respect to the different relation between production and consumption. Finally, the paper focuses on the ethical consequences of service impact, and recommendations for service providers, especially in terms of the possibilities for second-order mediation by inviting users to change service properties.

The results of the customer survey are presented in this chapter. Objectives discussed in the previous chapter notably, (1) measuring the intensity of customers’ mobility usage, (2) customers’ decision-making behavior and aspects that translate into success for service providers, and (3) the influence of megatrends on customer perception form the core of the information presented below. Results obtained from the survey will be conjoined with the PEST and BMC analyses to arrive at recommendations for service providers in the established and new business mobility sectors.

Food insecurity is a pressing multidimensional problem that negatively impacts the health and well-being of a significant number of the older population. Finding ways to better address nutritional issues among this vulnerable population is vital to their well-being. Using a mixed-methods approach, we conducted semi-structured phone interviews with a representative sample of 434 low-income older adult households in Tennessee. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of food insecurity, examine ongoing barriers, and, using qualitative data, to explore the diverse daily experiences older adults face when confronted with a food insecure lifestyle. Based on the USDA Adult 10-Item Household Screening Module, we found that 30% in our sample were designated as marginally, low or very low food secure. Many of those most vulnerable (older women, widowed or divorced, poor health and below the poverty line) constantly struggled with food insecurity. Being food insecure was attributed to limited financial resources, lack of transportation, health limitations, and a poor psychological state. Utilizing food stretching practicing, governmental agencies offering food supplements, family/friends, religious groups and personal resilience were common coping strategies. Implications and recommendations for service providers are offered.

ABSTRACTAlthough the research on postpartum depression has grown substantially within the past 20 years, very little research has focused on mothers of color. This article draws on first-person accounts of 30 (19 African-American and 11 Latina) mothers who experienced postpartum depression and links their experiences to existing research to guide health and mental health care providers to render culturally relevant services. The mothers were interviewed regarding their perspectives on postpartum depression, the informal and formal services they used, and their recommendations for service providers. Informal social networks offering emotional and instrumental support partially relieved the mothers of childcare burdens, but were absent or even detrimental for other mothers. Formal services offering responsive and accommodating services were identified as helpful. In contrast, rigid formal mental health treatment and antidepressant medications were identified as unhelpful.

The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) adults and parents of Deaf/HoH children related to speech and language services, and their recommendations for service providers. Historically, professionals have focused on the development of speech and aural/oral skills of Deaf and HoH people. As such, when working with families of newly-identified children with hearing loss, hearing professionals may be ill-equipped to provide culturally-responsive, fully inclusive information and education regarding communication options and opportunities. Method: This study used a qualitative research design to examine participant experiences related to speech and language services and future recommendations for professionals. Fifteen participants (n=15) completed the open-ended nine-question survey. Data was then analyzed with thematic analysis using an inductive approach at the semantic level. Results: Six themes were identified and the participants provided several recommendations to speech-language pathologists (SLPs) for their future work with Deaf/HoH people. Although most participants reported that speech-language services were not the right fit for them, they reported that such services could be valuable for other people based on skill profile and/or hearing or speech status. Participants also reported the value of trust within the clinician-client relationship Conclusion: Historically, professionals have not informed parents of all intervention and language options when children are first identified with hearing loss. Ensuring that families receive access to inclusive, culturally-responsive education and information for all communication options is necessary.

People who use secure messaging apps are vulnerable to a hacked or malicious server unless they manually complete an authentication ceremony. In this article, we describe the usability challenges of the authentication ceremony and research to improve it. We conclude with recommendations for service providers and directions for research.

Using an intersectional framework, this article discusses the barriers to social services that Latina victims of intimate partner violence encounter, a drastically underdeveloped area of theorizing. We argue that placing Latinas at the center of analysis will facilitate empirical knowledge, which is necessary because mainstream inquiry has historically ignored their interests. First, we discuss cultural barriers through the lenses of gender, race, and ethnicity. Second, we describe socioeconomic barriers in conjunction with gender, race, and ethnicity. Third, we examine legal barriers along with the representation of gender, race, and ethnicity. Finally, we suggest directions for research and recommendations for service providers.

The ultimate goal of AAC provision is to promote students’ active participation across settings through interactions involving a variety of partners and functions. To achieve such outcomes, educational teams must collaborate and consider the characteristics of students, their families, and relevant environments during AAC assessment and intervention. To date, AAC team collaboration has rarely been evaluated collectively outside intervention or case study research. In this investigation, a meta-synthesis was conducted to review qualitative studies of perspectives of team members on supporting students who used AAC, ranging in age from kindergarten to post-secondary, in public schools in the United States. Analyses yielded three primary themes necessary for effective AAC services; inputs, activities, and outcomes. Implications and recommendations for service providers and future researchers are described.