Care Of Oneself Research Articles

Langage et médecine : la fin du Cratyle platonicien

At the end of the Cratylus, Socrates compares the permanent becoming of reality to the discharges of people who have a cold. Believing that everything changes constantly, and nothing stands still, he says, leads us to think that the things are sick and ends up making us sick. In order to take care of oneself, one should seek to know the real nature of things because their essence, contrary to appearances, never changes. The aim of this article is to explain the meaning of this argument about bodily illness and mental health, and to show the role that it plays in a dialogue dedicated to language. Plato establishes here a link between the flux of things and the flux in words, between the discharges of the body and the rotations of the soul. In doing so, he criticises all pseudo-language experts, including certain doctors who lack of genuine knowledge as well as moral integrity.

Development of the empowerment scale for family caregivers of community-dwelling people with dementia in Japan.

This study aimed to develop the empowerment scale for family caregivers of community-dwelling people with dementia (PWD) in Japan (EFCD) and to validate the scale. The questionnaires were mailed to 820 family caregivers of PWD. The first version of the EFCD based on interviews with family caregivers and elderly care specialists and content validity results was tested. Participants also completed the Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-Efficacy and the General Health Questionnaire. For the EFCD development procedure, construct validity was evaluated by item analysis and exploratory factor analysis. Criterion validity was tested using Spearman's correlations between scores of the three scales. Reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and Bland and Altman analysis. The final model was verified by confirmatory factor analysis. Data from 304 family caregivers were analyzed. Exploratory factor analysis identified a 16-item, four-factor structure for the final version of the EFCD, as follows: (a) Excellent Practice in Dementia Care; (b) Understanding the Essence of Dementia Care; (c) Caring for Oneself as well as for the Person with Dementia; and (d) Having Peers with Shared Support Activities. Reliability and validity of the scale was established using the methods described. The developed EFCD is a reliable and valid measure that provides a simple assessment of empowerment among family caregivers of PWD.

Self-Directedness and the Question of Autonomy: From Counterfeit Education to Critical and Transformative Adult Learning

The aim of this paper is to introduce a correction into the notion of self-directed adult learning by way of conjoining it with philosophically elaborated notions of autonomy, self-reflectiveness, and maturity. The basic premise of this intervention is that in andragogical theorizing, learners’ self-directedness ought not to be thought as obvious and thus beyond question. Since adult selves are not transparent but socially, culturally, and discoursively constructed, adult educators are encouraged to think of themselves as facilitators of adult learners’ self-awareness and self-directedness in their learning processes. Adult learners need to be assisted in developing critical skills that can be used to eliminate distortions in their perception of social reality, in understanding their own personalities, their needs and decisions concerning continuing education. The problematization of the concept of human autonomy amid external influences, is first discussed in Immanuel Kant’s idea of maturity as an ability to use one’s understanding without guidance from another. I then turn to Habermas’s philosophy of communicative action and three knowledge-constitutive interests where the human interest in emancipation comes to the fore. Its significance for critical adult learning is further emphasized in line with Stephen Brookfield’s and Jack Mezirow’s association of self-directed learning with empowerment, understood as freeing consciousness from its dependence on hypostatized powers. Drawing on Foucault’s work, I argue that attaining the state of autonomy requires practice in “the care for oneself” which amounts to the lifelong endeavor to create and govern oneself and to learn how not to be governed. The agenda for adult education for citizenship opted for in this paper attributes essential significance to learnable skills of critical reasoning, deliberation, and self-reflectiveness which all operate within three proposed dimensions of adult education: experiential learning, literacy, and vocationalism.

The Your Trainer Story

The Your Trainer Story

Conceptualizing Healthy Food: How Consumer’s Values Influence the Perceived Healthiness of a Food Product

The healthy lifestyle trend represents an opportunity to food manufacturers to redesign their marketing strategy for healthy food products. The prevalent strategy of posting nutritional information may not be effective because consumers use general heuristic cues to infer how healthy is a product. The purpose of this study is to extend the comprehension of the healthy food concept from a consumer perspective by assuming values are the basis to conceptualize healthy food. A qualitative approach was applied to collect in-depth information from a group of consumers with different demographic profiles and health motivations. The qualitative information is analyzed using as reference the food consumption value framework. The results of the thematic analysis indicate consumer’s conceptualization of healthy food is elusive, imprecise and intuitive. Product and process values are utilitarian values consumers use to assess how healthy is food. However, the physical setting and more intangible values such as the feeling of taking care of oneself also influence healthy food preferences. Based on these findings, a definition of “healthy food” based on four food values is proposed. This consumer-based definition of “healthy food”, in addition to the conventional product-based definition, may be used by governmental health institutions and food manufacturers to persuade individuals to make healthier food choices by using more emotionally evocative and cognitively effortless food-related communication regarding the healthfulness of food products.

The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans II

The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans II

Are children with childhood apraxia of speech a subgroup of children with developmental coordination disorders?

Motor development is related to various aspects of human development, from speaking to taking care of oneself and participating in sports. Developmental disorder affecting the motor domain is known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), which results in a marked impairment in motor skills, which in turn can have a significant impact on activities of everyday living (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Several studies have shown that the motor deficit in DCD is not restricted to limb control and may be a more general phenomenon that could affect the speech motor system (Ho and Wilmut, 2010). According to Maassen (2002), there is strong evidence that delayed or deviant motor development and perceptual motor learning play a role in many children with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Knowing that articulation is a mechanical act executed by the complex speech apparatus, could this potentially mean that children with CAS are a subgroup of children with DCD? Different studies demonstrated that children with CAS had problems with various aspects of nonspeech oral motor function (Tükel, Björelius, Henningsson, McAllister and Eliasson, 2015), as well as balance, aiming and catching (Iuzzini-Siegel, 2019). Further evidences of impaired motor skills could help us understand the underpinnings of CAS.

Features of glycemic status and risk factors in patients with coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes in Azerbaijan population

Aim . To study the associations of glycemic control with risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and parameters of life quality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Material and methods . In single-step cross-sectional clinical-epidemiology cohort study were involved 142 patients with CAD and T2D between the ages of 35 and 69. The patients answered the questions of “ARiC” questioner about their socio-demographic status, behavioral risk factors and quality of life. We measured anthropometric indicators, determined level of glucose and glycated hemoglobin in venous plasma. Results. It was determined no statistically significant relationship between level of glycemic status and patients ages, education level, occupation and family status, physical activities, body mass index, smoking habit, feeding disorder, anxiety, stress conditions. Such life quality parameters as moving, taking care of oneself, daily activities, pain or feeling discomfort also didn’t have associations with glycemic status. In the background of abdominal obesity (p=0,034), using alcohol (p=0,045), depressive conditions (p=0,036) and such life quality parameters as anxiety or depression (p=0,039) control of glycaemia was disturbed. As a result, in 28,7% of patients with poor glycemic control compared with previous years, there was no change in the condition of patients, and 55,7%, on the contrary, worsened. An increase in the duration of diabetes and chronic hyperglycemia adversely affected the course of the disease (F=4,3, p=0,041 and F=18,3, p<0,001, respectively), and insufficient control of the glycemic status was accompanied by tachycardia. Conclusion . In patients with CHD and T2D, alcohol intake, depressive conditions, abdominal obesity and an increase in the duration of diabetes were accompanied by worsening of glycemic control, which led to deterioration in the life quality parameters. Timely screening and adequate correction of these risk factors will prevent complications, mortality and disability, as well as reduce healthcare costs associated with these diseases.

Self-Care Is Not the Enemy of Performance.

The highly competitive nature of academic environments might seem to suggest that success can only be obtained at the cost of taking good care of oneself. However, sacrificing self-care can be extremely harmful. Herein, we explore ways that high performance and self-care can be mutually reinforcing and produce long-term success.

KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTIONS OF SELF-MEDICATION PRACTICES IN AN URBAN COMMUNITY

Objective: This study was conducted with the aim to assess the knowledge and attitude of self-medication practices among the residents of an urban community.&#x0D; Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted among 270 participants for the duration of 6 months using a semi-structured questionnaire which consisted of the domains of knowledge and attitude. Logistic regression was used for drawing statistical inferences.&#x0D; Results: The prevalence of self-medication was found to be 37.04%. It was found that 73.33% of the respondents were aware of the term “self-medication” and their major source for information was obtained through acquaintances (44.44%). About 68.55% of the participants agreed that self-medication is a part of taking care of oneself and it needs to be encouraged. Overall, the participants had a good knowledge and positive attitude toward the practice of self-medication.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study mainly focuses on improving the subjects’ knowledge, thereby bringing changes in the attitude and practice toward disease management. Understanding the subjects’ level of knowledge and attitude will enable a more efficient process for creating an awareness among the public to ensure its safe and responsible use.

Approach to the violence of ageing in women

The complexity of women's experience of ageing takes new forms in an environment which glorifies youth. Society's beliefs, demands and stereotypes, promoted by the media and advertising, serves to reinforce ageism. Before adapting to their internal reality they firstly need to adapt to their external reality. Adapting and accepting oneself means taking care of oneself, taking control of one's life and liking oneself, in order to embrace the inevitable changes and preserve a good self-image.

The Narration to Take Care of Oneself in the Development of Educational Professions

The Narration to Take Care of Oneself in the Development of Educational Professions

Finding confidence and inner trust as a parent: experiences of group-based compassion-focused therapy for the parents of adolescents with mental health problems

ABSTRACT Purpose: Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) can alleviate the stress and challenges faced by the parents of adolescents with mental health (MH) problems. Although CFT interventions have shown promising results, few studies have examined its effectiveness in adolescent psychiatric settings. Therefore, this study examined the participant experiences of group-based CFT for the parents of adolescents with MH problems. Methods: The reflective lifeworld research (RLR) approach was used to conduct in-depth interviews with eleven parents, focusing on participant experiences of group-based CFT. Meaning-oriented data analysis was undertaken. Results: The essential meaning of the phenomenon of participating in group-based CFT was understood as finding confidence and inner trust as a parent, characterized by an understanding of one’s own needs, which provided parents with the confidence to support their children. The phenomenon is further explicated with its three constituents: (a) taking care of oneself and one’s child; (b) being open and sharing experiences; and (c) acceptance and hope for the future. Conclusions: The CFT intervention enabled parents to find their agency and strengthened their relationships with their children. The findings underscore the need to acknowledge the supportive role parents play in the recovery of children who receive psychiatric care.

The Price of Truth: Reciprocity, Giving, and Generosity in the Philosophy of René Descartes

The article provides a comparison of the concept of homo œconomicus with the core theses of René Descartes’ moral philosophy. The first section draws on the work of the contemporary Western philosopher Anselm Jappe in which Descartes’ philosophy is held to be the cornerstone of the established view and current scientific definitions of homo œconomicus as the fundamental and indispensable agent of capitalistic relations. As opposed to this “common sense” position in the modern social sciences, the second section of the article builds upon Pierre Bourdieu’s Anthropologie économique (2017) to demystify the notion of homo œconomicus. The article then examines some aspects of modern philosophical anthropology that show odd traces of Descartes’ thinking and that are regularly applied in economic science as well as in the critique of economic thinking as such. These are the concepts of mutuality, giving, exchange and generosity, and they are regarded as central to the philosopher’s moral doctrine.The author concludes that the philosophical doctrine of generosity has very little in common with the bourgeois ideology of utility which implies an instrumental relationship between subjects: in Caretesian moral philosophy the Other is neither an object of influence nor a means to achieve someone’s personal goals nor a windowless monad. Generosity certainly has its economic aspects, but these do not include accumulating wealth in the bourgeois sense. It is more in the realm of the aristocratic practice of making dispensations. All throughout his life Decartes may be viewed as exhibiting a peculiar kind of nobility in which the desire to give, endow and sacrifice outweighs any selfish interest. The vigorous pursuit of well-being gives way to a quest for the leisure required to pursue intellectual activity, and care for oneself does not preclude attending to and loving the Other, whatever form it may take.

MYTHS AND PRACTICES OF INITIATION CEREMONIES AMONG THE BEMBA OF KASAMA DISTRICT: IMPLICATIONS ON EARLY MARRIAGES AND QUALITY EDUCATION

For many years, the quality of education has been compromised, the performance of girls has been deteriorating .The article problematizes the myths and practices during initiation ceremonies and the implications on the delivery of quality education, it was realised that myths and practices during initiation ceremonies actually help in good moral building. The results of the research is that a considerable amount of schools has had been recording quite a number school dropout of which the majority are girls. Among other reasons, teenage pregnancies and early marriages have been cited as the main dropout causes in Kasama. This implies that, myths and practices during initiation ceremonies affect the girl’s education positively and negatively. The positive effects such as building of good morals, taking care of oneself, working hard as a girl among others, if they are accurately acquired and implemented by the initiates, then Zambia as a country will develop as people will be skill full, vigilant and knowledgeable.

Этопойэсис и забота о себе (от «эстетики существования» к «генеалогии этики»)

Этопойэсис и забота о себе (от «эстетики существования» к «генеалогии этики»)

The Kintsugi Art of Care: Unraveling Consent in Ethical Non-Monogamies

Making a contribution to the sociology of intimacy, this article aims to present how lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and queer people live their ethical non-monogamous relationships in Italy. Giving great space to the concept of consent through the literature on the ethics of care, I will refer to different conceptualizations of critical consent given by feminist and BDSM communities, spaces in which ethics is based on unveiling power structures through the focus on consent. In fact, the centrality of the collective dimension in embracing ethical non-monogamies appears fundamental, challenging the self-help – and neoliberal – literature according to which polyamory is just a personal choice. Afterwards, I will deepen the concept of care, developing it through its means of communication, attentiveness, responsibility, and responsiveness within relationships. Presented this way, care recognizes us all as interdependent: at the same time, care-givers and care-receivers. I suggest that this interdependency is symbolized by the kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with a mix of golden powder, a representation of the manifold matrix of care, composed of care-giving, care-receiving, and care for oneself.

Evaluating the Use of Mobile Health Technology in Older Adults With Heart Failure: Mixed-Methods Study.

BackgroundHeart failure (HF) is associated with high rates of hospitalizations, morbidity, mortality, and costs. Remote patient monitoring (mobile health, mHealth) shows promise in improving self-care and HF management, thus increasing quality of care while reducing hospitalizations and costs; however, limited information exists regarding perceptions of older adults with HF about mHealth use.ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare perspectives of older adults with HF who were randomized to either (1) mHealth equipment connected to a 24-hour call center, (2) digital home equipment, or (3) standard care, with regard to ease and satisfaction with equipment, provider communication and engagement, and ability to self-monitor and manage their disease.MethodsWe performed a pilot study using a mixed-methods descriptive design with pre- and postsurveys, following participants for 12 weeks. We augmented these data with semistructured qualitative interviews to learn more about feasibility, satisfaction, communication, and self-management.ResultsWe enrolled 28 patients with HF aged 55 years and above, with 57% (16/28) male, 79% (22/28) non-Hispanic white, and with multiple comorbid conditions. At baseline, 50% (14/28) rated their health fair or poor and 36% (10/28) and 25% (7/28) were very often/always frustrated and discouraged by their health. At baseline, 46% (13/28) did not monitor their weight, 29% (8/28) did not monitor their blood pressure, and 68% (19/28) did not monitor for symptoms. Post intervention, 100% of the equipment groups home monitored daily. For technology anxiety, 36% (10/28) indicated technology made them nervous, and 32% (9/28) reported fear of technology, without significant changes post intervention. Technology usability post intervention scored high (91/100), reflecting ease of use. A majority indicated that a health care provider should be managing their health, and 71% reported that one should trust and not question the provider. Moreover, 57% (16/28) believed it was better to seek professional help than caring for oneself. Post intervention, mHealth users relied more on themselves, which was not mirrored in the home equipment or standard care groups. Participants were satisfied with communication and engagement with providers, yet many described access problems. Distressing symptoms were unpredictable and prevailed over the 12 weeks with 79 provider visits and 7 visits to emergency departments. The nurse call center received 872 readings, and we completed 289 telephone calls with participants. Narrative data revealed the following main themes: (1) traditional communication and engagement with providers prevailed, delaying access to care; (2) home monitoring with technology was described as useful, and mHealth users felt secure knowing that someone was observing them; (3) equipment groups felt more confident in self-monitoring and managing; and finally, (4) uncertainty and frustration with persistent health problems.ConclusionsmHealth equipment is feasible with potential to improve patient-centered outcomes and increase self-management in older adults with HF.

What are the Risk Factors for One-Year Mortality in Older Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease? An Analysis of the Cleveland Clinic CKD Registry

Background: Prognostic factors after dialysis initiation among older chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are not well studied. In this study, we examined the risk factors associated with 1-year mortality after dialysis initiation among older CKD patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, we included 621 CKD patients from an electronic medical record based CKD registry that was linked to the United States Renal Data System data. In terms of age, they were all ≥65. We examined the associations of various demographic factors, comorbid conditions, relevant laboratory parameters, the presence of arteriovenous fistula, and inability to take care of oneself with 1-year mortality after dialysis initiation using Cox proportional hazards model. Results: In our study cohort, 224 older patients died during the first year of dialysis initiation and the estimated survival at 1 year was 65% (95% CI 62–69). After adjusting for covariates, increasing age by each year (Hazard ratio 1.04 [95% CI 1.02–1.06]), congestive heart failure (CHF; 1.57 [1.13–2.18]), an absence of AVF (3.0 [1.7–5.1]) and lack of nephrology care prior to dialysis initiation (1.93 [1.39–2.70]) were associated with increased risk of 1-year mortality. Nearly 60% of deaths were due to non-cardiovascular (CV) causes including cancer. Conclusion: Risk factors portending high 1-year mortality in older CKD patients are increasing age, CHF, an absence of AVF, and lack of pre-dialysis nephrology care. Clinicians need to be aware of non-CV risks of high mortality in these patients.

An attributive component of the condition of people with the diagnosis of “Ischemic heart disease. Effort angina”

Objective:The article is devoted to the study of attributive components of people diagnosed with Ischemic heart disease. Effort angina. The results of empirical studies of the attributive process are discussed in the article. Now more and more researchers, both domestic and foreign, are beginning to consider attribution as one of the principles of human existence. Attributive processes initially began to be developed in line with the cognitive orientation of social psychology. Currently, they are actively considered in the framework of the psychology of social cognition.Method:We conducted a study on 24 subjects with an average cholesterol level of 7.426 mmol / l (concomitant diseases - hypertension, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome), who underwent treatment in the Central City Clinical Hospital in the rehabilitation department with the diagnosis of Ischemic Heart Disease. Effort Angina. Initially, we conducted the survey of subjects in order to identify their subjective judgment about the cause of the disease. They were asked a question: “In your opinion, what is the cause of your heart disease?”Results:The results of the survey conducted testify that only a small percentage of the subjects believe that they could exert any influence on their health and, for example, to reduce environmental or biological factors. One would assume that such results may be a specific demonstration of the fact that an individual gains experience that it is precisely human health that is difficult to correct and change and simply does not solve it due to the complexity of the problem. However, data obtained in the course of other experiments and studies [19] show that a person is inclined to explain what is happening by circumstances or situational causes, rather than personal ones. The results obtained with the help of T. Dembo’s cognitive self-assessment technique indicate that women believe that they actually have much less physical exertion and their daily routine is more correct than people who are close to them, in their opinion, think about it. We can assume that introjects are more often peculiar to women than men that are related to housekeeping, which sometimes requires considerable physical activity and time. When a woman has to, at the insistence of a doctor, reduce her physical activity and somehow comply with the daily regimen, she feels discomfort because of which she believes that she “does nothing at all”, although her relatives continue to persuade her to have a rest. Here it is appropriate, in our opinion, to raise the problem of accepting oneself and, as a sequence, to take adequate care of oneself. Significant differences in the self-attributive and reflexive components were also discovered in the emotional sphere of the female subjects. In their opinion, they experience low intensity of negative emotions, such as fear and anger, but at the same time they believe that their close relatives radically disagree. This situation can be explained either by the fact that they assume that they have negative emotions more strongly than they would like (and what they admit to this in the study), or they are judged by the words of relatives who can also make their judgments by interpreting the facts with varying degrees of adequacy.Conclusion:In conclusion, it should be noted that during the analysis we encountered at least two facts that require further empirical research. Firstly, we identified three types of explanations (attributions) in the subjects’ answers: adverbial, subjective and personal, and the latter type of causal attribution is not expressed clearly in the subjects of the study. This poses new questions: does a particular type of situation contribute to this perception, or are there any other factors (including personal ones) playing the role here. Secondly, the following questions arise: how exactly does a subject choose only one alternative from a variety of explanatory reasons. All these questions will be understood as a part of our further research.