Care Regimes Research Articles

Homeowner preferences drive lawn care practices and species diversity patterns in new lawn floras

Abstract Households intensively manage lawns to create uniformly green, low diversity plant communities. Because lawns occupy a large proportion of urban green space, they are a crucial case for understanding how people manipulate urban vegetation. In this study, I focused on 58 homeowners who purchased a newly constructed home and yard in the Seattle Metropolitan Statistical Area, USA, to see how preferences, lawn care regimes and new lawn floras develop within a multi-scalar urban environment. A typical homeowner watered 3 times in spring, watered 24 times in summer, applied fertilizer twice, mowed 21 times and edged 15 times. Most new lawn turfgrasses were Lolium perenne, Poa pratensis and/or Festuca spp. Mean species richness was 6.5 ± 5.3 species. The most frequent species were non-native and cosmopolitan (turfgrasses, Hypochaeris radicata, Taraxacum officinale and Trifolium repens). Five variables increased the probability of homeowners managing their lawns as turfgrass monocultures: living in a neighborhood with larger yards, summer watering frequency, fertilizer frequency, valuing space for children and valuing wildlife habitat. Valuing an easy to manage yard decreased the turfgrass monoculture probability. In polyculture yards, having a larger lawn was positively correlated with non-turfgrass species richness, but elevation was negatively correlated. Homeowners who valued space for children appeared to have more intensive lawn care regimes than those who valued wildlife habitat or easy to manage yards. Although lawn floras result from complex interactions of the environment and households, urban characteristics appeared to be weaker drivers of diversity than homeowner preferences and lawn care.

Gender inequality, the welfare state, disability, and distorted commodification of care in Turkey

AbstractReforming care regimes to cover the care deficit and enhancing the marketization of care to promote individualism and gender equality have been on the European agenda since the 1990s. However, both implementation and results have been path-dependent. This study first underlines some specificities in the Turkish case—namely, the limited welfare state, a large shadow economy, gender roles, patriarchal backlash, Islamization, and neoliberalism, all of which receive little treatment in the welfare state literature. It then analyzes how these specificities interact in the construction of the care regime in Turkey, conceptualizing the outcome as distorted commodification of care—namely, the continuing ambiguity of care services despite these activities producing precarity and positional suffering for caregivers and recipients. Finally, the study provides concrete examples from the less studied topic of long-term disability care. It presents a perspective on Turkey that foregrounds the connections between gendered care imagery and case-specific qualities of the commodification of care shaped by the long-standing shadow economy, the outsourcing of disability services to for-profit private companies, and the introduction of the cash-for-care policy. The study analyzes the outcomes of distorted commodification of care under these conditions in Turkey vis-à-vis visibility, valuation of work, working conditions, and gender inequality.

Is the push by female employees for family-friendly practices context-dependent? Comparative evidence from Sweden, Poland and Germany

This paper examines the role of a country’s care regime as a potential moderator of the link between the share of female employees and the provision of family-friendly practices in companies. Based on theoretical sampling, we compare the provision of flextime and day care services in companies in three country contexts (Sweden, Poland, and Germany) with varying degrees of de-familialization and support of maternal employment to exemplify our model. Our empirical analysis is based on 732 observations from 152 public companies listed on the Swedish OMX, the Polish WIG20 and the German DAX/MDAX, during the period 2005–2015. Random effects logistic regressions reveal that there is no automatism concerning a demand-driven push towards employer-provided family-friendly practices. Rather, the care regime seems to play an important role for whether the provision of family-friendly practices in companies is affected by the share of female employees and which family-friendly practices are affected.

The Impact of Micro and Macro Level Factors on the Working and Living Conditions of Migrant Care Workers in Italy and Israel-A Scoping Review.

Background: The provision of home-based care for frail older adults in Italy and Israel is predominately provided by live-in migrant care workers (MCWs). However, despite the important role that they play in filling the demand for home care, MCWs often experience labor rights violations. This not only impacts the well-being of MCWs but also leads to lower-quality care being provided to people in need of support. Method: This scoping review used Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework to map literature. This article aims to analyze the scope, main topics, themes and gaps in the existing academic literature on how micro and macro level indicators impact the working and living conditions of live-in MCWs in Italy and Israel. Scopus, Pubmed, and Web of Science Core Collection were searched for peer-reviewed articles. Search terms were adapted from the Multilevel Framework of Transnational Care Migration (MFTCM). Themes were developed using Braun and Clarke’s method for conducting reflexive thematic analysis. Articles were included if they focused on Italy and/or Israel, included analysis on the working and living conditions of live-in MCWs at the macro and/or micro levels, were written in English, and were published between 2015 and 2020. Results: Out of the 1088 articles retrieved, 33 met the inclusion criteria. A total of 18 articles focused on Italy and 14 on Israel, and one focused on both Italy and Israel. The majority of articles in Italy (84 per cent) and Israel (53 per cent) included analysis on care regimes. Only 37 per cent of articles in Italy and 20 per cent in Israel included analysis on gender regimes. At the micro level, 80 per cent of articles in Israel discussed Power/Class Asymmetry, compared to 37 per cent in Italy. In total, six themes were developed. At the macro level, these themes included funding care work, MCWs as a pragmatic approach, care in the home, and valuing care work. At the micro level, the themes included being part of the family, and perceptions on class asymmetries. The findings presented in this review show that MCWs in both Italy and Israel face many of the same challenges in accessing decent work opportunities, despite contrasting employment and migration policies in each country. This can be partially attributed to the undervaluing of care work because of racialized and gendered notions of care. At the macro level, this has contributed to a lack of political will to develop long-term sustainable solutions to create or monitor decent work standards for MCWs. At the micro level, this has led to power imbalances between MCWs and people in need of care and their family members, resulting in MCWs being expected to work hours beyond those contractually allowed, having little to no time off, and experiencing emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Conclusion: This study provides a review of the most recent contributions to the fields of labor migration and health concerning the MCW markets in Italy and Israel. While there have been many studies in each country that detail the labor rights violations experienced by MCWs, this is the first review that develops themes around the underlying causes of these violations. By thematically analyzing the findings of recent studies and current gaps in existing knowledge, this scoping review assists in building the groundwork for the development and implementation of policy, strategies, practice and research to improve the rights and migration experiences of MCWs.

Laparoscopic Treatment of Incisional and Ventral Hernia.

Background and Objectives:Although several large studies regarding patients undergoing minimally invasive repair of incisional hernia are currently available, the results are not particularly reliable as they are based on heterogeneous groups, different surgical techniques, different mesh types, or with a too short follow period.Methods:We conducted a retrospective observational trial, collecting data from patients who underwent laparoscopic repair of a primary abdominal wall or an incisional hernia using the laparoscopic Intraperitoneal Onlay Mesh technique and a single mesh type, i.e., a composite polyester mesh with a hydrophilic film (Parietex CompositeTM mesh – Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN - USA). All patients signed an informed consent.Results:One thousand seven hundred seventy-seven patients were enrolled. The median surgery time was 50 minutes and the median length of hospital stay was 2 days. Intraoperative complications occurred in 12 patients (0.7%), while early postoperative surgical complications occurred in 115 (6.5%); during follow-up, bulging mesh was diagnosed in 4.5% of cases and hernia recurred in 4.3% of patients. An overlap equal or greater than 4 cm resulted as a significant protective factor, while the use of absorbable fixing devices was a risk factor for recurrence (odds ration: 9.06, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval: 4.19 – 19.57).Conclusions:Minimally invasive treatment of primary and postincisional abdominal wall hernias is a safe, effective, and reproducible procedure. An overlap equal or greater than 4 cm, the use of nonabsorbable fixing devices and a postoperative care and follow-up regime are crucial in order to obtain good results and low recurrence rates.

Informal Care Regimes: The Case of Rural Greece

Society’s gradual ageing has significantly affected the need for improvement of the care services for the elderly and the people with disabilities. This study aims to understand mechanisms of informal provision of services, the facilitators, and barriers for such practices on this adaptive mechanism in rural areas in Greece. The baseline of this article is a field study that was conducted in villages of two remote municipalities of Greece. The article comparatively analyses in the place of residence differences as a factor of conformation of a unique care and support regime that is offered to the elderly and disabled people. The article identifies regional patterns and explores implications for resident’s ability to access social welfare and the health market. The article contributes by incorporating the special characteristics of place of residence in the analysis of informal welfare regimes.

The evolving Korean childcare regime

PurposeThe objective of this paper is to understand changes and progress of the Korean childcare regime by examining the evolutional process of childcare initiatives that were developed since the Japanese colonial rule.Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a qualitative-based research design with a particular emphasis on explanatory research. Meanwhile, the data were gathered through the peer-reviewed literature and reports.FindingsThe findings indicate that Korea has had three types of childcare regimes: effective-informal, productivist and inclusive-liberal orientation. It also pinpoints that while the care regime development followed the European regime, the egalitarian society, which is a social prerequisite for modern welfare state-building, has not yet been fully established. This paradoxical situation eventually impedes the development of universal childcare aimed at promoting gender equality and a work-life balance.Originality/valueThis article offers a model and characteristics of the Korean childcare regime dating back to the Japanese colonial period up until the Moon Jae-In administration, where it still receives less attention in most of the social policy literature (see Table 1).

Family Caregiver Mental Health: Linking Family Care Regime, Intersectionality, and Stress Process Frameworks

Although the implications of family care regime, social location, and stress process factors for the mental health of family caregivers have been well-documented individually, there is a lack of research that integrates these factors. Yet, linking family care regime and intersectionality approaches to stress process theorizing provides us with one possible explanation of the mechanisms potentially linking family care regime and intersecting structural inequalities to mental health outcomes. This paper draws on pooled data from the 2012 and 2016 European Quality of Life Surveys (EQLS - N=6,007) to assess direct and indirect associations between family care regime and the self-reported mental health (SRMH) of family caregivers, together with the additive and interactive associations involving social location (gender, age, socio-economic status, and marital status), and stress process factors (stressors and resources). The results of a series of weighted least squares regression analyses reveal that family care regime has a direct association with SRMH and that social location and stress process factors partially mediate this association. Additionally, the results suggest that additive and interactive social location factors have direct associations with SRMH and that stress process factors also partially mediate the association. Lastly, stress process factors are associated with SRMH as expected. Overall, our findings provide initial support for the value of linking family care regime, intersectionality and stress process frameworks for an understanding of the mental health implications of family caregiving.

Promise of Decent Care and the Problem of Poor Working Conditions. Double Movements Around Live-In Care In Austria

Over the last decades, the marketization of live-in care for the elderly in Austria has been accompanied by new forms of regulation and the contestation surrounding this type of care provision. The article analyzes this process as a Polanyian double movement – the movement of a market-driven provision of care and organization of care work, and countermovements seeking protection from its effects – and asks to what extent the provision of decent care and decent work are affected. Drawing on policy and media analyses as well as interviews with representatives of brokering agencies and other stakeholders in the field, we show how live-in care is embedded in the Austrian care regime, how its marketization entails contradictions between decent care and poor working conditions and how care disputes and attempts to regulate the model have emerged.

STUDY OF THE DEGREE OF POTENTIAL EROSION DANGER OF HORN-BROWN TYPES OF SOILS IN THE EXAMPLE OF THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF AZERBAIJAN

On plots of fields under crops under crops, the signs on which it is possible to determine the degree of ero-sion of soils are the inside covering and plant heights. With the enthusiasm of the steepness of the slopes, the possi-bility of using cultivated crops as indicators of soil erosion decreases. The degree of soil washout period of natural forage lands can be assessed on the basis of the dependence of the existing between the plant stand and the degree of soil erosion. Strongly eroded soil of slope meadows can be recognized by ecological care regimes of habitats of vegetation.

Inside Cover

AbstractPhysical and chemical cellular stimulation combined in a unique home‐use device provides an effective and long‐lasting skin care regime for extrinsic skin aging prevention. The innovative principle relies on potentiating the effect of active ingredients contained in a topical serum with visible and near infrared photons to prevent extrinsic skin aging.Further details can be found in the article by Cyprien Guermonprez, Lieve Declercq, Géraldine Decaux, and Jean‐Alexis Grimaud (e202000230). image

Excellent Outcome of Protocol-Based Treatment of Motivated Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) Patients: A Real World Follow-Up for 11 Years

Introduction and aimTo evaluate the real-world clinical outcome of guideline-based treatment among adherent and committed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.MethodsThe study reports the outcomes of an 11-year clinic-based standard care regime, based on the American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines and implemented in the authors’ practices. Records of 145 T2DM patients, who were regularly followed up, were reviewed. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was carried out with the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) and with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), with Microsoft Word and Excel to generate graphs and tables.ResultsApart from a significant increase of body weight (but not of body mass index, BMI) and a significant decrease of diastolic blood pressure (DBP), there were insignificant changes in all major biochemical parameters, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin creatinine ratio (ACR), over the 11 years of follow-up.ConclusionADA guideline-based management effectively maintained treatment goals among treatment adherent and committed T2DM patients over 11 years. Glycemic parameters (FPG, PPG, and HbA1c) and renal parameters (serum creatinine, eGFR, and ACR levels) remained stable. Our outcomes data were better than those recorded in the landmark United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) and Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron Modified Release Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE).

Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of Oral Health Among Families During Covid-19 Lockdown -A Survey

Covid-19 or coronavirus is a disease affecting the global population. It was named coronavirus in 1968. It is named because of the crown-like appearance. The disease first originated in Wuhan city of china and was found to have symptoms like fever, dry cough, tiredness, headache, loss of smell or taste etc. Later the disease spread all over the world. To prevent the spread of the disease lockdown was implemented all over the world as it was found to be effective. It is important to maintain good oral health during the pandemic situation. Objective: The main aim of the study is to analyse the knowledge,attitude and practice about oral health during COVID-19 lockdown among families. Material & Methods: A cross sectional survey was done through google docs. a questionnaire containing 17 questions was created, the link was shared to 32 families, 120 subjects.The sampling method used was non-probability convenient sampling. Minimizing the errors in the questioning, planning the questions in simple language and avoiding leading questions were the steps taken to reduce the bias Statistical analysis: The responses obtained were analysed using Chi-Square analysis in SPSS software and represented by a bar chart. Results: From the survey it was found 53.3% of the participants have seen differences in their oral care regime and 54.17% participants have answered that their dental appointments got canceled during lockdown. Conclusion: From this study the knowledge, awareness and practice of oral hygiene were found to be average among families during this COVID-19 lockdown.

Evaluation of the effects of 0.05% sodium hypochlorite and 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate twice daily rinse on periodontal parameters and gingival crevicular fluid HSV1 and CMV levels in patients with chronic periodontitis: a multicentric study

BackgroundMechanical debridement of periodontal pockets remains the mainstay of therapy in all forms of periodontitis. There is 47% greater reduction in plaque amount when sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is used as an adjunct when compared with water rinsing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 0.05% NaOCl and 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate twice daily rinse on periodontal parameters and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) HSV1 and CMV levels in chronic periodontitis. MethodsPatients assigned to group A were prescribed 0.05% NaOCl mouthwash for twice daily rinse. Patients in group B were prescribed 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash to be used twice daily. Evaluation of periodontal parameters was done at baseline and after six months following therapy. GCF HSV1 and CMV levels were evaluated using a polymerase chain reaction. ResultsA statistically significant difference was noted in the improvement in periodontal parameters between both groups, when evaluated six months following therapy with greater reduction in group A vis-a-vis group B. ConclusionNaOCl when prescribed as a twice daily mouthwash can be recommended as a part of the home care regime in patients with chronic periodontitis. It is more cost-effective, easily available and can be beneficial to the troops in difficult terrains and extremes of climates, where oral healthcare facilities are not easily accessible.

Challenges related to providing care for parents with dementia across borders: A qualitative study on transnational carers in Oslo

Migration requires people to re-define their caring roles, develop new caring strategies and negotiate the scope of care with the family in the country of origin. The main aim of this paper is to identify and describe challenges related to transnational care provided for people with dementia. Transnational caring itself poses many challenges for families but caring for a person living with dementia can be especially difficult.The qualitative data presented in this article was collected in 2018 as part of a larger study focusing on understandings, experiences and responses to age-related cognitive impairment among families with minority ethnic backgrounds. The data includes seven semi-structured in-depth interviews with migrants in Oslo who were engaged in transnational caring activities for their parents living with dementia.The participants in our study experienced numerous challenges related to providing care across borders to their parents. Some of the challenges were typical for transnational caring and were associated with care regimes in the countries of parents' and participants' residence, motives for providing care, participants' socio-economic situation and family relations. The other challenges were due to specific care needs of people living with dementia.

Long-Term Care and Gender Equality: Fuzzy-Set Ideal Types of Care Regimes in Europe

Recent changes in the organization of long-term care have had controversial effects on gender inequality in Europe. In response to the challenges of ageing populations, almost all countries have adopted reform measures to secure the increasing resource needs for care, to ensure care services by different providers, to regulate the quality of services, and overall to recalibrate the work-life balance for men and women. These reforms are embedded in different family ideals of intergenerational ties and dependencies, divisions of responsibilities between state, market, family, and community actors, and backed by wider societal support to families to care for their elderly and disabled members. This article disentangles the different components of the notion of ‘(de)familialization’ which has become a crucial concept of care scholarship. We use a fuzzy-set ideal type analysis to investigate care policies and work-family reconciliation policies shaping long-term care regimes. We are making steps to reveal aggregate gender equality impacts of intermingling policy dynamics and also to relate the analysis to migrant care work effects. The results are explained in a four-pronged ideal type scheme to which European countries belong. While only Nordic and some West European continental countries are close to the double earner, supported carer ideal type, positive outliers prove that transformative gender relations in care can be construed not only in the richest and most generous welfare countries in Europe.

Healthcare Professional and Service User Perspectives on Formal Educational Programmes for Children and Young People with Cancer in the UK

Caring for children and young people with cancer requires specific knowledge, skills and experience to deliver the complex care regimes both within the hospital or community environment. This study explored the educational gaps in caring for children and young people with cancer. To address this, a mixed methodology approach was adopted in two phases. Phase one was a questionnaire circulated to healthcare professional members (n = 850) of the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group and Managed Service Network, Scotland. Response rate (n = 121) (14%) was achieved. In phase two of the study, a focus groups (n = 4) was conducted with young people in Scotland through the Managed Service Network. This was to gain a critical understanding from service user perspective and what they deemed as important to their overall care delivery. Phase one: healthcare professional results reported that 76% (n = 93) were aware of education; 69% (n = 84) found that knowledge supported practice development, but only 45% (n = 55) finding current education provision useful. The top education topics identified to be lacking in educational availability were communication, psychological support, dealing with young people, supportive care, diagnosis and treatment and challenges to learning. Several participants 64% (n = 78) suggested that funding and time was a barrier, and that there was a lack of provision. Phase two: Findings from the focus group (n = 4) thematic analysis identified five key themes. Service users expected professionals to be knowledgeable and trained, but when talking about experiencing care, gave insights into the gaps in their care. Findings suggest that formal cancer education is required.

Safety and efficacy of a novel home-use device for light-potentiated (LED) skin treatment.

Skin structure and function results from a dynamic interplay between dermal and epidermal cell types. Optimizing skin health through an effective and long-lasting skin care regime therefore requires a global approach, encompassing various mechanisms to stimulate this interplay beyond the action scope of a classical topical solution. This study evaluates the impact of a novel home-use device combining a topical serum, light-emitting diodes and massage on the clinical signs of extrinsic skin aging. The innovative principle relies on potentiating the effect of active ingredients contained in the topical serum with visible and near infra-red photons to prevent extracellular matrix degradation and promote its reconstruction. After in vitro and ex vivo investigations, a clinical study assessed the safety and efficacy of a daily treatment with the home-use device for 28 days. A significant increases in skin density and radiance while reducing the wrinkles was obtained with no side effects.

Field inoculations of nitrogen fixing endophytes on turfgrass

Turfgrass is the number one irrigated crop in the United States. Lawn care regimes require high chemical fertilizer and water inputs. Endophytes, defined as microorganisms that live within plants, have the potential to decrease the high water and high fertilizer requirements of turfgrass. This study evaluated the inoculation of multiple mutualistic endophytes on a commonly planted turfgrass mix in field trials. Previous studies, in greenhouse and lab settings, found these same endophytes increase drought tolerance and grass greenness. Nine 3 ft by 3 ft turfgrass plots were inoculated with an endophyte consortium in the spring and fall of 2017. Inoculated plots were compared with non-inoculated controls for overall chlorophyll content, overall plot greenness, and mean total height accumulation. The results of the study indicated that there was no significant effect of endophyte inoculations on the turfgrass. Additionally, endophytes were extracted, cultured and sequenced from the plots two months post inoculation. The endophytes applied were not detected, indicating that they were unable to survive the entire growing season within the turfgrass. The current research will be one of the first studies to show that endophytes, inoculated onto a novel host, were unable to survive field conditions in a perennial crop and yield the benefits that were observed in vitro and in greenhouse trials. Future research should evaluate the success of these endophytes on other plant species in the field and in non-limiting environments and run a quantitative PCR experiment using isolate specific primers to determine endophyte survival over time in the field.

Laundry Care Regimes: Do the Practices of Keeping Clothes Clean Have Different Environmental Impacts Based on the Fibre Content?

Clothing maintenance is necessary for keeping clothing and textiles functional and socially acceptable, but it has environmental consequences due to the use of energy, water and chemicals. This article discusses whether clothes made of different materials are cleaned in different ways and have different environmental impacts. It fills a knowledge gap needed in environmental assessments that evaluate the impacts based on the function of a garment by giving detailed information on the use phase. The article is based on a quantitative wardrobe survey and qualitative laundry diary data from China, Germany, Japan, the UK and the USA. The largest potential for environmental improvement exists in reducing laundering frequency and in the selection of washing and drying processes, and through a transition to fibres that are washed less frequently, such as wool. Adopting best practice garment care would give larger benefits in countries like the US where the consumption values were the highest, mainly due to extensive use of clothes dryers and less efficient washing machines combined with frequent cleaning. These variations should be considered in environmental assessments of clothing and when forming sustainability policies. The results indicate the benefits of focusing future environmental work on consumer habits and culture and not only technologies.