Circle Program Research Articles

Empowering women in sports biomechanics: exploring the impact of mentor circles

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (ISBS) women’s mentor circle programme. Forty-eight ISBS women members completed a survey that provided insight into how the circles operated, perceived benefits, and challenges to participation. Most circles met every 6–8 weeks with meetings lasting 1 to 1.5 h. However, some circles did not commence or stopped meeting before the end of the 2 years. For those who actively participated, the circles provided personal and professional benefits, which included developing a supportive network and confidence, and improved work–life balance habits. Furthermore, the programme was found to be a valuable use of their time and strengthened their sense of ISBS as a supportive community, increasing their likelihood of staying an ISBS member. Time zone conflicts, lack of a group leader, and changes in individual work or personal life commitments influenced the continuation of some circles over the 2 years. Some respondents did not participate in the circle, and the main reason was lack of knowledge of the programme. Overall, the programme was considered a worthy initiative, providing a supportive network to assist in advancing women biomechanists. Future programmes should ensure a clear alignment between member’s expectations and the outcomes of circle participation.

Impacts of Peer Support on Coping and Cortisol Levels for Women Affected by Domestic Violence and Coercive Control.

Gendered domestic violence and coercive control are prevalent public heath concerns in Canada with dire consequences for survivors. Peer support groups may address and reduce negative impacts of domestic violence and coercive control on women's stress, coping, safety, and alliances with social support network members, the focus of this study. A one-group, pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of Growth Circle, a 14-week peer support program offered at an agency serving women affected by domestic violence in a major western Canadian city. Through convenience sampling, women 18 years and older who experienced domestic violence were recruited and provided data on stress, coping, safety-related empowerment, and social support/alliances. Thirty-five participants provided all pre-test and post-test data, with a subsample of 14 providing repeated hair samples. Hair was employed to determine stress hormone (cortisol) levels. A significant reduction in self-reported levels of perceived stress and stress hormone levels following completion of the Growth Circle program was revealed. Participants also reported a significant increase in safety-related empowerment, and supportive alliances with group members. The Growth Circle peer support program was demonstrated to be effective. Further implementation and research into the Growth Circle program across Canada is recommended.

Improving interprofessional teamwork in a community mental health team: a team building circle program based on the restorative justice paradigm

ABSTRACT Improving teamwork among mental health practitioners is crucial. However, there have been few intervention studies on teamwork enhancement among community mental health practitioners in South Korea. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of the Team Building Circle program (TBC) based on the restorative justice paradigm, which sought to promote integration and cohesion. The TBC was developed to improve conflict interpretation mind-set, interpersonal skills, and teamwork among practitioners in community mental health centers. We conducted a quasi-experimental study using a pre and posttest design with a non-equivalent control group. The participants were 44 practitioners from four community mental health centers. Data were collected before the implementation TBC (pretest), just after (posttest), and 3 months after TBC (follow-up test). A generalized estimating equation model was used for analysis. Our findings indicate that the intervention group had improved scores in the ability to cope with interpersonal stress in a constructive way, interpersonal relationship skills, and teamwork compared to the control group. To improve teamwork among community mental health practitioners, managers are encouraged to consider providing TBC intervention.

Intertribal Talking Circle for the prevention of alcohol and drug use among Native American youth.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a culturally based intervention, the Intertribal Talking Circle program, compared to a standard alcohol and drug abuse education, the Be A Winner program. Community-based participatory research was used to implement a two-condition, quasi-experimental study. The sample included 540 Native American youth ages 10-12 years old from three tribal areas in the United States. Data were collected at baseline, 6 and 12-months post-intervention for both the intervention and control groups using demographic, cultural identity, alcohol use, and drug use questionnaires. Regression models evaluated participants' improvement in decreasing alcohol and drug use and increasing cultural identity. Findings revealed that alcohol and drug use decreased more significantly among youth who participated in the Intertribal Talking Circle (ITC) intervention program than youth who participated in a standard alcohol and drug abuse education Be A Winner (BAW) program. Cultural identity also increased more significantly among participants who completed the Talking Circle intervention program. Native American youth ages 10-12 years old respond positively to a culturally based intervention for the reduction of alcohol and drug use. The findings highlight the importance of cultural values and identity and their significance in preventing and reducing alcohol and drug use among Native American youth.

수용자에 대한 서클프로그램의 효과성에 관한 연구

The field of correction of the Ministry of Justice is more important than any other field of society, and among them, the field of correctional welfare is considered the most important in the field of counseling, psychology, and education correctional welfare. Modern criminal policies that sought the recovery and re-socialization of criminals have entered modern society and are pursuing restorative justice and therapeutic justice. Accordingly, the calibration program is stagnant, so a new paradigm for the recipient is needed. This study aims to find out whether the circle program for problem inmates, such as inmates who are investigating and punishing at AAA Prison, stabilizes the mind and body of inmates, self-reflection, and understands fellow inmates, and is effective in restorative psychotherapy. if they are treated by group and circle, the future of prisons is expected to be hopeful.

“Mirroring Yourself”

Transitioning to graduate school in the United States presents many challenges for international students including culture shock, academic shock, language barriers, and homesickness. As universities continue to bring international students to their classrooms, it is imperative that they feel welcome and supported. To this end, a university in the Southwest United States employed a peer mentor circle program aimed at easing the transition for international graduate students as they began their programs. Using Schlossberg’s (2011) transition theory, this study examined the moving in and moving through phases of eight new international graduate students as they participated in the peer mentor circle program with six current international graduate students. The study provides insight into the moving in phase of new international graduate students and found that the peer mentor circle program eases transition to graduate school and fosters movement toward the moving through phase of the transition model.

Evaluation of quality circle programme implementation barriers in Indian SMEs with ISM methodology

Evaluation of quality circle programme implementation barriers in Indian SMEs with ISM methodology

A Study on the Effectiveness of Restorative Psychotherapy of the Circle Program - Focused on those subject to the Busan Prison Circle Program -

범죄자의 회복과 재사회화를 도모하던 근대의 형사정책이 현대 사회에 들어서 회복적 사법과 치료적 사법을 추구하고 있다. 이에 교정교화프로그램은 정체되어 있어 수용자에 대한 새로운 패러다임이 필요하다. 이 연구는 부산교도소에서 조사 징벌 중인 수용자, 입실거부 수용자 등 문제수용자 대상으로 진행한 써클프로그램이 수용자들의 심신을 안정화시키고 자기반성과 동료수용자를 이해하면서 교도소의 수용생활을 영위함에 관규를 준수하고 적응하도록 하는지 즉 회복적 심리치료에 효과가 있는지를 알아보고자 한 것으로 연구 결과, 써클프로그램은 회복적 심리치료에 효과가 있는 것으로 나타났다.

Evaluation of the optic nerve head vessel density in patients with limited scleroderma.

Objectives:To investigate the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters of the optic nerve head and peripapillary retina and to assess macular and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness by using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in patients with limited scleroderma and to compare these results with those of healthy control subjects.Materials and Methods:42 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of limited scleroderma and 32 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were included in the study. OCTA was performed for the radial peripapillary capillary plexus (RPCP) whole image, inside disc, and peripapillary vessel densities in all participants with XR Avanti AngioVue OCTA (Optovue, Fremont, California, USA). OCT images were obtained with Spectralis OCT with eye-tracking dual-beam technology (Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany), and peripapillary RNFL thickness was evaluated with circle program. The data from the right eyes of all participants were used for statistical analysis.Results:No significant difference was found between the radial RPCP whole image, inside disc, and peripapillary vessel density values or the RNFL parameters of the scleroderma patients when compared with the controls (p > 0.05 for all).Conclusion:Decreased peripapillary vessel density on OCTA, which can be an early sign of glaucoma, could not be observed in scleroderma patients in this study. However, further long-term studies are still needed to identify glaucoma tendency in patients with scleroderma before clinically detectable glaucoma.

Восстановительная программа «Круг сообщества» в профилактике девиантного поведения подростков в условиях ЦССВ

The article is devoted to the discussion of the rehabilitation program “Community Circle” and its ap-plication for the pupils of the Centers for the Promotion of Family Education. The specified program is based on a system of theoretical representations of the concept of the Rehabilitation Approach, as well as procedures and techniques used in a situation of crime, conflict, in circumstances of growing misunderstanding, alienation and tension in relations between people. The Community Circle pro-gram is a special form of organizing a dialogue that contributes to the resolution of conflict situations in an atmosphere of support and respect for the personality of the adolescents in a difficult life situa-tion, with the direct participation of all interested adults involved in his upbringing and development.

Aboriginal Family Planning Circle evaluation: Empowering Aboriginal communities in evaluating and future-proofing Aboriginal-led community programmes

The Aboriginal Family Planning Circle (AFPC) programme is an Aboriginal-led community programme, which works with Aboriginal families in Western Sydney to address their complex needs and reduce the risk of having their children put into out-of-home care (OOHC). This article explores two external evaluations undertaken by WESTIR Limited (WESTIR), a non-Aboriginal research service, on the AFPC programme. The purpose of the first evaluation was to provide an assessment of how effective the AFPC programme had been for participants and identify programme aspects that could be improved or developed. The second evaluation was undertaken to examine whether the AFPC programme had continued to meet its objectives and address some knowledge gaps, particularly the estimated savings and return on investment that the programme created for the OOHC system in New South Wales (NSW). The evaluations used qualitative and quantitative techniques, including interviews, focus groups and a return on investment analysis. This article outlines methods, results and recommendations from both evaluations, along with lessons learned to better inform evaluation practice. This case study shows that culturally responsive evaluations can provide an avenue for Aboriginal communities to advocate for the continued funding of their programmes. It also emphasises the need to adequately resource Aboriginal programme evaluations in the community services sector now and in the future.

Evaluation of Quality Circle (QC) program implementation barriers in Indian SMEs with ISM methodology

Evaluation of Quality Circle (QC) program implementation barriers in Indian SMEs with ISM methodology

International Meridian Circle Program

The Earth is buffered from the ferocious onslaught of the solar wind by a thin layer of matter known as the atmosphere and geospace. This layer absorbs energy from irradiance and outburst from the Sun, as well as from disasters, transient phenomena and anthropogenic emissions originated from Earth. Through complicated physics, the absorbed energy changes the atmospheric and geospace state and sometimes gets re-released to power extreme events such as space weather. Taking place globally, these complicated processes cannot be understood unless they are studied globally. The Chinese scientists have proposed the International Meridian Circle Program (IMCP) to meet this demand. By operating nearly 1000 instruments encompassing all latitudes along with the 120°E-60°W longitudes, IMCP aims, for the first time, to construct comprehensive 3D data representation of the atmosphere and geospace on a global scale and empower interdisciplinary research to tackle key questions related to Earth's environment and climate change.

Seventeen years of restorative justice circles: The Yellow Medicine County experience

ABSTRACT The punitive approach of the current justice system can be financially costly to the community and does not intrinsically provide healing to the persons harmed, the community, or those responsible for causing the harm. Using information gathered during an immersion in Yellow Medicine County’s (YMC) Restorative Justice Program, this article focuses on Restorative Justice Circles as a demonstrated, organized, and dignified path toward conflict resolution by directly addressing the offending behavior and its effect on the victim and community, while offering a healing path forward. Based on a culturally responsive model of learning and inquiry, the informal qualitative method of this study represents knowledge of the YMC Circle Program gained from personal experiences, conversations, and document review and is intended to summarize key observations and learning. Achievements, challenges, and key components of the program are reviewed through the experience of participating in over 20 Circles and interviewing staff and participants about why specific techniques work. Examination of the positive impact of the Circle program on YMC provides vital insight for others seeking an alternate path forward for addressing and repairing harm in their communities.

Enhancement Options After Myopic Small-Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE): A Review.

Purpose:To provide an overview of the currently available retreatment methods after myopic small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).Design:Systematic literature review.Methods:The PubMed library was searched for articles containing the terms “small-incision lenticule extraction” and “enhancement” or “retreatment”. The last search was performed on May 1, 2019.Results:In contrast to laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK), which can be retreated by a flap relift, repeat SMILE retreatment is currently not approved and only seldomly performed. As substitutes, surface ablation, cap-to-flap conversion using the CIRCLE program in the VisuMax platform, and thin-flap LASIK have been recently established. While all options offer safety and efficacy comparable to LASIK retreatments, each has its patient-specific advantages and disadvantages. While surface ablation preserves the flap-free approach of the primary procedure, the aspect of pain and a slow visual recovery might render it less attractive as compared with CIRCLE and thin-flap LASIK which offer quick recovery, however at the price of flap creation. Besides, each retreatment method generates specific tissue responses and has a different impact on corneal biomechanics, which is strongly dependent on the previous SMILE parameters, especially the cap thickness.Conclusions:Refractive enhancement after SMILE is currently mostly performed by surface ablation, CIRCLE cap-to-flap conversion or thin-flap LASIK, which all offer safety and efficacy comparable to LASIK retreatments. In this review, a detailed overview over each method, its technical aspects, and specific advantages and disadvantages is given.

Role of Interpersonal Relationships in Mothers’ Foods Choice Decisions for Children Ages 1 < 5 Years in Rural Mexico (P10-051-19)

ObjectivesTo understand how mothers’ interpersonal relationships influence food choice decisions they make to feed children ages 1 to <5 years old in rural Mexico. MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 46 mothers from 3 rural communities in Mexico in November and December 2016. Mothers were asked about their daily activities, their own knowledge about child feeding, the social ties from which they obtain information about child feeding, and local normative beliefs about food. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using the constant comparative method. Thematic coding was used to identify the underlying values and meanings mothers ascribed to foods and the influential figures in their social circle to understand how interpersonal relationships influenced child feeding decisions. ResultsMost mothers had no formal employment and spent their day in activities such as upkeep of home, caring for their children, getting food, preparing meals, looking after their animals, and harvesting. Most mothers lived in multigenerational households or near relatives. Mothers’ knowledge about child feeding had a foundation in practices from their own mothers, being child caregivers to their siblings, employment as child caregivers in urban settings, and having older children. Mothers had prominent figures who influenced their decisions about child feeding. These figures were older women living in the household, other mothers within their social circle, health and social program personnel, children’s fathers, and children themselves. Mothers described specific foods and preparations locally acceptable to feed to children, noting that some beliefs and practices might conflict with others. In making decisions about what to feed their children, mothers appraised who their social ties were and their feeding practices. For example, mothers took in information from other mothers based on their perception of whether the child was well-fed, which included child appearance. ConclusionsMothers’ interpersonal relationships played an important role in their child feeding decisions. When designing a program to improve food choice, identifying and accounting for mothers’ key social ties regarding child feeding could enhance positive behavior change. Funding SourcesSPARC Graduate Research Grant from University of South Carolina.

The piloting of a culturally centered American Indian family prevention program: a CBPR partnership between Mescalero Apache and the University of New Mexico

The Mescalero Apache Family Listening Program (MAFLP) is a culturally centered family prevention program with third, fourth, and fifth graders; a parent/caregiver; and a family elder. The program follows a positive youth development model to develop stronger communication and shared cultural practices between elders, parents, and youth in the tribe to reduce substance initiation of use among the youth. The MAFLP was created using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach in partnership with the University of New Mexico. The research focus of MAFLP is centered on the adaptation of a family curriculum from a Navajo and Pueblo version of the Family Listening Program to an Apache version, the establishment of a (Apache) Tribal Research Team, and the piloting of the curriculum with Apache families. MAFLP was piloted twice, and evaluation measures were collected focused on formative and impact evaluation. This article provides a background on Mescalero Apache then introduces the Navajo and Pueblo version of a Family Listening and Family Circle Program, respectively, next, the CBPR research partnership between Mescalero Apache and the University of New Mexico and the creation of a Mescalero Apache Tribal Research Team followed by the development and adaptation of a Mescalero Apache Family Listening Program including implementation and evaluation, and concluding with preliminary findings.

Role of quality control circle in sustained improvement of hand hygiene compliance: an observational study in a stomatology hospital in Shandong, China.

BackgroundHand hygiene is an important element of the WHO multimodal strategy for healthcare-associated infection control, whereas compliance of hand hygiene among healthcare workers (HCWs) remains a challenge to sustain. In order to increase the hand hygiene compliance of HCWs, a quality control circle (QCC) program was carried out in our hospital, and the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) method was applied for 12 months.FindingsHand hygiene compliance rates improved over time, with significant improvement between preintervention (60.1%) and postintervention (97.2%) periods (P < 0.001). Nurses (88.3%) exhibited higher compliance than dentists (87.3%), and female (88.4%) HCWs were more likely to perform hand hygiene than males (85.6%), both P < 0.001. Overall hand hygiene compliance and observance of the five indications exhibited significant linear increases over time (P < 0.005).ConclusionThis study highlights the success of a multifaceted intervention, conducted by QCC program and PDCA method, which led to a significant improvement of hand hygiene compliance. Though training is the most basic intervention element, surveillance, evaluation and feedback should be explored as additional interventions to ensure that hand hygiene compliance is achieved and sustained at high levels.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13756-016-0160-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Improving outcomes for children in out‐of‐home care: the role of therapeutic foster care

AbstractHow best to support children and young people in foster care remains a challenge for child welfare. There has been little Australian research on the outcomes for children and young people placed in therapeutic foster care (TFC). This article aims to address this knowledge gap, presenting the evaluation of a state‐wide model of TFC known as the Circle Program operating in Victoria, Australia. Data sources for the study were case assessment analysis; surveys of foster carers, program workers and other stakeholders in the sector; and both focus groups and individual interviews with foster care workers. The evaluation found that the Circle Program lessened the number of unplanned exits of children from foster placements compared with generalist foster care. Another important finding was that the Circle Program positively influenced foster carers' decisions to stay in the carer role. Key components perceived as contributing to outcomes of the Circle Program included enhanced training of foster carers, intensive carer support, specialist therapeutic support to the child and carer, therapeutic service to family members and a network of services to provide support to the child.

The AUTUMNX magnetometer meridian chain in Québec, Canada

The AUTUMNX magnetometer array consists of 10 THEMIS-class ground-based magnetometers deployed to form a meridian chain on the eastern coast of Hudson Bay in eastern Canada, a second partial chain one hour of magnetic local time further east, and one magnetometer at an intermediate midlatitude site. These instruments, augmented by those of other arrays, permit good latitudinal coverage through the auroral zone on two meridians, some midlatitude coverage, and detection of magnetic field changes near the sensitive infrastructure of the Hydro-Quebec power grid. Further, they offer the possibility for conjugate studies with Antarctica and the GOES East geosynchronous satellite, and complement the Chinese International Space Weather Meridian Circle Program. We examine current world distribution of magnetometers to show the need for AUTUMNX, and describe the instrumentation which allows near-real-time monitoring. We present magnetic inversion results for the disturbed day February 17, 2015, which showed classic signatures of the substorm current wedge, and developed into steady magnetospheric convection (SMC). For a separate event later that day, we examine a large and rapid magnetic field change event associated with an unusual near-Earth transient. We show GOES East conjugacy for these events.