General Visitors Research Articles

Empowerment Through Participation in a Cancer Prevention Exhibit: Evidence from the Hygée Lab Intervention

While many countries have launched cancer prevention initiatives to improve the public's understanding of risk and protective factors, few are systematically evaluated. Hygée Lab, a living lab in a socioeconomically deprived area of France, is designed to interactively communicate evidence-based information about cancer prevention and treatment with the goal to improve visitors' understanding of cancer risk and prevention factors, reduce fatalism in regard to cancer, and increase feelings of empowerment. Pre- and post-visit data were collected during the first 18 months of the exhibit's opening from two segments of the population: adolescents from local schools (N = 134) and the general public (N = 112). Adolescents from the same schools who did not participate in the visit comprised the control group (N = 94). A further 232 general public visitors completed post-surveys only. Pre-post-visit comparisons reveal significant changes in both adolescent and general public visitors: cancer understanding improves, fatalism in regard to cancer is reduced, and feelings of empowerment increase. This systematic evaluation of Hygée Lab offers promise for how interactive exhibits may be used for cancer prevention amongst low health literacy populations.

P204 Comparing Website Data From Food Newsletter Subscribers with General “Organic” Search Traffic Data

Objective Assess demographic differences for a food website between online newsletter subscribers and general organic website visitors. “Organic” traffic arrives at a website through search engines vs. referring channels. Use of Theory or Research In-person programing is limited and the Internet has become a significant source for disseminating information, making it important to evaluate potential differences in users. Ninety-eight percent of ages 18-65+ use the Internet (Pew Research Center, 2018). Target Audience Adult food newsletter subscribers and organic website visitors interested in consumer food-related issues. Program Description The University's food website connects all Extension food-related areas on one “umbrella” website. Email newsletters are one part of the website. Evaluation Methods To assess online newsletter subscribers, a survey was distributed during 2018. Survey completion incentive was entry into a random gift card drawing. Google Analytics was used to assess 2018 organic website traffic. Results The website had more than 1.6 million users. Google Analytics showed over 80% of visitors found the website through an organic search. The newsletter subscribers survey (21% return rate; n = 992) indicated only 20% of respondents found the website through an organic search; other methods included electronic mailing list announcement (14%), professional conferences (13%), forward from email (13%), other (13%), and co-worker (11%). Though both data sets showed a website visitor age span of 18-65+ years, the highest percent of organic visitors was 25-34-years-old (30%) while 70% of newsletter subscribers fell into the 40-69-year-old range. Most subscribers (94%) were female compared to 65% of general visitors. Similar topics of interest for both groups were: food safety, storage, and cooking. Conclusions Data highlighted how using additional venues to promote website materials, such as newsletters, should be used beyond only placing content online. Newsletters may appeal to a more specific age and gender than organic search traffic. Though general topic interest may be similar, newsletter surveys helped tease out more specific interests. Funding None.

The Senses of Birth intervention to decrease cesarean and prematurity rates in Brazil.

ObjectiveTo increase knowledge and promote cultural change toward valuing normal birth, and to lower rates of cesarean and unnecessary interventions during childbirth in Brazil via the Senses of Birth (SoB) exhibition.MethodsThe SoB intervention targeted 22 621 participants in three Brazilian cities in 2015. The effects of the exhibition in knowledge, perceptions, and preferences regarding childbirth were analyzed in a multi-method study. Pre- and post-exhibition survey responses of 17 501 (77.0%) visitors, 1947 (8.6%) non-pregnant women, and all pregnant women (n=1287) were collected at the exhibition. A follow-up survey was completed by 555 (43.0%) postpartum women who had participated at SoB while pregnant. Univariate analyses were used to compare before and after changes.ResultsThere was a significant increase in knowledge about normal birth, varying from 10.0% to 25.0% among general visitors (P<0.001) and 27.3% to 42.0% among pregnant women (P<0.001). Perceptions and preferences for normal birth also changed, reaching 83.0% of general visitors and 87.4% of pregnant women.ConclusionSoB was found to effectively improve knowledge about and preference for normal birth. Scaling-up the intervention might contribute to cultural change toward valuing normal birth, and might decrease the rate of unnecessary cesarean and premature birth in Brazil.

Captions with Several Levels of Explanation

For the art appreciation in museums, usually a certain information will be provided as a caption. The visitor usually read the description to help his/her understanding artworks. Thus, such a help will be necessary for ordinal person’s understanding artworks. (Art) museums usually prepare such descriptions for general visitors. The quality and quantity of description sometimes influence the art appreciations. In the paper. we will discuss the effect of information in captions. Especially, we will discuss the amount of information according to visitor’s intelligent/cognitive level. The discussion will be conducted as curation.

Interpretation of a Local Museum in Thailand

This paper considers the interpretation of a local museum in Thailand using the local museum of Thai Bueng Khok Salung as a case study. Data collection was carried out from 9 September 2015 to 22 January 2018. The collected data were derived from related documents, previous studies, in-depth interviews and observations. This present research aimed to investigate the interpretation of the case study through the management of “persons, places, and things”. The findings revealed that there are two major types of interpretation at the museum: the interpretation for the people in the community (that is, indigenous curators, local visitors, and local people) and the interpretation for the people outside the community (that is, general visitors and specific-purpose visitors). The results of the study indicate an appropriate and effective interpretation system for the specific community context which encourages people—both locals and foreigners—to be aware of the value of the community. Consequently, as a result of their awareness, people would increasingly cherish their community and work in collaboration with other people for the sustainable development of the community.

Virtual Reality Using Smart-Devices in Educational Frameworks

The main aim of this study is to improve the understanding of historical buildings through the use of advanced visual technologies. The main innovative features of the project are focused on the use of mobile and wearable technologies, the indoor location, and their mixed assessment an educational project. We will use smartphones, virtual reality and indoor positioning systems. Both the devices and the users' experience will be assessed with a quantitative and a qualitative approach. The proposal seeks to complement, the real experience of visiting an emblematic space (our case study: the Casa Batlló Museum, 1904-1906, Antonio Gaudí, Barcelona, Spain), in order to improve the spatial skills of architecture students and general visitors of this type of architectural landmarks.

Foresight for debate: Reflections on an experience in conceptual design

Among the various reasons to engage in foresight activities, one encountered often is to stimulate dialogue on imminent issues and inspire innovations aimed at the challenges they bring along. The authors' studio, Pantopicon, was asked to carry out a (near future) foresight desk study investigating the changing role between people and their home/office interiors. Furthermore they were asked to render tangible the challenges brought forward by this study and create a thought-provoking experience for an audience of professionals and general visitors within the context of a trade fair (i.e. the Biennale Interieur in Kortrijk, Belgium). The article will zoom in on the particular way in which this challenge was taken up, i.e. by creating an immersive experience embodying imminent future changes by means of five fair booths. Each represented a fictitious company with products or services aimed at new needs, opportunities and abilities emerging from changes in the relationship between people and their home interiors. This article describes the follow-up approach, the results obtained and reflects upon a series of key learnings following from the experience in particular and the role and value of conceptual design in enhancing the experience factor in foresight in general. Hence, we aim to illustrate how an immersive conceptual design approach can be used in an applied foresight context and how it raises new questions and opportunities for both research and applied contexts. Through physical evidencing11As in (Tassi, 2009) and open-ended storytelling, futures rendered tangible through design contribute to instilling a sense of wonder in people, in shifting their mindset to render them more susceptible to anticipating some of tomorrow’s changes.

Issues Arising from the Rapid Growth of Mainland Chinese Visitors to Hong Kong: Implications for Tourism Marketing

ABSTRACTThe rapid growth of mainland Chinese visitors to Hong Kong has made economic contributions but also created various concerns and conflicts within the destination. As Hong Kong is at the forefront of mainland Chinese visitors’ destinations, what happens in the city could serve as good reference for other destinations that would like to welcome more Chinese visitors. This study used a quantitative survey method to analyze the local community’s attitude toward mainland Chinese visitors. A telephone survey was carried out to gauge Hong Kong residents’ view towards visitors in general and mainland Chinese visitors in particular. Implications for travel and tourism marketing are drawn.

From policy to reality: early overweight, structural barriers, and the allocation of responsibility in the Danish health care system

This qualitative study explores the structural barriers to preventive interventions targeting childhood obesity in the Danish health care system. Based on interviews with relevant health care professionals, the paper reports on the problems which are experienced by general practitioners and health visitors and which complicate implementation of the policies of the Danish health authorities. Findings show that the current system is not well equipped to treat early overweight. A gap in primary preventive health care for children at age 3–5, indistinct lines of responsibility, inadequate cooperation, and lack of resources together make it difficult for health care professionals to initiate interventions and reach the children in need of support. By analyzing the policy implementation process in a theoretical framework that discloses the discursive allocation of responsibilities, the study is able to provide a deeper description and analysis of the problem. The study makes it clear how preventive health care for overweight children rests on the negotiation of formal and performed responsibilities among health practitioners within a framework of scarce resources and communication deficit.

Conservação de coleções geológicas

This study comprises a general overview of the conservation of geological collections, namely the collection of minerals, rocks, and meteorites from the Museum of Geosciences of the University of Sao Paulo (USP), in Brazil. In order to perform this study, the researchers used the available bibliography about conservation of geological collections; the knowledge acquired throughout participations in congresses, lectures and other courses; technical visits to other geological museums around the world, and the experience of the first author as a museum technician at the Museum of Geosciences since 2005. Considering conservation a process that comprises a set of ideal conditions under which the exhibited samples and the storage samples should be submitted to (light, temperature, relative humidity, and air pollutants), this study describes the general condition of museum samples in each one of the parameters mentioned. The main conservational issues are: deterioration due to relative humidity (deliquescence or dehydration), oxidation, color changes by light exposition, and isolation of radioactive and asbestos minerals. The goal of this study is to create tools to support our museum staff as well as the staff of other geological collections regarding the care of the mineral collections to keep them available to researchers and general visitors for as long as possible.

How Do Zoos ‘Talk’ to Their General Visitors? Do Visitors ‘Listen’? A Mixed Method Investigation of the Communication Between Modern Zoos and Their General Visitors

AbstractModern zoos utilise a variety of education tools for communicating with visitors. Previous research has discussed the benefits of providing multiple education communications, yet little research provides an indication of what communications are being employed within zoos today. This research is a two-phased, mixed-methods investigation into the communication between zoos and their general visitors. Phase 1 involved an online questionnaire to which 176 zoos from 50 countries reported on the types of education communications they typically use for their general visitors. The second phase comprised nine zoo case studies, enabling direct observation and face-to-face interviews on site with zoo staff and zoo visitors. The findings of this research provide a snapshot of education communications offered to zoo visitors, and indicate that zoo exhibit signage remains the most prevalent medium. The findings further indicate that 95% of visitors read at least some exhibit signs and that more than 70% of participating zoos utilise person-to-person education. The implications of these findings for improving zoos’ educational communication are discussed.

Turning Tourists into Performers: Revaluing agency, action and space in sites of heritage tourism

This paper describe a transition from specialised performance interventions – for example, GeoQuest and A Tour of Sardine Street (both 2010) – in heritage sites to a handing over of the tactics of those performances to general tourists and visitors for the making of their own performance-like counter-touristic visits. This change is based on a re-valuing; moving away from assumptions that tourists are essentially passive in making their visits and that the sites of those visits are neutral spaces to a valorisation of tourist visits as constructive and agentive and of the sites as places of ‘chorastic’ potential. The paper describes the use of a multi-modal research methodology; predominantly mixing participant observation and practice-as-research. It narrates the key moments of transition in the research: a double movement of exorcism and spectral return on a ‘mis-guided tour’ (Water Walk, 2010), the discovery that volunteer panel members were not simply observing tours but beginning to re-perform them, the shift from a dispersal of specialised, technical knowledge to a more generally accessible toolkit model exemplified by the publication of A Sardine Street Box of Tricks in 2011, and a series of experimental visits by the author (some accompanied by panel members) to heritage sites on which ‘tactics’ were both tested and new ones devised. The paper sets the emergence of a performative counter-tourism strategy as a development of practices and ideas informed by or originating in site-specific performance, contemporary Performance Studies and Tourism Studies, walking arts (including disrupted versions of the standard guided tour), and mythogeography.

Safeguarding against FGM: everyone's issue

British Journal of Midwifery • June 2012 • Vol 20, No 6 In light of the recent press coverage on female genital mutilation (FGM) (Laville, 2012), earlier this month the Chief Medical Officer and the Director of Nursing asked all general practitioners, practice nurses, health visitors and school nurses to familiarise themselves with the actions they need to take where they have reason to believe that a girl has undergone, or is at risk of, FGM (Department of Health (DH), 2012). I wholeheartedly support this and am very passionate that FGM is eradicated. It is often looked on as a taboo subject as many health professionals do not want to interfere with what is seen as a cultural belief. It is not, it is child abuse. FGM is illegal in the UK. The law clearly states that it is an offence to excise, infibulate or mutilate the whole or any part of a girl or woman’s labia majora, minora or clitoris. It is also an offence to assist a girl to mutilate her own genitalia, and the UK FGM Act (2003) and the Scottish Act in 2005 also makes it illegal to remove a girl from the country to perform a mutilation. A person guilty of an offence under this Act is liable to a 14 year term. The prevalence of FGM in the UK has been notoriously difficult to calculate. FORWARD, the UK charity working to tackle FGM, estimated that 66 000 women with FGM are living in England and Wales (FORWARD, 2007) and that there are nearly 21 000 girls under the age of 15 at high risk of mutilation. However, this figure will only increase as the immigrant population in the UK from the western, eastern, and north-eastern regions of Africa, and from Asian and Middle Eastern countries increase. Therefore it is imperative that appropriate safeguarding is in place to stop this practice from going unnoticed. There are no health benefits to FGM. It can harm a woman both physically and psychologically. The immediate physical complications can include severe pain, shock, haemorrhage, tetanus or sepsis, urine retention, open sores in the genital region and injury to nearby genital tissue (WHO, 2012). However, the long-term psychological effects may scar a woman for life. FGM is performed sometime between infancy and the age of 15 and, as a result, may be the first memory the woman has. This memory may come back to haunt her when she is giving birth—having her legs held back may spark flash-backs of the procedure. It is important to be aware of this when delivering a baby from an FGM mother and to ensure that counselling is offered to the woman at booking. Midwives are often the first health professional to encounter women who have been subject to FGM, and are best placed to initiate safeguarding. In 2011, the DH issued multi-agency guidelines that advocated a multidisciplinary approach to safeguarding those at risk of FGM (DH, 2011). This aims to ensure that no women or child falls out of the system and appropriate actions can be taken. When a woman who has undergone FGM gives birth to a daughter, she should be provided with clear information that FGM is illegal in the UK and should not be performed on her daughter. This should be done in a sensitive manner as the woman may have been a victim of enforced FGM and may be distressed at the suggestion that she would do the same to her daughter (DH, 2011). It is upsetting that FGM still takes place but lets hope that by working together with general practitioners, practice nurses, health visitors and school nurses, we can put an end to this illegal practice. Please join us at our free study day in Belfast on Friday 12 October to find out more about FGM. BJM

知床のエコツアーに対する一般市民と訪問者の選好の違い

知床のエコツアーに対する一般市民と訪問者の選好の違い

Parents’ and primary care practitioners’ differing perspectives on traditional and complementary approaches to health (TCA) for children in a multi-ethnic community

Question To compare parents’ and primary care practitioners’ attitudes, knowledge and beliefs regarding traditional and complementary approaches to health (TCA) for children. Methods This exploratory qualitative study was conducted in community settings and primary care in Northwest London. Eleven focus groups with parents from multi-ethnic communities explored the use of TCA for their children, their decision-making process and whether they communicated with healthcare practitioners on the use of TCA. Creches and translation were used when necessary. Semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted with 30 primary care practitioners (GPs, nurses, health visitors and midwives) to explore their attitudes and beliefs to TCA and professional behaviour. Sampling was purposive and iterative to capture the range of ethnic groups. All interviews and focus groups were analysed using Framework Analysis, inter-rater coding and Atlas.ti software. Results Some practitioners were aware of the extent of TCA use in the community, but numerous areas of disparity between parents and practitioners regarding their knowledge, views and perceptions of TCA were identified. These included disparate definitions of the terms ‘traditional’ and ‘complementary’, practitioners’ underestimated the extent of TCA use, especially for routine day-to-day use of traditional home remedies and different beliefs about what types of TCA should be used. Practitioners’ perceived TCA users as affluent, ‘informed’ and in certain ethnic groups and placed greater importance on evidence and safety. In general health visitors’ views were closer to parents’, GPs’ were most disparate. These areas of disparity may have implications for patient care due to practitioners’ limited knowledge of the real-life use of TCA in the community. This may affect trust and communication within the practitioner–family relationship, limit patient-centred care and parent empowerment, and have potential safety implications. Conclusion Many primary care practitioners, especially GPs, had a different perspective regarding TCA compared with parents. They underestimated the extent and range of TCA use and focussed on issues that are less important to parents. This may affect the practitioner–family relationship and child healthcare.

Regional Science City, Lucknow

The footfalls at the Regional Science City, Lucknow had been stagnant for the last few years. The centre's main focus till now had been predominantly on school children. But to get the targeted growth in number of visitors, they had to start focusing on attracting general visitors. The case revolves around the challenges faced by the management in increasing the number of visitors to the centre. Questions on the best possible means of local promotions to attract more visitors to the facility are raised. The case tries to sensitise the discussants to the issues and problems faced by a not-for-profit organization. The case also raises the larger questions of application of marketing concepts to non-profits and educational context.

A survey of MRSA awareness and knowledge among the general public and patients' visitors

Our aim was to assess, for the first time, the know-ledge and perception of meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among the general public and a group of hospital visitors. Five hundred and forty five participants completed the survey, 24 (4.4%) had not heard of MRSA and were excluded from further analysis; 345 members of the public and 176 hospital visitors remained. Twenty four (4.4%) of the public and two of the hospital visitors had a personal history of MRSA and thus formed a discrete group. The majority of participants thought that MRSA transmission could be reduced by hand washing. MRSA evoked a strong emotive response, 61% agreeing they would be angry and 80.9% agreeing that they would feel fearful if diagnosed with MRSA. The public are generally knowledgeable about MRSA but most agreed that they would feel angry and afraid by its diagnosis. Future public education campaigns on MRSA should be aware of this response.

Determinants of Visitor Expenditures in Mountain Tourism

In this study, determinants of expenditures are estimated for downhill skiers, backpackers, snowmobilers and general visitors to the Swedish mountain region. The study is based on a national sample of mountain visitors. It is shown that duration of stay, household income, choice of activity, occupation, participation in an organized trip and choice of accommodation have an effect on expenditures at the destination, while gender, mode of travel, distance and ‘significance of activity’ are additional determinants of expenditures outside the destination. The study will contribute to our understanding of the economic values associated with the future development of mountain tourism, including values beyond primary expenditures.

What do people really know about MRSA? A survey of knowledge and attitudes in the general public and hospital visitors

We set out to assess current understanding of MRSA among the lay public prior to writing an information booklet for relatives of patients in the ICU.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005: the new Court of Protection

The new Court of Protection is now considered in the series of articles on the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The Court of Protection was established on the 1 October 2007 and has a much wider jurisdiction than its predecessor. It can now hear cases concerned with the personal welfare of those who lack the mental capacity to make their own decisions, as well as issues relating to property and finance which were the sole concern of its predecessor. This article considers the powers, procedure, practice, rules and directions of the Court and its power to appoint deputies and their role. It also considers the new Office of Public Guardian and its role in keeping a register of Deputies and Lasting Powers of Attorney. It also considers the appointment of Special and General Visitors. The implications of these new institutions are reviewed in the light of a common situation involving healthcare practitioners.