Inadequate Help Research Articles

Dyslexic Learners Appropriated in the South African Schooling Environment: A Legal and Philosophical Analysis

Learning is more difficult for students with dyslexia, a learning disability that affects 10% of the population. South African dyslexic students face various challenges, including inadequate help and limited access to assistive technology. Their challenges highlight the key laws and regulations protecting dyslexic learners. The goal of laws and regulations is to ensure that these learners receive the necessary accommodations and support. This article addresses these concerns by offering solutions and outlining helpful tools. It has been proven that these tools help dyslexic learners enhance their reading and writing skills and promote their independence. Creating an inclusive learning environment is crucial for fostering positive attitudes toward dyslexia. Increased awareness of this learning problem is needed among educators, parents, and policymakers. This theoretical study was based on the theory of successful intelligence, which made it possible to investigate how students characterise their mastery of the process of becoming teachers and immersing themselves in a curriculum that promotes inclusivity with a psychological-spectrum disease such as dyslexia. The study emphasizes the significance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in improving educational practices for dyslexic learners, despite its theoretical limitations that prevent empirical measurement of tools' impact on learning. This way, dyslexic learners can receive the necessary help and adaptations to succeed.

Problems of protection in Ukraine and foreign experience of prevention from domestic violence

The article examines the problem of domestic violence, which, unfortunately, is taking place in Ukraine today. Over the past 3 years, Ukraine has been shackled by various factors that greatly affect the psychological state of people. First it’s a pandemic, now it’s a war. Specialists do not have time to develop measures that would prevent the occurrence of this type of violence. However, it is impossible to predict exactly.
 Problems of protection against domestic violence can be divided into several main groups.
 Lack of effective legislation and its application: Often the legislation does not meet the needs of the times and does not contain a sufficient number of protective mechanisms. In addition, existing laws are often not applied effectively enough, as a result of which rapists remain outside justice.
 Socio-economic factors: Low level of socio-economic development of the region, low education and cultural level of families, dangerous traditions and beliefs that support violence can contribute to the spread of domestic violence.
 Persistent stereotypes and low educational and informational culture: Victims often do not seek help due to persistent stereotypes regarding the role of men and women in the family, fear of society’s reaction and fear of losing children, as well as due to a low educational and informational culture that does not provide opportunities consciously recognize the problem and look for ways to solve it.
 Inadequate help and support for victims: Victims are not always given enough help and support after seeking help, which can lead to them remaining in the relationship with the abuser.
 Inadequate work with rapists: Usually, various forms of punishment are used for rapists, but until sufficient work is done to rehabilitate them, the problem of domestic violence will not go away.
 Another problem is that many victims of domestic violence do not seek help from law enforcement or social services because of fear, distrust of the system, or financial dependence on the abuser. Therefore, it is important to improve mechanisms for victims to seek help, to ensure confidentiality and safety during the application, as well as to ensure that victims understand that their rights will be protected.

Dangerous care: developing theory to safeguard older adults in caring relationships in the UK

PurposeMost abuse affecting older adults in the UK, as across Europe, takes place within caring relationships, where one person is disabled and needs care/support. This paper critically appraises two of the key theoretical explanations. First, feminist theories of “intimate partner abuse” tell us that it is mostly men who perpetrate abuse against women. Second, “carer strain”: the stress caused by caring responsibilities, often with inadequate help from services. Neither fully reflects the complex dynamics of “dangerous care” leading to a lack of voice and choice in safeguarding responses. This paper aims to articulate the need for an overarching theoretical framework, informed by a deeper understanding of the intersectional risk factors that create and compound the diverse experiences of harm by disabled people and family carers over the life course.Design/methodology/approachThe critical synthesis of the theoretical approaches informing UK policy and practice presented here arises from a structured literature review and discussions held with three relevant third sector agencies during the development of a research proposal.FindingsNo single theory fully explains dangerous care and there are significant gaps in policy, resources and practice across service sectors, highlighting the need for joint training, intersectional working and research across service sectors.Originality/valueDrawing both on existing literature and on discussions across contrasting policy and practice sectors, this paper raises awareness of some less well-acknowledged complexities of abuse and responses to abuse in later life.

Severe and Very Severe Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ME/CFS in Norway: Symptom Burden and Access to Care.

There is a striking lack of systematic knowledge regarding the symptom burden, capacity for activities of daily living, and supportive measures for the most severely ill ME/CFS patients. The present study seeks to address this through a national, Internet-based survey targeting patients with severe and very severe ME/CFS and their carers. Responses from 491 patients were included, with 444 having severe and 47 very severe ME/CFS with the classification based on the best estimate from patient responses. In addition, 95 respondents were reclassified from patients' own classification to moderate and included for comparison. The onset was before 15 years of age for 45% in the very severe and 32% in the severe group. Disease duration was more than 15 years for 19% in the very severe and 27% in the severe group. Patient symptom burden was extensive. The most severely affected were totally bedridden, unable to talk, and experienced dramatic worsening of symptoms after minimal activity or sensory stimuli. Care and assistance from healthcare and social services were often described as insufficient or inadequate, often worsening the symptom load and burden of care. A substantial lack of disease knowledge among healthcare providers in general was reported. Yet approximately 60% in the severe and very severe groups found services provided by occupational therapists and family doctors (general practitioners) helpful, while a smaller proportion experienced appropriate help from other health personnel groups. This indicates that help and support are highly needed and possible to provide. On the other hand, this must be approached carefully, as a substantial number of patients experienced deterioration from contact with healthcare personnel. Family carers described an extensive burden of care with often inadequate help from healthcare providers or municipal authorities. Patient care by family members of very severe ME/CFS patients constituted more than 40 h a week for 71% of this patient group. The carers described a large negative impact on their work and financial situation, and on their mental wellbeing. We conclude that childhood onset was common, burden of disease was extensive, and support from responsible societal health and social support providers was commonly grossly inadequate.

What Makes People With Chronic Illnesses Discontinue Treatment? A Practice Theory Informed Analysis of Adherence to Treatment among Patients With Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Pakistan.

Non-adherence to treatment is a frequently observed phenomenon amongst those on long-term treatment for chronic illnesses. This qualitative study draws upon the tenets of 'practice theory' to reveal what shapes patients' ability to adhere to the demanding treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) at three treatment sites in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan. This qualitative study involved observation of service provision over a period of nine months of stay at, and embedment within the three treatment sites and in-depth interviews with 13 service providers and 22 patients who became non-adherent to their treatment. Consistent with the extensive research based on the barriers and facilitator approach, both patients, and providers in our study also talked of patients' doubts about diagnosis and treatment efficacy, side-effects of drugs, economic constraints, unreliable disbursements of monetary incentive, attitude of providers and co-morbidities as reasons for non-adherence to treatment. Applying a practice theory perspective yielded more contextualised insights; inadequate help with patients' physical complaints, unempathetic responses to their queries, and failure to provide essential information, created conditions which hindered the establishment and maintenance of the 'practice' of adhering to treatment. These supply-side gaps created confusion, bred resentment, and exacerbated pre-existing distrust of public health services among patients, and ultimately drove them to disengage with the TB services and stop their treatment. We argue that the lack of supply-side 'responsiveness' to patient needs beyond the provision of a few material inputs is what is lacking in the existing DR-TB program in Pakistan. We conclude that unless Pakistan's TB program explicitly engages with these supply side, system level gaps, patients will continue to struggle to adhere to their treatments and the TB program will continue to lose patients. Conceptually, we make a case for reimagining the act of adherence (or not) to long-term treatment as a 'Practice.'

Mental health services in the school environment-Future visions using a phenomenographic approach.

First, to describe the variation in stakeholders' perceptions related to the desirable mental health services in school environments. Second, to construct alternative future visions based on these perceptions. Finally, to describe stakeholders' perceptions about the actions needed to reach such an ideal state. The increased need for mental health care has challenged the role of schools and school health care in the area of mental health services for those of school-age. There is a need for future visions and comprehensive statements concerning the mental health services provided in the school environment. The study was undertaken in Finland, between February 2020 and February 2021. Qualitative individual interviews were conducted with 15 professional stakeholders and focus group interviews with 10 stakeholders advocating for adolescents or parents. The study was conducted with the phenomenographic approach using a visioning methodology. The study is reported following the COREQ checklist. Four alternative future visions were formulated based on the perceptions of the stakeholders. They emphasised different aspects: (1) non-medicalising the school environment, (2) early and extensive intervention by school nurses enabled by work distribution with mental health specialists, (3) a multiprofessional team providing help on overall health questions and (4) a focusing of the services on mental disorders. Necessary changes were identified at the micro-, mezzo- and macro-level. The future visions are based on opposite perceptions related to the mission and focus of school health care. One extreme emphasises overall health promotion for everyone, while the other accentuates treatment for those suffering from mental disorders. The former may lead to inadequate help for mental health problems and the latter insufficient help for other health problems. This study contributes alternative future visions, promotes strategic planning and helps to clarify the future role of school nurses.

ISSUES SOURCING FROM SOCIAL GENDER INEQUALITY THAT CONCERN WOMEN WORKING IN ACADEMICS IN TURKEY

Purpose: Turkey ranks lower in the Global Gender Discrimination Index and the indicators of women's employment. Being a female academician in our country brings with it the multiple responsibilities of gender roles. This study tried to examine the situations associated with sexism in the careers of female academicians. Material and Methods: The survey was conducted online. The survey consists of a personal information form consisting of sociodemographic questions and the previously defined Gender Roles Attitude Scale. There are 13 articles on the scale to determine the egalitarian attitude of individuals towards their gender roles. The scale has a rating system of a one-dimensional 5-Likert Type (1 = I strongly disagree - 5 = I strongly agree). The data were analyzed with SPSS 21.0 statistical package program. The responses have been listed in a number/percentage format. To determine the differences between male and female participants Pearson Chi-Square Test and when needed Fisher's Exact Test were used. Results: The ratio between males and females in the study group is 22/43 and the ratio between the individuals without a formal relationship and the married is 10/55. The number of people married to academics is 28. The negative impact of work-life on home life was found to be significantly higher in women (72.1%) than in men (40.9%) (p:0.014). Women answered the question of their partners helping with housework with either inadequate help or not helping at all. This difference was found statistically significantly by the Ki-Square test (p=0.04). The mean sleep duration of the participants is 6.45±0.91 hours (Min:4 Max:8), and the academic period is 13.86±9.32 (Min:0.83 Max:37). The average male supremacy oriented mentality (MSOM) score was 11.15±4.32 (Min:8 Max:29), while the average women dependency on men mentality (WDMM) score was 8.42±2.65 (Min:5 Max:15). Conclusion: The number of participants is lower than expected due to the pandemic. Although the participants were married to academicians, the high MSOM score, the results showing the negative impact of work-life on women's home life, and responses regarding help with household chores show that there is clearly gender discrimination that negatively affects women.

Barriers to the Use of Web-Based Mental Health Programs for Preventing Depression: Qualitative Study.

BackgroundDepression has a profound impact on population health. Although using web-based mental health programs to prevent depression has been found to be effective in decreasing depression incidence, there are obstacles preventing their use, as reflected by the low rates of use and adherence.ObjectiveThe aims of the study are to understand the barriers to using web-based mental health programs for the prevention of depression and the possible dangers or concerns regarding the use of such programs.MethodsBroMatters and HardHat were two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effectiveness of e–mental health programs for preventing workplace depression. In the BroMatters RCT, only working men who were at high risk of having a major depressive episode were included. The participants were assigned to either the control group or 1 of 2 intervention groups. The control participants had access to the general depression information on the BroMatters website. Intervention group 1 had access to BroMatters and BroHealth—the depression prevention program. Intervention group 2 had access to BroMatters and BroHealth along with weekly access to a qualified coach through telephone calls. The HardHat trial targeted both men and women at high risk of having a major depressive episode. The participants in the intervention group were given access to the HardHat depression prevention program (which included a web-based coach), whereas HardHat access was only granted to the control group once the study was completed. This qualitative study recruited male participants from the intervention groups of the two RCTs. A total of 2 groups of participants were recruited from the BroMatters study (after a baseline interview: n=41; 1 month after the RCT: n=20; 61/744, 8.2%), and 1 group was recruited from the HardHat RCT 1 month after the initial quantitative interview (9/103, 8.7%). Semistructured interviews were performed with the participants (70/847, 8.3%) and analyzed using content analysis.ResultsThere were both personal and program-level barriers to program use. The three personal barriers included time, stress level, and the perception of depression prevention. Content, functionality, and dangers were the program-level barriers to the use of web-based mental health programs. Large amounts of text and functionality issues within the programs decreased participants’ engagement. The dangers associated with web-based mental health programs included privacy breaches and inadequate help for severe symptoms.ConclusionsThere are personal and program-level barriers to the use of web-based mental health programs. The stigmatization of help seeking for depression symptoms affects the time spent on the program, as does the public perception of depression. Certain barriers may be mitigated by program updates, whereas others may require a complete shift in the perception of depression prevention.

I am not worthy: How interpersonal experiences influence perceived value and worth of full- and part-time faculty

Positive interpersonal relationships between college administration and faculty are necessary as they contribute to organizational climate measures, such as a sense of belonging and perceived organizational worth. Furthermore, such relationships may combat against faculty cynicism. Interpersonal experiences are particularly relevant in a post-coronavirus disease 2019 workplace in which interactions with colleagues are infrequent. Little is known about the effects of interpersonal experiences on part-time faculty specifically, as compared with full-time faculty. This study investigates teamwork experiences and interpersonal constraints as predictors of the attitudes and perceptions of full- and part-time faculty at a four-year public teaching college in the southwestern United States. After controlling for years working at the college, teamwork was a consistent predictor of higher sense of belonging, perceived organizational worth, and lower cynicism among full- and part-time faculty. Furthermore, the presence of negative coworker relationships was a significant predictor of lower sense of belonging and perceived organizational worth among full-time faculty. Inadequate help or lack of contact with co-workers was not a significant predictor of faculty attitudes and perceptions. The results of this study suggest the need for fostering teamwork and positive relationships among full- and part-time faculty in a meaningful and systemic manner within institutions of higher education. Additionally, this study provides support for institutionalizing a team-based approach to working among all faculty to foster perceived belonging and worth, while limiting cynicism.

Detecting and inactivating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 under the auspices of electrochemistry.

The recent epidemic of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has turned out to be a huge public health concern owing to its fast transmission. Rapid and cost-effective detection of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial to classify diseased individuals. Serological examination based on antibody chromatography as a substitute to RT-PCR provides inadequate help owing to sophisticated personnel, false-positive results, special equipment and high cost. Biosensing techniques provide sensitive and specific detection, recognition and quantification of pathogens. Herein, after an introduction, we review potential electrochemical (EC) biosensors for COVID-19 diagnosis, emphasizing plasmonic, optical, colorimetric and aptamer-based sensors with a special focus on EC biosensors and point-of-care (POC) diagnostic methods. We have conferred the working principle of these biosensors, EC performance in terms of particular analytical figures of merit and their real-time applications in biological matrices. Lastly, we have described briefly the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by EC oxidation. In the end, we have concluded this review by clearing up the strengths and weaknesses of EC sensors and future directions. Advancement in research and technology would be our unsurpassed weapons in the fight against COVID-19 and preventing imminent pandemics.

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The Impact of a Care Recipient’s Pet on Caregiving Burden, Satisfaction, and Mastery: A Pilot Investigation

Abstract Older adults who require assistance with their own self-care most likely need assistance with pet care. These pet care tasks are likely taken on by their family caregivers (i.e., informal caregivers). However, the potential impact of an older adult’s pet on caregivers’ emotional experiences has not been explored. Role theory was used to model the impact of a care recipient’s pet (i.e., number of pet care tasks performed and the perceived costs of care recipients’ pet ownership) on caregivers’ levels of caregiving burden, satisfaction, and mastery. The moderating role of the perceived bond between the care recipient and their pet, the caregiver’s closeness to the pet, and mutuality in the caregiver-care recipient relationship were also examined. Forty-nine caregivers who did not consider themselves to be co-owner of their care recipients’ pet completed a one-time on-line survey. Path analyses controlling for perceptions of inadequate help were conducted separately for each outcome variable using the maximum likelihood for missing values. The perceived costs of the care recipients’ pet ownership were directly associated with lower caregiving mastery. The perceived bond between the care recipient and their pet moderated the association between the number of pet care tasks and satisfaction. The caregivers’ closeness to the pets moderated the association between the perceived costs and satisfaction. Caregiver-care recipient mutuality moderated the relationships between pet care tasks and burden, pet care tasks and mastery, and costs and mastery. Care recipients’ pets are likely to have an impact on the subjective experiences within the role of caregiver. These impacts are likely qualified by the human-animal bond, and to a larger extent, the caregiver-care recipient relationship.

Representations of Women Subjected to Violence: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Study Guides in Social Work

The Swedish government’s efforts to meet the needs of women subjected to violence have intensified since 2007 when it adopted an Action Plan for combating men’s violence against women. The aim of this study was to analyze how women are discursively framed from an intersectional perspective in five of the Action Plan’s study guides. A critical discourse analysis revealed three overall discourses. First, women are divided into various categories, which is likely to lead to an understanding that it is specific groups of women that become victims of violence. Second, women are framed in a heteronormative and a gender-equal context. This neglects nonheterosexual violence and underlines the otherness of ethnically categorized women. Third, the definition of women as agents stresses both their responsibility and their lack of agency. The absence of an intersectional analysis risks an interpretation in social work practice that some social division have a greater impact on violence in some specific groups of women. When women’s individual situation and needs are not taken into account, women risk being given inadequate help and support, which might put victims of violence in danger.

Comorbid anxiety and depression: a community-based study examining symptomology and correlates during the postpartum period

ABSTRACTBackground: Despite indications that anxiety and depression co-occur frequently within the postpartum period, studies identifying the correlates associated with this comorbidity are rare.Objective: This study assessed variation in social and maternal circumstances, based on comorbid anxiety and depression symptomology.Methods: A large community-based sample of 1070 Australian postpartum women completed the Living with a Young Baby online survey. Mothers were categorised into groups: (a) comorbid anxiety and depression symptomology, (b) anxiety only, (c) depression only, or (d) neither depression nor anxiety. Multinomial Logistic Regression (MLR) investigated variation in correlates between the groups.Results: Comorbid anxiety and depression symptomology was common (13.4%), and was associated with greater symptom severity. Women in the ‘comorbid’ group more often experienced financial hardship, cessation of breastfeeding, infants with difficult temperaments, inadequate social support or help, and stressful adverse life events in comparison to mothers in the ‘neither symptomology’ group. They were also more likely to have infants with difficult temperaments compared to the depression only group, and to receive inadequate help and support compared to the anxiety only group.Conclusions: Comorbid anxiety and depression symptomology is common postpartum and is associated with considerable adversity across a wide range of demographic, economic and social correlates.Abbreviations: EPDS: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; STAI: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; MLR: Multiple Logistic Regression; LYBS: Living with a Young Baby Survey; LSAC: Longitudinal Study of Australian Children; STSI: Short Temperament Scale for Infants; ANOVA: Analysis of Variance; M: Mean; SD: Standard Deviation; CI: Confidence Interval; OR: Odds Ratio

Jordanian women's dissatisfaction with childbirth care

Dissatisfaction with childbirth care can have a negative impact on a woman's health and well-being, as well as her relationships with her infant. To investigate the prevalence and associated factors of dissatisfaction with intrapartum care by Jordanian women. A descriptive cross-sectional study was used. Participants (n = 320) who were 7 weeks post-partum were recruited from five maternal and child health centres in Irbid city in northern Jordan. Participants provided personal and obstetric information, and completed the Satisfaction with Childbirth Care Scale. The majority of women (75.6%) were dissatisfied with their intrapartum care. Dissatisfaction was associated with the attendance of unknown and unwanted persons during childbirth, experiencing labour as more painful than expected, and perceptions of inadequate help from healthcare providers to manage pain during labour. Findings are limited to Jordanian women accessing public sector perinatal health services. The high percentage of women reporting dissatisfaction with intrapartum care in this study is of concern. Women's perception of pain and expectations of staff during labour and birth need to be addressed through education and improved communication by staff. Development of national evidence-based policies and quality assurance systems would help reduce the rate of obstetric interventions and give greater emphasis to respect for women's preferences during labour and birth.

MRI-Based Assessment of Safe Margins in Tumor Surgery

Introduction. In surgical oncology, histological analysis of excised tumor specimen is the conventional method to assess the safety of the resection margins. We tested the feasibility of using MRI to assess the resection margins of freshly explanted tumor specimens in rats. Materials and Methods. Fourteen specimen of sarcoma were resected in rats and analysed both with MRI and histologically. Slicing of the specimen was identical for the two methods and corresponding slices were paired. 498 margins were measured in length and classified using the UICC classification (R0, R1, and R2). Results. The mean difference between the 498 margins measured both with histology and MRI was 0.3 mm (SD 1.0 mm). The agreement interval of the two measurement methods was [−1.7 mm; 2.2 mm]. In terms of the UICC classification, a strict correlation was observed between MRI- and histology-based classifications (κ = 0.84, P < 0.05). Discussion. This experimental study showed the feasibility to use MRI images of excised tumor specimen to assess the resection margins with the same degree of accuracy as the conventional histopathological analysis. When completed, MRI acquisition of resected tumors may alert the surgeon in case of inadequate margin and help advantageously the histopathological analysis.

When a Desired Home Death Does Not Occur: The Consequences of Broken Promises

Evidence shows that most people prefer to die at home; however, the majority of expected deaths occur away from home. Although home deaths require family caregiver (FCG) commitment and care, we understand very little about their experiences in this context. The study's aim was to gain a better understanding of the experiences of FCGs when circumstances prevented a desired home death for a family member with advanced cancer. An interpretive description approach was used. Data collection involved semistructured interviews. Field notes and reflective journaling aided interpretive and analytical processes. The study was conducted in western Canada and included 18 bereaved FCGs. FCGs were committed to the promises made to care for their family member at home until death. These promises were challenged by a lack of preparedness for caregiving, difficulty accessing professional support and information, and frustration with the inadequate help they received. The events that precipitated dying family members leaving their home for hospital or hospice were unexpected and often influenced by FCGs' lack of situation-specific knowledge and ability to cope with complex caregiving responsibilities. FCGs found it extremely challenging to reconcile with breaking their promise to care at home until death and many were unable to do so. FCGs' despair about not being able to keep their promise for a home death was related to complicated bereavement. Prospective studies of the experiences of FCGs who are aiming for home deaths are needed to identify both short- and long-term interventions to effectively support death at home.

Typology of persons with severe mental disorders

BackgroundPersons with severe mental disorders (PSMD) form a highly heterogeneous group. Identifying subgroups sharing similar PSMD profiles may help to develop treatment plans and appropriate services for their needs. This study seeks to establish a PSMD typology by looking at individual characteristics and the amount and adequacy of help received.MethodsThe study recruited a sample of 352 persons located in south-western Montreal (Quebec, Canada). Cluster analysis was used to create a PSMD typology.ResultsAnalysis yielded five clusters: 1. highly functional older women with mood disorders, receiving little help from services; 2. middle-aged men with diverse mental disorders and alcohol abuse, receiving insufficient and inadequate help; 3. middle-aged women with serious needs, mood and personality disorders and suicidal tendencies, living in autonomous apartments, and receiving ample but inadequate help; 4. highly educated younger men with schizophrenia, living in autonomous apartments, and receiving adequate help; and 5. older poorly educated men with schizophrenia, living in supervised apartments, with ample help perceived as adequate. Marked differences were found between men and women, between users diagnosed with schizophrenia and others, and between persons living in supervised or autonomous apartments.ConclusionOur study highlights the existence of parallel subgroups among PSMD related to their socio-demographic status, clinical needs and service-use profiles, which could be used to focus more appropriate interventions. For mental health service planning, it demonstrates the relevance of focusing on individuals showing critical needs who are affected by multiple mental disorders (especially when associated with alcohol abuse), and often find help received as less adequate.

The role of work environment in keeping newly licensed RNs in nursing: A questionnaire survey

BackgroundIn prior studies, newly licensed registered nurses (RNs) describe their job as being stressful. Little is known about how their perceptions of the hospital work environment affect their commitment to nursing. ObjectivesTo assess the influence of hospital work environment on newly licensed RN's commitment to nursing and intent to leave nursing. DesignCorrelational survey. SettingsNewly licensed RNs working in hospitals in Florida, United States. Participants40% random sample of all RNs newly licensed in 2006. MethodsThe survey was mailed out in 2008. Dependent variables were indicators of professional commitment and intent to leave nursing. Independent variables were individual, organizational, and work environment characteristics and perceptions (job difficulty, job demands and job control). Statistical analysis used ordinary least squares regressions. Level of significance was set at p<0.05. ResultsJob difficulty and job demand were significantly related to a lower commitment to nursing and a greater intent to leave nursing, and vice versa for job control. The strongest ranked of the job difficulties items were: incorrect instructions, organizational rules, lack of supervisor support, and inadequate help from others. Workload and other items were significant, but ranked lower. The strongest ranked of the job pressure items were: “having no time to get things done” and “having to do more than can be done well.” The strongest ranked of job control items were “ability to act independent of others.” Nurses with positive orientation experiences and those working the day shift and more hours were less likely to intend to leave nursing and more likely to be committed to nursing. Significant demographic characteristics related to professional commitment were race and health. ConclusionsNegative perceptions of the work environment were strong predictors of intent to leave nursing and a lower commitment to nursing among newly licensed RNs. These results indicate that retention of newly licensed RNs in nursing can be improved through changes in the work environment that remove obstacles to care-giving, increase resources and autonomy, and reduce workload and other job pressure factors.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF MANUFACTURING SMES: EVIDENCE FROM LESVOS, GREECE

The current literature on SMEs presents a range of factors that influence their decisions regarding the adoption of environmental management practices. In particular, some common factors are the pressure from stakeholders, the awareness of environmental issues, the level of local authorities support, the benefits arising from the adoption of such practices and the role of environmental regulations. This paper examines some of these factors through a case study research methodology on two Greek manufacturing SMEs with significant local environmental impacts and protests from the local community. The main findings indicate that these manufacturers have adopted a limited number of environmental management practices due to the limited knowledge of managers on their environmental regulation responsibilities and inadequate help from local authorities regarding environmental matters.