Perceptions Of Volunteers Research Articles

Тренды развития волонтерства как социального института: экспертное мнение

Volunteering is becoming more widespread in our country, involving schoolchildren and students as the main driver. The article treats volunteering as a social institution. Based on expert interviews (N = 12) with the heads of volunteer organizations and their divisions, trends in the development of volunteering from the position of the functions associated with them are highlighted. MAXQDA software is used to process and visualize high-quality data. As the leading trends in volunteering, they indicate the professionalization, commercialization, popularization and digitalization, as well as the rapid increase in state influence. In the current trends, conflicting trends are manifested, the social meanings of volunteering are changing with the transition from altruistic motivation to volunteering as a job that gives young people career opportunities and social mobility. The perception of volunteering was significantly influenced by the pandemic, which revealed the contradictions between volunteering as a consciously chosen lifestyle and the consumer attitude of the population towards volunteers. The article discusses possibilities of the volunteer participation in solving the socially significant issues. On the one hand, pseudo-participation is developing through the use of the administrative resource of schools and universities, on the other hand, the practices of expressing and taking into account the opinions of volunteers on socially significant issues have not been developed and are not fixed. Volunteering as a social institution is currently undergoing a period of transformation, manifested in a variety of dysfunctions and a change in the generation of volunteers with altruistic motivation by pragmatic volunteers. All this requires state to rethink the ideological foundations with the formation of new meanings of volunteering and the development of new practices for involving and participating young people

Staff and volunteers' perceptions of a Communication Enhanced Environment model in an acute/slow stream rehabilitation and a rehabilitation hospital ward: a qualitative description study within a before-and-after pilot study

Purpose A lack of social interaction during early stroke recovery can negatively affect neurological recovery and health-related quality of life of patients with aphasia following stroke. A Communication Enhanced Environment (CEE) model was developed to increase patient engagement in language activities early after stroke. This study aimed to examine staff (n = 20) and volunteer (n = 2) perceptions of a CEE model and factors influencing the implementation and use of the model. This study formed part of a broader study that developed and embedded a CEE model on two hospital wards. Materials and methods Six focus groups and one interview with hospital staff were conducted and analysed using a qualitative description approach. Feedback emailed by volunteers was included in the data set. Results Staff and volunteers perceived the CEE model benefitted themselves, the hospital system and patients. Staff identified a range of factors that influenced the implementation and use of the CEE model including individual staff, volunteer and patient factors, hospital features, the ease with which the CEE model could be used, and the implementation approach. Conclusions This study provides valuable insights into staff perceptions which may inform the implementation of interventions and future iterations of a CEE model. Implications for Rehabilitation A CEE model may promote efficiency and increased patient engagement in stroke rehabilitation. The CEE model information session and aphasia communication partner training, and the provision of resources, may be useful strategies to increase staff confidence in using communication supporting strategies with patients with aphasia. Behaviour change and implementation science strategies may provide a framework to address barriers and promote facilitators to embed hospital-based interventions that require individual, ward, cultural and systems level change to reduce the evidence-based gap in clinical practice.

The role of volunteering in finding a job from the perspective of employers

The article is a presentation of a part of the results of research conducted during work on the dissertation. In the introduction, theoretical references to understanding volunteering from various perspectives were indicated. It also emphasizes the understanding of volunteering as an opportunity to develop professional competences of a volunteer. Consequently, the next part of the article is an argument on the relationship between volunteering and professional competences. The author indicates specific skills, knowledge and attitudes that, according to the literature, can be acquired during volunteering. Subsequently employers’ expectations towards the characteristics of future employees, as well as their attitude to volunteering are described. This part is based on research conducted, among others, by the Warsaw School of Economics. Then, the author presents the results of her own research conducted among employers of social sciences students and their perception of volunteering and the opportunities it creates for the development of competences. The analysis of the research results allows us to believe that volunteers, during their activity, gain mainly practical and industry knowledge. Among the skills indicated were group cooperation, interpersonal skills and effective communication. The attitudes that volunteers acquire thanks to their actions are: resourcefulness, responsibility, sensitivity and empathy. At the end, the results of the author’s research on competences acquired by volunteers were compared with the competences desired by employers and the existing competency gap. The analysis of all answers confirms that communication skills, openness, teamwork and industry knowledge are competences that are desirable in an ideal graduate, who most often has a competency gap in this area. At the same time, these are competences that can be acquired through volunteering. The research results may suggest that people entering the labour market, but also employers, are interested in volunteering as a way to increase their chances on the labour market.

The best intentions: an examination of current practices in short-term international service trips intended to benefit vulnerable children and youth

ABSTRACT Millions travel annually for short-term international service trips (STIST). These trips often involve volunteering with vulnerable children, including those in residential care (ex. orphanages). Though a prevalent practice, little research exists regarding how volunteers are prepared and what activities they engage in. The goal of the present study was to provide data on pre-trip preparation, in-country activities, and how these impacted volunteer perceptions of preparation and trip satisfaction. Participants (N = 353) answered questions about their experience with STIST. Results revealed that 32.0% did not complete any pre-trip requirements. Of those that had pre-tip requirements, background checks (31.7%) and training (58.1%) were most often reported. Training primarily focused on personal safety or culture. Most interacted with vulnerable children (94.6%) in-country. Of note, 231 (67.1%) participants interacted with children in that child’s residential space unsupervised. Participants who completed pre-trip requirements felt more prepared and satisfied with their trip. This data validates child protection concerns raised about STIST and outlines the scope of the concern. Sending agencies who coordinate volunteer trips have a vital role to play in increasing potential for benefits and decreasing potential for harm as related to STIST. Based on the findings, six recommendations were made for sending agencies.

503 Burn Camp Volunteer Engagement

Abstract Introduction Much has been published in burn literature regarding the positive impact of camp participation on burn survivors. Less has been said about the positive benefits reaped by the volunteers who freely give their time to support burn camp initiatives. Often these volunteers are fire fighters, members of the hospital’s burn team, family members or burn survivors or adult burn survivors. Occasionally, volunteers have no prior ties to the burn injury community. These individuals donate their time to attending burn camp as a counselor or camp volunteer and many serve through the year on planning and organization committees. Prior studies have reported a positive professional benefit from camp participation including improved job effectiveness and motivation. Counselors also reported personal benefits including personal growth and socialization. The same benefits may be present for non-counselor volunteers. Methods This survey-based project explored the attitudes of burn camp volunteers. Surveys were sent to current and past volunteers of one facility’s Pediatric Burn Camp. These include but are not limited to community members, firefighters, medical staff and Burn Team members. Surveys were sent via mail with a follow-up email sent one month later to encourage survey completion. Results Surveys were sent to 40 pediatric burn camp volunteers. 28 respondents reported between 1 and 27 years of camp participation. 75% report no regular contact with burn survivors related to their occupation. 29% of respondents were firefighters, 18% were burn team members and 32% were burn survivors. Respondents answered write in questions related to what they love about camp and how their camp experience could be made better. Nine topics related to attitudes were addressed in a Likert scale format. Statistical analysis will be performed to evaluate trends in volunteer attitudes and to compare attitudes to longevity of camp participation, volunteer age and occupation. Trends in recommended camp improvements will be addressed. Conclusions Longevity of camp participation is directly related to volunteer believes and attitudes. Whether because of other responsibilities, changing vocations or a loss of interest in the cause, often volunteers fail to return year to year. Volunteer engagement is an essential part of keeping burn camp a viable resource for pediatric burn survivors. By assessing volunteer perceptions, camp directors can discover areas for improvement and camp attributes that draw volunteers to burn camp. Volunteer recruit strategies developed with these trends in mind may be more successful in attainment and retention of dedicated volunteers.

Oncology Volunteers in a Comprehensive Cancer Center: An Observational Study of Compassion and Well-Being

A descriptive, cross sectional design was used to compare perceptions of compassion and well-being of volunteers with and without a personal history of cancer. Most (79%) were >60 years of age, female (63%), married (75%), White (88%), and Non-Hispanic (79%). Thirteen (54%) had a history of cancer; two were still on treatment. Compassion scores were similar between groups. Volunteers with a history of cancer scored higher (p = 0.04) on General Well-being than those without a history of cancer. Understanding volunteer perceptions of compassion and well-being can guide our support structure and psychoeducation. Future studies could examine patient outcomes related to volunteerism.

Sport Voluntarism: Indicators of Sport Volunteers’ Satisfaction and Motivation

The study was examining characteristics of volunteer motivation and factors responsible for the volunteer satisfaction using Bang and Challadurai’s (2003) volunteer motivation scale and Kuhn and Guzley’s (2002) volunteer satisfaction index. The sample was selected by using random and snowball sampling methods. A Likert-scale online survey was used and administered (n=185) to gain volunteer perception of their motivation and satisfaction associated with individual volunteer experience. The results of descriptive analysis indicate that interpersonal contact, career orientation, personal growth, community involvement and love of sport are the motivational factors encouraging volunteers to participate in sport volunteerism. Thus, multiple regression analysis reveals that Career orientation and personal growth best explained volunteer satisfaction with volunteer experience. In addition, volunteer satisfaction dimensions such as Group integration, Empowerment and Organisation Support are satisfied according to the perception of volunteers with volunteer experience. Thus, multiple regression analysis reveals that empowerment and organisation support are the most influencing factors towards volunteer satisfaction in their volunteer experience. Finally, concluded that most volunteers focus on satisfying their personal goals through participating in sport volunteerism. For further researchers can be recommended to do research using different methods such as mix methods, qualitative methods and could use different influencing factors to address the gap in literature of volunteer satisfaction and motivation. Key Words: Satisfaction, Motivation, Volunteers, Sport volunteer organisations, and Volunteer management DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/13-6-20 Publication date: March 31 st 2021

It’s Not All the Same: Implemented and Perceived HR Practices in the Volunteer Context

Being strategic and intentional in the management of volunteers is increasingly important to tackle volunteer retention and improve other volunteer outcomes. Drawing on strategic human resource management (SHRM), this inductive study utilizes qualitative data from interviews to explore how volunteers in a large youth organization perceive HR practices of training and recognition. Volunteer accounts are supplemented with focus group data from front-line staff to capture how HR practices are implemented. Findings indicate a disconnect between implemented and perceived HR practices in some, but not all, areas. Inconsistent and unintentional communication was the main driver for negative volunteer perceptions.

Generation Z and student volunteering: A national culture perspective

Introduction. Volunteering in the modern world is one of the basic resources for solving society’s problems, an activity that helps students in different countries to build personal and professional competencies. The limited research that makes it possible to analyse the cross-cultural elements of student volunteering has led to a scientific interest in the problem of matching the cultural context and volunteer activities of students from universities in India, Russia and Croatia. The new research perspective covered the perception of volunteering, the behaviour of Generation Z, to which the students of the three countries under consideration belong, as well as the significance of the peculiarities of national culture for the volunteering activity of university youth.The aim of this study is to assess the national cultural context and the level of its significance for the perception of volunteering, motivation and the experience of volunteering of students of management specialties at universities in India, Russia and Croatia.Methodology and research methods. Comparative sociological research is implemented based on the theory of generations, Hofstede’s theory of cultural dimensions and the cultural factors of the macro level defined by him. The study involved students from regional universities in three countries: India, Russia and Croatia. The main method for collecting primary data was questionnaire survey. The questionnaire consisted of several blocks of questions, which allowed assessing the subjective perception of volunteering by students, their personal experience and motivation for volunteering, demographic characteristics of the respondents. The total sample was 943 people; the average age of the respondents was 21 years. Students participated anonymously on a voluntary basis, without any incentives. A one-way analysis of variance, the Leuven test, was used to analyse the data. The collected data was processed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0 program.Results and scientific novelty. The results of the study showed that, in general, Generation Z actually has certain specific characteristics regarding volunteering and volunteering, while these characteristics do not depend on the national culture of a particular state. On the basis of the respondents’ answers, the factors influencing students’ volunteering were identified. Thus, the results of the study proved that the motivation of students for volunteering in the present and in the future does not differ significantly in the compared countries. The study results also did not demonstrate differences in the importance of utilitarian and altruistic motives for volunteering students from different countries. It was found that university students in India are more motivated to volunteer due to utilitarian motives; they are more likely to volunteer in comparison with students from Russia and Croatia. The level of uncertainty avoidance by students, personal benefits from volunteering, and their perception of the value of volunteering in general were measured. The authors provide an overview of the development of volunteering in the three compared countries, defining the social and cultural context in them.Practical significance. The conducted research in the context of popularisation of volunteering as a direction of practice-oriented education at universities in different countries enriches the field of knowledge about student volunteering and its cross-cultural elements.The results of this work can be useful both for universities in the implementation of the “third mission” for the development of the local community, and for all those involved in the promotion of volunteer activities and recruitment volunteering both locally, nationally and internationally with the aim of more engaging Generation Z in the volunteer movement.

Befriending Older Adults in Nursing Homes: Volunteer Perceptions of Switching to Remote Befriending in the COVID-19 Era

ABSTRACT Objectives: Residents in nursing homes are being isolated to prevent exposure to COVID-19. Many are prone to depression, anxiety and loneliness, and extra isolation leaves them vulnerable to compromised mental health. In this study, trained volunteers providing befriending for residents with symptoms of depression, anxiety and loneliness switched to remote befriending during COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to gauge volunteer perceptions of the switch. Methods: A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to understand how switching to remote befriending impacted on volunteers and residents. A convenience sample of 18 participants responded to questions either in individual or group interviews. Results: Volunteers adapted their befriending visits, switching from face to face visits to remote options. The format was decided collaboratively. Hearing impairments hindered phone calls. Residents sometimes felt uncomfortable with digital technology but on the whole, the change to remote “visiting” was accepted. Conclusions: Further research is being conducted to gauge mental health outcomes for residents. Most volunteers and residents accepted the switch to remote befriending as better than no contact. Clinical implications: Volunteers can provide valuable support for residents living with social isolation during COVID-19. The format for social support needs to be decided collaboratively between volunteer and resident.

RISE: Exploring Volunteer Retention and Sustainability of a Second Victim Support Program.

The Resilience In Stressful Events (RISE) program that supports healthcare professionals traumatized by stressful clinical events has had a stable, volunteer-based membership since its inception in 2011 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. For this study, we explored RISE members' perceptions of the program that contribute to their retention and the program's sustainability. We distributed a survey with quantitative and qualitative elements to assess perceptions in seven domains of interest. The response rate was 100%. Pearson chi-squared tests established statistical associations among quantitative variables. Qualitative data were explored using content analysis. Of 27 respondents, 19 had been members for 3 or more years. The training completion percentage was 100%, and the annual turnover percentage was 12%. Members found their duties to be meaningful (100%), personally satisfying (96%), and positively impactful (93%). A total of 89% reported confidence in their competency to perform RISE duties, 84% in their autonomy, and 56% in their personal resilience; 28% reported some burnout from RISE duties. Cronbach's α for these domain scores ranged from 0.65 to 0.97. Content analysis also revealed positive perceptions of RISE volunteering and personal empowerment. Members indicated a personal affinity with RISE and gains in energy and enjoyment from their membership. Contributing factors to volunteer retention may include members' perceptions that RISE builds valued skills and supports their affinity for others.

Volunteering in the University Context: Student Perception and Participation

In increasingly diverse cultural contexts, the intercultural perspective favors an enriching coexistence between cultures, with volunteering being an exercise that allows for a critical transformation of reality in order to achieve a more supportive and equitable society. This article aims to find out how university students conceive of volunteering, as well as their level of participation. The sample was made up of 208 students from the Pedagogy and Social Education degrees of the University of Granada during the 2019/2020 academic year. An ad hoc questionnaire was applied, which incorporated a standardised instrument (Adapted Values Test), as well as questions designed by the authors. The results underline the positive axiological perception of volunteering. The participants understand volunteering as a helping role that depends on the social, personal, and professional motivations of the students. However, this positive perception is not transformed into active participation and continuous links with voluntary organisations. The conclusions indicate that university students value volunteering as a necessary task for the social good, although their participation is low, and it is necessary to transform the pro-social awareness of university students into real participation.

Coupling Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and MR-guided Radiation Therapy

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a cost effective and readily available device that increases lung volumes and has shown promise in conventional x-ray-based radiation therapy (RT). However, limited data are available to quantify the impact of CPAP on lung reproducibility due to the use of ionizing radiation during imaging. We propose a novel pilot study combining CPAP with the powerful soft tissue capabilities of MR-guided RT to reduce the amount of radiation exposure to organs at risk, with the overarching goals of quantifying the impact of CPAP on lung stability under free-breathing (FB) and deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) conditions and assessing feasibility. An MR-safe configuration was devised by affixing several CPAP breathing circuits and verifying pressure maintenance using a manometer. Six healthy volunteers (median age 38, range: 28-54) underwent MRIs of the thorax (25 second TrueFISP, 1.5×1.5×3 mm3 resolution) using a 0.35T MR-Linac. FB and 2 verbally coached DIBH acquisitions were performed at CPAP of 0, 6, 10, 12, and 15 cm H20. To define a mutual coordinate system between successive datasets, automated rigid registration was performed (translations only) based on bony anatomy to the reference condition (FB, CPAP 0 cm H20). To quantify the linear relationship between lung volume and pressure under FB conditions, R2 was estimated for each subject. To study positioning reproducibility that may depend on increased pressures in the setting of DIBH, a Spearman correlation coefficient was calculated based on the centroid differences in lung volume. A paired t-test was used to compare the difference between pressures of 0, 6, 10, 12, and 15 cm H20. Image quality with and without CPAP under FB conditions were assessed. Surveys about volunteer perceptions of CPAP were administered after initial CPAP tolerability screening and following the imaging session based on a ten-point scale (10 = least tolerable). FB lung volumes increased as CPAP increased (R2 = 0.85 ± 0.13, range: 0.57 to 0.99) with visible reductions in motion artifacts. A significant negative correlation was observed between CPAP and the lung anterior/posterior centroid differences under DIBH, indicating a reduced difference on repeated measures (i.e., increased lung stability) as pressure increased. Paired t-tests showed significantly better reproducibility in lung volumes at pressures of 6, 10, 12, and 15 cm H20, as compared to 0 cm H20. Patient-reported difficulty tolerating CPAP was perceived to be lower after the study session (mean 2.0, range 1-4) than before (mean 2.83, range 1-5). This study confirms that integrating CPAP into MR-guided RT is feasible and well-tolerated. CPAP not only increases lung volumes under FB conditions, but also improves reproducibility of DIBH, offering potential for reducing treatment-related side effects regardless of treatment delivery platform.

Activities of Social Studies Teachers in Non-governmental Organizations and Perception of Volunteering

Volunteering can be stated as activities performed for the benefit of the society regardless of the interests of the people. Such activities are of great importance for the strengthening of the social structure. In this study, the activities of social studies teachers in non-governmental organizations and the perception of volunteering were tried to be determined. In this context, the research was carried out in the phenomenology pattern, which is one of the qualitative research methods. The study group of the study consisted of 38 social studies teachers determined by purposeful sampling method. In the study, the data were collected by structured interview form and analyzed by descriptive analysis method. The results of the research: In the definition of volunteering in the study, the most repeated result is the benefit of society, benevolence, and favorable income without waiting for a financial response. It was concluded that volunteering increases solidarity and empathy and improves unity-togetherness and solidarity. In the study, the reasons for the low rate of volunteerism in Turkey unconsciousness, educational shortcoming is that prejudice and politics intertwined. It was concluded that the most needed volunteering activities should be in the fields of education, environment, children and health.

A Study on Affecting Factors of Volunteering Perception of Volunteers in the Advanced and Old Age

본 연구의 목적은 지역사회 봉사단체에서 활동하고 있는 장･노년자원봉사자들의 활동만족도, 활동참여의지, 사회적 관계망 수준이 봉사활동인식에 미치는 영향관계를 연구하는데 있다. 또한 봉사활동인식을 신체적 인식, 심리적 인식, 사회적 인식으로 구분하여 살펴봄으로써 보다 종합적인 차원의 봉사활동인식을 높일 수 있는 실천적 함의를 심층적으로 제시하는데 있다. 이러한 연구목적을 달성하기 위하여, 서울 5개지역 9개 봉사단체에서 활동하고 있는 장･노년기 자원봉사자를 대상으로 1개월(2019년 5월)동안 설문조사하여 257명이 응답한 결과에 대해 회귀분석 통계방법을 진행하였다. 분석결과, 자원봉사자의 활동만족도, 활동참여의지, 사회적관계망은 봉사활동인식에 있어 정적인 영향관계가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 종속변수의 하위요소들과의 영향관계를 구체적으로 살펴보면, 활동만족도, 사회적 관계망은 봉사활동에 의한 신체적 인식에 정적인 영향관계를 보였고, 활동만족도, 활동참여의지, 사회적 관계망은 봉사활동에 의한 심리적 인식에 정적인 영향관계를 보였다. 또한 활동만족도, 활동참여의지, 사회적 관계망도 봉사활동에 의한 사회적 인식에 정적인 영향관계를 보였다. 이러한 결과를 토대로 자원봉사 활동현장이나 자원봉사자 관리에 있어, 자원봉사자의 활동만족도, 활동참여의지, 사회적관계망 등을 확대할 수 있는 다양한 프로그램 및 관리기법, 효과적인 자원봉사활동 지원방법 등을 대안으로 제시하였다.

Communicating our way to engaged volunteers: A mediated process model of volunteer communication, engagement, and commitment.

Retaining productive volunteers is an essential issue nonprofit organizations face, as volunteers help extend nonprofits' services to their target populations. The current study examined two facets of communication, perception of voice (i.e., upward communication) and satisfaction with communication (i.e., downward communication), as well as training, as important volunteer management practices with respect to facilitating volunteer engagement and commitment using both psychological contract and social exchange theories as the framework. One-hundred and seventy-one volunteers from two nonprofit organizations were surveyed to assess their satisfaction with the communication processes at their respective agencies, as well as their level of engagement, commitment, and perception of the training they received for their volunteer roles. Volunteer perceptions of both upward and downward communication were found to be indirectly related to organizational commitment through engagement. In addition, results indicated that volunteer training practices moderated the effects of upward and downward communication on engagement and commitment. Findings suggested that upward and downward communication are important predictors of volunteer engagement and commitment. Furthermore, providing training may help to strengthen these indirect effects.

4-H Volunteer Attainment of Quality Positive Youth Development Practices

The University of Florida 4-H program evaluated volunteer perceptions of behavior adoption resulting from the completion of training focused on best practices that promote positive youth development. The evaluation effort was a quasi-experimental design that surveyed all enrolled volunteers electronically. The survey was designed to determine the types and frequency of training that 4-H volunteers participated in, their satisfaction with the training, the volunteer’s role of service, and outcomes of adopting best practices of program quality. A response rate of 27% (n = 340) provided a representative sample of the enrolled volunteers across demographic categories and geographical regions of the state. The results show that volunteers report practicing elements of positive youth development as categorized by the Essential Elements framework and that correlations between the type of training volunteers participate in and their implementation of quality practices are significant. Implications for volunteer trainings include the consideration of frequency, expanding opportunities beyond traditional delivery, and incorporating training elements that promote high-quality youth programming. This evaluation effort provides baseline data that informs future research for the Florida 4-H program.

Barriers and facilitators to growth monitoring and promotion in Nepal: Household, health worker and female community health volunteer perceptions.

Growth monitoring and promotion (GMP) is both a service for diagnosing inadequate child growth in its earliest stages and a delivery platform for nutrition counselling. The widespread use of GMP services in developing countries has the potential to substantially reduce persistent child undernutrition through early diagnosis and by linking caregivers and their children to key health and nutrition services. However, researchers have questioned the effectiveness of GMP services, which are frequently undermined by underdeveloped health systems and inconsistent implementation. This analysis examined both supply‐ and demand‐side factors for GMP utility in Nepal from the perspectives of beneficiaries and service providers, particularly focusing on three components of GMP: growth assessment, analysis of growth status and counselling. The most common factors influencing GMP uptake included beneficiaries' perceptions of the relative importance of GMP and the knowledge and skill of frontline workers. Both providers and beneficiaries viewed GMP as a secondary health and nutrition activity and therefore less important than curative services. We found deficits in GMP‐related knowledge and skills among providers (i.e. health workers and female community health volunteers), as well as indications of poor training quality and coverage. Furthermore, we found variation in GMP utilization by maternal age, education and residency (alone, nuclear or extended), as well as household socio‐economic well‐being and rurality. This study is the first to assess factors influencing both beneficiaries and service providers for GMP utilization. Further research is needed to explore the implementation of improved GMP protocols and to evaluate facility‐level implementation barriers.

Perceptions of diver-fishermen and recreational divers on lionfish as a threat in the Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes, southern Gulf of Mexico

Worldwide, biological invasions remain an unrelenting environmental disaster. In the last years, the Indo-Pacific lionfish, Pterois volitans, has become one of the most highly surveyed biological invasions in Western Atlantic Ocean. This predator fish has the potential to affect the invaded ecosystem due to its voracity, fast population growth, and strong competition with native fauna for resources, which in turn implies a threat to coral reefs. A common strategy addressing this invasion relies on culling, which requires systematic volunteer's efforts on given areas of lionfish abundance to be effective. Understanding volunteer's perceptions towards this invasion is vital to engaging volunteers in culling campaigns. Here, we analyze perceptions, based on open questions, Likert-scale type, and Damage Schedule format, of volunteers (diver-fishermen and recreational divers), towards lionfish in the Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes (PNAA), off northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. The results showed heterogeneous perceptions of volunteers shaped by distinct interests these groups have in the area, with diver-fishermen's concerns most related to their lobster catch and recreational divers referring mainly on uncontrolled tourism a major environmental problem in the PNAA. This scenario implies both groups remain unaware of the effects from this invasion on the coral reef ecosystem, but they showed willingness to participate in lionfish removals. A lack of robust awareness of these groups within a natural protected area in the southern Gulf of Mexico is of concern. We recommend further evaluations of users perspectives on lionfish as a threat and on lionfish as a viable market of consumption as strategy to control its population.

Challenging the challenge: A randomized controlled trial evaluating the inflammatory response and pain perception of healthy volunteers after single-dose LPS administration, as a potential model for inflammatory pain in early-phase drug development

Background and aimsFollowing an infection, cytokines not only regulate the acute immune response, but also contribute to symptoms such as inflammatory hyperalgesia. We aimed to characterize the acute inflammatory response induced by a human endotoxemia model, and its effect on pain perception using evoked pain tests in two different dose levels. We also attempted to determine whether combining a human endotoxemia challenge with measurement of pain thresholds in healthy subjects could serve as a model to study drug effects on inflammatory pain. Methods and resultsThis was a placebo-controlled, randomized, cross-over study in 24 healthy males. Twelve subjects were administered a bolus of 1 ng/kg LPS intravenously, and twelve 2 ng/kg LPS. Before days of placebo/LPS administration, subjects completed a full study day without study drug administration, but with identical pain threshold testing. Blood sampling and evoked pain tests (electrical burst and -stair, heat, pressure, and cold pressor test) were performed pre-dose and at frequent intervals up to 10hr post-dose. Data were analysed with a repeated-measures ANCOVA. For both dose levels, LPS induced an evident acute inflammatory response, but did not significantly affect any of the pain modalities. In a post-hoc analysis, lowering of pain thresholds was observed in the first 3 h after dosing, corresponding with the peak of the acute inflammatory response around 1–3 h post-dose. ConclusionMild acute systemic inflammation, as induced by 1 ng/kg and 2 ng/kg LPS intravenous administration, did not significantly change pain thresholds in this study. The endotoxemia model in combination with evoked pain tests is not suitable to study acute inflammatory hyperalgesia in healthy males.