Poor Participation Research Articles

Examining Differences in Community Participation in Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) demonstrate low levels of community participation, though no studies have examined the perceived value and satisfaction when assessing community participation among young adults with ASD. Using the Temple University Community Participation measure, young adults with and without ASD were compared on the frequency, perceived importance, and satisfaction of community participation. Adults with ASD participated less frequently in participation areas and identified fewer important participation areas. Importantly, no differences were reported in satisfaction with participation between the two groups despite adults with ASD participating less frequently in the community. Results suggest a need for further exploration of predictors of poor community participation in adults with ASD, as well as effective interventions targeting community participation in this population.

Assessment of Public Opposition to Construction and Demolition Waste Facilities: A Case Study in Australia

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the nature of public opposition (PO) to the siting of construction and demolition (C&D) waste management facilities in Australia. A qualitative case study of PO to the development proposal for the Gunnedah waste facility, in the state of New South Wales (NSW), was conducted. The waste facility is promised to process up to 250 kilotons of waste materials, much of which is C&D waste intended for use in road constructions after processing. Using a content analysis approach, the study analysed 86 public submissions that were lodged within the allocated development application exhibition period to systematically analyse the arguments used by the submitters about the establishment of the facility. The case study revealed five broad perceived risk classes to the siting of the Gunnedah waste facility, namely location, environmental, human health, financial and process risks. It was also shown that while not-in-my-back-yard (NIMBY) attitudes may have played a part in the PO to the sitting at the facility, the PO was heavily affected by the poor public participation process. The study outlines key strategies for an effective public participation process that may assist with the management of PO to the siting of C&D waste management facilities in Australia. The study contributes to the theory and practice of effective C&D waste management, enhancing the social acceptance of such facilities toward a more circular economy in the built environment.

The Heart Game: A New Tool for Digital Patient Education for Patients With Heart Failure

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the need for new ways to perform remote patient education. Patients with heart failure are associated with a high readmission rate. Rehabilitation can prevent hospital readmissions, but there is poor participation in rehabilitation of patients with heart failure. Based on user-driven innovation in the Future Patient research project, we have developed the prototype of the digital Heart Game. The Heart Game is a new approach to digital patient education, where patients can access a digital board game via an app; through the board game, they can be presented with quizzes, activities, and reflection questions, all related to heart failure. Objective The objective of our study was to assess the usability of the Heart Game prototype app. Methods A total of 6 patients with heart failure were recruited. Think-aloud test, where participants were observed during play and sound and iPad screens were recorded, was conducted, followed by a questionnaire immediately after playing. Finally, an interview (n=6) was carried out. Qualitative data were analyzed in NVivo software (version 12.0). Results In total, 6 patients with heart failure (83% male; mean age 66 years) participated in the think-aloud tests. One participant did not complete the game. The game duration was from 9 minutes and 14 seconds to 16 minutes and 13 seconds. Findings from the think-aloud tests were shown in themes: digital games are a new world; practice makes perfect; the Heart Game is illogical; tasks are not generalizable, in understandable formulations, or entertaining; and the Heart Game is relevant, fun, and entertaining to play. Conclusions The usability of the Heart Game shows opportunities for digital patient education. However, there are some challenges in the prototype with illogical game structures in the board game. Further test and development of the prototype needs to be performed.

Hindrance in Safety Management Practices in The Construction of Infrastructure Projects

Safety management is one of the safety frameworks that can be applied in construction industry to mitigate the occurrence of accidents and reducing the fatality rate among construction workers. However, data in 2020 shows that there were 206 cases of reported accidents in the construction industry in Malaysia, from January to December 2020. The increasing number of accidents in infrastructure projects involving construction workers has been around for a long time even though the safety management system had been implemented. Thus, the objective of this research is to determine the hindrance factors in safety management practices in the construction of infrastructure projects. A total of 205 questionnaire surveys were distributed to the safety officers who work at G7 contractor specialise in infrastructure projects in Kuala Lumpur area using a snow-balling data collection method. The result revealed that the tight project schedule, poor participation in the safety management practices and poor safety culture are the significant factors that hinders the safety management practices. While lack of motivation among workers is the least important factor that hinder the safety management practices. Thus it is hoped that by tackling and solving these issues may improve the safety management practices, and indirectly reducing the number of accidents and fatalities on the construction site.

Students and Teachers’ Perception of Social Studies Subject: A Case of Selected Senior High Schools (SHS) in Tamale Metropolis of Northern Ghana

The upsurge of moral decadence among the youth of Ghana these days seems to attest to the fact that the teaching and learning of social studies is beset by some limiting factors. The question that comes to mind is whether students and teachers really understand the purpose of social studies as a subject and whether they even have the right perceptions about social studies for preparing the use for productive citizenship. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was chosen for this study involving 335 SHS social studies students and 32 social studies teachers for the 2020-2021 academic years within the Tamale Metropolis. Questionnaires were designed to collect data from the respondents. The quantitative data obtained were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The results showed that even though students and teachers of social studies had appreciable knowledge of what social studies is meant to achieve in the lives of students, the realization of the aims of social studies appears to be hindered by perceptions they have about social studies classroom climate, a situation that has led to poor participation during lessons. The study therefore, recommends that resources such as social studies room, museum, laboratory, reference books, and audio-visual materials should be made available during social studies lessons to encourage active participation by learners.

Work situation, work ability and expectation of returning to work in patients with systemic autoimmune myopathies.

To document the work situation, the work ability and the expectation of returning to work among adult patients with systemic autoimmune myopathies (SAMs), and to identify the factors associated with each of these outcomes. Cross-sectional study. The work situation (performing paid work vs out of work) was ascertained via a structured questionnaire. For those who were working, we applied the Work Ability Index (WAI; scale 7-49); and for those who were out of work, we applied the Return-to-Work Self-Efficacy questionnaire (RTW-SE; scale 11-66). Of the 75 patients with SAMs included, 33 (44%) were doing paid work and 42 (56%) were out of work. The work situation was independently associated with physical function, assessed by the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI). A 1-point increase in the HAQ-DI (scale 0-3) decreased the chance of doing paid work by 66% (95% CI: 0.16, 0.74; P = 0.007). Patients performing paid work had a mean WAI of 33.5 (6.9). The following variables were associated with a decrease in the WAI score in the regression model: female sex (-5.04), diabetes (-5.94), fibromyalgia (-6.40), fatigue (-4.51) and severe anxiety (-4.59). Among those out of work, the mean RTW-SE was 42.8 (12.4). Cutaneous manifestations and >12 years of education were associated with an average increase of 10.57 and 10.9 points, respectively, in the RTW-SE. A 1-point increase in the HAQ-DI decreased the RTW-SE by 4.69 points. Our findings highlight the poor work participation in a well-characterized sample of working-age patients with SAMs. Strategies to improve work-related outcomes in these patients are urgently needed.

Appraisal of Challenges and Community Promotion in WASH Facilities in Senior High Schools in Ghana

This study adopted both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The study population covered the house masters and mistresses, students, teachers, grounds prefect and WASH coordinators in the Assin Manso, Adankwaman, Nyankomasi Ahenkro, Assin Nsuta Agric Senior High Schools in the Assin South District. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques were employed to select respondents for the study. The sample size for the study was 216. Two hundred students (200) were selected from the four senior high schools in the District, that is, 50 students from each school, four (4) grounds prefects, one from each school, eight (8) house masters /mistresses, that is, two (2) from each school, and four (4) WASH coordinators one each from a school. The main tools used for the study were semi-structured questionnaires, interview guide and observation checklist. Data analysis was done using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Descriptive data were analysed qualitatively and emerging themes from the data were obtained and categorised and then interpreted through the interview guide with observation checklist digital data such as photographs were used to bring out some aspects of the schools’ surrounding. On the other hand, quantitative data were collected using questionnaire on the numbers of schools and WASH facilities, and analysed using SPSS. The study indicated that the failure of the school administration to maintain the WASH facilities will eventually lead to their breakdown, thus making it difficult for the students to use them. The study also revealed that the poor participation by the communities in the provision and maintenance of the WASH facilities stems from the fact they do not get any direct benefit from the schools. It is recommended that, in promoting WASH facilities in the schools, administrators must include maintenance of the facilities in their provision to ensure their long-term use, other than that the facilities will break down, and resources will have to be mobilized again to repair them or provide new ones. It is also recommended that, Rules and regulations concerning the use and maintenance of WASH facilities should be made by school administration and copies given to the students to guide them as they use the facilities.

Including the excluded in the integrated development planning process for improved community participation

This article aims to assess the Integrated Development Planning (IDP) process for improved community participation. The IDP process was developed to improve strategic planning and community participation at the municipal level. Many South African municipalities have been struggling to use the IDP process to improve community participation. The methodology included 400 respondents who were chosen through a probability sampling technique and probed to complete the online survey using a closed-ended questionnaire guide, and ten respondents were also chosen through a non-probability sampling technique and were face-to-face interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. The key findings revealed that poor community participation exists in the study area due to a lack of encouragement from responsible authorities. The Tzaneen municipality does not provide adequate feedback to the communities, and the inputs of the communities are not considered. There is a continuous lack of community consultation during the annual review of the IDP. The ineffective IDP process for improved community participation presents several challenges. Thus, this article concluded by providing a few recommendations to enhance the application of the IDP process and community participation. The Tzaneen municipal area should at all times uphold democratic principles by ensuring active public participation, transparency, and openness in municipal affairs. It also recommends making it easier for marginalised and previously disadvantaged people to participate in municipal policy and decision-making without prejudice. South African municipalities, including Tzaneen municipality, should develop and innovate institutional, and organisational capabilities to better utilise their resources, mitigate socio-economic challenges and enhance service delivery.

Livelihood Struggle for Sustainability and Dignity in Context of Caste (Case of Musahar Youth in Rural Uttar Pradesh in India)

Musahar youth have been struggling for basic needs and face indignity at multiple facets in the society due to caste. In contemporary times, historicity of caste, stigmatized identity, indignity, poor social values and low participation status make it difficult to avail any kind of social, educational and employment support. Sustainability is a form of survivability, and lack of dignity diminishes wage work, forcing them to migrate. This paper is based on PhD research data and applied qualitative research methods following in-depth interview, oral history, seasonal calendar and so on. Historical marginality of caste persists and frames aspiration, dignity and sustainability.

Blended teaching of medical ethics during COVID-19: practice and reflection

BackgroundWith the advancement of information technology, teachers have become able to overcome the limitations of time and room capacity by carrying out teaching activities online. This practice, however, also presents new challenges. The present study explores how to fully capitalize on the advantages of online and offline teaching and improve the quality and impact of the teaching delivered. This article presents an analysis of the planning, implementation, evaluation, and reflection process of reforming the Fujian Medical University (FJMU) medical ethics course.MethodsAfter early attempts using the Small Private Online Course (SPOC) and flipped classroom formats, this paper focuses on the comprehensive active implementation of blended teaching practice. In terms of teaching practice, this research makes targeted improvements to overcome the known shortcomings of SPOCs and flipped classrooms, including the significant preparatory workload and lacking enthusiasm for classroom participation, by redesigning the course and evaluation method and changing the role of the teacher in blended teaching. Subsequently, the study used a stratified sampling method to select 20 students enrolled in the clinical medicine course at Fujian Medical University (FJMU). Their course experience was investigated using a semi-structured interview. Interview content related to evaluating teaching effect was extracted and encoded for subsequent qualitative analysis.ResultsA qualitative analysis of the student evaluation of blended teaching as implemented on the medical ethics course showed that the main factors influencing student engagement are the method of assigning tasks and that of testing learning outcomes. Student participation in class is influenced by the richness of the curriculum resources available and the role played by the teacher.ConclusionThis research presents a discussion of blended teaching and suggests improvements that can be made to address low student engagement and poor classroom participation. This round of blended teaching was shown to improve learning autonomy and classroom participation and to support students in the development of their clinical abilities and higher-order thinking skills. These findings provide a reference for the implementation of online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effect of Rural Banditary on IFAD-CASP Participating Crop Producer

he research study analyzed the effect of rural banditry on IFAD-CASP participating crop farmers in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Interview schedule was used to collect data from 360 respondents that were selected for the study. A multi stage and simple random sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents. Descriptive statistical tools (mean, percentages, frequency distribution) and inferential statistics (logic regression analysis, paired sample T-test and Spearman`s correlation coefficient) were used for data analysis. The results of the study reveals that majority of the respondents were married with an average household size of 8 persons and income level of less than N 20,000/month. Most of the respondents (50%) indicate that the conflict is very severe resulting to great economic, physical and social effects on the respondents. The results of ranking of effect of rural banditry on IFAD-CASP in the study area, indicates poor participation, increased rural poverty, poor supervision of programme, poor economic growth and poor information dissemination were ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th respectively. It could be concluded that rural banditry poses poor economic growth, increased rural poverty, poor participation, and poor programme implementation and induces fear and uncertainty. The study therefore, recommend that urgent provision of adequate security personnel to Mann the porous borders, prompt enrollment of the vulnerable into government social investment programmes, organize training/seminars for peace building purpose and also government should register all mining site and their activities properly monitored.

Local Government Administration and Grassroots Development in Imo State: A Case Study of Owerri Municipal Council

This study is an assessment of local government administration as an instrument of grassroots development in Nigeria, using Owerri Municipal Council as a case study. With a well-structured questionnaire supported with oral interviews, data were generated from one hundred and seventy municipal council staff stratified into three categories of top management, middle and low cadres. Employing the Spearman‟s Rank Coefficient as the main statistical tool of analysis, the study revealed among others that a significant relationship exists between the state of infrastructure and grassroots development in Nigeria and between the level of ineffective local government administration and the extent of job creation among the local populace. Further findings showed that a significant relationship exists between insufficient skilled manpower and the level of grassroots rural-urban migration as well as between ineffective local government administration and the level of grassroots participation in democratic activities. Following these findings, the study therefore, concluded thus: that the state of infrastructure is poor, resulting in low grassroots development in Nigeria. Similarly, the study inferred that ineffective local government administration led to poor resource management, which in turn impeded grassroots job creation, and that lack of skilled manpower fuelled rural-urban migration in Nigeria, while ineffective local government administration was a significant determinant factor to poor grassroots participation in democratic processes in Nigeria. Therefore, prominent among others, the study advocated for an upward review of the revenue sharing formula in favour of the local governments being a grassroots government closest to the populace, while sanctioning erring personnel who may be tempted to engage in funds misappropriation.

Economic Violence against Women in Punjab: Dimensions, Determinants and its Implications on Women Social Status in Society

Purpose: Women are almost half the population of the world while their poor social status and limited participation in society is a serious issue of their deprivation specifically in developing countries like Pakistan. This study was attempted to investigate economic violence against women and its influential factors on women's social status in society.
 
 
 
 
 Design/Methodology/Approach: 
 
 
 
 
 The study used multiple regression analysis for empirical estimation of cross-sectional data of 840 married men from three low socio-economic districts Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur and Muzaffargarh from Punjab province of Pakistan.
 Findings: Empirical estimates of the study indicated among men above secondary school education, agricultural occupational status, emotional health status, childhood violence experience and witness are significant factors that impact women's economic violence.
 
 
 
 
 Implications/Originality/Value: 
 
 
 
 
 There is a need for adequate legislation and policy measures for free and easy access to schooling, particularly in rural areas. In reducing gender disparity and violence’s regarding women social media, electronic media and print media can play a significant role by providing productive and positive messages in discussions and programs.

"Mothers will be lucky if utmost receive a single scheduled postnatal home visit": An exploratory qualitative study, Northern Ethiopia.

Postnatal home visits (PNHVs) have been endorsed as strategy for delivery of postnatal care (PNC) to reduce newborn mortality and improve maternal outcomes. Despite the important role of the Health Extension Workers (HEWs) in improving the overall healthcare coverage, PNHV remains as a missed opportunity in rural Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators of scheduled postnatal home visits in Northern Ethiopia. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study on a total of 16 in-depth interviews with HEWs and mothers who gave birth one year prior to the study. In addition, focus group discussions were conducted with HEWs and key informant interviews were conducted with women development group leaders, supervisors, and healthcare authorities from April to June 2019 in two rural districts of Northern Ethiopia. Discussions and interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim in the local language (Tigrigna) and translated into English. The translated scripts were thematically coded using Atlas ti scientific software. Field notes were also taken during the discussion and while conducting the interviews. Health system factors, community context, and individual level factors were considered as the barriers and facilitators of scheduled PNHVs. Leadership, governance, management, support and supervision, referral linkages, overwhelming workload, capacity building, logistics and supplies are the major sub-themes identified as health system factors. Physical characteristics like geographical location and topography, distance, and coverage of the catchment; and community support and participation like support from women's development groups (WDGs), awareness of the community on the presence of the service and cultural and traditional beliefs were community contexts that affect PNHVs. Self-motivation to support and intrinsic job satisfaction were individual level factors that were considered as barriers and facilitators. The finding of this study suggested that the major barriers of postnatal home visits were poor attention of healthcare authorities of the government bodies, lack of effective supervision, poor functional linkages, inadequate logistics and supplies, unrealistic catchment area coverage, poor community participation and support, and lack of motivation of HEWs. Henceforth, to achieve the scheduled PNHV in rural Ethiopia, there should be strong political commitment and healthcare authorities should provide attention to postnatal care both at facility and home with a strong controlling system.

Effects of Adolescents’ Socioeconomic Status on Their Self-esteem: A Case of School going Adolescents in Central Bhutan

Many factors have been suggested, debated and instituted across the schools toward enhancing the quality of learning. However, the psychological aspect of learners rarely come up as an issue of discussion though various researches has pointed that improving the psychological aspect of learners can have a profound effect on the overall success and well-being of learners. One prominent psychological aspect of learners is self esteem that can have a significant effect on the way learner engages in activities, deals with challenges and connects with others. It also has an influence on learner’s motivation to learn competently and willing to face challenges. Therefore, this study examines the effects of adolescents’ socioeconomic status on their self-esteem at school. The study was conducted on the 61 adolescents from grade six to eight studying in three different schools in central Bhutan. A sequential mixed method based on survey, students’ reflections and interview were used to collect the data. Descriptive statistical techniques and Pearson correlation were used analyzed the quantitative data. The qualitative data was inductively analyzed through qualitative thematic analysis. The findings showed the significant positive correlation between the self-esteem and socioeconomic status indicators such as father’s education level, family monthly income and modes of travel to reach. Findings also indicated that adolescents’ school context experiences such as low academic achievement, interpersonal relationship with their teachers and peers, participation in co-curricular activities, friends undermining their intelligence was reported to be affecting their self-esteem at school. Further, finding suggest that adolescents’ school experience was influenced by their SES that ultimately affecting their self-esteem at school. The findings from this study suggest that education stakeholders in Bhutan need to understand how the adolescents’ school context experiences and socio-cultural aspects could impact the students’ self-esteem and emotion at school. While there has been some indication in this study that school context experiences and socio-cultural aspects impacting the students’ self-esteem and emotions, further research needs to carried out to explored this issue and accordingly addressed. Otherwise, the poor self-esteem and negative emotions at adolescence age period is link to later mental health and its related behaviour, poor educational attainment and economic participation, and well-being. Keywords: adolescent, self-esteem, socioeconomic status DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-8-01 Publication date: March 31 st 2022

Relationship between health literacy of cancer patients and shared clinical decision-making in a Middle East country

Introduction: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between Health literacy (HL) and shared clinical decision-making among cancer patients in Iran.Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was performed in the south of Iran between January and March of 2017. The study's population was all patients in the southeast of Iran. From here, 500 patients were selected as the study sample by the stratified sampling method. Two standard questionnaires were selected for data-gathering. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 21.0.Results: About 52% of patients did not have enough HL and 47% had a poor participation record in clinical decision-making. There is a positive statistical relationship between HL and participation in clinical decision-making among cancer patients (P=0.001). About 49% of the patients with low HL had poor participation in clinical decision-making. Moreover, HL had a relationship with age, gender, education, place of living, region, and type of cancer (P>0.05).Conclusion: HL among cancer patients is limited and has a positive impact on decision-making in clinical participation. Physicians must try and boost HL among patients. Higher HL helps patients engage in their clinical decision-making. Health workers are an important source for increasing HL among patients.

Behavioral Interventions to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk Among People with Severe Mental Disorder.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among people with severe mental disorder (SMD). CVD risk factors occur at the individual, health system, and socio-environmental levels and contribute not only to high rates of CVD but also to worsening mental health. While acknowledging this wider context, this review focuses on behavioral interventions for seven CVD risk behaviors-smoking, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake, inadequate sleep, poor social participation, and poor medication adherence-that are common among people with SMD. We survey recent meta-reviews of the literature and then review additional key studies to provide clinical recommendations for behavioral interventions to reduce CVD risk among people with SMD. A transdiagnostic psychological approach from the start of mental health treatment, drawing upon multidisciplinary expertise to address multiple risk behaviors, is recommended.

Participation in scheduled asthma follow-up contacts and adherence to treatment during 12-year follow-up in patients with adult-onset asthma

BackgroundPoor treatment compliance is a common problem in the treatment of asthma. To our knowledge, no previous long-term follow-up studies exist on how scheduled asthma follow-up contacts occur in primary health care (PHC) versus secondary care and how these contacts relate to adherence to medication and in participation to further scheduled asthma contacts. The aim of this study was to evaluate occurrence of scheduled asthma contacts and treatment compliance in PHC versus secondary care, and to identify the factors associated with non-participation to scheduled contacts.MethodsPatients with new adult-onset asthma (n = 203) were followed for 12 years in a real-life asthma cohort of the Seinäjoki Adult Asthma Study (SAAS). The first contacts were mainly carried out in secondary care and therefore the actual follow-up time including PHC visits was 10 years.ResultsA majority (71%) of the patients had ≥ 2 scheduled asthma contacts during 10-year follow-up and most of them (79%) mainly in PHC. Patients with follow-up contacts mainly in PHC had better adherence to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) medication during the whole 12-year period compared to patients in secondary care. In the study population, 29% of the patients had only 0–1 scheduled asthma contacts during the follow-up. Heavy alcohol consumption predicted poor participation in scheduled contacts.ConclusionsPatients with mainly PHC scheduled asthma contacts were more adherent to ICS medication than patients in the secondary care. Based on our results it is necessary to pay more attention to actualization of asthma follow-up visits and systematic assessment of asthma patients including evaluation of alcohol consumption.Trial registration Seinäjoki Adult Asthma Study is retrospectively registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov with identifier number NCT02733016. Registered 11 April 2016.

Knowledge of health rights and community participation in primary care

Background/Aims Primary care providers are encouraged to promote community participation in care, so that patients are engaged in health priorities and solutions. This study assessed the level of knowledge regarding health rights and community participation in a town in Mizan-Aman, Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study design was used. A structured questionnaire was administered to 374 community health leaders assessing their knowledge of health rights and the level of community participation in primary care, according to five indicators: leadership, organisation, management, resource mobilisation and needs assessment. Results A total of 326 out of 374 questionnaires were returned. The majority (n=205, 62.9%) had limited knowledge of health rights, while 189 (58%) indicated poor community participation in primary healthcare. There was no significant association between knowledge of health rights and level of community participation. Conclusions Knowledge of health rights is generally lacking in these communities, as is public participation in primary care service planning. A community-based health education programme is needed to raise awareness of patient rights and enhance community participation in primary care.

Stakeholders’ views of supporting asthma management in schools with a school-based asthma programme for primary school children: a qualitative study in Malaysia

ObjectiveThe WHO Global School Health Initiative aimed to improve child and community health through health promotion programmes in schools, though most focus on preventing communicable disease. Despite WHO recommendations, no...