Practical Assistance Research Articles

The work of port chaplains: views from seafarers served

ABSTRACT Seafarers have long interacted with religious figures in addition to the merchants, government officials, and members of the public they meet when ships come into port. Today these religious figures are primarily Christian chaplains who provide material and spiritual assistance in ports around the globe. This article extends research about the interactions between port chaplains and seafarers by asking—for the first time—how seafarers experience port chaplains. Drawing on lived religion approaches to the study of religion, it is clear that, while most seafarers rely on port chaplains for practical assistance, a significant minority experience them as religious figures who can be trusted, offer blessings, and quietly remind them of God. The lived religion lens reveals aspects of seafarers’ spiritual and religious agency which are frequently overlooked because they take place quietly in the interstices of their work.

Investigating Knowledge Management Maturity Level in Medium-sized Construction Companies

Construction companies are knowledge-intensive industries that operate in highly competitive environment. They have to utilize their knowledge effectively to maintain their competitiveness. There are extensive literature explaining how large organizations have established effective knowledge management (KM) initiatives, which is in contrast to the little attention given to small and medium construction companies (SMEs). In fact, in East Java Indonesia, SMEs construction companies account for more than 90% of the construction sector. For these companies, to exploit the optimal benefits of KM, knowledge maturity could be used as a way of providing practical decision assistance. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the maturity level of KM in medium-sized construction companies. APO KM assessment tools are employed to address the objective of this study. This research found some areas that need to be improved by small-medium construction companies in order to enhance their knowledge management. It is expected that this study nourishes the existing literature on knowledge management areas.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people from black and mixed ethnic groups’ mental health in West London: a qualitative study

ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted vulnerable groups’ physical and mental health, especially young people and minority ethnic groups, yet little is known about the crux of their experiences and...

Die hausärztliche Versorgung während der COVID-19-Pandemie: eine Fragebogenerhebung unter Hausärzt*innen und Medizinischen Fachangestellten zu ihrer Perspektive auf Veränderungen, Bedarfe und Belastungen

IntroductionThe coronavirus pandemic did not only result in changes in the provision and utilization of health care services in general practice but also in an increased workload for physicians and medical practice assistants. The VeCo practice study retrospectively explores the experiences of both professional groups two years after the start of the pandemic. MethodsIn March and April 2022, general practitioners and medical practice assistants in the three German federal states of Berlin, Brandenburg and Thuringia were asked to complete a paper-based questionnaire. Results657 general practitioners and 762 medical practice assistants completed the questionnaire. Both professional groups agreed to statements indicating a reduction in regular health care provisions. Nevertheless, 74% of the physicians and 82.9% of the medical practice assistants considered the health care provided to their patients during the pandemic as good. This was only possible through considerable additional effort and stress. While more than half of both groups reported that work was still enjoyable, three quarters of both groups stated that the challenges arising from the pandemic outstripped their capacity. Both groups would like to receive more recognition from society (medical practice assistants 93.2%, general practitioners 85.3%) and from their patients (87.7% and 69.9%, respectively). DiscussionGeneral practitioners and medical practice assistants reduced regular health care provision but were still able to maintain a good quality of care for their patients during the pandemic. It became clear that more appreciation and adequate financial compensation are necessary to ensure long-term sustainability of GP care. ConclusionThe subjective view of general practitioners and medical practice assistants on their health care provision shows that appreciation and adequate financial renumeration, particularly when working under most difficult conditions, are necessary to increase the attractiveness of a career in general practice, for both physicians and medical practice assistants.

Adoption of big data analytics for sustainability of library services in academic libraries of Pakistan

PurposeThis paper aims to measure the adoption of big data analytics (BDA) to achieve sustainability in services being offered in university libraries in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachThe study applied a unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) as a framework and used quantitative data collection and analysis method. In total, 246 university library professionals were surveyed using a questionnaire consisting of UTAUT factors. The gathered data were analyzed using partial least structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe results showed that performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE) and social influence (SI) significantly impacted the behavioral intention (BI) to adopt BDA. Facilitating conditions (FCs) have a statistically significant influence on the adoption of big data in libraries, while BDA has a statistical influence on the sustainability of library services (SLS).Practical implicationsBDA assists libraries in making better decisions about demand-driven collection creation, library space management, usage tracking, and quality maintenance in routine and repetitive library tasks such as cataloging, indexing, archiving, administration, preservation and representation. BDA supports libraries in making more cost-effective, innovative, user-oriented services, resource transferring, social identity, resource utilization, healthier user experience, strategic planning, informed decision-making and state-of-the-art infrastructure.Originality/valueThe foundation of this study is based on information gathered from various sources and university libraries in Punjab to better understand the challenges associated with using BDA for the SLS in Pakistan.

Graphic Design Practices for the Women's Community Nies World Learning House as a Media for Self-Development and Creativity in an Effort for Entrepreneurship

Graphic design is a skill that is much needed today. With the existence of a women's community at the Nies World learning house, it is a good opportunity to open graphic design classes for young women only. Classes will only focus on making desk calendars and wall calendars, both print and digital. The method used is giving lectures related to introductory material and direct practical assistance. Products that were successfully designed by the participants were very good, seen from the type of template chosen, the type of writing, the color of the writing and the selection of images that were appropriate and balanced between existing elements. Some of the best calendars were printed and given back to the participants concerned. With this training, it is hoped that young women can express ideas and be creative in providing their best designs to create quality products. This potential can be beneficial for oneself, as entrepreneurial capital through selling production results or opening design services.

Changes to utilization and provision of health care in German GP practices during the COVID 19-pandemic: Protocol for a mixed methods study on the viewpoint of GPs, medical practice assistants, and patients.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, general practitioners (GPs) continued to be a main point of contact for patients. For GP practices, it was and still is a challenge to meet constantly changing requirements due to the various phases of the pandemic. The aim of the study is to explore retrospectively the subjective experience with supply and utilization of health care services from the perspective of general practitioners, medical practice assistants and patients, in particular regarding instances of underutilization of services for non-Covid related conditions, adjustments due to the pandemic, and the appropriateness of care. The study is carried out within the RESPoNsE research practice network in three of Germany's federal states: Berlin, Brandenburg, and Thuringia (RESPoNsE-Research practice network east). The study follows a convergent mixed method design, and consists of the following sections: a) two anonymous paper-based questionnaires filled out by GPs and medical practice assistants (MPAs), at an interval of 12 to 18 months; b) in-depth qualitative interviews conducted among a subgroup of GPs and MPAs; c) anonymous paper-based questionnaires among patients of participating practices. The idea for the study was derived from discussions with the practice advisory board of the RESPoNsE network. The themes and issues to be explored in the surveys and interviews are developed and discussed in the practice advisory board, the patient advisory board, and with interested MPAs. The questionnaires will be analyzed descriptively, exploring the effect of demographic variables. Qualitative content analysis is used to analyze the data from the interviews and focus groups. The study focuses on the conditions of GP care during the COVID-19 pandemic. A broad insight is provided as GPs and MPAs, as well as patients, are involved. It provides the opportunity to express needs and concerns. The results can support future discussions on lessons learned from the pandemic and necessary changes in health care delivery. Trial registration at the German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00028095.

Pendampingan Pemanfaatan Aplikasi Al-Qur’an for Tahfiz sebagai Media Pembelajaran di Pesantren

The tahfiz program is featured in several Islamic Education Institutions, but several institutions experience problems with achieving less targets and limited media innovation. So the community service team partnered with the Jepara Regency Islamic Boarding School Group Forum (FKPP), aimed to provide senior students with an understanding of the development of digital media, and the use of the Al-Qur'an application for tahfiz in Islamic boarding schools. The method for this service used Participatory Action Research (PAR), and at the training stage used lectures, discussions, tutorials, and practical assistance. The stages of the activity include preparation, outreach, training, mentoring, and evaluation. The results show that community service activities have been carried out in the Jepara Regency FKPP hall in Mangunan Jepara. The activity participants totaled 30 participants, from FKPP management and representatives of senior students from 10 tahfiz Islamic boarding schools. The result is that 80% of participants understand the development of digital media, 75% of students can use the Al-Qur'an for tahfiz application as a medium for memorizing and muraja'ah. In the evaluation aspect, in general the participants' responses were very good, the material according to the needs of the students was responded to by 57% strongly agreeing, 43% agreeing. Submission of clear and comprehensive sources was responded to by 57% and 43%. In the aspect of implementation, responses regarding the course of activities as expected reached 57% and 43% agreed. Adequate activity time was responded to by 52% strongly agree, and 48% agree. Services during satisfying activities were responded to by 57% strongly agreeing, and 43% agreeing. At the application level, partners respond that the Al-Qur'an for tahfiz application is very helpful, students can find the same verses that are often inverted when memorizing to anticipate and remember.

Features of the formation of value orientations of modern youth in Russia

The article discusses the distinctive features of the process of formation of value orientations characteristic of modern youth in Russia. For young people of the XXI century, it is the features of behavior that can have a significant impact on the nature of decision-making in different spheres of their life, and therefore require more detailed study. The purpose of the article is to identify the characteristic features of this process in relation to the youth of Russia at the present stage of its development. Based on the analysis of scientific theoretical and empirical sources, it is concluded that the government youth policy carried out in Russia does not achieve its goal and has certain costs in the forms, methods and means used. As a result, young people in Russia do not always respond adequately to changes in social space and in some cases of their behaviorism, conflicts are observed. The methodological basis of the study was a systematic approach, which allowed to reveal the problems of modern youth, from the point of view of their value orientations and to determine the basic values for conducting a sociological study. The application of the activity approach made it possible to identify the structural elements of the process of forming value orientations and the connections between them, as well as to build its model. The main scientific result is the conclusion that the basis of the value-oriented behavior of the youth of Russia is a humanistic orientation based on the desire for self-determination and responsibility to the family, an identical group, society and the state, and the necessary component is a cultural and ideological tradition that has its origins in the family. As characteristic features of the formation of the value orientation of young people, high trust in social networks as the main means of this process, as well as a certain trust in the educational context as an environment for instilling certain traditional values are highlighted. The ranking of subjects, methods and means of forming value orientations of Russian youth identified and carried out in the course of the study will provide practical assistance in further improving the effectiveness of this process.

Ruqyah Syari'ah Counseling for Al Muhajirin Depok Congregation

Popular treatment in Islam is ruqyah treatment. Understanding the ruqyah treatment method is very important to be understood by the community so that they can treat themselves personally and others. The main goal in community service is to provide an understanding of alternative Islamic psychiatric medicine through Ruqyah sharia. The method used is with workshops and intensive practical assistance to the community around the Al Muhajirin Limo Depok Mosque. The result: Increased understanding of sharia ruqyah is increasing in the Al Muhajirin Mosque Congregation in Depok. They are able to properly practice the mechanism or flow of sharia ruqyah treatment systematically and avoid things that are envious.

Optimalisasi Pemanfaatan Limbah Bonggol Jamur Tiram Dalam Upaya Peningkatan Varian Produk Unggulan Pada AJJ Jamur Jepara

Utilization of oyster mushroom weevil waste is an effort to add superior product variants, processed mushrooms are intended as an effort to increase sales turnover at AJJ Mushrooms Jepara. For the waste to be useful again, it is necessary to optimize it through the utilization of oyster mushroom waste into processed mushroom sticks. This assistance needs to be carried out to reuse oyster mushroom hump waste which was previously only used for additional animal feed and increase the selling value of processed waste. The method used in this community service is the Assed Based Community Development ABCD method through the activities of providing assistance and training through outreach, practice, and demonstrations to partners starting from the preparation of materials in the form of mushroom cob waste, other supporting materials, equipment, resource persons whom are some expert in processing food ingredients followed by outreach activities, practice, and direct assistance to partners. The result of mentoring the utilization of oyster mushroom weevil waste is in the form of mushroom sticks that are crispy and delicious to events that they can increase product variants selling processed mushrooms and increase the number of sales turnover at AJJ Jepara Oyster Mushrooms.

Educational Training for Students' Self-Efficacy in Learning Science and Mathematics

This service is carried out by MTsS Safinatussalamah Al-Munawarah, Lhokseumawe City. The priority issue of partners (Safinatussalamah Al-Munawarah) is in terms of learning. In this case, in partner schools, students have not fully self-efficacy in learning mathematics and science. This is due to the lack of motivation in the form of educating students on the importance of self-efficacy abilities. The purpose of implementing the activities in this lecturer service program can be detailed as follows: a) To provide education to all students on the importance of having self-efficacy skills, especially in learning mathematics and science. b) Provide opportunities for all students to be able to explore the potential that exists within students. c) Train and improve students' caring attitudes, empathy for educational conditions, and provide practical scientific services and environmental knowledge assistance. The implementation method is a field survey and training method by determining partner problems, based on the results of a situation analysis on partners that has been carried out through a preliminary survey. The results of the service stated that students began to have a sense of independence in managing themselves after understanding the concept of self-efficacy. This is indicated by the acquisition of the highest percentage of the questionnaire score of 0.52. Or by 52% and in the very high category.

Does emotional labor affect nurses suffering from workplace violence? A moderated mediation model

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the relationship between emotional labor and workplace violence based on the social exchange theory. Drawing on the social exchange theory, this paper aims to investigate the relationship between emotional labor and workplace violence. Specifically, the authors take a relational approach by introducing positive patient treatment as the mediator. The moderating role of organizational support in the relationship between emotional labor and workplace violence is also considered. Design/methodology/approach The data of this study encompasses 536 nurses from 10 university hospitals in Turkey. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to test the proposed model. Findings The findings of this study support the negative effect of emotional labor on workplace violence and the mediating effect of patient-positive treatment. Moreover, when organizational support is low, the relationship between emotional labor and workplace violence is strong. In contrast, the effect is weak when organizational support is high. Practical implications The findings of this study suggest that health-care administrators should offer more training to nurses to help them manage their emotions while interacting with their patients. This leads to positive interpersonal relationships, which, in turn, lowers workplace violence. Moreover, health-care administrators should pay more attention to the buffering role of perceived organizational support for those subordinates with low emotional labor and higher workplace violence. Originality/value The study provides new insights into emotional labor’s influence on workplace violence and the moderating role of organizational support in the link between emotional labor and workplace violence. The paper also offers practical assistance to nurses in the health-care industry interested in building positive patient treatment and trust with their patients and minimizing workplace violence.

Exploring barriers and enablers of self-management behaviours in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: A qualitative study from the perceptions of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals in primary care.

Exploring barriers and enablers of self-management behaviours in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: A qualitative study from the perceptions of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals in primary care.

Naar een betere omkadering van de huisartsenpraktijk in de eerstelijnsgezondheidszorg

Towards a better framing of primary care general practice: the contribution of the ‘practice assistant in primary care’ and the ‘nurse in general practice’ One of the most important observations during the COVID-19 pandemic was that general practitioners (GPs) often lack professional support, mainly within 3 domains: reception function, administrative tasks and performing simple interventions such as taking samples for COVID-19 tests. GPs are asking to be relieved of improper tasks and to be able to focus on the core tasks for which they have been trained. Since 2007, many actors advocated the training of a ‘practice assistant in primary care’. Practice assistants support the GP and other primary care providers with the fulfilment of the reception function and the performance of IT and administrative tasks. Under the supervision of the responsible primary care provider, they can assume some frequently performed, protocolized technical-supportive medical tasks. In this way, GPs can carry out individual consultations, counseling and other interventions more efficiently and focus on their core tasks. In addition, for more than 5 years there have been a number of courses in Flanders to train nurses to become professionals in a primary care practice: the ‘nurses in the GP practice’. These nurses autonomously support GPs in treating, guiding and caring for patients in primary care. This program also responds proactively to the changing healthcare landscape. The practice assistant and the nurse practitioner have complementary roles to strengthen the GPs in primary care.

Influenza Vaccination Behaviour of Healthcare Workers in Switzerland: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives: As no data are available regarding the influenza vaccination status of Swiss healthcare workers (HCW) in the ambulatory setting, this study aims to investigate their influenza vaccination behaviours. Methods: We conducted an online survey using a four-item, semi-structured questionnaire to assess HCWs influenza vaccination coverage and behaviour. Associations between influenza vaccination status, age and language as well as recommendation behaviour and reasons for vaccination were assessed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses. Results: Of the 1057 completed questionnaires, 425 (40.2%) HCW were vaccinated and 632 (59.8%) not. 78.1% of the physicians and 47.3% pharmacists were vaccinated, compared to only 29.1% of the nurses, 24.3% pharmacy technicians and 13.0% medical practice assistants (MPA). There was a significant association between influenza vaccination status and HCW profession, age, language and how often an influenza vaccination recommendation was made. Conclusion: Demographic factors seem to influence HCWs' attitudes towards influenza vaccination, which in turn affects the prospect of them recommending the influenza vaccination. Diverse strategies might be necessary to encourage HCW to get vaccinated and hence, promote influenza vaccination.

Prototype Sistem Pembagian Beras Bansos Berbasis IoT Menggunakan E-KTP

This study aims to design an IoT-based social assistance rice distribution system using e-KTP which can provide convenience in distributing rice to beneficiaries, practical and automatic social assistance only by bringing the e-KTP that has been registered without having to queue any longer. The results of the study show that the social assistance rice distribution system makes it easy for related village officials to distribute social assistance rice efficiently and effectively. The result of testing this system is that on each e-KTP there is a unique code that is different for each card which will be processed by the microcontroller and the data will be compared with the data registered in the database, with that if the user is registered the LCD will display a successful registered notification, but only Only e-KTPs that have been registered can collect this social assistance rice. Furthermore, there is a pin access on this tool as a second security which allows the recipient to be sick and can be represented by accessing it through the pin that has been inputted into the database.

Perspective of Dutch healthcare professionals on care for female urinary incontinence: A mixed-methods study

Introduction and hypothesis: Health care professionals (HCP) can reveal practical recommendations to improve processes and address challenges in the care of women with urinary incontinence (UI) in the Netherlands. Methods: We conducted an exploratory, sequential, mixed-methods study among HCPs, using the outcomes of six focus group sessions (30 HCPs) to inform a subsequent survey. HCPs included general practitioners (GPs), practice assistants (PAs), pelvic physiotherapists (PPTs), and urologists and gynecologists (UGs). Results: The main themes arising from the six focus group sessions (with 6 GPs, 7 PAs, 6 (resident) UGs, 8 PPTs, and 7 PPTs) were “identification of UI,” “current state of care,” and “guiding patients through the healthcare system.” The survey respondents included 351 PAs, 124 GPs, 75 PPTs, and 183 UGs. Of these 741 respondents, 72.8% (strongly) agreed that the identification of UI in general practice required improvement and 60% confirmed the need for further education on this topic. Most HCPs (83.1%) found it useful to offer women a patient information leaflet when buying incontinence products, but less useful to ask about UI routinely in specific scenarios, and most (75%) agreed that a multidisciplinary guideline could improve healthcare. Interestingly, 86% of PPTs and 21% of UGs advocated referral to a PPT before referral to a specialist, while 87% of PPTs wanted primary care services to offer a UI consultation hour and 36% of the GPs (strongly) disagreed. Conclusion: Poor UI identification in primary care and a lack of patient guidance through the health care system hamper continence care provision.

Measuring the professional social capital of psychiatrists: adaptation and validation of the Resource Generator for Psychiatrists (RG-Psy)

Introduction Psychiatrists need access to professional resources to care for their patients. In mental health settings, clinical innovations such as a new therapeutic approach, clinical guidelines or new drugs can diffuse more or less, depending on the social capital of these clinicians. The Resource Generator developed by Snijders & Van Der Gaag (2004) measures access to resources within a social network for the general population. It may therefore not capture access to social capital in the professional field of psychiatry.ObjectivesWe aimed to develop and validate the Resource Generator for Psychiatrists and to detect factors influencing the social capital of clinicians.Methods The development of the final 11-item questionnaire followed multiple steps. First, the items were selected and adapted by an expert in the sociology of mental health to match the sector of psychiatry. Content validity and detection of important issues or misunderstandings were ensured by cognitive interviews with a panel of 6 clinicians. Each item has a 6-point response scale, rated from 0 to 6. Answers were coded “0” when the respondent did not need a certain resource or it was not applicable to their situation, while answering the closest resource was coded “6”. The online self-completion questionnaire was administered through a link sent by email to all adult psychiatrists and psychiatric residents licensed to work in Belgium. Additional warm contacts were performed for psychiatrists working in ambulatory care. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted. Internal consistency was ensured with Pearson’s correlation, item-total correlation and Cronbach’s alpha. Test-retest reliability was also measured. Multivariable linear regression analysis assessed the association between psychiatrist demographics and the RG-Psy total score.Results The Resource Generator for Psychiatrists questionnaire completed by 152 psychiatrists showed a normal distribution with a mean of 32.5 (SD=12), good test-retest reliability (ICC=0.81), and good total Cronbach’s alpha (0.74). Exploratory factor analysis revealed two main subtypes in psychiatrists’ social capital: “attention and access to advice” and “practical assistance, knowledge and expertise”, with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.62 and 0.7 respectively. Clinicians attending institutional seminars (β=5.5221, p=0.013) and working in multidisciplinary settings such as hospitals (β=4.7448, p=0.023) or a mobile team (β=8.7475, p=0.014) were more likely to have higher social capital.ConclusionsPsychiatrists’ access to professional resources can be reliably measured by a 11-item questionnaire and can be used to test the influence of their professional social capital on different outcomes.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Scientific and Production Activity of Leningrad Higher Education Institutions in the Years of the Blockade (on the Example of M.I. Kalinin Leningrad Polytechnical Institute)

The article is devoted to the analysis of scientific, practical and production activities of employees of the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute named after M.I. Kalinin during blockade. The purpose of the scientific publication is to study examples of real practical assistance of employees of the Polytechnic Institute during years of the blockade through research work. In the course of the research, author used the method of comparative analysis, and presented types, features of technological improvement of performance of production operations are shown using descriptive technique. The principles of historicism and scientific objectivity helped the authors to reveal the objective factors that influenced the assistance of the industrial and labor collective of the city in production. The paper presents cases of participation of the scientific staff of the university in the organization of a number of events related to the conversion of peaceful production for military needs, participation in the development and construction of the ice route "Road of Life". In conclusion, it should be noted that the scientific and pedagogical staff of the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute made a huge contribution to the organization of the work of industrial enterprises during the blockade. Most of the scientific works of the university scientists were of a practical nature. Being in extreme conditions, despite all the difficulties, teaching staff of the university continued to work, publish works, conduct experiments that made it possible to ensure the work of enterprises of the Leningrad industry, thereby making a huge contribution to the Victory over fascism.