Support Problem Solving Research Articles

A genome-wide association study of coping behaviors suggests FBXO45 is associated with emotional expression.

Individuals use coping behaviors to deal with unpleasant daily events. Such behaviors can moderate or mediate the pathway between psychosocial stress and health-related outcomes. However, few studies have examined the associations between coping behaviors and genetic variants. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on coping behaviors in 14088 participants aged 35 to 69 years as part of the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study. Five coping behaviors (emotional expression, emotional support seeking, positive reappraisal, problem solving and disengagement) were measured and analyzed. A GWAS analysis was performed using a mixed linear model adjusted for study area, age and sex. Variants with suggestive significance in the discovery phase (N = 6403) were further examined in the replication phase (N = 7685). We then combined variant-level association evidence into gene-level evidence using a gene-based analysis. The results showed a significant genetic contribution to emotional expression and disengagement, with an estimation that the 19.5% and 6.6% variance in the liability-scale was explained by common variants. In the discovery phase, 12 variants met suggestive significance (P < 1 × 10-6 ) for association with the coping behaviors and perceived stress. However, none of these associations were confirmed in the replication stage. In gene-based analysis, FBXO45, a gene with regulatory roles in synapse maturation, was significantly associated with emotional expression after multiple corrections (P < 3.1 × 10-6 ). In conclusion, our results showed the existence of up to 20% genetic contribution to coping behaviors. Moreover, our gene-based analysis using GWAS data suggests that genetic variations in FBXO45 are associated with emotional expression.

Scaffolding to Support Problem-Solving Performance in a Bioengineering Lab—A Case Study

Background: Engineering programs must equip students to solve open-ended workplace problems. However, the literature points to actual or potential difficulties faced by students in solving open-ended or complex problems. During Fall 2014, the authors’ students experienced difficulties in solving open-ended bio-signals laboratory problems of designing input signals to analyze unknown systems via MATLAB programming. These difficulties resulted in low performance. Intended Outcomes: To support, or scaffold, problem-solving in subsequent semesters, a strategy of frequent and timely monitoring and feedback was used. The hypotheses were that these scaffolding strategies would be associated with enhanced performance on open-ended projects, and would support students in similar future work once removed. Application Design: Based upon strategies from the scaffolding literature, assignments that guided problem decomposition were used. Flipped instruction challenged students to prepare for the laboratory by reviewing worked programming examples and completing online assessments. The laboratory sessions were reserved for collaborative, hands-on programming, with instructor oversight, as in a problem-based learning environment. Students submitted frequent progress reports for self-monitoring and feedback throughout each project. Findings: A statistical comparison of project scores across semesters revealed performance improvements with scaffolding. Post-scaffolding assessment in a follow-up course determined scaffolding to be helpful and applicable by these students for similar projects. These preliminary results are important for STEM students and instructors encountering challenges with open-ended problem-solving of this nature, and they provide quantitative evidence recently called for by the STEM scaffolding literature.

Introducing and evaluating a knowledge transfer approach to support problem solving in and around protected areas

Protected areas (PAs) can generate many benefits inside and outside their borders, and achieving objectives for diverse stakeholders raises many challenges. There are many examples of successful PA management around the globe, although a systematic and comprehensive approach to developing and sharing these solutions has been lacking. We present “solutioning” as a structured process of peer-learning, which can inform management strategies in and around protected areas. We explain how the PANORAMA—Solutions for a Healthy Planet initiative has put solutioning into practice through an interactive community and web portal to learn about protected area solutions around the globe. Unlike other web platforms and initiatives reviewed, PANORAMA facilitates adaptation of solution elements (i.e., building blocks) for novel implementation. Supported by theories of resilience and peer-learning, PANORAMA appears to have potential to promote efficiency and equitable benefits for PAs and associated stakeholders focused on nature conservation and sustainable development, although further research is needed to assess whether this learning leads to better solutions or more effective PA management.

Coping as a mediator of the relationship between stress mindset and psychological stress response: a pilot study.

BackgroundCoping, the cognitive and behavioral effort required to manage the effects of stressors, is important in determining psychological stress responses (ie, the emotional, behavioral, and cognitive responses to stressors). Coping was classified into categories of emotional expression (eg, negative feelings and thoughts), emotional support seeking (eg, approaching loved ones to request encouragement), cognitive reinterpretation (eg, reframing a problem positively), and problem solving (eg, working to solve the problem). Stress mindset refers to the belief that stress has enhancing (stress-is-enhancing mindset) or debilitating consequences (stress-is-debilitating mindset). This study examined whether coping mediated the relationship between stress mindset and psychological stress responses. Psychological stress responses were conceptualized as depression-anxiety, irritability-anger, and helplessness. The following two hypotheses were tested: 1) a stronger stress-is-enhancing mindset is associated with less frequent use of emotional expression, emotional support seeking, and problem solving, which in turn is associated with lower levels of depression-anxiety, irritability-anger, and helplessness; 2) a stronger stress-is-debilitating mindset is associated with more frequent use of these coping strategies, which in turn is associated with higher levels of these psychological stress responses.Materials and methodsThe participants were 30 male and 94 female undergraduate and graduate students (mean age =20.4 years). Stress mindset, coping, and psychological stress responses were measured using self-report questionnaires. Six mediation analyses were performed with stress-is-enhancing mindset or stress-is-debilitating mindset as the independent variable, one of the psychological stress responses as the dependent variable, and the four coping strategies as mediators.ResultsEmotional expression partially mediated the relationship between a strong stress-is-debilitating mindset and higher irritability-anger levels. The other three coping strategies did not exhibit mediating effects. None of the coping strategies mediated the relationship between a stress-is-enhancing mindset and psychological stress responses.ConclusionThese results provide initial evidence that stress mindset is associated with psychological stress responses, through coping strategies.

Network visualization and problem-solving support: A cognitive fit study

This study examines the relative effectiveness of four different social network representations for improving human problem-solving accuracy and speed: node-link diagrams, adjacency matrices, tables, and text. Results suggest that visual network representations improve problem-solving accuracy and speed, compared with text. Among the visual representations, tables produced superior problem-solving outcomes for symbolic tasks and link-node diagrams produced superior problem-solving outcomes for spatial tasks. These results partially support a cognitive fit model of problem-solving support. There is not “one best way” to represent network data. Instead, it is important to match network representations and problem-solving tasks.

Reflections of patients and therapists on a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme for persons with brachial plexus injuries

Purpose: There is lack of knowledge, evidence, and guidelines for rehabilitation interventions for persons with neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) or brachial plexus pathology. A first pilot study, evaluating the effect of an integrated rehabilitation programme, showed improvements in activity and participation levels.Aim: To gain insight, from the perspective of patients and therapists, into the critical ingredients of the programme, that contributed to improvements in activity and participation.Materials and methods: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with eight patients and five therapists (three occupational therapists and two physical therapists). Participants were asked to identify and describe factors regarding the rehabilitation that they perceived as positive and aspects of the programme that could be improved. Data were analysed using a constant comparative approach.Results: Patients reported (1) Time to diagnose: “Finally I’m in the right place;” (2) Awareness: “They gave me a mirror;” (3) Partnership: “There was real contact with the therapists; we made decisions together;” (4) Close collaboration: “Overlapping scopes of practice; doing the same from a different perspective;” and finally (5) Self-management: “Now I can do it myself.” Therapists reported (1) “Patients knowledge and understanding is critical to success;” (2) “Activate problem solving and decision making;” (3) “Personalize your therapy; it’s more than just giving exercises and information;” (4) “Constant consultation within the team; consistency in messages and approach;” and (5)” Ultimately the patient is in charge.”Conclusions: The critical ingredients, correspond well with each other and include a person-centred approach, education, support in problem solving and decision making and an integrated team approach. These ingredients provided the patients with confidence to take responsibility to manage their everyday lives, the ultimate goal of the programme.Implications for rehabilitationBoth patients and therapists believe that the ability to self-manage and take control should be the outcome of high quality integrated rehabilitation programmes for patients with neuralgic amyotrophy and/or other brachial plexus injuries.A person-centred, collaborative, and integrated team approach, among all members of the team, are critical components of care delivery in personalised interventions.Critical programme ingredients are knowledge and education of both the patient and therapists; partnership between patient–therapist and within the team; patient activation and self-reflection; and personalised care.Patients recommend more options for personalisation of the intensity and duration of rehabilitation, the possibility to consult a psychologist and peer support within a group setting.

L'impartition des activités logistiques dans le secteur de la santé: les leçons d'une expérience canadienne

AbstractLogistics activities are seen by many healthcare organizations as an opportunity for financial savings. The level of logistics complexity in these organizations may explain the challenges they face in applying solutions common in other industries. This case study of a medical‐supply distribution outsourcing initiative to a logistics services provider by a group of hospitals in a region of Canada helps elucidate this complexity. The objective of this article is to identify the dissonances between various points of view in order to articulate lessons for managers while taking into account the specifics of the healthcare sector. By examining information from several sources, this study shows the necessity of: 1) setting objectives and managing expectations in order to maintain the interest and participation of stakeholders throughout the project; 2) updating internal logistics processes prior to outsourcing; 3) carefully considering a gradual transition phase by ensuring short‐term benefits for both partners; 4) requiring problem‐solving skills as a selection criterion for the logistics services provider to ensure continuous improvement in the performance of the outsourced activity; and 5) developing a governance accountability framework to support problem solving between all parties involved. Copyright © 2018 ASAC. Published by John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Logistics outsourcing in the healthcare sector: Lessons from a Canadian experience

AbstractLogistics activities are seen by many healthcare organizations as an opportunity for financial savings. The level of logistics complexity in these organizations may explain the challenges they face in applying solutions common in other industries. This case study of a medical‐supply distribution outsourcing initiative to a logistics services provider by a group of hospitals in a region of Canada helps elucidate this complexity. The objective of this article is to identify the dissonances between various points of view in order to articulate lessons for managers while taking into account the specifics of the healthcare sector. By examining information from several sources, this study shows the necessity of: 1) setting objectives and managing expectations in order to maintain the interest and participation of stakeholders throughout the project; 2) updating internal logistics processes prior to outsourcing; 3) carefully considering a gradual transition phase by ensuring short‐term benefits for both partners; 4) requiring problem‐solving skills as a selection criterion for the logistics services provider to ensure continuous improvement in the performance of the outsourced activity; and 5) developing a governance accountability framework to support problem solving between all parties involved. Copyright © 2018 ASAC. Published by John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Stress coping strategies influencing college adjustment and academic satisfaction in nursing freshmen in Korea

This study was conducted to identify the levels of college adaptation and academic satisfaction as well as the types of coping strategies in nursing freshmen in Korea. The subjects were 148 nursing freshmen in two nursing colleges. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression. The mean scores of 3 stress coping strategies (social support seeking, problem solving, and avoidance) were 2.24±0.40, 2.18±0.40, and 1.72±0.32. The total mean score of college adaptation was 3.27±0.50. Among sub-categories of college adaptation, the highest mean score was academic activities (3.83±0.61) and the lowest mean score was social participation (2.73±0.83). The total mean score of department satisfaction was 4.02±0.50. Among sub-categories of department satisfaction, the highest mean score was department perception (4.61±0.49) and the lowest mean score was interpersonal relations (3.34±0.77). The result of multiple linear regression showed both college adaptation (t=4.944, p<.001) and department satisfaction (t=4.088, p<.001) were influenced by problem solving strategy. The results demonstrated that problem solving strategies affected both college adjustment and academic satisfaction. Therefore, healthcare providers need to provide interventions to increase the problem solving skills of freshmen nursing students.

The development and evaluation of a web-based programme to support problem-solving skills following brain injury

Background and aim: Cognitive impairments following brain injury, including difficulty with problem solving, can pose significant barriers to successful community reintegration. Problem-solving strategy training is well-supported in the cognitive rehabilitation literature. However, limitations in insurance reimbursement have resulted in fewer services to train such skills to mastery and to support generalization of those skills into everyday environments. The purpose of this project was to develop and evaluate an integrated, web-based programme, ProSolv, which uses a small number of coaching sessions to support problem solving in everyday life following brain injury.Method: We used participatory action research to guide the iterative development, usability testing, and within-subject pilot testing of the ProSolv programme. The finalized programme was then evaluated in a between-subjects group study and a non-experimental single case study.Results: Results were mixed across studies. Participants demonstrated that it was feasible to learn and use the ProSolv programme for support in problem solving. They highly recommended the programme to others and singled out the importance of the coach. Limitations in app design were cited as a major reason for infrequent use of the app outside of coaching sessions.Conclusions: Results provide mixed evidence regarding the utility of web-based mobile apps, such as ProSolv to support problem solving following brain injury.Implications for RehabilitationPeople with cognitive impairments following brain injury often struggle with problem solving in everyday contexts.Research supports problem solving skills training following brain injury.Assistive technology for cognition (smartphones, selected apps) offers a means ofsupporting problem solving for this population.This project demonstrated the feasibility of a web-based programme to address this need.

Designing Interfaces that Stimulate Ideational Super-fluency

Current graphical keyboard and mouse interfaces are better suited for handling mechanical tasks, like email and text editing, than they are at supporting focused problem solving or complex learning tasks. One reason is that graphical interfaces limit users’ ability to fluidly express content involving different representational systems (e.g., symbols, diagrams) as they think through steps during complex problem solutions. We asked: Can interfaces be designed that actively stimulate students’ ability to “think on paper,” including providing better support for both ideation and convergent problem solving? In this talk, we will summarize new research on the affordances of different types of interface (e.g., pen-based, keyboard-based), and how these basic computer input capabilities function to substantially facilitate or impede people’s ideational fluency. We also will show data on the relation between interface support for communicative fluency (i.e., both linguistic and non-linguistic forms) and ideational fluency. In addition, we’ll discuss the relation between interface support for active marking (i.e., both formal structures like diagrams, and informal ones such as “thinking marks”) and successful problem solving. Finally, we’ll present new data on interfaces that improve support for learning and performance in lower-performing populations, and we will discuss how these new directions in interface media could play a role in improving their education and minimizing the persistent achievement gap between low- versus high-performing groups

Using a Recommendation System to Support Problem Solving and Case-Based Reasoning Retrieval

In case library learning environments, learners are presented with an array of narratives that can be used to guide their problem solving. However, according to theorists, learners struggle to identify and retrieve the optimal case to solve a new problem. Given the challenges novice face during case retrieval, recommender systems can be embedded in case libraries to support the decision-making process about which case is most relevant to solve new problems. This emerging technology reports how experts’ assessment of case relevancy was used to retrieve and suggest the most relevant cases for the learner as they engaged in an inquiry-based learning. Specifically, our case library learning system integrates a content-based filtering, which recommends items similar to those a user has selected based on item descriptions or other user data, and is most widely used in textual domains. Implications for practice are also discussed.

Social Support Problem Solving and Self Esteem among Individuals with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome

Introduction: Regular alcohol drinking or dependence is changing the individual’s personal, social, occupational, marital, physical and mental health. Alcohol dependence is a major problem worldwide; India is not an exception. Family members’ negative responses to the alcoholic’s behaviour usually reinforce the individual’s alienation and dependency resulting from alcoholism. There are a number of social factors identified as leading factors for the relapse and re-admission such as family conflict and peers pressure which attracts the high attention of mental health professionals including psychiatric social workers. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess and find out the association between social support, problem solving ability and self esteem among individual with the alcohol dependence syndrome. Method and Materials: It is a hospital based cross-sectional study. Total 40 participants were selected purposefully for the study from inpatient and outpatient department of the RINPAS, Ranchi. Socio demographic details, social support, the problem solving and self esteem of the individuals with alcohol dependence syndrome were assessed. Result: There was a significant correlation between social support, problem solving ability and self esteem among individual with the alcohol dependence syndrome which important bearing on treatment and rehabilitation of these population. Keywords: Social support, problem solving ability, self esteem

Psychometric properties and relations with coping and family strain of the Health Services and Caregiver Experience questionnaire (HSCE): an outcome measure of informal caregivers\u2019 experience for inpatient care in Italy

BackgroundIn the last decade, the number of patients supported by informal caregivers has substantially increased. In the Italian healthcare context, informal caregivers’ experience of care is a new under-recognized construct, and no assessment tool is available. Measuring caregivers’ experience is important since in Italy the relationship between doctors and patients/relatives is still considered asymmetrical. The current study presented development and initial psychometric properties of the Health Services and Caregiver Experience questionnaire (HSCE), a self-report tool of caregivers’ global experience for inpatient clinical care, including factor structure, reliability and its relations with measures of coping strategies and family strain.MethodsThe HSCE was administered to a total of 503 informal caregivers of inpatients admitted at an Italian University Hospital (mean age = 48.08 years, SD = 14.82, females = 61.40%). Family Strain Questionnaire-Short Form (FSQ-SF) and Coping Orientations to Problems Experience-New Italian Version (COPE-NVI) were administered to a subgroup of participants. First-grade relatives were 73.10%, whereas 13.20% were second-grade relatives and 13.70% were home-watch caregivers.ResultsExploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed a structure with a single factor, which explained 64.80% of the total variance. All the items had salient loadings. In the two subsamples, HSCE had excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.95–0.97). Positive moderate correlations were found between HSCE and FSQ-SF scores (r = 0.45, p < .05), between HSCE and COPE-NVI scale scores, including COPE-NVI positive attitude and COPE-NVI problem solving scores (rs’ range = 0.51–0.57, p < .05). Moreover, a positive large correlation between HSCE and COPE-NVI social support scores emerged (r = 0.72, p < .05). Correlations were not significant between HSCE scores and COPE-NVI turning to religion and avoidance strategies.ConclusionsThe HSCE resulted to have good psychometric properties. Better caregivers’ experience correlated with stronger family strain but also with better problem solving and social support. The study expanded knowledge on caregiver’s experience in Italy and indicated that HSCE is a valid and reliable tool to measure this under-recognized construct in Italy.

A study of concept-based similarity approaches for recommending program examples

ABSTRACTThis paper investigates a range of concept-based example recommendation approaches that we developed to provide example-based problem-solving support in the domain of programming. The goal of these approaches is to offer students a set of most relevant remedial examples when they have trouble solving a code comprehension problem where students examine a program code to determine its output or the final value of a variable. In this paper, we use the ideas of semantic-level similarity-based linking developed in the area of intelligent hypertext to generate examples for the given problem. To determine the best-performing approach, we explored two groups of similarity approaches for selecting examples: non-structural approaches focusing on examples that are similar to the problem in terms of concept coverage and structural approaches focusing on examples that are similar to the problem by the structure of the content. We also explored the value of personalized example recommendation based on student's knowledge levels and learning goal of the exercise. The paper presents concept-based similarity approaches that we developed, explains the data collection studies and reports the result of comparative analysis. The results of our analysis showed better ranking performance of the personalized structural variant of cosine similarity approach.

New Hope for the Oceans: Engaging Faith-Based Communities in Marine Conservation

Science alone cannot mitigate threats to the oceans. Whereas scientists can identify problems and empirical steps toward their resolution, support for research, problem solving, and implementation of solutions must come from societal sources. Among the most promising are religious communities whose members are motivated by their faith to collaborate with marine scientists in achieving shared goals. Many reasons prevail for engaging faith communities in mitigating assaults on the oceans and protecting them from threats to their functioning. Participants in the open forum convened by the Religion and Conservation Biology Working Group of the Society for Conservation Biology during the 4th International Marine Conservation Congress shared their insights on (1) why and how marine researchers and conservation practitioners can best involve faith communities, (2) actions and attitudes that deter constructive engagement with faith communities, and (3) ways forward that the SCB should consider facilitating. Among ways forward identified are the Best Practices Project initiated recently by the RCBWG, adding cultural values and ethics as disciplines SCB members should probe when addressing conservation problems, regularly including cultural values and ethics in panels with other disciplines at international and regional SCB congresses, and appointing an associate editor of SCB publications who will assure the inclusion of articles in which religious and spiritual worldviews, values, and ethics are integrated with the conservation sciences.

Supporting Problem Solving Process of Expert System Architecture in Database Administration

The present article describes the supporting problem solving process of expert system architecture in database administration. The proposed expert system produces solutions using input data from users, also recommends a better solution according to the defined task, restrictions and given optimisation goal. To generate solutions, an expert system uses the combined method to produce a solution. The present article also describes a problem domain, where an expert system could be used. In the implementation section, system design and implementation are also introduced. Conclusion section comprises further research and development steps.

Thinking Fast and Slow in Computer Problem Solving

Research in spreadsheet management proved that the overuse of slow thinking, rather than fast thinking, is the primary source of erroneous end-user computing. However, we found that the reality is not that simple. To view end-user computing in its full complexity, we launched a project to investigate end-user education, training, support, activities, and computer problem solving. In this project we also set up the base and mathability-extended typology of computer problem solving approaches, where quantitative values are assigned to the different problem solving methods and activities. In this paper we present the results of our analyses of teaching materials collected in different languages from all over the world and our findings considering the different problem solving approaches, set in the frame of different thinking modes, the characteristics of expert teachers, and the meaning system model of teaching approaches. Based on our research, we argue that the proportions of fast and slow thinking and most importantly their manifestation are responsible for erroneous end-user activities. Applying the five-point mathability scale of computer problem solving, we recognized slow thinking activities on both tails and one fast thinking approach between them. The low mathability slow thinking activities, where surface navigation and language details are focused on, are widely accepted in end-user computing. The high mathability slow thinking problem solving activities, where the utilization of concept based approaches and schema construction take place, is hardly detectable in end-user activities. Instead of building up knowledge which requires slow thinking and then using the tools with fast thinking, end-users use up their slow thinking in aimless wandering in huge programs, making wrong decisions based on their untrained, clueless intuition, and distributing erroneous end-user documents. We also found that the dominance of low mathability slow thinking activities has its roots in the education system and through this we point out that we are in great need of expert teachers and institutions and their widely accepted approaches and methods.

Resilience, Self-esteem, Academic-stress and Coping Strategies among college students

The objective of the study was to find out if there is any relation among Resilience, Self-esteem, Academic stress sand Coping Strategies. A total of 100 students participated in this study. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires that were randomly distributed to the students. Data obtained was analysed using descriptive statistics. It was found out that that there is positive and significant correlation between resilience and various coping strategies. There was significant negative correlation between Academic Stress and Resilience meaning that as academic stress increases the resilience of the students goes down. Moreover, it was found that the resilient individual is able to cope well with adversities and resilient individuals have better self esteem. This research also indicates that people with higher resilience are able to cope better and have higher self-esteem. A correlation among resilience and various coping strategies indicated that there is a significant positive correlation of resilience with self-controlling, seeking social support, confrontive coping, accepting responsibility, positive reappraisal and planful problem solving which shows that highly resilient people tend to use these coping strategies more often.

Wind Turbine Remote Maintenance With Wearable Technologies

This article describes how the renewable energy sector is increasing in size and wind turbine technology has improved. With the development of internet technology maintenance efficiency has improved. Maintenance is a core activity of the production life cycle since it accounts for 60 to 70% of its total costs. This has led to increased need for maintenance planning and the implementation of new technologies. Shared vision system (SVS) is another enabling technology used for dealing with the increasingly complex maintenance procedures. The main objective of this article is to develop a SVS technology for remote maintenance by enabling cooperation between the technician and the expert. The system represents a solution within the intersection of the areas of problem solving and remote support in the context of collaborative work. As a test case application to show the potential of a SVS considering the following targets: improve time taken to complete maintenance tasks and improve the communication between the technician and the expert.