Provision Of Support Services Research Articles

Enhancing Athletes Anti-doping Education Through Mobile Applications: A Review of Current Strategies and Emerging Technologies

Anti-doping education is crucial for ensuring fairness and integrity in sports. The WADA implemented the ADeL certification program to provide comprehensive antidoping education for athletes. Mobile applications offer a user-friendly and accessible medium for delivering anti-doping education. ADOs employ various strategies to educate athletes, including developing educational materials, conducting workshops, partnering with schools and sports organizations, using technology, targeting high-risk groups, promoting a clean sports culture, and providing support services. Research has shown that anti-doping education is effective in increasing athletes’ knowledge and awareness of doping, and in decreasing doping intentions among adolescent athletes. ADOs are exploring new approaches to anti-doping education such as the use of virtual reality and artificial intelligence. Mobile applications are powerful tools for anti-doping education because they can reach a wider audience, provide personalized learning experiences, and foster clean sports culture. Keywords: anti-doping education, athletes, mobile applications, anti-doping education and learning (ADeL) certification program, WADA, clean sports

Shattering the Masculinity Myth: Prevention and Support for Male Victims of Domestic Violence

The purpose of this study is to determine effective measures for prevention and support as well as the prevalence, experiences, and obstacles experienced by male victims of domestic violence in South Africa. Domestic violence against men is prevalent in South Africa. Forms of maltreatment that men were subjected to. Men's unwillingness to disclose domestic violence significant factors. Obstacles male victims encounter when trying to get justice and help. Practical methods for stopping domestic abuse of males and offering assistance to victims. Principal arguments is that male victims of domestic abuse are a serious problem that frequently goes unreported. Male victims encounter particular difficulties, such as lack of assistance, legal barriers, and societal preconceptions. Men are reluctant to disclose abuse for a variety of reasons, including skepticism and fear of stigma. Providing support services, dispelling negative preconceptions, and increasing awareness are all effective ways to combat domestic abuse against males. In order to create successful treatments and gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of male victims, more study is required. Methodological approach: A review of the literature to see what studies have been done on domestic violence against men. A literature review study will be conducted in this study, it is a comprehensive examination of existing research on a particular topic. It provides a foundation for new research, identifies gaps in knowledge, and establishes the context for the study. Significance of this study's conclusions can help create effective preventative and support programs as well as a better understanding of domestic violence against men in South Africa. Additionally, the study can assist in dispelling negative preconceptions and increasing awareness of the problem. Anyone interested in tackling domestic violence against males, including policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and community members, should find this study to be useful. In conclusion. Male victims of domestic abuse are a severe problem that has to be addressed. We may endeavour to create a society where all people, regardless of gender, can live free from abuse by addressing the root causes of violence, offering assistance to victims, and dispelling damaging misconceptions.

Service Providers' Perceptions of Psychological, Emotional, and Behavioral Issues Among Children and Adolescents During COVID‐19 in South Korea

ABSTRACTVarious emotional and psychological support services for children and adolescents were implemented in South Korea during the COVID‐19 era. However, little is known about the limitations and future directions of current support services from the perspective of service providers. The purpose of this study was to explore service providers' perspectives on emotional and psychological support services for children and adolescents. The present study purposively recruited 11 clinical practitioners providing support services for children and adolescents to conduct semistructured focus group interviews. Thematic analysis identified four major themes: (a) a noticeable increase in problematic behaviors among children and adolescents (e.g., intrinsic and extrinsic problem behaviors); (b) changes in service use patterns (e.g., increased non‐face‐to‐face services); (c) frustrations with inadequate support systems (e.g., the absence of qualified professionals); and (d) identifying future directions (e.g., improving awareness of support services). The findings highlight the necessity of enhancing awareness of how to access services by reducing stigma. The findings also emphasize the need for improved cooperation between public and private facilities, as well as a greater number of skilled professionals to provide high‐quality programs. The practical and political implications are discussed based on the findings.

Sufficiency-related Strategies and Activities of Small Finnish Clothing Companies

AbstractThe current textile industry is characterised by unsustainable business models. There is a need to transform the industry towards sufficiency – that is a textile industry where consumption is decreased to a level that is adequate and within planetary boundaries. Through a literature review and interviews with small Finnish textile companies, our research synthesizes previous research and provides new information about business practices that companies can employ to advance sufficiency as part of their everyday business. We found that companies have various activities that can enable, promote or inspire decreased consumption and sufficiency. Activities relate to six categories: (1) valuing quality over quantity, (2) enabling multiple product lives, (3) provision of support services, (4) encouraging and enabling doing-it-yourself, (5) ethics-motivated communication and interaction and (6) embracing locality. The activities connected to each strategy are manifold and context specific including, for example, permanent collections, not having discounts, repair service, quality and curated second-hand products and interaction with users during the use phase. It is important to note, however, that the studied sufficiency strategies come with rebound risks and companies should identify the best activities that fit their context and measure their impact. Changing the paradigm from fast fashion to sufficiency will not be an easy task and will require efforts from consumer citizens, decision makers and companies alike.

Assessing primary Tokophobia among Lebanese childless men and nulliparous women: psychometric validation of the Arabic versions of the fathers’ fear of childbirth scale and Tokophobia severity scale

IntroductionTokophobia is an intense and pathological fear of pregnancy and childbirth. Despite its significance, no research in Lebanon has investigated primary tokophobia within the general population. Nevertheless, it is crucial to assess the attitudes of both women and men, as potential future parents, towards pregnancy and childbirth, particularly during these challenging times for the Lebanese population. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Tokophobia Severity Scale (TSS) and Fathers’ Fear of Childbirth Scale (FFCS) for assessing primary tokophobia among Lebanese nulliparous women and childless men, respectively.MethodsThis cross-sectional investigation encompassed all Lebanese governorates; 651 women and 618 men were recruited via social media platforms, using a snowball sampling technique. The questionnaire included the Tokophobia Severity Scale, the Fathers’ Fear of Childbirth Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire, and the Lebanese Anxiety Scale.ResultsFactorial analysis of the TSS in women revealed a three-factor model: concerns related to personal complications (Factor 1), fetal well-being (Factor 2), and outward behavioral responses to fear (Factor 3). The FFCS also yielded a three-factor measurement model: emotional responses during the partner’s childbirth (Factor 1), concerns regarding the hospital environment during childbirth (Factor 2), and anxieties surrounding the perinatal health of both the partner and child (Factor 3). Both scales were internally consistent with Cronbach’s alpha > 0.9, indicating their reliability. The TSS and FFCS demonstrated statistically significant correlations with measures of anxiety and depression, thus attesting to convergent validity.ConclusionThe results of this study provide evidence for the psychometric validity and reliability of the TSS and FFCS scales in Arabic-speaking populations. Given the previously overlooked nature of primary tokophobia in these populations, the availability of these validated instruments can significantly enhance the ability to detect and address this condition, ultimately facilitating the provision of necessary support services.

Estimating the Impact of Sectoral Output on Employment for Nigeria Economy (1981-2021)

The purpose of this research is to determine the employment effects of contributions to GDP by the main sectors in the context of Nigeria and to understand the relative importance of each sector. This study investigates the contributions of the three broad sectors of the economy to total employment over the period 1981 to 2021 using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) technique. Sectoral output was proxied by agricultural GDP, industry GDP and services GDP respectively while employment was measured by total number of employed persons. The Bounds test signaled the existence of cointegrating relationships between the series at both aggregated and disaggregated levels, necessitating both short and long run analysis for the study. The best performing sector in terms of employment intensity is the agricultural sector suggesting its labour-intensive nature. The impact of growth in industrial sector on employment appears to be a case of jobless growth while the impact of increases in service sector GDP on employment appears to be more like the case of job-loss growth. The agricultural sector supports growth-led employment for Nigeria while the service sector negates it. The service and industry sectors have low labour absorption capacity as the former is technology-driven while the latter is capital-intensive. The government should as a matter of urgency improve on its provision of finance and other support services to the agricultural sector. It is also necessary to devise verifiable methods to attract the teeming young population to actively participate in the agricultural sector with a view to developing its value chain. A growing service sector and a shrinking agricultural sector can only at best perpetuate the already challenging unemployment situation in Nigeria. The government should conduct an audit of the country’s agricultural sector for an in-depth understanding of the needs and then prioritise these needs in public expenditure allocations while ensuring that targeted funds get to those who are active farmers.

Evidence-Based Technology Tools to Support Diverse Learners, Educators, and Service Providers Across Instructional Settings

Evidence-Based Technology Tools to Support Diverse Learners, Educators, and Service Providers Across Instructional Settings

Manual wheelchair training approaches and intended training outcomes for adults who are new to wheelchair use: A scoping review.

Wheelchair training is pivotal for safety, independence, and occupational engagement in the community, yet adults coming into wheelchair use often receive insufficient or untailored training. This research aimed to understand the range and type of manual wheelchair training approaches that exist for adults commencing wheelchair use. A systematic scoping review involved searching eight electronic databases and grey literature up to September 2023. Papers relating to manual wheelchair training for adults and their caregivers were included for data extraction. Eighty-seven articles were included in this review. The International Classification of Functioning (ICF) was used to organise and analyse data related to intended training outcomes. Consumer consultation was not included in this review; however, the outcomes suggest that involving consumers in future wheelchair training research is critical to assure community participation outcomes. Data were extracted from 87 papers. Manual wheelchair training was delivered across diverse contexts encompassing varied support structures, trainer backgrounds, and technology and was commonly directed towards wheelchair users with spinal cord injury. Intended training outcomes most frequently mapped to the activity and participation component of the ICF (n= 39), followed by personal factors (n= 27), body structures and functions (n= 18), and environmental factors (n= 3), with limited focus on longer term occupational engagement outcomes. Most existing manual wheelchair training focussed on the acquisition of individual wheelchair skill and may not facilitate generalised and long-term occupational participation outcomes. Further exploration into the contexts that support occupational engagement, particularly for older adults with progressive conditions, is required to support service provision. We looked at what manual wheelchair training approaches exist for adults who need to use a manual wheelchair and what training helps people to do/achieve. We did a scoping review that looked at literature about manual wheelchair training programs for adult wheelchair users. We found 87 research papers and training programs that we included in our review. We recorded and analysed information from all the papers about the wheelchair training programs and outcomes for people who do these programs. We found that manual wheelchair training can be done in structured or ad hoc ways, can have different amounts of training, can be provided face-to-face or online, and can be given by different allied health professionals and other wheelchair users. Most training programs had short-term outcomes like learning manual wheelchair skills, being able to use the wheelchair properly, and feeling confident about using a wheelchair. Some had longer term outcomes about being able to use the manual wheelchair in everyday activities. Most people who did the training programs that we looked at in this review were manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury. Because not many wheelchair programs have been tried with people who do not have a spinal cord injury, it is hard for occupational therapists to make recommendations about training for other people who use a manual wheelchair. Manual wheelchair training that is done in the community and made to meet the needs of individuals may help people with using their wheelchair for their everyday activities and participate in their community.

Investigating the impact of the internet on managing green financial innovation and improving agricultural conditions in water-scarce Asian regions using ANN modeling

This research focuses on the importance of management strategies, green innovation, and sustainable practices in the agricultural sector. These factors are crucial for job creation, food security, and environmental conservation. Particularly in water-scarce regions, effective management is necessary to overcome natural resource constraints and encourage a shift towards digital agriculture (AGRI). The study aims to identify and analyze the challenges and issues related to agricultural research and technology in Asian countries. The collected data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis in the SPSS software. The analysis revealed a range of issues and challenges for agricultural development, including those related to the structure and policy framework, the availability and quality of resources and infrastructures, and the provision of effective support services, all of which encompassed factors such as research and technology investment, research management, productivity, research culture, networking, and the integration of higher education and agricultural research. To estimate the efficiency of technology development, agricultural development, and support services for AGRI, an artificial neural network (ANN) was utilized. The ANN was trained by incorporating changes in management strategies, green innovation, and sustainability across a broader range of experimental scenarios. The evaluation of the ANN's predictions showed that improvements in management strategies and the adoption of green innovation and sustainability significantly impacted the productivity of technology development, agricultural development, and support services for AGRI. The accuracy of the ANN's predictions was further assessed using linear regression. The results indicated an acceptable level of error when compared to the target results obtained from experimental tests. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of effective management, green innovation, and sustainable practices in driving advancements in technology and agricultural development.

Implications of hospital workers’ sense of safety and effectiveness in participatory design

Participatory design initiatives help promote more voice on the work floor—if the social dynamics are encouraging. Interest in understanding employee voice is rising due to being linked to employee satisfaction and retention, as well as greater organisational success. Forty-four interviews were conducted with nurses, care providers, and support service providers inquiring about their moments of influence and team dynamics in two design workshops. Participants shared moments influencing safety, describing a sense of cohesion, inclusion, or collaboration; as well as moments influencing effectiveness, linked to the workshop process, their expertise, or project impact. While these themes were common across the three job roles, how they framed the moments differed. This study provides insights into how different contributions and varying perceptions of valuable impact coexist. As such, this increases our understanding of how to achieve more genuine participation.

Positive Behaviour Support is effective when implemented correctly: a response to “Restrictive practice – A pathway to elimination” (Spivakovsky, Steele, & Wadiwel, 2023)

Spivakovsky et al. (2023) questioned the effectiveness of Positive Behaviour Support as an intervention for reducing challenging behaviour and the use of restrictive practices as a behaviour management approach. This article responds to their critique. We argue that the literature supports the effectiveness of Positive Behaviour Support when it is properly implemented. As employees of a Positive Behaviour Support service provider, our position is also supported by our experience of the use of Positive Behaviour Support and its beneficial outcomes. To ensure a high level of fidelity in the implementation of Positive Behaviour Support, it needs to align with the elements that underpin Positive Behaviour Support (i.e., elements of applied behaviour analysis, person-centred practice, human rights, system change) rather than simply implementing Positive Behaviour Support to meet existing legislative requirements. In conclusion, when Positive Behaviour Support service provision and implementation in Australia is correctly aligned with the core components of Positive Behaviour Support, positive outcomes for people with disabilities, including a reduction in the use of restrictive practices, can be achieved.

Speech and language therapists’ perceptions of contextual factors associated with communicative participation in children with developmental language disorders

Children with developmental language disorders (DLDs) may experience barriers to communicative participation. Communicative participation is defined as ‘participation in life situations in which knowledge, information, ideas or feelings are exchanged’. Barriers experienced in communicative participation cannot be explained by language competence alone and are thought to be influenced by contextual factors. A better understanding of these factors will contribute to tailored speech and language therapy services for children with DLD. We conducted a focus group study with 13 speech and language therapists’ (SLTs) to explore their perspectives on contextual (environmental and personal) factors in early childhood that are associated with communicative participation in children with DLD. The personal factor of child well-being, and the environmental factors of familial support and SLT service provision were developed through thematic analysis. The potential mediating role of these factors on communicative participation implies that it is important to address contextual barriers and facilitators in speech and language therapy services.

Tuberculosis treatment loss to follow-up in children exposed at home: A prospective cohort study.

Loss to follow-up (LTFU) from tuberculosis (TB) treatment and care is a significant public health problem. It is important to understand what drives LTFU in children - a population whose treatment and management depend on an adult caregiver - to better provide support services to families affected by TB. We conducted a prospective cohort study of household contacts in Lima, Peru (2009-12). Using multilevel logistic regression analysis, we explored individual-level characteristics of children and their adult household members with TB disease to identify risk factors for LTFU among children initiated on treatment for TB. A total of 154 child (0-14 years) household contacts were diagnosed with TB and initiated on treatment. While most (n = 133, 86.4%) had a successful outcome, 20 (13.0%) children were LTFU. Six (30.0%) children were LTFU within three months, nine (45.0%) between five to seven months, and three (15.0%) after seven months of treatment being initiated. In univariable analysis, children with index patients above 25 years of age had decreased odds of being LTFU (odds ratio = 0.26; 95% confidence interval = 0.08-0.84) compared to children with index patients 25 years or younger. In this cohort, more than 10% of children sick with TB who were exposed to the disease at home were LTFU. An integrated, family-centred TB prevention and management approach may reduce barriers to a child completing their course of TB treatment.

Interdisciplinary perspectives on multimorbidity in Africa: Developing an expanded conceptual model.

Multimorbidity is an emerging challenge for health systems globally. It is commonly defined as the co-occurrence of two or more chronic conditions in one person, but its meaning remains a lively area of academic debate, and the utility of the concept beyond high-income settings is uncertain. This article presents the findings from an interdisciplinary research initiative that drew together 60 academic and applied partners working in 10 African countries to answer the questions: how useful is the concept of multimorbidity within Africa? Can the concept be adapted to context to optimise its transformative potentials? During a three-day concept-building workshop, we investigated how the definition of multimorbidity was understood across diverse disciplinary and regional perspectives, evaluated the utility and limitations of existing concepts and definitions, and considered how to build a more context-sensitive, cross-cutting description of multimorbidity. This iterative process was guided by the principles of grounded theory and involved focus- and whole-group discussions during the workshop, thematic coding of workshop discussions, and further post-workshop development and refinement. Three thematic domains emerged from workshop discussions: the current focus of multimorbidity on constituent diseases; the potential for revised concepts to centre the priorities, needs, and social context of people living with multimorbidity (PLWMM); and the need for revised concepts to respond to varied conceptual priorities amongst stakeholders. These themes fed into the development of an expanded conceptual model that centres the catastrophic impacts multimorbidity can have for PLWMM, families and support structures, service providers, and health systems.

Factors affecting support: experiences of Iranian older spousal caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and their support resources

Objectives Older spouses are a significant part of family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and need support. Evidence suggests that different factors influence the support of older spousal caregivers. However, there is little evidence about these factors in developing countries like Iran. This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the support of Iranian older spousal caregivers of people with AD. Method This qualitative study used Graneheim and Lundman’s conventional content analysis approach. Through purposive sampling, 10 caregivers, three family members, and three professionals were recruited from various cognitive clinics and centers. In-depth and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data and continued until conceptual saturation was achieved. Results Two themes were derived from the data as factors affecting support, which included (1) caregiver’s support-seeking (complexity of the patient’s condition, caregiver’s geriatric health, the burden of caring for a spouse with AD, marital bond quality, caregiver’s support-phobic beliefs, caregiver’s awareness of care) and (2) capacities of support resources (supportive family, supportiveness of society, formal systems’ capability to provide support services). Conclusion The present study provided practical information about the factors influencing the support of older spousal caregivers. Healthcare providers and policymakers can use these concepts to improve the support process by strengthening caregivers’ support-seeking motivation and enhancing capacities in support resources.

Professional Self-Care and its Relationship to the Variables of Gender، Academic Level، and Years of Experience among Psychological Support Service Providers in Jordan

The current study aimed at exploring the professional self-care and its relationship to the variables of gender, academic level and years of experience among psychological support service providers in Jordan. The current study tool was adapted to the Jordanian environment, and its validity and reliability were verified. The sample consisted of 323 psychological support providers in some educational and psychological institutions (males = 109, females = 214). Some descriptive statistics, the "t" test for independent samples, and the "F" test were used to answer the research questions. The results indicated that there are statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.5) according to the variables of gender, academic level, and years of experience، Based on the results of the current study a set of recommendations were presented، the most important of which is the need to pay attention to training workshops that aim to raise the levels of professional self-care among psychological service providers.

STUDY OF THE OPERATION OF SOME MEDICAL DEVICES AND THEIR PHYSICAL APPLICATIONS. A FIELD STUDY ON THE ULTRASOUND DEVICE

One of the most important branches of applied physics is the application of physics in the medical field, especially in the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. It is divided into four main branches: (radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, diagnostic imaging, and radiation protection). The Radiation Therapy Physics Division is often the largest, as physicists provide support services to the Department of Radiation Oncology, ensuring that it accurately reaches a patient in the hospital, such as planning radiation doses and X-rays. Classification and MRI oncology. Diagnostic imaging devices such as Important Humans and their treatment. We will also discuss some other medical devices (the EKG device, the EEG device, and the centrifuge). Physics in medicine is of great importance because it is manifested in employing various physical phenomena and making the most of them with devices that allow us to diagnose and treat many diseases, and we see now with the development of these, The devices have become an important possibility in wave therapy without the need to resort to surgical operations

Public Communication for Effective Service Delivery to Refugees in Uganda. The Case of Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement

This study argues that Public Communication in Refugee Settlements, when managed professionally and structurally with a deliberate open feedback mechanism for the end-users of services provided by the government and its development partners, could be a great tool for the evaluation and enhancement of public services provided in Refugee Settlements. The study analyses the education and health sectors as parameters for the government’s service delivery in the case of the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. Taking a qualitative research methodology approach with the case of Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, the study found that the Uganda Refugees Act (2006), which authorises service provision by the government to the refugees, has no specific public communication strategy or policy clearly spelled as a communication framework to support service provision feedback. Therefore, the study recommends a direct public engagement communication strategy involving refugees and relevant stakeholders in the public service provision with the ultimate goal of improving service delivery at Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement

Social and Economic Challenges Faced by Minor Female Sex Workers in Delhi and NCR: A Sociological Analysis

The research paper presented here highlights some of the social and economic issues faced by the minor female sex workers in Delhi and NCR. In this vein, the authors use a sociological approach in analysing socio-economic factors that make such subjects vulnerable, and exploitable. As presented in this paper, based on the synthesis of the available literature analysis and the assessment of secondary data, it is possible to identify the systematic causes that maintain the cycle of poverty and abuse. In this case, it was discovered that minor female sex workers struggle with poverty, lack education, and health care and experience stigma. These challenges are worsened by the poor evidence of legal rights and inadequate provision of support services. In addition, this study reveals the crucial importance of policy actions that meet not only the short term, but also the long-term needs of these individuals. Understanding the socio-economic status of the minor female sex workers in Delhi and NCR of India will help in designing appropriate intervention and policies to protect the category of girls who are vulnerable and endangered in society.

DigiTRAC: Qualitative insights from knowledge users to inform the development of a Digital Toolkit for enhancing resilience among multiple sclerosis caregivers

BackgroundResilience-promoting resources are critically needed to support positive caregiving experiences for multiple sclerosis (MS) caregivers. A digital toolkit offers a flexible way to access and use evidence-based resources that align with MS caregivers’ interests and needs over time. ObjectiveWe explored the perspectives of key knowledge users regarding content areas, features, and other considerations to inform an MS caregiver resilience digital toolkit. MethodsTwenty-two individuals completed a demographic survey as part of this study: 11 MS family caregivers, 7 representatives of organizations providing support services for people with MS and/or caregivers, and 4 clinicians. We conducted nine semi-structured individual interviews and two focus groups. Data were analyzed using content analysis. ResultsParticipants recommended that a digital toolkit should include content focused on promoting MS caregivers’ understanding of the disease, its trajectory and available management options, and enhancing caregiving skills and caregivers’ ability to initiate and maintain behaviours to promote their own well-being. Features that allow for tracking and documenting care recipients’ and caregivers’ experiences, customization of engagement, and connectivity with other sources of support were also recommended. Participants suggested a digital toolkit should be delivered through an app with web browser capabilities accessible on smartphones, tablets, or laptops. They also acknowledged the need to consider how users’ previous technology experiences and issues related to accessibility, usability, privacy and security could influence toolkit usage. ConclusionThese findings will guide future toolkit development and evaluation. More broadly, this study joins the chorus of voices calling for critical attention to the well-being of MS family caregivers.