Safe Place Research Articles

Awareness is not enough: Developing competencies in behaviour change counselling for obesity management

BackgroundThis study describes the development and evaluation of a competency based training program in behaviour change counselling for obesity management. This was a real world study attempting to obtain evidence on the learning experience; specifically, achievement of level of competency as well as personal experiences of the integration of skills learned into practice. MethodsThis was a training effectiveness study involving a total of 28 evaluable licenced healthcare providers providing obesity care services. The design for this study is pre-experimental; specifically a one-group post-test only quasi-experimental design.Based on previous work developing a competency-based model of behaviour change counselling (developing change-based relationships, assessing and promoting readiness to change, implementing behaviour modification when ready, and addressing psychosocial determinants of behaviour) we report on training outcomes; specifically, the level of competency achieved in the various skill components of the intervention model. The model of training was based on corrective feedback, the development of peer-based learning and the creation of a mindmap to guide adaptation of interventions to the unique characteristics of individuals with obesity. Quantitative data on competency of components skills and qualitative information on the experience of training were used to evaluate the program. ResultsObjective assessment of skill competency post training demonstrated moderate to high skill in all aspects of behaviour change counselling. Learners reported frequent use of skills in clinical practice, particularly change-based relationships and readiness assessment/intervention. Qualitative interviews confirmed the value to learners in creating a safe place for corrective feedback, the development of the mindmap concept and the opportunity to teach back learned skills to peers. ConclusionProvision of competency-based behaviour change counselling in obesity management is critical to support the reformulation of obesity as a chronic disease and to be an important adjunct to medical/surgical interventions. In this paper, we have demonstrated the value of an intensive training program for obesity providers.

User Experiences With a Moderated Facebook Group to Promote Vaccination.

To examine user experiences in a moderated Facebook group intervention aimed at Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine promotion. Facebook group members were given 2-3 vaccination posts/day for 28days (fourweeks). Posts were aimed at educating about COVID-19 vaccination, soliciting concerns around COVID-19 vaccination, and engaging members. Participants were surveyed about their experience at four weeks. Moderated Facebook group. Unvaccinated individuals who were randomized to the intervention group and completed fourweek follow-up (N = 216, 82.1%). After fourweeks, participants rated their experience in the Facebook group (eg, program satisfaction) and provided open-text responses about their satisfaction with the group. Free-text responses were dual coded and emergent themes were examined. On average, participants were 37.0 years old (SD = 10.3), majority female (70.9%), and white (79.7%). The majority of participants were satisfied with the group (76.7%), agreed that other people were friendly (M = 5.58/7), and felt safe discussing health information (M = 3.96/5). Open-text responses revealed that participants liked the program because they thought the information was useful (27.7%), other members were friendly (16.1%), and the group was a safe place (13.8%). While many responded that there was nothing they did not like about the program (37.6%), nearly one-third (31.9%) reported disliking the program because it appeared to be too much in favor of vaccination and because other members came across as rude (7.1%). Those with conservative political views were less likely to be satisfied with the group (P = .04). Facebook groups represent an acceptable way to engage participants to improve vaccination against COVID-19. Some aspects of the Facebook group could be improved for future iterations.

Young People's Support for and Personal Interest in an Advance Provision Model for Medication Abortion

PurposeTo assess young people's interest in advance provision (AP) of medication abortion—receiving mifepristone and misoprostol from a clinician in advance for their future use. MethodsFrom November 2022-August 2023 we administered an electronic survey regarding advance provision to patients assigned female at birth at four Bay Area youth-serving clinics. ResultsAmong 152 people ages 14-24 years (mean 17.9) surveyed, 73.7% (95% CI, 65.9%-80.5%) supported and 46.1% (95% CI, 37.9%-54.3%) were interested in the AP model. AP interest was higher among people who experienced three or more difficulties trying to access reproductive healthcare (70.6% [95% CI, 44.0%-89.7%]) and who experienced food or housing insecurity (60.3% [95% CI, 46.6%-73.0%]). Most youth (81.6%) had a safe place to store the pills for later use; this proportion was significantly higher among people ages 18-24 years (88.5%) than teens ages 14-17 years (74.3%, P = .025). The most common perceived advantages of AP included being able to have the abortion earlier in pregnancy (61.8%), privacy (57.9%) and convenience (50.7%). Common disadvantages noted included concern that people might take the pills incorrectly (50.0%) or lose the pills (40.1%). ConclusionsYoung people have considerable interest in AP of medication abortion. Further research is needed to document the AP model's feasibility, clinical outcomes, and effect on access for adolescents.

Planning Strategies for Slum Improvement in Bathinda City

Slum improvement is a critical challenge faced by urban planners and policy-makers globally as burgeoning urban population outstrips the capacity of cities to provide adequate housing and services. This paper explores comprehensive strategies for the improvement of slums focusing on sustainable development, community involvement and policy innovation. By analyzing successful case studies from diverse urban contexts, the paper identifies key elements that contributes to effective slum upgrading including secure land tenure, provision of basic services, economic opportunities and participatory planning process. The research highlights the importance of integrating slum communities into the broader urban framework to ensure social equity and economic inclusiveness. Recommendations are provided for policymakers and urban planners on designing and implementing holistic slum improvement programs that can adapt to the unique needs of each community, fostering resilience and sustainable urban growth. This study also involves finding locational attributes of slums and assessment of present status of slums. The study is focused on the Bathinda Municipal Corporation and information for the analysis is culled from secondary sources. Slums in Bathinda tend to cluster around undeveloped regions, empty lots, and water features (such as the Sarhind canal) and other forms of urban sprawl. As they find it the most suitable and safe place to live. They settle near industrial areas because of their work. The vast majority of slum inhabitants own property and live in permanent residences. However, the actual causes of the difficulties include substantial property prices and a lack of critical amenities such as drainage, sewage, water supply, and solid waste disposal. Furthermore, in the informal home supply sector, there is insufficient land accessible to the poor in Bathinda.

Yield and growth duration of Maroon rice landraces measured in traditional settings

AbstractRice, the most consumed cereal worldwide, has two domesticated species: Asian and African rice. Commercial cultivars, almost all Asian rice, are mostly selected for high yields. Traditional landraces are often selected for different traits, such as time to maturity or resistance against common stress factors, including bird attacks and poor soils. Maroons, descendants of enslaved Africans in Suriname and French Guiana, cultivate a rich diversity of rice landraces. They categorize landraces into short, medium, and long-maturation and maintain that fast-ripening crops with moderate yields facilitated their flight from enslavement, while once settled in a safe place, there was time for landraces with longer ripening periods and higher yields. Previous authors assumed that all Maroon landraces had low yields (700–1000 kg/ha), but their performance in traditional farming systems had never been investigated. We followed the growth and harvest of 28 Maroon rice landraces and two commercial cultivars in Maroon farmer fields, using traditional farming methods, at three locations. We show that, in farmer-managed fields, Maroon rice can yield 2600 kg/ha (average 1665 kg/ha), without any agrochemicals or machinery. Contrastingly, the commercial cultivars in Maroon farmer fields had a low yield (625–1205 kg/ha), partly due to bird predation. The maturation time varied between 110 and 183 days, but the three Maroon maturation categories showed significant overlap. Our study indicates that Maroon rice performance can only be fairly evaluated if measurements are taken in traditional Maroon farming systems, since this is the environment in which these landraces were originally selected.

Studi Ketersedian Sarana dan Prasarana Perumahan Graha Youtefa di Kelurahan Waena Kota Jayapura

Fulfilling the need for housing, the suitability of the existing conditions of housing infrastructure in Waena Village, Heram District, Jayapura City need to be considered in order to meet certain standards for the need for a decent, healthy, safe and comfortable place to live. The methods used in research are survey methods and case methods (case studies). The type of research used is quantitative and descriptive qualitative research. Meanwhile, the quantitative approach results from the public's perception that the condition of the availability of facilities and infrastructure at the Graha Youtefa Housing Complex is >40-70% "good". Meanwhile >20-40% stated that the facilities and infrastructure at the Graha Youtefa housing complex were "not good". So that in future development of a safe and comfortable residential environment, it is necessary to pay attention to adequate infrastructure in accordance with applicable regulations.

Effect of pectineus muscle plane block versus femoral nerve block for postoperative analgesia and early recovery after knee surgery: a randomised controlled trial study protocol

BackgroundFemoral nerve block (FNB) is a prevalent method used for postoperative pain management after knee surgery; however, it decreases the strength of the quadriceps muscle and is not conducive to...

Challenges in Disseminating Evidence-Based Health Promotion Programs in Faith Community Settings: What We Need to Include.

Effective dissemination of information about evidence-based programs (EBPs) is essential for promoting health equity. Faith-based and other community organizations have difficulty locating EBPs for implementation in their settings. A research team engaged in a systematic search to identify a menu of EBPs that could be offered to African American FBOs as part of a community-engaged implementation study. Methods. A four-stage process was developed to search for EBPs meeting seven inclusion criteria for dissemination in faith-based organizations (FBOs). Criteria included relevance to identified health disparity topics, endorsement on a federal website, free access to downloadable program materials, facilitator guidance, no requirements for health care providers, and culturally relevant materials for African American communities. Nineteen government websites were searched. Sixty-six potential EBPs were identified. Six EBPs met all inclusion criteria. The search for EBPs that met seven criteria for implementation in African American FBOs demonstrated challenges that have been described in the literature. Researchers encountered a lack of standardized terminology for identifying EBPs on federal websites, frequent requirement for health care providers or clinics and/or fees for training and materials. FBOs are supportive and safe places to offer EBPs to promote health, and EBPs need to be designed and disseminated to meet the needs and preferences of FBOs. Including members of FBOs and others in the community in EBP development, design, and dissemination, such as searchable health promotion EBP registries, can increase the likelihood that effective programs intended to address health disparities are readily accessible to FBOs for implementation.

Large Human Fabella Bone

Fabella bone is identified as an accessory and evolutionary sesamoid bone in humans. It was noticed as an irregular shape located within the lateral head of gastrocnemius in the posterolateral capsule of the left knee of a 55-year-old male. Another smaller fabella was noted and both were kept in a safe place Measurements were taken after a week and their length was 2.7 cm and 1.8 cm respectively. The size of fabella usually ranges from 5mm-20mm in diameter, but in this study, the length of the larger one was 2.7 cm. Fabella originated as a small cartilaginous nodule and underwent endochondral ossification. It helps to reduce resistance within tendons and redirect muscle forces. In humans, gastrocnemius acts to flex the knee and plantar flex the foot. Fabella function was thought to stabilize the femoral complex and medial femoral condyle. Patients with fabella pain syndrome usually complain of increased posterolateral pain during the full extension of the knee joint. Fabella pain syndrome could be treated with physical therapy, local anaesthetics injection, radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy or fabellectomy. It has been observed that there has been an increase in the prevalence of fabella in recent years. Larger moments acting on the knee and increasing muscle or tendon strain could produce stimuli essential to encourage fabella formation.

Dwelling in Active Serenity: Nature in Werner Herzog’s Cinema

Abstract This article puts Werner Herzog’s films in dialogue with Martin Heidegger’s philosophy to answer the question of how to dwell, to be at home with nature. I argue that an apathy–empathy aporia blockades the discussion of the nature–human relationship in Herzog’s cinema, which tends to view his representation of nature as either entirely apathetic to human flourishing or totally identifiable with being human. Both versions of nature fail to do full justice to the nuanced vision of nature in Herzog, especially its dynamics and problematics as a safe place. To address this problem, I will closely read and compare three of his films across his career: Aguirre, The Wrath Of God (1972), Grizzly Man (2005), and Happy People: A Year in the Taiga (2010) in the light of Heidegger’s philosophy. Drawing on Heidegger’s thought on dwelling, technology, being-in-the-world, temporality, Gelassenheit, and Care, I move away from the standard paradigm and reinterpret the nature–human relationship in Herzog as a negotiation between the homely and the unhomely in search of an equilibrium I call “active serenity.” Thus, this article is both a film-philosophy experiment with Herzog and Heidegger and a contemplation of the antagonism between humans and nature, which underlines our modern world.

Understanding Places Exploration and Visitation via Human Mobility Mining

Spatial-temporal data is widely available because of advancement in location acquisition technologies (GPS, GSM, Wifi, etc.) over past decades. This spatial-temporal data can easily be used to leverage user's trajectories, history, and habits to develop location-based services (LBS). But to leverage user's history based on location is bit challenging, in this paper we used the user's GPS log data to discover trajectories and analyze different life patterns over it. We proposed that a human spends 80% of his life on known places or safe places. We converted GPS patterns into visitation locations, converted them into daily and periodic trends and analyzed them over time to prove our assumption. We used the GPS data collected by Microsoft Research Asia, this data has 182 users with 73 users with their mode of movement information i.e., Taxi, Walk, Train etc.

THE KALMYK-NOGAI RELATIONS FROM THE MID-16TH CENTURY TO THE MID-17TH CENTURY

This article is written about the Kalmyks, who have not been studied much by historians in our country. An attempt is made to look at the history of the Kalmyks through their relations with the Nogais from the mid-16th century to the mid-17th century. The relations between the two sides are explained using the archival documents and the Russian literature. The methodology of the article is based on the principles of historicism, complexity and objectivity. Basing the article on these principles allows a better understanding of how the relations between the two sides are shaped according to historical events and facts. As a result, based on the information we provide in the article, it is possible to make the following inferences: The Kalmyk-Nogai relations followed two different courses, before and after 1632. The main factor that determines the course of the relations between the two sides is the goals of the Kalmyks. The goal of the Kalmyks until 1632 was to find a safe place. In this direction, they migrated west from the Irtysh River and had to fight against the Nogais they encountered. On the other hand, the goal of the Kalmyks since 1632 has been to subdue the Nogais in the North Caucasus.

The gift of peer understanding and suicide bereavement support groups: A qualitative study

There is a growing recognition and need for more studies on groups practices and processes to develop greater insight into the helpful elements that may be distinctive to bereavement peer support groups for traumatic loss such as, suicide. Using a qualitative descriptive design, focus groups and individual interviews were conducted online and face-to-face with a purposive sample of 27 participants in Ireland and in Denmark, who were bereaved by suicided and were attending peer bereavement support groups. Data were analyzed through Thematic Analysis. The findings suggest that the group provided a safe place where people felt and nurtured a deep emotional connection, a place where people trusted themselves and others to speak the unspoken and to tell and re-tell their story without fear of consequence as well as a place where they learnt to process their loss. Findings are discussed and recommendations based on the findings are proposed.

‘It is a good place to cum here though in it’: sharing food and the experience of belonging for people with intellectual disabilities

ABSTRACT People with intellectual disabilities, a largely marginalised group, need to know that there are places where they can experience true belonging through hospitality and friendship. They are not only looking for access, but acceptance and this acceptance needs to come from a place of understanding difference. My PhD research involved focus group discussions with people with intellectual disabilities speaking about their experiences of belonging in a local church. The value of friendship and enjoyment of sharing a weekly meal with other groups of people were key themes which emerged from the data. Based on reflections from my research findings, this paper considers theologically the significance of hospitality as well as the importance of sharing food and table fellowship. Hospitality is not just about providing food or a safe place, it includes recognising and valuing a person who may be perceived to be different. People with intellectual disabilities may need some extra support to do some things, but they also need to be respected as persons loved by God and given opportunities to develop their own unique gifts. An important aspect of hospitality is reciprocity which involves not only giving to but also receiving from the other. When there is fluidity between guest and host both parties can learn from each other and, among many other things, people with intellectual disabilities can teach the value of dependence, the acceptance of limitations, and the value of living in the moment. People with intellectual disabilities do not want to simply be ‘guests’ in our communities, they want to be involved in every aspect.

U.S. Soccer Foundation Safe Places to Play grants

U.S. Soccer Foundation Safe Places to Play grants

Exploring space and practices of control in long-term residential care violence prevention strategies

Long-term residential care (LTRC) should be a safe place to work and to live, but it can be a site of violent situations for older people and staff. In this article, we draw on critical geographies, aging, and violence research to analyze how staff perceive, manage, and control the risk of violence in LTRC. Specifically, we explore the role of space as an instrument of control in places of care; the language of risk and risk containment in these places; and how movement figures into management of the risk of violence. Data included telephone and web-based semi-structured interviews with 29 staff in two Canadian provinces from 2021 to 2023, which were analyzed inductively. LTRC staff described having access to and support from other staff as an important feature of safe places. They also emphasized visibility, opportunities to escape from violent or threatening situations, being cognizant of objects that may be used as weapons and moving some residents to other tables, rooms, or specialized units. Finally, some staff acknowledged tensions between person-centered care and protecting staff and resident safety. Our analysis raises concerns about whether the management of space, objects, and activities employed to promote safety contribute to the care and dignity of older people. By drawing attention to the role of space, place, and risk containment in managing violent situations, we illustrate the important contributions of critical geography in troubling institutional care for older people.

Single-family rooms in neonatal intensive care: A qualitative analysis of fathers', mothers' and nurses' experiences

PurposeThe forced temporary relocation of part of a Danish neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) offered a unique opportunity to address the study aim of examining the real-time experiences of parents and nurses with SFRs. DesignTwo focus group interviews were conducted in June 2021: one with parents of newborns occupying SFRs (n = 6) and one with nurses (n = 5). Participants completed a self-reflection exercise as preparation for semi-structured interviews. Interview data were analyzed with thematic analysis. ResultsFour themes related to parents emerged from the data: 1) a place for joy and sorrow; 2) room for free speech and the father's expanded roles, 3) simulating home, and 4) self-paced connections to the world from a safe place. One theme related to nurses emerged: silence on the unit created tension. SFRs allowed parents to fully express their emotions, initiate family bonding, and decide when and how to connect with others outside their SFR. Fathers took a more active family role in the SFR setting. Nurses valued SFRs but struggled with assessing the unit as a whole while working in them. ConclusionsSFRs support speaking openly, expanded roles for fathers, and bonding, potentially enhancing family well-being and self-determination. Nurses found SFRs both valuable and challenging. Practice implicationsThis study provides new insights in SFRs and how it affects parents and nurses. This knowledge is useful for other hospital departments where remodeling from open bay units and shared rooms to SFR is being contemplated.

The Art of Forgiveness: Art-based inquiry into how art helped in the process of forgiveness

This article is a condensed summary of original qualitative and art-based research from the author’s doctoral dissertation. The focus of this research was to examine how eight participants had been assisted by various forms of art to work through their forgiveness process following grave injuries and injustices committed against them. Using response art-based research, their verbal accounts, gathered through semi-structured interviews, were examined and further reflected upon through summative poetic reflection and visual art created by the researcher. In so doing, the researcher captured key aspects of how art-making helped participants and communicated those findings artistically. Results indicate that art was facilitative in many ways including the externalization of complex emotions into concrete art forms that could be accessed and transformed into finding forgiveness in the safe place provided by the art.

A Case of Skin Burns Occurring during Laparoscopic Surgery

Skin burn injury from light cables is a rare complication of laparoscopic surgery. We report the case of a 57-year-old female who underwent laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy under general anesthesia. During surgery, the anesthesiologist discovered that the tip of the light cable, with the light source powered on, penetrated the surgical drape and was positioned on the right forearm of the patient, where a bulla measuring 2.0× 2.5 cm in size and a second-degree burn were identified. All medical personnel participating in laparoscopic and arthroscopic procedures should always be aware that the light cable can cause burns to the patient. Additionally, after connecting the light cable to the scope, the light source should be activated. The light cable should not be placed around the patient or on the surgical drape while the light source is active. Immediately after completing the surgery, the power to the light source should be turned off, and the light cable should be placed in a safe place.

Adaptation of two woody plant species – Betula pubescens and Salix udensis to the high Arctic conditions (Tiksi settlement, Russia)

The positive trends in climate change that have become apparent in recent decades are accompanied by a shift in the range boundaries of many boreal plant species further north, to the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Monitoring the displacement of these boundaries, the introduction of plants unusual to the Arctic, as well as monitoring their adaptation to new conditions, is an important component of botanical research. In 2016, in the village Tiksi identified 2 species of woody plants – Betula pubescens and Salix udensis, known from the forest zone and not previously observed in this area. Obviously, both species appeared here due to the unintentional introduction of seeds by humans. Repeated observations of the condition of these species, conducted in 2023, showed that they exhibit stable vitality, withstood 7 winter periods and gave some increase in phytomass. Measurements of the area of the leaf blade of Betula pubescens and the size of 10 leaves of Salix udensis showed that these indicators are within the normal biological parameters of these species. Both species do not form generative structures yet. Salix udensis has grown significantly during the observation period, reaching a height of about 2.5 m. Perhaps this is the result of the protective influence of the building behind which it develops. Betula pubescens grows more slowly, hardly retains orthotropic shoots exceeding the average snow cover levels, which reach a height of 54 cm, but at the same time partially drained and deprived of foliage. Nevertheless, the lower part of the plant has fully leafy branches. Both species are valuable objects for further observations of their adaptation to Arctic conditions. Since Betula pubescens grows near the slope of the highway, it is recommended to move it to a safe place less susceptible to anthropogenic influence. Tiksi village, located in high latitudes, could serve as a good reference base for a wide range of scientific observations of plant adaptation to Arctic conditions. The optimal solution for this would be the creation of the Arctic Botanical Garden in Tiksi.