Semi-structured Interview Process Research Articles

Supporting sustainable occupational lives for partner caregivers of people with dementia

Introduction This qualitative research explores the experience of partner caregivers and how their partner’s dementia impacts on their daily living and occupational lives, with the aim of informing the sustainability of homecare and decreasing the likelihood of formal care. Method Ten participants were recruited through Alzheimer’s Society groups. They were interviewed using the same semi-structured interview process and asked questions about their daily activities and caregiving role. The data was analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis process and themes generated using inductive coding and reasoning. Findings Three main themes were identified: (1) losing occupational activities and roles; (2) adapting to a new occupational life and (3) adjusting to a new relationship in the trajectory of their partner’s illness. Conclusion This study highlights the complex occupational challenges experienced by partner caregivers of people with dementia. It suggests that there is a role for occupational therapists in sustaining homecare by working with partner caregivers as ‘expert service users’. Involvement should be provided at critical points of the caregiving journey and include co-creating technology solutions for social inclusion, sustaining adaptive engagement in personal occupations, creating opportunities for restoration and supporting caregivers to preserve their partner’s personhood.

การสร้างความมั่นคงทางอาชีพและรายได้ของวิสาหกิจชุมชนในสามจังหวัดชายแดนภาคใต้: กรณีศึกษาวิสาหกิจชุมชน 6 กลุ่ม ในจังหวัดปัตตานี ยะลา และนราธิวาส

การศกษาวจยนเปนสวนหนงของดษฏนพนธระดบปรญญาเอก เรอง “การสรางความมนคงทางอาชพและรายไดของวสาหกจชมชนในสามจงหวดชายแดนภาคใต: กรณศกษาวสาหกจชมชน 6 กลมในจงหวดปตตาน ยะลาและนราธวาส” เปนการศกษาวจยเชงคณภาพโดยมวตถประสงคเพอศกษาแนวทางในการพฒนาการสรางความมนคงในการประกอบอาชพและการมรายไดของกลมวสาหกจชมชนภายใตสถานการณความรนแรงในสามจงหวดชายแดนภาคใต รวมทงศกษาความตองการเชงนโยบายดานเศรษฐกจของกลมวสาหกจชมชนสามจงหวดชายแดนภาคใต โดยเกบขอมลภาคสนามจากวสาหกจชมชน 6 กลม ในจงหวด ปตตาน ยะลา และนราธวาส รวมทงจากองคกรภาคทง 4 หนวยงาน จากภาครฐ ภาคเอกชน ภาคประชาสงคม และภาคการศกษาหรอองคกรศาสนา โดยใชเครองมอการเกบขอมลแบบการสมภาษณเจาะลก (In-depth Interview) และการสนทนาแบบกลม (Focus Group) และออกแบบโครงสรางของขอคาถามทสามารถนาไปใชในกระบวนการสมภาษณแบบกงโครงสราง และนำมาวเคราะหขอมล เปนการวเคราะหเนอหาและการตความ โดยพจารณาประเดนหลกทพบในขอมลทไดรบจากการสมภาษณ มาพจารณาแบงแยกออกเปนประเดนยอยและหวขอยอย ผลการศกษาวจยไดแสดงใหเหนถงพฒนาการของการสรางอาชพและรายไดของวสาหกจชมชน กระบวนการทำงานและกลยทธในการสรางความเขมแขงของประธานและสมาชกกลมวสาหกจชมชน และการใชภมปญญา รวมทงองคความรของกลมในการสรางสรรคผลตภณฑ และการใชทรพยากรในชมชนเพอใหวสาหกจชมชนมรายไดอยางตอเนองและมนคง อกทงการมสวนรวมของหนวยงานภาคทเกยวของทงหนวยงานภาครฐ ภาคเอกชน ภาคประชาสงคม ภาคการศกษาหรอศาสนา ซงเปนสวนสำคญในแตละดานทชวยสงเสรมใหกลมวสาหกจชมชนมความเขมแขงมนคงภายใตสถานการณปจจบน ซงแสดงใหเหนวาวสาหกจชมชนจะมความมนคงในดานอาชพและการมรายไดนน ตองอาศยความรวมมอจากภาคสวนตางๆ นอกเหนอจากการดำเนนงานเพยงลำพงของวสาหกจชมชน และการประยกตใชทรพยากรทเหมาะสมกบบรบทของพนท อนเปนแนวทางทเหมาะสมสอดคลองกบบรบททางวฒนธรรมในสามจงหวดชายแดนภาคใต และเหนถงความสำคญของการรวมกลมอาชพในรปแบบของวสาหกจชมชนในพนทสามจงหวดชายแดนภาคใต ทสอดคลองกบบรบทพนทในความหลากหลายทางวฒนธรรม และวธการในการสรางรายไดทามกลางพนทซงมสถานการณขดแยงรนแรงทยงคงเกดขนอยางตอเนอง คำสำคญ: วสาหกจชมชน ความมนคงในดานอาชพและรายได จงหวดชายแดนภาคใต This thesis studied creating job security and income for community enterprises in three southern border provinces through a case study of six community enterprise groups in Pattani, Narathiwat, and Yala Provinces. Qualitative research was done with the goal of finding ways to improve occupational and financial security for community enterprise despite outbreaks of violence in these three southernmost provinces of Thailand. Economic community policy preferences were also examined for the three provinces. Data was collected by in-depth interviews at six community enterprises in Pattani, Narathiwat, and Yala Provinces. Samples included partners from four government departments, the private sector, and civil society, as well as educational and religious organizations. In-depth data collection methods (In-depth interviews), group discussions (Focus Group) and a structured questionnaire were used in a semi-structured interview process. The content analysis and interpretation were also employed. The main points in the information obtained from the interview were divided into sub-topics and sub-topics. The results showed that, to develop the outreach and income of community enterprises, its president and members created strengthening processes and strategies based on knowledge and experience of products and continuous, steady use of community resources. Relevant authorities in government agencies, the private sector, civil society, education and religion played a significant role in participatory contributions, helping to promote community enterprises. The security was currently strengthened, and this showed that community enterprises had a stable career and income. It required cooperation from various sectors apart from the operation alone of the community enterprise. The application of resources was appropriate to the context of the region in line with cultural contexts in the three southern border provinces and vital integration achieved in the form of community enterprises in three Southern Thai border provinces, corresponding to a cultural diversity context. Simultaneously, the economic situation was carefully monetized despite ongoing violent conflict in the region. Keywords: Community Enterprise, Job Security and Income, Southern Border Provinces

Developing Physical Exam Skills in Residency: Comparing the Perspectives of Residents and Faculty About Values, Barriers, and Teaching Methods.

Background:The physical examination (PE) skills of residents are often not improved since medical school. Unfortunately, how residents learn PE is not well understood. There is a paucity of research on the factors involved and the differences between resident and faculty perspectives. The authors sought to determine resident and faculty perceptions about the value of PE, the major barriers to learning PE, and the most effective teaching methods.Methods:Based on a rigorous process of literature review and semi-structured interviews, the authors developed an online survey which was sent to 406 internal medicine residents and 93 faculty at 3 institutions. Residents and faculty answered questions about both their own opinions and about their perception of the other group’s opinions.Results:About 283 residents (70%) and 61 faculty (66%) completed the survey. Both residents and faculty rated the importance of PE similarly. Residents rated being too busy, followed by a lack of feedback, as the most significant barriers to learning PE. Faculty rated a lack of feedback, followed by a lack of resident accountability, as the most significant barriers. Both groups rated the availability of abnormal findings as the least significant barrier. Both groups agreed that faculty demonstration at the bedside was the most effective teaching method.Conclusion:This survey can serve as a needs assessment for educational interventions to improve the PE skills of residents by focusing on areas of agreement between residents and faculty, specifically faculty demonstration at the bedside combined with feedback about residents’ skills.

Using Timeline Methodology to Visualize Treatment Trajectories of Youth and Young Adults Following Inpatient Opioid Treatment

While the use of visual methods in qualitative research is gaining recognition, there has been less attention to timelines. This paper addresses this gap and contributes to the overall literature on qualitative research design and analysis. In a randomized trial of extended release naltrexone for youth with opioid use disorder timelines were used as a part of the semi-structured interview process. Timelines were constructed in a participatory manner in which both youth and their caregivers were separately asked to recount significant events related to substance use, treatment, and criminal justice involvement that took place between interview time points. This paper suggests that using timelines in qualitative, substance use research offers two main advantages: 1) improving the data collection process, and 2) advancing understandings of temporally contextualized narratives through a visual format. Here, timelines were an integral tool for summarizing and illustrating the complexity of youths’ experiences following residential drug treatment.

Emergency Room Nurses’ Views on Bedside Shift Reporting

Bedside shift reporting is a form of communication used by nurses to communicate with each other regarding the patient plan of care. Although bedside shift reporting is required by The Joint Commission and is a required hospital policy, there are inconsistencies in the emergency room nurses performing the task. The purpose of this study was to describe emergency room nurses’ views on bedside shift reporting. A qualitative research study was conducted using a semi-structured interview process. Colaizzi’s data collection and analysis strategy were used to determine emerging themes. Peplau’s interpersonal relations and Benner’s novice to expert theories were used to help guide this study. Fifteen emergency room nurses were interviewed, and seven themes emerged from the data collected. Three themes, nurse accountability, nurse introduction, and patient involvement were identified as benefits of bedside shift reporting. Four themes, bedside shift report not done, emergency room situations, emergency room environment, and time factors were identified as challenges of bedside shift reporting. The study helped to determine the need for additional educational opportunities for the emergency room nurses, emergency department, and the organization to increase the consistency of the reporting process.

Financial Modelling for Business Sustainability: A Study of Business Correspondent Model of Financial Inclusion in India

Executive Summary The study highlights the need for measures to accelerate the pace of the business correspondent (BC) model for financial inclusion in India. The financial analysis of the existing BCs with the existing products and services in practice shows a very diffusive break-even (more than 7 years). The occurrence of such a long-term break-even point can be a potential threat to the sustainability of new and struggling entrepreneurs like a Customer Service Point (CSP). A CSP agent runs a kiosk of a certain bank in a rural context, functioning like a BC between the bank and the beneficiaries. The primary investigation found that high cost and low volume of transaction at the CSP points are two major causes of the long break-even. In this context, the study revisited the constructs related to cost structure, market outreach, market potential and commission structure for channellizing respective banking and non-banking products. The major categories of products include (a) banking operation, (b) loan and over-draft, and (c) social security schemes. In search of a solution, the study adopts a non-random stratified sampling technique with a semi-structured interview process to collect the data from different stakeholders in the BC operation. To develop an economically viable BC model, the researchers use a standard financial modelling technique. In contrast to the existing kiosk model of CSP operation, the study found that while applying the new model a CSP agent takes three years to break-even under the same condition as that of the existing model. The study can also be applied in the domain of bottom of the pyramid (BOP) marketing by treating to create value among the low-income customers and business partners like CSPs. This research can further be extended to investigate the viability of the BC model from the banks’ return on investment perspective.

Essential Factors Influencing Preparation of Physics Laboratory in New Curriculum: Photo Voice Study

This research was stimulated by the situation of Indonesian curriculum especially in physics that requiring the balancing between basic competence of knowledge and skills. Currently, the main problem is the basic competence of skills become the second orientation, therefore, it should be more attention. Physics laboratory is the essential room in supporting the implementation of new curriculum, K13. Through a qualitative study, this research used interview process to pre-service and in-service physics teachers in East Java Indonesia. Totally, 4 in-service physics teachers and 9 pre-service-physics teachers were invited in the semi-structured interview process by utilising photo voice approach. The research captured seven factors as well as the attitudes towards new physics curriculum, which categorised into: practical application, curriculum content, academic anxiety, need analysis, globalisation effect, assessment effect, and government policy. Meanwhile, each factor was implicated to other factors.

A BLENDED LEARNING RADIOLOGY INTERPRETATION LAB: A QUALITATIVE APPROACH

<h3>Background</h3> Blended-learning (BL) radiographic interpretation activities were implemented into the dental hygiene curriculum with the aim of increasing student confidence in interpretation and to address this perceived gap in students' education. <h3>Objective(s)</h3> This study assessed senior dental hygiene (DH) students' self-reported confidence in interpreting dental radiographs after the introduction of a BL module for radiology interpretation. Preliminary results were presented at the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (AAOMR) meeting in 2017. This abstract further describes the effectiveness of this qualitative approach and the subsequent changes that were implemented into the radiology curriculum. <h3>Study Design</h3> In order to capture the context, descriptions, and differences of students' experience and confidence, a qualitative research approach was selected. Data were captured using a semistructured interview process and analyzed using the phenomenographic approach. This method involves researchers coding transcripts of the interviews to determine categories of description (commonalities and their variations) of the participants' various ways of thinking about and describing their experiences. Sixteen students, 5 months from graduation, consented to participate and were interviewed. Blinded transcripts were analyzed by the research team, and the main themes relating to confidence were extracted and arranged into categories. The categories were coded as to how confident (low, medium or high) each of the students felt, specific to varying contexts and complexities of radiographic interpretation. Quotations were extracted to exemplify each category. <h3>Results</h3> The BL module had a positive impact on DH students' confidence in interpretation of radiographic findings. However, when asked about their level of overall confidence in interpreting dental radiographs, the students still did not describe themselves as confident with regard to all potential findings on radiographs at this point in their education. <h3>Discussion/Conclusions</h3> The phenomenographic approach revealed important themes relating to confidence and provided useful insights on the issues and attitudes affecting the students' confidence levels that can inform further course and curriculum development.

PENGELOLAAN KEBUTUHAN SEKSUAL FRATER YANG MENJALANI PEMBINAAN DI SEMINARI TINGGI

Frater is a call for Catholic men who decided to devote their lives to God. Live as a frater requires them to live in Seminary until the end of their live, so they must voluntarily leave every worldly life outside of Seminary and obey evangelical advice. This aim of this study is to explore how to manage sexual needs that appears on the live coaching frater at the Seminary. Sexual needs are sexual behaviors that arise through erotic feelings, desires, and sexual fantasies perceived by the individual concerned. On the development of the genital phase, hormones and sexuality are increasingly mature and considered ready to channel the sexual needs arise, no exception on frater. Therefore, researchers are interested in knowing how the management of sexual needs frater undergoing coaching at the High Seminary. This study is using Phenomenology method, and also through a semi-structured interview process. This study involve two frater who was 19-30 years old and already undergoing coaching in the High Seminary of at least 1 year. This study also using inductive thematic analysis, using communicative and argumentative validation. The results of the analysis of the data shown that there were several ways that support sexual needs, namely diverting sexual drive that arise by carrying out other activities. In addition, the motivation to be a priest, the confidence to manage sexual needs and views on sexual need also help manage the sexual needs that arise during coaching at the High Seminary.

P22 Development of Cultural Competence in Dietetics and Nutrition Students: Is Cultural Humility the Missing Link?

Background Cultural competence is a key component of dietetics and nutrition curriculum due to the increase in diversity in the United States. Few studies have been completed in the dietetics and nutrition field to determine best practices in curriculum development to increase cultural awareness and competence of students. Objective The purpose of this study is to determine dietetics and nutrition faculty perceptions of their students’ cultural competence and to determine best practices for educating and training students to become culturally competent professionals. Study Design, Settings, Participants Seven dietetics and nutrition faculty were interviewed about their perceptions of cultural competence in students and their thoughts on how to best deliver cultural competence training to students. Interviews were conducted using an in-depth, semi-structured interview process and were recorded with permission of the participant. Measurable Outcome/Analysis The interviews ranged in length from 19-40 minutes. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and resulted in 58 pages of transcripts. During the transcription process, the investigator engaged in a constant comparative method of data analysis and axial coding. Results The importance of cultural humility emerged as a prominent theme throughout the interviews with dietetics and nutrition faculty. Subthemes of cultural humility included communication and sharing, encounters and opportunities, continual reflection and lifelong process. Faculty discussed the importance of students communicating with individuals from a different culture throughout the curriculum. Faculty and students sharing also emerged as important throughout the curriculum. Encounters with individuals from different cultures and faculty arranging opportunities for students to engage in cross-cultural interactions emerged as an important subtheme. Lastly, faculty frequently discussed the importance of cultural competence being a lifelong process. Conclusion Cultural humility is missing from current cultural competence frameworks and should be considered as an additional construct to the current cultural competency framework and added to the curriculum for dietetics and nutrition students. Funding None.

The skills, knowledge and attributes needed as a first-contact physiotherapist in musculoskeletal healthcare.

The provision of musculoskeletal assessment and pathway management by physiotherapists in primary care is an expanding innovation within the UK National Health Service. This new model of care is challenging physiotherapists to work in new ways, and so an understanding of these roles is timely and wil contribute to the growing knowledge regarding these practitioners and their impact. This qualitative study aimed to improve the understanding of the clinical practice of first-contact clinicians in musculoskeletal healthcare. The study used a think-aloud method to explore eight clinicians' views via a stage 1 semi-structured interview process. This was followed by a stage 2 focus group involving physiotherapists and a general practitioner trainer. A thematic analysis then followed, which involved the researcher and a research colleague coding the data and subsequently developing themes. The themes identified were: medical assessment and systems knowledge; speed of thought in an uncertain environment; breadth of knowledge; people and communication skills; common sense/simplify; and responsibility and experience. The identified themes should help to underpin the competence, capability and training requirements for these new roles, and should be considered when developing new services utilizing first-contact primary care physiotherapy practice.

The emerging role of coopetition within inter-firm relationships

PurposeIncreasing environmental uncertainty, more demanding customers, rapid technological growth and rising capital costs have all forced firms to evolve from collaborating with buyers and suppliers to collaborating with their competitors and that is called coopetition. The purpose of this paper is to better understand the antecedents and outcomes associated with coopetition.Design/methodology/approachBuilding from the existing literature and three theoretical foundations, resource-based theory, resource dependence theory and game theory, the authors develop a model showing the antecedents and outcomes of coopetition and associated propositions of coopetition. Using a semi-structured interview process of 21 industry executives, the authors offer empirical support for the proposed coopetition model and propositions.FindingsFirms are increasingly dependent on the knowledge and expertise in external organizations to innovate, solve problems and improve supply chain performance. This research suggests that there is a value for firms to consider coopetition as a part of their inter-firm strategies.Research limitations/implicationsThe semi-structured interview process used in this research provided a wealth of information and executive experiences in coopetition. The interviews, however, only provide a single perspective of collaborative engagements with competitors. Multiple perspectives of each project would add value to this research.Originality/valueCollaboration among buyers and suppliers have been well researched; however, there has not been as much research on coopetition. This research provides a new area for future research for academics and offers suggestions for managers to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their coopetition projects.

Assessing students’ confidence in interpreting dental radiographs following a blended learning module

This study assessed senior dental hygiene (DH) students' self-reported confidence in interpreting dental radiographs following the introduction of a blended learning (BL) module for radiology interpretation. The assessment of students was conducted five months prior to graduation. A BL oral radiology module was designed. In order to capture the context, descriptions and differences of students' experience and confidence, a qualitative research approach was selected. Data were captured using a semi-structured interview process and analysed using phenomenographic methods. Sixteen students were interviewed. Blinded transcripts were analysed, and the main themes relating to confidence were extracted and arranged into categories. The categories were coded as to how confident (low, medium or high) each of the students felt specific to varying contexts and complexities of radiographic interpretation. Predominately, the BL model had a positive impact on DH students' confidence in the interpretation of radiographic findings. However, when asked about their level of overall confidence in interpreting dental radiographs, students still did not describe themselves as confident for all potential findings on radiographs at this point in their education. The students highlighted the importance of having patient history details and clinical assessment findings included in the interpretation exercises and expressed a desire to collaborate with other professionals when interpreting radiographs.

Folk taxonomy and indigenous names for frogs in Zululand, South Africa

BackgroundWe use taxonomy to organize the world into recognizable units. Folk taxonomy deals with the naming and classification of organisms through culture. Unlike its scientific counterpart, folk taxonomy is mostly undocumented, the Zoological Code of Nomenclature does not regulate it, and the resulting names are specific to each culture. A growing body of literature is steadily shedding light on the principles underlying this pre-scientific taxonomy. Vernacular names can be an instrument to increase participation of non-scientists in biodiversity matters. In South Africa, great strides have been made in standardizing and increasing relatability of vernacular amphibian names in English and Afrikaans. However, there is a need to achieve the same with the country’s autochthonous languages which are used by a majority of the population.MethodsThis study investigates amphibian-related folk taxonomy using a semi-structured interview process in KwaZulu-Natal’s Zululand region and pilots methods of applying folk taxonomy principles to compile a comprehensive list of standardized indigenous frog names.ResultsFolk taxonomy in Zululand is systematic, developed, and bears similarities to other indigenous taxonomies around the world. Similarities also exist between folk and scientific taxonomy. Six uninomial indigenous names were found to be used for the 58 amphibian species occurring in the study area. The 58 species were assigned individual indigenous names using folk taxonomy guidelines supplemented with guidelines for modern taxonomies.ConclusionsThere is a gap in the documentation and investigation of amphibian folk taxonomy in South Africa. Standardization of indigenous frog names is required to increase their universality. Similarities between folk and modern taxonomies allow for supplementation of indigenous guidelines when compiling a comprehensive indigenous species list. Through this study, social inclusion in wildlife matters is increased, indigenous knowledge systems are promoted, and a contribution is made to the development of an indigenous South African language.

Engaging consultants in green projects: exploring the practice in Malaysia

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the practice of engaging key project consultants for the development of green projects in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative approach is adopted in this research using the face-to-face semi-structured interview process with 18 respondents consisting of developers and architects of green projects that have obtained green certification by the Malaysian Green Building Index.FindingsThe engagement of consultants is divided into three stages: engagement method; consultant selection method; and evaluation process. The engagement method can be initiated by the client or through the architect. The direct selection is the preferred strategy in engaging architects, while open strategy is commonly adopted for engaging other key consultants. The evaluation process consists of request for proposal evaluation and negotiation before appointment is awarded. In addition, there are four main criteria in selecting the consultants: client’s preference, fee flexibility, green project requirement and consultant firm’s internal strengths.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is based on the Malaysian context and based on the engagement of main consultants in green development projects and, thus, cannot be generalised to other consultants’ engagement in conventional projects.Practical implicationsThis research presents the process that can contribute to better planning, controlling and management of the consultants’ engagement process. The selection criteria shall form a reference in selecting the most suitable consultants for the project.Originality/valueThis study attempts to understand how consultants are engaged in green projects, an important management stage in project initiation, but has received little attention in the past.

Investigation of non-community stakeholders regarding community engagement and environmental malodour

Research into industry-community relationships have focused almost exclusively on the ways in which communities responds to actions from industries. This has led to a paucity of understanding with regards to how community engagement and malodour amelioration practices have been adopted by industry personnel, as well as the attitudes and beliefs of non-community stakeholders in general. In this study, a survey to water industry personnel was distributed to three Australian water utilities in South-Eastern Australia and a semi-structured interview process was carried out with plant managers at six wastewater treatment plants. It was observed that best practice has not yet been established with regards to community engagement and odour amelioration, and that water industry personnel in general had a poor understanding of these concepts. Recommendations for how this situation could be improved, and how non-community stakeholders investigated, are discussed.

A Fall Risk mHealth App for Older Adults: Development and Usability Study.

BackgroundFalls are the leading cause of injury-related death in older adults. Due to various constraints, objective fall risk screening is seldom performed in clinical settings. Smartphones offer a high potential to provide fall risk screening for older adults in home settings. However, there is limited understanding of whether smartphone technology for falls screening is usable by older adults who present age-related changes in perceptual, cognitive, and motor capabilities.ObjectiveThe aims of this study were to develop a fall risk mobile health (mHealth) app and to determine the usability of the fall risk app in healthy, older adults.MethodsA fall risk app was developed that consists of a health history questionnaire and 5 progressively challenging mobility tasks to measure individual fall risk. An iterative design-evaluation process of semistructured interviews was performed to determine the usability of the app on a smartphone and tablet. Participants also completed a Systematic Usability Scale (SUS). In the first round of interviews, 6 older adults participated, and in the second round, 5 older adults participated. Interviews were videotaped and transcribed, and the data were coded to create themes. Average SUS scores were calculated for the smartphone and tablet.ResultsThere were 2 themes identified from the first round of interviews, related to perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. While instructions for the balance tasks were difficult to understand, participants found it beneficial to learn about their risk for falls, found the app easy to follow, and reported confidence in using the app on their own. Modifications were made to the app, and following the second round of interviews, participants reported high ease of use and usefulness in learning about their risk of falling. Few differences were reported between using a smartphone or tablet. Average SUS scores ranged from 79 to 84.ConclusionsOur fall risk app was found to be highly usable by older adults as reported from interviews and high scores on the SUS. When designing a mHealth app for older adults, developers should include clear and simple instructions and preventative strategies to improve health. Furthermore, if the design accommodates for age-related sensory changes, smartphones can be as effective as tablets. A mobile app to assess fall risk has the potential to be used in home settings by older adults.

Perspectives from parents: An investigation of the longer-term benefits of an earth education summer camp program

While many studies have investigated environmental education programs, fewer have focused on the longer-term effects of these interventions. This study provides insight into the longer-term influences of an earth education summer camp in Nova Scotia, Canada. Datawere collected using a semi-structured interview process with seven parents of participants 2–3 months after the program. Results indicate that the program may help to reinforce environmental knowledge and attitudes and encourage the adoption of environmentally responsible behaviors. Results also suggest that some children encouraged the adoption of environmentally responsible behaviors among their parents. Recommendations for future research are provided.

The perceptions of STEM tutors on the role of tutorials in distance learning

ABSTRACTAs part of a wider study into perceptions that different university stakeholders have of tutorials, we investigated the UK Open University model for tuition through a process of semi-structured interviews with a self-selecting set of STEM tutors. The aim of the study was to elucidate perceptions that tutors have of the role and purpose of tutorials, and their perceptions of student expectations of group tuition. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts using a grounded theory approach identified several key themes. These include perceptions of the tutor role in group tuition: facilitating academic learning and skills; and supporting the building of confidence, motivation, social interaction and collaborative group-work skills. Difficulties were identified in encouraging student interaction in online synchronous tuition. In addition, mismatches became apparent between tutors’ perceptions of student expectations of tuition and their own preferred approaches, with suggestions that students expect a didactic rather than interactive experience.

Eğitim Tranferinde Karşılaşılan Güçlükler: Yabancı Öğrenciler Üzerinde Yapılan Bir Araştırma

Abstract&amp;nbsp;&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Training is one of&#x0D; the frequently used strategy for introducing change, developing human capital&#x0D; and improving organizational performances. However, the concern over training&#x0D; initiatives has been and still is the transfer and use of training content to&#x0D; the work environment as substantiated by literature from disciplines such as&#x0D; psychology, education and management. The training transfer (TT) environment&#x0D; where training is to be used is considered one of the most important&#x0D; determinant of TT as it either facilitate TT or inhibits it. Therefore, the&#x0D; trainee’s positive perception of the TT climate has the potential to positively&#x0D; facilitate their transfer of training content to the work environment and vice&#x0D; versa. The purpose of this research study was to investigate the trainees’&#x0D; perception of the factors at the TT environment that facilitated or inhibited&#x0D; (barriers faced) the transfer of Turkish language learnt from Gazi TÖMER to the&#x0D; relevant environment. In the process, establishing the support that was&#x0D; received from the various Human Resource actors at the TT environment in&#x0D; enhancing the general TT outcomes. This was done with the believe that, the&#x0D; experience gained from this study would be used in bettering TT initiatives in&#x0D; underdeveloped African countries where training projects for poverty&#x0D; alleviation and sensitization of communities on development related concerns&#x0D; have in most cases failed to bear fruits partly due to TT environmental issues.&#x0D; In a semi-structured interview process, a total of forty former Gazi TÖMER&#x0D; foreign students who undertook a Turkish language proficiency training between&#x0D; the year 2014 and 2015 were individually interviewed. The findings suggested&#x0D; that, the trainees positively perceived the TT environment leading to the&#x0D; transfer of Turkish language mainly as a result of the support provided by the&#x0D; various Human Resource actors at the TT environment. Basing on the aims of the&#x0D; TÖMER training, there was a reported low transfer of academic Turkish mainly&#x0D; due to training design problem, trainees’ characteristics and language transfer&#x0D; requiring time to fully be transferred to the environment.