Sense Of Empowerment Research Articles

Challenging A Contentious Discourse and Dismantling the False Divide through Multicultural Literature

Objectives: This study examines ways through which the discourse of the European centrality can be challenged to combat inequality and discrimination against “the other.” The study also aims to demonstrate the positive impact that literature and cinema, with their diverse cultures, can have in teaching students how to question European central thought by understanding the lifestyle and worldview of “the Other,” highlighting their counter-narrative, and fostering empathy and tolerance toward “the other.” Methods: To achieve this purpose, Paulo Freire’s critical pedagogy was employed to equip English language students with critical thinking skills to critique facts. Works of multicultural literature and corresponding activities were chosen to enhance the ability to disrupt the discourse of European centrality. Students' responses were recorded and analyzed to track changes in empathy levels. Additionally, through critical and analytical readings of literary texts, the study sheds light on social disparities and criticizes oppressive structures that reinforce discrimination. Results: The study revealed ways to challenge the discourse of European centrality and resist discrimination against “the Other.” It also showed the positive role played by multicultural literary texts and cinema in training students to question European central discourse by exposing them to counter-narratives and the lifestyle of "the Other." The study further confirmed that increased awareness of injustice led to improved levels of empathy and tolerance towards others, inspiring a desire to contribute to social change. Conclusions: The study contributes to expanding knowledge about using multicultural literature and cinema in educating students about discrimination and combating Islamophobia and “the Other.” This is achieved by involving students in the process of liberating their minds through questioning European central discourse and the prevailing narrative of oppression, thereby enhancing their sense of empowerment, empathy, and tolerance.

ASPECTOS MOTIVACIONAIS E EMPODERAMENTO DE ATLETAS ANÕES: UMA ABORDAGEM QUALITATIVA

The Self-Determination Theory emphasizes the importance of fulfilling three psychological needs: autonomy, positive social relationships, and competence. In sports, addressing these needs depends on the motivational climate created by the coach. This study aimed to investigate how athletes with dwarfism perceive the motivational climate created by their coaches, their satisfaction with basic psychological needs, and their sense of empowerment. Four Paralympic athletes with dwarfism in athletics were interviewed. Data were collected through semi-structured, individual interviews with thematic questions, and organized using discourse analysis. Athletes reported positive perceptions of autonomy, noting that it enhanced their motivation and voluntary participation in sports. Perception of competence was also positively evaluated, with all athletes confident in their sporting abilities. Positive social relationships were highlighted as important, although athletes faced discrimination outside of sports. Regarding the motivational climate, athletes identified coaching feedback practices as crucial for their motivation. The perception of empowerment was linked to concepts of equality and family support, emphasizing the role of the sporting environment and the coach in promoting athletes' motivation and empowerment. The positive sports context and favorable motivational climate created by coaches significantly contributed to the athletes' sense of autonomy, competence, and empowerment. However, social challenges outside of sports still impact their social relationships. Received on: 01/08/2024Reformulated on: 13/10/2024Accepted on: 14/10/2024

Application of machine learning in predicting health perception through military personnel's sense of empowerment.

The promotion of health and provision of care services for new recruits are issues of constant concern for military leaders and healthcare providers, as they are crucial to maintaining and operating military forces. The enhancement of military personnel's empowerment has been recognized as a core value in promoting health perception. However, the pathways between military personnel's sense of empowerment and health perception have not been thoroughly explored. The primary aim of this study is to examine the predictive power of different dimensions of empowerment (personal, interpersonal, and socio-political) on new recruits' health perception, and to further observe differences among subgroups, which will help us grasp the nuances of future health intervention measures. The research data were extracted from the "Military Career Development Study," analyzing personal empowerment data from Wave 1 (W1) and perceived health data from Wave 2 (W2) (N = 2,232). In terms of analytical methods, five ML classifiers, including Decision Tree, Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, AdaBoost, and k-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) algorithms, were used for prediction in both the full sample and subsamples (gender and socioeconomic status). Results show that among the five ML classifiers, the Decision Tree performed best overall, achieving a prediction accuracy of 95.4%. The results by gender show that the ML models perform best for both males and females with the Decision Tree and Random Forest methods. For the Decision Tree, the accuracy rates were 94.9% for males and 95.1% for females; the F1 scores were 92.9% for males and 93.2% for females. For the Random Forest, the accuracy rates were 94.9% for males and 95.4% for females; the F1 scores were 92.7% for males and 93.2% for females. Regarding SES, the Decision Tree and Random Forest methods performed best. In the SES Low group, both methods achieved a prediction accuracy of 95.6% and an F1 score of 93.7%; in the SES high group, they achieved a prediction accuracy of 95.4% and an F1 score of 93.3%. However, the contribution of different dimensions of empowerment features varied significantly among subgroups. These findings can provide important information on the differences in health perception among military personnel.

Thematic and intertextual analysis from a feasibility study of the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music with clients in eating disorder treatment.

Eating disorders (ED) are characterized by serious and persistent disturbances with eating, weightcontrol, and body image. Symptoms impact physical health, psychosocial functioning, and can be life-threatening. Individuals diagnosed with an ED experience numerous medical and psychiatric comorbidities due to issues caused by or underlying the ED. Therefore, it is vital to address the complex nature of an ED, as well as the comorbid and underlying issues. This necessitates a psychotherapeutic approach that can help to uncover, explore, and support working through unresolved emotions and experiences. Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) is an in-depth music psychotherapy approach utilizing therapist-programmed music to support the client in uncovering and examining underlying and unresolved issues. The literature surrounding the use of GIM with clients in ED treatment is anecdotal and comprised primarily of clinical case studies. This secondary analysis, based on a descriptive feasibility study that integrated GIM sessions into the client's regular ED treatment and examined 116 transcripts from a series of sessions of eight clients. Thematic analysis of the transcripts identified nine subthemes and three themes that emerged. These themes include emotional landscape (feeling stuck, acknowledging emotions, and working through unresolved emotions), relationships (self, others, and eating disorders), and transformation and growth (finding strength, change, and empowerment). A short series of GIM sessions helped ED clients identify and address issues underlying the ED and to gain or reclaim a sense of self that enabled them to make choices for their life that support their recovery and sense of empowerment. Intertextual analysis revealed imagery indicative of the Hero's Journey. Further, how engagement in this embodied aesthetic experience stimulates perceptual, cognitive, and affective brain functions which are key in fostering behavioural and psychological change is explicated as it relates to ED treatment and recovery.

Do gender quotas increase political knowledge?

AbstractDo gender quotas increase political knowledge? While some studies suggest that quotas can positively impact women's political engagement and participation, others find null or negative effects. This paper focuses on Western Europe and argues that the implementation of quotas serves as an attention and consciousness‐raising event, potentially enhancing awareness of the political sphere. To investigate this, I propose a novel research design that capitalizes on the (quasi) exogenous shock resulting from the introduction of gender quotas. By influencing symbolic representation, quotas may enhance women's sense of empowerment, equality and willingness to engage in politics. Furthermore, the impact is expected to be more pronounced among younger women due to the heightened political socialization experienced during adolescence. Thus, the institutional change brought about by quotas is anticipated to particularly boost political knowledge among (younger) women and subsequently narrow the gender gap. To examine this hypothesis, I analyse data from 1992 to 2018 from 12 countries, of which six implemented gender quotas. Using a hierarchical Bayesian model, I assess respondents' answers to knowledge questions. The findings indicate that the introduction of gender quotas in parliamentary systems has a positive effect on reducing the gender gap in political knowledge among younger individuals, while the effects are statistically insignificant for older citizens.

Empowering People Experiencing Homelessness for cancer prevention using the Health Navigator Model

Abstract Cancer poses a significant public health concern. Reports highlight that cancer-related mortality rates are double among people experiencing homelessness (PEH). CANCERLESS project delivered an innovative solution based on the Health Navigator Model (HNM). The HNM is an evidence-based patient-centred intervention that develops patient empowerment through health education and social support, promoting timely access to cancer prevention services. A pre-post design study conducted across four pilot sites in Europe (Austria, Greece, Spain, UK) involved 652 PEHs. Pilot interventions based on the HNM were implemented, with effectiveness evaluated at baseline and post-intervention. The study assessed the impact of the HNM on various factors including risk behaviors, lifestyles, quality of life, empowerment, health literacy, psychological distress and utilization of health and care services. Preliminary findings from CANCERLESS HNM intervention showed significant improvements (p= .000) in participants’ quality of life (55.82 (27.65) vs. 66.18 (22.27)) and sense of empowerment (25.58 (19.95) vs. 59.94 (43.10)). However, there were no observable impacts in health literacy (p= .509) or psychological distress (p= .140), which remained within acceptable ranges both pre- and post-intervention. Similarly, there were no significant changes observed in lifestyle or risk behaviours among PEHs. Nonetheless, the evaluation of effectiveness suggested that the HNM increase in the uptake of cancer prevention care, such as cancer screening (p= .000). The CANCERLESS HNM intervention significantly improved the quality of life and empowerment of PEHs. Additionally, it successfully promoted their involvement in cancer prevention efforts, addressing disparities in access to preventive healthcare services. Increased engagement in such initiatives can lead to early detection and treatment, ultimately reducing cancer morbidity and mortality rates, thereby positively impacting public health. Key messages • By promoting health equity and social justice, interventions like CANCERLESS HNM contribute to building healthier and more resilient public health systems. • CANCERLESS boosts cancer prevention awareness, tackles healthcare disparities, enhances cancer early detection, benefiting public health.

Individual empowerment and community norm effects of engaging young husbands in reproductive health in rural India: findings from a pilot study

BackgroundDespite decades of a call to action to engage men in reproductive health, men are often left out of programs and interventions. In India, where half of pregnancies are reported as unintended, patriarchal gender norms and still dominant patterns of arranged marriages make engaging men in family planning and strengthening couples communication critical in increasing reproductive autonomy and helping young couples meet their reproductive goals. This study explores the feasibility and acceptability from the men’s perspective of the pilot of a gender transformative intervention for newly married couples in India.MethodsA pilot study was conducted of TARANG, a 4 month intervention for newly married women, with light touch engagement of husbands (4 sessions). A total of 41 husbands participated in the pilot, and we collected baseline knowledge and endline feasibility and acceptability data from them, along with in depth qualitative interviews with 13 men. The study was conducted in June 2023-January 2024.ResultsMen had low levels of knowledge about biology, family planning, with the majority of men reporting that no one had provided them information about these topics. Most men wanted to delay the first birth by at least 2 years, yet less than a quarter had discussed childbearing plans with their partner or engaged in family planning methods. While all men reported high acceptability (satisfaction and usefulness), feasibility (participation) was low, with only 43% attending 2 or more sessions. Main barriers to participation included commitments due to work and migration. Men reported that the intervention led to improvements in their relationships with their wives, gave them a sense of empowerment, and led them to become resources for other men in their community.ConclusionsMen in these rural communities are not receiving the information that they need to meet their reproductive goals, however, they greatly desire this information and ways to improve relationships with their new wives. Such an intervention appears to have the potential to help change norms and spread information in the community and provide men with positive, life affirming feelings. Providing information through technology could address barriers to in-person engagement.Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov 03/13/24.NCT06320964

How Individual Factors Shape Innovative Work Behavior in Malaysian HEIs: The Role of Innovation Capability, Knowledge Sharing and Psychological Empowerment

This study investigates the factors driving academics' innovative work behavior (IWB) in Malaysian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), focusing on individual innovation capability, psychological empowerment, and knowledge sharing. The respondents comprised 382 academics from 24 Malaysian universities listed in the QS World Ranking 2023, selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected via a Google Form questionnaire distributed by email. The descriptive analysis assessed individual innovation capabilities, psychological empowerment, and knowledge-sharing levels, and their impact on IWB. The findings indicate high engagement in innovative activities, with academics demonstrating strong innovative capabilities, a sense of empowerment, and active knowledge-sharing practices. These individual factors significantly contribute to fostering IWB, highlighting the importance of continuous professional development, supportive institutional environments, and collaborative cultures in promoting innovation within HEIs. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and university administrators to enhance the innovative potential of academics, ultimately contributing to the advancement of knowledge and improvement of educational practices in Malaysian HEIs. Future research should explore longitudinal effects and potential moderating factors to further understand innovative work behavior dynamics in academic settings.

‘Mostly women's issues’ – Gender differences in community responses to a large-scale NGO programme to prevent violence against women in urban India

Despite striking gender differences in men's and women's engagement in past prevention programmes to stop violence against women (VAW), few empirical studies have determined why such gender differences arise. We did a grounded theory study of a large-scale NGO programme in informal settlements in Mumbai, India, aiming to analyse how gender affects participation in community action to address VAW. We did 27 focus group discussions and 31 semi-structured interviews with 77 women and 36 men, as well as with 9 NGO staff. We supplemented qualitative data with quantitative monitoring data on referrals to NGO counselling centres. We found that male participants in the NGO programme not only reported violence to the NGO at lower rates but took less intensive action to support survivors. When they did engage, they more often defended perpetrators or asked survivors to accommodate them than female participants. These differences could be explained by a greater (1) affective response to VAW (2) perceived stake in addressing VAW (3) sense of empowerment from taking action, and (4) perceived NGO support for self among women compared to men. Differences were evident even between male and female participants who had taken part in NGO activities for years. We theorise that these differences ultimately stem from men and women's structurally different position in a gender unequal society. Our findings identify key motivational barriers to address to improve the effectiveness of programmes to prevent VAW. Given the greater barriers to men's community action compared to women's community action, it may be useful to recognize the value of prevention programmes with differing levels of male engagement, including women-only programmes and programmes in which male community participants play a secondary role and are not expected to be as active as female participants.

Divine Control Beliefs, Health Locus of Control, and Subjective Life Expectancy in the United States.

Little evidence has considered the extent to which feelings of health-related control may arise from religious beliefs to influence survival expectations. Moreover, research on the linkages between religion and sense of control has yielded mixed results. Using CHAPS (2021) data, this study examines whether divine control beliefs predict subjective life expectancy (SLE), and whether this link is mediated by an individual's health locus of control (HLC). Findings support a mediational model and show that individuals who place more dependence on God report a greater sense of control over their health, which in turn results in greater longevity expectations. Our findings offer insight into the mechanisms that underlie the association between divine control beliefs and SLE and add to the body of literature documenting religion's salutary role in promoting both a sense of empowerment and greater survival expectations.

210 A project to promote the teaching of independent cycling to children with ambulant Cerebral Palsy in Ireland

Abstract The purpose of this project is to promote the teaching of cycling to children with ambulant Cerebral Palsy (CP). Research in Australia has shown that a lower proportion of children with ambulant CP can ride compared to typically developing peers and those that could, learn later. For children with CP, there are numerous health benefits to independent cycling such as overall cardiovascular fitness and weight-management, sense of empowerment and achievement of a common childhood goal. It can be an additional mobility option and a great family activity option. It is possible that balance could improve and it may be beneficial to have exercise options which are low-impact and reduced weight-bearing. The mental health benefits also include improved sense of self-esteem and confidence alongside opportunities for social interaction and friendships. The target group for this project are a wide range of stakeholders, from therapists working with children with CP; sports inclusion officers; Cycle Right trainers and families of children with ambulant CP. Project aims to target a broad spectrum of ways for people to access support for learning to cycle. During the development of this project, a small focus group was formed with parents and children with CP who had learnt independent cycling. Cycling can be an activity which fits into a family and child-centred approach to therapy. The benefits of their new skills was discussed under the themes of the ‘F words’ of disability. An initial teaching You-Tube video was made for children with milder co-ordination difficulties. A further video is planned teaching the more specific points when working with children with hemiplegia or asymmetrical diplegia. A workshop was developed for physiotherapists focusing on how to teach cycling skills to children with CP. Further links are being established with other stakeholders to maximise roll-out of the resources and workshops. Cycling is such a fun and important activity and some specific skills are required when teaching, especially when the children have hemiplegia. This project aims to spread these teaching skills to a wide audience in the hope of as many children with CP in Ireland learning how to cycle as possible.

Place-Based Perspectives on Understanding the Value of Sustainable Heritage-Inspired Arts and Crafts in Jordan

This article highlights the challenges of rigorously evaluating and meaningfully communicating the socio-economic impacts of arts and crafts in northern Jordan. This article aims to identify and analyse the challenges confronting place-based arts and crafts industries in Jordan and propose valid policies and practices to address these challenges. The methodology employed involved a comprehensive review of the existing literature to elucidate the challenges faced by heritage-based artisans, and we propose several policies aimed at promoting and safeguarding the arts and crafts heritage. The findings supporting this research were derived from a series of practical workshops and focus group interviews conducted in 2022. This article also presents empirical evidence to highlight the identified challenges. It emphasises the importance of the proposed policy recommendations for the Jordanian sector, providing the audience with a sense of empowerment and an understanding of the potential solutions. This work could offer insights into how local communities innovatively leverage creative capacities, create localised impact, and address local challenges. We argue that the value of arts and crafts is better understood locally to provide impactful experiences based on community-led and community-generated creativity and flexibility. A creative participatory approach is used to create contemporary art designs and train young people on artistic and craft-making skills, application, and production as a credible precedent and best practice for developing creative cultural “enterprises” in Jordan.

Brief transition-focused education for families of autistic youth: preliminary mixed-methods investigation

Purpose The transition to adulthood is one of the most challenging and complex processes for autistic youth and their families. Few evidence-based transition support programs exist, and those that have garnered support require long-term commitments and resources that may prohibit participation by families with financial and time limitations. The current study investigated the feasibility and initial promise of a brief, caregiver-focused educational transition program for families of autistic youth delivered in the community over a single day. Methods Quantitative informant-report and qualitative interview data were collected from 12 caregivers of autistic youth before and after program participation. Using a partially mixed sequential equal status design, quantitative and qualitative data were integrated to evaluate change in caregiver transition knowledge and empowerment, as well as caregivers’ perceptions of program feasibility, acceptability, and usefulness. Results Caregivers reported significant increases in knowledge of transition-related topics and sense of empowerment regarding their family life. Caregiver perceptions of the intervention suggest they found it feasible, acceptable, and useful. Conclusions Short-term transition programming may be a helpful option for caregivers who seek transition supports for autistic youth.

Parental political engagement and self‐efficacy: An exploratory study

AbstractPolitical engagement (PE) is associated with a sense of empowerment. PE by parents affects children's lives. This study explored parents' attitudes about inclusion of political engagement discussion in well‐child care. Because voting is an expression of empowerment, we hypothesized that voting would be related to higher parenting self‐efficacy. We administered a brief questionnaire to a convenience sample of parents/guardians at well‐child visits at an urban hospital. The questionnaire included 10 Likert scale questions touching on parenting efficacy; beliefs about political engagement; voting behaviors; and demographics. Analysis included descriptive statistics, correlations, and factor analysis. Among the 70 respondents 84% were mothers; 55% self‐identified as low income; 62% self‐identified as a “person of color.” Voting in the 2020 national election was reported by 37%. Most parents (54%) said they would feel comfortable discussing voting with a doctor. Factor analysis identified two main factors: self‐efficacy and engagement. Engagement, but not self‐efficacy, was related to voting behavior. Contrary to our hypothesis, PE did not appear related to parenting self‐efficacy. Notably, more than half of parents felt comfortable discussing PE with their child's doctor. Given the critical role of parents in shaping the world their children inhabit, further exploration could prove to be of value.

Perceptions of advice for acute low back pain: a content analysis of qualitative data collected in a randomised experiment

ObjectivesTo explore how people perceive three different forms of advice for acute low back pain (LBP).DesignContent analysis of qualitative data collected in a three-arm randomised experiment.Participants2200 participants with acute LBP...

Readiness for change: Understanding the importance of empowering leadership

This study investigates the connections between empowerment, leadership, learning culture, physical environment, and readiness for change among social workers in child welfare organizations. Utilizing data from a comprehensive organizational health assessment survey of 2,832 individuals, exploratory structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) is employed to analyze the direct and indirect effects of empowerment variables on readiness for change, as well as the influence of leadership, learning culture, and physical environment. The findings highlight the importance of trust, self-determination, personal consequence, and meaning in enhancing social workers’ sense of empowerment, with trust emerging as the most influential factor. Effective leadership, a positive learning culture, and professional development are identified as key factors contributing to increased readiness for change. These results offer practical insights for child welfare organizations to enhance caseworker empowerment and readiness for change, emphasizing the significance of trust, autonomy, skill recognition, and meaningfulness, as well as investing in leadership development and fostering a supportive learning culture. Future research can explore these relationships further and identify additional factors to improve organizational effectiveness and support vulnerable children and families.

Caregivers' experiences in helping individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges integrate into the community: A qualitative descriptive study in Singapore.

Individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges continued to consume mental health services for an average of 13 years as they needed multiple acute psychiatric admissions due to the challenges they experienced in their everyday activities. As caregivers of individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges, they often bear the brunt of caregiving through their assistance with activities of daily living (ADL), providing emotional support and ensuring medication compliance for their loved ones. When caring for their loved ones, caregivers often reported psychological stress, social isolation and emotional exhaustion due to stressors such as uncertainty of the future, the lack of support from professional services and the isolation from their own social network and support mechanism. Insights from this study revealed that caregivers for individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges went through a lonely and exhausting journey fraught with psychological, physical, social and financial challenges, echoing the caregiving needs and the prevalence of the caregiver burden. Insights shared by the caregivers demonstrated the need for a centralised point of contact to navigate Singapore's fragmented mental healthcare sector. Peer-support groups should be further promoted because they offer the benefits of information exchange, mutual support and a sense of empowerment and hopefulness, which may help ease the caregiver burden. Life skills training, such as teaching how to communicate empathetically with family members, resolve conflicts using open communication, maintain a structured daily routine and solve pragmatic problems in daily life, is more critical for individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges. This will help them learn how to manage their well-being, live independently, and stabilise their conditions. Lastly, public awareness campaigns should honour caregivers by highlighting their strength, resilience, and dedication. The state can provide financial assistance in the form of tax relief for their income per annum or caregiver allowance to alleviate the financial stress that caregivers are facing. Introduction The progressive deinstitutionalisation of mental healthcare has increasingly shifted care responsibilities from healthcare professionals to family caregivers for individuals with severe mental illness. Caregivers must balance many obligations, which often compromise their overall health and well-being, while helping their loved ones integrate into the community. Aim To identify and understand caregivers' needs and challenges as they help individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges integrate into the community. Methods This study used a descriptive qualitative approach to explore the experiences and challenges of caregivers for individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges when integrating back into the community. A semi-structured guide was used during the video-conferencing interviews conducted between December 2021 and November 2022. This study was reported according to the 32-item Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist. Findings Fourteen caregivers were individually interviewed by the primary author. Most caregivers were female, with an average of 15 years of experience caring for their loved ones. Using Braun and Clark's six-phase thematic framework, we inductively generate the themes and subthemes from the data. The two themes were (i) challenges (whose subthemes included personal challenges in caregiving, the lack of awareness, and stigma and employment) and (ii) support (whose subthemes included the importance of socialisation for individuals with mental health conditions, existing avenues of support and potential areas for support). Discussion Our findings informed the contemporary needs of caregivers caring for individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges integrating into the community. Like the global challenges for people with mental health issues, psychosocial support and other supplementary support are still common themes in mental health settings. The findings further specifically highlighted the importance of accessible points of contact as resources and employment-enabling and sustaining initiatives to help manage caregivers' emotional and system challenges, which addresses the gaps identified in the findings. Caregivers' peer-support groups, life skills training and public mental health awareness are also necessitated by the caregivers' voices. Implications for Practice Priority areas include having a centralised point of contact within the community for caregivers. Government or not-for-profit organisations can take the lead by initiating employment-enabling initiatives for individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges and their caregivers.

Enhancing surgical internship experiences: The potential of a supporting digital curriculum

BackgroundCentralization of care jeopardizes interns' learning experiences and necessitates educational changes. Here we present the development and evaluation of a structured digital curriculum, offered in addition to the clinical internship, to address these challenges. MethodsThe structured digital curriculum was implemented in a the VUmc/Amsterdam UMC surgical internship program in the Netherlands. The curriculum used a modular format built around a skill or clinical condition. Each module included background information, digital elements like e-learnings and interactive vlogs, and self-assessments. From April 1st to June 30th, 2022, we conducted a mixed-methods evaluation comparing interns' experiences between the conventional and digital curriculum through surveys and interviews. ResultsThirty-nine interns (28.1 %) completed the survey, 17 (24.2 %) from the traditional curriculum and 22 (31.9 %) from the structured blended curriculum. Results from the interviews triangulated and complemented survey results. Interns appreciated both curricula (course marks 7.4 ± 2.0 vs. 8.1 ± 1.1, P = 0.207). The intervention cohort specifically appreciated the structured and comprehensive presentation of available study materials, which resulted in a sense of empowerment. ConclusionsIntegrating a structured digital curriculum to support clinical internships provides interns with comprehensive, readily accessible knowledge, refines their understanding of clinical topics, and results in feelings of empowerment. The combination of clinical and digital education ensures adequate exposure to subjects vital for future doctors, even if clinical exposure is limited. Thus, using a structured digital curriculum prepares the intern and helps the internship program to adequately navigate future medical challenges. Key messageCentralization of care jeopardizes interns' learning experiences and necessitates educational changes. A structured digital curriculum can empower interns in this scenario by providing readily accessible knowledge which refines their understanding of clinical topics.

Individual empowerment and community norm effects of engaging young husbands in reproductive health in rural India: findings from a pilot study.

Despite decades of a call to action to engage men in reproductive health, men are often left out of programs and interventions. In India, where half of pregnancies are reported as unintended, patriarchal gender norms and still dominant patterns of arranged marriages make engaging men in family planning and strengthening couples communication critical in increasing reproductive autonomy and helping young couples meet their reproductive goals. This study explores the feasibility and acceptability from the men's perspective of the pilot of a gender transformative intervention for newly married couples in India. A pilot study was conducted of TARANG, a 4-month intervention for newly married women, with light touch engagement of husbands (4 sessions). A total of 41 husbands participated in the pilot, and we collected baseline knowledge and endline feasibility and acceptability data from them, along with in depth qualitative interviews with 13 men. The study was conducted in June-January, 2023. Men had low levels of knowledge about biology, family planning, with the majority of men reporting that no one had provided them information about these topics. Most men wanted to delay the first birth by at least 2 years, yet less than a quarter had discussed childbearing plans with their partner or engaged in family planning methods. While all men reported high acceptability (satisfaction and usefulness), feasibility (participation) was low, with only 43% attending 2 or more sessions. Main barriers to participation included commitments due to work and migration. Men reported that the intervention led to improvements in their relationships with their wives, gave them a sense of empowerment, and led them to become resources for other men in their community. Men in these rural communities are not receiving the information that they need to meet their reproductive goals, however, they greatly desire this information and ways to improve relationships with their new wives. Such an intervention appears to have the potential to help change norms and spread information in the community and provide men with positive, life affirming feelings. Providing information through technology could address barriers to in-person engagement. clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06320964), 03/13/24.

Retweet to donate? Cause-related marketing in the era of social medialization

Purpose The objectives of this study are threefold: to delineate the phenomenon of “You Share, We Donate” (YSWD) campaigns and what distinguishes them from sales-based cause-related marketing; to contrast the effectiveness of YSWD and sales-based cause-related marketing campaigns and provide an explanation for the differences in the effectiveness; to explore boundary conditions of the proposed differences. Design/methodology/approach Three experiments were conducted to empirically test the differential effect of campaign formats (i.e. YSWD vs sales-based cause-related marketing), the underlying mechanism and structural as well as contextual features moderating the differential effect. Findings The findings suggest that YSWD messages elicit consumers’ message-sharing intentions more than traditional cause-related marketing messages. The effect is explained by consumers’ sense of empowerment and can be enhanced through donation cap non-specification. The findings further indicate that YSWD campaigns are especially fruitful in low power distance cultures. Research limitations/implications This study contributes toward corporate donation campaign literature by focusing on the usage of social media. Practical implications From a managerial perspective, this research provides marketers with guidelines on how to choose between the two cause-related marketing campaign formats and how to enhance the effectiveness of YSWD campaigns. Originality/value This paper extends cause-related marketing literature by not only introducing the phenomenon of YSWD campaigns to the literature but also exploring strategies to enhance the effectiveness of such campaigns and shedding light on an outcome beyond the sales impact of cause-related marketing campaigns, i.e. an increase of visibility in social media. From a managerial perspective, this research provides marketers with guidelines on how to choose between the two cause-related marketing campaign formats and how to enhance the effectiveness of YSWD campaigns.