Support Group Activities Research Articles

Community reintegration: Therapeutic dining program for older adult following stroke

Therapeutic dining programs are part of the community reintegration process for clients recovering from a stroke. It is a supervised program performed in social settings that consists of a combination of techniques to improve the eating situation. Therapeutic dining programs are a beneficial form of therapy for many rehabilitative groups. This specific program has been tailored to older adults who are recovering from a stroke. Its main goals, aside from improving the eating situation, are to prevent another stroke from happening and decrease depression symptoms and increase self-esteem by reintegrating clients back into the community. I looked into several different community reintegration program and nutrition and eating after stroke studies in which positive outcomes were found for post-stroke clients. All studies and research used has provided a strong support for the specific proposed intervention program for my client Kelly, who is an older adult female recovering from a stroke. Assessments selected: The Barthel Index, Nutritional Status, and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Plan: Small group therapeutic dining program with other older adults in the afternoon. Intervention: Therapeutic Dining Program three times a week for eight weeks to improve eating situation, promote healthy eating, decrease symptoms of depression, and increase self esteem and social activity. Evaluation: The Barthel Index, Nutritional Status, Geriatric Depression Scale plus a Stroke Recovery Scorecard. Clients Goals: 1) Client will lower the risks of having another stroke. 2) Client will increase their eating situation experience and self-esteem while decreasing their depression symptoms. 3) Client will get involved in one support group or leisure activity outside of recreational therapy (RT) dining program for community reintegrated leisure pursuits.

Self-Management Improves Outcomes in Persons With Limb Loss

Wegener ST, Mackenzie EJ, Ephraim P, Ehde D, Williams R. Self-management improves outcomes in persons with limb loss. Objective To test the acceptance and effectiveness of a community-based self-management (SM) intervention designed to improve outcomes after limb loss. A priori hypothesis was that an SM intervention will be more effective than standard support group activities in improving outcomes. Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting General community. Participants Intervention (N=287) and control participants (N=235) with major limb loss. Intervention(s) Nine, 90-minute SM group sessions delivered by trained volunteer leaders. Retention rates at immediate postintervention and 6-month follow-up were 97% and 91% for the SM group. Main Outcome Measure(s) Primary outcomes were depression, positive mood, and self-efficacy. Secondary outcomes were improved functional status and quality of life. Results By using intent-to-treat analyses, the odds for being depressed are significantly lower for those in SM group, 50% less likely at treatment completion (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.3–0.9) and 40% less likely at the 6-month follow-up (95% CI=.03–1.1). Treatment completers have a 70% reduction in likelihood of being depressed at posttreatment ( P<.01) and this persists at six months ( P<.05). For those in the SM group, functional limitations were significantly lower at 6 months ( P<.05), and general self-efficacy was significantly higher at immediate posttreatment ( P<.05) and at 6 months ( P<.05). Treatment completers have generally significantly larger effect sizes at all follow-up points. Pain intensity, self-efficacy for pain control, and quality of life were not significantly different between the groups. Subgroup analyses indicated the impact of the intervention was greater for participants who were less than 3 years postamputation, participants who were less than 65 years of age, or participants who showed at least 1 secondary condition at baseline. Conclusions The study provides evidence that SM interventions can improve the outcomes of persons with limb loss beyond benefits offered by support groups.

P2-249: The impact of support group activity on the relationship between Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers: Reporting of change of misbehavior by caregivers

P2-249: The impact of support group activity on the relationship between Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers: Reporting of change of misbehavior by caregivers

Authoring Social-aware Tasks on Active Spaces

Social-aware computing is an emerging trend based on ubiquitous computing technologies and collaborative work. A successful design demands a better understanding of group tasks, adaptation mechanisms and support for dynamic changes in a nomadic computing paradigm. This paper proposes the use of a hypermedia model to describe and support group activities in intelligent environments. The resulting system integrates adaptive context-aware information on the basis of user/group models in order to provide a structured access to dynamic task scheduling. In particular, we propose the use of the calendar metaphor as an ongoing connection between active spaces and collaborative tasks. This proposal provides the appropriate support for an easier human coordination to achieve common objectives in blended learning scenarios, and thus, extending authoring social tasks to physical spaces.

A system for supporting group activities with a sensor-embedded board

This correspondence describes a system called ePro for supporting face-to-face group activities. ePro connects a sensor-embedded board that utilizes radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for object recognition and a computer simulation, and is currently used to discuss urban planning and environmental problems. Users collaboratively construct a town by placing pieces such as houses on the board. The computer simulation program automatically recognizes the arrangement of pieces on the board. It then shows environmental changes of the town through visualized simulation results. The goal of ePro is to initiate group discussions: The physical board supports the participation of each user by allowing them to manipulate physical objects, and the computer simulation gives users feedback on their manipulation, which triggers their further actions. A comparative user study of ePro (with and without the sensor-embedded board) was conducted. Through the study, ePro has proved its high usability and effectiveness in activating discussions in face-to-face group activities

Efficacy of comprehensive group rehabilitation for women with early breast cancer in South Korea

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a comprehensive group rehabilitation program on the range of motion of the shoulder joint, psychosocial adjustment, and the quality of life for early breast cancer patients. Fifty-five women with early breast cancer were assigned to an intervention group or a control group. Intervention was provided three times per week for 10 weeks. The results showed an increased range of motion of the shoulder joint, and psychosocial adjustment and quality of life were shown to be significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group. The rehabilitation program comprised psychology-based education, exercise, and peer support group activity to promote recovery of the affected shoulder joint range of motion, alleviate physical symptoms, and improve psychosocial adjustment and quality of life for early breast cancer patients in South Korea.

Conflicts of Interest in Dermatology

Conflicts of interest exist in dermatology when professional judgement concerning a primary interest, such as research validity, may be influenced by a secondary interest, such as financial gain from a for-profit organization. Conflict of interest is a condition and not a behaviour, although there is clear evidence that gifts influence behaviour. Little has been written about conflicts of interest in dermatology. This series of papers raises awareness of the subject by exploring it in greater depth from the perspective of a dermatology researcher, an industry researcher, a dermatology journal editor, a health services researcher and a patient representative. Collectively, they illustrate the many ways in which conflicts can pervade the world of dermatology publications and patient support group activities.

Promoting men's wellbeing: Integrated services for responding to men's depression in community health

Men's health issues and depression have both been identified as key priorities in health policy in Australia. A community health service in Melbourne has developed and delivered an integrated and holistic series of interventions specifically targeting depression in men, in addition to individual counselling services. These include a psycho-educational group program, an ongoing therapeutic and support group, and walking and gym exercise activities. Levels of participation, and outcomes, indicate that this type of package of services can be a highly successful way for community health services to respond to issues relating to men's health and wellbeing.

Reducing disparities in diabetes among African-American and Latino residents of Detroit: the essential role of community planning focus groups.

Diabetes is prevalent among African-American and Latino Detroit residents, with profound consequences to individuals, families, and communities. The REACH Detroit Partnership engaged eastside and southwest Detroit families in focus groups organized by community, age, gender, and language, to plan community-based participatory interventions to reduce the prevalence and impact of diabetes and its risk factors. Community residents participated in planning, implementing, and analyzing data from the focus groups and subsequent planning meetings. Major themes included: 1) diabetes is widespread and risk begins in childhood, with severe consequences for African Americans and Latinos; 2) denial and inadequate health care contribute to lack of public awareness about pre-symptomatic diabetes; 3) diabetes risks include heredity, high sugar, fat and alcohol intake, overweight, lack of exercise, and stress; and 4) cultural traditions, lack of motivation, and lack of affordable, accessible stores, restaurants, and recreation facilities and programs, are barriers to adopting preventive lifestyles. Participants identified community assets and made recommendations that resulted in REACH Detroit's multi-level intervention design and programs. They included development of: 1) family-oriented interventions to support lifestyle change at all ages; 2) culturally relevant community and health provider education and materials; 3) social support group activities promoting diabetes self-management, exercise, and healthy eating; and 4) community resource development and advocacy.

Effects of a Comprehensive Rehabilitation Program for Mastectomy Patients

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a comprehensive rehabilitation program on physical function, immune response, fatigue and quality of life in mastectomy patients. The subjects included fifty-five patients with breast cancer (27 in the control group and 28 in the experimental group). The subjects in the experimental group participated in a comprehensive rehabilitation program for 10 weeks, which was composed of 1 session of education, 2 sessions of stress management, 2 sessions of exercise, and 1 session of peer support group activity per week. The results revealed an increase in shoulder extension, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation of the affected upper extremity, and in shoulder extension and abduction of the healthy upper extremity. Also an increase in quality of life and a decrease in fatigue were significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group. However, the results revealed that the natural killer cell ratio of the experimental group increased but there was no significant difference from that of the control group. The 10-week comprehensive rehabilitation program showed a large affirmative effect on physical function, fatigue and quality of life of breast cancer patients after a mastectomy.

Caretta: Integrating Personal and Shared Workspaces to Support Group Activities

In this paper, a system called Caretta that integrates personal and shared workspaces to support face-to-face collaboration is described. We use PDAs for individual users' personal workspaces that enable them to reflect on their own idea. A shared workspace has been implemented by using a multiple-input sensing board, which allows a group of users to simultaneously manipulate physical objects. In order to raise the level of awareness among users, we have used augmented reality technologies and created an immersive environment for the users' shared workspace. Users of Caretta can discuss and negotiate with each other in the shared workspace, while they individually examine their ideas in their own personal workspaces. Therefore, Caretta allows users to participate in group activities interchangeably and seamlessly by using both these workspaces. Caretta can be used for several types of group activities. In this paper, it is used for supporting a group of users in urban planning tasks by allowing the users to actually construct a town on the shared space and evaluate the town through computer simulations. User studies to evaluate Caretta were conducted. Usage logs of Caretta, video analyses, and comments from users proved that each user could utilize personal and shared space interchangeably at their own pace and without being hindered by other users.

Health status and participation in a range of activities in an Australian community

The aim of the research was to determine the relationship between levels of participation in a community and self-assessed health status of people in a rural and regional setting. A cross-sectional design, using a mailed, self-administered questionnaire was used. Questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of people aged 18 years and over who were registered on the electoral roll of a regional city and rural area, the Barwon and Otway regions of Victoria, Australia. The sample consisted of 1752 participants: 990 females (57%), 739 males (42%) and 23 sex undisclosed (1%). The range of participants was 18-98 years, and the mean age was 50.53 years (SD = 17.19). Self-assessed physical and mental health were measured using the SF-12 scale. Participants with low incomes, and those with low self-assessed physical and mental health scores, were significantly more likely than other participants to agree with one or more of the social isolation items, indicating that they experienced some social isolation. Low levels of participation in social, sports, leisure or support activities were associated with low self-assessed physical and mental health. Disengagement with the local community was associated with low levels of self-assessed mental health. While younger people were more likely than older people to participate in social, sports, leisure or support activities, they were less involved as members of their community. Females were more likely than males to have been involved in five or more sports, leisure or support activities. Participation in civic activities was associated with high income. Levels of participation in the four different types of activities were combined (social activities, sport, leisure or support activities, community and group activities, and civic activities). Participants classified as low participators were more likely to be older participants, to have a low income and to have low scores for both physical and mental health. An association was found between health and community participation in a range of activities, and between health and engagement with the community in this rural and regional population. These findings are consistent with those reported from similar research with a metropolitan population sample. The current research suggests that the groups of people of most concern in terms of low participation rates, are people who have low incomes, people aged over 65 years, people who may be defined as possessing poor physical health and people who may be defined as possessing poor mental health. The relationship between age, community participation and health is complex and needs further exploration because it is not known whether poor health reduces community participation or whether reduced community participation results in poor health. However, current research suggests that developing and implementing strategies to promote people's engagement with and involvement in their local community is one important way of promoting the health of the community as a whole.

Psycho-Physiological Effects of the Terrorist Sarin Attack on the Tokyo Subway System

The investigation describes the follow-up of the victims of the 1995 Tokyo sarin attack who were followed by a team at the St. Luke's International Hospital. A symptom questionnaire ("St. Luke's Questionnaire") was developed and given 2, 3, and 5 years following the sarin attack. Somatic and psychological symptoms have continued for 5 years after the incident. New post-traumatic stress disorder diagnostic criteria, which include physical symptoms, were developed and applied for assessment of the outcomes. The St. Luke's cohort was also compared with other Japanese sarin attack cohorts. Interventions, including counseling, medical treatments, and support group activities, were associated with fewer symptoms among the victims.

Cancer-Related Fatigue: Nursing Assessment and Management

Cancer-Related Fatigue: Nursing Assessment and Management

Most Successful Intervention Strategies for Abused Older Adults

ABSTRACTIn this Project CARE study, intervention plans for 83 cases, with a total of 473 strategies, are analyzed in a qualitative content analysis method. The 473 strategies are designed and implemented by an abuse-trained, multidisciplinary, health and social service agency, home care team. Each strategy is rated by the team for its acceptance/refusal by clients and levels of success. The most accepted and successful strategies for abused older adults are concrete: nursing and other medical care and homemaking assistance, followed by empowerment strategies, such as support groups for abused older adults, information about rights and resources and volunteer buddy/advocates. Less successful strategies for abused persons are referrals to general community activities and programs. For caregiver abusers, the most successful and accepted interventions involve individual supportive counselling to reduce anxiety, stress and depression and education and training. Abuser-oriented strategies are most accepted and successful in the study. Thus, it would seem pertinent for intervenors to focus services and strategies on abusers and not only on abused older adults, in particular offering them supportive individual counselling to reduce anxiety, stress, and depression. For abused care receivers, home-based services can offer the necessary support to move out of their abuse situation with the help of volunteers and support group activities.

Anxiety Levels, Group Characteristics, and Members’ Behaviors in the Termination Stage of Support Groups for Patients Recovering From Heart Attacks

Objective: Examining the significance of the termination stage of support group activity and its effectiveness in alleviating anxiety among patients recovering from their first heart attack. Methods: 82 patients, 50 of whom participated in seven support groups, fill in questionnaires at six stages of the group intervention. Six observers conducted two stages of qualitative analysis of the groups’ last meetings’ videotapes. Results: The findings revealed a temporary increase in anxiety levels during the termination stage among the groups that effectively alleviated anxiety. These findings are partially explained by two components of the Group Environmental Scale: cohesiveness and task orientation. Resistance and ambivalence were typical behavior patterns of members at the termination stage of effective groups. Conclusions: Measuring group effectiveness before, during, and after the intervention enriches the knowledge of the correlation between group processes and group outcomes. Identifying behavior patterns contribute to social worker’s online ability to evaluate group effectiveness.

Telephone-Based Interventions with Family Caregivers: A Feasibility Study

Although telephone care has been reported with various patient populations, telephone-based interventions usually are described as part of multimethod treatments-combined with support group activities or home visits,for example-such that the separate effects of the telephone-based intervention cannot be assessed. This article describes the design, implementation, and outcomes of a pilot study to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of telephone-based skill buildingfor reducing caregiving stress and improvingfamily caregiver coping and adaptation around home carefor a dementia patient.

The retention of women in the computing sciences (panel)

The recruiting and retention of women in the computing sciences has been an area of study for many years. In 1992, 49% of all high school graduates were women prepared and interested in the computer science and engineering disciplines. Of the bachelor of science degrees awarded, only 31% went to women in these fields of study. Women represented only 28% of the master's degrees and 11% of the Ph.D.s awarded during that time. The following year, 1993, reported a drop of women earning B.S. degrees to 28%, with 27% and 14% of master's and Ph.Ds degrees awarded, respectively, to women.A panel of six discuss why women who are initially attracted to computer science bail out without completing degree requirements, most in the first two years of undergraduate study. The panelists present diverse positions as to why fewer women persevere and experimental efforts for increasing the retention rate among women. The action plans developed from the investigations include curriculum changes and support group activities. The panelists share feedback from surveys, program modifications, support group activities and personal experiences to provide a comprehensive view of the problem and possible solutions applicable to a wide range of environments. The panelists' positions follow.

Survey of physician practices for community-dwelling agitated dementia patients

In order to gain a better understanding of physician clinical reasoning and clinical practices for community-dwelling agitated dementia patients, we conducted a small survey of geriatric psychiatrists, primary care physicians and neurologists. The survey asked physician respondents to give a likelihood estimate of how often they would carry out one of 13 different pharmacologic and psychosocial interventions. Intervention by specialty group analyses found that geriatric psychiatrists were more likely to recommend neuroleptic medications and dementia support group activities, but less likely to recommend referral to behavioral specialists than the other physician groups. Neurologists were more likely to recommend dementia support groups than primary care physicians, but they were also more likely to recommend institutional placement than the other physician groups. Primary care physicians were more likely to recommend hydroxyzine than either neurologists or geriatric psychiatrists. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis found that older physicians and primary care physicians expressed a lower likelihood of recommending dementia day care programs and a higher likelihood of recommending hydroxyzine. Women physicians, however, expressed a high likelihood of recommending dementia day care programs. The results of the survey suggest that personal and specialty characteristics of physicians influence the types of treatment recommendations made for agitated dementia patients. The results may help community-based dementia care programs to develop strategies that broaden physician involvement in multidisciplinary team management for these patients.

Collaboration in the small vs. collaboration in the large

For the past several years, the Collaborative Software Development Laboratory (CSDL) at the University of Hawaii has been pursuing research along two general fronts: the development of computer systems to support group activities (collaborative software), as well as research on the process of developing software in a group setting (collaborative development). Our research projects include:&amp;bull; Egret, a client-server system for implementing domain-specific, collaborative, hypertext systems [1, 6, 7, 9];&amp;bull; CSRS, an Egret-based system for software review and quality improvement [2, 10, 11, 12, 8, 6, 7, 9];&amp;bull; AEN, an Egret-based system for collaborative authoring and learning [3];&amp;bull; CLARE, an Egret-based system collaborative learning and review [4, 13, 14, 15].&amp;bull; ICS-WWW, a WWW-based system for exploring community building through electronic means [5].From these experiences, we have be gun to recognize two fundamentally different styles of collaboration and collaborative system, which we term collaboration-in-t he-large and collaboration-in-the-small. Collaboration in the large, embodied by such systems as WWW, scales to thousands or millions of individuals. Such domain-independent scale requires a kind of collaborative "open world assumption": users do not know the answers to such elementary questions as: Who are the other users? What is the set of artifacts in the system? What has changed sinceyesterday? What is interesting to me? Is the information repository structurally consistent? What is user X doing right now?In contrast, the systems b uilt by our lab exploit the possibiliti es of domain-specific, collaboration-in-the- small where a "closed world assumption" holds. In our systems, in contrast to WWW, all of the preceeding questions have answers, at least relative to the domain of discourse embodied in the system. The cost of collaboration in the small is its lack of scalability both technically and socially: it is unlikely that groups of more than 50 or 100 could work together effectively in our systems, or that our system could provide adequate responsiveness to larger groups.