Task-oriented Approach Research Articles

Scaling up online professional development through institution-initiated blended learning programs in higher education

The impact of Covid-19 has significantly accelerated the digital transformation in higher education worldwide. This study investigates how digital transformation changes the instructional design and implementation of large-scale blended learning programs for better learner experiences. It emphasizes the significance of diverse stakeholders' engagement in institution-initiated blended programs to promote effective online professional development. Utilizing Research-Practice Partnerships (RPPs), this study adopts a case study approach, employing participatory observation, interviews, log data, and online discourses to analyze how interactions across various sectors and levels affect the transformation to blended programs and the professional development of the involved instructors. The findings reveal that the institution-initiated blended learning approach, resembling an apprenticeship model, effectively integrates teaching practice with online professional development. An in-depth analysis of two university courses shows that key events and task-oriented approaches significantly influence instructors' online engagement, enhancing their digital literacy. Teacher Handbooks, driven by real learner data, guide teaching practices effectively, while collaborative research meetings greatly enhance the use of data analytics in teaching. Although this top-down approach presents challenges, this study demonstrates that instructors can innovatively tackle these issues. Institutional support is more likely to foster collaborative learning communities across various sectors and hierarchies. This study contributes to the field by introducing a pioneering framework in the institution's innovative educational reform, creating online professional development communities for faculty members of all ages, and enabling them to quickly and easily adapt to the digital transformation of higher education.

Conceptual Aspect of Measuring the Efficiency of Cargo Unmanned Aerial System

This article examines the conceptual framework for measuring the efficiency of unmanned systems, focusing on a task-oriented and problem-solving approach to evaluating the performance of cargo unmanned aerial vehicles. The efficiency of cargo unmanned aerial vehicles pertains to their ability to complete missions on time and cost-effectively, while maximizing utilization, minimizing resource loss, and maintaining an acceptable level of flight safety. It is important to highlight that the efficiency of cargo unmanned aerial vehicles is multifaceted, encompassing technical, operational, economic, environmental, and regulatory dimensions. Progress in each of these areas contributes to the successful deployment and optimization of cargo drones across various applications, from last-mile deliveries to supply chain operations in remote regions. The article presents two methodologies for assessing the efficiency of cargo drones.

An organisation working mainly reactively instead of proactively: a qualitative study of how frail users of home care services and their next of kin experience crises

BackgroundFrail people receiving home care services face an increased risk of developing crisis, which can result in adverse events, coercive measures, and acute institutionalisation. The prevalence of frailty is expected to increase due to the ageing population in most countries. However, our knowledge of the process leading to crises among frail community-dwelling patients remains limited. The aim of our study was to explore how users of home care services and their next of kin experienced crises and how these crises were approached by home care services.MethodsA qualitative explorative design with 21 interviews was conducted. We explored crises within the last year that had led to an acute institutionalisation (hospital or nursing home) or to an unstable situation with high risk of institutionalisation. Systematic text condensation (STC) was used to analyse the data.ResultsOur findings are summarised into one overarching theme; an organisation working mainly reactively instead of proactively, which is supported by four subthemes: (1) insufficient communication—a determinant of crises, (2) the lack of a holistic approach, (3) a sense of being a burden, and (4) the complexity of crises. The reactive approach is demonstrated in the participant’s experience of insufficient communication and the lack of a holistic approach from the service, but also in the user’s sense of being a burden, which seems to be reinforced by the experienced busyness from the staff in the home care services. This reactive approach to crises seems to have contributed to difficulties in detecting the various stressors involved in the complex process leading to crisis.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that home care services tend to be characterised by a reactive approach to rising instability and the development of crises for users. This can be interpreted as an emergent property of the organisation and the adaptation towards exceeding demands due to insufficient capacity in health care services. We recommend the use of multicomponent care programmes comprising interdisciplinary case conferences in home care services to implement a cultural change that can shift the service from a reactive, fragmented, and task-oriented approach to a more proactive approach.

Comparing Bobath Versus Task-oriented Approach in Young Stroke Patients

Comparing Bobath Versus Task-oriented Approach in Young Stroke Patients

The Effect of a Table Tennis Exercise Program With a Task-Oriented Approach on Visual Perception and Motor Performance of Adolescents With Developmental Coordination Disorder.

In this study we investigated the effects of an 8-week table tennis exercise program with a task-oriented approach on visual perception and motor performance of 31 adolescents with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). The participants were identified by their teachers as having greater difficulty than their peers (450 students from three Korean middle schools) in physical education (PE) classes. On the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2, these adolescents scored below the 15th percentile and showed difficulties in performing daily life activities due to motor performance problems; they did not have physical defects, intellectual or neurological impairments, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Of 98 prospective adolescents with PE difficulties, we obtained personal assent and parents' informed consent from 54, and 31 of these met screening criteria for DCD through the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire-Korean. This final group was divided in non-random fashion (based on the proximal geographic grouping of the children's schools) between an experimental group (n = 16) and a control group (n = 15). The experimental group participated in the 8-week task-oriented table tennis training program with three 90-minute sessions per week, while the control group only participated in regular PE classes twice per week. We measured participants' visual perception and motor performance in the same environment before and after the intervention program. Participants' visual perception was significantly more improved in the experimental group than the control group, with specific improved skills in visual-motor search, visual-motor speed, figure-ground, and visual closure; copying and perceptual constancy skills did not improve significantly. In addition, total motor performance and motor sub-skills, including fine manual control, manual coordination, body coordination, strength, and agility were significantly more improved in the experimental group than in the control group. Thus, our task-oriented table tennis exercise program was of greater assistance than general PE classes for improving visual perception and motor performance in adolescents at risk of DCD.

Effectiveness of the Task-Based Language Teaching Method in Improving Foreign Language Writing Skills

Background. Foreign language teaching has experienced a shift towards a more task-oriented approach to improving language skills. However, not much research has explored the effectiveness of the Task-Based Language Teaching method in the world of physical education, foreign language education, and elementary school teacher education. For this reason, the Task-Based Language Teaching method is used as a solution to improve the skills of students in physical education, foreign language education and elementary school teacher education. Purpose. This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Task-Based Language Teaching method in improving students' language skills in three different fields of study. Method. This research uses a quantitative approach with a pre-post test experimental design. Results. The results of this study indicate that there was an increase in language skills in the experimental group who received training using the Task-Based Language Teaching method compared to the control group. Physical education students showed improvements in speaking and writing skills, while foreign language education and elementary school teacher education students showed improvements in listening and speaking abilities. Conclusion. The conclusion of this research shows that the Task-Based Language Teaching method is effective in improving students' language skills in various fields of study, including physical education, foreign language education, and elementary school teacher education. Implementation of the Task-Based Language Teaching method can be an effective alternative in enriching language teaching, improving communication skills, and providing a more contextual and relevant learning experience for students.

Patterns of Medical Residents' Preferences for Organizational Socialization Strategies to Facilitate Their Transitions: A Q-study.

To facilitate various transitions of medical residents, healthcare team members and departments may employ various organizational socialization strategies, including formal and informal onboarding methods. However, residents' preferences for these organizational socialization strategies to ease their transition can vary. This study identifies patterns (viewpoints) in these preferences. Using Q-methodology, we asked a purposeful sample of early-career residents to rank a set of statements into a quasi-normal distributed grid. Statements were based on previous qualitative interviews and organizational socialization theory. Participants responded to the question, 'What are your preferences regarding strategies other health care professionals, departments, or hospitals should use to optimize your next transition?' Participants then explained their sorting choices in a post-sort questionnaire. We identified different viewpoints based on by-person (inverted) factor analysis and Varimax rotation. We interpreted the viewpoints using distinguishing and consensus statements, enriched by residents' comments. Fifty-one residents ranked 42 statements, among whom 36 residents displayed four distinct viewpoints: Dependent residents (n = 10) favored a task-oriented approach, clear guidance, and formal colleague relationships; Social Capitalizing residents (n = 9) preferred structure in the onboarding period and informal workplace social interactions; Autonomous residents (n = 12) prioritized a loosely structured onboarding period, independence, responsibility, and informal social interactions; and Development-oriented residents (n = 5) desired a balanced onboarding period that allowed independence, exploration, and development. This identification of four viewpoints highlights the inadequacy of one-size-fits-all approaches to resident transition. Healthcare professionals and departments should tailor their socialization strategies to residents' preferences for support, structure, and formal/informal social interaction.

Perceptions of caring behaviors: Experiences of nurses in Ethiopia.

Caring is a universal phenomenon that influences nurse-patient interactions and feelings, forming the foundation of the nursing profession. How nurses perceive and experience caring in low-income settings is not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore Ethiopian nurses' perceptions and experiences of caring using a qualitative descriptive design. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 nurses aged 28-57. Interviews were analyzed inductively using reflexive thematic analysis guided by the recommendations of Braun and Clarke. The analysis resulted in three themes: caring is the heartbeat of patient care, constraints to the provision of care, and ways to overcome constraints. The results revealed that nurses were committed to fulfilling their professional obligations and meeting patients' needs despite experiencing multiple constraints. The findings provide a comprehensive perspective in understanding nurses' experiences of caring. Their narratives demonstrate that they face constraints in their clinical practice, which limit the quality of care, including rotation and lack of resources. Cooperation between health policymakers and nurse authorities is essential for shifting the clinical environment from the prevailing traditional task-oriented approach to patient-centered care.

Comparison of Task-Oriented and Bobath-Based Trunk Training on Balance, Functional abilities and Walking in Ischemic Stroke Patients

Aim: To determine the outcome of task oriented and bobath based trunk training on balance in ischemic stroke patients Study design: Randomized controlled trial Place and duration: Physical Therapy department, Younas health care Hospital Shahdara Methodology: Sixty-six patients rewarding the inclusion and exclusion criteria were assigned in two groups, Group 1 and Group 2. Group 1 was given conventional treatment + Task oriented trunk and Group 2 was given receive Convention treatment + Bobath based trunk training. Participants in both groups were joined in a 12-week physiotherapy session that seen three days a weekly for one sixty minute respectively day. They stayed examined at starting point and after the 12-week mark. Berg Balance Scale and Trunk impairment scale were used as outcome measures. Results: The adjustment score of BBS was 8.93 (6.32-11.54) that helps in investigational set (P<0.001). Furthermore, variation score of the Trunk Impairment Scale between the groups was 3.34 (1.48-4.91). It also helps the Task-oriented group with (P<0.001). However, task-oriented approach is more effective. Conclusion: Exercises performed with task-oriented approach are more effective to improve balance and functions of the patients with ischemic stroke as associated to patients who were treated with Bobath approach. Besides, better improvement has been found on purposeful balance suggesting the surplus effects with task-oriented exercise. Keywords: Stroke, Bobath, Task-oriented, Balance

Effectiveness of Task Oriented Exercise on Lower Limb in Post Stroke Patient with Lateral Medullary Syndrome: A Case Series

Background: Stroke has such a significant socioeconomic impact worldwide. Stroke is gaining ground in terms ofpublic awareness, patient and carer knowledge, service improvements, and research.Purpose: The aim of the study is to determine the effectiveness of task-oriented exercise on lower limb in poststroke patients with lateral medullary syndrome.Result: Comparing the outcomes of the FIM and BBS pre- and post-tests, there is a positive change seen in all the10 participants after giving a task-oriented approach as a treatment. The post-scores (P<0.05) of FIM have showna significant difference in all the participants. The post-scores (p>0.05) of BBS also have shown betterment in thebalance and reduction of fall risk.

Toward Optimal Robot Machining Considering the Workpiece Surface Geometry in a Task-Oriented Approach

Robot workpiece machining is interesting in industry as it offers some advantages, such as higher flexibility in comparison with the conventional approach based on CNC technology. However, in recent years, we have been facing a strong progressive shift to custom-based manufacturing and low-volume/high-mix production, which require a novel approach to automation via the employment of collaborative robotics. However, collaborative robots feature only limited motion capability to provide safety in cooperation with human workers. Thus, it is highly necessary to perform more detailed robot task planning to ensure its feasibility and optimal performance. In this paper, we deal with the problem of studying kinematic robot performance in the case of such manufacturing tasks, where the robot tool is constrained to follow the machining path embedded on the workpiece surface at a prescribed orientation. The presented approach is based on the well-known concept of manipulability, although the latter suffers from physical inconsistency due to mixing different units of linear and angular velocity in a general 6 DOF task case. Therefore, we introduce the workpiece surface constraint in the robot kinematic analysis, which enables an evaluation of its available velocity capability in a reduced dimension space. Such constrained robot kinematics transform the robot’s task space to a two-dimensional surface tangent plane, and the manipulability analysis may be limited to the space of linear velocity only. Thus, the problem of physical inconsistency is avoided effectively. We show the theoretical derivation of the proposed method, which was verified by numerical experiments.

A Task-Oriented Deep Learning Approach for Human Localization

A Task-Oriented Deep Learning Approach for Human Localization

The Impact of Transactional Leadership on Work Performance: The Mediating Role of Work Engagement

Drawing on the theory of transactional leadership, this study investigates the potential impact of transactional leadership on work performance through the mediating role of work engagement. A survey was conducted among 157 employees from a manufacturing enterprise in China, revealing that transactional leadership significantly and positively influences both work performance and work engagement. Moreover, work engagement fully mediates the relationship between transactional leadership and work performance. This study offers practical management strategies for enterprise leaders, emphasising task-oriented approaches, goal-setting, and motivating employees to invest greater effort through work promotions, material incentives, and other methods, ultimately fostering improved work performance.

The Way of Kaizen: Implementation of Kaizen Philosophy in Quality Assurance in Bangladeshi Higher Education

Quality assurance in higher education is a pressing global concern, with particular challenges in implementation and maintenance evident in developing nations like Bangladesh. This study addresses the multifaceted challenges facing higher education in Bangladesh, including financial, political, cultural, bureaucratic, and governmental obstacles. Through a focused examination, this research proposes a methodology for continuously developing higher educational institutions, emphasizing the trouble-free sustainability of changes. By shifting from current inefficient policies to a task-oriented approach rooted in the kaizen philosophy, this study aims to enhance the outcomes of higher education institutions in Bangladesh. Embedding the kaizen concept within quality assurance initiatives holds promise for elevating Bangladesh’s standing in the global education landscape. By embracing kaizen principles, higher education institutions in Bangladesh can incrementally overcome challenges and enhance educational quality, thereby contributing to sustainable development objectives and positioning Bangladesh as a leader in global education.

Feasibility and efficacy of an early sensory-motor rehabilitation program on hand function in patients with stroke: a pilot, single-subject experimental design.

Hand and upper limb functional impairments following stroke lead to limitations in performing activities of daily living. We aimed to investigate feasibility and efficacy of an early sensory-motor rehabilitation program on hand and upper limb function in patients with acute stroke. A pilot, single-subject experimental, A-B-A study. Stroke unit of an educational hospital and an outpatient occupational therapy clinic. A convenience sample including five people with acute stroke. Participants received 3h of an intensive hand and upper limb sensory and motor rehabilitation program, 5days per week for 3months (15-min mental imagery, 15-min action observation, 30-min mirror therapy, 1.5-h constraint-induced movement therapy, and 30-min bilateral arm training). Activities were chosen based on the task-oriented occupational therapy approach. An assessor blinded to intervention program measured sensory and motor functions using action research arm test, box and block test, Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments, and upper extremity section of Fugl-Meyer assessment. Assessment data points in intervention and follow-up phases compared to baseline were in higher levels, sloped upwardly, and increased significantly for all participants in all outcome measures. The present pilot study showed that a package of nowadays evidence-based rehabilitation methods including mental imagery, action observation, mirror therapy, modified constraint-induced movement therapy, bilateral arm training, and task-oriented occupational therapy approach is able to improve sensory and motor functions of the hand and upper limb in patients with acute stroke.

GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND SPOUSAL CAREGIVING FOR THOSE WITH DEMENTIA: A FOCUS ON EMOTION WORK

Abstract This study draws upon and expands three research streams. The first relates to spousal caregiving for those with dementia, and gender differences in stress. Based on gender divisions of labor, men are more likely to take a task-oriented approach to caregiving; women take a more holistic, empathetic approach. The second strand relates to emotion work, wherein caregivers manipulate their own emotions to produce a desired outcome in another (Hochschild, 2003). Research shows that spouses find performing emotion work “draining” (Umberson, et al., 2020), and that women do it more. Finally, we draw upon research that finds that same-sex couples are more egalitarian in their division of labor than are straight couples; how this impacts caregiving approaches or emotion work is unclear. Weaving these together, our study explores how inequalities of gender and sexuality intersect in shaping caregiving by older adults who care for their demented spouses. Our analysis of in-depth interviews conducted among 69 straight, gay, and lesbian caregivers finds that, first, heterosexual men rarely engage in emotion work, though they do manage their own feelings. Second, heterosexual wives overwhelmingly manipulate their feelings in attempts to gain compliance from their spouses, calm them, and/or make them happy. Finally, both gay men and lesbians perform emotion work, and they tend to combine the task-oriented and holistic approaches to care. These findings make clear that gender differences found in previous caregiving research are not “natural,” and suggest that straight men’s lower stress levels may result from their tendency to skip emotion work.

Effect of reflex mediated core stabilization and system-based task-oriented approach on motor function and motor ability in children with developmental delay: protocol for a comparative study

Background When a child doesn’t meet the developmental milestones at the same rate as peers their own age, it is considered to be a developmental delay. Its severity can be divided into three categories: minimal (functional age < 33% of chronological age), intermediate (34-66% of chronological age), and severe (functional age > 66% of chronological age), and has several impairments including motor, speech, and learning. In motor impairment, there is a significant delay in fine and gross motor skills, including stiff muscles, loose trunk and limbs, limited movement in the legs and an inability to bear weight on feet and/or legs. To avoid long-term disability, early detection and intervention are essential. This study will aim to identify the effect of a reflex-mediated core stabilization and a system-based task-oriented approach on motor function and motor ability in children with developmental delay. Methods A total of 54 children with developmental delay who meet the eligibility criteria will be chosen for the prospective experimental design trial and will be assigned into two groups. Group A will undergo reflex-mediated core stabilization along with conventional therapy, while Group B will undergo a system-based task-oriented approach along with conventional therapy. The session will extend for 60 minutes each day, six days per week for six weeks. Gross Motor Function Measure version 88 (GMFM-88), Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) as outcomes will be assessed at baseline, after two weeks, four weeks, and after completion of the entire treatment protocol. Conclusions The data will be compiled and analyzed to compare the effectiveness of the interventions. Registration Clinical Trials Registry India (CTRI/2023/08/055998, registered on 01/08/23).

Impact of Task Oriented Training on Activities of Daily Living in Post Stroke Rehabilitation: A Single Arm Randomised Controlled Trial

Introduction: There are several complications following the stroke including reduced functional independence, inability to maintain adequate posture, alterations in daily activities and several others. Physical therapy intervention aims at improving the stated complications targeting the task-oriented approach. This study investigated the effect of task-oriented training in post stroke patients on activities of daily living. Methodology: In this single-arm randomized controlled trial, 10 post-stroke males with hemiparesis and functional limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) were recruited following informed consent. The study implemented a structured intervention including activities like Forward Reach and Grasping Pen in sitting, Ball squeeze, stacking rings, piling up the Cones, Pegboard activities, Ball kicking, and Stepping drill. Each activity had a different dosage based on the specific drill performed. Pre and post-test evaluations were conducted on Day 0 and Day 21, utilizing the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Barthel Index (BI). Results: Within the group comparisons revealed statistically significant differences (p< 0.05). The pre and post-test readings for FIM were evaluated as 52.50±15.130 and 69.0±11.972 respectively and for BI were observed as 61.0±14.870 and 74.50±7.619 respectively. Conclusion: Task-oriented training is an effective and viable method for enhancing functional independence and strength in activities of daily living (ADLs) in patients with hemiparesis following stroke.

Cerebellar Infarction: Physiotherapeutic Approach an Overview of Existing Studies

Objectives: Cerebellar infarction is an ischemic or hemorrhagic type episode involving the three main cerebellar arteries. An infarction in each of these arteries causes different but common symptoms, requiring a particularly important contribution of physiotherapy to its treatment. This overview aimed to investigate the effectiveness of physiotherapy programs on the symptoms of patients with cerebellar infarction. Methods: A literature search was performed using eight databases and the keywords, including physiotherapy, physical therapy, rehabilitation, therapeutic exercise, exercise, cerebellar infarct, cerebellar infarction, and cerebellar blockage. The selection process of the final studies was carried out after setting inclusion and exclusion criteria and separately by two reviewers. Results: Out of 1477 initial records, six studies met the inclusion criteria for this overview. Interventions focused on a balance training program and walking training, as opposed to a treadmill training program, seem to improve symptoms in these patients. Also, task-oriented approach was a promising method of rehabilitation. Discussion: Physiotherapy has a beneficial effect on the symptoms of patients with cerebellar infarction and should be considered for the overall recovery of the patient. However, future research is needed due to the small number of studies and to find therapeutically proven forms of intervention.

Splints and a Task-oriented Approach Improve Upper Extremity Function in Children with Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy

To investigate the combined impact of splints and Task-Oriented Approach(TOA) on Upper Extremity (UE) skills in children with Motor learning and motor movement execution were both necessary for the development of upper extremity (UE) skills. The UEs' musculoskeletal stability was necessary for the execution of motor motions. Spasticity, a frequent issue in kids with cerebral palsy (CP), can hinder and limit participant ability and activity. In this study, we investigated how task-oriented approach (TOA) intervention and splints could benefit quadriplegic CP children with spastic upper limbs. To evaluate the combined impact of splints and TOA vs the individual effects of splints and TOA on UE’s skills. Using a quasi-experimental design, 15 kids were chosen using inclusion and exclusion criteria and then randomly allocated to one of three groups, A, B, or C, each consisting of five kids. During the four-week intervention program, children in Group A received splints together with TOA, children in Group B received splints, and children in Group C received TOA. The results of the PDMS-2 Peabody Developmental Motor Scales 2nd edition, PDMS-2 standardized test evaluation were used to examine each kid one week before and immediately after the four-week intervention. The statistical findings showed that when the intervention was concentrated on TOA together with the usage of splint and the full groups were compared to each other, there is a significant observable improvement in UE's abilities function in children with spastic quadriplegic CP group A comparing to group B and group C children. This study found that the assumption of motor learning, which states that an adequate neuromotor system combined with repeated practice will develop motor skills, is true when the goal of a treatment plan for children with quadriplegic CP is to develop UE skills.