Universal Barriers Research Articles

Hearing the Sound of the Wave: What Impedes One’s Ability to Foresee Innovations?

This paper offers a broad view on foreseeing innovation, which is not limited solely to early detection at the micro level. The author defines innovations as ongoing processes of changes in the various fields of social and economic life, which result from human creative activity. Noting that innovation is an uncertain, relatively chaotic, and disordered process characterized by inherent risks, the author aims to define the most general and universal barriers impeding one’s ability to recognize the signs of future innovation and to anticipate their consequences. Considering examples of «disruptive innovation» in the technological, social, political, and economic spheres of life, the author sees these innovations as arising from certain condition and events, not as simple random occurences. Most of them are effects of particular causes. However, these causes are often hidden within events that are difficult to observe and phenomena encapsulated in weak signals. The inability to detect and recognize such pre-emerging warnings of upcoming innovations may be attributed to the massive amount of information signals and noise flooding today’s world. This problem is excaerbated by the lack of knowledge, techniques, and experience for dealing with huge amounts of information, the lack of the required skills, and, finally, by human cognitive biases. Faced with this deluge of misinformation, any person can eventually be misled and make mistakes. This paper posits that, in order to mitigate such risks, an individual must avoid the three cognitive biases: the symmetry of delusions, aggressive neglect, and the curse of knowledge. These cognitive biases are the barriers to foreseeing innovation.

Acquisition of Skills for Listening Comprehension: Barriers and Solutions

Listening is more often a neglected skill though there are some prevalent assumptions that reading and listening should be given same treatment and similar texts can be used to teach both the skills. However, the question of visibility of the speaker in listening activity and inconsistency 1 in teaching methods has led to controversy amongst theorists and test makers in terms of finding better facilitation for effective listening work. Jeremy Harmer, one of the most influential theorists in ELT argues that 'listening as a skill may be extremely similar to reading, but the text the listener has to deal with is considerably different from the written one. Most obviously, a listener cannot look at what he is trying to hear; he can only listen to it whereas the written word stays on the page and can be looked at more than once, the spoken word, unless recorded on tape or record cannot be repeated' (1983: 175-176). Having focused on some of the recent theories and the universal barriers to listening comprehension, this paper aims at finding out plausible solutions to help foreign language listeners overcome their problems.

African-American Congregational Care and Counseling: Transcending Universal and Culturally-Specific Barriers.

This article addresses two major African-American congregational care needs: (1) helping suffering people to access sustained mental health care, particularly in a large/mega-church; and (2) helping suffering people with multi-layered challenges to access appropriate, skilled care that transcends traditional barriers and is consistent with their faith. One model of congregational care is presented with concrete examples of how cultural, theological, and strategic concerns are discussed, with broad implications for diverse faith communities.

Facilitators and Barriers to Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Trial Participation: Multi-National Perspective of People Living with Spinal Cord Injury.

These are exciting times for the translation of promising interventions for spinal cord injury (SCI) into testing with clinical trials. These interventions include acute surgical decompression, neuroprotection, neural repair, cell replacement, activity-based rehabilitation, and medical devices, including devices requiring surgical implantation. By nature, clinical trials can have strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, which narrow down the pool of potential participants. Meeting enrollment numbers for properly powered trials is a daunting task. Therefore, it is important that trials are designed in a manner that facilitates participation. The purpose of this research study was to learn more about the factors that encourage or interfere with the decision to participate in clinical trials from the perspective of people living with SCI. A multi-national survey was conducted, primarily online, in which 802 participants with SCI ranked 32 factors as facilitators or barriers, using a Likert-type scale. There were 13 universal facilitators, five universal barriers, and three universally neutral factors. The number one facilitator was possible improvement in functionality and the number one barrier was possible decline in functionality--as may be expected. However, many unexpected facilitators and barriers were identified. There also were certain factors that were strong barriers or facilitators to certain sub-groups of people living with SCI. All of these factors should be taken into careful consideration when designing clinical trials so as to promote enrollment and enable adherence to different protocols.

Evaluating Sustainable Building-Maintenance Projects: Balancing Economic, Social, and Environmental Impacts in the Case of Hong Kong

AbstractThis study investigates whether existing residential buildings can be repaired and maintained with alternative mixes of materials to maximize social, economic, or environmental benefits through a case study of a residential building repair and maintenance projects in Hong Kong. Based on optimization techniques, through a portfolio of materials two of the three objectives in building maintenance works can be achieved: employment generation, lifecycle cost reduction, and carbon emission reduction. These materials are different from the original ones used in the floors, walls, ceilings, waterproofing, and doors. The findings enhance the sustainability performance of the global building construction sector in overcoming the universal barriers to implementing energy-efficient buildings, namely, high initial cost, weak enforcement of government policies, and uncertainty of returns. The prototype model suggests that a portfolio of materials can be constructed to achieve two objectives at any given time, ...

Evaluation of a newly developed tobacco cessation program for people with disabilities

BackgroundTobacco use is the single most preventable cause of morbidity and mortality, accounting for at least 480,000 deaths in the United States annually. People with disabilities smoke at a rate 1.5 times greater than the able-bodied population. Higher incidence of tobacco use among people with disabilities has been directly related to both unique and universal cessation barriers. Despite increased prevalence of tobacco use and cessation obstacles, evidence is lacking on the development of successful interventions targeting people with disabilities. ObjectiveWe aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of a cessation intervention tailored to people with disabilities. MethodsEighteen tobacco users with disabilities (56% African American, 64% male) participated in a 4-week, 8-session tobacco cessation program consisting of group sessions on managing addiction, relapse, and lifestyle changes specific to people with disabilities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at the conclusion of the program. A follow-up measure of smoking status, triggers, and nicotine replacement therapy usage was completed at 4 weeks and 6 months. ResultsSixteen participants completed the intervention (89%), with participants on average attending 86% of sessions. Most participants rated the program as excellent (83%) or good (8%). Qualitative interviews revealed participants value social support, accessibility, and a tailored program. Four participants (22%) reported abstinence at six months, which is greater than the standard quit rate. ConclusionThis study suggests tailoring a cessation program to the characteristics unique to people with disabilities may be critical in delivering meaningful and effective cessation interventions among this population.

Somali women's view of physical activity—a focus group study

Background: Physical inactivity presents a major public health challenge and is estimated to cause six to ten percent of the major non-communicable diseases. Studies show that immigrants, especially women, have an increased risk of non-communicable diseases compared to ethnic Swedes. Somali immigrant women have increased rates of overweight and obesity, low fitness levels and low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness compared to non-immigrant women. These findings suggest that Somali women are at increased risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases. Few studies explore determinants of physical activity among Somali women. The aim of this study was to explore Somali women’s views and experiences of physical activity after migration to Sweden. Methods: A qualitative focused ethnographic approach was used in this study. Four focus groups were conducted with twenty-six Somali women ranging from 17 to 67 years of age. Focus group discussions were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The analysis resulted in four main themes and ten categories:Life in Somalia and Life in Sweden, Understanding and enhancing health and Facilitators and barriers to physical activity. Great differences were seen between living in Somalia and in Sweden but also similarities such as finding time to manage housework, the family and the health of the woman. The extended family is non-existent in Sweden, making life more difficult. Health was considered a gift from God but living a healthy life was perceived as the responsibility of the individual. Misconceptions about enhancing health occurred depending on the woman’s previous life experience and traditions. There was an awareness of the importance of physical activity among the participants but lack of knowledge of how to enhance activity on an individual basis. Enhancing factors to an active lifestyle were identified as being a safe and comfortable environment. Conclusions: Some barriers, such as climate, lack of motivation and time are universal barriers to an active lifestyle, but some factors, such as tradition and religion, are distinctive for Somali women. Since traditional Somali life never involves leisure-time physical activity, one cannot expect to compensate for the low daily activity level with leisure-time activity the Swedish way. Immigrant Somali women are a heterogeneous group with individual needs depending on age, education and background. Tailored interventions with respect to Somali traditions are necessary to achieve an actual increase in physical activity among migrant women of Somalian origin.

English

The literature review was conducted to review barriers to provision of psychiatric nursing care in the world. The literature search highlighted a dearth of literature in Nigeria on barriers to provision of psychiatric nursing care, highlighting a gap in knowledge base that needs to be filled. The aim of publishing this literature review is to fill the gap in knowledge highlighted. The literature review was discussed under four headings namely: universal barriers, barriers in Nigeria, barriers in some middle-income economies and barriers in some high-income economies. The implications of discussing the barriers under various heading were also discussed. Key words: Psychiatric nursing care, barriers, Nigeria.

Somali women's view of physical activity--a focus group study.

BackgroundPhysical inactivity presents a major public health challenge and is estimated to cause six to ten percent of the major non-communicable diseases. Studies show that immigrants, especially women, have an increased risk of non-communicable diseases compared to ethnic Swedes. Somali immigrant women have increased rates of overweight and obesity, low fitness levels and low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness compared to non-immigrant women. These findings suggest that Somali women are at increased risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases. Few studies explore determinants of physical activity among Somali women. The aim of this study was to explore Somali women’s views and experiences of physical activity after migration to Sweden.MethodsA qualitative focused ethnographic approach was used in this study. Four focus groups were conducted with twenty-six Somali women ranging from 17 to 67 years of age. Focus group discussions were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis.ResultsThe analysis resulted in four main themes and ten categories: Life in Somalia and Life in Sweden, Understanding and enhancing health and Facilitators and barriers to physical activity. Great differences were seen between living in Somalia and in Sweden but also similarities such as finding time to manage housework, the family and the health of the woman. The extended family is non-existent in Sweden, making life more difficult. Health was considered a gift from God but living a healthy life was perceived as the responsibility of the individual. Misconceptions about enhancing health occurred depending on the woman’s previous life experience and traditions. There was an awareness of the importance of physical activity among the participants but lack of knowledge of how to enhance activity on an individual basis. Enhancing factors to an active lifestyle were identified as being a safe and comfortable environment.ConclusionsSome barriers, such as climate, lack of motivation and time are universal barriers to an active lifestyle, but some factors, such as tradition and religion, are distinctive for Somali women. Since traditional Somali life never involves leisure-time physical activity, one cannot expect to compensate for the low daily activity level with leisure-time activity the Swedish way. Immigrant Somali women are a heterogeneous group with individual needs depending on age, education and background. Tailored interventions with respect to Somali traditions are necessary to achieve an actual increase in physical activity among migrant women of Somalian origin.

An Updated Model to Enhance Knowledge Sharing among Stakeholders in Jordanian Hospitals Using Social Networks

Survival of any organization heavily depends on knowledge sharing, however, the variables that enhance or dissuade knowledge sharing behaviors in the Jordanian hospitals has not been poorly recognized. Therefore, this paper is aimed at determining the obstacles that prevent stakeholders in Jordanian hospitals from sharing their knowledge; and furthermore we have developed a conceptual model, based on Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), to improve our understanding in terms of the factors, which affect knowledge sharing behaviors of knowledge workers in the Jordanian hospitals. To achieve the objective of examining the barriers that hinder the stakeholders from knowledge sharing in Jordanian hospitals, we have conducted an interview survey with the stakeholders in the Jordanian hospitals, to get their viewpoints. Therefore, we interviewed 15 of the workers in the various sectors in Jordanian hospitals and we have analyzed the results, which showed that, 18 out of 36 universal barriers are affecting the knowledge sharing behavior. By comparing these results with previous studies, we developed a conceptual model, to improve and encourage stakeholders to share knowledge, among them.

Unique and Universal Barriers: Hospice Care for Aging Adults with Intellectual Disability

As life expectancy of people with intellectual disability (ID) has increased, there has been a concurrent increase in age-related illnesses and conditions similar to that of the general population. These circumstances result in people with ID dying from typical life-ending conditions, and thus, they require similar end-of-life services such as palliative and hospice care. Although there are notable barriers to hospice for all, people with ID face additional challenges in accessing the benefits of these services. This article presents a review of the literature on these issues, underscoring the multiple challenges and the importance of a more collaborative approach between hospice and palliative care workers with people with ID, their families, and other important stakeholders.

The international school nurse asthma project: barriers related to asthma management in schools

This article is a report of an international study of barriers to asthma care from the perspectives of school nurses in Reykjavik, Iceland and St. Paul, Minnesota, in the context of their schools, communities and countries. Globally, asthma affects the health and school performance of many adolescents. School nurses play a key role by providing care to adolescents with asthma in school settings. Understanding universal barriers to asthma management in schools is important for developing interventions that are effective in multiple societal contexts. Exploratory, descriptive study. Parallel studies were conducted from September 2008-January 2009, through six focus groups among school nurses (n=32, in Reykjavik n=17 and St. Paul n=15) who were managing asthma in adolescents. Focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim in English or Icelandic. The Icelandic transcripts were translated into English. Descriptive content analytic techniques were used to systematically identify and categorize types of barriers to asthma care. School nurses in both countries identified common barriers, such as time constraints, communication challenges and school staff barriers. The primary difference was that St. Paul school nurses identified more socio-economic and health access barriers than school nurses in Reykjavik. Greater cultural and linguistic diversity and socio-economic differences in the student population in St. Paul and lack of universal healthcare coverage in the US contributed to school nurses' need to focus more on asthma management than school nurses in Reykjavik, who were able to focus more on asthma prevention and education.

Avaliação da acessibilidade domiciliar de crianças com deficiência física

a abordagem biopsicossocial de deficiência considera que a incapacidade resulta tanto da interação entre disfunção, limitação das atividades e restrição na participação social do indivíduo, quanto dos fatores ambientais. A ausência de adaptações ambientais apropriadas prejudica a acessibilidade, desempenho e participação de indivíduos com deficiência física (DF). O principal objetivo deste estudo consistiu em avaliar a acessibilidade domiciliar de crianças com DF. Foi utilizado um checklist construído pelas pesquisadoras, que investigou desde barreiras arquitetônicas e adaptações no domicílio até necessidades de apoio dessas crianças. O preenchimento do checklist se deu por meio de visitas nas residências de cinco crianças participantes que apresentavam dificuldade de locomoção e usavam cadeira de rodas ou andador. As avaliações duraram em média 50 minutos e permitiram conhecer as condições de acessibilidade e participação das crianças em casa. Identificou-se carência de mobiliário e/ou recursos adaptados para as crianças, apesar da frequente indicação de necessidade de auxílio para a locomoção, higiene e vestuário. Dentre as barreiras universais avaliadas, predominou desníveis, aclives e pisos lisos nas rotas de acesso, inadequação da largura de portas de banheiros e apenas em uma residência o espaço de circulação era adequado em todos os cômodos. O conhecimento das condições de acessibilidade e participação das crianças possibilitou às pesquisadoras propor modificações/adaptações ambientais pertinentes. Embora a literatura destaque a estreita relação entre acessibilidade, funcionalidade, participação e qualidade de vida de pessoas com deficiência física, o estudo identificou precariedade de pesquisas e de instrumentos específicos de avaliação relacionados à acessibilidade do ambiente domiciliar.

Breastfeeding Knowledge and Practices Among Rural Women of Punjab, India: A Community-Based Study

Irrespective of the fact that breastfeeding in India is almost universal, psychosocial and cultural barriers still exists to early breastfeeding. The exact reasons for this delay are not clearly known. Hence we conducted this study to assess breastfeeding knowledge and practices and the factors influencing them among women in rural Punjab, India. We interviewed 1,000 women in a community-based analytical cross-sectional study that was carried out in 20 villages of the District of Amritsar, Punjab, India, in 2005-2006 by standard cluster sampling. Time at initiation of breastfeeding and variables like understanding about the importance of colostrum, nutrition during lactation, and motivation by health workers were assessed. Statistical analysis was done by percentages compared with the χ² test. Two hundred twenty-five respondents (23.8%) started breastfeeding their babies on the first day of birth, but in terms of early breastfeeding only 128 (13.5%) respondents put their babies on the breast within 4 hours of birth. Of the 1,000 respondents, 356 (35.6%) of the respondents were unaware of the importance of colostrum, 733 (77.6%) were not given advice on benefits of breastfeeding/weaning, and 306 (33.5%) of respondents had not increased their diet during lactation. Early breastfeeding knowledge and practices were suboptimal among the mothers in rural Punjab. Health education on breastfeeding and nutrition remains the dark area. Research and public health efforts like one-to-one "breastfeeding counseling and health education on nutrition" to the mother by health workers should be promoted.

The Israeli Music Scene: An Essay in Secular Culture

This essay deals with some issues relating to music in Israel. Many regard music as a universal language bridging barriers thrown up by spoken tongues, but there is more to music than meets the ear, for music divides by ethnicity, social class and age. Since the middle 1960s when classic Israeliness began to be challenged, Israeli culture has become much more contentious. Canonical highbrow culture was important in creating Israel’s social structure, especially differences between Ashkenazim and Mizrahim. Thus classical “art” music is jostled for supremacy by such genres as Israel rock, musica mizrahit, Mediterranean music, and exposure to global pop cultures. Israeli culture has developed an open market in which everyone competes for devotees.

Child and adolescent mental disorders: the magnitude of the problem across the globe

Describe objectively the global gaps in policy, data gathering capacity, and resources to develop and implement services to support child mental health. Report on the World health Organization (WHO) child and adolescent mental health resources Atlas project. The Atlas project utilized key informants and was supplemented by studies that focused on policy. This report also draws on current epidemiological studies to provide a context for understanding the magnitude of the clinical problem. Current global epidemiological data consistently reports that up to 20% of children and adolescents suffer from a disabling mental illness; that suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents; and that up to 50% of all adult mental disorders have their onset in adolescence. While epidemiological data appears relatively uniform globally, the same is not true for policy and resources for care. The gaps in resources for child mental health can be categorized as follows: economic, manpower, training, services and policy. Key findings from the Atlas project include: lack of program development in low income countries; lack of any policy in low income countries and absent specific comprehensive policy in both low and high income countries; lack of data gathering capacity including that for country-level epidemiology and services outcomes; failure to provide social services in low income countries; lack of a continuum of care; and universal barriers to access. Further, the Atlas findings underscored the need for a critical analysis of the 'burden of disease' as it relates to the context of child and adolescent mental disorders, and the importance of defining the degree of 'impairment' of specific disorders in different cultures. The recent finding of substantial gaps in resources for child mental health underscores the need for enhanced data gathering, refinement of the economic argument for care, and need for innovative training approaches.

Nurses' compliance with universal precautions before and after implementation of OSHA regulations.

The principal objective of this study was to investigate whether or not nurses' compliance with universal precautions procedures improved after the mandatory Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations were implemented in 1992. Two random samples of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses registered in Tennessee responded to survey questionnaires measuring universal precautions compliance and practice barriers to compliance in 1991 and 1993 (n = 306). The 1993 sample of nurses reported significantly greater compliance with universal precautions (p < 0.001) than the 1991 sample. The most noteworthy improvement between the 1991 and the 1993 groups was a significant increase in compliance for patients described as HIV/HBV-status unknown and HIV/HBV-negative (p < 0.001). Practice barriers hindering compliance with universal precautions decreased significantly (p < 0.001) in the 1991-1993 time frame. Problematic practice barriers identified in both groups were needle recapping, preference for isolation door signs, and concerns about offending patients and visitors.