University Of Limerick Research Articles

Mindful music – A pilot study of the effects of mindfulness-based music on staff members of the University of Limerick

Aim: This action research project investigates the perceived benefits of Mindful Music staff wellbeing programme on university staff members.
 Method: Mindful Music is an original programme of mindfulness-based music therapy (MBMT), designed by author 5, including guided live and recorded music listening combined with simple mindfulness practices (awareness of the breath /body scan/guided visualization). Staff were invited to participate in 30 - 45-minute Mindful Music sessions at lunchtime during working hours. Six in-person sessions were held at the university between March and December 2020 with 54 employees engaging in the programme. Qualitative feedback was analyzed using thematic analysis. A programme of four pre-recorded online sessions was conducted between September 2020 and January 2021 with 9 participants. A previously tested online anonymous survey relating to the perceived benefits of Mindful Music on workplace well-being and stress management was circulated following these sessions. Participants were asked to answer four quantitative questions with one qualitative question to enable participants to share comments on how they believe the sessions could be improved and to elaborate on perceived benefits.
 Results: Statistical analysis revealed a positive response to the sessions. 63 staff participated in the programme. The three most common feeling states chosen by participants prior to the session were tired (12.50%), busy (9.87%) and hopeful (8.88%). The three most common feeling states recorded after the intervention were relaxed (24.03%), hopeful (11.69%) and positive (11.69%). Participant feedback was generally positive, with many requesting more sessions, while few noted minor technical issues with sound quality and a desire for shorter interventions. Live music and live facilitated sessions (online or in person) were preferred to recorded sessions to be listened to at one’s own convenience. Limitations included lack of demographic data to enable further analysis based on staff grade and role, educational status, and other variables. The relatively small sample size also limits usefulness of findings as well as lack of comparison of music-based initiatives with other staff workplace well-being activities and in other work contexts.
 Discussion: Research on music-based workplace wellbeing initiatives is scarce. This study indicates that mindfulness-based music activities may support staff in improving workplace wellbeing and gives some evidence to support Mindful Music as a means of improving wellbeing and stress management for university staff. Future research should include larger sample sizes and a variety of workplace settings and compare music-based activity with other workplace wellbeing initiatives as well as further exploration of the impact of online vs in person well-being sessions for staff.

Taking a Lead on Digital Literacy for Students—A Case Study from the Library at the University of Limerick

This study will provide some inspiration and practical insights to academic libraries and educators within tertiary education who wish to experiment with digital upskilling programmes in their institutions. 2,661 students registered for extra-curricular digital skills workshops over a three-week period in the spring of the 2021 academic year, at a time when Covid19 meant that students were already spending a lot of time learning online. Focus groups conducted with workshop attendees revealed their motivation and some of the benefits that accrued to them from participating in the digital skills workshops. This study provides a blueprint for academic libraries who wish to develop or collaborate on digital skills programmes and reflects on how a refresh of library workshops to emphasize digital literacy skills can not only meet the contemporary learning needs of their students but also boost the attendance at other, more traditional library workshops. This study will outline how a collaboration on digital skills provision can benefit both libraries and students describe how topics were selected for the digital skills workshops discuss how the workshops were delivered and how this method of receiving digital skills instruction was perceived by students report on attendance rates and how traditional library workshops experienced a ‘boost’ when offered as part of a digital skills series address limitations of the study and make recommendations for further research.

A bespoke legal writing guide as a feedforward resource: improving non-law students’ engagement and performance in law modules

ABSTRACT Law schools are frequently tasked with teaching law modules to non-law students. Anecdotally at least, these students are often considered to have poor legal writing skills and this in turn affects their levels of engagement and attainment. This article reports on an action research study conducted with 453 business students at the University of Limerick. The study involved an anonymous student questionnaire (n = 69), which was designed to measure, inter alia, increases in student confidence, clarification of assessment expectations, and the overall successfulness of the Writing Guide as a feedforward resource. Open-ended questions were also included to capture unpredicted benefits reported by the students. It is argued that the successfulness of the writing guide is attributable to its status as a successful piece of feedforward. A proposed checklist of key aspects of a legal writing guide is offered.

‘Je n’ai pas envie de chanter ce soir’: A Re-examination of Samuel Beckett’s Opera Collaboration Krapp, ou La Dernière bande

This article re-examines Krapp, ou La Dernière bande (1961), an opera adaptation of Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape (1958), which was a collaboration between the playwright and the Romanian composer Marcel Mihalovici. Beckett’s changes to the libretto give new insights into the writer’s developing concerns around form and his aesthetic of failure. In the programme for the Bielefeld production of the opera in 1961, Beckett supplied a sentence from the German translation of his Texts for Nothing, although inverting its first two clauses. His inclusion of this line in the programme affords us greater insight into Beckett’s ever evolving conception of the play. Shane O’Neill’s doctoral research on Samuel Beckett’s self-translated drama is funded by the Irish Research Council. He teaches at Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, and has published essays in Samuel Beckett Today/Aujourd’hui and the edited volume Samuel Beckett and Translation (Edinburgh University Press, 2021).

Biobased composite recycling

The University of Limerick, as part of an EU project, is researching using biobased bonding materials (BBM) to find new ways to recycling end-of-life composite parts.

An initial evaluation of the safety of a disposable oscillating positive expiratory pressure device in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a short-term pilot study

BackgroundHandheld oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) devices have been a mainstay of treatment for patients with hypersecretory conditions such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) since the 1970s. Current devices are reusable and require regular cleaning and disinfection to prevent harbouring potentially pathogenic organisms. Adherence to cleaning regimens for respiratory devices is often poor and in response to this, a prototype disposable OPEP device—the ‘UL-OPEP’ (University of Limerick—Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure device)—was developed to mitigate the risk of contamination by pathogens. The device was previously evaluated successfully in a group of paediatric CF patients. The aim of the current study was to initially evaluate the safety of the prototype in patients with COPD over a period of 1 month to ensure no adverse events, negative impacts on lung function, exercise tolerance, or quality of life. Data on user experience of the device were also collected during post-study follow-up.MethodsA sample of 50 volunteer participants were recruited from pulmonary rehabilitation clinics within the local hospital network. The patients were clinically stable, productive, and not current or previous users of OPEP devices. Participants were invited to use a prototype disposable OPEP device daily for a period of 1 month. Pre- and post-study lung function was assessed with standard spirometry, and exercise tolerance with the 6-min-walk-test (6MWT). Quality of life was assessed using the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and user experience of the prototype device evaluated using a post-study questionnaire.Results24 Participants completed the study: 9 were female. Overall median age was 67.5 years, range 53–85 years. Lung function, 6-min walk test, and SGRQ scores showed no significant change post-study. User feedback was positive overall.ConclusionsThe results indicate that the UL-OPEP is safe to use in patients with COPD. No adverse events were recorded during the study or in the follow-up period of 2 weeks. The device did not negatively impact patients’ lung function, exercise tolerance, or quality of life during short term use (1 month), and usability feedback received was generally positive. Larger, longer duration studies will be required to evaluate efficacy.Registration The study was approved as a Clinical Investigation by the Irish Health Products Regulatory Authority (CRN-2209025-CI0085).

A case study on the impact of a capstone Street Law teaching project

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to investigate the utility of a small-scale Street Law project as a capstone service-learning course in one Irish university. It begins with a discussion of Street Law as an aspect of clinical legal education in Ireland and considers the aims and objectives of Street Law pedagogy. It then describes the development of a Street Law project at the School of Law, University of Limerick (UL) and explains how the approach taken in this project differs from that in other institutions. The paper will then outline a study undertaken with UL Street Law students. The results of the study are presented and critically assessed to consider the contribution and sustainability of the project in its current form.

Exploring the perspectives of key stakeholders on the design and delivery of an intervention to rehabilitate people with cognitive deficits post-stroke.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Cognitive impairment is common post-stroke and can result in negative sequalae such as a lower quality of life, increased carer burden and increased healthcare costs. Despite the prevalence and associated burden of post-stroke cognitive impairment, there is uncertainty regarding the optimum intervention to improve cognitive function post-stroke. By exploring the perspectives of people post-stroke, carers and healthcare professionals on cognitive impairment, this qualitative study aims to inform the design and development of an intervention to rehabilitate cognitive impairment post-stroke. Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach will be applied, using semi-structured interviews with people post-stroke, carers and healthcare professionals. People post-stroke will be recruited via gatekeepers from a local stroke support group and Headway, a brain injury support service. Carers will be recruited via a gatekeeper from a local carers branch. Healthcare professionals will be recruited via gatekeepers from relevant neurological sites and via Twitter. The final number of participants recruited will be guided by information power. Data will be collectively analysed and synthesised using thematic analysis. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ) guidelines will be used to standardize the conduct and reporting of the research. Conclusions: It is anticipated that exploring the perspectives of people post-stroke, carers and healthcare professionals on cognitive impairment post-stroke will inform the development of an evidence-based optimal intervention to rehabilitate cognitive deficits post-stroke. This study was granted ethical approval from the Faculty of Education and Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee at the University of Limerick. Study findings will be disseminated locally through presentations at stroke support groups, as well as internationally through academic conferences and peer-reviewed journals.

Medical students and clinical placements - a qualitative study of the continuum of professional identity formation

ABSTRACT Background: To explore graduates’ perceptions of significant factors affecting professional identity formation (PIF) throughout their graduate medical school education journey and early practice years. Methods: A qualitative study with medical graduates using non-probability sampling. Data collected with graduates via face to face and telephone interviews. Interviews (n = 9) completed with medical graduates of the School of Medicine, University of Limerick. Results: Graduates described their experiences in general practice, during the early patient contact programme and the longitudinal integrated clerkship (LIC) as highly influential. The lasting impact of positive role models was highlighted. The importance of socialisation and entering a community of practice were identified as drivers of professional development. Role modelling and mentorship between students and GP tutors were pivotal as part of early clinical years and clinical LIC. This seemed to have a positive influence on graduate’s consideration of general practice as a future career pathway. Conclusion: Professional identity formation occurs for medical students who participate in early patient contact programmes and longitudinal integrated clerkships in GP. Factors such as positive role modelling, good mentorship, communities of practice and a positive learning environment appear to be the main contributors to this process. Experiences as part of longitudinal integrated clerkships are meaningful for graduates, regardless of postgraduate specialisation choices. Educators should acknowledge this when designing medical curricula to ensure that students’ professional identity formation is optimally facilitated. Training should be available to support the educators involved in longitudinal integrated clerkships, as they become role models and mentors to students.

Contributors’ Notes

Contributors’ Notes

Primary Mental Health Care Part 3: Demonstration of a Proposed New Model for Primary Mental Health Care

The current primary mental health care system in Ireland is limited. A different vision of primary mental health care requires national awareness of the limitations of ‘A Vision for Change’1 and it’s followed up policy document, ‘Sharing the Vision’.2 Awareness alone is insufficient, requiring the additional properties of ambition, conviction, and engagement to overhaul the current system. In this third paper on Primary Mental Health Care, a truly changed vision of care is presented and demonstrated to be successfully at work in one third level counseling service, at the University of Limerick. This model is contrasted with the current medicalized model and proposed as a replacement model of primary mental health care for Ireland. A number of recommendations are made, including the suggestions that the proposed model of service delivery based on the model at the University of Limerick be piloted outside of the third level sector, within the Health Service Executive of Ireland.

Exploring the perspectives of people post-stroke, carers and healthcare professionals to inform the development of an intervention to improve cognitive impairment post-stroke

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Cognitive impairment is common post-stroke and can result in negative sequalae such as a lower quality of life, increased carer burden and increased healthcare costs. Despite the prevalence and associated burden of post-stroke cognitive impairment, there is uncertainty regarding the optimum intervention to improve cognitive function post-stroke. By exploring the perspectives of people post-stroke, carers and healthcare professionals on cognitive impairment, this qualitative study aims to inform the design and development of an intervention to rehabilitate cognitive impairment post-stroke. Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach will be applied, using semi-structured interviews with people post-stroke, carers and healthcare professionals. People post-stroke will be recruited via gatekeepers from a local stroke support group and Headway, a brain injury support service. Carers will be recruited via a gatekeeper from a local carers branch. Healthcare professionals will be recruited via gatekeepers from relevant neurological sites and via Twitter. The final number of participants recruited will be guided by information power. Data will be collectively analysed and synthesised using thematic analysis. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ) guidelines will be used to standardize the conduct and reporting of the research. Conclusions: It is anticipated that exploring the perspectives of people post-stroke, carers and healthcare professionals on cognitive impairment post-stroke will inform the development of an evidence-based optimal intervention to rehabilitate cognitive deficits post-stroke. This study was granted ethical approval from the Faculty of Education and Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee at the University of Limerick. Study findings will be disseminated locally through presentations at stroke support groups, as well as internationally through academic conferences and peer-reviewed journals.

Household medication safety practices during the COVID-19 pandemic: a descriptive qualitative study protocol

IntroductionThose who are staying at home and reducing contact with other people during the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to be at greater risk of medication-related problems than the general population....

A blood biomarker and clinical correlation cohort study protocol to diagnose sports-related concussion and monitor recovery in elite rugby

IntroductionIn professional rugby, sports-related concussion (SRC) remains the most frequent time loss injury. Therefore, accurately diagnosing SRC and monitoring player recovery, through a multi-modal assessment process, is critical to SRC...

Transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation for the treatment of bladder storage symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis: Protocol of a single-arm feasibility study

Background: Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) is common among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) with a pooled prevalence of 68.41% using self-report measures and 63.95% using urodynamic studies. Transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) is a non-invasive option to manage bladder storage symptoms; however, the potential efficacy of TTNS among people with MS is based on a small number of studies with the absence of high-quality evidence relating to efficacy, and lack of clarity of the optimal electrical stimulation parameters and frequency, duration and number of treatment sessions. This study aims to assess whether TTNS is feasible and acceptable as a treatment for bladder storage symptoms in people with MS. Methods: We will use a single-arm experimental study to explore the feasibility and acceptability of TTNS in the treatment of bladder storage symptoms in MS. The CONSORT extension for pilot and feasibility studies will be followed to standardise the conduct and reporting of the study. The recruitment plan is twofold: 1) Open recruitment for people with MS through MS Ireland’s communication channels; 2) recruitment from a convenience sample of people with MS who have previously participated in a qualitative interview study of urinary symptoms. We will assess recruitment/retention rates, the urinary symptoms changes and the effect on quality of life pre and post intervention using ICIQ-OAB, 3-day bladder diary, King’s Health Questionnaire and collect self-reported data on adherence and adverse events. Acceptability of using TTNS will be evaluated at the end of intervention. This study has been reviewed and approved by the Education and Health Science’s Faculty Research Ethics Committee, University of Limerick [2020_06_07_EHS]. Conclusion: It is anticipated that assessing the feasibility and acceptability of TTNS for storage bladder symptoms in MS will inform the development of a definitive randomised trial. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04528784 27/08/2020

Electrets and related phenomena

This Special Issue of IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulations collects a total of 23 invited and contributed articles from eminent scientists and engineers in the field of electrets and related phenomena. These articles have been substantially extended from their contributions presented at the 17th International Symposium on Electrets (ISE) held at the Bernal Institute of the University of Limerick, Ireland between 2–6 September 2019. The conference was sponsored by IEEE Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society and supported by European Materials Characterisation Council (EMCC). Analog Devices International provided financial sponsorship.

Transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation for the treatment of bladder storage symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis: Protocol of a single-arm feasibility study.

Background: Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) is common among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) with a pooled prevalence of 68.41% using self-report measures and 63.95% using urodynamic studies. Transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) is a non-invasive option to manage bladder storage symptoms; however, the potential efficacy of TTNS among people with MS is based on a small number of studies with the absence of high-quality evidence relating to efficacy, and lack of clarity of the optimal electrical stimulation parameters and frequency, duration and number of treatment sessions. This study aims to assess whether TTNS is feasible and acceptable as a treatment for bladder storage symptoms in people with MS. Methods: We will use a single-arm experimental study to explore the feasibility and acceptability of TTNS in the treatment of bladder storage symptoms in MS. The CONSORT extension for pilot and feasibility studies will be followed to standardise the conduct and reporting of the study. The recruitment plan is twofold: 1) Open recruitment for people with MS through MS Ireland's communication channels; 2) recruitment from a convenience sample of people with MS who have previously participated in a qualitative interview study of urinary symptoms. We will assess recruitment/retention rates, the urinary symptoms changes and the effect on quality of life pre and post intervention using ICIQ-OAB, 3-day bladder diary, King's Health Questionnaire and collect self-reported data on adherence and adverse events. Acceptability of using TTNS will be evaluated at the end of intervention. This study has been reviewed and approved by the Education and Health Science's Faculty Research Ethics Committee, University of Limerick [2020_06_07_EHS]. Conclusion: It is anticipated that assessing the feasibility and acceptability of TTNS for storage bladder symptoms in MS will inform the development of a definitive randomised trial. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04528784 27/08/2020.

The impact of manual handling training on beliefs regarding low back pain

Purpose Despite widespread use, the impact of manual handling (MH) training on low back pain (LBP) beliefs is unclear, with some data suggesting MH instructors hold outdated beliefs about LBP. This study aimed to examine the effect of MH training on a range of LBP beliefs. Materials and methods Ethics committee approval (University of Limerick) was obtained prior to the study. A pre-post design study of healthcare workers prior to, and after, MH training. 129 participants completed questionnaires regarding their demographics, their LBP history, as well as a range of LBP beliefs using the Back Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ), the modified Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) and the modified Photograph Series of Daily Activities (mPHODA) scale. Results BBQ (mean difference = 3.12 (95% CI: 1.72, 4.52), p < .001) and TSK (mean difference = −1.43 (95% CI: −2.38, −0.49), p = .004) scores were more positive after MH training. In contrast, common daily activities on the mPHODA were considered significantly more harmful after MH training (mean difference = 6.95 (95% CI: 4.62, 9.28), p < .001). Conclusions A single day of MH training can change LBP beliefs, with improvements exhibited in the BBQ and TSK, whereas scores on the mPHODA were worse after training. While the changes are small, these results confirm that the TSK and BBQ have similarities, and differ from the mPHODA. The content and delivery of MH training courses may need to better align participant learning with evidence regarding the safety of gradual exposure to spinal loading.

GERENCIAMENTO DO ABSENTISMO DE CURTO PRAZO NO LOCAL DE TRABALHO

This report outlines and discusses the insights on how to manage shot-term absenteeism within the workplace, as well as point out themes related to human resource management. Additionally, management considerations have been discussed such as “Fit Notes” and “Presenteeism”. As well as, a focus was placed on additional areas of concern within the U.S.A. in the form of bullying and harassment. Finally, was conducted a survey method within a class at the University of Limerick where 100% of the sample are workers. Therefore, the trends and patterns section outlined a Class Survey, methods for measuring absenteeism and triggers associated with the concept.

Smart city approach to educational campuses: case study at University of Limerick, Ireland

Cities are in continuous competition for resources, investment and people, creating a need for constant improvement and development. The smart city concept is an approach to making urban environments better through the usage of technology. The aim is to investigate the application of the smart city concept in a university campus in Ireland. There is a plethora of research on the smart city approach, but not in the context of applying the concept to educationally themed environments. This research defines a framework for doing so and applies this to the University of Limerick campus, located in the west of Ireland. The study identifies existing and planned smart initiatives on campus and analyses the synergy among them. It investigates the inception of such initiatives and the problems and benefits associated with them. The research concludes that a goal-oriented programme helps achieve cohesiveness of efforts and improved results. Such programmes require an initiation from an authority, various groups to manage its aspects, a committee to coordinate the groups and a high degree of commitment from various stakeholders. The results of the research present a more diverse usage of the smart city approach while also showcasing new opportunities for educational institutions.