Contested cultures of care: research with and for the plus one community on the plus one experience - evaluation report

Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Collaborative Outreach Projec

The Use of Art to Increase Awareness about Mental Well-being and Promotion of Mental Health among the African American Community

Mental Illness in America affects about 43.8 million individuals in a year’s time. Internationally, the number one cause of disabilities is depression, which impacts the lives of about 16 million people every year. Depression is the most common mental illness in the African American community regardless of age or gender. Stigma around having a mental illness discourages the African American community from pursuing professional help. Mental Illness in Atlanta is unique because the city’s population is over 50% African American/black and this is the major demographic that does not utilize mental health services. Black Communities have developed a mistrust in the health care system, the root of which is multifactorial. In order for Black Communities to have a positive experience there must be access to care, cultural competence, an increase in minority health care providers, and most importantly trust within the patient-physician relationship. Natural helpers are individuals in the community that provide advice, support, and/or aid to other community members. They know what the community is lacking and the best way to ignite change through the social networks already established. Consequently, natural helpers have the ability to create a link between the community and professional health care services. The Emoji Art Show provides an outlet for Artist in various cities, including Atlanta, to heal and express themselves through art

Examining The Effectiveness Of Multiple Imputation: A Case Study On Hiv Risk Behaviors In Women Receiving Treatment For Substance Use Disorders

Women in the United States are becoming infected with HIV more quickly now than ever before; many of whom are at higher risk because of their substance use habits or that of their partners.: CDC, 2010) This study analyzes cross sectional data regarding the risk behaviors and addiction severity of a sample of women receiving treatment for substance use disorders: SUDs). The data was gathered between 2006 and 2010 at a women\u27s substance use treatment center in St. Louis, Missouri: MO), the name of which cannot be disclosed. We develop a scale, the HIV Risk Scale: HRS), to quantify a woman\u27s risk of contracting HIV at the time of presenting for rehabilitation based on self-reported sexual and drug behaviors. We then, using the seven interviewer-ratings of the Addiction Severity Index: ASI) as predictors of the HRS, examine the results of regression using two methods to adjust for missing data:: 1) case-wise deletion and: 2) multiple imputation. Results suggest that using several of the ASI, a tool already implemented in rehabilitation efforts, interventions can be tailored to address more closely all of the issues regarding the health and safety of substance abusing women seeking relief from addiction. Results show that specifically looking at the interviewer\u27s assessment of how severely addiction impacts legal, drug-related, alcohol-related, employment-related and medical aspects of a woman\u27s life may enable treatment centers to help her alleviate the HIV to which she maybe exposed

Exploring the Mind of the Domestic Feline

The domestic feline has lived among humans for thousands of years, dispersing across the world as they provided companionship along trade routes. But, as this relationship has persisted, the cognition of these pets is seldom studied compared to other companion animals. Cats have become the second largest population of companion animals following dogs. Much of what is perceived about the cognition of these animals is anecdotal; empirical evidence is needed. These studies examine three aims to enrich the growing literature on feline cognition in the areas of quantity discrimination, episodic memory, and individual recognition. A total of 130 domestic cats, including shelter cats and pet cats, were recruited for these studies. Aim one saw cats presented with quantity discrimination tasks that were performed using food items divided into 8 ratios. The quantity initially approached and time spent investigating both quantities was recorded for analysis. Aim two examined episodic memory in cats by observing the time cats spent interacting with 3 bowls that contained food items, inedible objects, and an empty container during an exposure phase. During the test phase, the containers were presented with all previous contents removed. The time cats spent investigating during the exposure phase and test phase were recorded for analysis. Aim three used a habituation/dishabituation paradigm to examine the ability of cats to recognize novel humans using olfaction. During habituation, the cats were acclimated to the scent of a human donor. In the dishabituation phase, the cats were exposed to the scent of the now familiar human and the scent of a novel donor. It was assumed that cat recognized the scent of the familiar human if more time was spent investigating the scent of the novel donor. The results show support for abilities to discriminate quantities and recall episodic memories. However, there is a lack of support for the recognition of unfamiliar humans using chemical cues. Future studies may examine sex differences in discrimination of quantities and individuals, as well as develop models to examine the length of memory retention at times above 12 hours. Increasing the understanding of feline cognition may lend to the development of species-specific methods that support the care and welfare of these animals, finding mechanisms involved in the development of behavioral issues, and less invasive and safe handling alternatives for stressed individuals in clinical, shelter, and home settings

Researching the riots

This commentary sets out an agenda for researching the riots that swept through English cities in 2011, and for exploring the broader issues raised by these events. Drawing inspiration from groundbreaking social and cultural geographies of the 1981 riots, and also from mappings and quantitative studies of the more recent disturbances, this paper sets out a framework for researching the riots, and underlines the importance of doing so. It concludes that while riots are traumatic experiences for many, they can also be opportunities, which effective research can help to realise, recasting these events as catalysts for change

Bridges To Bright Beginnings: A Resource Guide For Caregivers Of Infants Diagnosed With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (Nas)

Background Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a condition that happens in newborn babies who were exposed to illicit substances or opiates while in the womb. The baby becomes dependent on the substances and will experience withdrawal symptoms after birth. Between 2010 and 2017, NAS births increased by 131%. Approximately 6.6% of pregnant women admitted to using prescription opioids, of which 21.2% acknowledged misuse. A significant portion (31.9%) of these women reported not receiving information on the potential effects of opioid use on their unborn baby. Infants exposed to opioids in utero are at higher risk of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) stays due to preterm delivery. Parents of infants with NAS often experience heightened stress. Reducing stress and supporting the mental health of parents is crucial for supporting overall wellbeing and competency in caregiving. In addition to mental health struggles, caregivers feel judged and alienated in the NICU setting which hinders their ability to care for their infant effectively. Lack of information and education on their infant\u27s condition exacerbates feelings of isolation and makes caregiving feel overwhelming. Overall, the literature revealed gaps in occupation-based care, which emphasizes the need for education, psychological support, and personalized intervention plans for parents and caregivers of infants diagnosed with NAS. Project Description The purpose of the product is to create an evidence and occupation based resource guide to address the gaps identified in the literature. Identified gaps for parents and caregivers of infants diagnosed with NAS include lack of education, lack of support, and feelings of alienation. The product is a resource guide titled Bridges to Bright Beginnings; A Resource Guide for Caregivers of Infants Diagnosed with NAS. The Bridges to Bright Beginnings resource guide was created for parents and caregivers of infants with NAS in the NICU. The guide includes pictures and easy to understand written information about their infant with NAS, how to support them, and supports that are in place after discharge from the NICU. There is a QR code present that will enable caregivers to have fast and convenient access to the guide. The goal of the resource guide developed for parents and caregivers of infants diagnosed with NAS is to increase their involvement in caregiving and overall wellbeing. The guide aims to increase competency in caregiving by reducing feelings of alienation and increasing understanding of how to care for the infant. By educating parents, the resource guide will optimize confidence and engagement in caregiving occupations. Discussion Bridges to Bright Beginnings aims to increase caregivers\u27 engagement in caring for their infant, reduce feelings of alienation, and improve understanding of NAS care in the NICU (Cleveland & Gill, 2013; Hames et al., 2021; Oostlander, et al., 2019). The resource guide can be used to assist occupational therapists in providing personalized and occupation based care to families in the NICU with a baby diagnosed with NAS. The guide will be implemented at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND. The guide will be implemented by occupational therapists or by other members of the interdisciplinary care team if the occupational therapists are unable due to scheduling conflicts with parents. Even though the guide was created for one specific NICU, the information is generalizable to any NICU. The guide is backed by evidence and is occupation centered. Additionally, it uses current research and incorporates principles of adult learning theory (Bastable et al., 2020). The PEO model was also used throughout the product development process to understand and enhance involvement in caregiving activities

Understanding the Pathways to Care for Individuals with or at Risk of Psychotic Disorders

Background: Delays in treatment for people experiencing early signs of psychosis are associated with poorer outcomes. However, it is not uncommon for individuals with an At-Risk Mental State (ARMS) and First Episode Psychosis (FEP) to experience lengthy delays to care and few people presenting with FEP access early intervention in psychosis (EIP) services during the prodromal stage. Pathways to Care (PtC) provides information about how individuals access services. This thesis aimed to explore PtC for individuals with ARMS and FEP, factors associated with accessing EIP at an earlier stage or psychosis, and interventions designed to reduce delays. Methods: A systematic review synthesised the available evidence on public health interventions designed to reduce delays to treatment for people with ARMS and FEP. An empirical study was conducted exploring PtC during ARMS compared to FEP, and sociodemographic characteristics associated with accessing EIP. Data were collected from a research database of de-identified clinical records. Results: Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. All studies consisted of FEP populations, with no papers investigating ARMS populations. Studies originated from various countries. Findings about the effectiveness of interventions at reducing duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) were mixed and interventions appeared to differentially impact groups. The most effective interventions appeared to be those of a longer duration and targeting multiple populations. PtC information was limited. In the empirical study, 158 individuals presenting with ARMS (n=67) and FEP (n=91) were included. There was strong evidence that ARMS patients accessing EIP were significantly younger and were less likely to be from ethnic minority backgrounds compared to FEP. ARMS patients had fewer PtC contacts, were less likely to be referred via acute services, less likely to have involuntary hospital admissions, and had reduced family involvement in their help-seeking. Conclusions: Findings regarding the effectiveness of interventions to reduce delays to treatment were inconclusive. The empirical paper highlighted sociodemographic and PtC characteristics associated with accessing EIP during ARMS compared with FEP. Further research is required to replicate these findings and investigate the effectiveness of targeted interventions to encourage and facilitate access to EIP at an earlier stage of psychosis to improve outcomes

Effective Occupational Therapy Interventions for Reducing Parental Stress in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

John et al.’s (2018) study found that over half of the mothers in the NICU suffer from moderate to severe anxiety. This anxiety negatively impacts parents’ abilities to engage in the occupation of caring for their child, which can have long-term consequences. Currently, there is a lack of research on occupational therapy-specific interventions that focus on reducing parental stress in the NICU setting. The purpose of this critically appraised topic (CAT) is to discover which stress-reducing occupational therapy interventions have a positive impact on the abilities of parents to successfully care for their infants in the NICU