Digital Commons Network^™

“If I Were To Suffer A Stroke Right Now, The First Place That I Should Be Taken To Is The Traditional Healer”: Community Beliefs And Health-Seeking Practices For Noncommunicable Diseases In Rural Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, Herbert Chikafu, Innocent Tinashe Mutero Dr., Moses John Chimbari Prof.

The Qualitative Report

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The burden of chronic noncommunicable diseases in rural South Africa is exacerbated by delayed health-seeking. This study explored awareness, beliefs and health-seeking behaviour relating to diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in Ingwavuma, a poor rural community in the uMkhanyakude district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Eight gender and age-stratified Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were conducted in isiZulu using a pre-tested FGD guide with seventy-six participants. Thematic analysis was done to discern views on access to care for noncommunicable diseases. Findings revealed limited awareness of hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular-related disease burden. The community practices medical plurality, and consultation with traditional healers …

Qualitative Coding As A Pedagogy For Fostering Professional Dispositions And Reflexivity, Kristina M. Valtierra, Lesley N. Siegel

The Qualitative Report

Many fields require practitioners to develop the dispositions, reflection, and reflexivity skills to navigate complex professional demands. Yet, there are limited methods for fostering these skills. Given that the act of qualitative coding is both iterative and reflexive, this paper shares an innovative approach to teaching students how to apply coding to their own reflective writing. We feature our process of teaching preservice teachers our self-coding method and lessons learned along the way from engaging 100 teacher candidates in the practice. Over four years, across three different higher education settings, graduate and undergraduate teacher candidates alike demonstrated insightful reflections about …

The Early Sport And Play Experiences Of Elite New Zealand Hockey Players From Rural And Regional Communities: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Robert J. Newport, Simon R. Walters, Sarah-Kate Millar, Geoff Dickson, Andrew Lenton

The Qualitative Report

The foundation of an athlete’s development is formed through their early developmental experiences. Thus, in this study we explored the early sport and play experiences of elite New Zealand hockey players from rural and regional communities. In our examination of how smaller communities contribute to the development of New Zealand’s top athletes, this research has a particular focus on the athletes’ early sport and play experiences and the influence of people around them during their growth and development. In this qualitative descriptive study, we employed semi-structured interviews to gather data from eight current and former elite New Zealand hockey players. …

Student Confidence, Success, And Retention: The Impact Of Military Experience On The College Lives Of Korean Males, Sun Young Kim

The Qualitative Report

This qualitative study was designed to investigate the experiences of Korean male college students within the context of higher education and the military. Twenty Korean male undergraduate students, recently discharged from compulsory military service, participated in this study. The data for the study were collected through semi-structured interviews, each lasting approximately 70-90 minutes. Data analysis was based on Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory. Findings indicate that these students are more academically motivated as compared to their own freshman year. During their term of military service, they have experienced goal commitment, leadership, and diverse relationships. Upon returning to school, they exhibited a …

A Biological Condition Gradient For Caribbean Coral Reefs: Part Ii. Numeric Rules Using Sessile Benthic Organisms, Deborah L. Santavy, Susan K. Jackson, Benjamin Jessup, Christina Horstmann, Caroline Rogers, Ernesto Weil, Alina Szmant, David Cuevas Miranda, Brian K. Walker, Christopher Jeffrey, David Ballantine, William S. Fisher, Randy Clark, Hector Ruiz Torres, Brandi Todd, Sandy Raimondo

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

The Biological Condition Gradient (BCG) is a conceptual model used to describe incremental changes in bio- logical condition along a gradient of increasing anthropogenic stress. As coral reefs collapse globally, scientists and managers are focused on how to sustain the crucial structure and functions, and the benefits that healthy coral reef ecosystems provide for many economies and societies. We developed a numeric (quantitative) BGC model for the coral reefs of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands to transparently facilitate ecologically meaningful management decisions regarding these fragile resources. Here, reef conditions range from natural, undisturbed conditions to severely altered or …

The Current - Volume 32 Issue 17, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

The Earth Biogenome Project 2020: Starting The Clock, Harris A. Lewin, Stephen Richards, Erez Lieberman Aiden, Miguel L. Allende, John M. Archibald, Katharine B. Baker, Bridget Baumgartner, Katherine Belov, Giorgio Bertorelle, Mark L. Blaxter, Jing Cai, Nicolette D. Caperello, Keith Carlson, Juan Carlos Castilla-Rubio, Shu-Miaw Chaw, Lei Chen, Anna K. Childers, Jonathan A. Coddington, Dalia A. Conde, Montserrat Corominas, Keith A. Crandall, Andrew J. Crawford, Federica Dipalma, Richard Durbin, Thankgod E. Ebenezer, Scott V. Edwards, Olivier Fedrigo, Paul Flicek, Giulio Formenti, Richard A. Gibbs, M. Thomas P. Gilbert, Melissa M. Goldstein, Jennifer Marshall Graves, Henry T. Greely, Igor V. Grigoriev, Kevin J. Hackett, Neil Hall, David Haussler, Kristofer M. Helgen, Carolyn J. Hogg, Sachiko Isobe, Kjetill Sigurd Jakobson, Axel Janke, Erich D. Jarvis, Warren E. Johnson, Steven J. M. Jones, Elinor K. Karlsson, Paul J. Kersey, Jin-Hyoung Kim, W. John Kress, Shigehiro Kuraku, Mara K. N. Lawniczak, James H. Leebens-Mack, Xueyan Li, Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, Xin Liu, Jose V. Lopez, Tomas Marques-Bonet, Sophie Mazard, Jonna A. K. Mazet, Camila J. Mazzoni, Eugene W. Myers, Rachel J. O'Neill, Sadye Paez, Hyun Park, Gene E. Robinson, Cristina Roquet, Oliver A. Ryder, Jamal S. M. Sabir, H. Bradley Shaffer, Timothy M. Shank, Jacob S. Sherkow, Pamela S. Soltis, Boping Tang, Leho Tedersoo, Marcela Uliano-Silva, Kun Wang, Xiaofeng Wei, Regina Wetzer, Julia L. Wilson, Xun Xu, Huanming Yang, Anne D. Yoder, Guojie Zhang

Biology Faculty Articles

No abstract provided.

What Was It Like To Deliver Psychotherapy During The Covid-19 Pandemic? Understanding Therapists’ Perspectives Using A Phenomenological Collaborative Writing Approach, Katherine Hall, Alice Pitt, Emma Pope, Aurielle Goddard, Elisabetta Howe, Stephanie Upton, Thanos Tsapas

The Qualitative Report

COVID-19 presented rapid challenges to usual practice within mental health services. Despite the suspension of face-to-face psychotherapy, as a group we felt compelled to adapt so that our relationships with patients could continue. This article documents some of the challenges and opportunities faced by our group. We use collaborative writing as a method of inquiry, informed by a phenomenological approach. Each of the six therapists in the group and the supervisor wrote a freestyle personal reflection; when these reflections were viewed together, noticeable themes emerged which bear relevance to future practice. We present here anonymised vignettes (excerpts from therapists’ reflections) …

Efl Learners’ Attitudes Toward The Usability Of Lmoocs: A Qualitative Content Analysis, Amir Reza Rahimi Mr, Dara Tafazoli Dr

The Qualitative Report

This qualitative study aimed to explore the usability of Language Massive Open Online Courses (LMOOCs) based on Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ attitudes. We used a qualitative questionnaire to collect data from 12 EFL learners from five cities in Iran. The study’s findings address a broad range of positive and negative aspects of LMOOCs. According to content analysis, learners have agreement on the positive aspects of LMOOC, including the learning environment, usability in language learning, inclusive educational technology, and parental presence. However, the learners’ attitudes were inconsistent regarding affective factors and feedback through LMOOCs. Finally, they believed …

Exploring Techniques Of Addressing Grammar In Clt Classes: A Qualitative Study, Seyyed A. Ostovar-Namaghi, Soheila Kamali, Farhad Moezzipour

The Qualitative Report

Learners who have learned English through the audio-lingual method have a profound knowledge of grammar, but they cannot use it to communicate their knowledge and experience fluently. To solve this problem, there was a shift towards communicative language teaching (CLT). This shift towards CLT solved the fluency problem but created another unwanted effect since learners were communicatively competent but linguistically incompetent. While many teachers weed out form as irrelevant, some CLT teachers try to respond to this problem by addressing from in CLT classes. This study aims at conceptualizing these teachers’ perspectives and uncover the strategies they use in addressing …

I’M Interested In Autoethnography, But How Do I Do It?, Robin Cooper, Bruce V. Lilyea

The Qualitative Report

Autoethnography is one of the qualitative research methodologies that remains somewhat mysterious to many scholars. While the use of autoethnography has expanded across numerous fields, it can be difficult to find much guidance about the procedures involved in conducting an autoethnography. Recognizing both the flexibility and creativity inherent in autoethnography, as well as the need for rigor in achieving meaningful research results, we offer in this article some suggestions and reflections regarding the process of conducting an autoethnography – from developing the research question to reporting the findings. These recommendations draw from both narrative and ethnographic research methodologies, as well …

Repertorio Estético-Afectivo De Hombres Anti-Patriarcales: La Construcción De Otras Masculinidades, Jorge A. Jimenez Rodas, Juan C. Arboleda-Ariza, Milton D. Morales Herrera

The Qualitative Report

Los estudios de género en hombres y masculinidades retoman las bases de la crítica feminista para analizar los procesos y subjetividades masculinas. Este proceso ha estado acompañado de la creación cada vez más visible de colectivos de hombres que se oponen a los marcos hegemónicos de la masculinidad y promueven, por medio de un activismo político, versiones alternativas de entender lo masculino. En este trabajo nos preguntamos por el discurso que utilizan estos hombres y las consecuencias de este. Para esto analizamos el discurso de doce hombres latinoamericanos que participan en estos grupos e identificamos a partir de la variabilidad …

Progressive Islamic Education: Bridging The Gap Of Islam, Indonesianness, And Modernity, Suyatno Suyatno, Wantini Wantini, Sukiman Sukiman, Yulia Rachmawati

The Qualitative Report

Progressive Islamic education is a model developed by Muhammadiyah, Indonesia’s largest modern Islamic organization. This model combines secular sciences from the modern education system with religious ones from Islamic teachings to reduce the gap between Islamic values, Indonesianess, and modernity, often a source of tension. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate Progressive Islamic education values and consider how to bridge the gap between Islam, Indonesianess, and modernity. An interpretive phenomenological approach was used to conduct semi-structured interviews with ten Muhammadiyah elementary and middle school teachers. The results showed that participants believe Progressive Islamic education comprises dynamic values, …

Creating An Interdisciplinary Curriculum Within The Undergraduate Arts And Sciences Through Agar Art, Julie Torruellas Garcia, Kandy Lopez, Véronique Côté, Katie E. Crump

Biology Faculty Articles

Evidence-based studies on the benefits of integrating STEM into the arts are limited; however, some suggest that it can lead to improved scientific literacy and new approaches for artistic scholarship. Unfortunately, undergraduate education often creates disciplinary silos where the two are not integrated. Here, we discuss a unique collaboration between professors in the art and biology departments. Our goal was to integrate science into art courses using an agar art activity. We hypothesized that art students could effectively learn microbiology laboratory techniques and use them as novel tools for artistic practice. The activity was integrated into two to four sessions …

The Current - Volume 32 Issue 17, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

A Pilot Interdisciplinary Falls Screening And Educational Event: Perceptions Of Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Lisa J. Knecht-Sabres, Timothy A. Hanke, Michelle M. Lee, Minetta Wallingford, Lisa Palmisano, Teresa Elliott-Burke, Kim Huntington-Alfano, Susanne Higgins, Thomas Dillon, Jennifer Mazan

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Introduction: Falls are the leading cause of death and disability among people 65 years of age and older. Likewise, falls have psychological consequences which often lead to avoidance of activities, fear of falling, and further disabilities. Even though the impact of falls on one’s daily life and independence are substantial, evidence suggests that falls can be prevented by multi-factorial assessments and client-specific interventions. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine (a) perceived knowledge of falls, (b) reported confidence in fall prevention, (c) perceived likelihood of implementing falls screening recommendations, (d) reported fear of falling, and (e) perceived value …

Flexible Facilitation: Coaching And Modelling To Support Inclusive Education, Danielle Lane, Sarah Semon, Nicholas Catania, Khalid M. Abu-Alghayth Phd

The Qualitative Report

The practices of education, such as separate and resource placements, pull-out services, scripted intervention programmes, an emphasis on diagnoses, and behaviorist discipline practices, are not conducive to the goals of inclusive education. This study demonstrates how one instructional coach worked to disrupt traditional special education practices and guide special educators towards the use of more effective research-based instructional strategies and collaborative practices to promote inclusion. Using Robert Stake’s intrinsic case study methodology, we explored the perceived roles of coaching and modelling to promote inclusion through the lens of one coach who modelled methods for the special education teachers in multiple …

The Current - Volume 32 Issue 16, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Social Work In Residential Aged Care Facilities: Evaluation Of A Pilot Program In Australia, Jodie L. Lee Ms, Michael Splawa-Neyman Mr, Fiona Mcdermott Associate Professor

The Qualitative Report

In some international settings, social workers are employed within aged care settings. However, in Australia, social workers rarely work in residential aged care facilities. In an innovative program, an Australian health network employed a social worker in an aged residential care facility from 2010 to 2011. In this research we examine and evaluate this program. Qualitative semi-structured interviews with nine key stakeholders and data extraction from medical records were conducted. Data from medical records and interview transcripts were coded and themes extracted using thematic analysis. Thematic analysis identified five key themes reflecting the roles performed by the social worker. These …

Sign Language Interpreter-Mediated Qualitative Interview With Deaf Participants In Ghana: Some Methodological Reflections For Practice, Stephen Baffour Adjei, Sarah Tara Sam, Frank Owusu Sekyere, Philip Boateng

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative research is adventurous and creative, and committed to understanding unique human experiences in specific cultural ecologies. Qualitative interviewing with Deaf participants is far more challenging for hearing researchers who do not understand sign language, and for this reason such interactions may require the use of a sign language interpreter to facilitate the interview process. However, the quality of sign language interpreter-mediated interactions is likely to be compromised due to omissions, oversights, misinterpretations or additions that may occur during translation. An unthoughtful and poor interpretation of a communicative event by a sign language interpreter during a qualitative interview with Deaf …

Constructions Of Artistic Creativity In The Letters Of Vincent Van Gogh, Antigoni Apostolopoulou, Philia Issari

The Qualitative Report

Artistic creativity is presently considered to be a multidimensional phenomenon that unfolds over time and is in constant conversation with the social and historical context of the artists, as well as their personal life experiences. This article adopts a narrative perspective and explores Vincent van Gogh’s understanding of the constructs of creativity as reflected in his letters to his brother Theo, friends, and other family members. To inquire into van Gogh’s correspondence, narrative thematic analysis was employed. Findings highlight the artist’s constructs around creativity, which seem to depict elements of both modern and post-modern views of creativity. Major themes include …

Qualitative Research In Nursing: Bibliometric Study, Edna Johana Mondragón Sánchez, Patrícia Neyva Da Costa Pinheiro, .Paulo Henrique Alexandre De Paula, Miguel Henrique Da Silva Dos Santos, Adriana Gomes Nogueira-Ferreira, Jose Enver Ayala Zuluaga

The Qualitative Report

In this study, we explored the production of qualitative nursing research in program repositories evaluated by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel in Brazil, with concepts six and seven. We utilized a bibliometric study in which we considered Brazilian theses and dissertations with qualitative methodology published in 2018 and 2019 with qualitative methodology. In the 100 papers, 79 theses, and 13 dissertations, we identified that the types of studies that stood out were phenomenology, the wording of the objectives predominantly used the verbs “understand,” and “analyze,” and the instruments and techniques used were semi-structured interviews which present …

The Effect Of Instructor-To-Student Ratios, Academic Preparation, And Selective Admissions On Retention Rates Among Caahep Accredited Paramedic Training Programs., Justin G. Tilghman

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This study was a non-experimental evaluative study designed to identify the effects of instructor-to-student ratios, academic preparation, and selective admissions processes on retention rates among CAAHEP accredited paramedic training programs in the United States. Methods: Self-reported data from accredited program directors was analyzed to identify what relationships, if any, existed among the variables. Results: Results showed no effect of instructor-to-student ratios or academic preparation on retention rates. However, those programs that utilized selective admissions processes reported a statistically significantly higher student retention rate when compared to those that did not. Conclusions: Paramedic programs seeking to improve retention rates …

Animal Assisted Therapy For Older Adults In Aged Care Facilities: A Rapid Review, Mitchell A. Franklin, Tracey Parnell, Natasha Versi, Rodney Pope

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of animal assisted therapy (AAT) for improving the mental health of older adults in residential care. The aim of this rapid review was to synthesise existing research evidence to determine the approaches that AAT should take to enhance outcomes for older adults living in residential care. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify studies published between 2009 and 2019 that investigated AAT and improvement in physical and/or psychosocial outcomes for adults aged over 65 years, living in residential care. Studies were critically appraised to determine methodological quality, key data were extracted, and …

Attitudes And Beliefs Of Physical Therapist And Physical Therapist Assistant Program Directors In The United States Towards Interprofessional Education, Lawrence Ramiscal, Christopher Truelove Jr., Vahe Heboyan, Gianluca De Leo

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: To investigate the attitudes and beliefs of physical therapy (PT) and physical therapist assistant (PTA) program directors towards interprofessional education (IPE). We hypothesized that Communication and Ethics would be the most important competencies among program directors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey based on previously utilized instruments modified for the profession of PT was sent to PT and PTA program directors. One hundred sixteen responses were analyzed using frequency analysis for demographic data and non-parametric Mann-Whitney U t-test for group differences. Results: While the majority of program directors agree that IPE is important, with Communication as the most important IPE competency, …

Clinical Supervision In Singapore: Allied Health Professional Perspectives From A Two-Round Delphi Study, Brena Lim, Kate Cook, Dean Sutherland, Alexandra J. Weathersby, Gina D. Tillard

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This study investigated Allied Health Practitioners’ (AHPs) perspectives on and consensus of clinical supervision in an acute tertiary hospital in Singapore. Specifically, AHPs’ views on the benefits of and barriers surrounding engaging in clinical supervision, as well as strategies for enhancing clinical supervision experience. Method: A Delphi approach utilizing a two-round process via online questionnaires was employed. A total of 77 AHPs responded to the first round of the Delphi questionnaire and 55 AHPs completed the second round (71% retention rate). Open-ended responses from the first round underwent thematic analysis and resulted in sixty statements (five themes) describing engagement …

Language Discordance And Telephone Interpretation Complicates Pain Neuroscience Education In Physical Therapy Management Of A Patient With Acute Low Back Pain, Margaret C. Burns, Tamara S. Struessel

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Pain neuroscience education (PNE) is an intervention used for musculoskeletal pain to improve understanding of pain processes; PNE can decrease pain levels, improve function, and lower disability. Clear communication between the patient and provider is important for PNE to be an effective intervention. There is a lack of research on how a language discordance may impact that communication, and therefore the effectiveness of PNE. Purposes: 1) describe the physical therapist management of a Spanish speaking patient with acute low back pain (LBP) while using an off-site telephone interpreting service and 2) examine how PNE treatment was impacted by a …

Pivoting To Be Patient-Centered: A Study On Hidden Psychological Costs Of Tele-Healthcare And The Patient-Provider Relationship, Adam Neufeld, Vishal Bhella, Clark Svrcek

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: While the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated a shift toward virtual medicine, there are some potentially important limitations with this modality of healthcare. One such concern, which has not yet been elucidated, is how telephone-based versus in-person visits differentially impact patients’ perceived autonomy and the resulting patient-provider relationship. Grounded in self-determination theory (SDT), this pilot study addresses this question by investigating the association between patients’ perceived autonomy support and relationship needs satisfaction (autonomy, competence, relatedness) in both types of visits with their family doctor and care team. Methods: Running from Sept. 2020 to Feb. 2021, data was collected via convenience …

An Appreciative Inquiry Approach To Understanding What Attracts And Retains Early-Career Therapists To Work In Community Organizations, Karina M. Dancza, Yik Ming Choi, Kaisah Amalia, Pei Shan Wong, Jia Hao Hu, Li Wen Yap

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Community health organizations are expanding in many countries to meet the health and care needs associated with an aging population, an increase in recognition of children with developmental and mental health needs, and escalating healthcare costs. Singapore is no exception. Community organizations, however, are facing challenges in recruiting and retaining early-career therapists to these positions due to competition from acute services and a declining foreign talent pool. At the same time, early-career therapists encounter challenges during the transition from student to professional. Community organizations, therefore, need to identify what makes their organization attractive to early-career therapists and what makes …

Transformation Of The Physical Therapist Assistant (Pta): A Survey Of Current Practice And Education, Jennifer Jewell, Pamela Pologruto, Beverly Labosky, Gina Tarud

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: To find trends in utilization and practice of the physical therapist assistant (PTA) in the clinical setting and to assess current clinician views on the expected future direction for the education of the PTA. Method/Subjects: An electronic survey was sent to all accredited PT and PTA programs in United States requesting the survey be forwarded to physical therapist and physical therapist assistant faculty, alumni and clinical instructors in their geographic region for completion. Results: PTAs are a vital part of physical therapy practice. Forty percent of respondents reported that greater than 50% of direct patient interventions are typically …