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1 – 10 of 22Jennifer K. O'Neill, V. Laina and S. Wilson
The purpose of this article to study referrals to our hand service to find out how long they had been waiting and with what sort of clinical conditions. The Department of Health…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article to study referrals to our hand service to find out how long they had been waiting and with what sort of clinical conditions. The Department of Health monitors outpatient's waiting time as the percentage of patients seen within a 13‐week target. This target does not include patients referred by consultants or other health professionals.
Design/methodology/approach
All the referral letters from other consultants or healthcare professionals still awaiting appointments were collected. The referrals were read and studied to ascertain the most likely diagnosis. This was recorded along with the source of the referral and the details to whom the referral was made. The date of the referral letter being received by the department (date stamped) was also noted.
Findings
A total of 157 referrals from consultants or healthcare professionals were waiting outpatient dates. The median waiting time was 448 days (range 20‐952 days). The most frequent source of referrals was from the orthopaedic department. Carpal tunnel syndrome was the most common problem awaiting an outpatient appointment.
Originality/value
The wait for a clinic appointment for these patients is long. This has come about as the result of the fact that the government targets for outpatient waiting times have been set for GP referrals alone and exclude referrals that have been made by other consultants or other healthcare professionals. This is a clinical governance issue for the Hospital Trust, the Primary Care Trust and for general practitioners.
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Ha Nguyen and Prasina Parameswaran
The goal of this study is to explore how content creators engage in critical data literacies on TikTok, a social media site that encourages the creation and dissemination of…
Abstract
Purpose
The goal of this study is to explore how content creators engage in critical data literacies on TikTok, a social media site that encourages the creation and dissemination of user-created, short-form videos. Critical data literacies encompass the ability to reason with, critique, control, and repurpose data for creative uses. Existing work on critical data literacies on social media has focused on understanding of personal data, critique of data use, and strategies to protect privacy. This work focuses on how TikTok content creators repurpose data to construct their own narratives.
Design/methodology/approach
Through hashtag search, the authors created a corpus of 410 TikTok videos focused on discussing environmental and climate action, and qualitatively coded the videos for data literacies practices and video features (audio, footage, background images) that may support these practices.
Findings
Content creators engaged in multiple practices to attach meanings to data and situate environmental and climate action discourse in lived experiences. While there were instances of no data practices, we found cases where creators compiled different data sources, situated data in personal and local contexts, and positioned their experiences as data points to supplement or counter other statistics. Creators further leveraged the platform’s technical features, particularly the ability to add original audio and background images, to add narratives to the collective discourse.
Originality/value
This study presents a unique focus on examining critical data literacies on social media. Findings highlight how content creators repurpose data and integrate personal experiences. They illustrate platform features to support data practices and inform the design of learning environments.
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Laina Hilma Sari, Brit Anak Kayan and Zahriah Zahriah
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2021 in Indonesia, the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of local houses occupied by infected occupants was adversely affected. This paper…
Abstract
Purpose
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2021 in Indonesia, the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of local houses occupied by infected occupants was adversely affected. This paper aims to appraise the IEQ of the affected Banda Aceh houses with insights into enabling them to be resilient against the negative impacts of the pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
Quantitative field measurement in the case study of five concrete houses located in urban areas which are affected by IEQ factors: (1) indoor air quality (IAQ), (2) thermal comfort and (3) visual comfort, compared against the Indonesian National standard (SNI). The case study involved measurement of the first two factors over 24 h, while the third factor was measured during sun hours. Considering the limitations of the measuring tools for logging available data in this research, air quality is measured from 8 am to 10 pm.
Findings
Thermal comfort in the affected houses is generally regarded as warm, optimal and cool comfort, indicated by the effective temperatures of between 20.5 and 27.1°C. Frequently closed windows, limited land area and access had caused a lack of air circulation, with air velocity of dominantly 0 m/s in the houses. The illuminance of natural light received in three houses was insufficient – less than 120 lux as compared with the other two. This study found an uptrend of higher air temperature and relative humidity in the affected houses resulting in poorer IAQ; conversely, the higher the air velocity in the houses, the fewer the indoor air pollutants such as formaldehyde (HCHO), total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and carbon dioxide (CO2).
Originality/value
This study is a pioneer in evaluating IEQ in houses occupied by COVID-19 patients in Indonesia, especially in dwelling cases in Aceh Province. It also encompasses environmental and societal challenges to sustaining resilient buildings in pandemic hit regions.
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Hatice Beyza Sezer and Immaculate Kizito Namukasa
Many mathematical models have been shared to communicate about the COVID-19 outbreak; however, they require advanced mathematical skills. The main purpose of this study is to…
Abstract
Purpose
Many mathematical models have been shared to communicate about the COVID-19 outbreak; however, they require advanced mathematical skills. The main purpose of this study is to investigate in which way computational thinking (CT) tools and concepts are helpful to better understand the outbreak, and how the context of disease could be used as a real-world context to promote elementary and middle-grade students' mathematical and computational knowledge and skills.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, the authors used a qualitative research design, specifically content analysis, and analyzed two simulations of basic SIR models designed in a Scratch. The authors examine the extent to which they help with the understanding of the parameters, rates and the effect of variations in control measures in the mathematical models.
Findings
This paper investigated the four dimensions of sample simulations: initialization, movements, transmission, recovery process and their connections to school mathematical and computational concepts.
Research limitations/implications
A major limitation is that this study took place during the pandemic and the authors could not collect empirical data.
Practical implications
Teaching mathematical modeling and computer programming is enhanced by elaborating in a specific context. This may serve as a springboard for encouraging students to engage in real-world problems and to promote using their knowledge and skills in making well-informed decisions in future crises.
Originality/value
This research not only sheds light on the way of helping students respond to the challenges of the outbreak but also explores the opportunities it offers to motivate students by showing the value and relevance of CT and mathematics (Albrecht and Karabenick, 2018).
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Sotiris Lainas and Christos Kouimtsidis
Evidence suggests that the percentage of men seeking treatment for substance use disorders and other addictive behaviours is significantly higher than that of women. This fact…
Abstract
Purpose
Evidence suggests that the percentage of men seeking treatment for substance use disorders and other addictive behaviours is significantly higher than that of women. This fact raises several crucial questions concerning the field of addictions. This paper aims to emphasize to the study of addiction in the light of gender studies and especially in the light of theories of dominant/hegemonic masculinity.
Design/methodology/approach
The perspective of dominant/hegemonic masculinity in the field of addictions raises a number of questions: Can the dominant/hegemonic masculinity perspective contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon of addiction? What are the implications of male-dominated and male-centred treatment services on meeting the needs of other populations? Are androcentric approaches ultimately helpful for heteronormative men? This paper investigates the emerging questions through a critical review of the literature including the disciplines of psychology, sociology and anthropology.
Findings
The perspective of hegemonic masculinity can make an important contribution to the understanding of addiction as it sheds light on a dimension that is not well researched and used in the field of addictions. The influences of the androcentric approach to addiction treatment are significant and pose problems both in accessing and serving the needs of other populations. The androcentric approach to treatment is not helpful for heteronormative men either as there is a risk of not addressing the toxic dimensions of dominant/hegemonic masculinity that are directly linked to the problem of addiction.
Research limitations/implications
This paper poses interesting research questions for further research in the field.
Practical implications
This paper raises important issues for practitioners in the field and at the same time suggests alternative perspectives on the interpretation and treatment of addiction.
Social implications
The gender perspective that should further enrich psychosocial interventions is crucial for the equal access of all people with an addiction problem to appropriate support structures.
Originality/value
Gender studies can make an important contribution to further understanding of addiction problems and to the development of effective practices for dealing with it. The fact that in substance abuse treatment programmes the vast majority of participants are heteronormative men raises a number of concerns. These concerns relate to the extent to which structures are directed at meeting the needs of these men and whether because of this orientation the needs of other populations such as heteronormative women and those who do not meet the norms of heteronormativity are left uncovered. These concerns are linked to broader considerations of the role that dominant/hegemonic masculinity plays in the aetiology of addiction and in creating barriers to help-seeking for heteronormative men themselves.
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Laina Hilma Sari, Brit Anak Kayan, Zahriah Zahriah, Zulfikar Taqiuddin, Cut Nursaniah and Siti Norbaya Mohd Konar
This paper is an appraisal using the life cycle assessment (LCA) of paint repair for heritage buildings based on the green maintenance model.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper is an appraisal using the life cycle assessment (LCA) of paint repair for heritage buildings based on the green maintenance model.
Design/methodology/approach
Calculation procedures of green maintenance model within cradle-to-site boundaries of LCA approach were undertaken. The calculations evaluate embodied carbon expended from paint repair of Gunongan, Banda Aceh and Melaka Stamp Museum, Melaka.
Findings
The findings show that the type and number of coats applied will determine the lifespan of the paint. The lifespan of paint influences the frequency of its repair, thus affecting environmental maintenance impact (EMI).
Practical implications
Green maintenance model is not confined to heritage buildings and can be applied to any repair types, materials used and building forms. The model supports and stimulates research dedicated to the sustainable development of cultural heritage. This results in the attainment of environmentally focused conservation, promoting sustainable repair approach and inculcating sustainable development of the historic environment.
Social implications
Green maintenance model highlights the efficiency of repair options that may be adopted for heritage buildings, thus cultivating skills and knowledge in cultural heritage and sustainable development.
Originality/value
The paint repair appraisal of heritage buildings in different countries and localities, which share similar tropical climate, can be undertaken. It demonstrates how different approaches by relevant agencies to the paint repair of heritage buildings impact on embodied carbon expenditure.
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Karsten Staehr and Lenno Uusküla
Large or increasing stocks of non-performing loans in the banking sector constitute threats to financial stability. This paper considers to which extent various macroeconomic and…
Abstract
Purpose
Large or increasing stocks of non-performing loans in the banking sector constitute threats to financial stability. This paper considers to which extent various macroeconomic and macro-financial factors may serve as leading indicators for the dynamics of the ratio of non-performing loans to total loans.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper estimates panel data models for all EU countries and two groups of EU countries using quarterly data over approximately 20 years.
Findings
The estimations show that many macroeconomic and macro-financial variables are leading indicators for non-performing loans in the EU countries, even years ahead. Higher GDP growth, lower inflation and lower debt are robust leading indicators of a lower ratio of non-performing loans in the future. The current account balance and real house prices are important indicators for the Western European group but not for the Central and Eastern European group.
Research limitations/implications
The estimations are carried out for panels of EU countries and the effects may hence be seen as averages for the countries in the particular panel and may not apply for individual countries.
Practical implications
National and international authorities have brought in systems to detect and address imbalances and emerging problems in the financial sectors. Many of the measures operate with long lags, and so it is important to assess whether various macroeconomic and macro-financial variables may serve as leading indicators for future developments of non-performing loans.
Originality/value
The main contribution of the paper is that it estimates models meant expressly for predicting non-performing loans several years ahead. The results are thus of practical use for national and international authorities which typically have access to measures that operate with a long delay. The analysis also includes more macroeconomic and macro-financial variables as leading indicators than have typically been used in earlier studies.
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This chapter is about the value and costs of the work of children – to themselves, their families, and their communities. I present a range of situations in which children in…
Abstract
This chapter is about the value and costs of the work of children – to themselves, their families, and their communities. I present a range of situations in which children in Zimbabwe have to work, placing the employment of children in the broader context of children's work. I point to benefits and harm that can accrue to children from their work, paying attention to how the children themselves perceive it. The vignettes I present illustrate the complexity surrounding the work of children, and the need to understand the contexts in which they work before we try to intervene.
Cosmin Ionut Nada and Helena Costa Araújo
The aim of this paper is to explore qualitatively and holistically the experience of international students in the context of Portuguese higher education. This paper interrogates…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to explore qualitatively and holistically the experience of international students in the context of Portuguese higher education. This paper interrogates the potential that an experience abroad provides for multicultural learning and for enhancing interaction between students with different cultural backgrounds.
Design/methodology/approach
To provide depth to the understanding of their experiences abroad, the narratives of 12 international students in Portugal were constructed and analysed interpretatively. The findings presented in this paper result from a solid set of data based on 41 interviews with an average duration of two hours each.
Findings
Regarding students’ levels of multicultural contact, the findings presented in this paper are not consistent with previous research literature which indicates a tendency for segregation among international and local students. Aside from one exception, all the interviewed students were rather comfortable to interact with their local peers and even established meaningful friendships with them. Concerning students’ learning throughout the sojourn, the findings indicate that the experience of living in a different country provides numerous opportunities for multicultural learning.
Research limitations/implications
Even though the findings suggest that multicultural learning is part of international students’ lives, it is beyond the scope of this paper to identify institutional strategies to further support students’ learning.
Originality/value
The study adds to knowledge production in the field of multicultural education by bringing data from Portugal, a country seldom approached in the research literature.
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