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Article
Publication date: 5 November 2019

Wolfgang A. Markham

The purpose of this paper is to extend a theory of health promoting schools (Markham and Aveyard, 2003) that draws heavily upon Nussbaum’s Aristotelian interpretation of good…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend a theory of health promoting schools (Markham and Aveyard, 2003) that draws heavily upon Nussbaum’s Aristotelian interpretation of good human functioning (Nussbaum, 1990). This theory of health promoting schools proposed that health is grounded in the meeting of identified fundamental human needs and the realisation of identified essential human capacities (Markham and Aveyard, 2003).

Design/methodology/approach

The extension of this theory is achieved through the application of influential social theories with practical tenets to Nussbaum’s insights (Nussbaum, 1990). This extension includes additional essential human capacities, a description and definition of how good human functioning may be recognised, potential limitations of the capabilities approaches and a discussion of major factors inhibiting good human functioning.

Findings

The potential contribution of the outlined framework to discussions of health and health promotion is highlighted in two ways. First, this paper considers how the outlined framework may contribute to discussions of quality of life, morbidity/premature mortality and health-related behaviours. Second, this paper briefly considers how the outlined framework may contribute to discussions of public health policy, and the planning, delivery and evaluation of health promotion initiatives. Basic exemplar pre- and post-questionnaires for a hypothetical health promoting community development programme are offered.

Originality/value

This paper attempts to contribute to discussions of the application of Nussbaum’s Aristotelean interpretation of good human functioning to both public health and health promotion.

Details

Health Education, vol. 119 no. 5/6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-4283

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 March 2017

Wolfgang A. Markham, Chris Bonell, Adam Fletcher and Paul Aveyard

Substance use prevalence varies considerably between schools, but to date, whole school approaches for reducing substance use have only been moderately effective. The purpose of…

Abstract

Purpose

Substance use prevalence varies considerably between schools, but to date, whole school approaches for reducing substance use have only been moderately effective. The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel multifaceted whole-school approach to reduce substance use primarily among teenagers aged 11-14 years.

Design/methodology/approach

The outlined approach is premised on the proposal that schools can reduce the harms associated with substance use by promoting school connectedness and improving the school-related experiences of weakly connected and disconnected students. The aim of this approach is to develop students’ autonomy so that they may act in their real and long-term interests. This may be attained by promoting the realisation of essential human capacities for: practical reasoning – through valued opportunities for cognitive development and affiliation – through valued opportunities for affective development that advance students sense of acceptance within school. Schools may achieve this, it is proposed, by providing outlined forms of appropriate formal support and formal control that are augmented by particular features of school organisation, curriculum and pedagogic practice, which are also described.

Findings

A theoretically driven understanding of a whole school approach for reducing teenage substance use is outlined.

Originality/value

The outlined approach may usefully inform the development of future whole school interventions aiming to reduce problematic substance use among school students. Additional potential benefits include more successful student life trajectories.

Details

Drugs and Alcohol Today, vol. 17 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1745-9265

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 October 2017

Elniee Melson, Christopher Bridle and Wolfgang Markham

The purpose of this paper is to report the process evaluation of a pilot randomised control trial of an anti-smoking intervention for Malaysian 13-14-year olds, conducted in…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the process evaluation of a pilot randomised control trial of an anti-smoking intervention for Malaysian 13-14-year olds, conducted in 2011/2012. It was hypothesised that trained peer supporters would promote non-smoking among classmates through informal conversations.

Design/methodology/approach

Smoking-related baseline and follow-up questionnaires were administered, seven months apart, to Form 1 students (n=2,118) attending eight schools across two districts in Sabah (Kota Kinabalu; Keningau). Concealed stratified randomisation assigned two schools per district to the control and intervention arms. Control schools received usual care. Intervention schools received usual care and the peer supporter intervention. Peer supporters completed smoking-related knowledge and attitudes questionnaires before and after peer supporter training and peer supporter training evaluation questionnaires. They also discussed the peer supporter training and role in focus groups immediately following training (n=4) and three months later (n=3), and additionally, recorded post-training anti-smoking activity in diaries.

Findings

The pilot trial found that student recruitment was high (baseline students matched at follow-up n=1,681 (79 per cent of class-registered students). More boys (n=38) than girls (n=35) attended peer supporter training. Post-training, most peer supporters had improved smoking-related knowledge (n=55; 75 per cent) and attitudes (n=57; 78 per cent) and returned diaries (n=49; 67 per cent). Some focus group boys reported they were reluctant peer supporters and/or found resisting smoking difficult.

Practical implications

Future trials would benefit from outlined modifications to peer supporter selection, recruitment and training and additionally, assessments of context and intervention acceptability and reach.

Originality/value

Trials of complex public health interventions are scarce in economically developing countries.

Details

Health Education, vol. 117 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-4283

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 December 1906

IT is a very encouraging sign to those interested in the welfare of children that so much attention is being bestowed upon them by library authorities. On every side activity is…

Abstract

IT is a very encouraging sign to those interested in the welfare of children that so much attention is being bestowed upon them by library authorities. On every side activity is apparent: most new buildings have a room set aside for the exclusive use of juveniles, and many old buildings are being adapted and special provision made for the young. In these circumstances a brief summary of practical requirements may not come amiss.

Details

New Library World, vol. 9 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0307-4803

Article
Publication date: 1 August 1981

Now established as the worldwide meeting place for all those engaged in the efficient and economic operation of international and national airports and military airbases, AIRPORT…

Abstract

Now established as the worldwide meeting place for all those engaged in the efficient and economic operation of international and national airports and military airbases, AIRPORT '81 will present the most comprehensive display of products and services to date.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 53 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-2667

Article
Publication date: 28 October 2014

Yuanhao Wang, Michael Berens, Alexander Nietsch, Werner John and Wolfgang Mathis

– The purpose of this paper is to present an optimization process for the design of a 2×2 patch antenna phased array with application for an UHF RFID system.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an optimization process for the design of a 2×2 patch antenna phased array with application for an UHF RFID system.

Design/methodology/approach

The optimization process is based on a method of moment (MoM)-solver, which was individually made to create such patch antenna phased arrays and simulate the radiated field pattern. In combination with this MoM-solver, a GUI, which gives the opportunity to change every physical antenna factor and create the antenna structure within a few minutes is presented. Furthermore the golden section search method is used to produce an even better solution in a more efficient way compared to the first attempt. After the simulation, different types of presentation of results can be chosen for a fast and easy optimization.

Findings

The design process is discussed while the authors try to optimize the distance between the elements and the difference of input phase for each patch element. The final goal is to create an antenna with maximum directivity and coverage of field pattern.

Practical implications

A physical implementation of an optimized patch antenna phased array and the results of measurement are presented in the end.

Originality/value

An optimization process for the design of a 2×2 patch antenna phased array with application for an UHF RFID system is presented. Furthermore the golden section search method is combined with the design process to increase the accuracy of the solution and decrease the time effort.

Details

COMPEL: The International Journal for Computation and Mathematics in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, vol. 33 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 March 2015

Olle Sköld

– The purpose of this paper is to explore how virtual world communities employ new media as a repository to record information about their past.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how virtual world communities employ new media as a repository to record information about their past.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the notions of documentary practice and memory-making as a framework, a case study of MMORPG City of Heroes’ (CoH) virtual community on Reddit discussion board “/r/cityofheroes” was conducted. The study consists of an interpretative analysis of posts, comments, images, and other materials submitted to /r/cityofheroes during a period of approximately seven months.

Findings

The principal finding of the study is that the CoH community, with varying levels of intentionality, documented a range of pasts on /r/cityofheroes, relating to CoH as a game world, a site of personal experience, a product, a nexus of narratives, and a game. The analysis also lays bare the community’s memory-making processes, in which the documented conceptions of CoH’s past were put to work in the present, informing community action and viewpoints.

Originality/value

Games and gaming practices are increasingly prevalent in leisure and professional settings. This trend, which makes virtual environments and online media proxies for or augmentations of “real life”, makes it necessary for information scholars to understand how the full range of human information behaviours, including documenting, and memory-making, emerge or are replicated online. Additionally, few studies have examined the interplay between new media affordances, documentary practices, and memory-making in the context of virtual world communities.

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. 71 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0022-0418

Keywords

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