Background: Ontario has the highest number of HIV positive test reports in Canada. Many of the HIV prevention interventions had a moderate effect on changing unsafe sexual behaviors within the young adult population. Participants’ preferences for such interventions could be a contributing factor to the moderate effect of the prevention interventions. Treatment preference is defined as a positive or negative attitude toward a particular treatment. To date few empirical studies examined preferences for educational and cognitive/behavioral interventions focusing on HIV prevention for young adults. Purpose: The purpose of this study is twofold: to examine participants’ preferences for different types of educational and cognitive/behavioral intervention components for HIV prevention and to explore socio-structural, psychological and intervention related factors that affect participants’ preferences for intervention. Design: The study used a cross-sectional mixed methods design. The data were collected using a face-to-face interview. Structured and open-ended questions were used to inquire about participants’ preferences for intervention. Sample: The sample consisted of 150 young adults ranging in age from 18 to 39 years, and able to speak and read English. The sample was recruited from the Greater Toronto Area. Measures: The measures included an adapted questionnaire to elicit participant preference for intervention, the multi-dimensional locus of control questionnaire, AIDS health locus of control questionnaire and standard demographic questions. Analysis: Descriptive statistics were used to examine preferences for intervention components. Regression analysis was done to explore the relationships between the selected factors and participants’ preferences for intervention. Findings: All 150 participants had a preference for an HIV prevention intervention. In terms of preference for treatment type, 64% preferred an intervention that incorporated a combination of educational and cognitive-behavioral components. Specifically, 23% preferred the intervention to incorporate all three components: educational information, communication skills and goal attainment. In addition, 49% of the participants’ preferred an intervention that incorporated an average of 1-4 sessions lasting 90 minutes in length. Of the socio-structural, psychological and intervention related factors hypothesized to be associated with participants’ preferences for intervention type, components and dose, intervention related factors were found to be the most significant factors related to participants’ preferences. Conclusions: Young adults preferred to have an HIV prevention intervention that encompassed a combination of education and cognitive-behavioral components when given the opportunity to choose their preferred interventions. Providing interventions that are consistent with participants’ preferences is posited as beneficial as it increases the participants’ sense of control, satisfaction with care, adherence to intervention protocol and achievement of desired outcomes.

Background: Ontario has the highest number of HIV positive test reports in Canada. Many of the HIV prevention interventions had a moderate effect on changing unsafe sexual behaviors within the young adult population. Participants’ preferences for such interventions could be a contributing factor to the moderate effect of the prevention interventions. Treatment preference is defined as a positive or negative attitude toward a particular treatment. To date few empirical studies examined preferences for educational and cognitive/behavioral interventions focusing on HIV prevention for young adults. Purpose: The purpose of this study is twofold: to examine participants’ preferences for different types of educational and cognitive/behavioral intervention components for HIV prevention and to explore socio-structural, psychological and intervention related factors that affect participants’ preferences for intervention. Design: The study used a cross-sectional mixed methods design. The data were collected using a face-to-face interview. Structured and open-ended questions were used to inquire about participants’ preferences for intervention. Sample: The sample consisted of 150 young adults ranging in age from 18 to 39 years, and able to speak and read English. The sample was recruited from the Greater Toronto Area. Measures: The measures included an adapted questionnaire to elicit participant preference for intervention, the multi-dimensional locus of control questionnaire, AIDS health locus of control questionnaire and standard demographic questions. Analysis: Descriptive statistics were used to examine preferences for intervention components. Regression analysis was done to explore the relationships between the selected factors and participants’ preferences for intervention. Findings: All 150 participants had a preference for an HIV prevention intervention. In terms of preference for treatment type, 64% preferred an intervention that incorporated a combination of educational and cognitive-behavioral components. Specifically, 23% preferred the intervention to incorporate all three components: educational information, communication skills and goal attainment. In addition, 49% of the participants’ preferred an intervention that incorporated an average of 1-4 sessions lasting 90 minutes in length. Of the socio-structural, psychological and intervention related factors hypothesized to be associated with participants’ preferences for intervention type, components and dose, intervention related factors were found to be the most significant factors related to participants’ preferences. Conclusions: Young adults preferred to have an HIV prevention intervention that encompassed a combination of education and cognitive-behavioral components when given the opportunity to choose their preferred interventions. Providing interventions that are consistent with participants’ preferences is posited as beneficial as it increases the participants’ sense of control, satisfaction with care, adherence to intervention protocol and achievement of desired outcomes.

The effects of selected antimicrobials, applied singularly or in combination, and frozen or refrigerated storage conditions on the survival of Listeria spp. on inoculated shrimp was evaluated in this study. A combination of 0.5% CPC (Cetylpyridinium Chloride) with a water wash at room temperature and freezing of the shrimp at -22.3 degrees C was the only treatment that had a significant antimicrobial effect on the Listeria spp. Antimicrobial effects and the mode of action of PEF (Pulsed Electric Field) and CPC on Listeria cells were evaluated in detailed studies. PEF in 0.1% sodium chloride had a bacterostatic effect toward Listeria spp. during refrigerated storage, but no immediate or bacteriostatic effect was caused by freezing the samples. A concentration of 1% sodium chloride reduced the Listeria spp. population after freezing by 1.1 log; however, the pungent chlorine odor that was generated during treatment might cause discomfort for employees in shrimp processing facilities. Also, chlorine might cause corrosion of metal surfaces of processing equipment. There was no difference in the antimicrobial effects on the survival of Listeria spp. by PEF between the exposure times of 1 or 2 min, as well as in the sodium chloride concentrations of 0.1 and 0.5%. PEF treatment in the presence of 0.1% sodium chloride is recommended. A solution of 0.5% CPC effectively inhibited all of the strains of Listeria spp. in the cell suspensions. A treatment of 0.5% CPC combined with PEF treatment in a sodium chloride concentration of 0.1% caused a delayed effect on the Listeria spp. after 2 d of refrigerated storage. After 2 d of frozen storage, the formation of ice crystals was decreased in the number of Listeria spp. when contaminated samples were treated with water. The results indicated chemicals (e.g. CPC and NaCl) might protect Listeria spp. from the formation of ice crystals. TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy) micrographs revealed that cell membranes were damaged by PEF treatment and that cells were ruptured by CPC treatment. A maximum reduction of 2.76 log10 CFU/g of Listeria spp. on shrimp was achieved by a combination of PEFCPC.

Sleep problems are common in children with ASD. Despite this, evidence for interventions, particularly alternative approaches such as weighted blankets is limited. Aims. The aims of the study were to examine weighted blankets for: (1) their effectiveness as an intervention for sleep problems; (2) their impact on sleep state organisation; (3) their impact on night-time movement; (4) the sensory characteristics of children responding to the intervention; (5) parent’s perceptions of the intervention; (6) behavioural interventions as a second intervention if required. Method. Using a non-concurrent multiple baseline design, five children with autism aged between 7 to 13 years received a weighted blanket intervention with the option of a secondary behavioural intervention. Results. One participant rejected the weighted blanket outright. Four participants showed no substantial improvements in sleep problems or changes in sleep state organisational. Despite this, parents of four participants still perceived the weighted blanket to be moderately effective. The sensory profiles of participants were not related to their response to the intervention. Participants’ night-time movements were not found to be suppressed by the weighted blankets. Two participants went on to receive a behavioural intervention, one was successful and the other withdrew from the study before implementing the strategies. One other participant’s sleep difficulties resolved over time without further intervention. Implications. The current study neither supported weighted blankets as an intervention for sleep problems in children with autism nor supported contentions of its effectiveness for children with sensation seeking behaviours.

No description available.

The failure of ‘blueprint’ development interventions to deliver substantive improvements in poverty reduction has been well recognised over the last twenty years. Process approaches seek to overcome the rigidity and top-down operation of much aid-funded intervention. Sustainable livelihoods approaches (SLA) are one of the latest additions to this family of approaches. As a theoretical framework and as a set of principles for guiding intervention, sustainable livelihoods thinking has implications for development management. Drawing on research exploring the application of sustainable livelihoods principles in ten development interventions, this paper considers how these principles have evolved from continuing debates surrounding process and people-centred (bottom-up) approaches to development management. This research suggests that whilst these principles can improve the impact made by interventions, the effective application of sustainable livelihoods and other process approaches are fundamentally restricted by unbalanced power relationships between development partners. / BCID Working Papers: http://www.brad.ac.uk/acad/bcid/research/papers/BCID_Research_Papers.php

Class of 2014 Abstract / Specific Aims: To identify the factors that affects the potency of pharmacists’ interventions. Methods: Literature search was based on keywords and Mesh terms in eight different databases. The inclusion criteria were evidence of pharmacist involvement in direct patient care, patient-related therapeutic outcomes, studies done in the United States, randomized controlled trials, studies with reported number of subjects in the intervention and control group and reported means and standard deviations of therapeutic outcomes. For the study selection and data extraction, two students independently reviewed each study and met to resolve any discrepancies. In addition, each study was assigned a potency score using the potency tool. Data extraction included: pharmacists’ interventions (technical, behavioral, educational, and affective), patient characteristics, and therapeutic outcomes. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated; studies with SMD ≥ -0.3 formed the low impact group (controls) and studies with SMD  -0.8 formed the high impact group (cases). Main Results: The included randomized control trials (N=11) were conducted in a variety of settings from ambulatory clinics to hospital. The high impact group was favored in the educational category (ES=0.88, p=0.18) while the low impact group was favored in the behavioral category (ES=-0.19, p=0.81). In general, there was a difference between the high impact and low impact (ES=0.82, p=0.37) groups with the high impact group being favored. Conclusion: There is a difference between the low impact and high impact groups, but it is unclear which pharmacist interventions have a significant impact on therapeutic outcomes.

During the fifties it was not unusual to measure economic growth of a country through the presentation of statistics around its energy consumption. The higher the consumption, the higher the economic growth. However, the unprecedented economic growth experienced in the global village during the 21st Century, is steering the ship in the direction of a disaster, measured from a sustainable energy supply point of view, the massive damage to the environment as a result of the high use of dominating fossil fuels and a lack of the implementation of clean energy strategies. Apartheid, to a large extent, contributed to unacceptable socio-economic conditions in low-income urban communities. The Reconstruction and Development Programme of government from 1994 attempted, inter alia, to mitigate the housing demand for the disadvantaged citizens. However, over the years, poor quality in construction of these houses and other factors impacted negatively on the living conditions of the homeowners. Government realised that it had to change this situation and policy programmes with action plans focussed, inter alia, on the roll-out of solar water heaters (SWH), insulation of ceilings and repairs to the dilapidated houses. This study aims to identify the key factors that influence the successful implementation of clean energy interventions in low-income urban communities in South Africa. The research showed that it is indeed possible to implement such projects successfully, if the key factors are acknowledged, as demonstrated in this study.Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Class of 2013 Abstract / Specific Aims: Conduct a comprehensive and systematic review to identify and describe studies from October 2010 to May 2012 that have addressed diabetes interventions in American Indian populations and assess the impact those interventions had on improving humanistic and therapeutic outcomes in preventing or treating diabetes in American Indians. Methods: Studies published between 5 October 2010 and 30 May 2012 that described diabetes interventions or programs in American Indian populations were identified via electronic searches of PubMed, CINAHL, IPA, Cochrane, PsychINFO, Web of Science, and ERIC using key search terms related to (and MeSH terms where applicable) diabetes, interventions, medication adherence, diet, exercise, blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, North American Indians, American Indians, Native Americans, and Alaska Natives. Articles were reviewed and were excluded if the study had no comparison group, was not interventional or programmatic in nature, took place outside the US, study population was < 50% American Indian, or did not report on patient-related outcomes. Data on study characteristics, patient characteristics, and study outcomes were extracted. Main Results: A total of five studies were included. Positive, significant effects were reported on A1c in 40% (n=2), cholesterol in 40% (n=2), blood pressure in 40% (n=2), weight/BMI in 20% (n=1), blood glucose monitoring in 20% (n=1), diet in 20% (n=1), and diabetes knowledge and health literacy in 20% (n=1). Conclusion: The literature review had minimal results. Of those included, the majority of diabetes interventions were educational-related, observational in design, assessed only adults, and study populations were primarily female. Few of the included studies interventions demonstrated significant improvements in diabetic outcomes. Continued research and efforts to further improve diabetes management within the American Indian community is needed.

Background: Pupils with Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (SEBD) are a cause for concern in education and although Nurture Groups (NGs) have been found to be an effective form of intervention for pupils displaying SEBD in primary schools, limited research exists regarding NGs in secondary schools. A key piece of research suggests that the implementation of a classic NG in a secondary school may be difficult. This study aims to investigate how classic NGs are delivered and how the implementation has been possible. Furthermore, it explores the effects of NG attendance for pupils. Participants: Two secondary schools housing classic NGs were identified through the Nurture Group Network (NGN). For each school, participants included a NG facilitator, a member of Senior Management and a professional from an external agency. Pupils were also recruited (6 from school 1 and 4 from school 2). Methods: A multiple case study design with embedded units of analysis was conducted (Yin, 2009). Various data streams were used including an initial questionnaire, observations, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and Boxall Profile for Young People (BPYP) data (Bennathan, Boxall & Colley, 2010).Analysis/Findings: Observational and questionnaire data were analysed using content analysis and interview/focus group data were thematically analysed following full transcription (Braun and Clarke, 2006). BPYP data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Conclusion/Implications: Findings reveal that classic NGs can be implemented into a secondary school. Whilst numerous barriers exist to implementation (including understanding, arrangements, engagement with others and having the necessary tools) numerous facilitators also existed, the majority of which could be matched to barriers (including engaging with others, having knowledge and skills that are respected, a supportive environment and supporting pupil attendance by altering perceptions). Benefits of the NG for individual pupils and the wider school were also found, some of which include improved emotional well-being and positive inclusion into mainstream with a sense of belonging. Negative effects to NG attendance were also found and are discussed.