In the United States, there is an issue with low-income uninsured patients using emergency services for nonurgent conditions instead of using primary care services. Primary care services are more beneficial than emergency services for such patients, in that they can receive continual or follow-up care through primary care and thus achieve better health outcomes over the long term. Though information is available concerning factors in (or the rationale for) low-income uninsured patients choosing the emergency department (ED) instead of primary services for nonurgent conditions, research focusing on low-income uninsured patients' perspectives, beliefs, and level of knowledge about this matter is missing from the literature. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to gain an understanding of the perspectives, beliefs, and level of knowledge of low-income uninsured patients about primary care services and to explore whether patient education can improve access to primary care. The health belief model was used to explore 6 concepts: perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy. Criterion sampling was used to recruit 10 participants, an interview tool was used to collect data, and the data was analyzed deductively. Results revealed that members of the low-income uninsured population believed primary care to be better than the ED because it offers cost-effectiveness, preventative care, efficiency, and familiarity. Results indicated that lack of money or insurance prevented participants from using primary services. This study may bring awareness that leads to the improvement of patient education and navigation, the reduction of ED usage, and an increase in primary care utilization.

The elderly population have developed some resistance toward accepting community-based social services. Such resistance could be detrimental to the well-being of low-income seniors by hindering their chance of accessing services intended for them in the first place. Art therapy is seen as a promising intervention against client resistance. This study evaluated the effectiveness of art therapy on reducing resistance to services among low-income seniors living in independent living communities. Through a pre-experimental design, this study analyzed administrative data for a sample of 37 participants from a social service agency in Southern California. Results from two non-parametric tests (WilcoxonSigned-Rank and Mann-Whitney-U) revealed that art therapy is very effective in reducing resistance among seniors. Implications for gerontology and social services providers were discussed.

As older adults live longer, demand for supportive care will increase. Older adults will need a form of long-term care to manage their health and quality of life. As older adults age, they’re susceptible to having one or more chronic conditions. In taking measures to manage the chronic conditions of many older adults, in-home supportive services is a supportive program that provides non-medical personal and instrumental services to help older adults with their activities of daily living. An in-home supportive service allows an older adult to receive assistance and remain comfortably living in his or her home. However, an older adult of low-income status may not receive this information on supportive services. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the level of awareness low-income older adults have on in-home supportive services. This research design was quantitative focusing on measuring the level of awareness among low-income older adults. A survey instrument was created and given to older adults at a senior center of the County of San Bernardino. IBM SPSS Manual on Windows Software was used to input and analyze data. The findings of the study found a low level of awareness of the program called In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and participants understanding of in-home supportive services was unclear. This study provides recommendations for social workers to address the barriers of low-income older adults acquiring information on in-home supportive services.

his research addressed educational persistence among first-generation, low-income college students. The educational paths of 22 first-generation, low-income undergraduate students attending a large, urban university in the Northwest region of the United States were examined through a narrative framework. Half of the participants had persisted from year one to year two, and the other half left the university after their first year. Analytic procedures consisted of thematic qualitative coding, an analysis of student trajectories over educational histories, and the reconstruction of narrative stories. Data were used to examine: (1) How first-generation, low-income students understood and described their journey through their first year, (2) Reasons some students gave for leaving the university, (3) Meanings students gave to their experiences in college and how those meanings influenced future decisions, and (4) Differences between the stories of students who persisted versus those who left. The first-generation, low-income students who participated in this study were individually diverse and took various paths through college. After prolonged contact, evidence of interrupted enrollment and transfer among colleges was shown for approximately half of the participants. The descriptive codes most frequently discussed were financial issues, aspects of self, and family. Students described motivations for college in terms of themes related to family, gaining practical skills, existential discovery, desire for the college adventure, and affirmation of personal attributes. Students left the institution as a result of academic challenges, external life events, financial difficulties, dissatisfaction with the college process, unclear goals or reasons for continuation, and a need to stay near family. Students who persisted in college indicated adequate pre-college academic preparation, social connection to the university, family support for continuation, adequate financial resources, and support from social and cultural brokers that helped them navigate college. Findings from this study suggest social class, financial, individual and family contextual variables be added to Tinto's (1975, 1993) classic model of student departure. Higher education policies suggested by data include partnering with families, reducing social class barriers and providing better information to students about the hidden costs of transfer and interrupted enrollment.

Retaining adult education students has been a growing concern. The new GED requirements have generated low completion rates for a free GED program in a 3-year period, in a non-profit agency in a Southeastern state. Instructors are concerned about this problem and need to understand the factors that are inhibiting adult learners from successfully attaining their GED. This qualitative research design was the most appropriate to answer the research questions to determine the experiences that caused the adult learners to not complete the program and identify potential educational strategies needed to improve retention. Sticht's functional context theory was the conceptual framework for this study. Fourteen adult learners previously enrolled in the free GED program participated in in-depth, individual interviews. Thematic analysis, NVivo and open coding were used to identify, describe, and interpret data. The findings indicated that lack of computer and typing skills, the conversion from paper and pencil to computerized testing, and the onset of temporary and personal and family obstacles were factors that contributed to learners not successfully completing the program. Reinstatement of tutors and mentors and providing the participants with a well-defined curriculum for the GED courses were potential solutions to improve retention. The overwhelming evidence from the participants also suggested that a curriculum for a professional development training for instructors facilitating the online courses is an educational strategy for a potential solution to the local problem. This project has the probability to produce social change because it provides GED instructors researched-based instruction to facilitate online courses effectively to improve retention.

To determine the effects of a targeted curriculum and dual program involvement on childhood overweight status among low-income preschool children, a nutrition curriculum was developed. Three Special Supplemental Food Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) clinics participated in the study: the control clinic, a clinic which received the targeted curriculum, and a third clinic which received the targeted curriculum and referred participant families to the Expanded Food and Nutrition lll Education Program (EFNEP). Participants were followed for six months. Data collected included anthropometrics, dietary intake, and parental behaviors. Results showed a decrease in body-mass index percentile, slight improvements in dietary intakes, and increased prevalence of healthy parental behaviors for all three clinics. Overall no significant differences between clinics were noted. Surveys indicated a positive impact of the curriculum in meeting desired objectives and a positive change on parents' self-efficacy.

This research focuses on college football players from low socioeconomic backgrounds (i.e., attended a Title I High School) and examines whether they are more likely to experience athletic success and influence the performance of the college football programs they attend relative to other student-athletes. The results show that, over the period 2010-2016, Title I players are more likely to be drafted or play in the NFL than other student-athletes. In addition, teams with more Title I players on their roster appear to reap some benefits. On one hand, Title I heavy rosters are associated with better conference records and are more successful in terms of having their players drafted. On the other hand, Title I heavy rosters are not associated with the program's financial performance or ability to produce NFL players. Overall, the evidence supports the notion that socioeconomic background is important for athletic success, especially at the individual level. However, this effect is reversed in the case of student-athletes playing as quarterbacks, which raises interesting questions for future research.

Since 1999, there has been a significant increase in the number of food insecure individuals in the United States. The Great Recession (2007-2009) and slow economic recovery has led to additional increases in rates of food insecurity and the usage of emergency food assistance programs. Thirty qualitative interviews with individuals seeking emergency food assistance at a Tampa Bay food pantry were conducted. Interviews focused on collecting the life experiences of participants, the barriers they face in having food security, their strategies to cope with limited food budgets, and how food insecurity impacts their household's overall health and wellbeing. Recommendations for fulfilling the immediate need for food as well as addressing the larger issues that lead to and perpetuate food insecurity and hunger are presented in this paper. In collaboration with the food pantry, a booklet presenting personal experiences of hunger alongside broad institutional forces affecting food insecurity was disseminated in the community in hopes of increasing awareness of and support for combating this important social issue.

本研究透過多元方法(mutimethod)之研究設計，第一階段整理運用官方統計性資料，分析民國76年至85年台北市低收入戶人口特質，並作為第二階段質性研究之基礎；第二階段運用立意取樣，進行深度訪談及參與觀察，分析台北市低收入戶日常生活文化內涵。 　　在低收入戶人口特質部份，本研究歸納出下列重要發現與趨勢：1.「個人性因素」的低收入戶歸因；2.低收入戶人口涵蓋度穩定且流動率低；3.「低收入戶女性化」的現象不顯著；4.低收入戶集居化、都市邊陲化之趨勢；5.低收入戶高齡化的趨勢；6.較高等的教育程度已無法保證能夠脫離低收入戶；7.「家庭解組」因素可預測低收入戶之發生；8.低收入戶健康狀況呈兩極化發展；9.低收入戶之基本家庭設備已逐年普及化；10.低收入戶自有住宅比例逐年降低；11.低收入戶戶量減少之趨勢；12.「工作中貧窮」的趨勢。 　　在低收入戶文化分析部份，本研究運用參與觀察法分析台北市低收入戶文化內涵，俾供後續研究檢證與修正；另以深度訪談歸納分析台北市低收入戶的五大類型：1.原來貧窮；2.低度就業或失業；3.殘障或久病不癒；4.家庭解組或負擔家計者死亡；5.年老而獨居，並分別針對不同之低收入戶類型提出政策因應策略之建議。

<p><strong>Title:</strong> The challenge of marketing water filters in Uganda</p><p> </p><p><strong>Purpose:</strong> The purpose of this research is to assess why sales of the water filter (CrystalPur) is stagnant. The authors will investigate the viability of the approach used to market CrystalPur with help of the marketing mix after which necessary adjustments best fitted for the Ugandan market will be suggested.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Method:</strong> This research takes a qualitative approach. Data collection method used was both interviews and documentation. Telephone interviews were conducted with the management of ATU, schools and health centers that have received the filter as a donation. The secondary data used were articles, related studies and books. Since it is a research based on a qualitative approach, the theories and the findings is synthesized to make implication regarding the study.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The investigation has shown that the target customers are not buying the filter because they doubt its functionality of providing safe water which has thus hindered its acceptance rate. Boiling water is the accepted method which thus makes filtering disadvantaged. Also the filters performance does not meet the expectation of the respondents due its fragility and slow flow rate. The price of the filter was shown to be very expensive and unaffordable by the target group. The channels used to create awareness are not effective due to the low literacy rate affecting the level of understanding. Lastly, the underdeveloped distribution channels have not enabled easy accessibility of the product.</p>