Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 1986. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-127). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center.

Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-69). Also available via Humboldt Digital Scholar.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

This study investigated the relationship between public stigma, self-stigma, and help-seeking attitudes in a sample of undergraduate student-athletes. Student-athletes appear to be at increased risk for developing mental health issues compared to their non-athlete counterparts (Etzel et al., 2006). However, student-athletes appear to underutilize available mental health services for fear of being labeled as mentally ill as well as other factors (Pinkerton, Hinz, and Barrow, 1989). The purpose of the current study is to explore two facets of stigma as a potential explanation for negative attitudes toward help-seeking and thus the underutilization of these mental health services. Sixty-six student-athletes completed a 10-minute paper-pencil survey. The survey included measures of self-stigma, public stigma, help-seeking attitudes, demographic variables, and an open-ended question regarding barriers to help-seeking. Results indicated that self-stigma mediated the relationship between public stigma and help-seeking attitudes, which replicates the mediated model found in Vogel et al. (2007). Self-stigma appears to explain how negative stereotypes about those who seek help are internalized to form negative attitudes toward help-seeking for student-athletes. Further, student-athletes noted barriers to help-seeking such as lack of time or knowledge of resources as well as fear of being labeled as mentally ill. Implications for research and practice are delineated.

Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) brings with it diagnostic symptoms that can be debilitating and persist for years. Left untreated, PTSD can have far-reaching and damaging consequences – for the individual, families, communities, and society at large. While early detection and intervention is recognized as key to the effective treatment of PTSD, many who suffer from PTSD do not seek essential health services. The aim of this study was to answer the research question: based on existing literature, what are the barriers and facilitators to help-seeking for individuals with PTSD? Methods A systematic review, modeled on the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for systematic reviews, examined studies cited in PsycINFO, Medline, Embase, CINAHL and PILOTS published from January 2000 to November 2015. Eligible studies measured barriers and facilitators to help-seeking for adults with PTSD. Two reviewers independently screened citations and double data extraction was exercised. Results Of 1,759 potentially relevant citations, sixteen studies were included, published between 2003 and 2015 and based in five countries, predominantly within the United States (n=12). Thirteen studies focused on military as a target population. Eight principal barrier themes and seven principal facilitator themes were identified, under which supportive subthemes were categorized. Conclusions In identifying prominent barriers and facilitators to help-seeking for individuals with PTSD, this review highlights opportunities to inform policies and programs that educate and promote PTSD knowledge and recognition, reduce public and personal stigma, improve access and availability of care, and encourage social support for patients and families living with PTSD.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de NÃvel Superior / Tecnologia assistiva à um recurso de acessibilidade para integrar a pessoa com deficiÃncia e amenizar prejuÃzos da exclusÃo. Materiais educativos acessÃveis aos cegos passÃveis de ser veiculados na rede web poderÃo aumentar sua independÃncia e autonomia. Nos Ãltimos anos, a inclusÃo digital constitui tema amplamente enfatizado em nÃvel educacional, no contexto social, trabalho e saÃde. As pessoas tÃm necessidade de se sentirem incluÃdas em qualquer ambiente, no intuito de interagir, comunicar-se, expressar-se e aceitar-se mutuamente. Estudo desenvolvido no LaboratÃrio de ComunicaÃÃo em SaÃde do Departamento de Enfermagem da Universidade Federal do CearÃ, com o objetivo de avaliar uma tecnologia assistiva para cegos na modalidade de literatura de cordel sobre aleitamento materno por meio do acesso a distÃncia para promoÃÃo da saÃde. Utilizou-se como referencial teÃrico-metodolÃgico o modelo de Pasquali (1999) concretizando o pÃlo teÃrico. Realizado de marÃo a setembro de 2009, teve como colaboradores trÃs juÃzes de cada especialidade: conteÃdo, literatura de cordel, aspectos pedagÃgicos e aspectos tÃcnicos. Para a coleta, adotou-se preenchimento de instrumento que avaliava questÃes referentes a conteÃdo, regras da literatura de cordel, acessibilidade do cego a esta tecnologia e sua utilizaÃÃo a distÃncia. AnÃlise feita mediante comparaÃÃes das anotaÃÃes dos juÃzes e reflexÃo crÃtica sobre as sugestÃes. Respeitaram-se os aspectos Ãticos segundo a ResoluÃÃo 196/96. A tecnologia recebeu ajustes apÃs avaliaÃÃes atà sua aprovaÃÃo. Enquanto os juÃzes de conteÃdo e de literatura de cordel fizeram duas avaliaÃÃes na perspectiva de melhorar o cordel, cujas consideraÃÃes foram inseridas no instrumento da prÃpria tecnologia, os juÃzes de aspectos pedagÃgicos (disponibilizaÃÃo da tecnologia a pessoa cega) avaliaram uma vez, visto sugerirem poucos ajustes. Nesta fase, uma das especialistas era cega, fato importante para o trabalho porque a tecnologia destina-se a esta populaÃÃo. Consideraram-se quase todos os itens plenamente adequados nesta Ãnica anÃlise. Os juÃzes de aspectos tÃcnicos (utilizaÃÃo desta tecnologia a distÃncia) fizeram somente uma avaliaÃÃo, pois, para segunda anÃlise, somente uma juÃza preencheu o instrumento. Conforme notou-se nesta etapa, eles relacionaram o estudo com a educaÃÃo a distÃncia, porÃm a pesquisa refere-se ao acesso a distÃncia para assimilar um conteÃdo em saÃde. Todas as contribuiÃÃes foram vÃlidas por subsidiarem e estimularem a aprendizagem, incentivando a autonomia. Portanto, a tecnologia està adequada e pode ser utilizada para a educaÃÃo em saÃde a distÃncia. Seu conteÃdo nÃo reflete nenhum tipo de discriminaÃÃo ou preconceito e a duraÃÃo do Ãudio està adequada. A construÃÃo de tecnologia assistiva deve ser submetida a anÃlise para sua validaÃÃo antes de ser disponibilizada ao pÃblico. Neste estudo, o pÃlo teÃrico, segundo modelo supracitado, foi entÃo realizado e os pÃlos empÃrico e analÃtico serÃo efetivados em estudo posterior. Para desenvolver tecnologias capazes de tornar o indivÃduo autÃnomo e saudÃvel e, com isso, promover a saÃde da populaÃÃo, o enfermeiro deve reconhecer demandas e necessidades da comunidade à qual assiste / Care technology is an accessibility resource to integrate disabled people and mitigate the harms of exclusion. Educative materials accessible to blind people that can be disseminated through the Internet can increase their independence and autonomy. In recent years, digital inclusion is widely emphasized in education, within the social, work and health context. People need to feel included in any environment, with a view to interacting, communicating, expressing themselves and feeling mutually accepted. This research was developed at the Health Communication Laboratory of the Nursing Department at the Federal University of CearÃ, Brazil. The goal was to assess a care technology for blind people, based on string literature about breastfeeding, using distance access for health promotion. Pasqualiâs model (1999) was used as a theoretical-methodological framework, concretizing the theoretical pole. The research was carried out from March to September 2009. Three experts in each specialty collaborated: content, string literature, pedagogical aspects and technical aspects. For data collection, an instrument was filled out that assessed questions related to content, rules of string literature, the blindâs accessibility to this technology and its distance use. The analysis involved comparing the expertsâ notes and critically reflecting on their suggestions. Ethical aspects were respected in compliance with Resolution 196/96. After assessments, the technology was adjusted until its final approval. While the content and string literature experts made two assessments from the perspective of improving the string, whose considerations were included into the technology instrument itself, the pedagogical aspect experts (availability of technology to blind people) made only one, as they suggested few adjustments. In that phase, one of the experts was blind, which was important for the research because the technology targets the blind population. Almost all items were considered totally adequate in the final analysis. Technical aspect experts (use of this technology at a distance) made only one assessment as, for a second analysis, only one expert filled out the instrument. As observed in this phase, they related the study with distance education, but the research refers to distance access to assimilate contents in health. All contributions were valid because they support and stimulate learning, encouraging autonomy. Therefore, the technology is adequate and can be used for distance health education. Its contents do not reflect any type of discrimination or prejudice and the duration of the audio is adequate. The construction of care technology should be submitted to analysis with a view to its validation before being put at the publicâs disposal. In this research, the theoretical pole, according to the abovementioned model, was carried out, while the empirical and analytical poles will be carried out in future research. To develop technologies that can make people autonomous and health and, thus, promote the populationâs health, nurses should recognize the demands and needs of the community they deliver care to.

Abstract Xeratech AB is a medium-sized company in Karlstad, Sweden. Part of their business involves support of their products. This support has been managed manually; incoming errands has been received, by phone or by e-mail, and afterwards sent to a consultant for processing. This approach lacks the ability to efficiently store these errands, to make useful reports based on the work done with it, and to automatically send out notifications and e-mail to support members involved with the errand.   The goal of this dissertation is to implement an errand support system (a help desk) able to do the above things automatically. Since Xeratech use mostly Microsoft products, and uses SharePoint as their intranet platform, a choice has been made to implement this help desk system as a SharePoint State Machine Workflow. A state machine workflow is a workflow consisting of states, transitions and events. This type of workflow has been chosen because of its resemblance to the life cycle of an errand: errands will, during its life time, change from one state to another in a non predetermined way. For instance, when an errand is created, it will start in the New state, the workflow will then, when a person has started working with it, transition to the In Progress state, followed by a number of states until finally its state is Completed, and the work with the errand is done.   This workflow will then be evaluated considering its ability to facilitate the implementation of the help desk system.

University of Macau / Faculty of Science and Technology / Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

This study explores the help-seeking processes of mothers with precarious immigration status who have experienced domestic violence while residing in a mid-size coastal city in British Columbia. Using semi-structured interviews with service providers and an intersectionality-informed thematic analysis, this study seeks to answer the following questions: (1) How do mothers with precarious immigration status seek help when experiencing domestic violence? (2) What facilitates or impedes women’s help-seeking processes? (3) How do existing services and systems respond to mothers with precarious status as they seek help with domestic violence? (4) What can be done to improve these responses? Qualitative data from service providers reveal that mothers with precarious status face numerous, intersecting and often insurmountable barriers as they seek help with domestic violence. Findings also indicate that despite the dedicated and collaborative efforts of participating service providers, many mothers with precarious status are forced to either return to their abusers or to return to their countries of origin. This research also shows how existing services and systems are not structured, funded, mandated or equipped to meet the needs of these mothers and their children. Moreover, the findings show how some of the systems and structures that these women encounter as they seek help seem to actively exclude, oppress and/or marginalize them. The findings of this exploratory study and the recommendations provided by service providers have implications for policy, practice and further research. / Graduate