This study was concerned with determining if: (1) the effectiveness of residence hall student government varies according to the perceptions of its role held by residence hall student staff and government officers, and the hall type and population; (2) the perception of hall student government held by student staff varies according to their age, time in position and gender; and (3) the perception of hall student government by student officers varies according to their age, time in office and gender. The survey population included 48 residence hall directors, 209 student staff and 281 student officers from northwestern land grant universities. Hall directors were surveyed to determine perceived effectiveness of their hall's student government, and the resident population. Student staff and officer perceptions of the role of hall student government were obtained by utilizing the government section of the Residence Hall Attitude Scale (Murphy 1971). Age, gender, time in position or office and type of hall were also provided by the students. Multiple regression analysis was used to test three hypotheses at a .05 level of significance. Of the hypothesized relationships, only gender was found to be significantly related to the variance in perceptions of role of hall student government. In the case of both student staff and officers, women were more favorable toward residence hail student government than men. The combined independent variables of age, gender and time in position or office were found, however, to account for only small percentages (4.4%, staff; 7.8%, officers) of the total variance. The regression equation for effectiveness of hall student government failed to account for significant variance due to any of the independent variables of student staff and officer perceptions, type or population of hall. All variables combined accounted for only 7.7% of the variance in perception. The results of this research suggest that hypothesized relationships between various demographic factors and perceptions, and effectiveness of residence hall student government do not exist. This indicates that some other variables must be used to attempt prediction of either effectiveness or role perceptions of hall student government. / Graduation date: 1990

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Objectives: To identify the perceptions of community hospital physicians on computerized physician order entry. Design: Multi-method approach consisting of a mail survey of 659 community hospital physicians with active admitting privileges at three PeaceHealth, Inc., along with follow-up personal interviews with stratified random selection from completed survey. Measurements: Perceptions were assessed by means of a mail survey that asked physicians to rank themselves on a scale that represented the five adopter categories contained in the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) change theory, along with several questions regarding computer use and attitudes toward potential effects of computers and CPOE on medicine and healthcare. Physicians representing four of the five adopter categories were interviewed to assess general perceptions and perceived attributes of innovations, an another construct within the DOI theory. Results: The response rate was 41%. Medical specialty, years in practice, and gender were found not to influence attitudes toward use of computers or, more specifically CPOE in medicine and healthcare. However, more medical specialists favor CPOE implementation at PeaceHealth than expected. Self-ranking on the DOI five adopter categories appears to influence attitudes toward use of computers in medicine and healthcare with positive trends in improving quality, rapport, and patient satisfaction mainly in the Innovator, Early Adopter, and Early Majority categories. A positive trend was seen in the relationship between CPOE's potential effects on improving patient care, not interfering with communication, and improving patient satisfaction with negative relationships with impact on physician workflow and enjoyment of medical practice. A relationship is seen between the five adopter categories and favoring CPOE implementation at PeaceHealth. The perceived attributes of innovations of Ease of Use, Result Demonstrability, and Visibility were supported by interview responses. Relative Advantage seemed to be supported by other questions. The concept of Compatibility was also supported. No steps of the processes of change construct within the Transtheoretical Model were identified during the interviews. Conclusions: This study appears to refute the suggestion that there might be a difference between medical specialists and surgical specialists, age, or gender in their support of computers and specifically CPOE. These data appear to support the Diffusion of Innovation theory is appropriate to consider in investigating CPOE and its diffusion among community hospital physicians. Implementing CPOE according to adopter categories would provide the option for interested physicians to use CPOE, to use CPOE on certain hospital units or patients, and to expand its use before making mandatory. Communication should be targeted toward the adopter categories rather than mass media and emphasize the perceived attributes of innovation. / Graduation date: 2004

Personality disorder is common amongst individuals accessing mental health services, with research into its aetiology and impact on services increasing in recent years. This thesis has two parts. The first is a systematic review of the neuropsychological functioning among forensic samples with diagnoses of psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Five databases were searched for cross-sectional studies exploring cognitive functioning in psychopathy and ASPD. Twelve studies were reviewed and indicated that individuals with psychopathy and ASPD demonstrate deficits in executive functions, attention, and memory, and that there are some differences in neuropsychological performance between the two disorders. The second part is an empirical study exploring factors that may influence mental health staff attitudes towards individuals with personality disorder. The study found that staff personality traits, emotion regulation style, empathy and job satisfaction were related to attitudes to personality disorder. Empathy and job burnout predicted attitudes, with higher scores on empathy and lower levels of burnout being related to positive attitudes to personality disorder. Implications for the findings of the systematic review and empirical study are discussed. Further research is required in both areas.

Patients who self-harm reported negative staff attitudes towards them on presentation to an Emergency Department (ED). The present research aims to explore staff attitudes and behaviours (own and perception of others’) and the impact of this on behaviour, barriers and facilitators of effective treatment, and team identification and norms. Ten staff members from one ED were interviewed, representing all major professional groups working non-therapeutically in the ED. A thematic framework analysis was applied and cross-referenced with another researcher and participants for validation. Analysis identified the following themes: Beliefs about self-harm, attitudes and behaviours, influences on behaviour, and identity, culture and role; related through an overarching theme of balancing difference and diversity. Evidence of PI was found, although interviewees were able to accurately recognise a mixture of beliefs and attitudes in both themselves and others. Influences on behaviour and identity were important in gaining a contextual perspective, and the concept of a ‘fluid team’, relating to patient needs, was highlighted. Results suggest that exposure of the phenomenon of PI may be useful, in conjunction with training to minimise feelings of failure/frustration. This could increase understanding and improve patient care; however, further research is required prior to this. Team stability must, however, be considered. Limitations included restricted participation across one ED and a powerful advocate for mental health patients. Although this is positive for the department, it may set it apart from others.

Bakgrund: Medellivslängden i Sverige ökar vilket leder till en ökad äldre befolkning. För att kunna bo hemma så länge som möjligt kan de äldre behöva få hjälp från hemvården. Syfte: Att undersöka vilka faktorer som upplevs påverkar de äldres tillfredsställelse av vården samt vad som är viktigt för de personer som får hjälp. Metod: En deskriptiv kvalitativ intervjustudie. Semi-strukturerade intervjuer gjordes med 11 brukare från två olika kommunala hemvårdsområden. Resultat: Personal och Utförande var två huvudkategorier som kom fram av analysen. Informanterna beskrev sina upplevelser och vad som var viktigt för dem inom dessa ramar. Kategorin Personal kunde delas upp i två underkategorier; Yrkeskompetens och Bemötande. Utförande delades in i underkategorierna; Hemtjänsten – ett serviceperspektiv, Självbestämmande, Kontinuitet och Trygghet.   Konklusion: För att man som utförare av hemtjänst skall förbättra vården är det viktigare att fokusera på de processrelaterade faktorerna som har en stor betydelse för hur brukarna upplever hemvården. Genom att lägga stor vikt vid personalens sociala kompetens vid rekrytering samt att involvera brukaren och dennes familj i vården och utformandet av den kan positiva upplevelser av vården skapas. Detta ser ut att kunna skapa ökat välbefinnande hos brukarna. / Background: The average age in Sweden increases which leads to an increased population of old people. In order to live in their own homes as long as possible, elderly people may be in need of help from the community home-services. Aim/objectives:The goal of this study was to examine variables perceived to affect older people’s satisfaction of home care services and what they emphasize important in the care.  Design: Descriptive qualitative study with interviews. Semi-structured interviews are done with 11 clients receiving care from two different community home-service areas. Results: ’Staff’ and ‘Services’ were the main categories of the results. The clients described their experiences and what they assumed as important for them. The category ‘Staff’ were divided into sub-categories: ‘Professional competence’ and ‘attitudes from staff’. ‘Services’ were divided into four other sub-categories: ‘the community home-service- a service perspective’ ‘self-autonomy’, ‘continuity’ and ‘safety’. Conclusions: The health care providers for the home care services should focus on improvements regarding process related factors, because they are important for the client’s experiences of the home care services. When recruiting new persons for a job in the home care services, the focus should be on his or hers social competence. Furthermore, to involve the client and his or hers family in the care may create positive experiences and increase the clients wellbeing.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Univ., 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

This study aimed to answer the research question: “What role do stakeholders believe character education might play in strengthening UAE university students’ local knowledge?” Implementing character education was explored in terms of its potential influence on national identity and local knowledge in UAE education. The literature review covers several studies that inform a relevant research design. The literature review determines the best-fit term to use in this study by comparing and contrasting suitability of related pedagogical fields to character education, such as citizenship, civic, moral, and ethics education. Additionally, studies that serve as useful examples, such as the Crick Report, Lee’s Taiwan study, and regionally relevant articles such as Al Kharusi and Atweh, are discussed to inform the reader of the study’s design for the Dubai context. A mixed methods methodological design was used with a two-phased approach, a quantitative questionnaire survey and a qualitative series of interviews using an interview schedule. With a relativist, constructivist interpretive viewpoint, three groups were assessed with more than 300 participants: students and administrators at a Dubai case study university were assessed, as well as a group of external education leaders. Findings generally supported the idea of strengthening local knowledge learning both in and outside of educational institutions, with a focus on culture and language familiarity. Also, stakeholders strongly felt the need for choice in how and where learning takes place. Findings that inform the current status quo include that there is already a sentiment of citizenship within the UAE by expatriate residents. Many residents allude to the ‘third culture’ phenomenon, and thus feel belonging to several societies. Thus, results show that character education has potential to influence local knowledge and national identity within the UAE, and be directed at all students, both national and non-national.

Acute inpatient mental health nursing staff provide mental health care for individuals when they are most vulnerable and unwell. The therapeutic relationship can facilitate positive changes and recovery for individuals. Therefore, understanding nursing staff’s attitudes is paramount. In this thesis, the attitudes of nursing staff towards those experiencing mental health difficulties was explored. In the systematic review, the attitudes of European nursing staff supporting those experiencing severe mental health difficulties were synthesised and evaluated. A total of 14 cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria. The review identified that the role of personal experiences of mental health difficulties through friends or family members was shown to elicit more positive attitudes. Overall attitudes amongst nursing staff were varied, and factors that influenced these attitudes were less clear and consistent. The limitation of using cross-sectional questionnaires to explore attitudes was also discussed. Moreover, recommendations regarding further research priorities as well as clinical implications were identified. Nursing staff’s attitudes towards adults who were either ‘informal’ voluntary clients or those who had been admitted under the Mental Health Act (1983) to an inpatient ward were explored in the empirical paper. The attitudes of nursing staff have the potential to impact on the development of therapeutic relationships and therefore upon treatment outcomes. Repertory grid interviews were completed with twelve nursing staff. All staff made critical judgements about some of their clients; however, staff who used more dimensions to construe clients made less clear distinctions between clients and non-clients. The findings highlight the need for support mechanisms that enable staff to formulate clients’ difficulties and explore the complexity of interactions. The implications of these results are discussed, as well as future research directions. The final paper consists of a critical reflection of the research and the research process. This includes an evaluation of the decision making processes and discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of this research.

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / South Africa