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Children’s risk for overweight and obesity is particularly high in rural areas of the United States. Many health, psychosocial, and economic consequences are associated with childhood overweight and obesity, which concerns health researchers and professionals. But how and why might rural children be more at risk for being overweight and obese? This dissertation investigates childhood overweight and obesity in rural settings through three separate studies. First, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify determinants and mechanisms of childhood obesity-related behaviors that are specific to rural locations. The findings from the review show that lack of health resources and poverty within the rural environment may impact children’s social environment and individual factors. However, results are inconclusive and there continues to be a lack of studies focusing on linking environmental influence with individual factors. Second, a meta-analysis of current research evidence was conducted to assess the efficacy of rural interventions designed to reduce childhood overweight and obesity. Results showed that interventions have been efficacious yet modest, with a mean effect size of 0.18. Moderating variables were also examined. Mean intervention effect size was moderated by children’s age and intervention duration. Last, secondary data were used to examine the association between rural food stores and availability and affordability of fresh fruits and vegetables. A multilevel analytical approach was used to determine if rural location was associated with availability and affordability of fresh fruits and vegetables. After controlling for other variables, results showed that rural location was not associated with fruit and vegetable availability and affordability. The findings from this dissertation suggest that the area of rural childhood overweight and obesity remains understudied. More research is needed in order to understand the mechanisms of social ecological influences on diet, physical activity, and childhood overweight and obesity. This area of research, however, is rife with opportunities for public health education and promotion. Public health educators can help promote and advocate for environmental conditions that support healthy lifestyles.

Föreliggande systematiska litteraturstudie syftade till att samla information och söka evidens för bröstcancerdrabbade kvinnors omvårdnadsbehov från sjuksköterskans i form av stöd för psykiska, sociala eller informativa behov. Sexton vetenskapliga artiklar valdes ut via databasen CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) och fulltextdatabasen ELIN (Elecronic Library Information Navigator) för vidare granskning. Till sökningen användes sökorden breast*, cancer*, nurs* och support. Alla utvalda artiklar som härrör till syftet kvalitetsbedömdes genom på förhand bestämda granskningskriterier från modifierade förlagor efter Forsberg och Wengström (2003) och Willman, Bahtsevani och Stoltz (2007). Av resultatet framkom det att det fanns stark evidens för att kvinnor med bröstcancer har ett omvårdnadsbehov av socialt stöd, psykiskt stöd och även av information av sjuksköterskan. Omvårdnadsbehov som även kom fram i denna studie är kontinuitet i vården och personliga samtal med sjuksköterskan. Att få utöva sin religiösa tro, sin andlighet och utöva sin kulturella tillhörighet samt likaså känna förtroende är omvårdnadsbehov som blev uppenbarat i resultatet. Resultatet diskuterades utifrån Aaron Antonovskys omvårdnadsteori där känslan av sammanhang är central.

Bakgrund: Det är viktigt att sjuksköterskor som arbetar inom den perioperativa vården har kunskaper och färdigheter om faktorer som orsakar trycksår så att förebyggande åtgärder kan genomföras. Det är väl dokumenterat att det finns stora kostnadsbesparingar för samhället i arbetet genom förebyggandet av trycksår. Trycksår i litteraturöversikter diskuteras främst i samband med långtidsvård, intensivvård och rehabilitering. Det är mindre fokus i litteraturöversikter på den akuta vården samt den operativa miljön relaterat till trycksår. Syfte: Syftet med den systematiska litteraturstudien var att kartlägga faktorer som är viktiga att uppmärksamma för att minska risken att utveckla trycksår perioperativt. Metod: En systematisk litteraturstudie med kvantitativ metod. Resultat: I resultatet presenteras faktorer i tre olika teman per, intra och postoperativa faktorer som är viktiga att beakta för det perioperativa teamet i det trycksårspreventiva arbetet. Återkommande faktorer som påverkar trycksårsutveckling var operationstid, diabetes, poäng i Bradenskalan, BMI, mobilitet, mätinstrument, blodtryck, läkemedel, anestesiform, temperatur, postoperativa tiden, friktion och skjuvning, utsatta områden där trycksår utvecklas samt fukt och inkontinens. Slutsats: Vår systematiska litteraturstudie påvisar faktorer som påverkar trycksårsutveckling i den operativa miljön. Resultatet av denna systematiska litteraturstudie kan möjligen styrka att det finns många perioperativa faktorer som påverkar trycksårsutveckling samt att den perioperativa miljön är en högriskmiljö för att utveckla trycksår. Viktiga faktorer som det perioperativa teamet behöver uppmärksamma för att minska risken att trycksår uppstår perioperativt framkommer i resultatet. / Background: It is important that clinical nurse specialists working in the perioperative care have the knowledge and skills of key factors that cause pressure sores so that preventive measures can be implemented. It is well documented that there are significant cost savings to society in the prevention of pressure ulcers. Pressure ulcers in the literature reviews discussed primarily in the context of long-term care, intensive care and rehabilitation. There is less focus on literature reviews on the acute care and the operating environment related to pressure ulcers. Objective: The purpose of the systematic study was to identify factors that are important to pay attention to reduce the risk of developing pressure ulcers perioperatively. Method: A systematic literature review with quantitative method. Results:In the result analysis showed this result in three different themes: a, intra and post-operative factors that are important to consider for the perioperative team in pressure ulcer prevention. Recurring factors in the outcome affecting pressure ulcers development were operative time, diabetes, points Braden Scale, BMI, mobility, measuring instruments, blood pressure, drugs, anesthesia shape, temperature, postoperative period, friction and shear, vulnerable areas where pressure ulcers develop as well as moisture and incontinence. Conclusion: Our systematic literature review reveals factors affecting pressure ulcer development in the operating environment. The result of this systematic literature could possibly prove that there are many perioperative factors affecting pressure ulcer development, and the perioperative environment is a high-risk environment for developing pressure ulcers. Important factors that the perioperative team needs to pay attention to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers occurring perioperatively evident in the results.

Background: Pain is a common consequence of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). While research into pain in SCI is vast, examining musculoskeletal pain (MSKP) and low back pain (LBP) are limited. This thesis aims to investigate these categories of pain in incomplete SCI (iSCI). The experience of pain is known to affect quality of life (QoL) and function. The impact of the experience of pain, particularly of LBP, on both the QoL and function are examined in this research. While research in similar fields is predominantly conducted in single nation populations this research is set out to study three different nations. Method: The following were part of this study: • A systematic literature review on the prevalence on chronic back pain (BP), LBP and MSKP in SCI. • A translation, and preliminary validation, into Greek of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM version III). • A cross-national survey conducted in the USA, UK and Greece. Questionnaires included the short-form McGill Pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ), EQ-5D and the SCIM III. They were collected either online or via post and 219 questionnaires were analysed. Results: The papers included in the systematic literature review were considerably heterogeneous not allowing meta-analysis to be made. 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the total number of participants in the studies were used. Among people with pain the prevalence of chronic MSKP (CMSKP) was 49% (95%CI 44%, 55%), of chronic BP (CBP) was 47% (95%CI 43%, 50%) and chronic LBP (CLBP) was 49% (95%CI 44%, 55%). GR-SCIM III maintains its unidimensionality and has acceptable internal consistency (α=0.78). Concurrent/criterion validity for the two cross-examined subscales were strong for “self-care” (ρ=-0.78) and moderate for “mobility” (ρ=-0.58). Unidimensionality was also confirmed for the English version of SCIM III, which had accepted internal consistency (α=0.79) and strong concurrent/criterion validity for “self-care” (ρ=-0.75) and moderate for “mobility” (ρ=-0.45). The survey results showed that the prevalence of current LBP is 67.9% (95%CI 61%, 73%) and of MSKP is 38.8% (95%CI 32%, 45%). LBP was of moderate intensity and most commonly described as “aching”. People who report pain, LBP or MSKP reported worse QoL. The impact of LBP on QoL was greater than that of pain in general or MSKP. The increased intensity of LBP correlated with worse function. Among the three participating countries, people from the UK had the worst experience of pain and LBP, classified themselves with the worst health status and reported the worst functional independence. Conclusion: This study offers the first systematic review on CLBP, CBP and CMSKP in SCI. It is unique in using SCIM III by self-report and into Greek. The results show that LBP is highly present in iSCI affecting both QoL and function. Both the GR-SCIM III and the SCIM III are reliable for use, however studies are needed to examine further their psychometric properties. The findings of the study fit with features of the currently used patients’ rehabilitation models.

Arts-based methods are increasingly used to facilitate meta-level learning in management education. Such increased use suggests that these methods are relevant and offer a unique contribution meeting a need in today’s management education. Yet, the literature is not clear on what this unique contribution may be even though it abounds with suggestions of varying quality. To explore this matter, I conduct a systematic literature review focused on arts-based methods, management education, and meta-level learning. I find that the unique contribution of arts-based methods is to foreground the process of making and expressing more refined perceptual distinctions, not to get accurate data, but as integral to our thinking/learning. This finding is important, because it imply that certain (commonly applied) ways of using arts-based methods may limit their potential. Finally, I suggest that future research regarding arts-based methods should focus on exploring the impact the process of learning to make and express more refined perceptual distinctions may have on managerial practice to further understand the relevance of these methods to managers.

Domestic violence is often experienced as a crisis period, and it may impact children’s well-being, everyday functioning and development. To promote these minors’ resilience, social intervention is extremely important. The support and responses attributed to these children are not always adequate for their needs and interests. Considering children’s perspectives on social intervention is crucial to improve and to provide complete social work responses. A systematic literature review was conducted, aiming to analyze how children exposed to domestic violence characterize the barriers and facilitators of social intervention. Through two databases, 8 articles were found, related to adolescents’ perspectives on social intervention in situations of domestic violence. The participants were children aged 12-18 years, who were witnesses of violence between parents or who suffered abuses from one/both parent(s). Findings demonstrated the main factors of social intervention that children recognized as being negative and unhelpful (barriers), and as being positive and helpful (facilitators). The identified barriers were lateness, mistrust, lack of child perspective, passivity, lack of value, malice, boredom, and inaccessibility. On the other hand, the established facilitators were protection, trust, child perspective, active listening, value, accessibility, sympathy, sharing, and information. Implications for social workers are provided, centered on specialized trainings and guidance, and on the use of appropriate methods when intervening with children. Also, the necessity to expand the quantity of research related to the child’s perspective on social intervention is highlighted.

Context: Developer’s within software companies work chosen choice of software development process. Choice of a particular Software Development Process impacts the work environment, end-product and might also have financial risks due to delay in delivering in the final software product. Objectives: we are investigating if the TDD could impact/applicable in large-scale industries. To achieve that we first identify the strengths and challenges while using TDD in large-scale industries. Identify what modifications can enhance the impact of TDD in large-Scale industries. Methods: Systematic Literature Review (SLR) has been used to investigate the application of TDD in large-scale industries. Using the info from SLR we conducted an online survey for validating the results obtained from SLR. As a last step we have conducted semi structured interviews to gather information from developers across industries practicing and practiced TDD. The data from the qualitative and quantitative methods is triangulated by identifying the strengths, challenges and modifications in applying TDD to large-scale industries. Results: The findings from our SLR, results validated from Survey and responses from interview participants show that TDD have both strengths, Challenges and modifications. Conclusions: Some challenges encountered when using TDD in large-scale industries are Negative test cases, linking test case modules of several developers, Communication, Overall idea about project, lack of TDD knowledge for developers practicing TDD, also lack of automation tools supporting the development of unit test-cases.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-07-01T12:47:32Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) 1-Dissertação-Aline Chagas Rodrigues Marques.pdf: 1439805 bytes, checksum: a2700ec0bf27110de6f77a8f906b3e36 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-01T12:47:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) 1-Dissertação-Aline Chagas Rodrigues Marques.pdf: 1439805 bytes, checksum: a2700ec0bf27110de6f77a8f906b3e36 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-05 / CAPEs / A publicação do Manifesto Ágil mostra um grande valor da interação humana no processo de desenvolvimento de software, conforme pode ser observado em algumas de suas premissas como: "Indivíduos e suas interações", "Colaboração com o cliente", mostrando que estes métodos se preocupam com os fatores humanos que envolvem os processos de desenvolvimento de software. Sendo assim, esta pesquisa visa investigar de que forma os fatores humanos influenciam no processo de desenvolvimento ágil de software, para aumentar as chances de sucesso desses projetos. Para isto, foi conduzida uma revisão sistemática da literatura (RSL) e um survey para atingir esse objetivo. Foram encontrados 12 (doze) fatores humanos como: comunicação, aspectos culturais, liderança, motivação, bem-estar, autonomia, conhecimento, experiência, aprendizado, colaboração, confiança e envolvimento do cliente. Tais fatores impactam, positivamente e/ou negativamente, nas seguintes áreas: desenvolvimento de software, interação do time, sucesso de projetos ágeis e tomada de decisão. Por fim, tanto a RSL quanto o survey permitem confirmar que os fatores humanos mais relevantes dentro de métodos ágeis são Comunicação e Colaboração, o que se relacionam com características relacionadas a “indivíduos e interações entre os membros da equipe” descritas no Manifesto ágil. / The publication of the Agile Manifesto shows a large amount of human interaction in the software development process, as can be seen in some of their assumptions, such as: "Individuals and their interactions", "Customer collaboration," showing that these methods concern themselves with the human factors involved in the software development processes. Thus, this research intends to investigate how human factors influence the agile development process software, to increase the chances of success of these projects. For that, it was conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) and a survey to achieve this goal. It was found 12 human factors, such as: communication, cultural, leadership, motivation, well-being, autonomy, knowledge, experience, learning, collaboration, trust and customer engagement. Such factors impact positively and / or negatively, in the following areas: software development, team interaction, successful agile projects and decision making. Finally, both the RSL and the survey support the assertion that the most relevant human factors within agile methods are Communication and Collaboration, which relate to characteristics related to "individuals and interactions between team members" described in the Agile Manifesto.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-10-31T11:45:25Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) versaodigitalmarianamaia.pdf: 1787800 bytes, checksum: 601a3b28ed9295caf889e629f48a4287 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-31T11:45:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) versaodigitalmarianamaia.pdf: 1787800 bytes, checksum: 601a3b28ed9295caf889e629f48a4287 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-23 / CNPq / A gamificação apresenta-se como um fenômeno emergente para aplicação em softwares educacionais com o intuito de envolver, motivar e melhorar o desempenho dos alunos. Contudo, apesar de sua relevância, a identificação dos requisitos da gamificação que tornam os softwares educacionais significativos para aprendizagem é problemática e um consenso ainda não foi alcançado. Motivado por este cenário, o presente trabalho realiza um estudo exploratório com o intuito de investigar aspectos de gamificação para o contexto de software educacional e, assim, desenvolver um catálogo de requisitos da gamificação, como uma abordagem da engenharia de requisitos para o auxílio no desenvolvimento de softwares educacionais. Esta pesquisa está dividida em três etapas. A primeira é destinada à condução de um mapeamento sistemático da literatura. A segunda etapa baseia-se nos achados da primeira para o desenvolvimento de um catálogo de requisitos da gamificação para softwares educacionais. Por fim, a terceira etapa prioriza e avalia os requisitos por meio de um survey. Na primeira etapa, um total de 127 trabalhos foram selecionados, dos quais identificou-se os seguintes aspectos: levantamento da distribuição temporal, regional e dos tipos de pesquisas sobre a gamificação na educação; levantamento dos tipos de softwares, modalidade de ensino e os objetivos educacionais propostos com a gamificação; levantamento das principais características, em termos de requisitos necessários à criação de softwares gamificados voltados à educação, e; levantamento das abordagens que consideram os tipos de personalidade dos alunos. Na segunda etapa, é apresentado o catálogo de requisitos desenvolvido com 229 itens. Na terceira etapa, um survey foi realizado com 64 especialistas da área da gamificação e priorizou e avaliou os requisitos em: pouco relevantes (26 itens), relevantes (161 itens), muito relevantes (42 itens). Três itens apresentaram avaliação baixa e, portanto, são desconsiderados para inclusão no catálogo. O mapeamento mostra que há um grande número de publicações sobre a utilização de gamificação em softwares educacionais, no entanto, a maioria é superficial e descreve poucas características da gamificação, de forma geral, sem uma avaliação adequada. Assim, este trabalho é uma tentativa de estabelecer um consenso sobre os requisitos da gamificação que podem auxiliar o desenvolvimento de softwares educacionais. / Gamification is an emerging phenomenon for use in educational software in order to engage, motivate and improve the performance of students. However, despite its importance, the identification of significant gamification requirements for educational software is not trivial and a consensus of such requirements has not been reached. Motivated by this scenario, this study conducts an exploratory study in order to investigate aspects of gamification to the educational context and thus develop a gamification requirements catalog, as an approach to requirements engineering, and for assistance in the development of educational software. This research was conducted in three stages. The first stage is related to the conduction of a systematic literature mapping. The second stage is based on the findings of the former one with the purpose of developing a gamification requirements catalog for educational software. Finally, the third stage prioritizes and evaluates the requirements by applying a survey. In the first stage, the total of 127 papers are selected, in which we identify: temporal and regional distribution, and types of research about gamification in education; types of softwares, education methods, and the educational goals intended to gamification; the main characteristics in terms of requirements for the setting up of gamified software aimed on education; the approaches that consider personality types of students. In the second stage, we present the developed requirements catalog with 229 itens and composed by three hierarchical levels. In the third stage the survey conducted with 64 experts in the field of gamification prioritizes and evaluates the requirements with: little relevance (26 items), relevant (161 items), and very relevant (42 items). 3 items received low evaluation, and therefore were not considered for inclusion. The mapping shows that there are a lot of publications about gamification in education, however, most papers are superficial and describe a few characteristics of gamification, without adequate assessment. Thus, this work is an attempt to establish a consensus on the requiremets gamification that serves as an aid to the development of educational softwares.