<p><b>Aim:</b><b> </b>The overall aim of the present thesis was to describe and evaluate IT support in dementia care from the perspectives of staff and relatives. More specifically, it was to examine staff members’ satisfaction with work, life satisfaction and sense of coherence before and after increased IT support, to describe staff members’ opinions and perceptions of IT support during the process of implementation, to describe relatives’ opinions of IT support and to compare relatives’ perceptions of their irritations with care and life satisfaction before and after increased IT support. In addition, three questionnaires were further developed and tested among staff working in elderly care, and then used in the staff evaluation. <b>Methods:</b> A quasi-experimental design with baseline assessments and follow-ups and experimental and control groups was used in two studies to investigate the outcomes of IT support. A descriptive design was used to study staff views on IT support, and a correlative design was used in the methodological study. Participants were 33 staff members and 22 relatives in the evaluation, 14 staff members in the descriptive study and 299 staff members in the methodological study. Data collection methods were questionnaires and group interviews. The IT support consisted of passive passage alarms, fall detectors, sensor-activated night-time illumination of the lavatory, movement detectors, email communication, an Internet website and additional computers. <b>Findings and conclusions:</b> Staff job satisfaction and perceived quality of care increased in the experimental group. The relatives were generally positive about the IT support, and the experimental group showed a decrease in practical/logistical irritations. Staff described ‘moving from fear of losing control to perceived increase in control and security’ and ‘constant struggling with insufficient/deficient systems’. Conclusions are that IT support can be a resource in dementia care as perceived by caregivers if IT support is incorporated into the care system.</p>

<p>Abstract</p><p>Title: Network communication for equal opportunities (Nätverkskommunikation för jämställdhet)</p><p>Number of pages: 47 (54 with enclosures)</p><p>Author: Hillevi Good</p><p>Tutor: Ylva Ekström</p><p>Course: Media and Communication Studies D</p><p>Period: Spring Semester 2007</p><p>University: Division of Media and Communication, Department of Information Science, Uppsala University</p><p>Aim: The aim of this essay is to study the possibilities to bring about change by the means of communication in two networks, focusing on the implementation of the Swedish Equal Opportunities Act.</p><p>Material and method: The study draws on data collected in an electronic survey among representatives of two networks consisting of representatives from trade unions and employer’s associations. The material is analyzed using descriptive tools, cross tables and correlation matrices in which general characteristics as well as individual understandings of the network communication are presented and discussed.</p><p>Main results: The general results indicate that the network communication serves important purposes, such as providing support and motivation for the members and changing attitudes towards equal opportunities. The analysis suggests that the network members have good communicative possibilities to serve as agents of change within their organisations. Moreover, there is an observed relation between, on the one hand, organizational context and, on the other hand, the network members’ own communicational behaviour and their experienced possibility to influence their organizations.</p><p>Keywords: network communication, diffusion of innovations, behaviour change, Equal Opportunities Act</p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 526-547).

Abstract Title: Network communication for equal opportunities (Nätverkskommunikation för jämställdhet) Number of pages: 47 (54 with enclosures) Author: Hillevi Good Tutor: Ylva Ekström Course: Media and Communication Studies D Period: Spring Semester 2007 University: Division of Media and Communication, Department of Information Science, Uppsala University Aim: The aim of this essay is to study the possibilities to bring about change by the means of communication in two networks, focusing on the implementation of the Swedish Equal Opportunities Act. Material and method: The study draws on data collected in an electronic survey among representatives of two networks consisting of representatives from trade unions and employer’s associations. The material is analyzed using descriptive tools, cross tables and correlation matrices in which general characteristics as well as individual understandings of the network communication are presented and discussed. Main results: The general results indicate that the network communication serves important purposes, such as providing support and motivation for the members and changing attitudes towards equal opportunities. The analysis suggests that the network members have good communicative possibilities to serve as agents of change within their organisations. Moreover, there is an observed relation between, on the one hand, organizational context and, on the other hand, the network members’ own communicational behaviour and their experienced possibility to influence their organizations. Keywords: network communication, diffusion of innovations, behaviour change, Equal Opportunities Act

The aim of the thesis was to create knowledge about factors influencing acceptance of virtual learning environments among academic staff and students in blended learning environments. The aim was operationalised by four research questions. To answer the research questions, several studies were performed applying the methods of survey study, conceptual-analytical research, a qualitative meta-analysis combined with a single case study and a comparative, explanatory case study. The empirical studies were performed at five universities in Sweden, Norway and Lithuania. In the thesis, a technology acceptance perspective extended with the perspectives of organisational learning and diffusion of innovations was used. The findings indicated that the contextual factor of culture was powerful in influencing acceptance of virtual learning environments, positively as well as negatively. High degrees of performance expectancy, results demonstrability and social influence affected acceptance of virtual learning environments positively. The degree of social influence was hypothesised to be mediated by the contextual factor of culture. The organisational culture of universities, expressed as shared values of what is good quality teaching and learning, were found to partly oppose values inherent in the virtual learning environments. The factor of students’ learning styles did not have any impact on acceptance of virtual learning environments. The original version of the technology acceptance model was found to be insufficient in explaining differences in acceptance of virtual learning environments. In the conclusions of the thesis, a descriptive and explanatory model of virtual learning environments acceptance among academic staff and students in blended learning environments is presented applying the combined perspectives of organisational learning, technology acceptance and diffusion of innovations. Implications for practice are put forward, emphasizing culture as an important factor to consider in the implementation of virtual learning environments.

This research examines the integration of electronic book (e-book) technology within an academic library. The University of Ottawa library is explored as a qualitative case study. The perceptions of use and communication pertaining to e-book adoption from the perspectives of students, faculty members, and librarians are combined with other documentation to provide a comprehensive examination of the case. Rogers (1962; 2003) Diffusion of Innovations provides the theoretical framework to guide the study and structure its analysis. Main findings revealed the following: (1) participants preferred print books, (2) inadequate communication occurred between students, faculty members, and librarians, and (3) information literacy training initiatives were insufficiently standardized. This study contributes to communication research by examining adoption of e-book technology and the spread of ideas within a social environment. It also furthers Diffusion of Innovations by confirming that even when individuals acknowledge advantages of a communication technology, it is not necessarily adopted.

Electronic health records (EHRs) facilitate storing, organizing, and sharing personal health information. The academic literature suggests that multimedia information (MM; image, audio, and video files) should be incorporated into EHRs. We examined the acceptability of MM-enabled EHRs for Ontario-based software vendors and physicians, using a qualitative analysis of primary and acute care EHR vendor websites, and a survey of physician perceptions regarding MM features in EHRs. Primary care EHR vendors provided more product-specific information than acute care vendors; however, neither group emphasized MM features in their EHRs. Physicians had slightly positive perceptions of image and video features, but not of audio features. None of the external factors studied predicted physicians‘ intention to use MM. Our findings suggest that neither vendors nor physicians are enthusiastic about implementing or using MM in EHRs, despite acknowledging potential benefits. Further research is needed to explore how to incorporate MM into EHR systems.

Electronic health records (EHRs) facilitate storing, organizing, and sharing personal health information. The academic literature suggests that multimedia information (MM; image, audio, and video files) should be incorporated into EHRs. We examined the acceptability of MM-enabled EHRs for Ontario-based software vendors and physicians, using a qualitative analysis of primary and acute care EHR vendor websites, and a survey of physician perceptions regarding MM features in EHRs. Primary care EHR vendors provided more product-specific information than acute care vendors; however, neither group emphasized MM features in their EHRs. Physicians had slightly positive perceptions of image and video features, but not of audio features. None of the external factors studied predicted physicians‘ intention to use MM. Our findings suggest that neither vendors nor physicians are enthusiastic about implementing or using MM in EHRs, despite acknowledging potential benefits. Further research is needed to explore how to incorporate MM into EHR systems.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1981.

This master’s report is an assessment of a theoretical process by which the concepts of sustainability can enter into the conventional system of development, primarily focusing on the physical development and growth of the urban environment. A context-specific definition of sustainability is first derived and then inserted within the classic theory of Diffusion of Innovations in an attempt to articulate the concept of sustainable innovation diffusion. The redevelopment of the Seaholm Power Plant in Austin, Texas is then used as a case study. Specifically, carrying forward previous research on a conceptual plan for adapting the power plant’s dormant condenser infrastructure into a commercial-scale rainwater harvesting system is presented as a demonstration project for promoting sustainable innovations. Applying a systemsthinking approach to resolving the challenges of implementing alternative technologies and practices into the Seaholm case study reveals both the mechanisms for encouraging and the barriers limiting the adoption of sustainable development strategies. / text