ABSTRACT
To understand the impact of the international Master's programmes offered at the Institute of Development Policy (University of Antwerp), a theory-based evaluation was undertaken. In the first phase, a Theory of Change (ToC) was elaborated, distinguishing between three levels of impact (individual, organisational and societal), four learning dimensions (knowledge, skills, attitudes and networks) and five implicit pathways (change agent, social network, widening access, academic diversity, international understanding). Given the multifaceted and vague nature of the 'impact' concept under study, we selected an international, gender-balanced, multi-sectoral team of alumni researchers who fostered inclusiveness of different perspectives, at the same time capitalising on their depth of understanding, having gone through the study experience themselves. A mixed-methods approach was adopted to validate the ToC, combining a Most Significant Change approach, categorisation and text analysis of 101 alumni impact stories. Our findings demonstrate the importance of the three levels of impact and four learning dimensions in capturing graduate impact. While the impact stories confirmed the dominant 'change agent' pathway, they also hinted at the importance of hybrid complementary configurations of pathways to fully grasp how impact materialises.
Subject(s)
Clinical Competence , Curriculum , Humans , Program Evaluation , Research Design , Health Services ResearchABSTRACT
Resumen Las atribuciones, creencias y expectativas de los padres influyen en su interacción con los hijos. Este estudio compara las atribuciones, creencias y expectativas de madres adolescentes y adultas acerca de sus hijos, de todos los niños y de sí mismas como madres, y analiza la interacción con el sexo del hijo, procedencia, estado civil, grado educativo y nivel socioeconómico de las madres. Se administró la guía de entrevista para padres y el Cuestionario de Factores Cognitivos de los padres a 200 madres biológicas, 100 adolescentes con una edad promedio de 19.7 años y 100 adultas con una edad promedio de 37.1, de niveles socioeconómicos bajo y medio, procedentes de diferentes regiones de Colombia. La prueba t evidenció atribuciones sesgadas y creencias distorsionadas acerca de los hijos y de todos los niños y creencias de poco control y baja autoeficacia en las madres adolescentes. Las madres adultas presentan expectativas irreales acerca de los hijos y de todos los niños, y atribuciones distorsionadas con respecto a sí mismas como madres. El análisis de varianza bifactorial confirma que el estado civil interactúa significativamente con las expectativas que tienen las madres acerca de todos los niños y con las atribuciones acerca de sí mismas como madres. El tamaño del efecto indicó que la edad y procedencia de las madres tienen un efecto moderado en las creencias con respecto a los hijos y en las atribuciones y creencias acerca de todos los niños. Intervenciones psicológicas que modifiquen las atribuciones, creencias y expectativas de madres adolescentes y adultas permitirán relaciones madres-hijos sanas.
Abstract Parents' attributions, beliefs, and expectations influence their interaction with their children. This study compares the attributions, beliefs and expectations of adolescent and adult mothers about their own children, all children and themselves as mothers. It also analyzes the interaction with the sex of the child, origin, marital status, educational and socioeconomic level of the mothers. The Questionnaire of Parents' Cognitive Factors was administered to 200 biological mothers, 100 adolescents with an average age of 19.7 years old and 100 adults with an average age of 37.1, all of them from low and medium socioeconomic levels and different regions of Colombia. The t Test showed biased attributions and distorted beliefs about own children and all children, as well as low-control and low-self-efficacy in adolescent mothers. Adult mothers present unrealistic expectations about their own children and all children and distorted attributions regarding themselves as mothers. The Bifactorial Analysis of Variance confirms that marital status interacts significantly with mothers' expectations about all children and with attributions about themselves as mothers. The effect size indicated that the age and provenance of mothers have a moderate effect on beliefs regarding their own children and on attributions and beliefs about all children. Psychological interventions that modify the attributions, beliefs and expectations of adolescent and adult mothers will allow healthy mother-child relationships.
Subject(s)
Analysis of Variance , Psychosocial Intervention , Adolescent Mothers , Mother-Child Relations , Social Class , Demography , Self Efficacy , Mothers , MotivationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) increases annually by approximately 5% among older (age 50 years and older) Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, of whom around 10% are housebound. Care for housebound patients does not exist in the over-medicalised and highly privatised Lebanese health system or within the health system for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. This has led to a neglected population. In 2016, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) started to provide home-based care (HBC) for housebound patients in two Palestinian camps: Bourj-el-Barajneh and Ain-al-Hilweh. HBC is carried out by a team comprising a doctor, nurse, and social worker, and includes basic medical monitoring, health literacy educational sessions, support for treatment adherence, as well as networking with relevant social service providers. METHODS: A qualitative study was carried out between January and October, 2018, nine patients, ten caregivers, and personnel from two main international non-governmental organisations providing health care for refugees were interviewed, and one focus group discussion was conducted with MSF HBC staff. Thematic content analysis was carried out manually, with investigators' observations for triangulation. The study was approved by the MSF ethical review board. FINDINGS: The housebound patients described various ways in which they felt socially isolated, useless, and unproductive. These are underserved needs. Caregivers reported feeling burdened socially, mentally, and financially. They also reported that they assumed full responsibility for the housebound relative, as there was no alternative. HBC was appreciated by patients and caregivers for providing psychosocial and medical support; patients viewed MSF staff as a "friend in care", a temporary escape from isolation, and caregivers expressed appreciation for sharing the burden of caring for the housebound person. There was a decrease in anxiety expressed by caregivers and patients, as well as a declining sense of burden described by caregivers, during the provision of HBC by the MSF staff. To a lesser extent, patients and caregivers sensed improved self management as their disease literacy and treatment adherence increased, and as caregivers became more efficient in handling toilet care, bathing, and wound dressing. Missing components of HBC were perceived to be "outdoor" activities and mental health services. INTERPRETATION: HBC had an effect in reducing patients' social isolation, decreasing caregivers' burden and anxiety, and enhancing self management of disease for both. HBC should be considered for replication by all refugee health care providers as well as by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. This model of care needs to adopt a more holistic approach by including provision of mental health care and by increasing the focus on social isolation. FUNDING: None.
ABSTRACT
Renal artery stenosis is a common condition in patients with coronary or peripheral vascular disease where the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) is overactivated. In this context, there is a narrowing of the renal arteries that stimulate an increase in the expression and release of renin, the rate-limiting protease in RAAS. The resulting rise in renin expression is a known driver of renovascular hypertension, frequently associated with kidney injury and end organ damage. Thus, there is a great interest in developing novel treatments for this condition. The molecular and cellular mechanism of renin control in renal artery stenosis is not fully understood and warrants further investigation. To induce renal artery stenosis in mice, a modified 2 kidney 1 clip (2K1C) Goldblatt mouse model was developed. The right kidney was stenosed in wild type mice and sham operated mice were used as control. After renal artery stenosis, we determined renin expression and kidney injury. Kidneys were harvested, and fresh cortices were used to determine protein and mRNA expression of renin. This animal model is reproducible and can be used to study pathophysiological responses, molecular and cellular pathways involved in renovascular hypertension and kidney injury.
Subject(s)
Acute Kidney Injury/diagnosis , Disease Models, Animal , Kidney/surgery , Lipocalin-2/metabolism , Renal Artery Obstruction/physiopathology , Renal Artery/physiopathology , Renin/metabolism , Acute Kidney Injury/etiology , Acute Kidney Injury/metabolism , Animals , Blood Pressure , Female , Kidney/metabolism , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Renal Artery Obstruction/complications , Renal Artery Obstruction/metabolismABSTRACT
Background: Healthcare personnel are a high-risk group for acquiring COVID-19 disease. They represent 4 to 20% of the total number of cases reported in different geographical areas. Aim: To describe an epidemiological surveillance strategy to detect symptoms compatible with SARS-CoV-2 infection and early case detection among healthcare personnel at a university hospital. Patients and Methods: We assessed 209 healthcare workers reporting symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 in a telephone counseling system. After a structured evaluation, the suggestions ranged from having a SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab PCR test, consulting in the emergency room or at outpatient clinic or returning to work. Results: In 61% of assessed workers a coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab PCR was requested and 28 (22%) were positive. In a multivariate analysis, the clinical variables associated with a positive PCR test were the presence of fever, sudden loss of smell or taste, and a history of contact with a COVID-19 positive case. Conclusions: The telephone symptom monitoring program allowed the early detection of a significant number of healthcare officials with acute respiratory infection due to coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, it is easy to implement and has a low cost.
Subject(s)
Humans , Coronavirus Infections , Health Personnel , Fever , BetacoronavirusABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Healthcare personnel are a high-risk group for acquiring COVID-19 disease. They represent 4 to 20% of the total number of cases reported in different geographical areas. AIM: To describe an epidemiological surveillance strategy to detect symptoms compatible with SARS-CoV-2 infection and early case detection among healthcare personnel at a university hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We assessed 209 healthcare workers reporting symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 in a telephone counseling system. After a structured evaluation, the suggestions ranged from having a SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab PCR test, consulting in the emergency room or at outpatient clinic or returning to work. RESULTS: In 61% of assessed workers a coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab PCR was requested and 28 (22%) were positive. In a multivariate analysis, the clinical variables associated with a positive PCR test were the presence of fever, sudden loss of smell or taste, and a history of contact with a COVID-19 positive case. CONCLUSIONS: The telephone symptom monitoring program allowed the early detection of a significant number of healthcare officials with acute respiratory infection due to coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, it is easy to implement and has a low cost.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Fever , Health Personnel , Humans , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Long term displacement and exposure to challenging living conditions can influence family dynamics; gender roles; violence at home and in the community and mental well-being. This qualitative study explores these issues as perceived by Syrian refugees who have been living in Shatila, a Palestinian camp in South Beirut, Lebanon, for at least 2 years. METHODS: Twenty eight in-depth interviews with men and women were conducted between February and June 2018. Women were recipients of mental health services, and men were recruited from the local community. Interviews were conducted in Arabic, translated, transcribed, coded and analysed using thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Our results show patterns of harsh living conditions similar to those described earlier in the course of the Syrian refugee crisis. Lack of infrastructure, overcrowding, cramped rooms and violence were all reported. Participants also described a lack of social support, discrimination and harassment within the host community, as well as limited social support networks within their own Syrian refugee community. Family dynamics were affected by the increased responsibilities on men, women and children; with additional economic and employment demands on men, women assuming the roles of 'mother and father' and children having to work and contribute to the household. Participants discussed several types of violence, including parental violence against children and violence in the community. Violence against women was also reported. Reported mental health issues included depression, anxiety, sadness, frustration, hopelessness, self-neglect and a loss of sense of self and self-worth. Some participants expressed a wish to die. CONCLUSIONS: This study describes experiences of changing gender roles, family dynamics, violence and mental health after long-term displacement in in Shatila camp, South Beirut as perceived by Syrian refugees. A lack of safety and security coupled with economic hardship rendered refugees even more susceptible to exploitation and harassment. Parental violence was the most commonly reported type of domestic violence.
