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Support Programme (support + programme)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	46%
Humanities and Social Sciences	30%

Selected Abstracts

Quality of life and the Training and Support Programme: experiences of children with cerebral palsy

FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH, Issue 2007
L Powell
[source]

Structures and processes in intermediary nongovernmental organizations: Research evidence from Northern Ireland

NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP, Issue 4 2005
John M. Bruton
This article reports the results of an exploratory study of the organizational characteristics, functions, and roles of intermediary nonprofit organizations selected by the European Union to deliver global grant funding in relation to its Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland. The results show that the main factor for determining organizational processes is the need to respond to conflicting pressures from two directions: upward to funding agencies and downward to community groups. This produces contradictory demands that are imported into the organizations as a set of internal tensions. The different structures and capabilities developed by the organizations to maintain unity and integrity in response to these tensions are explored and related to differences in the perceived role of the organizations. [source]

Managing complex workplace stress in health care organizations: leaders' perceived legitimacy conflicts

JOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT, Issue 8 2009
LOTTA DELLVE RN, MScPH
Aim, To conceptualize how health care leaders' strategies to increase their influence in their psychosocial work environment are experienced and handled, and may be supported. Background, The complex nature of the psychosocial work environment with increased stress creates significant challenges for leaders in today's health care organizations. Method, Interviews with health care leaders (n = 39) were analysed in accordance with constructivist grounded theory. Results, Compound identities, loyalty commitments and professional interests shape conditions for leaders' influence. Strategies to achieve legitimacy were either to retain clinical skills and a strong occupational identity or to take a full leadership role. Ethical stress was experienced when organizational procedural or consequential legitimacy norms were in conflict with the leaders' own values. Leadership support through socializing processes and strategic support structures may be complementary or counteractive. Conclusions, Support programmes need to have a clear message related to decision-making processes and should facilitate communication between top management, human resource departments and subordinate leaders. Ethical stress from conflicting legitimacy principles may be moderated by clear policies for decision-making processes, strengthened sound networks and improved communication. Implications for nursing management, Supportive programmes should include: (1) sequential and strategic systems for introducing new leaders and mentoring; (2) reflective dialogue and feedback; (3) team development; and (4) decision-making policies and processes. [source]

COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ON THE INDIGENOUS ESTATE: A PROFIT-RELATED INVESTMENT PROPOSAL

ECONOMIC PAPERS: A JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECONOMICS AND POLICY, Issue 3 2005
Jon Altman
This article assesses the state of commercial development and resource management on Indigenous land in remote Australia. Indigenous landowners control significant assets,over one million square kilometres of land,often with substantial resource rights and income earning potential. The inactivity and missed opportunities on the Indigenous estate are of such magnitude as to represent a major risk both for Indigenous landowning communities, in terms of their future economic and social well-being, and for national and international interests in terms of ecological vulnerability. The article explores the role of government as risk manager in such circumstances and outlines the principles that might underpin any intervention program targeted to the commercial development of Indigenous land. Using the analytical framework for profit-related loans and elements of an existing venture capital support programme, the Innovation Investment Fund Program, we outline the hypothetical skeleton of a new investment scheme to assist development and natural resource management on the Indigenous estate. Our proposal can be conceptualised as a profit-related loan scheme or as a form of capped public investment. It seeks to address key elements of the market failure that exists in relation to financing development on remote Indigenous land, provides incentives for greater private sector investment, and ensures that commercial and social risks are shared equitably between government, private sector investors and Indigenous-owned corporations to avoid problems of adverse selection and moral hazard. [source]

The success of a nursing peer support programme in China

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 7 2007
ZhiHong Ye MBA
[source]

Philosophical dialogues as paths to a more ,positive psychology'

JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 1 2008
Sofia Triliva
Abstract Although family support programmes have been in place for several decades in Greece very little attention has been paid to evaluating the effectiveness of such endeavours, the techniques that influence their outcomes and the receptiveness to their messages. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of research findings collected during the first qualitative research phase of a community mental health promotion project. The research was conducted in order to delineate programme outcomes and the characteristics that had an impact on the participants' lives. The 3-month family support programme intended to introduce ,philosophical dialogues' as means to developing personal and communal understandings of what makes life worth living. The programme was developed and implemented on Crete under the auspices of a non-profit community organization appropriately named ,The Lyceum for Women'. The features of the programme that contributed and enhanced the participants' tendencies to become not passive targets but active partners and stakeholders in the process will be clarified, as will the conceptualization and approach. Of the 45 evaluation protocols that were analysed the following themes were most important for the participants: ,Group as-a-whole process',the sense of sharing and development understandings in a ,parea' (in-group); ,relational outcomes',feeling of belonging, ,reciprocated kindness', and giving of self to others; personal and emotional outcomes-self-efficacy and empowerment; knowledge outcomes-learning about positive emotions and enjoying the simple things in life; and group facilitator outcomes-sharing stories, ,gives of self to the community'. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

An interactive education session and follow-up support as a strategy to improve clinicians' goal-writing skills: a randomized controlled trial

JOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 1 2010
Elisabeth Marsland BAppSc(OT)Hons
Abstract Background, Recent research indicates that allied health clinicians have difficulty articulating client needs and priorities into specific and measurable goals. As a result, a number of strategies to facilitate improvement in allied health clinicians' goal-setting skills have been recommended in the literature. In order to assist clinicians develop the skills required to set SMART goals, it is necessary that the strategies are rigorously tested. Aim, To determine if a 50-minute education session and 3-month email and telephone support programme improves clinicians' SMART goal-writing skill and accurately predicts improved goal-writing behaviour. Methods, Concealed random allocation of participants (n = 120) into two parallel groups: (1) intervention group received education on writing goals using the SMART Goal Evaluation Method as part of a workshop on outcome measurement and received 3 months of follow-up support (n = 60); and (2) control group attended a workshop on evidence-based practice (n = 60). Results, Education and follow-up support improved clinicians' SMART goal-writing skills at both the 3- and 6-month review (Yates ,2 = 4.324, d.f. = 1, P = 0.0375). Structural equation modelling revealed education and follow-up support is an accurate predictor of SMART goal-setting behaviour change at both 3 months (standardized regression weights = 0.21; P = 0.014) and 6 months (standardized regression weights = 0.19; P = 0.02) post intervention. Changes were modest and developed over a 6-month period. Conclusion, This study provides empirical evidence that a programme of educating clinicians in a standardized method of goal setting and providing follow-up support improves allied health clinicians' SMART goal-writing skills. [source]

Home haemodialysis: ,home, home, sweet, sweet home!' (Review Article)

NEPHROLOGY, Issue 3 2005
CHRISTOPHER R BLAGG
SUMMARY: Home haemodialysis was first developed 40 years ago as a means of treating more patients with the limited funds then available. It soon became obvious that the treatment worked well and subsequent studies and experience have confirmed that it improves both mortality and morbidity and provides the best quality of life and other benefits for dialysis patients. The present review describes the history of the development of home haemodialysis in Seattle and elsewhere and the lessons learned about its benefits in the early days, which are just as relevant today. The advantages and disadvantages are discussed, as are the issues of which patients are candidates for this treatment and what is required of a home haemodialysis training and support programme. The decline in use of home haemodialysis in the USA and elsewhere is described and the actions that may already be beginning to reverse this trend. The role of home haemodialysis in giving the opportunity for longer hours of dialysis three times a week or on alternate nights is important. There is discussion of the relationship of home haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis and its important future role as the means to enable treatment with more frequent short daily and long nightly haemodialysis. [source]

Pharmacists' role in smoking cessation: an examination of current practice and barriers to service provision

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 4 2006
David Edwards PhD student
Objective This study addressed the potential role of pharmacists in helping their patients to quit smoking by providing a summary of their self-reported levels of current activities, confidence, and readiness to change around the provision of brief advice and support for patients who smoke. In addition to investigating which barriers are perceived to be most important, this study also examined the relative importance of confidence, barriers and practice factors in relation to pharmacists' smoking cessation practices. Method A 58-item questionnaire was mailed to 720 pharmacists. The questionnaire measured demographic and background variables, level of smoking cessation activity (asking, advising, assessing, assisting and arranging including follow-up), confidence in undertaking smoking-cessation activities, readiness to change, perceived importance of barriers to providing smoking-cessation services, and further education or training in relation to smoking cessation. Setting Community pharmacists in South Australia. Key findings Respondents indicated high rates of activity in relation to assessing and assisting patients to quit smoking, with lower rates of advising and arranging including following up. Recording of smoking status was very low. Confidence emerged as the most important predictor of smoking-cessation activities, with pharmacist barriers including fear of alienating patients approaching significance. Reported levels of smoking-specific education and training were low. Conclusions South Australian pharmacists are contributing to the prevention of tobacco-related harms. With additional support there is a greater scope for involvement. Results indicate a need for a team-based, systematic and multifaceted approach to address barriers and enhance pharmacists' confidence. Further implementation research is required to assess the effectiveness of multifaceted pharmacy support programmes on the uptake and sustainability of smoking-cessation services. [source]

Philosophical dialogues as paths to a more ,positive psychology'

Homegardening as a panacea: A case study of South Tarawa

ASIA PACIFIC VIEWPOINT, Issue 3 2009
Andrew J. East
Abstract The Republic of Kiribati is a small, highly infertile Pacific Island nation and is one of the most challenging locations to attempt to support dense urban populations. Kiribati, like other nations in the Pacific, faces an urban future where food insecurity, unemployment, waste management and malnutrition will become increasing issues. Homegardening is suggested as one way to address many of these problems. However, the most recent study on agriculture production in urban centres in Kiribati shows that, in general, intensive cultivation of homegardens is not a common practice. This disparity between theory and practice creates an opportunity to re-examine homegardening in Kiribati and, more broadly, in the Pacific. This paper examines the practice of homegardening in urban centres in Kiribati and explores reasons why change has or has not occurred through interviews with homegardeners and government/donor representatives. Results show that homegardening has increased significantly in the past five years, largely because of the promotion of homegardens and organic composting systems by donor organisations. While findings further endorse homegardening as an excellent theoretical solution to many of the problems that confront urban settlements in Kiribati and the Pacific, it raises additional questions regarding the continuation of homegarden schemes beyond donor support programmes. [source]

Child witness support and preparation: are parents/caregivers ignored?

CHILD ABUSE REVIEW, Issue 4 2006
Emma Crawford
Abstract Over recent decades research has confirmed the sensible belief that to participate in criminal proceedings (that were designed for adults) child witnesses may benefit from support and preparation. This is so even in countries where special measures have been introduced to make it less arduous for children to give their testimony (e.g. closed circuit television to allow children to testify away from the actual courtroom; video recorded evidence-in-chief). Indeed, it could be argued that as more and more children provide testimony (e.g. as alleged victims or witnesses), the more comprehensive should be preparation and support programmes for them. However, while in some countries preparation and support programmes are now offered to such children, the needs of these children's (non-offending) parents/caregivers seem to be ignored. This paper contends not only that these adults need preparation and support but also that the provision of this is likely to benefit child witnesses. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Do community-based support services benefit bereaved children?

CHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2001
A review of empirical evidence
Abstract Aims To consider the evidence of effect from English language, empirically based quantitative evaluations of community-based interventions for bereaved children; community-based interventions being understood as those taking place outside a clinical setting. Methods MedLine, PsychInfo, Applied Social Sciences Index and Sociological Abstracts were searched for documents containing the words ,child', ,bereavement' and ,program', ,group', ,intervention', ,support' or ,evaluation'. The criterion for inclusion was that studies use a control group or pre- and post-test measurements using a standardized instrument. Results Nine relevant studies were identified. However, empirical evidence of positive outcomes for children was limited and compromised by methodological weaknesses in the design of the studies. Small sample sizes, irregular attendance, high levels of attrition, short time scales between pre- and post-testing and difficulty in developing appropriate instrumentation, including assessment of adherence to the agreed intervention programme, all created problems. Conclusions The case for universal inclusion of this group of children in such support programmes remains unproven, and further exploration of the outcomes of a range of different community interventions is required, with a specific focus on long-term and/or unwanted effects and evaluation of the basis for referral. [source]