CASL
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/22
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Item Tools for Promoting Independent Living Skills in Individuals with Disabilities(IGI Global, 2024-10) Dimitriadou, Ioanna; Vasileiadis, Ilias; Koutras, Spyros; Dimitriadou, Ioanna; Vasileiadis, Ilias; Koutras, SpyrosPromoting independent living skills in individuals with disabilities is a crucial aspect of enhancing their quality of life and enabling them to thrive. These skills, which range from personal care and household management to navigating social and community settings, are essential for fostering autonomy and self-reliance. Teaching these skills requires a tailored approach that considers the unique needs of each individual, ensuring that they are equipped to face daily challenges and succeed in the personal and professional aspects of their lives. Tools for Promoting Independent Living Skills in Individuals With Disabilities provides a comprehensive resource for educators and specialists working across multiple disciplines. Featuring expert contributions, it focuses on promoting independence in individuals with disabilities of all ages and types. With practical strategies and real-world applications, the book serves as a vital tool for those teaching life skills to help individuals with disabilities achieve greater autonomy and a higher quality of life.Item Enhancing Educational Equity: Bridging the Gap for Deaf Learners' Transition to Higher Education in Rwanda(IGI Global, 2024-10-25) Habinshuti, Gonzague; Koutras, Spyros; Bizimana, BenjaminThis research addresses the challenges militating the transition of deaf learners from secondary education to higher education in Rwanda. The specific objectives are to conduct an in-depth analysis of the existing challenges militating the transition of deaf learners from secondary to higher education in Rwanda, evaluate the effectiveness of existing inclusive policies, investigate the extent to which inclusive policies in Rwanda, and formulate context-specific measures for facilitating the transition of deaf learners from secondary education to higher education. The study will employ a mixed methods approach, combining surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis. The research sample will comprise 96 individuals, including deaf graduates from secondary school, educators, policymakers, parents, and advocacy groups. Findings are expected to facilitate policy reform, improve educational practices, and empower deaf learners, fostering a more inclusive and equitable educational system.Item Using a prognostic medical device for early identification of pressure ulcers: protocol for study design(MA Healthcare, 2024-06-20) Keltie, Kim; Parker, Rosalyn; Dervin, Humayra; Pagnamenta, Fania; Milne, Jeanette; Belilios, Emma; Latimer, Lizzy; Wason, James; Ogundimu, Emmanuel; McParlin, Catherine; Sims, AndrewBackground: An objective, physiological measurement taken using a medical device may reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers through earlier detection of problems signs before visual signs appear. Research in this field is hampered by variations in clinical practice and patient-level confounders. Aim: The authors outline key considerations for designing a protocol for a study to assess the efficacy and safety of a prognostic medical device in reducing pressure ulcer incidence in a hospital, including comparators, randomisation, sample size, ethics and practical issues. Method: Key issues relating to methodology and ethics are considered alongside a theoretical protocol, which could support future researchers in wound care trials. Results: A prospective, three-armed, multi-centre, stratified cluster-randomised controlled trial is proposed. The third arm is recommended as it is expected that patients will need to be moved for the medical device to be used and repositioning is a preventive strategy. A minimum of 16200 patients in 33 wards would needed to be recruited to achieve statistical significance. Ethical considerations in terms of consent or assent need to be considered. Conclusion: The hypothetical study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a diagnostic or prognostic medical device in reducing pressure ulcer incidence in secondary care, while accounting for biases, would require large sample sizes and involves risks of inter-operator and inter-device reliability, heterogeneity of users and the vague clinical interpretation of device results. Robust research in this field has the potential to influence or change policy and practice relating to the prevention of pressure ulcers in secondary care. © 2024 MA Healthcare Ltd.Item Visualizing Worldwide Prevalence of Age-Related Dual Sensory Loss(SAGE Publications, 2024-06-23) Koesters, Nils; Minhas, R; Wittich, Walter; McMenemy, Andrena; Johnson, ChristineObjectives: This study aims to create a first visualization of global prevalence of age-related dual sensory loss (DSL), significantly affecting older people’s quality of life. Methods: Data from World Health Organization (WHO) regions, particularly African, American, and European, were analyzed. The study focused on DSL onset and prevalence, using adjusted life expectancy for regional comparison. Results: There were notable regional variations in DSL onset and prevalence. The African region showed consistent data, thanks to standardized methods from the World Federation of the Deafblind. However, global patterns varied when adjusted for life expectancy, hinting at possible DSL prevalence stabilization at older ages. Discussion: The study identifies a lack of standardization in DSL prevalence research regarding definitions, methodologies, and reporting. It calls for more uniform and thorough research methods for accurate global DSL understanding. The research highlights the complexity and challenges in determining DSL prevalence worldwide.Item The social dimension of inclusive education for students with cognitive and developmental difficulties(IGI Global, 2023-11-28) Vasileiadis, Ilias; Dimitriadou, Ioanna; Koutras, SpyrosThe purpose of this chapter is to present firstly - with a critical approach - a clarification of the terms and concepts describing the social dimension of inclusion, with regard to students with developmental and cognitive difficulties, in order to identify differences or convergences. These specific variables are usually examined within observational studies of the social interaction among peers, sociometric studies of acceptance, and studies that require self-reports from the students regarding themselves and their social relationships. Furthermore, the variables related to the social dimension of inclusive education for these students, and their development in each age period, are presented. Finally, the chapter focuses on school intervention programmes concentrating on the social dimension of inclusion, and evaluates the impact of such programmes on the daily school life of students with developmental and cognitive difficulties. © 2023, IGI Global.Item Changing the attitudes of high school students towards intellectual disabilities: the contribution of a social coexistence programme(Wiley, 2021-02) Vasileiadis, Ilias; Koutras, Spyros; Stagiopoulos, PetrosAbstractStudents’ attitudes towards peers with intellectual disabilities are mostly negative, and negative attitudes appear more among secondary education students than any other age group. Social coexistence programmes are intervention programmes implemented by school psychologists to manage and change negative attitudes and enforce social interaction with students with disabilities. The research sample consisted of 193 public high school students in Greece who were given the Chedoke–McMaster Attitudes Toward Children with Handicaps (CATCH) Scale. The study aimed to explore whether there is a change in the attitudes of high school students towards peers with intellectual disabilities after participation in a social coexistence programme. The findings showed that students who participated in the programme had more positive attitudes towards people with intellectual disabilities after the completion of the programme. The above findings confirm the research on the possibility of changing attitudes of secondary school students towards peers with disabilities and reinforce the need for the systematic development of social coexistence programmes for the entire student population. Future research should focus on the benefits of students with disabilities from their participation in social coexistence programmes.Item Are we getting through? Criminal justice communication(Law Society of Scotland, 2023-07-17) Wishart, Jasmine; Hodson, AnnItem Development and feasibility of a Swallowing intervention Package (SiP) for patients receiving radiotherapy treatment for head and neck cancer—the SiP study protocol(BMC, 2016-08-04) Wells, Mary; King, Emma; Toft, Kate; MacAulay, Fiona; Patterson, Joanne; Dougall, Nadine; Hulbert-Williams, Nick; Boa, Sally; Slaven, Eleanor; Cowie, Julie; McGarva, John; Niblock, Patricia Gail; Philp, Julie; Roe, JustinBackground: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, and the functional, psychological and social consequences of HNC cancer and its treatment can be severe and chronic. Dysphagia (swallowing problems) affects up to two thirds of patients undergoing combined chemoradiotherapy. Recent reviews suggest that prophylactic swallowing exercises may improve a range of short- and long-term outcomes; however, the importance of psychological and behavioural factors on adherence to swallowing exercises has not been adequately studied. This study aims to develop and test the feasibility of a Swallowing intervention Package (SiP) designed in partnership with patients, speech and language therapists (SLTs) and other members of the head and neck multi-disciplinary team (MDT), for patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy (CRT) or radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer. Methods/design: This feasibility study uses quantitative and qualitative research methods, within a quasi-experimental design, to assess whether patients will tolerate and adhere to the SiP intervention, which aspects of the intervention can be implemented and which cannot, whether treatment fidelity can be achieved across different contexts, whether study processes and outcome measures will be feasible and acceptable and to what extent the intervention is likely to have an impact on swallowing dysfunction and quality of life. Patients are being recruited from five sites in Scotland and England (three interventions and two usual care). The SLT based in the relevant intervention centre teaches the exercise programme and provides supporting materials. A combination of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), adherence measures and clinical swallowing assessments are used prior to intervention (baseline), at the end of treatment, 3 and 6 months post-treatment. Discussion: This collaborative study has taken a unique approach to the development of a patient-centred and evidence-based swallowing intervention. The introduction of an e-SiP app provides an exploration of the use of technology in delivering this intervention. The study provides an opportunity to examine the feasibility of delivering and participating in a supported swallowing intervention across several different NHS sites and will provide the evidence needed to refine intervention and study processes for a future trial. Trial registration: NCRI portfolio, 18192 & 20259Item Behaviour change technique taxonomy: A method of describing head and neck cancer dysphagia intervention delivery(Wolters Kluwer, 2017) Toft, Kate; Stringer, HelenPurpose of review The purpose of the review is to examine the current state of the art of dysphagia intervention delivery description and to propose use of a new tool to facilitate this: the behaviour change technique taxonomy version 1 (BCTTv1). Recent findings Describing intervention delivery is difficult, and published research in the field of speech and language therapy (SLT) does not include detail on this key aspect of research protocols. Interventions themselves are often poorly delineated, and a way is needed of classifying how these interventions are delivered in practice. Summary Use of the BCTTv1 would facilitate clarity and transparency in intervention delivery description and have positive implications for research, clinical practice and undergraduate teaching if employed by the SLT profession.Item Feasibility and outcomes of fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing following prophylactic swallowing rehabilitation in head and neck cancer(Wiley, 2019-03-20) Patterson, Joanne; Toft, Kate; McAuley, Fiona; King, Emma; McLachlan, Kirsty; Roe, Justin W. G.; Wells, MaryObjectives: Investigate the feasibility and outcomes of fibreoptic endoscopic evalua‐tion of swallowing (FEES) following a programme of prophylactic swallowing exer‐cises in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients treated with radiotherapy.Design: Prospective, single cohort, feasibility study.Setting: Three head and neck cancer centres in Scotland.Participants: Pre‐radiotherapy HNC patients who consented to participate in a pro‐phylactic swallowing intervention.Outcome measures: Fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing recruitment and retention rates, assessment acceptability and compliance, qualitative process evaluation.Results: Higher rates of recruitment and retention were achieved in centres where FEES equipment was available on‐site. Travel and anticipated discomfort were barri‐ers to recruitment. Data completion was high for all rating scales, with good reliabil‐ity. Following radiotherapy, swallowing safety significantly deteriorated for liquid boluses (P = 0.005‐0.03); pharyngeal residue increased for liquid and semi‐solid bo‐luses. Pharyngo‐laryngeal oedema was present pre‐treatment and significantly in‐creased post‐radiotherapy (P = 0.001). Patients generally reported positive experience of FEES for their own learning and establishing a baseline.Conclusions: Fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing is an acceptable method of assessing patients for a prophylactic swallowing intervention and offers some ad‐ditional information missing from VF. Barriers have been identified and should be taken into account in order to maximise recruitment for future trials.