MSc in Social Justice, Development and Health
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/7220
Browse
6 results
Search Results
Item “It’s our future, isn’t it?” Nurses’ experiences and conceptualisation of best care practices for an increasingly diverse patient population(2017)As the UK is increasingly becoming a multicultural country, the health system needs to adapt and ensure that all patients, regardless of their ethnic or cultural backgrounds, get equal quality care. Evidence has shown that too often, ethnic minority groups experience poorer access to health care and have lower health statuses than the majority population. Health care professionals are having to adapt their practice to prevent such discrepancies. Yet, little is known about how staff experience these changes. It was the purpose of this research to explore nurses’ experiences of dealing with patients from diverse cultural backgrounds, the challenges they face and the strategies used in practice. It also aimed to understand how they conceptualise best quality care for diverse patients, allowing better insights into how policies and trainings could better reflect and enhance professionals’ realities and practice. This was achieved through 10 semi-structured interviews with nurses working in a variety of settings across the country. The findings reveal that nurses feel poorly equipped and supported to care for patients from different cultures and rely on individual coping strategies. The data also allows clearer understandings of how contextual factors, such as time constraints, management or staffing levels influence practices. It also highlighted that, at the moment, culturally competent practices are conceptualised as an ‘added value’ by frontline nurses. The study concluded with practical implications and recommendations to strengthen policies, emphasising on the need for better training and support. This research, although shedding light on weaknesses, highlighted a strong desire from practising nurses to put diversity higher on the agenda.Item To what extent do organisational policies, systems and structures support the health and wellbeing of people in police custody in Scotland?(Queen Margaret University, 2016)This study examines the roles of Scottish Government, Police Scotland and the National Health Service (NHS) in supporting and promoting the health and wellbeing of people in police custody in Scotland. People in police custody are some of the most disadvantaged members of our society, they generally have acute social, economic, health and wellbeing needs and suffer significant inequalities. This study brings together existing literature on police custody populations in order to develop a comprehensive picture of the health and healthcare needs. It explores the systemic structural factors that link socio-economic outcomes, health, and engagement in criminal behaviour. Tackling social, economic and health inequalities is a central pillar of Scottish Government's policy frameworks. T. Through policies such as NHS delivered healthcare in custody, Scottish Government recognises the value of equitable, quality, services for this population group. Police Scotland and the NHS deliver services which support and improve the health of people in police custody, and this is commended by international and national scrutiny bodies who hold these organisations to account. Services are however inconsistent across the country and further work is required to embed and spread best practice to all areas of Scotland. If services are to be truly responsive to the health and wellbeing needs of this population, consideration needs to be given to providing social services such as employment, housing and welfare support in police custody. More research is needed to develop the evidence base for effective clinical, health improvement and welfare interventions in this setting in order to reduce the revolving door between the community and criminal justice services.Item A Critical re-conceptualization of Traditional Ecological Knowledge: First Nations psychosocial narratives of Healing, Advocacy, Expression and Reciprocity(Queen Margaret University, 2015)Spiritual, ceremonial, socio-ecological and socio-emotional conceptualizations of First Nations relationship with the land was explored through the space of 'Traditional Ecological Knowledge'. Utilizing a qualitative methodology combining observation, community participation and semi-structured interviews this study engaged in a case study of Taykwa Tagamou and area First Nations in Northern Ontario, Canada. Through participation and observation in medicine picking, traditional food preparation, women's drumming, co-management policy and environmental meetings, Indigenous knowledge and restoration conference and interviews conducted both on Taykwa Tagamou First Nations reserve and in the town of Cochrane this research was holistic in its approach. The findings from this study suggest that socio-emotional connections and conceptualizations of First Nations in the TTN community and area in relation to the 'land', 'being on the land' and 'traditional medicines' impact their emotional, social, physical and spiritual wellbeing and 'healing' capacities and are central components of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in the First Nations context.Item Potential Socioeconomic Outcomes of a Proposed Diversion from the Great Lakes Basin to the Midwest and Central Plains of the USA(Queen Margaret University, 2015)A diversion of freshwater from the USA and Canadian governed Great Lakes Basin (GLB) to the Midwest and Central Plains (MCP) of the USA has long been a proposed ecological intervention in addressing continuing water scarcity. Previous research has been conducted on the potential environmental effects of such a diversion leading to the enactment of regulations in an attempt to prohibit new or increasing existing diversions. However, a gap remains in literature regarding potential socioeconomic outcomes. Despite limited regulations, the importance of freshwater supply particularly in the MCP area suggests that a diversion remains a potential option. This study examined potential socioeconomic outcomes of a diversion from the GLB to the MCP through a literature review with reference to eco-socialism theory and political ecology perspectives and uncovered a central theme of valuation. Furthermore it evaluated current, official documents on diversions from the GLB to determine if they adequately protect against adverse socioeconomic impacts with a specific focus on compliance. Findings identified that socioeconomic outcomes will differ between classes, with the most negative effects felt by those economically disadvantaged. An evaluation of current official documents governing diversions from the GLB indicated inadequate protection against adverse socioeconomic outcomes, specifically pertaining to issues around the transboundary nature of the basin system and insufficient enforcement measures. Conclusions and recommendations from this study should be used by policy makers in future decision making processes regarding diversions from the GLB.Item Indigenous Beliefs, HIV and Health Seeking Behaviour.(Queen Margaret University, 2015)Background: Globally there are 34 million people living with HIV and AIDS, with 68% of these individuals living in sub-Saharan Africa. Uganda is often cited as the success story in the fight against HIV and AIDS due to their reduction in both prevalence and incidence early in the epidemic. However, HIV and AIDS remains a significant burden with 7.7% of people aged 15-49 infected with the virus (UAC, 2012). Despite the high HIV prevalence within the country, there is a huge shortage of bio-medical health care personnel, with first line care delivered by traditional health practitioners to 70% of the population. Aim: This study aims to ascertain the perceived role of traditional health practitioners in the management and treatment of HIV and AIDS, and how indigenous spiritual beliefs are perceived to affect individuals' HIV health seeking behaviour. Methods: The work of Jean-François Lyotard and Arthur Kleinman were used as a framework to understand human experiences of suffering and illness. This study utilized Qualitative research methods, using both semi-structured interviews and group interviews as research methods with twenty three participants. Data was recorded, transcribed and then analyzed using a thematic analysis. Findings/discussion: findings presented illustrate the diverse work of THPs, often encompassing both herbal and spiritual aspects of diagnosis and treatment. THPs present in this study illustrated valuable counseling services in the management of HIV and AIDS. Amongst the respondents it was perceived that the symptoms of HIV were often misinterpreted as witchcraft. Additionally, a tension between bio-medical health workers and traditional health practitioners about the effectiveness of the treatments provided by each health care provider was highlighted. Furthermore, the dangers of the use of traditional health practitioners in the treatment and management of HIV is highlighted by bio-medical health practitioners present in this study. The implications of these findings for collaboration between the two health sectors are discussed. It is argued that identifying opportunities for collaboration, and trusted networks of THPs working within communities, with the aim understanding diverse explanatory models off illness and promoting greater collaboration between the two systems would be extremely valuable in this context.Item What is the understanding of person - centred care of people with dementia when accessing Accident and Emergency?(Queen Margaret University, 2015)There are a number of marginalised groups in society and people with dementia are one of these groups. They are the subject of discrimination and are treated with unjust in society in a range of areas. Research has emerged that people with dementia experience inequalities with services and support they receive within health and social care services. There is limited research on people with dementia specifically accessing Accident & Emergency departments (A & E) in the UK which this piece of research focusses on. However there is a range of research that has focused on acute hospital settings which includes A & E where by dementia strategies have been produced to improve the processes and outcomes for people with dementia. This dissertation has examined some of the experiences of people with dementia accessing the NHS A & E service, through the views of staff working in an A & E department and those caring for the person with dementia. A field work study with a methodological qualitative research approach was undertaken by interviewing staff from the A & E department including managers. Also family members/carers of people with dementia were interviewed within a focus group to establish their views when they have supported a family member accessing A & E. It was a conscious decision not to interview people with dementia as this would lend itself to a longitudinal study whereby a rapport could be built up with the person with dementia instead of single "one off" interviews. The findings of the research were constructed into themes and discussion areas regarding dignity, respect and treating the person with dementia as an individual first and foremost. The research findings highlighted areas for further research which could improve both the processes and outcomes for the individual with dementia accessing A & E. This would include interviewing people with dementia to gain more in depth qualitative data to improve outcomes for those with dementia and their families/carers.