Pub Date : 2022-12-01Epub Date: 2022-09-09DOI: 10.3390/challe13020046
Alice A Gaughan, Laura J Rush, Sarah R MacEwan, Ashish R Panchal, Ann Scheck McAlearney
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the lives of almost every individual in every nation, with numbers of infections continuing to grow. Across these nations, first responders are essential in their roles addressing emergencies, despite their risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the course of their work. We sought to understand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of volunteer firefighters in the United States, an understudied group of these first responders. Interviews were conducted with volunteer firefighters between September and November 2021. Interviews were analyzed using deductive dominant thematic analysis. Thirty-three firefighters were interviewed who had an average of 22 years of service and a mean age of 52 years. Interviewees described pandemic-related challenges including the fear of COVID exposure and frustrations with work and personal relationships. They also identified unexpected work-related benefits including a deepened commitment to serve and improvements to training and safety. Further, some volunteers noted personal benefits such as developing stronger connections with others, having a new outlook on life, and observing goodwill. Our findings provide insight into the multifaceted and complex impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volunteer firefighters.
{"title":"Perspectives of Volunteer Firefighters during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Stumbling Blocks and Silver Linings.","authors":"Alice A Gaughan, Laura J Rush, Sarah R MacEwan, Ashish R Panchal, Ann Scheck McAlearney","doi":"10.3390/challe13020046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/challe13020046","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the lives of almost every individual in every nation, with numbers of infections continuing to grow. Across these nations, first responders are essential in their roles addressing emergencies, despite their risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the course of their work. We sought to understand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of volunteer firefighters in the United States, an understudied group of these first responders. Interviews were conducted with volunteer firefighters between September and November 2021. Interviews were analyzed using deductive dominant thematic analysis. Thirty-three firefighters were interviewed who had an average of 22 years of service and a mean age of 52 years. Interviewees described pandemic-related challenges including the fear of COVID exposure and frustrations with work and personal relationships. They also identified unexpected work-related benefits including a deepened commitment to serve and improvements to training and safety. Further, some volunteers noted personal benefits such as developing stronger connections with others, having a new outlook on life, and observing goodwill. Our findings provide insight into the multifaceted and complex impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volunteer firefighters.</p>","PeriodicalId":91008,"journal":{"name":"Challenges","volume":"13 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9540602/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"33517219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. McLean, Georgia Behrens, Hannah Chase, O. El Omrani, Finola Hackett, Karly Hampshire, Nuzhat Islam, Sarah Hsu, Natasha Sood
Climate change and the declining state of the planet’s ecosystems, due mainly to a global resource-driven economy and the consumptive lifestyles of the wealthy, are impacting the health and well-being of all Earth’s inhabitants. Although ‘planetary health’ was coined in 1980, it was only in the early 2000s that a call came for a paradigm shift in medical education to include the impact of ecosystem destabilization and the increasing prevalence of vector-borne diseases. The medical education response was, however, slow, with the sustainable healthcare and climate change educational agenda driven by passionate academics and clinicians. In response, from about 2016, medical students have taken action, developing much-needed learning outcomes, resources, policies, frameworks, and an institutional audit tool. While the initial medical education focus was climate change and sustainable healthcare, more recently, with wider collaboration and engagement (Indigenous voices, students, other health professions, community), there is now planetary health momentum. This chronological account of the evolution of planetary health in medical education draws on the extant literature and our (an academic, students, and recent graduates) personal experiences and interactions. Advancing this urgent educational agenda, however, requires universities to support inclusive transdisciplinary collaboration among academics, students and communities, many of whom are already champions and eco-ethical leaders, to ensure a just and sustainable future for all of Earth’s inhabitants.
{"title":"The Medical Education Planetary Health Journey: Advancing the Agenda in the Health Professions Requires Eco-Ethical Leadership and Inclusive Collaboration","authors":"M. McLean, Georgia Behrens, Hannah Chase, O. El Omrani, Finola Hackett, Karly Hampshire, Nuzhat Islam, Sarah Hsu, Natasha Sood","doi":"10.3390/challe13020062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/challe13020062","url":null,"abstract":"Climate change and the declining state of the planet’s ecosystems, due mainly to a global resource-driven economy and the consumptive lifestyles of the wealthy, are impacting the health and well-being of all Earth’s inhabitants. Although ‘planetary health’ was coined in 1980, it was only in the early 2000s that a call came for a paradigm shift in medical education to include the impact of ecosystem destabilization and the increasing prevalence of vector-borne diseases. The medical education response was, however, slow, with the sustainable healthcare and climate change educational agenda driven by passionate academics and clinicians. In response, from about 2016, medical students have taken action, developing much-needed learning outcomes, resources, policies, frameworks, and an institutional audit tool. While the initial medical education focus was climate change and sustainable healthcare, more recently, with wider collaboration and engagement (Indigenous voices, students, other health professions, community), there is now planetary health momentum. This chronological account of the evolution of planetary health in medical education draws on the extant literature and our (an academic, students, and recent graduates) personal experiences and interactions. Advancing this urgent educational agenda, however, requires universities to support inclusive transdisciplinary collaboration among academics, students and communities, many of whom are already champions and eco-ethical leaders, to ensure a just and sustainable future for all of Earth’s inhabitants.","PeriodicalId":91008,"journal":{"name":"Challenges","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87625329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In the ongoing series of Nova Interviews, Challenges Advisory Board member Alan C. Logan meets with thought leaders, scientists, scholars, healthcare professionals, artisans and visionaries concerned about health at the scales of persons, places, and the planet. In this interview, Dr. Nalini M. Nadkarni, of the University of Utah, responds to a set of questions posed by Nova for Challenges. For over forty years, Dr. Nadkarni has been studying the fragility and resiliency of rainforest ecosystems. During this time, Dr. Nadkarni has prioritized science communication with an emphasis on highlighting the interdisciplinary relevancy of research findings. Dr. Nadkarni has worked to promote an integrative way of thinking about the various branches of science and medicine, with an eye toward shifting public policy. Her research career has taken her where only a small minority of scientists have traveled—from remote cloud forests to segregated housing within prison facilities. Dr. Nadkarni successfully challenged the Mattel Corporation to update their globally-recognized toy, Barbie, with women in science in mind. Here, Dr. Nadkarni reflects on the early influences that shaped her career, updates Challenges on the latest directions of her work, and discusses the ways in which the canopy ecosystem can help us understand the complex interconnected challenges of our time.
在正在进行的新星访谈系列中，挑战咨询委员会成员Alan C. Logan会见了思想领袖、科学家、学者、医疗保健专业人员、工匠和有远见的人，他们关注人、地方和地球的健康问题。在这次采访中，犹他大学的Nalini M. Nadkarni博士回答了Nova为挑战提出的一系列问题。四十多年来，Nadkarni博士一直在研究雨林生态系统的脆弱性和弹性。在此期间，Nadkarni博士优先考虑科学传播，强调强调研究成果的跨学科相关性。纳德卡尼博士一直致力于推广一种综合思考科学和医学各个分支的方式，并着眼于改变公共政策。纳德卡尼博士成功地挑战了美泰公司(Mattel Corporation)，要求其更新全球知名的芭比娃娃(Barbie)玩具，将女性纳入科学领域。在这里，Nadkarni博士回顾了影响她职业生涯的早期因素，更新了她最新工作方向的挑战，并讨论了林冠生态系统如何帮助我们理解我们这个时代复杂的相互关联的挑战。
{"title":"Tapestry Thinking: An Interview with Dr. Nalini Nadkarni on an Unexpected Life in Science","authors":"A. Logan, N. Nadkarni","doi":"10.3390/challe13020061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/challe13020061","url":null,"abstract":"In the ongoing series of Nova Interviews, Challenges Advisory Board member Alan C. Logan meets with thought leaders, scientists, scholars, healthcare professionals, artisans and visionaries concerned about health at the scales of persons, places, and the planet. In this interview, Dr. Nalini M. Nadkarni, of the University of Utah, responds to a set of questions posed by Nova for Challenges. For over forty years, Dr. Nadkarni has been studying the fragility and resiliency of rainforest ecosystems. During this time, Dr. Nadkarni has prioritized science communication with an emphasis on highlighting the interdisciplinary relevancy of research findings. Dr. Nadkarni has worked to promote an integrative way of thinking about the various branches of science and medicine, with an eye toward shifting public policy. Her research career has taken her where only a small minority of scientists have traveled—from remote cloud forests to segregated housing within prison facilities. Dr. Nadkarni successfully challenged the Mattel Corporation to update their globally-recognized toy, Barbie, with women in science in mind. Here, Dr. Nadkarni reflects on the early influences that shaped her career, updates Challenges on the latest directions of her work, and discusses the ways in which the canopy ecosystem can help us understand the complex interconnected challenges of our time.","PeriodicalId":91008,"journal":{"name":"Challenges","volume":"39 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90759072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Y. Tajudeen, H. Oladipo, I. Oladunjoye, Rashidat Onyinoyi Yusuf, Hammed Sodiq, Abass Olawale Omotosho, D. Adesuyi, Sodiq Inaolaji Yusuff, M. El-Sherbini
Arboviruses are most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, where arthropods are widespread. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that the mortality burden of arbovirus diseases, such as yellow fever in Africa, was 84,000–170,000 severe cases and 29,000–60,000 deaths in 2013. These epidemics emphasize the urgent need for integrated control and prevention of arboviral diseases. Challenges in managing and controlling arboviral diseases in Africa are mainly attributed to poor insect vector control, insecticide resistance, and poor sanitation and solid waste management. The removal or reduction of mosquito populations amongst susceptible individuals is identified as the most effective measure to control many vector-borne diseases. Current public health needs call for efficient vector control programs and maintenance of adequate surveillance systems through the availability of trained personnel and rapid diagnostic facilities, providing an interdisciplinary response to control and mitigate the threats of emerging and re-emerging arboviruses. Furthermore, research priorities should focus on understanding the factors responsible for adaptation to other vectors, determinants of infection and transmission, and the development of high efficiency antiviral molecules or candidate vaccines. Here, we explore and review our current understanding of arboviruses of public health importance in Africa, with a focus on emerging arboviruses, their arthropod vectors, and the epidemiology of major arboviruses. Finally, we appraise the role of planetary health in addressing the threat of arboviruses and identify other priority areas of research for effective control.
{"title":"Emerging Arboviruses of Public Health Concern in Africa: Priorities for Future Research and Control Strategies","authors":"Y. Tajudeen, H. Oladipo, I. Oladunjoye, Rashidat Onyinoyi Yusuf, Hammed Sodiq, Abass Olawale Omotosho, D. Adesuyi, Sodiq Inaolaji Yusuff, M. El-Sherbini","doi":"10.3390/challe13020060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/challe13020060","url":null,"abstract":"Arboviruses are most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, where arthropods are widespread. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that the mortality burden of arbovirus diseases, such as yellow fever in Africa, was 84,000–170,000 severe cases and 29,000–60,000 deaths in 2013. These epidemics emphasize the urgent need for integrated control and prevention of arboviral diseases. Challenges in managing and controlling arboviral diseases in Africa are mainly attributed to poor insect vector control, insecticide resistance, and poor sanitation and solid waste management. The removal or reduction of mosquito populations amongst susceptible individuals is identified as the most effective measure to control many vector-borne diseases. Current public health needs call for efficient vector control programs and maintenance of adequate surveillance systems through the availability of trained personnel and rapid diagnostic facilities, providing an interdisciplinary response to control and mitigate the threats of emerging and re-emerging arboviruses. Furthermore, research priorities should focus on understanding the factors responsible for adaptation to other vectors, determinants of infection and transmission, and the development of high efficiency antiviral molecules or candidate vaccines. Here, we explore and review our current understanding of arboviruses of public health importance in Africa, with a focus on emerging arboviruses, their arthropod vectors, and the epidemiology of major arboviruses. Finally, we appraise the role of planetary health in addressing the threat of arboviruses and identify other priority areas of research for effective control.","PeriodicalId":91008,"journal":{"name":"Challenges","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73505258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Since 2019, we have been living and working in close connection with the threat of an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus [...]
自2019年以来，我们的生活和工作一直与SARS-CoV-2病毒引起的传染病的威胁密切相关。
{"title":"Challenges in Work and Employment during the COVID-19 Pandemic","authors":"S. Kalliola, T. Heiskanen","doi":"10.3390/challe13020059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/challe13020059","url":null,"abstract":"Since 2019, we have been living and working in close connection with the threat of an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus [...]","PeriodicalId":91008,"journal":{"name":"Challenges","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78816973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Debates about the true purpose of education have increased globally in recent years, with climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating interest in the subject. It has become clear that education systems play a vital role not only in shaping the values, mindsets and ethical behaviours that we need for caring and responsible societies, but also in influencing our everyday interactions with the environment. To that end, wellbeing always concerns the triple nature of self, others and the natural world and there is increasing recognition of the need to move from a primary focus on personal happiness and attainment to a more balanced interest in the optimisation of human flourishing within the context of sustainable and regenerative futures. This article introduces the educational work of the Flourish Project, exploring the degree to which schools need to be understood as living systems and the way curricular frameworks, as they currently stand, may be inadvertently contributing to human languishing rather than flourishing. It explains the thinking behind the Flourish Model and describes the way in which the educational aspect of the Flourish Project hopes to contribute not only to the ongoing debate concerning the role of flourishing in education, but also to the growing global interest in the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) as skills and qualities that are vital for purposeful, sustainable, and productive lives.
{"title":"Education for Human Flourishing—A New Conceptual Framework for Promoting Ecosystemic Wellbeing in Schools","authors":"W. Ellyatt","doi":"10.3390/challe13020058","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/challe13020058","url":null,"abstract":"Debates about the true purpose of education have increased globally in recent years, with climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating interest in the subject. It has become clear that education systems play a vital role not only in shaping the values, mindsets and ethical behaviours that we need for caring and responsible societies, but also in influencing our everyday interactions with the environment. To that end, wellbeing always concerns the triple nature of self, others and the natural world and there is increasing recognition of the need to move from a primary focus on personal happiness and attainment to a more balanced interest in the optimisation of human flourishing within the context of sustainable and regenerative futures. This article introduces the educational work of the Flourish Project, exploring the degree to which schools need to be understood as living systems and the way curricular frameworks, as they currently stand, may be inadvertently contributing to human languishing rather than flourishing. It explains the thinking behind the Flourish Model and describes the way in which the educational aspect of the Flourish Project hopes to contribute not only to the ongoing debate concerning the role of flourishing in education, but also to the growing global interest in the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) as skills and qualities that are vital for purposeful, sustainable, and productive lives.","PeriodicalId":91008,"journal":{"name":"Challenges","volume":"69 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85883302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Madison Kircher, Brenna M Doheny, Kristin K. Raab, Emily Onello, Stephanie D. Gingerich, Teddie Potter
Climate change is an urgent public health issue that is impacting health locally and across the world. Healthcare professionals are on the front lines for public health, caring for people affected by climate change; yet few studies have assessed their knowledge and experiences of local climate change effects. The purpose of this study was to improve our understanding of the health impacts of climate change in Minnesota from the perspective of healthcare professionals. An electronic survey was administered by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to a convenience sample of Board-certified nurses and physicians in Minnesota. Seventy-five percent of respondents agreed that climate change is happening, and 60% agreed that it is currently impacting the health of their patients. However, only 21% felt well prepared to discuss climate change, and only 4% discussed climate change with all or most of their patients. Similarly, results from open-ended questions highlighted the importance of climate change and acknowledged the challenges of discussing this topic. While most respondents recognized the health impacts of climate change, they also reported feeling uncomfortable discussing climate change with patients. Thus, there is an opportunity to develop targeted resources to support healthcare professionals in addressing climate change.
{"title":"Understanding the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthcare Professionals toward Climate Change and Health in Minnesota","authors":"Madison Kircher, Brenna M Doheny, Kristin K. Raab, Emily Onello, Stephanie D. Gingerich, Teddie Potter","doi":"10.3390/challe13020057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/challe13020057","url":null,"abstract":"Climate change is an urgent public health issue that is impacting health locally and across the world. Healthcare professionals are on the front lines for public health, caring for people affected by climate change; yet few studies have assessed their knowledge and experiences of local climate change effects. The purpose of this study was to improve our understanding of the health impacts of climate change in Minnesota from the perspective of healthcare professionals. An electronic survey was administered by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to a convenience sample of Board-certified nurses and physicians in Minnesota. Seventy-five percent of respondents agreed that climate change is happening, and 60% agreed that it is currently impacting the health of their patients. However, only 21% felt well prepared to discuss climate change, and only 4% discussed climate change with all or most of their patients. Similarly, results from open-ended questions highlighted the importance of climate change and acknowledged the challenges of discussing this topic. While most respondents recognized the health impacts of climate change, they also reported feeling uncomfortable discussing climate change with patients. Thus, there is an opportunity to develop targeted resources to support healthcare professionals in addressing climate change.","PeriodicalId":91008,"journal":{"name":"Challenges","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88028617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
After decades of being ignored, the concept of beauty, as understood by the non-architect, has recently been making a comeback in architecture, not so much in the practice itself, as in appeals for design solutions that are more human-centered and not dictated by abstract principles. Architectural beauty needs to be evaluated from its effects on human health. This study discusses two diagnostic tools for measuring the degree of architectural “beauty” and presents the results of the pilot application of one of them. The goal is to use diagnostic imaging for evaluations. Analytical elements are introduced from disciplines with which practitioners are normally not familiar, such as artificial intelligence, medicine, neuroscience, visual attention and image-processing software, etc. In addition to the diagnostic tools, this paper ties related ideas on objective beauty into a novel synthesis. These results support the idea of a feasible, “objective” way to evaluate what the users will consider as beautiful, and set the stage for an upcoming larger study that will quantitatively correlate the two methods.
{"title":"Architectural Beauty: Developing a Measurable and Objective Scale","authors":"A. Lavdas, N. Salingaros","doi":"10.3390/challe13020056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/challe13020056","url":null,"abstract":"After decades of being ignored, the concept of beauty, as understood by the non-architect, has recently been making a comeback in architecture, not so much in the practice itself, as in appeals for design solutions that are more human-centered and not dictated by abstract principles. Architectural beauty needs to be evaluated from its effects on human health. This study discusses two diagnostic tools for measuring the degree of architectural “beauty” and presents the results of the pilot application of one of them. The goal is to use diagnostic imaging for evaluations. Analytical elements are introduced from disciplines with which practitioners are normally not familiar, such as artificial intelligence, medicine, neuroscience, visual attention and image-processing software, etc. In addition to the diagnostic tools, this paper ties related ideas on objective beauty into a novel synthesis. These results support the idea of a feasible, “objective” way to evaluate what the users will consider as beautiful, and set the stage for an upcoming larger study that will quantitatively correlate the two methods.","PeriodicalId":91008,"journal":{"name":"Challenges","volume":"118 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77931038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annukka Tapani, Merja Sinkkonen, Kirsi Sjöblom, Katrien Vangrieken, Anne Mäkikangas
The aim of this study was to investigate experiences of relatedness among higher education staff during enforced remote work caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Experiences were investigated both at the earliest stages of enforced remote work (April 2020) and in November/December 2021. Remote work experiences were analysed through the lens of Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory, especially through the concept of relatedness. Within this framework, relatedness is described as one of three basic psychological needs affecting health, well-being, and productivity. The main research focus includes ascertaining which factors affect experiences of relatedness among employees in higher education at work at the beginning of enforced remote work and at the end of it. The study uses qualitative data collected from Finnish university employees, analysed using theory-driven content analysis. The analysis of the two datasets enabled us to identify three categories of relatedness: (1) interaction among co-workers, (2) feelings of care and (3) experiences of connectedness. The results showed that the experience of relatedness was severely challenged during the enforced work period. In the future, the need for relatedness needs to be addressed more deliberately in multi-locational work conditions because remote work is especially affecting the experiences of relatedness. Positive experiences of relatedness can be achieved even in remote work conditions with deliberate and thought-out actions, for example by developing good remote interaction practices within the team and remote leadership practices that convey care for the employees.
{"title":"Experiences of Relatedness during Enforced Remote Work among Employees in Higher Education","authors":"Annukka Tapani, Merja Sinkkonen, Kirsi Sjöblom, Katrien Vangrieken, Anne Mäkikangas","doi":"10.3390/challe13020055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/challe13020055","url":null,"abstract":"The aim of this study was to investigate experiences of relatedness among higher education staff during enforced remote work caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Experiences were investigated both at the earliest stages of enforced remote work (April 2020) and in November/December 2021. Remote work experiences were analysed through the lens of Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory, especially through the concept of relatedness. Within this framework, relatedness is described as one of three basic psychological needs affecting health, well-being, and productivity. The main research focus includes ascertaining which factors affect experiences of relatedness among employees in higher education at work at the beginning of enforced remote work and at the end of it. The study uses qualitative data collected from Finnish university employees, analysed using theory-driven content analysis. The analysis of the two datasets enabled us to identify three categories of relatedness: (1) interaction among co-workers, (2) feelings of care and (3) experiences of connectedness. The results showed that the experience of relatedness was severely challenged during the enforced work period. In the future, the need for relatedness needs to be addressed more deliberately in multi-locational work conditions because remote work is especially affecting the experiences of relatedness. Positive experiences of relatedness can be achieved even in remote work conditions with deliberate and thought-out actions, for example by developing good remote interaction practices within the team and remote leadership practices that convey care for the employees.","PeriodicalId":91008,"journal":{"name":"Challenges","volume":"85 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76969015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Z. H. Kahsay, A. Tesema, Ferehiwot Hailemariam Tesfa, Bisrat Tewelde Gebretsadkan, Welday Hagos Gebretsadik, Maree Hackett
Background: Substance misuse is a public health concern among University students. Understanding the critical times and places for substance misuse among University students helps to inform effective preventive strategies. However, there is a dearth of studies in Ethiopian Universities on this topic. Here, we aimed to explore the patterns of psychoactive substance misuse, specifically about time and places, among undergraduate students at Mekelle University. Subject and Methods: An explorative qualitative study design was conducted in 2017. Five focus-group discussions among substance user students followed by eleven in-depth interviews with the user and non-user students, proctors, and a bar owners were conducted. In addition, four key informant researchers were involved. Participants were purposefully selected. The data were audio taped, transcribed verbatim and imported into Atlas.ti qualitative data analysis software version 7.5 for coding and analysis. Data were analyzed inductively to capture the emerging themes. Results: Our study showed that students consume alcohol in the evenings, on weekend days, holidays, after exams and at celebrations; smoke cigarettes after waking in the morning and after eating lunch. Concurrent substance use like smoking cigarettes, chewing Khat and drinking alcohol was evident. Khat chewing was reported mainly around noon, in the afternoon and on weekends. Substance use generally peaks at weekends, at the start and end of academic semesters, and when graduation approaches. However, students who become addicted may continue using substances. Students easily accessed and used substances around and inside the gates of the campuses. Conclusion: Event-specific celebrations are linked with substance misuse among University students. The ease with which students can access substances around the campuses increases the likelihood of substance misuse. Proactive interventions that include the provision of alcohol-free recreational alternatives to events on campus, high-risk substance misuse surveillance, tobacco cessation interventions, and promoting plain packaging are recommended.
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