Mobile Phones, Restrictions and Discontinuities

By means of a qualitative approach I bring insights on the relationship older people (60+) have with mobile communication in a low income district of Lima (Peru). The case study I conducted in September 2013 included interviews and one focus group with 20 inhabitants of San Juan de Miraflores district. The user/non-user dichotomous classification turned out to be too narrow in this context. While some participants reported a common, bidirectional use of the device, restrictions and discontinuities played a role. Some described an asymmetric use of the mobile phone, as they used it exclusively for receiving calls, while never making outgoing calls. Others described discontinuities in ownership, which was the case when their mobile was stolen and they could not replace it immediately. My initial hypothesis is that such restrictions are related to income, skills and age.

M-Learning + Facebook: experiencias y percepciones de estudiantes de diseño

Durante los últimos años, diversas instituciones y universidades han comenzado a experimentar con el m-learning y Facebook a través de diferentes proyectos como parte de sus metodologías de aprendizaje y como una oportunidad para trabajar con los jóvenes. Sin embargo, poco se sabe de las percepciones y experiencias que pueden obtener estudiantes de diseño sobre este tema. En este estudio 24 estudian - tes han completado sus actividades de aprendizaje durante dos meses, utilizando un smarthphone y la popular red social Facebook. Al final del plazo, los estudiantes participaron además en un grupo de discusión para expresar sus experiencias. Los resultados indicaron que los estudiantes utilizaron Facebook como parte de su rutina diaria y que fueron creadores de contenido proporcionando estos a otros. Además los resultados indican que durante el primer mes perdieron mucho tiempo observando contenidos propuestos en Facebook, que después comentaron. El grupo en Facebook fue utilizado para la interacción social principalmente con otros estudiantes y el profesor, como un complemento a las sesiones presenciales. Los resultados obtenidos y el empleo de estrategias, puede ayudar a la concep - tualización del m-learning y mostrar como Facebook puede funcionar como un entorno de aprendizaje para apoyar la enseñanza y aprendizaje en el área del diseño.

Multidimensionalidad de la Pedagogía Hospitalaria desde la Transdisciplinariedad: Análisis de Necesidades en los Itinerarios Formativos

Esta comunicación pretende presentar los objetivos y la metodología de investigación de un proyecto que recoge las impresiones de los distintos agentes que intervienen en la atención de los niños (as) y jóvenes en situación de enfermedad, e identificar y establecer las necesidades en materia de formación integral desde un punto de vista transdisciplinar. Se trata de una investigación en proceso, la cual ha sido diseñada con metodología de investigación cual ativa, a través de la realización de grupos de discusión (focus group) y planteada en dos etapas para cada país: 1) Realización de grupos de discusión en Venezuela, Italia, España y Estados Unidos registrados mediante audio-grabadoras y realización de la transcripción de las grabaciones; 2) Análisis hermenéutico de las transcripciones a través del programa Atlas-Ti, 6.2, con el diseño de categorías y subcategorías para los diferentes países, para comparar los resultados obtenidos en cada caso.

Satisfaction with pregnancy and delivery services: The quality of maternity care services as experienced by women

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the opinions of women regarding the satisfaction about the quality of maternity care received. We hope to establish whether health care technology increases satisfaction or whether it actually interferes with the construction of personal satisfaction in the process of care. Design and setting: Information was gathered using the focus group technique. The area of study comprised the post-natal groups run as part of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme of the Catalan Health Authority. (Spain) Participants: Five focus groups were held between May 2006 and July 2007. Findings: Quality of care is a complex concept in which a number of independent core features can be identified. We have grouped these core features into three basic categories. Safety: the hospital and its technological facilities, and the technical expertise of health professionals. The other two main pillars of quality of care are the human dimension of the relationship between the carers and the patient, and finally the structural aspects that determine the context in which the heath care is provided. Key conclusions and implications for practice: The mothers of our study feel satisfied with healthcare technology and view it as a source of security; technology become indispensable features in order to reduce the anxiety provoked by the perceived lack of confidence in their ability as mothers. In this study, women, both during pregnancy and especially when giving birth, believe their feelings and values should be understood by professionals, from whom they seek empathy and a personal commitment, and not just information.

Satisfaction with pregnancy and delivery services: The quality of maternity care services as experienced by women

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the opinions of women regarding the satisfaction about the quality of maternity care received. We hope to establish whether health care technology increases satisfaction or whether it actually interferes with the construction of personal satisfaction in the process of care. Design and setting: Information was gathered using the focus group technique. The area of study comprised the post-natal groups run as part of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme of the Catalan Health Authority. (Spain) Participants: Five focus groups were held between May 2006 and July 2007. Findings: Quality of care is a complex concept in which a number of independent core features can be identified. We have grouped these core features into three basic categories. Safety: the hospital and its technological facilities, and the technical expertise of health professionals. The other two main pillars of quality of care are the human dimension of the relationship between the carers and the patient, and finally the structural aspects that determine the context in which the heath care is provided. Key conclusions and implications for practice: The mothers of our study feel satisfied with healthcare technology and view it as a source of security; technology become indispensable features in order to reduce the anxiety provoked by the perceived lack of confidence in their ability as mothers. In this study, women, both during pregnancy and especially when giving birth, believe their feelings and values should be understood by professionals, from whom they seek empathy and a personal commitment, and not just information.

Estrés del terapeuta ocupacional

Desde que inicié el grado en Terapia Ocupacional, he vivido en primera persona situaciones de estrés seguramente causadas por diferentes factores: viajes diarios incómodos, comidas fuera de casa, horas frente al ordenador, falta de descanso y poca vida social. El estrés ha influenciado de forma negativa en mi salud, provocando en algunas épocas, no rendir al 100% en los estudios. Me interesa saber si los terapeutas ocupacionales que ejercen en Cataluña trabajan bajo condiciones de estrés. Otro objetivo de este estudio es comprender, si es el caso, experiencias reales de terapeutas ocupacionales acerca del estrés del terapeuta. Discutir sobre si impacta de forma negativa en la práctica profesional y determinar de qué forma, redefinir los factores desencadenantes y describir qué tipo de estrategias ponen en uso para afrontar el estrés. La metodología utilizada, debido a la naturaleza de la pregunta de investigación, tiene un enfoque cualitativo con un paradigma hermenéutico. Como técnicas de recolección de información se utiliza el grupo de discusión y el cuestionario. La escasa investigación acerca de la temática, ha llevado a tener que crear el formato de las técnicas a partir de documentos relevantes encontrados tras la búsqueda bibliográfica en diferentes bases de datos y revistas de terapia ocupacional. Los resultados del estudio, podrían ser útiles para llegar a crear una guía para combatir el estrés, incluso para prevenirlo en estudiantes de Terapia Ocupacional.

Smoked cocaine in socially-depressed areas

Background: The main objectives of this study are to describe the smoked cocaine user's profile in socially-depressed areas and their needs from a harm-reduction perspective, to investigate their use of smoking crack and compare the acute effects between injecting and smoking consumption. Methods: The study took place in SAPS, Barcelona, Spain. Two focus group sessions were undertaken with a total of 8 drug users. Secondly, the 8 participants answered a structured questionnaire and in the course of the sessions, as a snowball activity, were trained to survey 6 other crack smokers. Results: We obtained 56 questionnaires. The majority of participants were from non-European Community countries (62.69%), 70.2% of participants referred to sharing the smoking equipment. The most frequent symptoms reported during smoked cocaine were mydriasis (83.33%)), perspiration (72.92%) and compulsive object search (70.83%) During the group sessions, participants said that smoked cocaine is much more addictive than injected cocaine and causes more anxiety. Participants also reported the difficulty of changing from injected use to smoked use, due to the larger amount of cocaine needed to reach the same effects as when having injected. Conclusions We can conclude that the research, focused on achieving greater knowledge of the smoked cocaine user's profile, their usage of smoking crack, consumption patterns and acute effects, should be incorporated into substance misuse interventions.