Development of a condition-specific measure of quality of life for children with cerebral palsy: empirical thematic data reported by parents and children

Background: Although there is increasing recognition that quality of life (QOL) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are important outcome variables in clinical trials for children with cerebral palsy, there are substantial limitations in existing measures of QOL. This study identify themes of QOL for children with cerebral palsy and their parents to guide the development of a new condition-specific QOL scale. Methods: A qualitative study of parent and child views on QOL composition was conducted, using a grounded theory framework. Families participated in semistructured interviews on QOL until thematic saturation was reached (n = 28 families). Results: Overall, 13 themes emerged from the interviews: physical health, body pain and discomfort, daily living tasks, participation in regular physical and social activities, emotional well-being and self-esteem, interaction with the community, communication, family health, supportive physical environment, future QOL, provision of, and access to services, financial stability, and social well-being. Conclusions: Research with parents and children with cerebral palsy, representative of severity across the disease spectrum and socio-economic status, reinforced and expanded on the traditional themes that have underpinned QOL measurement development. This has implications not only for the development of a new QOL scale for children with cerebral palsy, but also for clinical interventions and community care management.

Applying critical discourse analysis in strategic management research

Critical discourse analysis has become an increasingly popular methodology in organization and management studies. In this article, the authors explore the potential for this methodology to be more widely used in strategic management research. They begin by identifying three research approaches that, to a greater or lesser extent, share a concern with the relationship between language and the formulation and implementation of strategy—strategy as a system of shared meaning, strategy as text and talk, and strategy as truth. They then discuss how critical discourse analysis can be used to extend and develop these approaches by exploiting their underlying complementarities. Finally, using the example of a recently completed case study of strategic change in a large banking and financial services institution, they explore the practical implications of applying critical discourse analysis in strategic management research.

Determinants of Central bank independence and governance : problems and policy implications

Central bank independence and governance (CBIG) is a term subject to conflicting definitions and so its related studies are difficult to compare. This paper therefore focuses on developing of a more useable definition, and an index model identifying the determinants of independence and governance and their possible policy implications. It also examines various independence measurement tools such as ranking and index. The index model resulting centres on key central bank independence and corporate governance issues, such as, legal aspects, political aspects, price stability objective aspects, exchange rate policy aspects, monetary policy and deficit financing aspects and finally, transparency and accountability aspects.

The impact of caring for a child with cerebral palsy : quality of life for mothers and fathers

Background:  Although it is expected that caring for a child with cerebral palsy (CP) can impact on the quality of life (QOL) of caregivers, the QOL of carers' has yet to be adequately examined. The aims of this study are to: (1) explore the QOL of mothers and fathers of children with CP aged 3–18 years; and (2) examine whether the impact of caring for a child with CP changes from childhood to adolescence.

Method: A qualitative study was conducted utilizing a grounded theory framework. Twenty-four mothers and 13 fathers of children and adolescents with CP aged 3–7 years (n = 15), 8–12 years (n = 10) and 13–18 years (n = 12) and with varying levels of impairment (GMFCS Level I = 1, II = 4, II = 3, IV = 5, V = 12) participated in semi-structured interviews about their QOL. The transcripts were analysed to identify issues affecting parental QOL.

Results: There were no differences in parental QOL among subgroups (i.e. mothers and fathers, age groups, GMFCS levels). Parental QOL ranged across a wide spectrum. Caring for a child with CP affects a parent's physical well-being, social well-being, freedom and independence, family well-being and financial stability. Parents indicated that they often feel unsupported by the services they access.

Conclusions: Caring for a child with CP can both positively and negatively impact on a parent's life. There is value for both parents and children if parental concerns and determinants of QOL are considered in overall programme planning and service delivery for children and their families.

An empirical analysis of the factors affecting bank crises in Japan : learning points for Bangladesh

This paper analyzes the factors that affect bank crises in Japan. There are numerous factors, qualitative and quantitative, identified from the analysis. For the quantitative analysis, the study employs the factor analysis, which detects three major components of factors that affect banking or financial crises in Japan. These are (i) common macro factors; (ii) bank sensitive micro factors; and (iii) household spending related factors. There are other factors, for example, policy dilemma, delayed or faulty deregulation measures and weak banking activities, which are not extracted from the factor analysis but adversely affect bank crises in Japan and hence discussed in details. The paper indicates some policy implications for the banking/financial sector of Bangladesh.

Poetic boundary conditions : Australian poets in the ivory tower

This article explores the experience of women poets in academe and posits that by institutionalising themselves in universities, women poets gain financial stability by working in the wider field of poetry. However, they also face discrimination and a lack of opportunity in these workplaces. The article uses two case studies of poets Maria Takolander and Jill Jones, who work at Deakin University and the University of Adelaide, Australia, respectively. These case studies show the way in which these poets explore the experience of academe in their poetry.

Basiléia II e exigência de capital para risco de crédito dos bancos no Brasil

Com a implementação do Acordo de Basiléia II no Brasil, os grandes conglomerados bancários poderão utilizar o chamado modelo IRB (Internal Ratings Based) para cômputo da parcela de risco de crédito da exigência de capital. O objetivo deste trabalho é mensurar a diferença entre o capital mínimo exigido (e, conseqüentemente, do Índice de Basiléia) calculado pela abordagem IRB em relação à regulamentação atual. Para isso, foram estimadas probabilidades de inadimplência (PD) utilizando matrizes de transição construídas a partir dos dados da Central de Risco de Crédito (SCR) do Banco Central do Brasil. Os resultados indicam aumento da exigência de capital, ao contrário do ocorrido nos países do G-10

Impacto das regulamentações no sistema financeiro : uma análise sobre Basiléia e seus custos implícitos no Brasil

A pesquisa visa entender o impacto das regulamentações no sistema financeiro considerando as teorias sobre ciclos econômicos e contextualizando para a implementação de Basileia 3 no mercado brasileiro em 2013. Para desenvolver foram analisados modelo teórico e teste via simulação no programa NETLOGO, considerando-se o numero de instituições financeiras no mercado brasileiro alterando as restrições e colhendo os resultados gráficos. A abordagem teórica para melhor entender os impactos das regulamentações foi feita através da análise da bibliografia disponível sobre Hipótese da Instabilidade Financeira. Em linha com a literatura abordada, há evidências do impacto negativo das regulamentações em sistemas que apresentam choques negativos de produtividade, ainda levando-se em consideração a capacidade das instituições financeiras, no que diz respeito a estrutura de seus balanços para suportarem tais eventos.

A crise financeira e a política monetária no Brasil

A crise financeira iniciada em 2007 gerou uma grande recessão nos Estados Unidos e abalou a economia global com consequências nefastas para o crescimento e a taxa de desemprego em vários países. Os principais Bancos Centrais do mundo passaram a dar maior importância para políticas que garantam a estabilidade financeira. É consensual a necessidade de avanços regulatórios e de medidas prudenciais capazes de reduzir os riscos financeiros, mas existem divergências quanto ao uso da taxa básica de juros, não só como um instrumento necessário para garantir a estabilidade de preços, como também para garantir a estabilidade financeira e evitar a formação de bolhas. O Brasil viveu nos últimos vinte anos um período de grande expansão do mercado de crédito, fruto das estabilidades econômica e financeira. O Banco Central do Brasil teve atuação exitosa durante a crise e demonstrou habilidade em utilizar instrumentos de política monetária e medidas macroprudenciais de forma complementar. Nos últimos quatro anos, as condições macroeconômicas se deterioraram e o Brasil atravessou um período de crescimento baixo, inflação próxima ao teto da meta e aumento do endividamento. Enquanto as políticas macroprudenciais foram capazes de evitar a formação de bolhas, as políticas fiscal e monetária foram demasiadamente expansionistas. Neste período houve um enfraquecimento na função-reação do Banco Central, que deixou de respeitar o princípio de Taylor.

Experiência da gravidez após os 35 anos de mulheres com baixa renda

Objetivou-se apreender as representações sociais sobre gravidez após os 35 anos a partir de mulheres com baixa renda que vivenciaram essa experiência. A abordagem qualitativa foi empregada com base na Teoria das Representações Sociais. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com 25 gestantes usuárias de um serviço público de referência do interior paulista. Os dados foram sistematizados pela técnica do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. Verificou-se que a opção pela gravidez tardia se atrela ao desejo da mulher de consolidar suas relações em novas uniões conjugais, à estabilidade financeira e à maturidade do casal. As mulheres representam esta experiência como positiva, se houver planejamento prévio, envolvimento do companheiro e se for bem aceita pela família, após sua constatação. Sem a satisfação destas condições, as representações revestem-se de sentimentos negativos ligados a dor, sofrimento e morte. As conclusões deste estudo enfatizam a importância de os serviços públicos de saúde considerarem estes aspectos.

Growth, instability and the convertibility crisis in Argentina

Includes bibliography

The determinants of recent foreign bank penetration in Brazil

Includes bibliography

Capital flows to Latin America: recent developments

Includes bibliography