http://hdl.handle.net/2173/550 Tue, 21 May 2013 14:44:26 GMT 2013-05-21T14:44:26Z http://www.e-space.mmu.ac.uk:80/e-space/retrieve/2821/montage2.jpg http://hdl.handle.net/2173/550 http://hdl.handle.net/2173/198529 Title: Working life in rural micro-enterprises: old forms of organisation in the new economy Authors: Baines, Susan; Wheelock, Jane; Oughton, Elizabeth Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2173/198529 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2173/198289 Title: Can online discussions help student social workers learn when studying communication? Authors: Domakin, Alison Abstract: Research shows that despite the potential of online discussions to stimulate meaningful debate, locating evidence of complex engagement with ideas in online discussions has proved difficult. This paper explores student social workers' perceptions of learning from participation in online discussions and analyses how these can be used most effectively to develop understanding about interpersonal communication. The research context was a communication unit on a social work degree in which online discussions were used regularly. Student questionnaires were analysed and compared with a grounded theory analysis of online postings. The results suggest that using online discussions is an emotive experience for students. A model of using online discussion to teach communication skills is proposed, building on the work of Gunawardena et al., in which the links between ‘process knowledge’ (how students experience online discussion) and ‘content knowledge’ (the curriculum) are used as learning material. It is argued that deeper learning may result from examination of this dynamic. Further research to investigate applications of this model in social work education is needed. Description: Full-text of this article is not available in this e-prints service. This article was originally published following peer-review in Social Work Education, published by and copyright Routledge. Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2173/198289 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2173/109062 Title: Reconstructing nursing altruism using a biological evolutionary framework. Authors: Haigh, Carol Abstract: AIM: This paper presents a discussion of the role of altruism in development of the discipline of nursing and an exploration of how nursing altruism compares with current thinking in biological evolutionary theory. There is an assumption that the role of the nurse has its foundations in altruistic behaviours; however, the source of this altruism is never analysed or debated. DATA SOURCES: A search of the biological altruism, altruism and health-related literature encompassing the years 1975-2007 was performed using Google Scholar. DISCUSSION: The first element of the study is a brief overview of nursing altruism as a way of establishing the conceptual boundaries. Additionally, the major tenets of biological evolution are explored to clarify the theoretical underpinnings of the hypotheses presented. A key premise of this study is that nursing altruism is not solely a manifestation of disinterested sacrifice for the benefit of others, but is more concerned with ensuring the survival of a clearly defined social group. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: A re-evaluation of altruism as a motivating factor in nursing and as an element of the therapeutic relationship is long overdue. It is time that the nursing profession examined professional driving forces using more than traditional philosophical frameworks. CONCLUSION: Nursing altruism is programmed to ensure the survival of the meme rather than to act in the best interest of patients. Certainly patients reap the benefits of this selfish altruism, but that can be argued to be a side effect rather than a result. Description: Full-text of this article is not available in this e-prints service. This article was originally published following peer-review in Journal of Advanced Nursing, published by and copyright Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2173/109062 2010-06-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2173/108821 Title: The value of symptoms and signs in the emergent diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes Authors: Body, Richard; Carley, Simon; Wibberley, Christopher; McDowell, Garry; Ferguson, Jamie; Mackway-Jones, Kevin Abstract: Patient history and physical examination are widely accepted as cornerstones of diagnosis in modern medicine. We aimed to assess the value of individual historical and examination findings for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and predicting adverse cardiac events in undifferentiated Emergency Department (ED) patients with chest pain. We prospectively recruited patients presenting to the ED with suspected cardiac chest pain. Clinical features were recorded using a custom-designed report form. All patients were followed up for the diagnosis of AMI and the occurrence of adverse events (death, AMI or urgent revascularization) within 6 months.AMI was diagnosed in 148 (18.6%) of the 796 patients recruited. Following adjustment for age, sex and ECG changes, the following characteristics made AMI more likely (adjusted odds ratio, 95% confidence intervals): pain radiating to the right arm (2.23, 1.24–4.00), both arms (2.69, 1.36–5.36), vomiting (3.50, 1.81–6.77), central chest pain (3.29, 1.94–5.61) and sweating observed (5.18, 3.02–8.86). Pain in the left anterior chest made AMI significantly less likely (0.25, 0.14–0.46). The presence of rest pain (0.67, 0.41–1.10) or pain radiating to the left arm (1.36, 0.89–2.09) did not significantly alter the probability of AMI.Our results challenge many widely held assertions about the value of individual symptoms and signs in ED patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes. Several ‘atypical’ symptoms actually render AMI more likely, whereas many ‘typical’ symptoms that are often considered to identify high-risk populations have no diagnostic value. Description: Full-text of this article is not available in this e-prints service. This article was originally published following peer-review in Resuscitation, published by and copyright Elsevier. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2173/108821 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z