Alaska Native Elder-Centered Research Methodology

Alaska Native (AN) Elders have historically been underrepresented in research. Innovative AN research posits that practice-based evidence is fundamental to culturally grounded, multifaceted methods. AN Elders is a cultural convention distinguishing Elders who continue to serve as an integral part of their family and community and recognized by their community as role models. Several studies will be discussed which employed Elders at every level of the research, ensuring cultural relevancy, outcomes, and dissemination activities. The findings lay the foundation for an Elder-centered research methodology that can be adapted and applied in other studies to encourage engagement of older adults. This methodology has potential to impact research for underrepresented groups and to rethink and reshape Western-centric practices. Findings from this research provides best practices for capacity building and sustainability, strategies for empowerment and prevention, and a framework for supporting the AN community in all phases of research.

Quality of Life among Dialysis Patients in United Arab Emirates

<p>Background: Quality of Life (QOL) has emerged as an important parameter for evaluating the quality of health care for patients with renal failure. The QOL of dialysis patients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has not previously been studied. This research examined the cultural relevancy of two QOL tools and compared the QOL between dialysis patients and a sample from the community in UAE. Method: A descriptive comparative survey design was used to study the QOL of 161 dialysis patients and 350 participants from the community. Dialysis patients completed the SF-36 and the QOL Index dialysis version tool. Participants from the community completed the SF-36 and QOL Index generic version tool. Both samples also completed three open-ended questions about the cultural relevancy of the tools. Analysis using descriptive and inferential statistics was done within and between groups to establish similarities and differences in QOL scores. Open-ended questions were analysed thematically. Results: The overall QOL for dialysis patients was rated lower when self-assessed using the SF-36 compared with the community sample (58.92 vs. 75.02, p = <0.0001). Furthermore, the overall QOL for dialysis patients was rated almost the same when self-assessed using the QOL Index compared with the community sample (77.2 vs. 78.6, p = 0.421). Moreover, the total scores of both tools were higher in the community sample (75.02 vs. 78.6). The comparison between the statistically significant variables for both samples revealed contradictory results with the two tools. The majority of participants considered both tools culturally relevant in general. There were more questions that were not answered by participants in the QOL Index by both samples compared with the SF-36. Conclusion: In the UAE the SF 36 and the QOL Index capture different aspects of quality of life. Clinicians and researchers need to be aware of these differences when using these tools. An effective way of establishing the cultural relevancy of QOL tools involves comparing the QOL of a group with a health condition with a sample from the community, asking the participants about their views of the cultural relevancy of the tools, examining missing data, and asking participants open-ended questions about what they value in life.</p>

Quality of Life among Dialysis Patients in United Arab Emirates

<p>Background: Quality of Life (QOL) has emerged as an important parameter for evaluating the quality of health care for patients with renal failure. The QOL of dialysis patients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has not previously been studied. This research examined the cultural relevancy of two QOL tools and compared the QOL between dialysis patients and a sample from the community in UAE. Method: A descriptive comparative survey design was used to study the QOL of 161 dialysis patients and 350 participants from the community. Dialysis patients completed the SF-36 and the QOL Index dialysis version tool. Participants from the community completed the SF-36 and QOL Index generic version tool. Both samples also completed three open-ended questions about the cultural relevancy of the tools. Analysis using descriptive and inferential statistics was done within and between groups to establish similarities and differences in QOL scores. Open-ended questions were analysed thematically. Results: The overall QOL for dialysis patients was rated lower when self-assessed using the SF-36 compared with the community sample (58.92 vs. 75.02, p = <0.0001). Furthermore, the overall QOL for dialysis patients was rated almost the same when self-assessed using the QOL Index compared with the community sample (77.2 vs. 78.6, p = 0.421). Moreover, the total scores of both tools were higher in the community sample (75.02 vs. 78.6). The comparison between the statistically significant variables for both samples revealed contradictory results with the two tools. The majority of participants considered both tools culturally relevant in general. There were more questions that were not answered by participants in the QOL Index by both samples compared with the SF-36. Conclusion: In the UAE the SF 36 and the QOL Index capture different aspects of quality of life. Clinicians and researchers need to be aware of these differences when using these tools. An effective way of establishing the cultural relevancy of QOL tools involves comparing the QOL of a group with a health condition with a sample from the community, asking the participants about their views of the cultural relevancy of the tools, examining missing data, and asking participants open-ended questions about what they value in life.</p>

Vitrine-Gothic: A Secular Revival Of The Gothic

<p><b>Gothic for a time was the architectural style that represented all of Western civilization, in subsequent centuries it has been reasserted as the Western style in periods of cultural, national, and religious revivals. The thesis identifies the current societal conditions as conducive to potentially another such revival, this is the niche the thesis explored architecturally. To consider Gothic architecture in the context of modern secular society, using fractal based computational design to realize this ‘new secular Gothic’, a ‘Vitrine-Gothic’.</b></p> <p>The concept of a Vitrine-Gothic was explored through the development of tool sets and design processes, experimenting with the best methods for integrating fractals as a secular substitute for traditional Gothic symbolism. The tools aimed for maximal adaptability, and design control, which were tested by how well they responded to a range of secular user requirements derived from spiritual concepts. Demonstrated architecturally in the creation of experimental pavilion’s, illustrating the validity of the developed tools, and the cultural relevancy of the architectural results in aesthetic, and functional terms.</p> <p>The research suggests that there is an opportunity for merging digital tools with traditional architecture, to re-examine the fundamentals of traditional architecture in terms of aesthetics, function, symbolism, etc, in relation to the cultural and technological realities of modern society. Thus producing architectural results with greater cultural relevancy.</p>

Vitrine-Gothic: A Secular Revival Of The Gothic

<p><b>Gothic for a time was the architectural style that represented all of Western civilization, in subsequent centuries it has been reasserted as the Western style in periods of cultural, national, and religious revivals. The thesis identifies the current societal conditions as conducive to potentially another such revival, this is the niche the thesis explored architecturally. To consider Gothic architecture in the context of modern secular society, using fractal based computational design to realize this ‘new secular Gothic’, a ‘Vitrine-Gothic’.</b></p> <p>The concept of a Vitrine-Gothic was explored through the development of tool sets and design processes, experimenting with the best methods for integrating fractals as a secular substitute for traditional Gothic symbolism. The tools aimed for maximal adaptability, and design control, which were tested by how well they responded to a range of secular user requirements derived from spiritual concepts. Demonstrated architecturally in the creation of experimental pavilion’s, illustrating the validity of the developed tools, and the cultural relevancy of the architectural results in aesthetic, and functional terms.</p> <p>The research suggests that there is an opportunity for merging digital tools with traditional architecture, to re-examine the fundamentals of traditional architecture in terms of aesthetics, function, symbolism, etc, in relation to the cultural and technological realities of modern society. Thus producing architectural results with greater cultural relevancy.</p>

Examining Diversity: a Content Analysis of Cancer Depictions on Primetime Scripted Television

Entertainment programming provides a unique opportunity for cancer education, particularly for higher risk racial and ethnic minority groups. Cultural relevancy is key to quality narrative cancer communication, and minorities often prefer media content produced by and featuring members of their own cultural in-group. However, little is known about whether cancer depictions or the television programs they appear in are culturally diverse. Using media content analysis, this study aims to assess the cultural diversity of cancer depictions on primetime scripted television to reveal opportunities to improve cancer education through entertainment. Indicators used to assess cultural diversity at the program level and depiction levels were collected. Out of 111 television programs, 10 (9.01%) programs mentioned cancer, from which 37 cancer depictions were identified. However, the majority of cancer depictions involved White patients and White health providers. Depictions of coping and treatment also dominated with less than 10% of depictions discussing cancer prevention. These patterns reveal a missed opportunity in existing cancer narratives on primetime scripted television and a lack of representation of cultural, social, and environmental factors that affect the health of minority communities, who need to hear these messages the most.

Adapting the KAER Framework to Support Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia in Asian Americans

Asian Americans (AAs) are frequently diagnosed with dementia in advanced disease stages and have difficulty accessing services. The NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health, set out to culturally adapt The Kickstart-Assess-Evaluate-Refer (KAER) framework to support earlier detection of dementia in AA communities. Working with Bangladeshi, Chinese, and Korean senior centers, we used a participatory action approach to assess cultural relevancy, usability and acceptability of KAER to improve timely diagnosis and access to care. We found that community-based organizations (CBOs), not physicians, were often “first responders” in identifying and managing dementia. However, CBO staff felt unprepared to “Kickstart” discussions, found certain KAER questions were not culturally appropriate, and encountered barriers in communicating their concerns to physicians. Adaptations to KAER can maximize its impact and reach in AA communities. Suggestions include group education, as opposed to individualized screening, and stronger linkages between physicians and CBOs to ensure care continuity.

CULTURAL ASPECT OF TRANSLATION WHILE READING BETWEEN THE LINES OF THE KYRGYZ EPOS "MANAS"

In the article is considered the cultural relevancy of the text as a part of the text sphere. Cultural aspect of translation in the epic "Manas" includes such components as language, customs and traditions, relations between the people and animals, religious beliefs, food, time, space, greetings, and so on.

Is there a Gap between Research and Practice? Reflecting on the motivational climate and attitudes towards physical education (¿Hay una brecha entre la investigación y la práctica? Reflexionando sobre el clima motivacional y actitudes hacia la educación f

Over the last decades, motivational climate and students’ attitudes towards physical education has been extensively discussed by the teaching community and investigated in many socio-cultural contexts. Nevertheless, in some cases, there are numerous discrepancies between research and practice due to the cultural relevancy of physical education across educational systems, policy and teachers’ beliefs and practices. The purpose of this article is to analyze the existence of potential gaps between research and practice across socio-cultural contexts and suggest guidelines for future research and practice on motivational climate and attitudes towards physical education. In order to effectively create and disseminate knowledge, a broader focus on multiple contextual variables is needed which might help develop policies and evidence-based guidelines that reflect contextual intricacies across several socio-cultural contexts. In this article, we explore potential avenues for research and practice that might help increase our understanding about students’ attitudes towards physical education through an appropriate motivational climate. Resumen. A lo largo de las últimas décadas, el clima motivacional y las actitudes de los estudiantes hacia la educación física han sido ampliamente discutidos por la comunidad docente e investigados en muchos contextos socioculturales. Sin embargo, en algunos casos, existen numerosas discrepancias entre la investigación y la práctica debido a la relevancia cultural de la educación física en todos los sistemas educativos, políticas y creencias y prácticas de los docentes. El propósito de este artículo es analizar la existencia de posibles brechas entre la investigación y la práctica de la kinesiología en contextos sociocultural y sugerir pautas para futuras investigaciones y prácticas sobre el clima motivacional y las actitudes hacia la educación física. Para crear y difundir el conocimiento de manera efectiva, se necesita un enfoque más amplio en múltiples variables de contexto que puedan ayudar a desarrollar políticas y pautas basadas en evidencia que reflejen las complejidades contextuales en una variedad de contextos socioculturales. En este artículo, exploramos posibles vías de investigación y práctica que podrían ayudar a aumentar nuestra comprensión sobre las actitudes de los estudiantes hacia la educación física a través de un clima motivador apropiado.