Showing papers on "Empowerment published in 2022"

Empowerment in cancer patients: does peer support make a difference? A systematic review.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE Empowerment is critical for cancer patients to make informed choices, to manage medication, and to navigate through the oncological care system. Cancer peer support provides patients with information, emotional relief and may promote empowerment. This paper provides a systematic review of the literature examining the impact of cancer peer support interventions on psychological empowerment. METHODS PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO and PSYNDEX databases were systematically searched from inception until December 2020. We included quantitative studies, published in English or German, which examined peer-led cancer support interventions and their impact on the three components of psychological empowerment (intrapersonal, interactional and behavioural) among participating cancer patients. RESULTS Database searches and screening of relevant reference lists identified 2,336 potentially relevant articles. A total of 29 studies were included in the review. Active coping, self-efficacy and knowledge were the most prominent dimensions of empowerment in these studies. The majority of studies revealed that peer support led to a small to medium, significant increase in psychological empowerment, and was associated with further patient-reported benefits. CONCLUSIONS The existing evidence suggests a weak to moderate, positive association between cancer peer support and the three components of psychological empowerment among cancer patients. Peer support groups should be seen as an important element in cancer care and clinical practice and, thus, be more systematically involved in cancer care. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The energy futures we want: A research and policy agenda for energy transitions

Abstract: Understanding the energy transition is crucial for determining future business, societal and ecological trajectories. Upcoming economic, environmental and social change will depend on how energy policy will model energy transition and adapt to connected transformations. This paper has the purpose to draft a possible agenda to forecast and react to those changes. Opting for a sustainability perspective, the paper presents a possible roadmap, based on selected areas of intervention for the upcoming energy transition – knowledge, jobs, education, empowerment, regional cases, politics and policy action. The research argues that by acting on these pillars and consolidating duly action, the upcoming energy transitions will be more likely to experience desirable energy futures.

Empowerment in cancer patients: Does peer support make a difference? A systematic review

Abstract: Empowerment is critical for cancer patients to make informed choices, to manage medication, and to navigate through the oncological care system. Cancer peer support provides patients with information, emotional relief and may promote empowerment. This paper provides a systematic review of the literature examining the impact of cancer peer support interventions on psychological empowerment.

Essential jobs, remote work and digital surveillance: Addressing the COVID‐19 pandemic panopticon

Abstract: An unprecedented COVID-19-induced explosion in digital surveillance has reconfigured power relationships in professional settings. This article critically concentrates on the interplay between technology-enabled intrusive monitoring and the augmentation of managerial prerogatives in physical and digital workplaces. It identifies excessive supervision as the common denominator of “essential” and “remotable” activities, besides discussing the various drawbacks faced by the two categories of workers during (and after) the pandemic. It also assesses the adequacy of the current European Union legal framework in addressing the expansion of data-driven management. Social dialogue, workers' empowerment and digital literacy are identified as effective ways to promote organizational flexibility, well-being and competitiveness.

Do Access to Finance, Technical Know-How, and Financial Literacy Offer Women Empowerment Through Women’s Entrepreneurial Development?

Abstract: The motivation of the study is to gauge the effects of access to finance, technical know-how, and financial literacy on women’s empowerment through establishing women’s entrepreneurial development. A sample of 950 women-owned SMEs was considered, and structured questionnaires were sent from getting target responses. After careful assessment through the data cleansing procedure, it was found that only 795 responses are suitable for further investigation, implying the sample response rate for the study is 74.71%. The study implemented structural equation modeling and multivariate regression analysis for gauging the causal association that is direct and indirect effects of target variables. According to findings, a positive statistically significant linkage was revealed with women’s entrepreneurship sustainability and women empowerment. Furthermore, the mediating effects were also established for women’s empowerment. According to the study findings, it is suggested that for women entrepreneurship sustainability, effective policies surrounding financing accessibility, technical knowledge expansion, and financial understating have to be promulgated in the economy, which allows bringing women empowerment at large.

ICT tools for remote teaching and learning mathematics: A proposal for autonomy and engagements

Abstract: This paper explores the paradigm shift in using ICT tools while teaching mathematics remotely within the TPACK framework. Remote teaching is not only one of the primary modes of teaching and learning in the present context throughout the world but the transition from paper to the digital world, where mathematics teachers struggle to visualize the content concisely and clearly. This paper focuses on promoting pedagogy and learning and learner empowerment by emphasizing autonomy and engagement rather than technology. The ethos of this paper is all about encouraging the mathematics teachers to promote the students for quality engagement while teaching remotely. However, all the remotely leading ICT tools require some techniques and methodologies, thereby the mathematics teachers' skill, experience, and expertise. Those skills, experiences, and expertise will be developed by excelling in mathematics teachers' ICT tools. This paper shall be one of the guiding principles for mathematics teachers (but not limited to) while dealing with the mathematics content remotely and/or in any other mode.

The role of empowerment of the cooperative and msme office in the development of small and medium micro enterprises in medan city

Abstract: Medan City Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) development still faces several obstacles such as capital, marketing, the use of technology, human resource capabilities, and business licensing. Based on the background of the research, the purpose of this study is; analyzing the empowerment provided by Medan City SMEs to SMEs in Medan; analyzing the development of SMEs in Medan City that have received empowerment from Medan City Cooperatives Service and SMEs; The research method used is qualitative with descriptive. The results showed that the role of Medan City Cooperatives and SMEs office has been able to increase the development of SMEs in Medan City in terms of improving product quality, product diversification, production amount, and business profits. The development occurred mainly due to the empowerment of product marketing and ease of licensing. However, there are some drawbacks in the empowerment of technology utilization and empowerment of HR capabilities in the form of training programs that have not run optimally and evenly. Capital empowerment is also still lacking because the capital of equipment assistance has not been fully able to overcome the constraints of capital funding in SMEs.

"Parents' views Questionnaire for the education of emotions in Autism Spectrum Disorder" in a Greek context and the role of ICTs

Abstract: International research highlights the benefits of parental involvement in education [1] of children with ASD in parent behavioral training programs for children, and particular interest is the involvement of parents in socio-emotional learning programs, an area in which people with ASD, using serious serious digital games [2] and aiming for their emotional empowerment. This paper presents the results and their interpretation, as they emerged from the completion of a questionnaire regarding the views of parents' participation in an educational intervention program to strengthen the emotional intelligence of people with ASD.

The challenge of the Molecular Tumor Board empowerment in clinical oncology practice: A Position Paper on behalf of the AIOM- SIAPEC/IAP-SIBioC-SIC-SIF-SIGU-SIRM Italian Scientific Societies

Abstract: The development of innovative technologies and the advances in the genetics and genomics, have offered new opportunities for personalized treatment in oncology. Although the selection of the patient based on the molecular characteristics of the neoplasm has the potential to revolutionize the therapeutic scenario of oncology, this approach is extremely challenging. The access, homogeneity, and economic sustainability of the required genomic tests should be warranted in the clinical practice, as well as the specific scientific and clinical expertise for the choice of medical therapies. All these elements make essential the collaboration of different specialists within the Molecular Tumor Boards (MTBs). In this position paper, based on experts' opinion, the AIOM-SIAPEC/IAP-SIBioC-SIC-SIF-SIGU-SIRM Italian Scientific Societies critically discuss the available molecular profiling technologies, the proposed criteria for the selection of patients candidate for evaluation by the MTB, the criteria for the selection and analysis of biological samples, and the regulatory and pharmaco-economic issues.

Bridging the Digital Gender Divide

Abstract: Women empowerment as a concept was introduced at the International Women Conference in 1985 at Nairobi, but it is yet to be achieved. Living in 21st century where both the genders are being taught and trained on women empowerment all over the world, there is a massive divide and an evident gap, both in terms of power and resources given to the women. Women are lagging behind men in almost every area. This gap become bigger if one looks into the digital realms and digital professions where women do not have the equal accessibility, affordability, and ICT-based education as compared to their male counterparts. In this backdrop, the chapter, by utilizing various national and international reports and inquiring various factors of digital gender divide, is an attempt to shed sufficient light on this prerequisite for women empowerment. The chapter concludes with the way forward which will lead us to a more digitally gender inclusive and sustainably developed society.

What about citizens? A literature review of citizen engagement in sustainability transitions research

Abstract: Public engagement is understood as a prerequisite for sustainability transitions. Yet, it has remained peripheral to the transitions research agenda and the efforts to engage citizens in transitions research remain scattered. Thus, there is a need to create a more holistic understanding of how citizens participate in knowledge co-creation for sustainability transitions. We review the sustainability transitions literature from the perspective of citizen engagement in research and provide an overview of the current situation. Overall, citizen engagement was relatively rare, and the reviewed articles remained only loosely connected to transitions approaches. We identified four key forms of citizen engagement in transitions research: (1) envisioning sustainable futures; (2) local transition implementation; (3) revealing public perceptions; and (4) developing participatory methods to facilitate transitions. These forms facilitate transitions in terms of participant empowerment and providing a broader understanding of practical circumstances. However, citizens rarely participated throughout the research process and the acknowledgement of citizens' local knowledge remained limited. There is a need to deepen citizen engagement in transitions research and more explicitly address power relations. More creative methods can better enable the active contribution of citizens. Finally, there is a need for more theoretical consideration on knowledge co-creation with citizens in sustainability transitions research.

Children of more empowered women are less likely to be left without vaccination in low- and middle-income countries: A global analysis of 50 DHS surveys

Abstract: Background To help provide a global understanding of the role of gender-related barriers to vaccination, we have used a broad measure of women’s empowerment and explored its association with the prevalence of zero-dose children aged 12-23 months across many low- and middle-income countries, using data from standardized national household surveys. Methods We used data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of 50 countries with information on both women’s empowerment and child immunisation. Zero-dose was operationally defined as the proportion of children who failed to receive any doses of the diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus containing vaccines (DPT). We measured women’s empowerment using the SWPER Global, an individual-level indicator estimated for women aged 15-49 years who are married or in union and with three domains: social independence, decision-making and attitude towards violence. We estimated two summary measures of inequality, the slope index of inequality (SII) and the concentration index (CIX). Results were presented for individual and pooled countries. Results In the country-level (ecological) analyses we found that the higher the proportion of women with high empowerment, the lower the zero-dose prevalence. In the individual level analyses, overall, children with highly-empowered mothers presented lower prevalence of zero-dose than those with less-empowered mothers. The social independence domain presented more consistent associations with zero-dose. In 42 countries, the lowest zero-dose prevalence was found in the high empowerment groups, with the slope index of inequality showing significant results in 28 countries. When we pooled all countries using a multilevel Poisson model, children from mothers in the low and medium levels of the social independence domain had respectively 3.3 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.3, 4.7) and 1.8 (95% CI = 1.5, 2.1) times higher prevalence of zero-dose compared to those in the high level. Conclusions Our country-level and individual-level analyses support the importance of women’s empowerment for child vaccination, especially in countries with weaker routine immunisation programs.

A Systematic Review of Black People Coping With Racism: Approaches, Analysis, and Empowerment

Abstract: This article reviews the current research literature concerning Black people in Western societies to better understand how they regulate their emotions when coping with racism, which coping strategies they use, and which strategies are functional for well-being. A systematic review of the literature was conducted, and 26 studies were identified on the basis of a comprehensive search of multiple databases and reference sections of relevant articles. Studies were quantitative and qualitative, and all articles located were from the United States or Canada. Findings demonstrate that Black people tend to cope with racism through social support (friends, family, support groups), religion (prayer, church, spirituality), avoidance (attempting to avoid stressors), and problem-focused coping (confronting the situation directly). Findings suggest gender differences in coping strategies. We also explore the relationship between coping with physical versus emotional pain and contrast functional versus dysfunctional coping approaches, underscoring the importance of encouraging personal empowerment to promote psychological well-being. Findings may help inform mental-health interventions. Limitations include the high number of American-based samples and exclusion of other Black ethnic and national groups, which is an important area for further exploration.

Empowering energy citizenship among the energy poor

Abstract: The literature on energy citizenship highlights that for citizens to be protagonists of the energy transition meaningfully, they should partake through not only their energy investment and consumption decisions, but also as social and political actors who can shape the energy system. This is especially crucial when looking at the energy poor, since they face multiple injustices. If the energy transition has also to seek fairness and equity, then those who are affected directly by injustices have to be empowered to have a play on how to achieve these goals. In this study, we identify exemplary mechanisms that could ease the journey from passive consumerism to active energy citizenship among the energy poor. To this aim, we develop a conceptual framework using the lenses of empowerment and energy justice and conduct a review of the literature and European projects. We find a majority of mechanisms focusing on empowering the capacity to consume energy and invest in energy efficiency. Other mechanisms empower the role of consumers, but take a broader perspective by acknowledging that the injustices, personal circumstances and often socially structured needs influence the energy poor's capacity to act. Finally, we identify mechanisms with a potential to empower the energy poor's role as political and social actors in the energy system.

Sex differences in adolescents’ occupational aspirations: Variations across time and place

Abstract: We investigated sex differences in 473,260 adolescents' aspirations to work in things-oriented (e.g., mechanic), people-oriented (e.g., nurse), and STEM (e.g., mathematician) careers across 80 countries and economic regions using the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). We analyzed student career aspirations in combination with student achievement in mathematics, reading, and science, as well as parental occupations and family wealth. In each country and region, more boys than girls aspired to a things-oriented or STEM occupation and more girls than boys to a people-oriented occupation. These sex differences were larger in countries with a higher level of women's empowerment. We explain this counter-intuitive finding through the indirect effect of wealth. Women's empowerment is associated with relatively high levels of national wealth and this wealth allows more students to aspire to occupations they are intrinsically interested in. Implications for better understanding the sources of sex differences in career aspirations and associated policy are discussed.

The Rise of the Expert Patient in Cancer: From Backseat Passenger to Co-navigator

Abstract: Patients who have cancer have leveraged the Internet to gain a better understanding of their disease and connect across geographic boundaries with others facing the same challenges. Online cancer communities have developed into resources that highlight new research and evolving care pathways. Combined with increasing health literacy and social media, they have enabled some patients to become experts in their cancer. This combination of empowerment and expertise describes the new "e-patients."We reviewed the literature to identify key areas where expert e-patients have directly participated in advancing cancer medicine, as well as opportunities available to those who wish to become more involved in research advocacy.E-patients are widely acknowledged as key stakeholders in oncology by clinicians, researchers, cancer centers, government agencies, and nonprofits. Their input is vital for informing cancer care delivery, developing and launching research initiatives, creating care guidelines and pathways, and formulating policy.Expert e-patients play an expanded role in their own care and in larger conversations regarding practice, research, and policy. Clinicians can engage e-patients as partners in cancer care as we work together towards improving health care access and outcomes for people with cancer.

Digital citizen empowerment: A systematic literature review of theories and development models

Abstract: ABSTRACT Governments worldwide invest heavily in digital initiatives to develop information societies with connected and actively engaged citizens, but problems like lacking sustained engagement and quality of participation still plague them. We undertook a systematised literature review on the Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases, covering dispersed literature surrounding Digital Citizen Empowerment (DCE) from the past two decades.Categorising the literature under four thematic categories or strategies of DCE: Digital Activism (DA), Multi-channel Service Delivery (MCSD), Participatory Budgeting (PB), and Deliberative Governance (DG) critical comparative analysis is done. A conceptual model of DCE, covering how theories from different inter-disciplinary areas of political, social, and information science influence the development of information societies and DCE is presented. Action points in our conceptual model are mapped to policy objectives targeting improved delivery of empowering policy goals by practitioners, and future research opportunities in the context of DCE are discussed.

#ThisIsMeChallenge and Music for Empowerment of Marginalized Groups on TikTok

Abstract: Media convergence is generating many collective performances on social media, where the rise of short-form videos has created a new opportunity for the empowerment of society on online platforms. In this context, TikTok appears as an application for creative expression through music clips and lip-syncs. Through the #ThisIsMeChallenge hashtag, which introduces the musical theme of The Greatest Showman film, we analyze a new online practice within messages from traditionally marginalized groups throughout individual and collective life events. In order to understand TikTok as a music venue for social empowerment, we conducted a quantitative content analysis of 100 TikTok posts under the hashtag, and an artificial intelligence sentiment analysis across 8,877 comments. The results show a wide range of performance work that addresses issues of gender, sexual orientation, racial discrimination, and other types of current hate speech. In short, we conclude that TikTok has become a platform that seems to motivate activism and empowerment of marginalized groups through music frameworks that challenge social discrimination.

All together now – patient engagement, patient empowerment, and associated terms in personal healthcare

Abstract: Patients as active partners in their personal healthcare are key drivers to reducing costs, securing an effective usage of resources, and ensuring patient-provider satisfaction. Even though these benefits are acknowledged, a theoretical framework for the plethora of concepts used in this context, such as patient engagement, patient empowerment, or patient involvement is missing. Furthermore, the heterogeneous or synonymous usage of these terms leads to miscommunication, missing standard conceptual measures, and a deficiency in theory building and testing. Our objective is to show what the relationships and distinctions between concepts focussing on patients as active partners in their personal healthcare are.A systematic literature review was conducted to consolidate terms related to patients' having an active role in their healthcare. From 442 articles screened in PubMed, a final set of 17 papers was included. Any articles conceptualising or presenting relationships between the concepts were included. Information was synthesised, and contradictions were unravelled systematically. The concepts and their relationships are structured and represented by employing a concept map.Patient-centredness is a concept dominantly influenced by health care providers and can enhance patients' competencies, attitudes, and behaviours towards their personal healthcare. Enabling patients to become more empowered can ultimately lead to their greater involvement and engagement. Fostering an active role of patients can also increase their adherence to the care pathway. In general, patient engagement seems to be the most conclusive and furthest developed concept in terms of turning patients into active partners in their personal healthcare.We plead for a stricter demarcation and therefore a terminological standardisation of the terms in the future to avoid further ambiguity and miscommunication. The concept map presents a basis for a uniform understanding and application of the concepts. Through a comprehensive understanding of the terms and their dimensions, relationships between the concepts can be utilised, measures can be derived, and theory building and testing can be enhanced, leading to better acceptance and utilisation of concepts in healthcare services. Furthermore, patient engagement is presented to be the most conclusive and furthest developed concept in the subject area.

Digital literacy model to empower women using community-based education approach

Abstract: Women have a strategic role in managing and exploiting environmental potential. However, women particularly in tourism still face many obstacles in terms of capital resources, transformation and information, as well as the knowledge and skills of managing local potential. Through the action research method, this activity attempted to investigate whether digital literacy-based information technology can be used as an empowerment model for women in tourist villages. The study showed that technology may be used by women in tourist villages to expose their culinary products. This action was community based and it was found that it could trigger a group of women to continue learning and adapting with the current trends of marketing. The technology used to increase women’s skills in tourist villages was through the introduction and examples of several social media applications that can be used for tourist attraction. It can be concluded that women should be encouraged to be digitally literate and able to access a wide range of learning resources. Keywords: community-based education, digital literacy, empowerment

The perils of misinformation: when health literacy goes awry

Abstract: Growing patient empowerment and the deluge of health information and misinformation have highlighted the importance of health literacy. Unfortunately, public information and literacy programmes often fail to counter the effect of misinformation. Successfully countering misinformation presents distinctive challenges beyond patient education, and may require trust built on collaborative patient–clinician relationships.

The Dynamics of Youth Employment and Empowerment in Agriculture and Rural Development in South Africa: A Scoping Review

Abstract: Over the years, South Africa has made significant investments aimed at transforming the agricultural sector to deliver on rural economic development and job creation. These investments have had varying levels of success; still, what is worrying is the high youth unemployment rate which is amongst the highest globally. We conducted a scoping review using the PRISMA-P guidelines to identify the challenges youth face in accessing sustainable employment in the agriculture sector. Peer-reviewed studies were retrieved from online databases (Web of Science, Cab Direct, and Science Direct) for 1994–2021. The findings showed that youth are still facing significant challenges in the demand and supply side of the labour market and lack of inclusivity in policy formulation and implementation, limiting their involvement in agriculture and rural development initiatives. Policies and strategies responding to these challenges exist, and the spectrum of support services provided are primarily focused on entrepreneurship. Yet, the implementation of programs and initiatives has not been successful. This could be attributed to the obstacles persisting in the sociopolitical environment in SA, causing additional barriers to program implementation. Therefore, to enhance youth involvement in agriculture and rural development, there is a need to connect more rural youth to support services, local employment programmes, and youth inclusion in policy formulation processes. Additionally, the focus of policy and programs should be broadened to cater to different youth knowledge and skill profiles.