Academic literature on the topic 'The Caretaker'

Abstract Timely euthanasia is a fundamental part of safeguarding swine welfare by reducing suffering when compromised pigs are unable to recover. The quality and appropriateness of timely euthanasia rely mainly on the knowledge and experience of the individual caretaker but may also be affected by caretaker attitudes toward euthanasia. However, literature on caretaker attitudes toward swine euthanasia is lacking. This study investigated caretaker attitudes, perceived knowledge, and confidence in performing on-farm timely euthanasia. A total of 84 caretakers from eight swine farms (ranging in size from 1,300 to 7,000 sows) participated in a survey designed to investigate attitudes toward swine and swine euthanasia. Caretaker’s ages ranged from 18 to 59 yr with an average work experience of 8.5 yr. The majority of participants worked in either farrowing or breeding units. Survey questions were designed to assess caretakers’ attitudes and attributes (empathy affect, empathy attribution, attitudes toward pigs, feeling bad about euthanizing pigs, and assumptions about pigs’ emotional capabilities), decision-making skills (confidence in identifying compromised pigs or relying on coworkers to make decisions), and euthanasia skillset (confidence in performing euthanasia, training, and perceived level of knowledge). Using cluster analysis to analyze survey answers, three distinct groups of caretakers were identified: 1) confident and empathetic; 2) Confident, knowledgeable, and detached; and 3) unconfident and lacking knowledge. The survey results showed that empathy attribution was strongly correlated with empathy affect (r = 0.571, P < 0.01) and that empathy affect and empathy attribution were higher in female caretakers compared with male caretakers (P < 0.05). A risk analysis that included previously identified clusters showed that females were more likely to be grouped among caretakers that were confident and empathetic (P = 0.04), and caretakers with more than 2 yr of swine experience were more likely to be grouped as confident and skilled (P = 0.01), while the unconfident and empathetic were more likely to have had less than 2 yr of experience (P = 0.04). This study provides important information about variability in caretaker experience as well as their attitudes toward pigs and timely euthanasia. Increased knowledge about swine caretaker attitudes may be used to implement training and euthanasia protocols to increase both human and pig welfare on farm.

Abstract Background Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses a challenge to infection control within hospital systems. Asymptomatic children and their caretakers carry the risk of silently spreading infection in pediatric emergency departments and hospital units. Our current knowledge is evolving, and infection control measures are frequently changing depending on new emerging data. Methods We conducted a point-prevalence study to assess SARS-CoV-2 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR) results of hospitalized children, their asymptomatic caretakers, and caretaker-child test concordance at a major community hospital in New York City. We screened Children and caretakers with temperature measurements and the presence of COVID-19 symptoms before pediatric emergency department evaluation. Children requiring hospitalization and their caretakers had nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR. The paired results are used to identify the infection control level at the appropriate pediatric unit. Results Forty consecutive asymptomatic caretaker-child pairs had SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing between May 28th to June 22nd, 2020. The rate of asymptomatic COVID-19 was 2.5% in hospitalized children and 7.5% in caretakers. The caretaker-child SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test concordance was evident in 95% of the cohort. Conclusion This cohort had a low asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive rate in children and their caretakers with a high concordance rate of paired test results. It suggests that children’s SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result will likely correspond to their accompanying caretaker at healthcare facilities where admission screening is performed.

Pre-school play is an important moment in a child’s development. Caretakers play an important role during play. This article presents a structure of educational competence called “constructive empathizing” or “invitingaccompanying competence”. A caretaker’s special task during child’s play is conversion between the third-person knowledge and a subjective, autotelic interaction. The caretaker’s constructive empathizing during a child’s play determines the child’s social and moral development, it helps the child to turn play into work, as a sign of higher spontaneous understanding of cultural norms standing behind cultural correctness actions. Finally, it is evidence of dynamic interaction between abstract-concrete thinking, with the child learning from the caretaker.

Introduction: There are recommendations regarding infant and young child feeding and when followed children’s growth are optimum. These feeding practices are age definitive, starting from exclusive breastfeeding, to the transition of the child to complementary foods. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess factors that determine nutritional knowledge among mothers/caretaker regarding children under five years. Methods: A cross sectional study design employing quantitative methods was chosen for this study. The study population comprised 285 caregivers and their children aged of 6 and 59 months. Respondents were chosen randomly from four hard-to-reach communities and two peri-urban communities within three sub-municipalities, who lived in and accessed child welfare services during the study period. Face-to-face interviews were used to collect background and nutritional knowledge data from the respondents. Maternal/caretaker knowledge on recommended nutritional practice was split into two with scores were greater than 7 out of the 13 knowledge items was considered as good. STATA version 14 was used to analyze data and statistical significance determine at 95% confidence interval.Results: The average age of the children under 5 years and their mothers/caretakers were 32 months and 29 years respectively. About 73% had nuclear family structure. Results of Chi square and Fisher’s exact tests for association indicated that, mother’s/caretaker’s age (p<0.001), family structure (p=0.010) and access to media information (p<0.001) were significantly associated with mother’s good nutritional knowledge on recommended practices. Mothers/caretakers age (OR=0.17; 95%CI: (0.70-0.43); family structure (OR=0.30; 95% CI (0.11-0.78) and access to media (AOR=5.12; 95% (2.46-10.69) predicted mothers nutritional knowledge. Conclusions: Maternal/caretaker factors predicted nutritional knowledge when feeding a child in both peri-urban and rural areas. These factors should be considered when promoting child nutrition.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of parent/caretaker satisfaction with child and adolescent mental health services in a tertiary care setting METHODS: In this descriptive cross sectional study, 130 parents/caretakers of children aged ≤ 16 years were administered Parent/Caretaker Satisfaction Questionnaire which is a 20-item, 4-point Likert type scale, after their second visit/consultation with Child Psychiatric OPD via non-probability consecutive sampling directly as well as telephonically during six months period. Demographic variables were collected via Proforma. The data was analyzed using SPSS v 16.0. p- value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: 73.1% (n=95) were very satisfied (satisfaction level>60), 24.6 %(n=32) were satisfied (satisfaction between 21-60) and only 2.3%(n=3) were unsatisfied (satisfaction ≤20). No significant association was found between demographic variables and level of satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed a high level of parent/caretaker satisfaction with Child and Adolescent mental health services in a tertiary care setting. No significant association was found between socio-demographic variables and parent/caretakers’ satisfaction. KEY WORDS: Patient satisfaction, Quality of health care, Child Psychiatry, Mental health services

Child rearing among the Gusii of Kenya is distinctive in that (a) infants are routinely cared for by both mothers and child caretakers, and (b) infant-mother interaction is primarily limited to activities which provide for the infant's physical needs, whereas infant-caretaker interaction is primarily limited to play and social activities. In this study a separation/reunion paradigm and Ainsworth classification procedures were used to assess security of attachment in a sample of Gusii infants 8 to 27 months of age. The proportion of infants classified as securely attached to mother and caretaker was 61% and 54%, respectively. Although the establishment of a secure relationship was not affected by differences between infant-mother and infant-caretaker activities, correlates of attachment security were specific to each. Whereas attachment to mother was related to nutritional status, attachment to the caretaker was related to Bayley MDI performance. These findings suggest that the pervasive association between security of attachment and infant functioning in American studies is a reflection of the diversity of activities in which infants and mothers engage.

Abstract During the grow-finish phase of production some pigs become non-ambulatory and/or die requiring the need to provide caretakers with handling tools to move them safely. The goal of this study was to identify handling tools suitable for moving non-ambulatory grow-finish pig cadavers. Five caretakers on a commercial grow-finish site were asked to move three commercial crossbred (PIC) genetic line pig cadavers (59 kg, 91 kg and 98 kg), using three handling tools (sked - SKED; deer sled - SLED; modified deer sled - MDS). Outcomes included latency to move cadaver from home-pen to hospital pen, differences in caretaker heart rate (bpm) and oxygen saturation (%), and caretakers’ subjective effort score (1 = very difficult to 5 = very easy). Data were analyzed using mixed model methods for parametric data with fixed effects of caretaker, cadaver and handling tool. PDIFF was used to separate means. Caretakers differed for latency, heart rate and oxygen saturation difference (P < 0.01). The smallest cadaver was associated with shortest latency (P < 0.01) and least caretaker oxygen saturation difference (P < 0.001). The MDS was associated with shortest latency (P < 0.01), and lower heart rate differences than the SKED (P = 0.01). Oxygen saturation did not differ for handling tool. Interestingly, caretakers scored SKED and SLED as easiest for moving all cadavers. In conclusion, the MDS did not have any restraints, so when moving the cadavers they would slide off, and legs and heads became impeded in the alley gates preventing smooth transition. Therefore, the SKED and SLED would be recommended as practical handling tools to move grow-finish pig cadavers on-farm.

Ataxia telangiectasia: Identifizierung und Charakterisierung nicht-konservativer Spleißmutationen und deren Auswirkungen im ATM-Gen. Ein hoher Anteil der bisher im ATM-Gen identifizierten Mutationen (>350, www.vmresearch.org/atm.htm) stellt Deletionen oder Insertionen direkt an den Exongrenzen dar; viele dieser Aberrationen wurden allerdings nur auf cDNA-Ebene detektiert. Sollte es sich hierbei in den meisten Fällen um Mutationen an den Spleiß-Konsensussequenzen handeln, läge der Anteil der Spleißmutationen im ATM-Gen beträchtlich höher (~35 Prozent) als in anderen betroffenen Genen (~15 Prozent). Um der Frage nachzugehen, ob im ATM-Primärtranskript aufgrund einer erhöhten Labilität gegenüber Spleißmutationen auch Veränderungen weniger konservierter Positionen innerhalb der Donor- oder Akzeptor-Spleißstellen zu aberrantem Spleißen führen, wurden 20 AT-Zellinien mittels „Protein Truncation Test“ nach Deletionen oder Insertionen an den Exongrenzen durchsucht. Die 7 neu identifizierten Spleißmutationen wurden anschließend unter Verwendung eines „Splice Scoring“- Systems näher charakterisiert, die Penetranz der jeweiligen Mutation durch semiquantitative PCR evaluiert und die Auswirkungen auf Proteinebene durch Western Blotting überprüft. Obwohl nur eine der 7 neu identifizierten Spleißmutationen eine schwächer konservierte Position der Spleißsequenzen betraf, konnten im Rahmen einer Kooperation mit der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover (Arbeitsgruppe Dr. T. Dörk) weitere Spleißmutationen an den Intronpositionen +3, +5 und -6 identifiziert werden, die ebenfalls in völlig aberrantem Spleißen resultieren. Daten weiterer Arbeitsgruppen lassen vermuten, daß tatsächlich ~ 50 Prozent aller Spleißaberrationen im ATM-Gen auf Mutationen außerhalb der konservierten Dinukleotidbereiche (gt und ag) zurückführen sind. Nijmegen Breakage Syndrom (NBS): Suche nach Genen, die einen NBS-ähnlichen Phänotyp auslösen. Über 90 Prozent aller NBS-Patienten tragen Mutationen im NBS1-Gen, dessen Translationsprodukt im Komplex mit MRE11 und RAD50 eine zentrale Rolle in DNA-DSB-Reparatur und Zellzykluskontrolle spielt. Weitere Mutationen bei Patienten mit NBS-ähnlichem Phänotyp wurden im Gen der DNA-Ligase IV identifiziert, die zusammen mit weiteren Angehörigen des NHEJ-Reparaturweges (XRCC4, DNA-PKcs, Ku70, Ku80) ebenfalls in DNA-DSB-Reparatur involviert ist. Zellen von Patienten mit NBS-ähnlichem Phänotyp wurden daher durch direkte Sequenzierung und/oder Western Blotting auf Defekte in den oben genannten Genen/Proteinen untersucht. In einem parallel durchgeführten unabhängigen Mutationsscreening (Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Arbeitsgruppe Dr. T. Dörk) wurden in Fibroblasten einer Patientin mit NBS-ähnlichem Phänotyp Mutationen im RAD50-Gen identifiziert. Die Auswirkungen der RAD50-Defizienz auf die zelluläre Lokalisation der beiden Komplexpartner NBS1 und MRE11 sowie deren Fähigkeit zur Focibildung nach DNA-Schädigung wurde im Rahmen dieser Arbeit durch Immunfluoreszenzstudien untersucht: während NBS1 vorwiegend nukleäre Lokalisation aufwies, war MRE11 zu etwa gleichen Anteilen zwischen Nukleus und Zytoplasma verteilt; beide Proteine waren nach Bestrahlung der Zellen nicht mehr zur Focibildung fähig. Da in MRE11-defizienten Zellen keine nukleäre NBS1-Lokalisation beobachtet wird, scheint der Kerntransport des NBS1 von funktionellem MRE11, nicht aber von RAD50 abhängig zu sein. Fanconi Anämie (FA): Untersuchung einer möglichen Verbindung zwischen den FA-Proteinen und der RAD51-Familie. FA-Zellen aller bisher bekannter Komplementationsgruppen zeichnen sich durch Hypersensitivität gegenüber DNA-„interstrand crosslinks“ (ICLs) aus, zu deren Behebung u.a. die homologe Rekombinationsreparatur (HRR) eingesetzt wird, bei der das RAD51(A)-Protein eine zentrale Rolle spielt. Aufgrund schwacher Homologien werden 5 weitere Proteine (RAD51B, C, D, XRCC2 und 3) der RAD51-Familie zugeordnet. Da Knockout-Zellinien aller RAD51-Familienmitglieder ebenfalls hohe Sensitivität gegenüber ICLs aufweisen, wurde eine mögliche Verbindung zwischen den FA-Proteinen FANCA, C, G und der RAD51-Familie getestet. Unter Verwendung des "Yeast Two Hybrid" (Y2H)-Systems konnten zunächst mehrere Interaktionen zwischen FA- und RAD51-Proteinen detektiert werden. Zur Bestätigung einer funktionellen Verbindung wurden die FA- und RAD51-Proteine in humanen 293-Zellen überexprimiert. Aufgrund der focibildenden Eigenschaften des RAD51-Proteins wurden die FA-Proteine und die RAD51-Familie auf Focibildung nach DNA-Schädigung sowie etwaige Kolokalisationen getestet; mögliche physikalische Interaktionen wurden durch Koimmunpräzipitationsstudien überprüft. Die RAD51-Familie zeigten keinerlei Focibildung nach DNA-Schädigung während die FA-Proteine in einigen Experimenten eine Lokalisation in nukleäre Foci zeigten, die sich jedoch in Größe und Homogenität deutlich von denen klassischer DNA-Reparaturfoci unterschieden und nicht mit RAD51 kolokalisierten. Die häufige Beschränkung der FA-Foci auf Bereiche besonders dicht gepackten Chromatins kann möglicherweise als weiterer Hinweis auf die postulierte Rolle der FA-Proteine bei Chromatin Remodelling Mechanismen interpretiert werden. Bei Überexpression in HEK293-Zellen konnte keine der im Y2H-System identifizierten Interaktionen zwischen FA- und RAD51-Proteinen durch Koimmunpräzipitationen detektiert werden. Dennoch erscheinen seit der Identifizierung des FANCD2, das durch den FA-Komplex aktiviert wird und mit dem RAD51-Interaktor BRCA1 in nukleäre Foci kolokalisiert, weitere Untersuchungen einer Verknüpfung der FA-Proteine mit den Angehörigen des HRR-Weges durchaus sinnvoll
Ataxia telangiectasia: Identification and characterization of mutations at non-conserved splice positions within the ATM gene. Since the identification of ATM, more than 350 different mutations have been identified (www.vmresearch.org/atm.htm) with an unusual frequency of exon skipping or deletions/insertions at the exon boundaries. Although in many studies only the observed aberrations in cDNA were reported, they presumably represent splice mutations. These findings suggest that the rate of splicing defects in the ATM gene may be substantially higher than that reported for other human genetic disorders. In order to investigate this phenomenon, we have asked the question whether the high frequency of splice mutations in the ATM gene might be caused by an increased liability of the ATM transcript towards mutations at less conserved positions within the splice site consensus sequences. Mutation screening of 20 AT cell lines using the protein truncation test revealed 10 different splice mutations, seven of which had not been reported previously. A splice scoring system was used to estimate the penetrance of each mutation. Potentially leaky splicing was evaluated by semiquantitative PCR. The implications of each mutation on the protein level were investigated by western blotting. One out of seven new splice mutations was positioned at a less conserved consensus site. Furthermore, in cooperation with the Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (group of Dr. T. Doerk), point mutations at intron positions +3, +5 and –6 were identified, each resulting in completely aberrant splicing. In addition, there is accumulating evidence from other studies that indeed ~50 per cent of splice mutations in the ATM gene are positioned outside the highly conserved donor or acceptor dinucleotides, gt or ag, respectively. Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS): Search for genetic defects resulting in an NBS- or NBS-like phenotype. More than 90 per cent of NBS patients carry mutations in the NBS1 gene. The NBS1 protein, in a complex with MRE11 and RAD50, is known to be involved in DNA DSB repair via NHEJ and cell cycle control. In cells from patients with an NBS-like phenotype, defects in another component of the NHEJ pathway, DNA ligase IV, have been identified very recently. Therefore, mutation screening in genes known to be involved in NHEJ (NBS1, MRE11, RAD50, DNA ligase IV, XRCC4, DNA-PKcs, Ku70, Ku80) was carried out in cell lines from NBS-like patients using direct sequencing and/or western blotting. In one of these cell lines, an independently performed screening at the Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (group of Dr. T. Doerk) revealed two mutant alleles of the RAD50 gene. In the present work, the cellular RAD50-deficient phenotype was characterized in response to induced DNA damage. In contrast to normal controls, the RAD50-deficient fibroblasts were not able to form IR-induced foci. Localization of NBS1 was still predominantly nuclear, whereas MRE11 was distributed equally between nucleus and cytoplasm. In contrast, MRE11-deficient cells do not show much nuclear localization for NBS1, suggesting that the nuclear localization of NBS1 depends on functional MRE11, but not on the presence of RAD50. Fanconi anemia (FA): Are the FA proteins linked to DNA DSB repair via the RAD51 family? FA cells of all complementation groups are hypersensitive towards DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs). Removal of ICLs includes the generation of a DNA DSB. Their repair is then presumably carried out by the homologous recombination (HRR) pathway, an essential component of which is the RAD51 protein. Due to weak homologies five other proteins have been assigned to the RAD51 family (RAD51B, C, D, XRCC2 and 3). Strikingly, knockout mutants of all RAD51 paralogs also show high sensitivity to ICL-inducing agents. In order to investigate a possible connection between the FA pathway and the RAD51 family, the yeast two-hybrid system was used to test for any interactions between the FA proteins FANCA, C, G and the RAD51 family members. Several interactions were detected. Further characterization was done by study of nuclear foci and immunoprecipitation. FA and RAD51 proteins were overexpressed in human 293 cells. Since RAD51 localizes into nuclear foci after DNA damage, FA proteins and RAD51 paralogs were tested for their ability to (co-) localize into nuclear foci after MMC-treatment. Whereas none of the RAD51 paralogs showed nuclear foci formation, in some experiments FA proteins moved into nuclear speckles following DNA damage. However, size and homogeneity of DNA damage-induced FA speckles was quite different from those formed by „classical“ DNA repair proteins; in addition, no colocalization was seen with foci containing RAD51. Notably, FA speckles were often restricted to sites of very tightly packed chromatin, again suggesting a role of the FA-proteins in chromatin remodelling mechanisms. To identify any physical interaction between FA proteins and the RAD51 family, coimmunoprecipitation studies (Co-IPs) were carried out, after overexpression in HEK293 cells. Whereas the reported interaction between FANCA and FANCG could repeatedly be shown, no Co-IP was detected for any combination of an FA protein with a member of the RAD51 family. However, since the identification of FANCD2, a connection between the FA pathway and RAD51 seems all the more plausible: following DNA damage FANCD2 colocalizes with BRCA1, which itself is closely associated with RAD51. Further studies will be necessary in order to unravel the way by which the FA proteins might interact with conserved DNA repair mechanisms like the HRR pathway

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2009.
Advisors: Gary Peterson and James P. Sampson, Florida State University, College of Education, Dept. of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed on May 7, 2010). Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 103 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this investigation was to (a) use the positive routines procedure to decrease child noncompliance and the time it takes the child to comply (latency) at bedtime, (b) to assess treatment fidelity, and (c) to record objectively parent behavior. Research was conducted with four children and five parents in their homes. The treatment was explained to each parent and introduced to each child after the baseline phase. Positive routines requires the parent to implement a low-stimulation “routine” at the time the child naturally gets sleepy. The routine gradually begins earlier so that by the end of treatment, it is completed at the time the parent originally attempted to establish bedtime. The data reveal that with high treatment fidelity, the treatment was effective in reducing bedtime noncompliance, latency, and parental reinforcing behaviors. The data also supported the notion that parent behavior can be controlled by child behavior.

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych
Previous studies on motivation of higher education students have predominantly focused on the role of motivation in academic achievement. The aim of this study was to identify what motivates students to attend university and to establish the connection of this motivational orientation to demographic correlates. A correlational research design was employed and data was analysed by means of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Correlational analysis (Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r)) was used to determine the strength of the association between demographic factors and student motivations for attending university.

O ato de cuidar tem sido atribuído ao gênero feminino. Na sociedade ocidental, a mãe é a principal cuidadora dos filhos no que se refere ao cuidado em geral, na alimentação, na vestimenta, na educação e na saúde. Na promoção da saúde bucal infantil, o cuidado materno, bem como uma boa relação dentista-mãe são essenciais. Objetivou-se compreender os significados atribuídos pelas as mães de crianças de 0 a 6 anos em tratamento odontológico acerca de seu papel como cuidadora da saúde bucal do filho. Constitui-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa com desenho metodológico de uma pesquisa estratégica. Participaram como sujeitos, dez mães com filhos em atendimento odontológico pelo Curso de Graduação em Odontologia, de Especialização em Odontopediatria e da Clínica de bebês da Universidade de Ribeirão Preto – UNAERP na cidade de Ribeirão Preto, estado de São Paulo/Brasil. Realizou-se entrevistas semi-estruturadas e observação durante o atendimento odontológico. Os dados foram analisados segundo a técnica de análise de conteúdo proposta por Bardin (1979). Considerando o perfil do grupo de mães a idade variou de 26 a 39 anos, todas eram casadas ou viviam em união consensual, nenhuma estava inserida no mercado de trabalho formal. Depreendeu-se dos dados seis categorias temáticas: a) Saúde: “quando não tem nada” ... “saúde é a base de tudo”; b) Saúde? É saúde da boca também!”; c) Saúde bucal é ter bons hábitos; d) O Processo saúde – doença e a relação com os cuidados maternos na saúde bucal; e) Cuidado à saúde bucal do filho: o sentido desse fazer; f) Profissional odontólogo: referência para o cuidado em saúde bucal. Percebeu-se que a saúde para essas mães reveste-se de um significado mais amplo, não restrito ao biológico, entretanto, ainda mostram-se ancoradas na idéia de saúde como ausência de doença e de corpo funcional. A saúde bucal apresenta-se dissociada da saúde geral e as práticas de manutenção da saúde bucal são voltadas para evitar uma única doença: a cárie, relacionando sua ocorrência na dependência dos cuidados prestados por elas como formadoras de hábitos. Em meio a essas práticas de cuidados reconhecem o profissional especializado como fonte do saber, estando prontas a auxiliá-los no tratamento independentemente de suas emoções mergulhadas no ideário do amor incondicional da mãe para com o filho e do dever materno, sentindo satisfação e realização em atender as necessidades do filho. Concluí- se que a mãe pode ser considerada como um agente multiplicador de ações educativas relacionadas a saúde bucal, uma vez que a atuação materna não fica circunscrita a ajudas momentâneas durante o atendimento clínico, perpassando as barreiras físicas, chegando aos cuidados diários na manutenção da saúde bucal do filho. Dentro dessa lógica há que se investir na capacitação dos profissionais que lidam diariamente com tais mães e todos os indivíduos da família, para que estes sintam-se responsáveis pela saúde das crianças menores.
Caring is an act attributed to feminine gender. Mothers are the main general caretaker of children. They care about food, clothing, education and health. Focusing the children’s oral health promotion the mothering care and a good relation between dentist and mothers are required. This survey aimed at understands mothering meanings about being a caretaker of small children (age from 0 to 6 years) oral health. It’s a qualitative research founded on strategic survey. The subjects were ten mothers from Dentistry Graduate Course, Pediatric Dentistry Specialization and Baby Clinic from Ribeirão Preto University – UNAERP in Ribeirão Preto City, São Paulo State/Brazil. Semi-structured interview and observation during the treatment were made. Data was analyzed by Content’s Analysis proposed by Bardin (1979). Considering the mother’s profile: age range from 26 to 39 years, all of them were married or lived with someone, none of them had an official job. Six thematic categories were identified: a) Health: “when you’re ok” … “health as a foundation”; b) Health? Oral health too! d) For a good oral health you must have good habits; d) Health – Illness process and its relation with maternal care on oral health; e) Caring about children oral health: what does it mean? And f) Dentist: a reference for oral health care. Mothers perceived health throw biological meanings, but they still emphasize the idea of health as illness absence based on the functional body construction. Oral health seems to be dissociated from general health. Practices toward a good oral health are directed to avoid just one disease – the Carie. Mothers also correlate caries’ occurrence with fails on habit formation. Among all these situations, mothers recognize the dentist as a knowledge resource. They are always ready to do anything to help the professional during the treatment. In this situation, they forget their emotions and fears based on ideas like unconditional mother’s love and mother’s duty. After all they experienced satisfaction and realization because they solved the child’s needs. We conclude that mothers can be multiplicative agents considering educational actions direct to oral health. Mother’s actions are not just circumscribed to short proceedings during the treatment, because they delivery daily oral health care at their homes. So we believe that improving the professional abilities, they’ll work better with mothers and family individuals. In this way all these people will be responsible for oral health of small children.

Some patients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or a spinal cord injury (SCI) lose the ability to operate a computer via traditional methods (mouse and keyboard) or common alternative methods (voice control). The inability to move or speak makes it extremely difficult to communicate. Currently patients must rely on blinking yes or no to a series of questions that the caretaker asks in order to communicate their wants and needs. This system relies on the caretaker anticipating the patient’s needs in a timely manner which is not ideal. The purpose of this Senior Capstone Design project is to develop an eye tracking system to allow TBI and SCI patients to operate a computer exclusively using eye movements. Occupational Therapists at Craig Hospital, a recognized leader in TBI and SCI patient care, have provided the design team with access to a focus group of patients and insight into the needs and constraints of their patient population. With the ability to operate a computer, the patient will have the ability to more fully engage in communication by typing words on a screen for their caretakers to read and in a broader sense: e-mail and instant message family and friends as well as engage in social networking sites. The ability to control a computer allows for choices in entertainment from music to television to newspapers and magazines.

A significant market need has been identified for an improved assist device for transferring mobility limited patients, particularly those who are heavier or bariatric. This paper discusses our needs assessment for a new patient transfer assist device (PTAD), an initial design for a multiple degree of freedom hydraulically actuated device, and possible solutions for the caretaker interface design. The relevant patient population includes those with spinal cord injuries, neuromuscular disorders, and the elderly; most patients are wheelchair users and unable to perform independent transfers. The caretaker interface design for the PTAD presents a unique challenge in terms of human-machine collaborative manipulation, as well as control of a powerful and intrinsically stiff machine in a delicate environment with both the caretaker and patient in the workspace. This paper presents a needs assessment to determine the specific problems with the antiquated current market patient lifts, as well as user input on proposed improvements. It also presents the design of a functional first prototype PTAD, a mechanical simulation, preliminary simulation results on an impedance control approach, and next steps toward design and implementation of a caretaker- and patient-friendly operator interface and control system.