Development of a Pilates Teaching Framework from an international survey of teacher practice

ObjectivePilates is used increasingly in a variety of clinical settings. However, there is lack of clarity in the literature as to what is meant by the term. Teachers incorporating apparatus based on the designs of Joseph Pilates (1883–1967) into their practice refer to themselves as Comprehensive Teachers, and this group divides itself further into Classical and Contemporary practice. The aim of this research was to explore the meanings of these terms with Comprehensive Teachers and to develop a framework that reflects current views and practice.MethodOnline international survey of Pilates Teachers through closed Facebook forums. Open questions were used to elicit views of the definition and practice of Pilates, and how standards should be set across the sector.ResultsOf 109 participants, 35% were based in the UK and 32% in the USA; 48% identified as Classical teachers, 32% as Contemporary, 5% as both and 15% as Matwork instructors. A thematic analysis of the qualitative data revealed agreement on the scope and content of Classical and Contemporary Comprehensive Pilates, however the discourse indicated there might be stereotyping about each other's practice. Classical teachers, for example, spoke of their own practice as authentic while Contemporary teachers used terms such as strict and inflexible for Classical practice. However, members of either group may incorporate both Classical and Contemporary approaches within their practice. We have designed a Pilates Teaching Framework to take into account the types of apparatus, the types of exercises and the order in which the exercises are executed.ConclusionsA framework that emphasises Pilates teaching rather than teacher practice is proposed for consistency and clarity when describing Pilates in professional and public contexts.     

Contextualizing the lived experience of quality of life for persons with spinal cord injury: A mixed-methods application of the response shift model

Objective: The objective of this study was to gain greater insight into individuals’ quality of life (QOL) definitions, appraisals, and adaptations following spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: A mixed-methods design, applying the Schwartz and Sprangers response shift (RS) model. RS is a cognitive process wherein, in response to a change in health status, individuals change internal standards, values, or conceptualization of QOL

Setting: Community-dwelling participants who receive medical treatment at a major Midwestern medical system and nearby Veterans’ Affairs hospital.

Participants: A purposive sample of participants with SCI (N?=?40) completed semi-structured interviews and accompanying quantitative measures.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Outcome Measures: Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis to identify themes. Analysis of variance were performed to detect differences based on themes and QOL, well-being, and demographic and injury characteristics.

Results: Four RS themes were identified, capturing the range of participant perceptions of QOL. The themes ranged from complete RS, indicating active engagement in maintaining QOL, to awareness and comparisons redefining QOL, to a relative lack of RS. Average QOL ratings differed as a function of response shift themes. PROMIS Global Health, Anxiety, and Depression also differed as a function of RS themes.

Conclusion: The RS model contextualizes differences in QOL definitions, appraisals, and adaptations in a way standardized QOL measures alone do not.     

黄芪活血功效及现代药理学研究进展

黄芪始载于《神农本草经》,有补气升阳、益卫固表,利水消肿,托毒生肌之效。被誉为补气健脾之要药,临床上常用于气虚乏力、脾虚泄泻等疾病,已为医者所熟知。近年来,研究学者围绕其补气、健脾、利水功效机制已有较全面的认识。然陶弘景在《本草经集注》首载黄芪"逐五脏间恶血",表明本品兼有活血作用。目前,对于本品活血作用机制阐释,中医常基于"补气活血""气行血行"理论进行论证,但并不等同于本品无活血作用。通过梳理历代本草文献中对黄芪的记载,发现其活血作用应用广泛。综合传统方剂与现代方剂中有关其活血作用的应用,本品在方中行活血通络、活血利水、活血扶正作用,尤能体现其活血作用。且现代药理学研究在有关瘀血病理指标的分子机制中,黄芪有很好的调控作用,表明黄芪有活血作用,但未深入探究,存在研究价值。该文从历代文献对黄芪活血功效的论述、黄芪活血作用的临床应用及现代药理学研究深入探讨其活血作用机制,以期扩展黄芪的临床应用范围,为临床治疗提供理论指导。     

Reticencia vacunal: análisis del discurso de madres y padres con rechazo total o parcial a las vacunas

Objective

To analyse and understand vaccination hesitancy discourses, particularly those of people who have decided not to vaccinate their sons and daughters.

痛风患者的健康素养：一项关于东北地区中青年患者的质性研究

背景　痛风是一种代谢性疾病，可以并发肾、心脑血管等多器官疾病，目前痛风发病和预后的影响因素已经得到揭示，但鲜有通过质性研究方法全面评估痛风患者的疾病认知和健康素养状态。目的　探讨东北地区中青年痛风患者的健康素养，并了解痛风患者的一般感知能力及知识需求状况，为增强我国痛风患者的健康素养水平，改善其自身管理能力、提高痛风患者的生活质量提供理论依据。方法　招募2017年3月-2018年3月于大庆油田总医院、大庆市人民医院、大庆市第五医院3家医院确诊为痛风的中青年患者，信息饱和后停止招募，共招募13例患者。采用非结构式与半结构式访谈相结合的方式对患者资料进行收集，采用Colaizzi的现象学资料分析方法进行分析。结果　对访谈资料进行分析，提炼如下主题：痛风患者的疾病感知能力〔包括对痛风的认知及知晓情况较差；严重的疼痛可影响痛风患者的生活质量；自我感知导致疾病发作或加重的原因为饮食习惯及生活方式等〕、就诊状况及行为（包括首次发病对疾病认识缺乏；就医体验不良）、痛风药物管理计划（包括药物选择依从性低、治疗方案的知晓及应对差）、痛风非药物管理计划（包括生活方式的调整、社会资源互动、疾病信息挖掘）。结论　东北地区中青年痛风患者健康素养水平较低，对疾病相关信息获取途径单一，对疾病和治疗判断片面，因此不能有效进行疾病管理，阻碍医疗决策制定。提示根据需求状况、针对具体薄弱环节提升痛风患者的健康素养、提高知识水平对改善患者健康结局很有必要。