Despite the acknowledgment of pluralism, Caribbean family literature often focuses on the Afro-Ca... more Despite the acknowledgment of pluralism, Caribbean family literature often focuses on the Afro-Caribbean family and does not satisfactorily address the issues of the Indo-Caribbean family. This paper examines whether the lndo-Guyanese differ from the dominant culture of the Anglophone Caribbean in the structural arrangements of the family. Findings from secondary analysis of cross-sectional data of Guyana collected in 2004, suggest that the lndo-Guyanese significantly differ from the Afro-Guyanese in the structural arrangements of the family. Indo-Guyanese were more likely to be in marital unions and have longer marriages than the other racial groups, even when controlled for age. These differences suggest that the present day Indo-Guyanese have not assimilated into the dominant Creole culture, but have retained their cultural traits at least in the structural domain of the family. Hence it was concluded that "Guyanization" appears to be an ongoing process rather than a co...
Despite acknowledgments of pluralism, Caribbean family researchers often focus on the Afro-Caribb... more Despite acknowledgments of pluralism, Caribbean family researchers often focus on the Afro-Caribbean families and do not satisfactorily address the issues of the Indo-Caribbean people, who have been living in the region for well over a century. It is unclear from extant literature whether people of Indian origin in the Caribbean have remained ethnically separate or have blended into the dominant Creole culture of the Caribbean. This paper examines whether the Indo-Guyanese differ from the other Guyanese in their attitudes on marriage and views on exogamy. Findings from secondary analysis of cross-sectional data of Guyana collected in 2004, suggest that the Indo-Guyanese are distinct in their values and beliefs from the other Guyanese. The most common reason for marriage and benefit from marriage for the Indo-Guyanese is utilitarian rather than romantic, when compared to the other Guyanese. The Indo-Guyanese hold more conservative views on importance of marriage and views on exogamy, but there were clear gender differences as well irrespective of ethnic affiliation. These attitudinal differences about marriage suggest that some of the Indo-Guyanese values are different from that of the dominant Creole culture, which may be attributed to their cultural traits. Hence the concept "Guyanization" appears to be an ongoing process rather than a completed phenomenon, at least in the familial domain of the Indo-Guyanese.
Providing care to a family member with disabilities takes a toll on the caregiver and the whole f... more Providing care to a family member with disabilities takes a toll on the caregiver and the whole family's health. Among aging caregivers, compound caregiving (i.e., caring for additional family members) has become an increasingly common scenario. However, few research studies have focused on compound caregivers. Extant literature describes individual-level outcomes, with sparse knowledge on family-level outcomes. The present study examines the differences in the individual and family health of aging compound and noncompound caregivers, using the family quality of life framework. Web-based cross-sectional data collected from 112 aging caregivers (i.e., over 50 years) was analyzed using chi-square and independent sample t-tests to examine differences between caregivers. Compound caregivers had worse perceptions of personal health (t = -2.96, p = .004, d = -.61) than noncompound caregivers. In terms of family health, although all caregivers shared similar perceptions on the importan...
Date Presented 04/04/19 Project TEAM teaches transition age youth to identify and resolve environ... more Date Presented 04/04/19 Project TEAM teaches transition age youth to identify and resolve environmental barriers to participation. In this quasi-experimental study, youth in Project TEAM sustained increases in problem solving and self-determination, and attained more participation goals than goal setting only. Primary Author and Speaker: Jessica Kramer Additional Authors and Speakers: Christine Helfrich, Ariel Schwartz, ITing Hwang, Preethy Samuel Contributing Authors: Eric Kolaczyk, Aleksandrina Goeva
Developmental medicine and child neurology, Jan 12, 2018
Project TEAM (Teens making Environment and Activity Modifications) teaches transition-age young p... more Project TEAM (Teens making Environment and Activity Modifications) teaches transition-age young people with developmental disabilities, including those with co-occurring intellectual or cognitive disabilities, to identify and resolve environmental barriers to participation. We examined its effects on young people's attainment of participation goals, knowledge, problem-solving, self-determination, and self-efficacy. We used a quasi-experimental, repeated measures design (initial, outcome, 6-week follow-up) with two groups: (1) Project TEAM (28 males, 19 females; mean age 17y 6mo); and (2) goal-setting comparison (21 males, 14 females; mean age 17y 6mo). A matched convenience sample was recruited in two US states. Attainment of participation goals and goal attainment scaling (GAS) T scores were compared at outcome. Differences between groups for all other outcomes were analyzed using linear mixed effects models. At outcome, Project TEAM participants demonstrated greater knowledge ...
International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 2017
Abstract Project TEAM teaches transition-age youth with developmental disabilities (DD) to identi... more Abstract Project TEAM teaches transition-age youth with developmental disabilities (DD) to identify physical and social environmental barriers and supports, generate solutions to barriers, and request modifications to increase participation. Establishing the social validity of this environment focused intervention with youth and their parents is critical, given the significant shift the intervention represents from rehabilitation’s more traditional focus on body structures and function. University researchers and youth research collaborators conducted a participatory evaluation of the purpose, procedures, and perceived benefits of Project TEAM. Youth with DD (n = 42) provided feedback using three methods: activity voting, a survey, and a focus group. Parents (n = 37) also provided feedback. Results suggest that both youth and parents find Project TEAM acceptable and relevant to youth’s current and future lives. The majority of youth and parents felt Project TEAM fostered independence and empowerment, although some youth and parents reported challenges with the unique environment-focused approach.
Date Presented 4/8/2016 The aim of this study is to describe the family quality of life (FQOL) of... more Date Presented 4/8/2016 The aim of this study is to describe the family quality of life (FQOL) of people with dementia using a recently modified FQOL survey. The results suggest occupational therapists should explore ways to enhance FQOL by shifting from medical to community-based models of intervention. Primary Author and Speaker: Rosanne DiZazzo-Miller Additional Author and Speaker: Preethy Samuel Contributing Authors: Erin Skotzke, Hilary Diacono
The measurement of the social construct of Family Quality of Life (FQOL) is a parsimonious altern... more The measurement of the social construct of Family Quality of Life (FQOL) is a parsimonious alternative to the current approach of measuring familial outcomes using a battery of tools related to individual-level outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the internal consistency and concurrent validity of the International FQOL Survey (FQOLS-2006), using cross-sectional data collected from 65 family caregivers of children with developmental disabilities. It shows a moderate correlation between the total FQOL scores of the FQOLS-2006 and the Beach Center's FQOL scale. The validity of five FQOLS-2006 domains was supported by the correlations between conceptually related domains.
Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) at long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are faced with unique ... more Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) at long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are faced with unique challenges while caring for patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). However, there are scant data assessing HCWs’ knowledge of CDI management and prevention at LTCFs. Methods: A 27- item self-administered questionnaire was provided to all HCWs at four LTCFs in Michigan between November 2012 and March 2013. The survey was designed to assess HCWs' knowledge and understanding of recommended CDI management practices related to diagnosis and prevention. HCWs were divided into 3 tiers according to the extent of direct contact with patients. The first tier (FT) included physicians, nurses, infection control personnel and patient-care assistants; the second tier included dieticians, pharmacists and technicians and the third tier included administrative personnel. Survey results were analyzed using SPSS IBM 21. Results: Survey responses were obtained from 265 HCWs. 73% were 36 – ...
Background: Investigating the reasons for adherence to influenza vaccination is one of the key fa... more Background: Investigating the reasons for adherence to influenza vaccination is one of the key factors that can help defuse arguments about mandating influenza vaccination. However, scant information exists on health-care workers’ (HCWs) knowledge and beliefs on mandating influenza vaccination. Methods: A web –based survey was delivered in June 2012 via email to 3054 HCWs employed at an urban tertiary-care hospital in metropolitan Detroit. The 33-item questionnaire organized into three sections was anonymously completed by HCWs. We gathered cross-sectional data on demographics (section 1); history of influenza vaccination and subsequent side effects (section 2); and knowledge about mandatory influenza vaccination, barriers to compliance, and beliefs on mandatory influenza vaccination (section 3). Of note the hospital switched to a mandatory influenza vaccination policy from the year 2010 – 2011 to 2011 – 2012. The data was analyzed at the univariate, bivariate (Chi-square) and multi...
Background: Studies have confirmed that patients placed in rooms previously occupied by persons c... more Background: Studies have confirmed that patients placed in rooms previously occupied by persons colonized or infected with multidrug-resistant organisms have a 73% increased risk of acquiring the same pathogen. To help reduce this risk, the CDC has established guidelines for environmental cleaning, which specify the types of disinfectants and indications for use. However there is less guidance regarding several aspects of cleaning including types of cleaning clothes used and work flow. Methods: In order to better understand EVS practices, we developed a 10 item web-linked survey to gather cross-sectional data on basic environmental cleaning practices. The survey was disturbed to EVS managers working at 5 different hospitals of a large health care system in a large metropolitan area in Midwestern USA. A response rate of 100% was achieved. Results: The majority (70%) of the respondents were male and 73% were older than 40 years of age. Typical duration of room cleaning (both daily and...
ABSTRACT Purpose – The goal of this chapter was to empirically describe the patterns and dimensio... more ABSTRACT Purpose – The goal of this chapter was to empirically describe the patterns and dimensions of community interaction of typically underserved families of children with autism and other developmental disabilities within a family quality of life (FQoL) context.Methodology – We utilized the theoretical framework of FQoL to examine the community interactions of 149 families who voluntarily participated in this study. The Family Quality of Life Survey (FQoLS-2006) was used to collect data from the primary caregivers of the children with the disability, 92% of which were mothers. We conducted an in-depth examination of the six dimensions (importance, opportunities, initiative, attainment, stability, and satisfaction) of community interaction.Findings – Most families viewed community interaction as very important to their FQoL and the majority (62%) were satisfied with their community interaction, although just over a third reported high attainment, and only 48% reported having adequate opportunities for community interaction. Families of children with autism reported lower attainment of community interaction when compared to families of children with other developmental disabilities (t=2.63, df=147, p=0.01). Some race-related and child-related differences were also observed in the initiative taken to pursue community interaction and discrimination experienced by families.Limitations – Results must be interpreted with caution, as the participants in this study were all volunteers and the majority were mothers, and therefore may not be representative of all families of children with disabilities. Despite the limitations, findings from this study are a first step in understanding the multidimensional nature of community interaction of low-income, minority families.
Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 2013
People with disabilities often feel isolated from their communities, which in turn affects their ... more People with disabilities often feel isolated from their communities, which in turn affects their emotional well‐being and their overall quality of life. Access to transportation is a substantial barrier to community participation and an improved quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Transportation voucher programs represent a cost‐effective way to provide access to transportation for people with disabilities, but few studies have empirically examined the effectiveness of such programs. The present study examined the perceived benefits of participating in a transportation voucher program in Michigan, a midwestern state in the United States with limited public transportation. Cross‐sectional survey data collected from a convenience sample of 73 participants of the transportation voucher program, funded by the state's Developmental Disabilities Council from 2005 to 2008, were analyzed. Participation outcomes were differentiated by age, sex, employment status, and type ...
Intimate partner violence, including threats, stalking, emotional, physical, and sexual assault b... more Intimate partner violence, including threats, stalking, emotional, physical, and sexual assault by a spouse or partner, has significant influences on the well-being of women of all racial and social backgrounds. This study of a nationally representative sample of women from varying racial and ethnic groups examined specific types of violent acts on health and well-being. An association between intimate partner violence and poor physical and mental health was found. Types of partner violence also had different associations with the well-being of women of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Social and demographic factors played an important role in moderating women’s outcomes. Suggestions for future studies are discussed.
Despite the acknowledgment of pluralism, Caribbean family literature often focuses on the Afro-Ca... more Despite the acknowledgment of pluralism, Caribbean family literature often focuses on the Afro-Caribbean family and does not satisfactorily address the issues of the Indo-Caribbean family. This paper examines whether the lndo-Guyanese differ from the dominant culture of the Anglophone Caribbean in the structural arrangements of the family. Findings from secondary analysis of cross-sectional data of Guyana collected in 2004, suggest that the lndo-Guyanese significantly differ from the Afro-Guyanese in the structural arrangements of the family. Indo-Guyanese were more likely to be in marital unions and have longer marriages than the other racial groups, even when controlled for age. These differences suggest that the present day Indo-Guyanese have not assimilated into the dominant Creole culture, but have retained their cultural traits at least in the structural domain of the family. Hence it was concluded that "Guyanization" appears to be an ongoing process rather than a co...
Despite acknowledgments of pluralism, Caribbean family researchers often focus on the Afro-Caribb... more Despite acknowledgments of pluralism, Caribbean family researchers often focus on the Afro-Caribbean families and do not satisfactorily address the issues of the Indo-Caribbean people, who have been living in the region for well over a century. It is unclear from extant literature whether people of Indian origin in the Caribbean have remained ethnically separate or have blended into the dominant Creole culture of the Caribbean. This paper examines whether the Indo-Guyanese differ from the other Guyanese in their attitudes on marriage and views on exogamy. Findings from secondary analysis of cross-sectional data of Guyana collected in 2004, suggest that the Indo-Guyanese are distinct in their values and beliefs from the other Guyanese. The most common reason for marriage and benefit from marriage for the Indo-Guyanese is utilitarian rather than romantic, when compared to the other Guyanese. The Indo-Guyanese hold more conservative views on importance of marriage and views on exogamy, but there were clear gender differences as well irrespective of ethnic affiliation. These attitudinal differences about marriage suggest that some of the Indo-Guyanese values are different from that of the dominant Creole culture, which may be attributed to their cultural traits. Hence the concept "Guyanization" appears to be an ongoing process rather than a completed phenomenon, at least in the familial domain of the Indo-Guyanese.
Providing care to a family member with disabilities takes a toll on the caregiver and the whole f... more Providing care to a family member with disabilities takes a toll on the caregiver and the whole family's health. Among aging caregivers, compound caregiving (i.e., caring for additional family members) has become an increasingly common scenario. However, few research studies have focused on compound caregivers. Extant literature describes individual-level outcomes, with sparse knowledge on family-level outcomes. The present study examines the differences in the individual and family health of aging compound and noncompound caregivers, using the family quality of life framework. Web-based cross-sectional data collected from 112 aging caregivers (i.e., over 50 years) was analyzed using chi-square and independent sample t-tests to examine differences between caregivers. Compound caregivers had worse perceptions of personal health (t = -2.96, p = .004, d = -.61) than noncompound caregivers. In terms of family health, although all caregivers shared similar perceptions on the importan...
Date Presented 04/04/19 Project TEAM teaches transition age youth to identify and resolve environ... more Date Presented 04/04/19 Project TEAM teaches transition age youth to identify and resolve environmental barriers to participation. In this quasi-experimental study, youth in Project TEAM sustained increases in problem solving and self-determination, and attained more participation goals than goal setting only. Primary Author and Speaker: Jessica Kramer Additional Authors and Speakers: Christine Helfrich, Ariel Schwartz, ITing Hwang, Preethy Samuel Contributing Authors: Eric Kolaczyk, Aleksandrina Goeva
Developmental medicine and child neurology, Jan 12, 2018
Project TEAM (Teens making Environment and Activity Modifications) teaches transition-age young p... more Project TEAM (Teens making Environment and Activity Modifications) teaches transition-age young people with developmental disabilities, including those with co-occurring intellectual or cognitive disabilities, to identify and resolve environmental barriers to participation. We examined its effects on young people's attainment of participation goals, knowledge, problem-solving, self-determination, and self-efficacy. We used a quasi-experimental, repeated measures design (initial, outcome, 6-week follow-up) with two groups: (1) Project TEAM (28 males, 19 females; mean age 17y 6mo); and (2) goal-setting comparison (21 males, 14 females; mean age 17y 6mo). A matched convenience sample was recruited in two US states. Attainment of participation goals and goal attainment scaling (GAS) T scores were compared at outcome. Differences between groups for all other outcomes were analyzed using linear mixed effects models. At outcome, Project TEAM participants demonstrated greater knowledge ...
International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 2017
Abstract Project TEAM teaches transition-age youth with developmental disabilities (DD) to identi... more Abstract Project TEAM teaches transition-age youth with developmental disabilities (DD) to identify physical and social environmental barriers and supports, generate solutions to barriers, and request modifications to increase participation. Establishing the social validity of this environment focused intervention with youth and their parents is critical, given the significant shift the intervention represents from rehabilitation’s more traditional focus on body structures and function. University researchers and youth research collaborators conducted a participatory evaluation of the purpose, procedures, and perceived benefits of Project TEAM. Youth with DD (n = 42) provided feedback using three methods: activity voting, a survey, and a focus group. Parents (n = 37) also provided feedback. Results suggest that both youth and parents find Project TEAM acceptable and relevant to youth’s current and future lives. The majority of youth and parents felt Project TEAM fostered independence and empowerment, although some youth and parents reported challenges with the unique environment-focused approach.
Date Presented 4/8/2016 The aim of this study is to describe the family quality of life (FQOL) of... more Date Presented 4/8/2016 The aim of this study is to describe the family quality of life (FQOL) of people with dementia using a recently modified FQOL survey. The results suggest occupational therapists should explore ways to enhance FQOL by shifting from medical to community-based models of intervention. Primary Author and Speaker: Rosanne DiZazzo-Miller Additional Author and Speaker: Preethy Samuel Contributing Authors: Erin Skotzke, Hilary Diacono
The measurement of the social construct of Family Quality of Life (FQOL) is a parsimonious altern... more The measurement of the social construct of Family Quality of Life (FQOL) is a parsimonious alternative to the current approach of measuring familial outcomes using a battery of tools related to individual-level outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the internal consistency and concurrent validity of the International FQOL Survey (FQOLS-2006), using cross-sectional data collected from 65 family caregivers of children with developmental disabilities. It shows a moderate correlation between the total FQOL scores of the FQOLS-2006 and the Beach Center's FQOL scale. The validity of five FQOLS-2006 domains was supported by the correlations between conceptually related domains.
Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) at long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are faced with unique ... more Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) at long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are faced with unique challenges while caring for patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). However, there are scant data assessing HCWs’ knowledge of CDI management and prevention at LTCFs. Methods: A 27- item self-administered questionnaire was provided to all HCWs at four LTCFs in Michigan between November 2012 and March 2013. The survey was designed to assess HCWs' knowledge and understanding of recommended CDI management practices related to diagnosis and prevention. HCWs were divided into 3 tiers according to the extent of direct contact with patients. The first tier (FT) included physicians, nurses, infection control personnel and patient-care assistants; the second tier included dieticians, pharmacists and technicians and the third tier included administrative personnel. Survey results were analyzed using SPSS IBM 21. Results: Survey responses were obtained from 265 HCWs. 73% were 36 – ...
Background: Investigating the reasons for adherence to influenza vaccination is one of the key fa... more Background: Investigating the reasons for adherence to influenza vaccination is one of the key factors that can help defuse arguments about mandating influenza vaccination. However, scant information exists on health-care workers’ (HCWs) knowledge and beliefs on mandating influenza vaccination. Methods: A web –based survey was delivered in June 2012 via email to 3054 HCWs employed at an urban tertiary-care hospital in metropolitan Detroit. The 33-item questionnaire organized into three sections was anonymously completed by HCWs. We gathered cross-sectional data on demographics (section 1); history of influenza vaccination and subsequent side effects (section 2); and knowledge about mandatory influenza vaccination, barriers to compliance, and beliefs on mandatory influenza vaccination (section 3). Of note the hospital switched to a mandatory influenza vaccination policy from the year 2010 – 2011 to 2011 – 2012. The data was analyzed at the univariate, bivariate (Chi-square) and multi...
Background: Studies have confirmed that patients placed in rooms previously occupied by persons c... more Background: Studies have confirmed that patients placed in rooms previously occupied by persons colonized or infected with multidrug-resistant organisms have a 73% increased risk of acquiring the same pathogen. To help reduce this risk, the CDC has established guidelines for environmental cleaning, which specify the types of disinfectants and indications for use. However there is less guidance regarding several aspects of cleaning including types of cleaning clothes used and work flow. Methods: In order to better understand EVS practices, we developed a 10 item web-linked survey to gather cross-sectional data on basic environmental cleaning practices. The survey was disturbed to EVS managers working at 5 different hospitals of a large health care system in a large metropolitan area in Midwestern USA. A response rate of 100% was achieved. Results: The majority (70%) of the respondents were male and 73% were older than 40 years of age. Typical duration of room cleaning (both daily and...
ABSTRACT Purpose – The goal of this chapter was to empirically describe the patterns and dimensio... more ABSTRACT Purpose – The goal of this chapter was to empirically describe the patterns and dimensions of community interaction of typically underserved families of children with autism and other developmental disabilities within a family quality of life (FQoL) context.Methodology – We utilized the theoretical framework of FQoL to examine the community interactions of 149 families who voluntarily participated in this study. The Family Quality of Life Survey (FQoLS-2006) was used to collect data from the primary caregivers of the children with the disability, 92% of which were mothers. We conducted an in-depth examination of the six dimensions (importance, opportunities, initiative, attainment, stability, and satisfaction) of community interaction.Findings – Most families viewed community interaction as very important to their FQoL and the majority (62%) were satisfied with their community interaction, although just over a third reported high attainment, and only 48% reported having adequate opportunities for community interaction. Families of children with autism reported lower attainment of community interaction when compared to families of children with other developmental disabilities (t=2.63, df=147, p=0.01). Some race-related and child-related differences were also observed in the initiative taken to pursue community interaction and discrimination experienced by families.Limitations – Results must be interpreted with caution, as the participants in this study were all volunteers and the majority were mothers, and therefore may not be representative of all families of children with disabilities. Despite the limitations, findings from this study are a first step in understanding the multidimensional nature of community interaction of low-income, minority families.
Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 2013
People with disabilities often feel isolated from their communities, which in turn affects their ... more People with disabilities often feel isolated from their communities, which in turn affects their emotional well‐being and their overall quality of life. Access to transportation is a substantial barrier to community participation and an improved quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Transportation voucher programs represent a cost‐effective way to provide access to transportation for people with disabilities, but few studies have empirically examined the effectiveness of such programs. The present study examined the perceived benefits of participating in a transportation voucher program in Michigan, a midwestern state in the United States with limited public transportation. Cross‐sectional survey data collected from a convenience sample of 73 participants of the transportation voucher program, funded by the state's Developmental Disabilities Council from 2005 to 2008, were analyzed. Participation outcomes were differentiated by age, sex, employment status, and type ...
Intimate partner violence, including threats, stalking, emotional, physical, and sexual assault b... more Intimate partner violence, including threats, stalking, emotional, physical, and sexual assault by a spouse or partner, has significant influences on the well-being of women of all racial and social backgrounds. This study of a nationally representative sample of women from varying racial and ethnic groups examined specific types of violent acts on health and well-being. An association between intimate partner violence and poor physical and mental health was found. Types of partner violence also had different associations with the well-being of women of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Social and demographic factors played an important role in moderating women’s outcomes. Suggestions for future studies are discussed.
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Papers by Preethy Samuel