No abstract

Safer injecting facilities (SIFs) have been introduced in many countries throughout Europe over a number of years, and more recently have been established in Canada and Australia. This study, which was conducted in Dublin, sought to examine the policy implications of introducing safer injecting facilities in Ireland as a logical development of harm-reduction policy. A triangulation method of data collection was adopted that comprised semi-structured interviews with sixteen drug users and structured interviews with key personnel and policy makers in the drug field including the Minister for State with responsibility for Ireland's National Drug Strategy (2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008). The study revealed that the majority of drug users were injecting in public places, had a surprising level of knowledge of SIFs, and indicated a willingness to use such facilities. The findings of the study also revealed very mixed feelings among policy makers and key personnel and showed that amongst those in favour of such an innovation there was a preference for doing so with the maximum of discretion. The study concludes that it is perhaps 'a bridge too far' in the current political climate.

No abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of Twitter by Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) for the provision of constituency-related information, or in support of their constituency service work. Design/methodology/approach – Content analysis of 10,411 tweets sent by the 105 MSPs on Twitter during four weeks in early-2014. Findings – While there was some evidence of MSPs on Twitter acting as a promoter of local community interests and as a conduit for information on local policy issues and events, their tweets were dominated by the wider, national, political agenda and by the Scottish independence debate. Compared with their online behaviour as parliamentary candidates three years earlier, MSPs placed an even greater emphasis on the one-way broadcast of information to their followers. They were reluctant to respond to contentious local policy questions, or to enter into any visible, meaningful, political debate with their constituents. Research limitations/implications – Although the research was conducted seven months before the Scottish independence referendum on 18 September 2014, the independence debate still dominated proceedings on Twitter. It might, therefore, be appropriate to revisit MSPs’ use of Twitter at some point during a truer “peacetime” period. Originality/value – This is the first systematic content analysis of tweets sent by all MSPs on Twitter. It allows the authors to compare their actual Twitter use with that envisaged by the Scottish Parliament, as a way of MSPs communicating about their work and engaging with their constituents.

No abstract

No abstract

e18544 Background: Underrepresented minority (URM) patients continue to make up a small percentage of patients treated on cancer clinical trials (CCTs), thus perpetuating health care disparities. Research indicates that engagement of healthcare staff is critical for successful recruitment. Our study sought to better define barriers to minority recruitment to CCT from the research staff perspective. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted of key stakeholders for CCT enrollment, including clinical research coordinators (CRCs), principal investigators (PIs), and treating clinicians. Questions for the healthcare team explored their experiences caring for URM patients with specific inquiry into the barriers of enrollment/retention and the processes or resources required to better meet patient needs. Results: All hematology and oncology staff at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center were invited to participate via email. Of the 28 who consented, 13 were male (46%), 15 female (54%), and 21% non-white (3 Asian, 2 Hispanic, 1 Black). Of the 19 PIs, 9 were Professors (47%), 5 Associate professors (26%), and 5 Assistant professors (26%). The additional 9 interviewees were CRCs. Select themes with representative quotes and proposed actions can be seen in Table. Conclusions: Recommendations for CCT accrual include accelerating efforts to address workforce diversity gaps, engaging in community outreach, optimization of CCT participation through collaborative care, incentivizing trial participation, and creating flexibility in eligibility criteria.[Table: see text]

The budding field of religion and film has almost exclusively consisted of works by religious studies scholars. The objective of this thesis is to approach religion and film from a film studies standpoint, with a focus on narrational, stylistic, and genre analysis. The films explored, Silent Light (Carlos Reygadas, Mexico, 2007), Requiem (Hans-Christian Schmid, Germany, 2006), and Take Shelter (Jeff Nichols, USA, 2011), are not a part of the popular Western cinema that dominates religion and film discourses. These independent works about resurrection (Silent Light), possession (Requiem), and apocalypse (Take Shelter) secularize the religious element of their respective narratives, and as a result, there is room for doubt, hesitation, and a variety of interpretations. The ambiguous sensibility of these films is crucial to this thesis, which aims to complicate the notion of the "religious film."iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis would not exist without the guidance and insight of my supervisor, Dr.Malini Guha. Thank you for two years of thoughtful conversations, and your steadfast encouragement throughout the evolution of this project.I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from the exceptional Film