Epidemiological Associations between Gambling Behavior, Substance Use & Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Objective To compare gambling behaviors in a random sample of community residents with and without mental disorders identified by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI).Method A large national community survey conducted by Statistics Canada included questions about problems arising from gambling activities as per the Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI). We compared respondents within three gambling severity categories (non-problem, low severity and moderate/high severity gambling) across three diagnostic groupings (mood/anxiety disorders, substance dependence/harmful alcohol use, no selected psychiatric disorder).Results Of the 14,934 respondents age 18–64 years who engaged in at least one type of gambling activity in the previous 12 months, 5.8% fell in the low severity gambling category while 2.9% fell in the moderate/high severity category. Females accounted for 51.7% of the sample. The risk of moderate/high severity gambling was 1.7 times higher in persons with mood or anxiety disorder compared to persons with no selected disorder. For persons with substance dependence or harmful alcohol use, the risk of moderate/high severity gambling was 2.9 times higher. Persons with both mood/anxiety and substance/alcohol disorders were five times more likely to be moderate/high severity gamblers. The odds ratio for females was 0.6 and for those with less than post-secondary education it was 1.52. Differences in age and personal income were not significant.Conclusions Individuals in the community suffering from mood/anxiety disorders and substance dependence/harmful alcohol, and especially those with both, experience a higher risk for gambling problems. The treatment of these comorbidities should be integrated into any problem gambling treatment program.Disclaimer: The data upon which of the analyses contained in this paper derive from surveys conducted by Statistics Canada. The opinions expressed in this paper do not represent the opinions of Statistics Canada.     

发展教育学：基于社会问题的学科建构

一门学科研究的问题域是对其研究对象和研究视野进行双重界定的结果。发展教育学是一门用教育学科群的综合视野来研究一个国家社会发展带来的教育问题的应用学科。开展社会教育问题研究不仅是增强教育学实践关怀意识的必由之路，更是彻底根治社会问题的一剂良药。     

鲁迅笔下阿Q之死的“仪式感”

阿Q是个“问题人物”。鲁迅刻意描述阿Q之死的“仪式感” ,不仅是为了在艺术上终结这个“问题人物” ,更是为了使“阿Q”彻底成为关于人的存在问题的艺术哲学思辨的符号。     

What's the problem? A problem-based approach to the reform of the Norwegian drug rehabilitation sector

This article explores how the scope of solutions to complex problems is determined by the way in which the problem is formulated. We inquire into this by means of a theory-driven case study of the reform in the Norwegian drug rehabilitation sector and the Tyrili facility. We analyze divergent approaches to drug rehabilitation by means of a problem formulation framework, which distinguishes between (1) the value dimensions of given problems, and (2) the phases of problem solving activities. Based on this inquiry, we arrive at a set of propositions, in which we propose that the two approaches differ in their inclusion of various value dimensions. Moreover, we suggest that the reform pursued increased efficiency as a solution to a reductionist formulation of the problem, which challenged Tyrili's opportunity to solve the problem in the multidimensional manner they conceive of it. This is an argument against a one-dimensional maximization of efficiency as a pursuit of quality in social services.     

Midwifery students’ experiences of problem solving based interprofessional learning: A qualitative study

Background

Interprofessional learning is identified as one of the most innovative ways to encourage students of different disciplines to communicate with each other in interprofessional teams. A review of existing studies identified that inter-professional learning with nursing and midwifery students learning together had not previously been reported.

An Eight-Step Guide to Creating and Sustaining a Mentoring Program

Mentoring is an extremely valuable activity for both individuals and organizations. Mentoring within organizations can develop and integrate employees into their corporate culture. Mentoring outside the mentees’ work groups or through professional development organizations can give broader perspective and support, especially in times of transition. But mentoring programs require tremendous effort to start, organize, and maintain. Few last more than two years. This article provides a structured approach to starting and sustaining a successful program. The steps include understanding an organization’s particular needs, learning from small pilot programs, following up with mentoring pairs during a committed formal mentoring period, and evaluating results from each program’s cycle to learn and grow the program. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.     

Classification into two normal populations with a common mean and unequal variances

The problem of classification into two univariate normal populations with a common mean is considered. Several classification rules are proposed based on efficient estimators of the common mean. Detailed numerical comparisons of probabilities of misclassifications using these rules have been carried out. It is shown that the classification rule based on the Graybill-Deal estimator of the common mean performs the best. Classification rules are also proposed for the case when variances are assumed to be ordered. Comparison of these rules with the rule based on the Graybill-Deal estimator has been done with respect to individual probabilities of misclassification.     

Supporting public financial management in conflict‐affected situations: Adapting to change in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

This article traces the introduction of public financial management (PFM) processes and systems in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) since they came under the control of the Palestinian Authority (PA). A number of factors combined make for an extremely challenging context for external actors to catalyse change: non‐existent formal central government functions at the time the PA was established, major restrictions in the movement of goods and people, ill‐designed donor budget support and a very asymmetric distribution of power that favours the status quo. An unelected government, donor‐dependency and a suffocating and chronic (yet low‐level) conflict are increasingly de‐incentivizing long‐term institutional reform. Such a complex problem requires multi‐faceted solutions. This article describes a dual delivery model adopted by the Palestinian Governance Facility (PGF) encompassing adaptive interventions that support longer‐term PFM improvements combined with the introduction of a selective workstream targeting service delivery. This focuses on the management of external medical referrals, which emerged as a political problem. A flexible development assistance delivery model can allow reform areas not anticipated at project design to be tackled as they emerge on the political agenda and open the space for political capital. A constant examination of contextual issues and re‐programming of project activities are offering lessons from which to learn and adapt. The ideal coalition involves flexible, aligned donors and relevant “institutional entrepreneurs” from within local organizations, with direct access to politicians. If high‐level government buy‐in falters, a coalition of technocrats may help construct and broker problems from which to gain political access.     

社会稳定问题预警研究初探

以引发群体性突发事件为关切的社会稳定问题,在微观层面上因为政策过程不完整、政策导致的利益分配差异化而形成,进而影响到社会稳定问题的问题域.户籍、政策稳定程度是政府界定问题域的基本维度,前者限定了与社会稳定问题密切相关的公共品提供的范围和程度;后者限定了既有社会稳定问题和现有社会稳定问题的性质和范围.社会预警指标体系设计应关注预警层次、指标定义、主观指标、逆向指标、指标相关性等问题,相应的信息系统还存在缺乏整合、覆盖面不足的问题.     

归纳问题研究的历史与现状

探讨归纳问题不仅对于确立归纳逻辑的逻辑学地位意义重大,而且该问题的解决还直接关乎归纳逻辑自身的发展规律和发展趋势,以及归纳逻辑与其他相关学科之间的关系等重要问题.目前学术界对归纳问题的研究角度不一,内容各有侧重.同时,对现代归纳逻辑发展现状及趋势的不同看法也为解决归纳问题提供了更为恰当的思路.