http://dx.doi.org/10.14261/postit/E878E1FB-39D2-4B34-AC3ABBEDA3DC35EFIn 2015 and 2016, Saxion University of Applied Sciences organized the 2nd and 3rd edition of the Regional Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference (RIEC).Relatively peripheral border regions are often seen as less attractive for high qualified temporary migrant workers (expats). Usually these region offer less possibilities for highly skilled migrants to find suitable work, because of the clustering of these types of jobs in core regions. Companies in more peripheral regions are thought to be less open for international experience and international cooperation. To test this assumption, several interviews with expats about their personal experiences and future improvement suggestions were held in order to get an overview of how expats feel working and living in Twente, a region which is located in the Eastern part of The Netherlands
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Background/Aims: This study examines the feasibility of a preoperative exercise program to improve the physical fitness of a patient before gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: An outpatient exercise program was developed to increase preoperative aerobic capacity, peripheral muscle endurance and respiratory muscle function in patients with pancreatic, liver, intestinal, gastric or esophageal cancer. During a consult at the outpatient clinic, patients were invited to participate in the exercise program when their surgery was not scheduled within 2 weeks. Results: The 115 participants followed on average 5.7 (3.5) training sessions. Adherence to the exercise program was high: 82% of the planned training sessions were attended, and no adverse events occurred. Mixed model analyses showed a significant increase of maximal inspiratory muscle strength (84.1-104.7 cm H2O; p = 0.00) and inspiratory muscle endurance (35.0-39.5 cm H2O; p = 0.00). No significant changes were found in aerobic capacity and peripheral muscle strength. Conclusion: This exercise program in patients awaiting oncological surgery is feasible in terms of participation and adherence. Inspiratory muscle function improved significantly as a result of inspiratory muscle training. The exercise program however failed to result in improved aerobic capacity and peripheral muscle strength, probably due to the limited number of training sessions as a result of the restricted time interval between screening and surgery.
Background: Difficulty in communicating (due to aphasia) can have serious consequences for patients in health care settings. Communication Partner Training is effective for improving communication between people with aphasia and health care professionals. Aim and Objective: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of developing and introducing a Communication Program which focuses on improving communication between nurses and persons with aphasia in a peripheral hospital setting. Methods & Procedures: A mixed-methods feasibility study was conducted with a pre-test post-test design in the quantitative part and two focus group discussions in the qualitative part. Nurses received training for communicating with persons with aphasia. In the pre-test and post-test, nurses filled in a questionnaire for barriers and facilitators and a feasibility questionnaire. Nurses’ attitudes towards the Communication Program were further explored in two focus group discussions. Outcomes & Results: Forty six nurses took part in the training sessions. Most nurses were satisfied about the Communication Program (24/30) and intended to continue using it (25/30). Almost all nurses saw positive effects for patients with aphasia (27/30), such as an increase in the ability to communicate. However, nurses reported that using the program was time consuming and that they still often experienced frustration when communicating with persons with aphasia. Conclusions: Improving communication with persons with aphasia via the Communication Program seems feasible and valuable according to nurses. Nurses probably need more support during implementation of the Communication Program, mainly due to time barriers and the complexity of communicating with persons with aphasia. Further research should focus on revising the program, training health care professionals with different educational backgrounds, and assessing the implementation of this communication partner training in health care settings.
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Supermarkets are essential urban household amenities, providing daily products, and for their social role in communities. Contrary to many other countries, including nearby ones, the Netherlands have a balanced distribution of supermarkets across villages and urban neighbourhoods. However, spatial supermarket patterns, are subject to influential developments. First, due to economies of scale, there is a tendency for supermarkets to increase their catchment areas and to disappear from peripheral villages. Second, supermarkets are now mainly located in residential areas, although the urban periphery appears to be attractive for the retail sector, perhaps including the rise of hypermarkets. Third, today, online grocery shopping is still lagging far behind on other online shopping products, but a breaks through will dilute population support for in-store supermarkets and can lead to dramatic ‘game changer’ shifts with major spatial and social effects. These three important trends will reinforce each other. Consequences are of natural community meeting places at the expense of social cohesion; reduced accessibility for daily products, leading to more travel, often by car; increasing delivery flows; real estate vacancies, and increasing suburban demand increase for retail and logistics. Expected changes in supermarket patterns require understanding, but academic literature on OGS is still scarce, and does hardly address household behaviour in changing spatial constellations. We develop likely spatial supermarket patterns, and model the consequences for travel demand, social cohesion and real estate demand, as well as the distribution between online and in-store grocery shopping, by developing a stated preference experiment, among Dutch households.
