To examine the association of adolescents' snack and soft drink consumption with friendship group snack and soft drink consumption, availability of snacks and soft drinks at school, and personal characteristics, snack and soft drink consumption was assessed in 749 adolescents (398 girls, 351 boys, age 12.4 - 17.6 years), and their friends, and snack and soft drink availability at schools was measured. In regression analysis, consumption by friends, snack and soft drink availability within school, and personal characteristics (age, gender, education level, body mass index) were examined as determinants of snack and drink consumption. Snack and soft drink consumption was higher in boys, soft drink consumption was higher in lower educated adolescents, and snack consumption was higher in adolescents with a lower body weight. Peer group snack and soft drink consumption were associated with individual intake, particularly when availability in the canteen and vending machines was high. The association between individual and peer snack consumption was strong in boys, adolescents with a lower education level, and adolescents with lower body weights. Our study shows that individual snack and soft drink consumption is associated with specific combinations of consumption by peers, availability at school, and personal characteristics.
Citizen science – the active participation of lay people in research – may yield crucial local knowledge and increase research capacity. Recently, there is growing interest to understand benefits for citizen scientists themselves. We studied the perceived impacts of participation in a public health citizen science project on citizen scientists in a disadvantaged neighbourhood in the Netherlands. Local citizen scientists, characterised by low income and low educational level – many of whom were of migrant origin – were trained to interview fellow residents about health-enhancing and health-damaging neighbourhood features. Experiences of these citizen scientists were collected through focus groups and interviews and analysed using a theoretical model of potential citizen science benefits. The results show that the citizen scientists perceived participation in the project as a positive experience. They acquired a broader understanding of health and its determinants and knowledge about healthy lifestyles, and took action to change their own health behaviour. They reported improved self confidence and social skills, and expanded their network across cultural boundaries. Health was perceived as a topic that helped people with different backgrounds to relate to one another. The project also induced joint action to improve the neighbourhood’s health. We conclude that citizen science benefits participants with low educational or literacy level. Moreover, it seems to be a promising approach that can help promote health in underprivileged communities by strengthening personal skills and social capital. However, embedding projects in broader health promotion strategies and long-term engagement of citizen scientists should be pursued to accomplish this.
This paper argues that there is a need for a dialogical learning space because soft skills are becoming increasingly important in an ever more unstable labour market. Where once a monological form of education worked to prepare youth for the future, now a dialogue is required. This dialogue, by definition or in the first place seek consensus, but assumes pluralism and even conflict and is thereby intended to be a true departure from the monological nature of education.
Inwoners van Nederland worden steeds ouder, terwijl er minder fysieke zorg beschikbaar komt door een gebrek aan personeel en middelen. Eén van de meest voor de hand liggende manieren om toch adequate zorg te kunnen geven is het inzetten van zorgtechnologie, waaronder digitale zorgassistenten die gebruikers helpen bij het ondersteunen van een dagritme, het op tijd innemen van medicatie, en het krijgen van de juiste zorg op het juiste moment. Dit brengt de nodige uitdagingen met zich mee, op gebied van acceptatie door cliënten en mantelzorgers, geschiktheid van de technologie, en de organisatie van fysieke en digitale zorg. In het project Adaptieve Technologie voor een beter Zorgpad (AdapT-Zorg) staat de volgende onderzoeksvraag centraal: Welke factoren zijn van belang bij de (door)ontwikkeling van een zorgassistent gericht op levensloopbestendige en continue inzet bij patiënten met dementie? Het resultaat van het project is een handreiking voor (door)ontwikkeling van een slimme zorgassistent. Deze bestaat uit een patient journey, gebruiksintentie, softwarearchitectuur, concept van mogelijkheden van AI bij zorgassistenten, een impactschets, en aandachtspunten voor toekomstige projecten. Het consortium bestaat mkb-partner Tinybots en hogeschool Saxion (lectoraten Ethiek & Technologie, Ambient Intelligence en Technology, Health & Care), en ZZG Zorggroep is aangesloten als partnerorganisatie Het project bestaat uit 4 werkpakketten. In WP1 Zorgpad en organisatie wordt de huidige situatie in kaart gebracht. In WP2 Datavraag en databenutting wordt de beschikbare data voor het gebruik in een zelflerende zorgassistent onderzocht alsook de technische uitdagingen om deze data daadwerkelijk te benutten. In WP3 Impact van de adaptieve zorgassistent wordt de mogelijke impact in kaart gebracht en leggen we de basis voor verantwoorde doorontwikkeling en implementatie van een zorgassistent. Tot slot worden in WP4 Projectmanagement en Kennisbenutting de inzichten en producten vanuit het onderzoek gedeeld binnen én buiten het consortium.
