Action Learning about Gender Issues

Domestic violence affects the lives of many Americans, including children. It is imperative that primary care providers working with children, including pediatric nurse practitioners, understand the dynamics of domestic violence, recognize domestic violence, and intervene appropriately. Domestic violence places children at risk physically, emotionally, and developmentally. The effect on children who witness domestic violence will be discussed. Primary care providers have a professional responsibility to screen for domestic violence. The primary care provider can play a pivotal role in breaking the cycle of family violence by timely identification of and appropriate intervention for domestic violence.

ABSTRACTThis account of practice details how an action learning methodology was successfully implemented within a corporate business environment in order to aid its emergence from bankruptcy. The need to quickly develop and adopt new knowledge and business practices was critically important to the survival of the business. The business had been underperforming for several years and was in the process of emerging from bankruptcy. An action learning methodology was implemented to enable an accelerated process of organizational learning and business process transformation. Ultimately, action learning proved to be critically important for the adoption of the new approach to the business. The action learning process was responsible for tailoring the new approach to fit within the already established operating framework of the business. The new knowledge and processes that resulted from action learning were also central to an improvement in the performance of the business and a successful emergence from bankruptcy.

Action learning founder Reginald Revans emphasized the importance of striking the right balance between action and learning during the action learning process. In this article, the authors outlined key themes and patterns identified across studies based on Cho and Egan’s (2009) systematic literature review of action learning research. The article includes two major sections: (a) current state of action learning focusing on the issue of balance and (b) future directions in action learning research in line with research methods and theoretical frameworks. Addressing the need for balance between action and learning through a discussion of the current state and the quality of action learning research provides an informative picture regarding the manner in which action learning is being framed by scholars and in practice.

BackgroundDomestic violence shares many features with chronic disease, including ongoing physical and mental health problems and eroded self-efficacy. Given the challenges around help-seeking for women experiencing domestic violence, it is essential that they be given support to ‘self-manage’ their condition. The growing popularity of web-based applications for chronic disease self-management suggests that there may be opportunities to use them as an intervention strategy for women experiencing domestic violence, however, as yet, little is known about whether this might work in practice.DiscussionIt is critical that interventions for domestic violence—whether web-based or otherwise—promote agency and capacity for action rather than adding to the ‘workload’ of already stressed and vulnerable women. Although randomised controlled trials are vital to determine the effectiveness of interventions, robust theoretical frameworks can complement them as a way of examining the feasibility of implementing an intervention in practice. To date, no such frameworks have been developed for the domestic violence context. Consequently, in this paper we propose that it may be useful to appraise interventions for domestic violence using frameworks developed to help understand the barriers and facilitators around self-management of chronic conditions. Using a case study of an online healthy relationship tool and safety decision aid developed in Australia (I-DECIDE), this paper adapts and applies two theories: Burden of Treatment Theory and Normalisation Process Theory, to assess whether the intervention might increase women’s agency and capacity for action. In doing this, it proposes a new theoretical model with which the practical application of domestic violence interventions could be appraised in conjunction with other evaluation frameworks.SummaryThis paper argues that theoretical frameworks for chronic disease are appropriate to assess the feasibility of implementing interventions for domestic violence in practice. The use of the modified Burden of Treatment/Normalisation Process Theory framework developed in this paper strengthens the case for I-DECIDE and other web-based applications as a way of supporting women experiencing domestic violence.

<p>Cases of domestic violence are on the increase in Zimbabwe regardless the existence of anti domestic violence laws. Not much has been done to establish why the existing laws in Zimbabwe are failing to reduce or stop Domestic Violence. Some of the factors for increased cases of Domestic Violence in Zimbabwe include amongst others, total disregard of the African Traditional culture and practises, poverty and economic hardships, increase in awareness of the law, non coverage of remote areas during anti domestic violence campaigns, limitations in the enforcement of the law, natural characteristics of perpetrators, challenges faced by organisations who deal with domestic violence cases, corruption, alcohol and drug abuse and infidelity. A qualitative research was conducted in Highlands, Dema and Chitungwiza Suburbs. What boggles the researcher’s mind is the non intervention in domestic violence by members of the society. Domestic violence is manmade and so why does it continue unstopped since it is hating and sometimes ending lives of innocent people. The research recommends the inclusion and use of the African Traditional cultural practises in solving cases of domestic violence. It is also recommended that the anti domestic violence laws be made restorative in nature, catering for both the healing of the victim and the rehabilitation of the perpetrator. It is also recommended that there should be a zero tolerance to domestic violence amongst Zimbabweans and that everyone should play his or her role to fight domestic violence.</p>

A meta-analysis on domestic violence interventions was conducted to determine overall effectiveness of mental health programs involving women and children in joint treatment. These interventions were further analyzed to determine whether outcomes are differentially affected based on the outcome measure employed. To date, no meta-analyses have been published on domestic violence victim intervention efficacy. The 17 investigations that met study criteria yielded findings indicating that domestic violence interventions have a large effect size (d = .812), which decreases to a medium effect size when compared to control groups (d = .518). Effect sizes were assessed to determine whether treatment differed according to the focus of the outcome measure employed: (a) external stress (behavioral problems, aggression, or alcohol use); (b) psychological adjustment (depression, anxiety, or happiness); (c) self-concept (self-esteem, perceived competence, or internal locus of control); (d) social adjustment (popularity, loneliness, or cooperativeness); (e) family relations (mother–child relations, affection, or quality of interaction); and (f) maltreatment events (reoccurrence of violence, return to partner). Results reveal that domestic violence interventions across all outcome categories yield effects in the medium to large range for both internalized and externalized symptomatology. Implications for greater awareness and support for domestic violence treatment and programming are discussed.

A paucity of existing research focuses on longitudinal examinations of criminal trajectories among reoffenses committed by domestic violence offenders. Specifically, few studies have longitudinally assessed whether domestic violence offenders specialize, recidivating in domestic violence assault, or generalize, committing a range of personal and property crimes. Acknowledging these research deficiencies, the current study uses longitudinal data from a cohort of 317 batterers who were processed in a domestic violence court to investigate the trajectories of domestic violence arrests and nondomestic violence arrests over a 10-year period. The degree of overlap between domestic and nondomestic violence arrest trajectory groups is examined through a cross-tabulation and chi-square analysis. Logistic and multinomial regression models are applied to identify risk factors that distinguish trajectory groups. A PROC TRAJ procedure identifies two trajectory groups for domestic violence arrests (low and high rate) and three trajectory groups for nondomestic violence arrests (very low, low, and high rate). Results indicate that specialization among domestic violence offenders is rare-prior alcohol and drug crimes predict membership in the high-rate domestic violence arrest trajectory group and prior domestic violence arrests predict membership in both the low-rate and high-rate nondomestic violence arrest trajectories. Implications for future research and policy are discussed in this article.

Gender, masculinity and policing: An analysis of the implications of police masculinised culture on policing domestic violence in southern Ghana and Lagos, Nigeria

Risk of domestic violence after flood impact: Effects of social support, age, and history of domestic violence

This article explores the evolving definitions of domestic and family violence and their implications on family dynamics, legal frameworks, and cultural contexts. Traditionally seen as physical violence, domestic and family violence now encompasses emotional, financial, and psychological abuse, a broader definition supported by organizations such as the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the United Nations. This broadened scope, while intended to protect vulnerable individuals, has sparked debates on potential overreach, with critics warning of its effects on family autonomy and privacy. Through examining varied family models patriarchal, egalitarian, and modern, this article assesses how expanded legal interpretations intersect with family structure, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions sensitive to relationship dynamics and mutual conflict. Additionally, the article discusses how cultural heritage, and socioeconomic factors influence domestic violence perceptions and interventions, advocating for approaches that respect cultural diversity while promoting gender equality and reducing power imbalances. Subsequently, the article calls for balanced domestic violence frameworks that support family cohesion and resilience without undermining family harmony or autonomy.

Action learning is a unique organizational learning process that involves a non‐traditional instructional approach and mindset. It is similar to the case method, in that it was designed as a managerial learning process. It was introduced by Reg Revans and first referenced as early as 1945, in a report on the British coal mining industry, recommending the establishment of a staff college for the industry in which field managers would be encouraged to learn with and from each other using group review to find solutions to immediate problems. Today it is growing in acceptance and use around the world, as evidenced by its successes at General Electric, Prudential Assurance, the University of Michigan Global Leadership Program, Harvard Business School, along with numerous others. It is used as a managerial learning process, involving teams who are resolving problems, the solutions to which are passed to clients who are themselves learning processes and relevant information valuable for future problem‐solving episodes. When projects and teams are selected appropriately, the body of institutional knowledge and the pace of strategic organizational learning is accelerated in user‐organizations through the action learning process.

Action learning is a promising approach for building mental health promotion (MHP) capacity. The aim of this study is to explore how action learning processes can strengthen MHP capacity within and across organizations in a community setting. We applied an embedded case study design and a realist evaluation framework to explore key combinations of mechanisms and contextual factors that generated the emergent MHP capacity outcomes of an action learning program, i.e. context-mechanism-outcome-configurations (CMO-configurations). Data consisted of 18 semi-structured face-to-face interviews, 10 telephone interviews, two group interviews, observations, and documents. Interviewees (n = 21) were participants and management employees. Our analytical provision of CMO-configurations provides insights into how contextual factors, such as participant motivation, organizational support, and existing task descriptions, in combination with certain program mechanisms, such as legitimization of specific agendas, learning-by-doing, and collaborations across organizational boundaries, explain the identified outcomes. Outcomes ranged across implementation of MHP initiatives, personal development among participants, and relational and collaborative development. Taken together, our results strengthen the notion that mechanisms of action learning hold the potential to build MHP capacity on an individual, organizational, and community level. This study, also, illustrates that realist evaluation offers a relevant methodology for investigating the underlying workings of capacity building programs.

This paper discusses using action learning with different professional groups in the UK—nurses and educators. It addresses the question: To what extent is action learning an effective approach in relation to professional development, and, if so, in what way/s? The formulation and developmental processes of action learning sets are examined. The paper provides examples of the professional and personal development of these individuals as a result of experiencing the action learning process, as well as some positive impacts (outcomes) they achieved at an organisational level. It is also argued, however, that current tensions and challenges within professional groupings, cultures and contexts can impede action learning and, hence, have a negative impact on professional development. For example, political agendas and the psychodynamics of organisational life were found to hinder, or discourage, the learning process, i.e. the likelihood of bringing about change, in favour of maintaining the status quo for the individuals themselves and within their organisational structures.

While domestic violence (DV) - encompassing abusive action towards children, intimate partners, and elderly patients - is frequently reported at US trauma centers each year, contemporary data on DV trends and outcomes remain limited. We identified all trauma patients with DV using the 2018-2021 American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program (ACS-TQIP) database. Temporal trends were analyzed using the Cochran-Armitage test. Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were used to assess the association of DV with in-hospital mortality, hospital duration of stay (LOS) and non-home discharge. Among 4190,728 trauma admissions, 8677 (0.2 %) involved DV, with the majority being children (73.6 %), followed by adults (19.5 %) and elderly patients (7.0 %). DV-related trauma admissions increased significantly from 2018 to 2021 (1.7 to 2.0 per 1000 trauma admissions, trend test P < 0.001). DV victims were more frequently female (48.8 vs 39.0 %), Black (30.7 vs 15.2 %), and insured by Medicaid (61.8 vs 18.0 %). DV was associated with higher in-hospital mortality among children (AOR 4.86, 95 % CI 3.88-6.10) and elderly patients (AOR 2.59, 95 % CI 1.42-4.73). Children with DV had significantly longer LOS by 2.1 days (95 % CI 1.8-2.4 days). Children (AOR 2.98, 95 %CI 2.30-3.85) and elderly DV patients (AOR 1.60, 95 %CI 1.15-2.23) had increased odds of non-home discharge. DV-related trauma admissions have risen significantly across national trauma centers. Enhanced protocols at trauma centers may provide critical opportunities for DV identification and intervention as well as prevention strategies.

Domestic violence is occurring in epidemic proportions in the United States. Recent surveys have shown there is a need for educational programs for health care professionals. This report presents the results of a domestic violence workshop developed to increase knowledge and improve attitudes and skills in working with victims of domestic violence. The results of the workshop, measured by preintervention and postintervention attitude, knowledge, and skills surveys, are promising. There was a significant improvement in knowledge, self-assessed skills, and attitudes after the workshop. Although the full magnitude of the changes was not sustained over time, there was still significant improvement after 6 months in knowledge and attitude. Rates of detection and documentation did not change. Future educational programs will need to address maintaining routine screening for domestic violence in the primary care setting and to highlight more clearly the role of health care professionals in the detection and treatment of domestic violence.