Media Is the Message - 1401 Words

Media is in our daily lives. It’s everywhere we turn from the things we read to the things we watch. Everything that we see as a form of media has a message they are trying to convey to us, whether it’s selling us something or getting us to believe something and sometimes it’s both at the same time. The way these media providers present it has changed dramatically through the decades. Technology has been a huge influence on media. Marshall McLuhan makes the argument that the â€Å"medium is the message† in his paper The Medium is the Message. The medium is the technology, tool, or invention that is being used to convey an idea to the public. Regardless of what this idea might be, it is unimportant because the possibilities that are presented by the tools that are used are what matters most. McLuhan uses the example of the electrical light, in which he is referring to as a stepping stone for all future and current technological advances. If it weren’ t for the invention of the light there would be no cinemas, no photography, no computer graphics, or in other words the world would lack a visual component that was developed in part by the electric light. McLuhan is arguing that the invention or the medium is more important than how people perceive and use the invention. The tools themselves have their own meaning for society. For example, the wheel was invented a long time ago and still plays a major role on our daily lives today. We use tires to drive from place to place, on theShow MoreRelatedThe Medium Is the Message Media Hot and Cold970 Words   |  4 PagesRunning Head: THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE MEDIA HOT AND COLD The Medium Is the Message Media Hot and Cold Name: Course: Instructor: Date: Introduction According to Mcluhan (2002), the media is a very significant channel of transmission of cultural values from one group to another or across generations. With the introduction of the television in the year 1948 in America, radio became less popular since the new media seemed involving and enticing than the former. It has beenRead MoreSocialization - Gender Messages in the Mass Media Essay975 Words   |  4 PagesSocialization - Gender Messages in the Mass Media How Images on Television/Movies reinforce society’s expectations of gender. The most powerful form of mass media that we enjoy in America is the television. What we see on our T.V.’s can have very deep and profound effects on our beliefs, our life-styles and our needs and behaviors. On most of T.V. women are portrayed as flawless, beautiful, hair of silk, skin like peaches and cream and God forbid if they can pinch an inch, whereasRead MoreNonverbal Messages : A Society That Breathes Social Media920 Words   |  4 PagesNonverbal messages consist of cues we send out with our bodies. It is very interesting how as a society that breathes Social media, we can have any real interactions. Conversing is not as prevent as it used to be, if you look around you will see that the majority of people are either emailing texting or doing something online. I really cannot speak to tweeting or creating Instagram’s. I do not do either, and people assume it is because of my age. It is not, I just find it tedious how there is noRead More The Role of Ethnicity and Race in the Way Audiences Interpret Media Messages1598 Words   |  7 PagesThe Role of Ethnicity and Race in the Way Audiences Interpret Media Messages According to the sociological definition of race and ethnicity, there is a close interrelation between race and ethnicity. Race has not been defined by the biological difference that it is stood on the social construct. Race does not discriminate the skin color from others which is related to the ethnicity. Race is defined on the social construct which based on physical and cultural features (Fulcher Scott, 2007). Read More Television and Media - Social Messages in a Coca-Cola TV Commercial1502 Words   |  7 PagesExplicit and Implicit Social Messages in a Recent Coca-Cola Commercial Directed by feature-filmmaker Bryan Singer, Coca Cola’s most recent television ad in their â€Å"Real† campaign features Salma Hayeck in the supposed natural setting of a business meal at an upscale Hollywood restaurant[1]. While presenting many of the elements that Jib Fowles discusses in his essay â€Å"Advertising’s Fifteen Basic Appeals,† this Coke ad also portrays the duality of women in our society. Read MoreHow in the News Media the Image Becomes More Important than the Message?808 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout the previous years, individuals view media for further entertainment rather then the actual message portrayed. We simply observe or recite if the news media is outrageous or affects to the lives of the icons presently in the interest. Currently, the image of privacy connected with individuals providing newscasts has entirely disappeared. In the news media the images have become more important than the message itself due to mass media. Audience and visual images have become more commonRead MoreThe Different Types of Messages and Representations Television Media Communicates about Older Adulthood1107 Words   |  5 Pagesnotice how older adults are treated and portrayed in on-screen media? Most people who watch television have started to notice the quantity and quality of older adult characters over the years. During the era of television shows such as The G olden Girls, older men and women were almost always in a featured role. They were also portrayed in a positive light. As years have passed, older adults are becoming less frequent in on screen media such as television. When they are cast as characters, they areRead MoreCreative Message Strategy, Media Plan Integrated Brand Promotion Tools For An Unbranded Product Essay1540 Words   |  7 PagesCreative Message Strategy, Media Plan Integrated Brand Promotion Tools for an Unbranded Product Product Name: Packed Kamath’s Sugarcane Juice Introduction about Firm and Product Kamath’s Sugarcane Juice Center has been started by Mohandas Kamath in the year 2001, in Manipal. Initially, he had been using had made rolling machine for extracting the juices from the raw sugarcane. Later, as the technology improved, he started using fully automatic machines for extracting the juices. At present, theRead MoreWhen one looks at how the media continues to communicate certain messages to the American public,1400 Words   |  6 Pageshow the media continues to communicate certain messages to the American public, it is remarkable how some trends have continued for decades. This is particularly true concerning images and graphics and the subtle messages that they carry in the world of print communications. The unfortunate reality is that the media is no different from many institutions in American society in that it has to sell products to the public in order to stay financially stable. As a means of doing so, the media providesRead MoreThe Importance Of Mass Med ia1003 Words   |  5 PagesEveryone’s comprehension is different and unique in reality. When a person receives a message from mass media, he tells the message which is from mass media to another person. These two people understand what does this message means; however, they may have different comprehension of this message. People can think about each message and analyze a message in a different way because they have their own idea. For example, when people do a survey for a film, some people may think this film is very good;

Greeces Economic Situation With The United States

Since 2008, the Hellenic Republic (Greece) has been suffering from one the worst economical and financial depressions in its history. From its beginning, the nation s banking system has teetered on the brink of collapse and over 20% of its citizens have been unemployed. This essay will discuss the history of the crisis, its causes, and comparative study between Greece s economic situation with that of the United States. The paper will close with my future predictions about Greece s response to the crisis based on experiences I shared with friends and family members in Greece. The crisis began alongside the worldwide recession in 2008. Preceding this worldwide economic downturn , eurozone countries experienced an 35% of GDP increase†¦show more content†¦However, despite this rapid deterioration of the worldwide economy, Greek s decrepit financial situation did not occur overnight. It was result of a flurry of factors stemming from a wide variety of sources. In Georgios P. K ouretas and Prodromos Vlamis s work, The Greek Crisis: Causes and Implications, the authors indentified at least three key players, which led to Greece s continued financial crisis (Kouretas and Vlamis, 393). The first and most responsible institution was the Greek government and its feeble political system. Throughout the years, the national government mismanaged the domestic economy to the level that the economy was adding on government debt at a rate faster than any other eurozone nation. Combined with its rapid increase was its debt/GDP ratio was already greater than 100% by the time of the crisis. In order to combat this overspending, Greece implemented tough austerity in both its fiscal and economic policies (in order to lower its budget deficit and debt/GDP ratio) while relying on 110 billion euro package, provided by the EU and IMF, to finance its short-term operations. As a consequence of its large budget deficit, the financial market downgraded Greece s credit rating to th e point that the country had to withdraw from the international bond markets (due to extremely high interest rates). The final major factor lies in the response of both Eurozone governments and the European

Guide Free Essays

The public services have multiple ways of showing how they go about promoting a diverse work force within the military, health service and police force. The first that would like to pin point is that they have a way of approaching the black minority’s ethnic alongside the LIGHT communities, religion or beliefs and gender. As they try to incorporate more people into the military by means of newspapers, social media for example advertisements with different cultures interlinked talking about their experiences and hosting open days or setting up conferences that can be searched via the web making it more aware for the average person to see hat it would be like if they joined the army and in regards to the support that is being offered if they require it. We will write a custom essay sample on Guide or any similar topic only for you Order Now For the equality and diversity they have training to improve on the understanding Of other cultures, religious beliefs and being able to respects those around them, there are also legislations put in place which are connected to the many acts they now follow (Equality Act 201 0, Civil Partnership Act 2004, Employment Equality Regulations Act, and Sexual Orientation Regulations Act 2003). Under representation of the BMW does happen and that is why they have the DART translated into Diverse Army Recruitment Team, they consist of members from various backgrounds/ genders to show that we do want to improve on the diversity within our ranks, as it is fundamental to society that we start to accept more people from other cultures and religions into our communities, that is why we have them going around making people aware of the support that is given to those that wish to join, where they can go for help if someone is discrimination against them be it direct or indirect, harassment from someone or visitation of that person. So once we have them recruited and ready to go hats to keep them on board, all of the ways that the military provide for their soldiers and ensure that their family is well look after if something does happen and that all of the benefits apply to everyone regardless of background or gender. UP Being able to provide equality within the ranks of all public services can be quite a challenge, the best way to enable them in regards to equality is by following the rules and regulations set by the government and by doing so they can see what impact this regulation would have upon the forces themselves. Not all opportunities will be equal which is sad but true, as some bobs within say the armed forces cannot be occupied by a woman on various grounds that are still under discussion. As such they have ways to entice and enforce the will to stay within the public services by providing annual training that is directed at equality and diversity which can be educational along with the fitness test, associations within the public services there to help and guide them in times Of need for example the Army Families Federation can give you advice and not identify you in regards to the issue. Regardless of the above they do have schemes in place to make life easier for all that wish or join or eave a family member that is currently serving in the military and ensuring that they are protected from certain discriminatory acts or harassment crimes. This also applies to the police force in terms of equality as they would assess how they would improve on the current affairs; there are many specific duties that are being carried out for example enabling equal opportunities for men and women when applying for a job within that station that can be a promotion. As stated above they do have duties but there are two types of duties that are created in order to ensure that all discrimination, reassessment, bullying etc is seen to accordingly or that there is some form of problem in regards to how we treat our personnel and their families. The first one is the General Duties now these are the ones that mostly come under the laws and regulations to see that they are not broken and carried out promptly, the second is the Specific Duties those are designated towards a direct objective or goal that has been put across the board on current procedures and policies, if they can change them to suit the needs of others and would it be appropriate or fair to do so depending on the rule. How to cite Guide, Papers

Development of a Four Year Old free essay sample

Documentation Plan Child name: Ethan Gaines Age: 4 years old Observation location: Social interaction with peers in the outdoors area. Observer: Terry Spencer Summary: After completing several observations using different methods on Ethan Gaines, this data will show how he is developing. According to Piaget, the three-year-old is in the preoperational stage of development. One main characteristic of a three-year-old is their egocentric, or self-centered, thinking. They believe that everyone sees the world as they do. They also tend to fix on one aspect of a situation and ignore others, and they cannot mentally reverse a series of events or steps. The typical three-year-old stands about 34 to 43 inches in height and weighs 25 to 44 pounds with a more adult-like appearance. They have a full set of baby teeth and usually sleep through the night without wetting the bed. As the three-year-old grows, they need nurturing environments with developmentally appropriate practices where they feel safe and loved and can thrive in all developmental areas. We will write a custom essay sample on Development of a Four Year Old or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page These areas of development include gross and fine motor, cognitive, language and social emotional. As we continue to look at the three-year-old, we will review the typical development in these areas. Language/ Cognitive Social/ Emotion Physical According to Piaget, the three-year-old is in the preoperational stage of development. One main characteristic of a three-year-old is their egocentric, or self-centered, thinking. They believe that everyone sees the world as they do. Fine motor skills include the childs ability to use small muscle in coordination with the eyes. The fine motor skills of a three-year-old might include holding a spoon, turning pages of a book, drawing simple shapes, using crayons, cutting with scissors, and building an 8-block tower. Although Ethan seems to be developing appropriate according to Piaget, he is having a difficult time holding a pencil or crayon with his

Tiny Influences free essay sample

â€Å"Please, can we have a story?† â€Å"Okay, but only one because it’s bed time.† Two heads scramble for a place on my lap as if it’s stadium seating. Their freshly-shampooed heads dampen my shirt with a unique, fruity fragrance. As I turn the book pages, I hear a crisp rustle that comforts me more than any other sound. While Kyle and Marissa are lost in the magic of the story, I am drawn back in time to when their adventure began. I remember traveling through the NICU thinking how polished, clean, and organized it was compared to the rest of the hospital. My shoes squeaked across the linoleum. The tang of antibacterial soap lingered down the hall. A steady thrum†¦thrum†¦thrum of monitors came from every direction and fluorescent lights quivered in never-ending rows. Pushing through the maze of incubators, I saw the crowd of white coats before I heard the alien cries. We will write a custom essay sample on Tiny Influences or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When I first laid my eyes upon my brother and sister, they were tiny, red, squealing bodies in a sea of frantic doctors. Fear grasped my heart at the sight of the twins, for they appeared inhuman. Fused eyes greeted me like a newborn kitten’s. I gaped. I boggled. Their size was minute. One pound 13 ounces and one pound 15 ounces are just numbers until they are associated with living†¦breathing†¦beings. All I got was a glance, until the doctors dragged us away because we had not washed our hands. We were oblivious to the immense danger of germs in premature lives. Retreating into our hospital room, we gathered around a bed with tear-streamed faces. I felt like I’d swallowed a boulder. In need of an activity, I scrunched the worn bedspread between my palms. Since we were situated roundabout, I searched my family’s faces. No one seemed to know where to look. Each of us had the same question. â€Å"How could children so delicate possibly survive?† We said a heart-felt prayer that our new family members would make it. I knew at that moment that it was out of our hands. Over the course of three months, Kyle and Marissa kept fighting despite all the odds. To this end, morphine administration was essential just to touch their bodies. A micro-ventilator kept them alive, providing every morsel of oxygen for them. Also, the twins each underwent thoracic heart surgery in their first week of life. They suffered through numerous blood transfusions and spinal taps. Pneumonia infected their feeble bodies four times altogether. Being able to suck wasn’t instinctive. All in all, they had to be trained to do most everything I was born knowing how to do, but they succeeded and came home. When I supported their fragile heads for the first time, I experienced terrifying rapture. It was so strange to hold faces I had gazed at for months but had never been able to touch. I could not fathom that Kyle and Marissa were real. Peering into pairs of blue eyes, I thought of what they had endured to be nestled in my arms. Coming home, however, did not make them normal twins. On the contrary, they needed constant attention. Exposure to any bacteria could easily have killed them; consequently, they barely left our house for a year. Hence, our family became the hermit crabs on the block. Surgical masks became regular attire in our home, and oxygen tanks were a fundamental appliance. Neither flu shots nor friends coming over with a cold were negotiable. In short, Kyle and Marissa took up an ample portion of my life. As I finish the storybook, I examine Kyle and Marissa’s captivated faces and I realize that the twins have no memory of the experiences I cannot forget. Their lives are not about what they conquered in the past but about what they confront each day. Recently, a lady commented to me, â€Å"You are so good with those kids.† In contrast, I believe they have been â€Å"so good to me.† Caring for them has taught me more than I could ever hope to give in return.

Joy Harjo - Feminist, Indigenous Poet and Activist

Joy Harjo - Feminist, Indigenous Poet and Activist Born: May 9, 1951, Tulsa, OklahomaOccupation: Poet, Musician, Performer, ActivistKnown for: Feminism and American Indian activism, particularly through artistic expression Joy Harjo has been a significant voice in the rejuvenation of indigenous culture. As a poet and musician, she was influenced by the activism of the American Indian Movement (AIM) during the 1970s. Joy Harjos poetry and music often speak of individual womens experiences while examining larger cultural concerns and Native American  traditions. Heritage Joy Harjo was born in Oklahoma in 1951 and is a member of the Mvskoke, or Creek, Nation. She is of part Creek and part Cherokee descent, and her ancestors include a long line of tribal leaders. She took the last name Harjo from her maternal grandmother. Artistic Beginnings Joy Harjo attended the Institute of American Indian Arts high school in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She performed in an indigenous drama troupe and studied painting. Although one of her early band teachers did not allow her to play the saxophone because she was a girl, she picked it up later in life and now performs music solo and with a band. Joy Harjo had her first child at age 17 and worked odd jobs as a single mother to support her children. She then enrolled in the University of New Mexico and received her bachelors degree in 1976. She received her MFA from the prestigious Iowa Writers Workshop. Joy Harjo began writing poetry in New Mexico, inspired by the American Indian activist movement. She is recognized for her poetic subject matter that includes feminism and Indian justice. Books of Poetry Joy Harjo has called poetry the most distilled language. Like many other feminist poets writing in the 1970s, she experimented with language, ​form and structure. She uses her poetry and voice as part of her responsibility to her tribe, to women, and to all people. Joy Harjos poetic works include: The Last Song (1975), her first chapbook, a small collection of poems in which she began questioning oppression, including the colonization of Native land. What Moon Drove Me To This? (1979), Joy Harjos first full-length collection of poetry. She Had Some Horses (1983), considered one of her classics it explores the oppression of women, but also their spiritual lives and triumphant awakenings. In Mad Love and War (1990), an examination of both personal relationships and societal struggles of Native Americans. The Woman Who Fell From the Sky(1994), which won the Oklahoma Book Award in Poetry. How We Became Human: New and Selected Poems 1975-2001, a collection that looks back over her three-decade career as a poet. The poetry of Joy Harjo is rich with ​imagery, symbols, and landscapes. What do the horses mean? is one of her readers most frequently asked questions. In reference to meaning, she writes, Like most poets I dont really know what my poems or the stuff of my poetry means exactly. Other Work Joy Harjo was an editor of the anthology Reinventing the Enemys Language: Contemporary Native American Womens Writings of North America. It contains poetry, memoir, and prayer by Native women from more than fifty nations. Joy Harjo is also a musician; she sings and plays the saxophone and other instruments, including flute, ukulele, and percussion. She has released music and spoken word CDs. She has performed as a solo artist and with bands such as Poetic Justice. Joy Harjo sees music and poetry as growing together, although she was a published poet before she publicly performed music. She has questioned why the academic community would want to confine poetry to the page when most poetry in the world is sung. Joy Harjo continues to write and perform in festivals and theaters. She has won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers Circle of the Americas and the William Carlos Williams award from the Poetry Society of America, among other prizes and fellowships. She has taught as a lecturer and professor at multiple universities throughout the Southwest United States.

The musculoskeletal System - A Case Study - Short Answers Essay

The musculoskeletal System - A Case Study - Short Answers - Essay Example The wounds can be open or closed. Open wounds are common because the shaft of the tibia is just below the skin and subcutaneous tissue and is not covered with much soft tissue. Most of the tibial shaft fractures are associated with fibular fractures too. In Julia, the fracture occurred due to high speed accident. The fibula was however not involved and the wound was closed. The main sources of pain in Julia are the site of fracture, skin and subcutaneous tissue and the muscles surrounding the tibia. Fracture induces significant amount of inflammation and release of inflammatory mediators with cause pain, swelling, warmth and redness. During fracture, hematoma may be formed which can also cause pain (Rosenberg, 2007). Inflammatory cells, phagocytes and fibroblasts have a major role in the healing process of the fracture. Fracture causes formation of hematoma and a blood clot gets formed between the broken fragments of the fracture. After the initial few days following fracture, blood vessels grow within the clot. These blood vessels allow accumulation of phagocytes to the area which help in the removal of dead tissue. The blood vessels also cause pouring in of fibroblasts which multiply in the walls of the blood vessels and produce collagen fibres. These fibres replace the blood clot. The fibroblasts also lay down bone matrix or calcium hydroxyapatite which helps in the transformation of collagen to bone (Rosenberg, 2007). Factors which promote wound healing in Julia are immobilization, good nutrition, young age and absence of infection (Rosenberg, 2007; Konowalchuk, 2005 and Norvell, 2009). Immobilization is very essential to promote fracture healing. This is because, any movement of the fragments of the fracture hinder the process of healing. Movement disturbs the formation of clot and invasion of blood vessels within the clot. Decrease in the formation of blood vessels prevents invasion of fibroblasts essential for deposition of collagen and bone

Consumer Borrowing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Consumer Borrowing - Essay Example On the other hand, there are users whose spending needs exceed their current income levels so they have a deficit. Therefore, they require additional funds to make up the difference. These funds can be trasferred from suppliers to demanders of money in two ways. First is through Financial institutions that are of two types including depository insitutions such as commercial banks, saving and credit unions (also known as financial intermediaries) and non-depository instituions such as life insurance companies, pension funds and finance companies. Depository institutions especially banks accept deposits from savers (lenders) of money that they can withdraw on demand. They pool customer deposits and use these funds to make loans or investments to demanders or borrowers of money (consumers and businesses). These institutions make money because of interests rate that they charge from demanders, which is higher than what they to pay to savers or depositors of money. On the other hand, non-depositry institutions such as insurance companies accept business risks of their customers in return for a series of payments called premiums. They then invest their excessive funds after meeting their operating expenses (insurance claims, salaries etc). Finance companies offer short-term loans to borrowers. They usually sell securities or borrow funds from commercial banks therefore they tend to charge higher interest rates as compared to banks. Second is through financial markets where people and organizations wanting to borrow money are brought together with those having surplus funds. Financial markets are primarily divided into primary and secondary markets. Primary market are those in which corporations raise funds by issuing new securities. In Secondary markets, on the other hand, previously issued securities such as mortgages, bonds and stocks are traded among investors. Stock exchanges are perhaps the best example of these type of markets.

Should overseas aid be used for climate change adaptation Essay

Should overseas aid be used for climate change adaptation - Essay Example Hence successful adaptation is often executed with the help of overseas aid. This paper aims to critically analyze this subject while identifying that either overseas aid should be used for climate change adaptation of not. Description In order to study the relationship between overseas aid and climate change adaptation it is important to first analyze various factors associated with general foreign aid. The concept of overseas aid revolves around the basis principle of helping poor nations and the under developed countries. For instance, Australia is one of the major contributors of overseas aid. It mostly sends monetary help to Indonesia and some parts of South Asia and Middle East (Overseas Aid, 2013). United Kingdom is also working to increase the climate adaptability through undertaking significant measures in the developing countries (Impact of UK Overseas Aid on Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, 2011). In addition to this one of the United States’ overseas aid programs is particularly associated with climate change adaptation. This program critically assesses the climate change taking place all over the world including the increasing risks, susceptibility and various opportunities for improvements (Agency Climate Change Adaptation Plan, 2013). Research indicates that the climate changes occur as per the regional conditions. Therefore with time the rise in sea level will impact the populated coastal areas while turning them in to uninhabitable place. Today very few people are affected by the floods, heat waves, storms, etc. but in future millions of people are expected to get influenced by these natural disasters. Moreover, the agricultural productivity will decrease while on the other hand sea food would also be destroyed due to increased acidification by 2050 (Climate Change and Development, 2012). Following figure further explains this situation: These climate changes will also influence the developed countri es including USA, Australia, etc. but the most severe impacts are expected to be seen in the developing countries. This will subsequently affect the global political, social and economic conditions. Moreover, food would not be available for poor while rich will have to avail it against huge cost (Climate Change and Development, 2012). If no action is taken to control climate change then the greenhouse gases are expected to continuously weaken the natural environment (Mendelsohn, 2000, p.583). This signifies that an extensive climate change adaptation plan is required so as to meet the future challenges. However, the adaptation plan cannot be made successful with national or even regional resources and therefore overseas aid has become a necessary element in this regard (Climate Change and Development, 2012). Overseas aid should be used for climate change adaptation due to the following reasons (Climate Change and Development, 2012): Foreign investments will reduce the negative impac ts of climate change will increasing the resources necessary for life. Countries which are still going through the process of developing transportation and energy infrastructures can actually use overseas aid to accelerate their development procedure. Speedy development will subsequently increase employment opportunities while giving way to tackle the drastic climate changes. Climate risk reduction programming could be initiated in poor countries. Significant anticipations can be made regarding draught

Health Promotion in Adult Nursing: Adult Asthma Case Study

Health Promotion in Adult Nursing: Adult Asthma Case Study This essay will address how to help a 20 year old asthma sufferer bring to an end his recurrent admissions to hospital because of acute exacerbations in his asthma. Asthma is a common and chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways, associated with marked health and economic consequences. It is estimated that approximately 5.2 million people in the United Kingdom (UK) suffer from asthma, making the condition the most common long term illness in this country. Asthma accounts for 1,400 deaths per annum, with a third of these being among individuals under 65 years of age. Similarly, asthma also accounts for about 69,000 hospital admissions a year. It is estimated that more than half of the 5.2 million people with asthma in the UK do not have adequate symptom control. While 500,000 of these have asthma that is difficult to control with available medication, and are thought to be resistant to corticosteroids, asthma is not well controlled in approximately 2.1 million people for reasons s uch as non-concordance with medication (Asthma UK, 2004, pp3-7). As already mentioned asthma is a long-term chronic condition (LTC) and although chronic illness is not a newly-recognised phenomenon, the incidence and prevalence has significantly increased over the second half of the 20th century and continues to rise in the 21st century (Howie, 2005, p318). This is not least because of the aging population and advances in medical science diminishing the impact of infectious diseases. In addition, the emergence of unhealthy lifestyles is arguably the trigger for many non-communicable diseases such as chronic heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to which asthma has similar pathophysiology. (Nissinen et al, 2001, p963). It is estimated that in the UK over 17.5 million people are affected by a LTC and 8.8 million have long term illness that severely limits their day to day ability to cope. It is proposed that those aged over 65 affected by a LTC are more likely to have multiple long term conditions, which makes care particularly complex. Debatably, unhealthy lifestyles and an aging population are the reasons for the high prevalence of LTCs contributing towards the large financial costs in caring for these patients who occupy up to 42 percent of all acute hospital bed days (Department of Health (DH), 2005b, p10). Arguably, these issues indicate that these patients are not receiving the care in ways that meet their needs or the needs of the health system. It is proposed that this is why management of LTCs is of specific importance to current Government health strategies. To this effect, numerous policy documents have been published that define the present philosophies for the management of LTCs. One particular policy; The National Service Framework (NSF) for Long Term Conditions was published by the DH in March 2005 (DH, 2005b, p24). The NSF predominantly concentrates on individuals’ with long-term neurological conditions. However, it is anticipated that to a great extent the guidance presented could be relevant to all long-term conditions. The document has outlined 11 â€Å"quality requirements† and among others there are various ones that are particularly pertinent to Steven Williams’s case. These include the provision of person-centred care and choice, the offering of information and support for the safe and effective use of medicines, the supporting of self care and the consideration of health promotion needs. It is suggested that in order to meet Steven’s needs he will require support and education so that he can make informed choices. Metcalf (2005, p60) suggests that informed choice for those with LTCs is the key to success and a means of examining issues pertaining to non-concordance, risk taking behaviours and patient choice. As already mentioned, Steven began to smoke when he started attending university. Cigarette smoking is implicated as a health-risk behaviour and there is evidence to suggest that active smoking in adults with asthma increases asthma severity. A study by Siroux et al, (2000, p470) on the relationships of active smoking to asthma and asthma severity, found that current smokers with asthma had more asthma symptoms, more frequent asthma attacks (≠¥ 1 attack per day) and scored higher on the asthma severity scores, compared to those asthma sufferers who had never smoked and ex-smokers. Other trigger factors that can exacerbate asthma symptoms include house dust mites, pet allergens, pollen, moulds and fungal spores, certain drugs such as asprin and beta blockers, occupational triggers and viral respiratory tract infections (Roberts, 2002, p46). Arguably, in Steven’s case, alongside his lack of concordance with his asthma medication, it is suggested that his smoking habit is a key factor in his acute asthma exacerbations. Therefore, it is proposed that Steven needs help with smoking cessation and education on the side effects and concordance of his medication. Numerous approaches are presently being utilised for smoking cessation. These approaches incorporate pharmacological methods, such as nicotine replacement therapy or antidepressants, hypnotherapy, and exercise supported interventions. Behavioural approaches include stage based interventions, which mainly use the transtheoretical model (Prochaska, DiClemente Norcross, 1992, p1102-14) and this model divides people into five different stages. These are the precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance stages. The justification behind â€Å"staging† people, as such, is to fit the therapy to a person’s need at his or her particular point in the change process. Succession through the stages is in order, although relapses to previous stages can happen. The model also recognises 10 processes of change, the theory being that the effectiveness of the different processes of change will vary according to the patient’s stage. Arguably, however, this h as not repeatedly been defended in empirical research (Sutton, 2000, p31). It is proposed that it would be necessary for health professionals to recognise precisely an individual’s stage of change, or readiness to change. This is so that an intervention based on â€Å"stage specific processes† of change can be employed. It is important that the stage of change is re-evaluated regularly, and that the intervention should reflect changes in the individual’s willingness to change. These elements of the intervention can be continual until the person accomplishes and sustains the change in behaviour. In this way, stage based interventions develop and adjust in answer to the individual’s progression through the stages of change. Therefore it is debated that stage based models recommend that interventions that take into account the existing stage of the individual will be much more successful and efficient than one size fits all interventions (Prochaska, DiClemente Norcross, 1992, p1103). Having said this however, the stages of change t heory does not take into account any outside influences that might have an impact on a person’s ability to change. It is proposed that Steven recognises that he has a problem and has asked for help. Therefore, it is suggested that this places him in the contemplation stage. It is suggested therefore, that Steven needs to be given help and advice that will lead him to the preparation for action stage. In doing this, debatably, it will be necessary for Steven to assess his feelings regarding his smoking behaviour. It is important therefore that health professionals who are using behavioural change models for smoking cessation are thoroughly trained in the procedure or at least are aware of the availability of a smoking cessation nurse. Ethically, it is argued that health professionals have a duty of care to help patients like Steven live healthier lifestyles. However, ethically Steven has the right to autonomy in his lifestyle choices (Tschudin, 2003, p151). It is proposed that inhaled corticosteroids are still the most effective preventer drug for attaining treatment objectives (British Thoracic Society, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (BTS, SIGN, 2004, Chapter 4, p2). Steven has voiced concerns about the effects of steroids and this has stopped him taking his preventative inhaler. Similarly, he only uses his reliever inhaler when he becomes extremely wheezy. This is in accordance with Bender’s (2002, p554) suggestion that one of the reasons people do not take their medication is because they are worried about side effects. It is argued that this could be because their initial concerns might have not been fully addressed by health professionals (Carter et al, 2003, p27). It is proposed that nurses are ideally placed to educate patients on the benefits of medication concordance. It is important that a nurse thoroughly explains the necessity of the treatment and any subsequent side effects. Inhaled corticosteroids are t he main preventative treatment for asthma sufferers. When taken twice daily at a low dose, corticosteroids are highly effective in reducing asthmatic symptoms, improving lung function, and reducing cellular inflammation. Systemic effects are rare on a low dose and most asthma patients are extremely well controlled on a low dose inhaler. Adverse local effects can include dysphonia and oral candidiasis. These symptoms can be relieved by either gargling or rinsing the mouth with water after inhalation (Roberts, 2002, p48). It is proposed that if Steven regularly takes his preventative inhaler then his asthma will be better controlled and he is much less likely to need systemic corticosteroids that can have adverse side effects such as weight gain and thinning of the skin when taken long-term. The NSF quality requirements of person-centred care and choice, and the offering of advice on the use of medication are relevant to the case mentioned, as is the consideration of health promotion needs. The patient will require help in giving up smoking as this is a major factor contributing to his repeat admissions to hospital. Help in the correct use of his medication is also required if he is to remain free from episodes of acute asthma. Nurses caring for patients like Steven will need to know what help is available with smoking cessation and the various options that can be offered to individuals who want to cease smoking. The Prochaska and DiClemente model of behaviour change is commonly used in smoking cessation; however, its effectiveness is questionable. References Asthma UK (2004) Where do we stand, http://www.asthma.org.uk/how_we_help/publishing_reports/index.html (last accessed: June 25th 2007) Bender BG (2002) Overcoming barriers to nonadherence in asthma treatment, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 109 Supplement 6, S554-559 British Thoracic Society, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (BTS, SIGN) (2004) British Guideline on the Management of Asthma: A National Clinical Guideline, revised edition, Edinburgh, http://www.sign.ac.uk/guidelines/published/support/guideline63/download.html, chapter4, (last accessed: June 26th 2007) Carter S, Taylor D Levenson R (2003) A Question of Choice: Compliance in Medicine Taking, Medicines Partnership, London Department of Health (2005b) The National Service Framework for Long-term Conditions, http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Healthandsocialcaretopics/Longtermconditions/index.htm (last accessed: June 25th 2007) Howie K (2005) Long-term conditions, Practice Nursing, 16, 7, 318 Metcalf J (2005) The management of patients with long-term conditions, Nursing Standard, 19, 45, 53-60 Nissinen A, Berrios X Puska P (2001) Community-based noncommunicable disease intervention: lessons from developed countries for developing ones, Bulletin of the World Health Organisation, 79, 963-970, http://www.who.int/bulletin/archives/79(10)963.pdf (last accessed: June 25th 2007) Prochaska JO, DiClemente CC Norcross JC (1992) In search of how people change: Applications to addictive behaviors, American Psychologist, 47, 1102-14 Roberts J (2002) The management of poorly controlled asthma, Nursing Standard, 16, 21, 45-51 Tschudin V (2003) Ethics in Nursing: The Caring Relationship, Third edition, Butterworth Heinemann, London Siroux V, Pin I, Oryszczyn MP, Le Moual N, Kauffmann F (2000) Relationships of active smoking to asthma and asthma severity in the EGEA study, European Respiratory Journal, 15, 3, 470–477 Sutton S (2000) A critical review of the transtheoretical model applied to smoking cessation. In: Norman P, Abraham C, Conner M, eds. Understanding and changing health behaviour: from health beliefs to self-regulation. Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Press

Use of Aphorisms in Steinbecks The Winter of Our Discontent :: essays research papers

In John Steinbeck’s classic novel The Winter of Our Discontent, one can find many general truths and principles, also known as aphorisms. Ethan Allen Hawley, the main character, seems to gift the reader with another aphorism at the turn of every page, but some of these sayings may be considered more remarkable than others. One of the more noteworthy aphorisms is a statement made by Ethan at the end of chapter 6: â€Å"To be alive at all is to have scars†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  While this may not be the theme that Steinbeck concentrates on the most, it is surely one of the most important. Ethan is the most prominent example of this, as he has suffered many misfortunes in his life. Every other mature character in the book also carries these emotional scars; scars on one’s morality, character, and soul. Perhaps what the author was trying to convey is that from the moment one is born, one knows pain and suffering. However, many of these wounds heal with time, and become the scars of the past. Ethan compares the scars that his lack of morality will bring to the scars that his failure has produced, but the truth is that these are not scars at all, but injuries that time will not heal, and conscience will only make worse. His wounds will never mend, they will weigh down on him until drastic measures must be taken to escape the constant reminders of what he has done. Ethan considers and then nearly commits suicide, but he realizes that n o matter what he has done, his daughter needs him above anything else. So he must go on living, scar after scar becoming layers upon layers of discontent on his heart.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Every human being on earth accumulates scars of this nature. From errors made in the past come forth blemishes on the soul that serve as permanent reminders of one’s mistakes, and the scars provide maps to roads not to be taken again.