research

4 Comments Posted on Autism, Patient Talk, Research

Autism and animals. We are looking for parents of children with autism to help with some research for Warwickshire College


Autism and dogs

Autism and dogs

As you may know PatientTalk.Org has been interested in the use of animals as a therapy for people with Autism. You can check out a blog post I wrote on autism and service dogs here.

So were are delighted to be able to give some help to Jenna Lauder, a student at Warwickshire College, who is studying companion animals and the effect they have on autistic children. She needs the help with some research from parents of children with ASD.

Ms Lauder writes” My name is Jenna Lauder; I am currently a 3rd year student studying a BSc Hons in Animal Science and Health at Warwickshire College. This year I am undertaking a dissertation based on the subject of companion animals and the effect they have on autistic children. As part of my research, I am required to distribute a questionnaire.

I am looking for parents of children particularly between the ages of 4-11 who have a companion animal, but also would like those who do not have a companion animal to respond for an equal comparison.
It would be great if you have a few minutes to complete my anonymous online survey, which should take no more than 5 minutes.

Your time and contribution is much appreciated!

Please click on the following link if you DO have a pet: http://goo.gl/forms/rhBnfPujBz

Please click on the following link if you DO NOT have a pet: http://goo.gl/forms/TZoDF5Z5WE


2 Comments Posted on Multiple Sclerosis, Patient Talk

What sort of multiple sclerosis do you have? Part 2 Take our new poll.

Types of multiple sclerosis

Types of multiple sclerosis

A couple of years ago we ran a poll looking at the types of multiple sclerosis that our readers had been diagnosed with.

The original reason I was interested in the subject goes back to the days I worked in medical market research. We were always being told that between 80%-90% of people with MS had Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.

But according to the internal polling I conducted this figure is rubbish. RRMS comes in at around 60%-65% of the MS community. You can view the original research here.

But is this correct still? I thought I would re-run the poll and see what the current situation looks like. It would be great if you could take the poll below and share your diagnosis story in the comments section below. We would be very interested in hearing if you type of multiple sclerosis has changed since your original diagnosis.


Leave a comment Posted on Autism, Patient Talk, Research

Autism and Blogging – Please help a student at Gothenburg University with some research.


Gothenburg University

Gothenburg University

Autism and blogging is, as my regulars will know, a subject close to my heart. Indeed one of the first areas I covered when I started this blog was the disappearance of many Autism bloggers.

So I am very interested in supporting Ekaterina Boytsova, a student at Gothenburg University, who is conducting some research in the area.

Boytsova writes “As a master student in Gothenburg University (Sweden) I am now conducting a research dedicated to autism and blogging and their communication experiences transmitted via posting. It is not much written about narrative practices of people with autism especially in the dimension of Internet. That is why I find it important to convey a message to the scientific community about the necessity and advantages of computer-mediated interaction via blogs and social networks. I believe those who already benefit from it will stand for wider implementation of information and communication technology tools in an educational context as well.

That is why I kindly ask a person with autism keeping his/her blog to take part in my survey which is confidential. However, if you want your blog to be referred to, it is also possible to put your name and the link in the reference list.

If you have any further question on participation or want to see the support letter from the supervisor, please contact me gusboyek@student.gu.se

 


If you have any queries please feel free to mention them in the comments section and I will ask Ms Boytsova to respond.

Leave a comment Posted on Patient Talk, Research

Have you ever felt guilt or have been made to feel guilty because of a medical condition?

Guilt and Health

Guilt and Health

As some of you may know; my late maternal grandmother suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis for most of her life.

As well as causing her chronic pain she also felt guilt because of her arthritis. Not just because of the problems which her living with RA caused her family and friends. But also, and to an extent I’m reading between the lines here, he seemed to feel guilt just for having the condition. It was almost is she felt that having RA was her own “fault”. That it was some kind of failing on her part.

I found myself thinking about this while reading an article about guilt in a totally different context. Now given that my grandmother lived through two wars this could explain her feelings of guilt. So I felt I wanted to put this out to my readers.

Firstly I would be very interested to hear your views in a poll I have set up below. Second it would be great if you could share your stories in more detail in the comments section below.

Many thanks in advance.


Leave a comment Posted on Autism, Patient Talk, Research

“The Effect of Caregiver Stress on Prospective Memory.” Please help a student at Northumbria University which her research into the impact of stress on parents of children with developmental disability


Northumbria University

Northumbria University

As the parent of a child with autism I am always keen to promote research into the area of developmental delays. We were contacted by Lisa Bartle of Northumbria University in the UK who asked us post this on her behalf.

“Hello, I am a final year Psychology Student at Northumbria University. As part of my final year project I am looking for people to take part in a short, online study looking at the effects of caregiver stress on prospective (everyday) memory. The study should only take 10 minutes to complete. To take part you must be 18 years or older and a parent of a child aged between 3-19 years whom lives at home full time. If you would like to take part please click on the link below. The study and all procedures have been approved by the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences UG Ethics Committee”. Please take the survey here.

Bartle is looking for parents of children “with a developmental disability (Autism, Cerebral Palsy or Sensory Disorder)” to take part in the survey.

As some background the research “will compare levels of stress between caregivers of children with developmental disabilities and caregivers of typically developing children, and we will also consider the effect of care-giving stress on prospective memory. The study will also assess whether negative coping behaviors such as smoking and use of alcohol might underlie the negative impact of caregiver stress on memory”.

Thanks very much for your interest. You can access the survey here.