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Biomedical subjects

J Dockrell

Publications and source records attributed to J Dockrell.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Motivational interviewing for HIV risk reduction among gay men in commercial and public sex settings.

The present paper addresses the feasibility of combining motivational interviewing and cognitive interventions to HIV risk reduction in commercial venues and public sex environments (PSEs). The logic for these two approaches is considered and an intervention combining key elements of the two is presented. The intervention uses a questionnaire format to encourage individuals to compare their desired versus actual behaviour (i.e. chosen personal risk reduction strategy versus 'slip-ups'/unwanted risk taking), and to recognize their risk-related cognitions. High-risk individuals are identified, and health-focused conversations developed from the brief schedule. The structure and key design issues in the development of a feasible, acceptable and evidence-based tool are reviewed. The limitations of more complex, focused interventions in the context of commercial and PSE settings are discussed.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy↗
PubMed2000

Multisign combinations by children with intellectual impairments: an analysis of language skills.

Research suggests that people with intellectual impairments who use manual signs to augment or substitute for speech rarely progress beyond the stage of single signs and that word order is particularly problematic. However, the majority of studies have focused on experimental tasks, and relatively little is known about spontaneous sign production in naturalistic settings. The present study explored the linguistic development in sign and speech of 10 children who relied on manual signs (the Makaton vocabulary) as their main means of communication. Mean utterance length in sign ranged from 1.0 to 2.5, and analysis of semantic relations, lexical development, and word order suggested that the children had not developed their language beyond MLU Stage I. Examination of their abilities within the modality of sign indicated that some children were able to manipulate features of sign at a sublexical level. The results are discussed in relation to the language input by teachers, and inferences are drawn regarding the underlying modality of linguistic representation in children who use manual signs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

The behaviour and self-esteem of children with specific speech and language difficulties.

BACKGROUND: Children with specific speech and language difficulties (SSLD) may have associated difficulties that impair their access to the curriculum, and their social relationships at home and in school. AIMS: (i) To identify the range of additional problems experienced by children with SSLD in different educational contexts; (ii) to consider the relationship between these problems and the child's current language status and (iii) to consider the child's self-esteem and the extent to which self-esteem is associated with the primary language problem or other associated difficulties. SAMPLE: Sixty-nine children (17 girls, 52 boys) aged 7-8 years (Year 3) who had been identified as having SSLD, 59 from two local education authorities and 10 from regional special schools for children with severe speech and language difficulties. METHOD: The children were assessed on a range of cognitive, language and educational measures; children and teachers completed a measure of the children's self-esteem (Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance); teachers and parents completed a behavioural questionnaire (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ); teachers also completed a further rating scale which included a behaviour subscale (Junior Rating Scale: JRS). RESULTS: The children's behaviour was rated as significantly different from the norm on both the SDQ and JRS, with the parents more likely to rate the child as having problems, but also as having prosocial behaviour. Both teachers and parents tended to rate the boys as having more problems than girls on the SDQ, with significant differences for the parents' ratings occurring on the total score and the hyperactivity and conduct problems scales. The children had positive self perceptions, which were comparable to the standardisation sample, and generally significantly higher than those of the teachers. The language and educational attainment scores of the children in special and mainstream schools were generally not significantly different, but parents rated the latter group as having more behaviour difficulties. Multiple regression analyses identified language comprehension and reading comprehension as the only predictors of the parents' rating of behaviour (on the SDQ). No relationship was found with the teachers' ratings. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioural difficulties, but not low self-esteem, are common in children of 7-8 years with SSLD, but the differences in patterns of relationship between parents and teachers, and with respect to children attending mainstream and special schools, challenge simple interpretations of comorbidity.

Child↗
PubMed1999

Why is colour naming difficult?

A suggestion exists in the child language literature that the meanings of natural kind terms are acquired before the meanings of colour terms. Explanations have typically claimed that object terms are more salient than property terms. Such explanations, however, tend to ignore the fact that natural kind terms refer to categories with sharp, clear boundaries while colour terms refer to categories with unclear or variable boundaries. Nonetheless, there has been little evidence to show that the delay in the acquisition of colour terms arises from these semantic properties. This study compares natural kind and colour naming (and corresponding comprehension) by 48 children, ranging in age from 3;0 to 5;5. The results suggest that, contra the salience view, the apparent delay in colour naming may be explained on solely semantic grounds.

Child Development↗
PubMed1995

Community care for people with challenging behaviours and mild learning disability: an evaluation of an assessment and treatment unit.

This paper reports a three-year evaluation of the Mental Impairment Evaluation and Treatment Service (MIETS). MIETS, a hospital-based unit, seeks to prepare clients with a mild learning disability and challenging behaviours for resettlement in the community. The evaluation focuses on the progress of 34 clients from preadmission to six months post-discharge. The majority of clients came from hospitals or prisons, were on medication and were referred for serious challenging behaviours. For a subsample of the clients the Vineland and the Adaptive Behaviour Scale, Part II were used to assess changes in behaviour and a general trend of statistically significant decreases in maladaptive behaviour was observed. In contrast to the comprehensive assessment and treatments, behavioural observations on eight clients show that levels of participation and social engagement are not high. Twenty of the 34 clients were resettled in the community and maintained a community placement for a least six months. Some districts were unable to implement the placement recommendations; had they done so the rate of community placement would have been 80 percent. It is concluded that community care is a viable option for people with challenging behaviour; without the specialist inputs of MIETS few of the clients would have achieved community placements, but questions are raised about the length of admission.

Adolescent↗