title: Grounded Theory of (Dis)Empowered Outcomes in Healthcare Interventions

authors: Mandlik, Milind A.

subjects: Consumer Empowerment

abstract: The human body is a complex, finely-tuned, and ever-evolving “open system” which is always trying to regain good health. Being an open system, the human body relies on surrounding ecological systems for its sustenance, survival, and growth, making it susceptible to the consequences of these ecological systems. One of the biggest concerns for human health in the 21st century is the ever-increasing obesity rate and its associated mortality rate. Of equal concern is the resultant loss of productivity and the net impact of this on publicly-funded healthcare expenditures. Years of research and investment in health-promotive programmes have failed to stymie the growing obesity epidemic. Evidently, current intervention strategies are not working and are in desperate need of remodelling. Obese individuals attempt to remedy the status quo, but often fail to achieve healthy changes in their lives. These individuals appear to be disempowered entities who seem to have given up on their quest for a better quality of life.

The purpose of this grounded theory based enquiry was to develop a substantive theory of the phenomenon of consumer empowerment. The study was designed to explore the multi-level, cross-disciplinary complexities associated with the obesity epidemic and to find a workable solution that would assist with curtailing its growth. The key aim of this research was to understand the social processes that either empower or dis-empower individuals during episodes of consumption. In total, 24 individuals participated in this enquiry by sharing their stories of weight gain and their personal experiences with the weight-management programmes they tried to help them improve their quality of life. The data collection and analysis was guided by the philosophical viewpoints of constructivist grounded theory.  

This study revealed two core categories that helped explain the processes that either empowered or disempowered individuals during episodes of consumption: feeling entrapped and co-creating empowerment.  Data analysis revealed that the processes which either empowered or disempowered individuals during various episodes of consumption were mediated through individually-acting and ecologically-acting influences. Analysis results further suggested if empowered outcomes were desired, then they could only be attained through genuine cooperation and participation amongst members of society at all levels: individual, communal, institutional, and political. Over-reliance on either the individual actor or ecological actor to contribute while the other refrains from contributing would not achieve the desired outcome. This is a significant departure from the current conceptualisation of achieving empowered outcomes. This situation can only be resolved by redefining and operationalising empowerment as a co-created endeavour, one that depends on multi-actor participation. 

This enquiry presents the impetus for researchers to conceive broader definitions of empowerment as well as consumer empowerment phenomenon that includes not just individual participation, but also ecological contributions to the process. This research has the potential to inform the broader literature on empowerment theory.

text: Grounded Theory of (Dis)Empowered Outcomes in Healthcare Interventions The human body is a complex, finely-tuned, and ever-evolving “open system” which is always trying to regain good health. Being an open system, the human body relies on surrounding ecological systems for its sustenance, survival, and growth, making it susceptible to the consequences of these ecological systems. One of the biggest concerns for human health in the 21st century is the ever-increasing obesity rate and its associated mortality rate. Of equal concern is the resultant loss of productivity and the net impact of this on publicly-funded healthcare expenditures. Years of research and investment in health-promotive programmes have failed to stymie the growing obesity epidemic. Evidently, current intervention strategies are not working and are in desperate need of remodelling. Obese individuals attempt to remedy the status quo, but often fail to achieve healthy changes in their lives. These individuals appear to be disempowered entities who seem to have given up on their quest for a better quality of life.

The purpose of this grounded theory based enquiry was to develop a substantive theory of the phenomenon of consumer empowerment. The study was designed to explore the multi-level, cross-disciplinary complexities associated with the obesity epidemic and to find a workable solution that would assist with curtailing its growth. The key aim of this research was to understand the social processes that either empower or dis-empower individuals during episodes of consumption. In total, 24 individuals participated in this enquiry by sharing their stories of weight gain and their personal experiences with the weight-management programmes they tried to help them improve their quality of life. The data collection and analysis was guided by the philosophical viewpoints of constructivist grounded theory.  

This study revealed two core categories that helped explain the processes that either empowered or disempowered individuals during episodes of consumption: feeling entrapped and co-creating empowerment.  Data analysis revealed that the processes which either empowered or disempowered individuals during various episodes of consumption were mediated through individually-acting and ecologically-acting influences. Analysis results further suggested if empowered outcomes were desired, then they could only be attained through genuine cooperation and participation amongst members of society at all levels: individual, communal, institutional, and political. Over-reliance on either the individual actor or ecological actor to contribute while the other refrains from contributing would not achieve the desired outcome. This is a significant departure from the current conceptualisation of achieving empowered outcomes. This situation can only be resolved by redefining and operationalising empowerment as a co-created endeavour, one that depends on multi-actor participation. 

This enquiry presents the impetus for researchers to conceive broader definitions of empowerment as well as consumer empowerment phenomenon that includes not just individual participation, but also ecological contributions to the process. This research has the potential to inform the broader literature on empowerment theory.

year: 2017

title: Effects of hydrocarbon spills on the temperature and moisture regimes of Cryosols in the Ross Sea region

authors: Balks, Megan R.

subjects: Antarctica

abstract: Hydrocarbon spills have occurred on Antarctic soils where fuel oils are utilized, moved or stored. We investigated the effects of hydrocarbon spills on soil temperature and moisture regimes by comparing the properties of existing oil contaminated sites with those of nearby, uncontaminated, control sites at Scott Base, the old Marble Point camp, and Bull Pass in the Wright Valley. Hydrocarbon levels were elevated in fuel-contaminated samples. Climate stations were installed at all three locations in both contaminated and control sites. In summer at Scott Base and Marble Point the mean weekly maximum near surface (2 cm and 5 cm depth) soil temperatures were warmer (P<0.05), sometimes by more than 10°C, at the contaminated site than the control sites. At Bull Pass there were no statistically significant differences in near-surface soil temperatures between contaminated and control soils. At the Scott Base and Marble Point sites soil albedo was lower, and hydrophobicity was higher, in the contaminated soils than the controls. The higher temperatures at the Scott Base and Marble Point hydrocarbon contaminated sites are attributed to the decreased surface albedo due to soil surface darkening by hydrocarbons. There were no noteworthy differences in moisture retention between contaminated and control sites.

text: Effects of hydrocarbon spills on the temperature and moisture regimes of Cryosols in the Ross Sea region Hydrocarbon spills have occurred on Antarctic soils where fuel oils are utilized, moved or stored. We investigated the effects of hydrocarbon spills on soil temperature and moisture regimes by comparing the properties of existing oil contaminated sites with those of nearby, uncontaminated, control sites at Scott Base, the old Marble Point camp, and Bull Pass in the Wright Valley. Hydrocarbon levels were elevated in fuel-contaminated samples. Climate stations were installed at all three locations in both contaminated and control sites. In summer at Scott Base and Marble Point the mean weekly maximum near surface (2 cm and 5 cm depth) soil temperatures were warmer (P<0.05), sometimes by more than 10°C, at the contaminated site than the control sites. At Bull Pass there were no statistically significant differences in near-surface soil temperatures between contaminated and control soils. At the Scott Base and Marble Point sites soil albedo was lower, and hydrophobicity was higher, in the contaminated soils than the controls. The higher temperatures at the Scott Base and Marble Point hydrocarbon contaminated sites are attributed to the decreased surface albedo due to soil surface darkening by hydrocarbons. There were no noteworthy differences in moisture retention between contaminated and control sites.

year: 2002

title: Lake Rotokakahi water quality modelling

authors: Jones, Hannah Frances Emily

abstract: Lake Rotokakahi is an iwi-owned lake, administered by the Lake Rotokakahi Board of Control. The lake has a surface area of 4.4 km2, a mean depth of 17.5 m, and a catchment of 19.7 km2 of which most is in exotic forest (46.5%), with some pasture (27.8%) and regenerating native forest and scrub (25.7%). Lake Rotokakahi has only one permanent surface inflow and it is assumed that the lake must be predominantly groundwater fed. The lake outflow, Te Wairoa Stream, flows into Lake Tarawera. Monitoring indicates that water quality has recently declined in the lake, with a shift from a mesotrophic state in the 1990's, to currently being classified as eutrophic. Increased algal biomass has reduced water clarity and in May 2011 the first ever recorded algae bloom of a toxic cyanobacterium species resulted in a fish kill in Te Wairoa Stream. With the majority of the catchment in either exotic or native forest, the cause for the decline in water quality is unclear. However there is some concern that forestry harvesting operations may lead to increased surface runoff of sediment and associated phosphorus in ephemeral streams that feed into the lake. The objective of this study was to setup a water quality model for Lake Rotokakahi, which in the future may provide a decisionsupport tool for lake managers.
The model used, DYRESM-CAEDYM, is a one-dimensional (1D) coupled hydrodynamic-water quality model that has been widely used in New Zealand and overseas. Methodology for deriving model forcing data (e.g. meteorological data, inflow volumes and nutrient loads), including the application of catchment and lake water balances, is described in this report. The catchment water balance indicates that groundwater and rainfall account for 37% and 42%, respectively, of the total inflow volume to the lake, with surface and ephemeral inflows contributing a smaller proportion (c. 20% combined). Furthermore, it appears that groundwater contributes a significant proportion (c. 60 - 70%) of the total nutrient loads, although surface and ephemeral inflows also contribute a significant proportion (34%) of the total phosphorus load. It should be noted that the catchment water balance is based on a very limited dataset, and therefore subject to significant uncertainty. 
We simulated the period July 2009 to June 2012 with DYRESM-CAEDYM. Model performance statistics indicated reasonable simulation of water quality for the calibration period, but did not satisfactorily capture the magnitude and dynamics of chlorophyll a and some nutrient species over an independent model validation period. There may be a number of reasons for the poor model performance over the validation period. For example, it may be that zooplankton and/or freshwater mussels (kakahi), which were not included in the model configuration, may exert significant grazing pressure on the phytoplankton populations at certain times. Furthermore, the significant uncertainty in the catchment water and nutrient loads most likely will have affected model performance. Nutrient concentrations are routinely monitored only in the surface inflow. There are no measurements of nutrient and sediment loads in ephemeral streams, and there is very limited data on groundwater nutrient concentrations.
In its current form, the DYRESM-CAEDYM model is not suitable for scenario testing of lake management options. It is recommended that effort is directed at quantification of ephemeral and groundwater inflows and their associated nutrient and (particularly for ephemeral inflows) sediment loads. This may be particularly important for ephemeral inflows located close to the lake that may be influenced by forestry harvesting operations. Recent increases in measured total phosphorus and phosphate concentrations in the surface inflow and in the lake, combined with the degradation of water quality that has already occurred over the last 20 years, provides further impetus for addressing this critical information gap. Were new data to  become available, opportunities exist for improving the performance of the current model and for developing a three-dimensional coupled hydrodynamic-water quality model (e.g. ELCOM-CAEDYM) with representation of kakahi and/or zooplankton, which may be able to resolve questions pertinent to the functioning of the lake, and to lake and catchment management.

text: Lake Rotokakahi water quality modelling Lake Rotokakahi is an iwi-owned lake, administered by the Lake Rotokakahi Board of Control. The lake has a surface area of 4.4 km2, a mean depth of 17.5 m, and a catchment of 19.7 km2 of which most is in exotic forest (46.5%), with some pasture (27.8%) and regenerating native forest and scrub (25.7%). Lake Rotokakahi has only one permanent surface inflow and it is assumed that the lake must be predominantly groundwater fed. The lake outflow, Te Wairoa Stream, flows into Lake Tarawera. Monitoring indicates that water quality has recently declined in the lake, with a shift from a mesotrophic state in the 1990's, to currently being classified as eutrophic. Increased algal biomass has reduced water clarity and in May 2011 the first ever recorded algae bloom of a toxic cyanobacterium species resulted in a fish kill in Te Wairoa Stream. With the majority of the catchment in either exotic or native forest, the cause for the decline in water quality is unclear. However there is some concern that forestry harvesting operations may lead to increased surface runoff of sediment and associated phosphorus in ephemeral streams that feed into the lake. The objective of this study was to setup a water quality model for Lake Rotokakahi, which in the future may provide a decisionsupport tool for lake managers.
The model used, DYRESM-CAEDYM, is a one-dimensional (1D) coupled hydrodynamic-water quality model that has been widely used in New Zealand and overseas. Methodology for deriving model forcing data (e.g. meteorological data, inflow volumes and nutrient loads), including the application of catchment and lake water balances, is described in this report. The catchment water balance indicates that groundwater and rainfall account for 37% and 42%, respectively, of the total inflow volume to the lake, with surface and ephemeral inflows contributing a smaller proportion (c. 20% combined). Furthermore, it appears that groundwater contributes a significant proportion (c. 60 - 70%) of the total nutrient loads, although surface and ephemeral inflows also contribute a significant proportion (34%) of the total phosphorus load. It should be noted that the catchment water balance is based on a very limited dataset, and therefore subject to significant uncertainty. 
We simulated the period July 2009 to June 2012 with DYRESM-CAEDYM. Model performance statistics indicated reasonable simulation of water quality for the calibration period, but did not satisfactorily capture the magnitude and dynamics of chlorophyll a and some nutrient species over an independent model validation period. There may be a number of reasons for the poor model performance over the validation period. For example, it may be that zooplankton and/or freshwater mussels (kakahi), which were not included in the model configuration, may exert significant grazing pressure on the phytoplankton populations at certain times. Furthermore, the significant uncertainty in the catchment water and nutrient loads most likely will have affected model performance. Nutrient concentrations are routinely monitored only in the surface inflow. There are no measurements of nutrient and sediment loads in ephemeral streams, and there is very limited data on groundwater nutrient concentrations.
In its current form, the DYRESM-CAEDYM model is not suitable for scenario testing of lake management options. It is recommended that effort is directed at quantification of ephemeral and groundwater inflows and their associated nutrient and (particularly for ephemeral inflows) sediment loads. This may be particularly important for ephemeral inflows located close to the lake that may be influenced by forestry harvesting operations. Recent increases in measured total phosphorus and phosphate concentrations in the surface inflow and in the lake, combined with the degradation of water quality that has already occurred over the last 20 years, provides further impetus for addressing this critical information gap. Were new data to  become available, opportunities exist for improving the performance of the current model and for developing a three-dimensional coupled hydrodynamic-water quality model (e.g. ELCOM-CAEDYM) with representation of kakahi and/or zooplankton, which may be able to resolve questions pertinent to the functioning of the lake, and to lake and catchment management.

year: 2014