title: Just part of the job: The experiences of parent caregivers caring for adolescents with mild traumatic brain injury

authors: Giles, Kathryn Jane

subjects: Caregiving

abstract: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is one of the most frequently occurring injuries during adolescence.  Typically care following such injuries is provided informally, by parents and close family members.  The requirement for such caregiving is likely to increase as national health policies attempt to balance the growing costs of health-care provision with requirements for culturally responsive care. 
While studies have shown that caregivers may experience considerable burden, it is increasingly evident that caregiving also has a positive impacts for carers.  To date, few studies have evaluated the positive experiences of caregiving.  Even less is known about the positive experiences of parents who care for their adolescent children following acute injury events such as mTBI.  It is important to understand caregiver experiences more completely as caregiver coping and burden contribute to recovery and adaption to injury.
The aim of this study was to describe and understand the experience of caregivers of adolescents aged 10 – 18 years with mTBI.  Using a mixed methods approach, existing quantitative data gathered as part of the Brain Injury Outcomes New Zealand in the Community (BIONIC) and Consequences of Brain Injury in Childhood (COBIC) studies of TBI in New Zealand were analysed (mTBI group = 54 caregiver-adolescent dyads, control group = 54 dyads). Semi-structured interviews were then completed with a sample of caregivers of adolescents with mTBI now aged 13 – 16 years recruited from the same source studies (n=10).  Interview transcripts were qualitatively assessed using thematic analysis.  
Quantitative analysis confirmed previous research findings that for the majority, the impacts of mTBI are minimal and typically resolve within the first year with generally positive outcomes. While carers in both groups described caring for adolescents as a predominantly positive experience, caregivers of injured adolescents reported a greater number of positive caregiving experiences.  In addition, caregivers of injured adolescents reported significantly greater quality of life related to their physical health two years after injury compared with caregivers of adolescents without mTBI. 
Thematic analysis of interviews uncovered five core themes underpinning caregiver experiences: initiation; impacts and attributions; accommodation and adjustment; a valued experience; and, just part of the job.  These themes revealed the importance of timely and relevant communication from schools and health providers to caregiver’s feelings of competency and to their ongoing relationship with these organisations.  Reflecting on their experiences, caregivers valued the opportunities a mTBI created for emotional closeness with adolescents at a challenging time in human development.  They also described intrinsic benefits of being able to share wisdom and experiences with others and the practical benefit of developing transferrable skills.  Carers viewed their experiences as providing a unique opportunity for personal development through the recognition of carers’ capability and resilience as individuals.  For all caregivers, the provision of care following mTBI was seen as an expected part of parenting – just part of the job.
In contrast to family caregiving involving other caregiver – care recipient dyads (such as adult children caring for their elderly parents, or parents caring for their children as a result of chronic illness or disability), parent caregivers in the current study viewed caregiving as a positive experience.  Rather than a burdensome additional responsibility, carers viewed caring for their adolescent children following mTBI as – just part of the job - an expected and indistinguishable aspect of their existing roles as parents.

text: Just part of the job: The experiences of parent caregivers caring for adolescents with mild traumatic brain injury Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is one of the most frequently occurring injuries during adolescence.  Typically care following such injuries is provided informally, by parents and close family members.  The requirement for such caregiving is likely to increase as national health policies attempt to balance the growing costs of health-care provision with requirements for culturally responsive care. 
While studies have shown that caregivers may experience considerable burden, it is increasingly evident that caregiving also has a positive impacts for carers.  To date, few studies have evaluated the positive experiences of caregiving.  Even less is known about the positive experiences of parents who care for their adolescent children following acute injury events such as mTBI.  It is important to understand caregiver experiences more completely as caregiver coping and burden contribute to recovery and adaption to injury.
The aim of this study was to describe and understand the experience of caregivers of adolescents aged 10 – 18 years with mTBI.  Using a mixed methods approach, existing quantitative data gathered as part of the Brain Injury Outcomes New Zealand in the Community (BIONIC) and Consequences of Brain Injury in Childhood (COBIC) studies of TBI in New Zealand were analysed (mTBI group = 54 caregiver-adolescent dyads, control group = 54 dyads). Semi-structured interviews were then completed with a sample of caregivers of adolescents with mTBI now aged 13 – 16 years recruited from the same source studies (n=10).  Interview transcripts were qualitatively assessed using thematic analysis.  
Quantitative analysis confirmed previous research findings that for the majority, the impacts of mTBI are minimal and typically resolve within the first year with generally positive outcomes. While carers in both groups described caring for adolescents as a predominantly positive experience, caregivers of injured adolescents reported a greater number of positive caregiving experiences.  In addition, caregivers of injured adolescents reported significantly greater quality of life related to their physical health two years after injury compared with caregivers of adolescents without mTBI. 
Thematic analysis of interviews uncovered five core themes underpinning caregiver experiences: initiation; impacts and attributions; accommodation and adjustment; a valued experience; and, just part of the job.  These themes revealed the importance of timely and relevant communication from schools and health providers to caregiver’s feelings of competency and to their ongoing relationship with these organisations.  Reflecting on their experiences, caregivers valued the opportunities a mTBI created for emotional closeness with adolescents at a challenging time in human development.  They also described intrinsic benefits of being able to share wisdom and experiences with others and the practical benefit of developing transferrable skills.  Carers viewed their experiences as providing a unique opportunity for personal development through the recognition of carers’ capability and resilience as individuals.  For all caregivers, the provision of care following mTBI was seen as an expected part of parenting – just part of the job.
In contrast to family caregiving involving other caregiver – care recipient dyads (such as adult children caring for their elderly parents, or parents caring for their children as a result of chronic illness or disability), parent caregivers in the current study viewed caregiving as a positive experience.  Rather than a burdensome additional responsibility, carers viewed caring for their adolescent children following mTBI as – just part of the job - an expected and indistinguishable aspect of their existing roles as parents.

year: 2015

title: Testing broadcast seeding methods to restore urban forests in the presence of seed predators

authors: Overdyck, Elizabeth

subjects: avian seed dispersal

abstract: Forest restoration in urban areas often occurs in isolation from remnant forest, limiting the chances for recolonization by native species. Plants with bird-dispersed seeds can be particularly vulnerable to dispersal limitation and regeneration can be further impeded by non-native seed predators. We used a factorial experiment to investigate broadcast seeding as a method to reintroduce trees with large seeds and fleshy fruits into early successional forests. We assessed rates of seed and fruit loss, germination and seedling establishment in three seed treatments: (1) caging to exclude introduced mammalian seed predators; (2) removal of fleshy fruit pericarp; and (3) placing seeds in nutritionally enriched clay balls. Across all species (Beilschmiedia tawa, Elaeocarpus dentatus, and Litsea calicaris) seeds and fruits accessible to mammalian predators suffered significantly greater loss (58%) than those protected by cages (4%). However, seed and fruit loss in the presence of predators was reduced to only 35% across all species by the treatment combining the removal of fruit flesh and clay ball application to seeds. Establishment of B. tawa seedlings after 1 year was significantly enhanced by the clay ball treatment (12% of seeds sown vs. 6% without clay balls). Very low establishment rates were recorded for E. dentatus and L. calicaris. Broadcast seeding was found to be a viable method of improving regeneration of large-seeded late successional trees and may be a cost-effective alternative to planting saplings. Seedling establishment can be improved with fruit flesh removal and clay ball treatments, especially in the presence of mammalian seed predators.

text: Testing broadcast seeding methods to restore urban forests in the presence of seed predators Forest restoration in urban areas often occurs in isolation from remnant forest, limiting the chances for recolonization by native species. Plants with bird-dispersed seeds can be particularly vulnerable to dispersal limitation and regeneration can be further impeded by non-native seed predators. We used a factorial experiment to investigate broadcast seeding as a method to reintroduce trees with large seeds and fleshy fruits into early successional forests. We assessed rates of seed and fruit loss, germination and seedling establishment in three seed treatments: (1) caging to exclude introduced mammalian seed predators; (2) removal of fleshy fruit pericarp; and (3) placing seeds in nutritionally enriched clay balls. Across all species (Beilschmiedia tawa, Elaeocarpus dentatus, and Litsea calicaris) seeds and fruits accessible to mammalian predators suffered significantly greater loss (58%) than those protected by cages (4%). However, seed and fruit loss in the presence of predators was reduced to only 35% across all species by the treatment combining the removal of fruit flesh and clay ball application to seeds. Establishment of B. tawa seedlings after 1 year was significantly enhanced by the clay ball treatment (12% of seeds sown vs. 6% without clay balls). Very low establishment rates were recorded for E. dentatus and L. calicaris. Broadcast seeding was found to be a viable method of improving regeneration of large-seeded late successional trees and may be a cost-effective alternative to planting saplings. Seedling establishment can be improved with fruit flesh removal and clay ball treatments, especially in the presence of mammalian seed predators.

year: 2013

title: Kōauau auē, e auau tō au e! The Kōauau in Te Ao Māori.

authors: Komene, Jo'el

subjects: Kōauau

abstract: In recent years there has been a revival of interest in traditional Māori musical instruments, including the kōauau. This thesis studies kōauau informed by a Māori framework, giving weight to traditional Māori knowledge and practices, emphasizing the spiritual dimensions of the instrument in its origins and its functions. The thesis defines the kōauau and how it is distinct from other taonga pūoro in its physical characteristics. It then presents the traditions associated with the kōauau which link its origins to the atua and their natural world, especially Raukatauri, together with other traditions from many rohe throughout Aotearoa.  The thesis describes the traditional tools and methods of construction, the role of atua in the construction process, materials used for kōauau, how they were embellished, and their use as adornments. The techniques for playing kōauau are analyzed, and there is a discussion of the occasions on which kōauau were played, and the purposes of performing on kōauau. The thesis also presents the texts of several traditional waiata kōauau. A number of traditional kōauau in storage at the Auckland Museum were able to be examined to confirm and extend documentary evidence about materials, construction methods, and embellishment. The discussion also comments on the quot;voicesquot; for those kōauau in the museum collection that could be sounded. The decline in kōauau performance during the twentieth century is outlined, and there is a summary of successful efforts in the later twentieth century to revive taonga pūoro, including kōauau. The thesis brings together in concise form much scattered information so that current and future performers with kōauau are able to give full consideration to its place in te ao Māori.

text: Kōauau auē, e auau tō au e! The Kōauau in Te Ao Māori. In recent years there has been a revival of interest in traditional Māori musical instruments, including the kōauau. This thesis studies kōauau informed by a Māori framework, giving weight to traditional Māori knowledge and practices, emphasizing the spiritual dimensions of the instrument in its origins and its functions. The thesis defines the kōauau and how it is distinct from other taonga pūoro in its physical characteristics. It then presents the traditions associated with the kōauau which link its origins to the atua and their natural world, especially Raukatauri, together with other traditions from many rohe throughout Aotearoa.  The thesis describes the traditional tools and methods of construction, the role of atua in the construction process, materials used for kōauau, how they were embellished, and their use as adornments. The techniques for playing kōauau are analyzed, and there is a discussion of the occasions on which kōauau were played, and the purposes of performing on kōauau. The thesis also presents the texts of several traditional waiata kōauau. A number of traditional kōauau in storage at the Auckland Museum were able to be examined to confirm and extend documentary evidence about materials, construction methods, and embellishment. The discussion also comments on the quot;voicesquot; for those kōauau in the museum collection that could be sounded. The decline in kōauau performance during the twentieth century is outlined, and there is a summary of successful efforts in the later twentieth century to revive taonga pūoro, including kōauau. The thesis brings together in concise form much scattered information so that current and future performers with kōauau are able to give full consideration to its place in te ao Māori.

year: 2009