Got the carrots thanks

University closes this evening until 4th January, so I thought I'd sign off with my top picks from this year's festive journal articles:

An unexpected christmas present - Failure of a 48-inch waterline

Look what Santa Pharma brought for Christmas: A urological drug to treat the whole patient

and

Optimizing a basal bark spray of dinotefuran to manage armored scales (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) in Christmas tree plantations

I think I've had enough of the academic life for now so I might start on the cocktail sausages.

Having an assistance dog

Today I have been giving some feedback on a draft PhD chapter, and thinking about people's experiences of having dogs in the family, when a member is ill or disabled.

Have been looking at a few published accounts, including:

• A Puppy Called Aero: An Inspirational Story by Liam Creed
• Endal: How one extraordinary dog brought a family back from the brink by Allen Parton
• Every Dog Has A Gift : True Stories of Dogs Who Bring Hope & Healing into Our Lives by Rachel McPherson
• Healing Companions: Ordinary Dogs and Their Extraordinary Power to Transform Lives by Jane Miller
• Learn with LaDee: A Service Dog by Betty Jean Pearson
• My Invisible World: Life With My Brother, His Disability and His Service Dog by Morasha R. Winokur
• Please...Don't Eat the Crayons, Harry!: Moving Beyond Attention Deficit with Help from a Service Dog Named Harry! by Rita Kirsch Debroitner
• Sassy: The short stories of being a service dog by Elizabeth Reeve
• Second Chance: How Adoption Saved a Boy with Autism & His Shelter Dog by Sandra J. Gerencher
• The Dog that Saved My Life: Incredible true stories of canine loyalty beyond all bounds  by Isabel George
• The Joy of Lex: Life with a Service Dog by John Thomas Clark
• Transformation of the Heart: Tales of the Profound Impact Therapy Dogs Have on Their Humans by Teri Pichot

But for now I am off through the snow (on foot, sans wheelbarrow) to see if Sainsburys have any carrots...

MY icicle

It was too dark yesterday by the time I blogged to take a pic of MY icicle, so I used one from wiki commons. Here today, in all its splendour is mine...

Been reading some interesting papers today on the theme of fertility monitoring, including:

Diaz, M. (1997). Gender, sexuality and communication issues that constitute barriers to the use of natural family planning and other fertility awareness-based methods. Advances in Contraception, 13(2-3), 303-309. doi:10.1023/A:1006580727579

Severy, L. J., Robinson, J., Findley-Klein, C., & McNulty, J. (2006). Acceptability of a home monitor used to aid in conception: Psychosocial factors and couple dynamics. Contraception, 73(1), 65-71. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2005.07.008

Sinai, I., Lundgren, R., Arévalo, M., & Jennings, V. (2006). Fertility awareness-based methods of family planning: Predictors of correct use. International Family Planning Perspectives, 32(2), 94-100.

Fertility awareness and self-monitoring

Have been doing a lot of literature searching today - looking at peer reviewed research on the use of various self-tests and monitors women can use to detect periods of low and high fertility.

These are used both as methods of natural contraception, and to assist those actively trying to enhance their changes of conceiving.

They have become fairly high tech recently, and some are systems rather than devices, using online data records and incorporating interactivity.

There is also a lot of money to be made/spent on these technologies.  While there is a literature on their efficacy in terms of 'hard outcomes' (conception/non-conception being the most obvious) I've not seen much on the psychosocial impact of using them.

Meanwhile, I have been enjoying watching a big icicle wax and wane outside my study window in the course of the day...

Marketing motivational interviewing

Have been asked by a senior colleague for some quotes from our Motivational Interviewing course evaluations, which can be used to market the courses:

"This was very insightful and applicable outside of work also - helpful for reflective practice."


"I found it really interesting and I gained a lot from it. I would be extremely interested in taking it further, so if you could keep in touch with any potential opportunities or further training I would very grateful."

I also signposted her to the poster presentations I made at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference 2010, and the European Health Psychology Society conference in September. The poster be viewed at this link.

Have just noticed that the online shop link for the course doesn't mention that it is approved by the CPD centre at the British Psychological Society, so must get this sorted out today.

False dawn...

Okay so that last post was a bit premature...

Two weeks on I think I am finally emerging from the brain fog that accompanied my strange cold-flu hybrid affliction - which hubbie has suggested 'may' have been swine flu.

Have continued to work in the interim as time has been running rapidly out on my sabbatical, but haven't had the energy to blog at the end of each working day.

Usual work activities ongoing. My whiteboard now has 12 priority projects on it, with the aim to cycle through them in order:

• Developing a self management behaviour change intervention in PCOS
• Qualitative study of healthcare experiences
• Expert Patient intervention for PCOS
• Psychology and disaster management project
• Ryder Cheshire Volunteers research
• Developing a decision support aid
• The motivational interviewing courses at Coventry

Plus several new 'mystery' collaborations, which relate to students' research skills development, my volunteer tutoring for the Expert Patient Programme, children's health and a piece of technology relating to subfertility.

Oh and then there's the small matter of an imminent new term with normal teaching duties (complete with much reduced turnaround times for marking). Looks like I'm going to be busy...

Pic courtesy of dawnmist - visit her website for clanger images, pottery, chemicals and much much more.

Emerging from the fog

Haven't had a terribly productive day due to brain fade associated with having a cold (why does it have this effect?), I think/hope I am now emerging from the fog.

I have a big backlog of stuff I wanted to do but didn't get done - mostly following on from the motivational interviewing and Verity/PCOS activities last week. Especially interested in the government's plans to shift responsibility for public health from the NHS to local authorities, and a call fromThe Kings Fund and Centre for Mental Health for greater efficiency in mental health services.

Human Strengths

Came across this on the BBC new site.  'Ordinary' people are often truly inspirational:
Gill Hicks, Jude Onyeze, David Boyce