Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted The Cultural Adaptation of a Social and Emotional Learning Program for an Intervention in Saudi Arabia’s Preschools(Flinders University, 2024-11) Alqaydhi, Malak; Skrzypiec, GraceSocial and Emotional Learning (SEL) is globally recognised as a pivotal element in early childhood education, contributing significantly to holistic student development. Despite this, its integration into early education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) remains to be fully realised. Currently, the main focus of KSA educational policy predominantly revolves around academic learning, often neglecting essential aspects of students’ social interaction and emotional development. To address this crucial gap, this study sought to explore the potential of SEL in Islamic preschool settings by developing and implementing PATHS for Islamic contexts SEL (PATHS- IC) Program. This culturally adaptive SEL program was specifically tailored to align with the cultural ethos of the KSA preschool education system. The primary aim of this research was to evaluate the PATHS- IC Program’s effectiveness in enhancing the social and emotional development of preschoolers in KSA. Drawing from the researcher’s cultural and practical experience in the KSA, the study methodology incorporated a sequential mixed-methods approach. This encompassed conducting in-depth interviews with 8 teachers and 8 mothers of preschoolers, whose valuable perspectives significantly influenced the development of the PATHS- IC program. Subsequently, 120 5-year-old preschoolers participated in an experimental research study to assess the efficacy of the PATHS- IC program, which was administered by the researcher. Measures used to test the effectiveness of the PATHS- IC program included the Behaviour Assessment System for Children Teacher Report-Preschool (BASC-3 BESS) and the Teacher’s Rating Scale of Child’s Actual Behaviour (TRS-CAB). Pre- and post-intervention measures were undertaken comparing the Control and Experimental Groups using T-tests. The results highlighted the positive impact of PATHS- IC in significantly improving preschool children’s social, emotional and behavioural conduct. The PATHS- IC program intervention led to substantial advancements in preschoolers adaptive and attention behaviours, with the Experimental Group showing significant changes post-intervention. Following the PATHS- IC program, children’s social competencies were enhanced, while internalising and externalising behaviours were reduced, and scholastic conduct was improved. Notably, the Control Group, which attended preschool but did not receive the PATHS- IC intervention, showed progress in some aspects of SEL, although not to the same degree as the Experimental Group. The findings suggest that preschool attendance can promote adaptive behaviour, attention behaviours, social competence, and behavioural conduct in children, indicating a preschool effect. Findings not only support the integration of culturally appropriate SEL programs, such as PATHS- IC, into the Islamic KSA preschool context but also highlight the intrinsic value of preschool attendance (currently at 17% in KSA), which seems to benefit young children before they enter formal schooling. The effectiveness of such culturally sensitive SEL programs, such as PATHS- IC, is enhanced when combined with the developmental advantages of preschool, enriching the early education process. This research points towards a holistic, culturally attuned educational approach in KSA, underlining the vital role of preschool and programs like PATHS- IC in shaping children’s behavioural conduct and future learning paths.19 0Item Restricted RISK FACTORS, BEHAVIOURS, AND MISCONCEPTIONS CONTRIBUTING TO PHOTOAGEING(King's College Lomdon, 2024) Almusalami, Mustafa; Novakovic, LjubomirPhotoageing, distinct from intrinsic ageing, results from prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, leading to premature skin ageing. This study investigates the risk factors, behaviours, and misconceptions contributing to photoageing, highlighting the impacts of UVB and UVA radiation. It also explores the roles of visible light and infrared radiation in photoageing, emphasizing comprehensive photoprotection strategies. The study examines environmental and individual factors, such as geographic location, lifestyle, and skin type, influencing UV exposure and photoageing severity. Behavioural factors, including intentional tanning and inadequate sunscreen use, further increase the risk. The research underscores the importance of public education to promote effective sun protection and dispel common misconceptions about sunscreen and UV exposure.19 0Item Restricted Investigating Thermal Comfort in Vernacular and Contemporary Houses in Al-Qassim's Hot-Arid Climate(Cardiff University, 2023-10-31) Alghafis, Mohammed Fahad; Sibley, MagdaContemporary residential buildings in the hot-arid climate of Saudi Arabia with no or minimum insulation heavily rely on mechanical cooling, resulting in high electricity consumption. In the context of climate emergency, energy consumption based on fossil fuels is a high contributing factor. This research aims to investigate residents’ behavioural and cultural aspects of thermal comfort perceptions and adaptation and their relationship to objective measurements of air temperatures in vernacular and contemporary single-family houses in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia. The research does this by recording and evaluating the temperature measurements outside and inside eight vernacular and ten contemporary case study houses and thermal comfort perceptions of residents in the summer hot season of 2020 during a period of two consecutive weeks. Contemporary houses were selected from four neighbourhoods in Buraydah, while vernacular houses were chosen based on their accessibility, current condition and the availability of previous occupants for interviews. Open-ended structured interviews were conducted with eight elderly individuals to record their oral memories about living in the case study vernacular houses, while one resident from each of the 10 selected contemporary houses was interviewed in depth about their behaviour in their living room regarding maintaining comfortable temperatures. In addition, male and female occupants of contemporary houses were asked to rate their thermal comfort levels in their air conditioned living room twice a day. A typical house was chosen for a simulation model based on electricity bills and construction details. Three insulation scenarios in walls, roofs, or both were tested according to the Saudi Building Code. A comparative simulation was conducted to compare the unoccupied temperatures of vernacular houses with simulated conditions in contemporary ones, both under free-running and air-conditioned conditions. The research reveals that vernacular houses maintain warmer temperatures at night compared to outdoors, while contemporary houses are warmer during the daytime. Residents employ adaptive strategies in vernacular houses, such as sleeping on roofs. In contrast, residents in contemporary houses keep windows shut and rely on air-conditioning despite cooler nighttime temperatures. In the comparative simulation, vernacular house with and without air-conditioning, performed better than contemporary ones due to its lower U-value. The results of this study provide a new understanding of behavioural and cultural aspects from the past and the present related to maintaining thermal comfort, leading to a set of recommendations. The findings have broader applicability to similar climates and cultural contexts, including other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.21 0Item Restricted Deprescribing Falls Risk Increasing Drugs in Older Adults(Trinity College Dublin, 2023) Kalim, Reham; Ryder, SheilaAim The purpose of this thesis was to examine the facilitators of, and barriers to, implementing deprescribing of falls risk increasing medicines (FRIDs) in healthcare professionals’ practices, by exploring the perspectives of multiple stakeholders and integrating them with the existing literature, with a view to future use of this knowledge to inform an intervention that could readily be integrated into clinical practice without the need for significant additional resources. Methods Two systematic reviews of the existing literature were undertaken. The first review investigated the role of pharmacists in medication management for older patients at hospital discharge. Scientific databases and the grey literature were searched systematically for randomised controlled studies addressing this topic. The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions guided the data analysis and reporting. The second was a systematic review of qualitative studies that investigated patients’ or carers’ opinions of deprescribing FRIDs. The data from these studies were coded to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and the studies’ quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklists. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with hospital doctors, general practitioners and pharmacists in Ireland. The data gathered during the interviews were transcribed verbatim. Initial deductive analysis mapped the themes identified to the domains of the TDF, followed by inductive analysis to generate additional themes and subthemes. NVivo 12 software (QSR International Limited, UK) facilitated the process of analysis. A focus group was also conducted with older adults to explore the results of previous research from their points of view, and to determine their ideas about how older people feel about FRIDs deprescribing to reduce the risk of falls. All qualitative data were matched with behavioural change techniques to suggest possible interventions for implementing deprescribing in primary and secondary care. Results The first systematic review identified common interventions undertaken by pharmacists and their outcomes in hospital settings. Only mortality and healthcare use outcomes were eligible for meta-analysis. The rest of the outcomes were described and the results highlighted how pharmacists can preserve or enhance the quality of care for older adults with polypharmacy. The stakeholders’ qualitative interviews and systematic data syntheses resulted in a rich account of themes and potential target behaviours. The main themes arising from data analysis included: environmental challenges (in hospitals and general practice clinics), patients' and family members' involvement, pharmacists’ role in deprescribing, personal knowledge, concerns and reinforcement. Challenges and enablers were identified for each theme, supported by sample quotes. Commonalities across all stakeholder groups were identified. The data from all the above contributed to the design of a potential future intervention involving encouragement of patients to engage with their prescribers on the issues of deprescribing FRIDs, and concise education and reminder tools for healthcare professionals to facilitate more widespread consideration of deprescribing. Conclusion In this thesis the beliefs, concerns and potential roles of core stakeholders in the deprescribing of FRIDs were investigated and analysed. The resultant data lays the foundation for implementation of future deprescribing interventions in clinical practice.8 0Item Restricted What are the determinants of the purchase intention of green cosmetics by L'Oreal in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom?(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-08-31) Alhawiti, Ruqayyah Sulaiman; Thomas, SteffanExecutive Summary This study aims to examine the determinants of the purchase intentions for green cosmetics. Split to consider consumers in both Saudi Arabia and the UK, the study can also showcase cultural differences, if any. As interest from consumers in sustainability increases; the opportunity for beauty businesses to differentiate themselves in a crowded, competitive marketplace with a focus on 'green' cosmetics is obvious. A better understanding of what drives purchase intention will be useful to L'Oreal and other beauty businesses when making choices about product development, investments, and marketing.9 0