SLIIT International Conference on Advancements in Sciences and Humanities [SICASH] 2023
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://rda.sliit.lk/handle/123456789/3589
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Publication Open Access Construction and Validation of Academic Stress Scale for 18-35-year-old Sri Lankan University Students(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Ponnamperuma, L; Hettiarachchi, A; Jayakodi, P; Abeysinghe, NThis article describes the development and initial validation of a new instrument to measure the academic stress of university students in Sri Lanka. A 16-item scale was developed by reviewing the literature and conducting interviews. Surveys were conducted with 726 Sri Lankan undergraduate students, and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were used to analyse the data. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Oblimin rotation produced a two-component model of the Academic Stress Scale: (1) Stress due to lack of sufficient knowledge and (2) stress due to interpersonal relationships, which together explains 59% of the total item variance. The ASS is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring academic stress. A CFA suggested that the proposed factor model fits moderately well. Therefore, for researchers who have a particular interest in academic stress among Sri Lankan students, the ASS promises to be a helpful tool.Publication Open Access Coping amid Crisis: A Study of Field Midwives’ Resilience Strategies during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Sri Lanka(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Pathirana, J. M. P; Edirisinghe, N. P.; Amarasekara, T.D.The COVID-19 outbreak has significantly impacted people’s physical and mental health. The use of coping strategies plays a major role in combating psychological stressors. The aim of the study was to describe the use of coping strategies among field midwives (FMs). A descriptive crosssectional study was conducted among FMs in selected Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas in the Matara district. Participants included FMs with at least six months of experience in the field, and those on maternity leave were excluded. Data were collected using a validated Brief COPE questionnaire and a pre-tested sociodemographic questionnaire. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics. A total of 145 study participants had a mean age of 41.4±12.0. The majority of participants (64.8%) employed an avoidant coping style, while 44.8% utilized a problem-focused coping style, and 51% employed an emotion-focused coping style to maintain positivity in the face of challenges. The highest scores were reported on active coping, positive reframing, acceptance, and informational support, while the lowest scores were on substance use and humor. In conclusion, the majority of FMs used problem-focused approaches as a coping strategy during the COVID-19 outbreak. Health policymakers might use this data to have a basic understanding of FMs’ coping mechanisms.Publication Open Access Predicting Factors Towards the Attitudes of Family Involvement in Nursing Care among Second-Year Nursing Students in a Selected School of Nursing in Sri Lanka(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Dilrukshi, K. T.; Amarasekara., T. D.Family involvement is a vital component of patientcentered care. This study aimed to examine the predicting factors towards the attitudes of family involvement in care among second-year Nursing students in a selected School of Nursing in Sri Lanka. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among nursing students (N=237) at the School of Nursing Kalutara. Convenience sampling method was used. A Families’ Importance in Nursing Care – Nurses’ Attitudes (FINC-NA) scale, which includes four dimensions: family as a conversational partner, a coping resource, a resource in nursing care, and a burden, was used to collect data. The scale’s internal consistency was compared and assessed through Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of more than 0.7. Both, descriptive and inferential statistics was used. The student nurses have positive attitudes toward family as a resource in nursing care (M= 37.69, SD = 4.62), and as a conversational partner (M=30.96, SD = 3.78). Family as a conversational partner significantly differs for males and females (t = -2.06, p=0.04). Female nursing students have a higher positive attitude toward family as a conversational partner (M=31.06, SD =3.76) than that of male nursing students (M= 29.77, SD = 3.77). According to the individual significance values of the linear regression model, gender (β = 3.67, t = 2.22, p < 0.03) presented a significant effect on the attitude of nursing students towards family involvement in nursing care. Cultural and regional influences on attitudes towards family involvement is still researchable. Further research is needed on this phenomenon.Publication Open Access Prevalence of Stress and Associated Factors among Field Midwives in Sri Lanka during the COVID-19 Pandemic(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Pathirana, J. M. P; Edirisinghe, N. P; Amarasekara, T.D.The COVID-19 outbreak has had a significant impact on people’s physical and mental health. Globally, the stress faced by healthcare workers during COVID-19 has been investigated. The aim of the study was to describe the level of perceived stress, and associated factors, among field midwives (FMs). A descriptive crosssectional study of FMs in selected Medical Officer of Health (MOH) regions in the Matara district was carried out. FMs were among the subjects, while those on maternity leave and without at least six months of professional experience were not included. Data were collected using validated Perceived Stress Scale-10, and a pretested socio-demographic questionnaire. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, and a Chi-square test. The study participants had a mean age of 41.43±12.01. Results indicated that 27.6% of the FMs experienced low stress, 51% experienced moderate stress, and 21.4% reported high perceived stress levels. The presence of any chronic diseases (95% CI, 0.077-0.966, OR=0.274, p=0.034) and economic status (95% CI, 1.079- 1.261, OR=6.374, p=0.011) showed statistically significant associations with perceived stress. In conclusion, the majority of FMs were moderately 74 (51%) stressed during the COVID-19 pandemic.Publication Open Access From Off-time to Offline: Recognising Right to Disconnect under the Sri Lankan Labour Law System(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Rathnayake, SThis study aims to interrogate the possibility of acknowledging the Right to Disconnect (RTD) under the labour laws of Sri Lanka. RTD which emerged as a response to the increasing demand for online and hybrid work, recognises employees’ right to remain disconnected or disengaged from any work-related activities such as answering phone calls or responding to emails after working hours. Research on RTD has focused on its practical implications for building a healthy and sustainable work force, but less has been said about its incorporation to domestic legal environments, especially in developing countries. The present study therefore critically reviews the Sri Lankan labour laws and the labour laws in other jurisdictions that have acknowledged RTD, to understand the potential of acknowledging this right in Sri Lanka. Through its data analysis this study revealed that, despite the existence of legal measures that ensure employees’ Right to relax and leisure (RRL), a little to no focus has been given to the new working environments such as online and hybrid work, and the rights that would emerge from them. While highlighting the best practices relating to RTD from other jurisdictions, this study also examines the legal dilemmas that may thwart such attempts of recognising this right in Sri Lanka. Thus, it highlights the need to update Sri Lankan labour laws to match the contemporary labour market while strengthening labour tribunals to play an active role which will be essential to acknowledge novel rights such as RTD under Sri Lankan labour laws.Publication Open Access Rights of Differently-Abled Child Victims of Domestic Violence: An Assessment under the Sri Lankan Legal Framework(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Wijesuriya, U.KAmong the victims of domestic violence, differently-abled children are the most vulnerable group in the community. The Prevention of Domestic Violence Act is the main statute regarding the law relating to domestic violence, which does not specifically lay down provisions for protection of this vulnerable group. However, the Sri Lankan legal framework for the protection of the rights of differently-abled children against violence is somewhat comprehensive as there are both domestic and international legal standards. A slow progress is observed in the implementation of strategies to overcome the current issues concerned with victimized differently-abled children. Against this background, the objectives of this study were to analyze the current legal framework in Sri Lanka towards the protection of differently-abled children against domestic violence and to explore the need of prioritizing the rights of them against domestic violence. This study is entirely based on a qualitative approach by referring to secondary sources while following the Black Letter Research Methodology. This study further highlights the lack of data regarding this aspect as one of the major reasons for problems in the implementation process since assessment of the current situation is the most crucial aspect before taking preventive measures.Publication Open Access An Analysis of the Representation of Epilepsy in Pramod Rathnayake’s Short Film Natta (2019)(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Dissanayake, A.KThis study explores the representation of epilepsy in the Sri Lankan short film Natta (2019) by Pramod Rathnayake. Epilepsy is a neurological disease that may lead to unconsciousness. Epilepsy is also a disability. A disability is distinguished from an illness in that the former is understood as created due to socio-cultural factors that could lead to marginalization of individuals with certain medical conditions. Although the condition of epilepsy has been understood and analyzed from a medical perspective, the human experience of epilepsy has not received much attention, especially in Sri Lanka. In this context, the short film Natta fulfills the role of portraying the dayto- day experiences of an individual with epilepsy named Samantha, from the first-person point of view. The film visually represents some symptoms of epilepsy and sheds light on how superstitious beliefs and misinformation about this condition hinder Samantha from successfully medically controlling his epilepsy. The impact of epilepsy on an individual’s employment opportunities and ability to drive a vehicle too are highlighted in the short film. While these are the strengths of the short film, Natta equates the epilepsy condition in a person to something inherently wrong or lacking in a person. Also, the film ignores the social stigmatization of epilepsy patients and indirectly blames people with epilepsy for marginalizing themselves. Finally, through the portrayal of the character of Sugandika, Samantha’s wife, the short film fails to acknowledge the role that family members or informal caregivers play in the process of looking after patients with epilepsy. Therefore, based on this content analysis of Pramod Rathnayake’s short film, it could be concluded that similar short films would be helpful in giving voice to the daily, personal experiences of people with epilepsy. However, such representations should not avoid blaming patients with epilepsy for their condition and social isolation but should be understanding and inclusive of the social pressure and stigmatization encountered by people with epilepsy.