Determining Emotional Tone and Verbal Behavior in Patients With Tinnitus and Hyperacusis: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 660-672
Author(s):  
Suzanne H. Kimball ◽  
Toby Hamilton ◽  
Erin Benear ◽  
Jonathan Baldwin
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Verbal Behavior ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Emotional Tone ◽  
Explanatory Mixed Methods ◽  
Quantitative Results

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the emotional tone and verbal behavior of social media users who self-identified as having tinnitus and/or hyperacusis that caused self-described negative consequences on daily life or health. Research Design and Method An explanatory mixed-methods design was utilized. Two hundred “initial” and 200 “reply” Facebook posts were collected from members of a tinnitus group and a hyperacusis group. Data were analyzed via the LIWC 2015 software program and compared to typical bloggers. As this was an explanatory mixed-methods study, we used qualitative thematic analyses to explain, interpret, and illustrate the quantitative results. Results Overall, quantitative results indicated lower overall emotional tone for all categories (tinnitus and hyperacusis, initial and reply), which was mostly influenced by higher negative emotion. Higher levels of authenticity or truth were found in the hyperacusis sample but not in the tinnitus sample. Lower levels of clout (social standing) were indicated in all groups, and a lower level of analytical thinking style (concepts and complex categories rather than narratives) was found in the hyperacusis sample. Additional analysis of the language indicated higher levels of sadness and anxiety in all groups and lower levels of anger, particularly for initial replies. These data support prior findings indicating higher levels of anxiety and depression in this patient population based on the actual words in blog posts and not from self-report questionnaires. Qualitative results identified 3 major themes from both the tinnitus and hyperacusis texts: suffering, negative emotional tone, and coping strategies. Conclusions Results from this study suggest support for the predominant clinical view that patients with tinnitus and hyperacusis have higher levels of anxiety and depression than the general population. The extent of the suffering described and patterns of coping strategies suggest clinical practice patterns and the need for research in implementing improved practice plans.

scholarly journals Predictors of risk of financial hardship and coping with computed tomography utilization in Limbe, Cameroon: a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Tambe ◽  
Lawrence Mbuagbaw ◽  
Pierre Ongolo-Zogo ◽  
Georges Nguefack-Tsague ◽  
Andrew Edjua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Financial Risk ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Financial Hardship ◽  
Financial Risk Protection ◽  
Explanatory Mixed Methods ◽  
Risk Protection

Abstract Background Computed tomography (CT) is still fairly expensive in Cameroon and is mainly accessed through out-of-pocket (OOP) payments. Its introduction to peripheral health facilities in communities where many live below the poverty line and do not have financial risk protection is a laudable effort though current price listings suggest a mismatch with the purchasing power of potential users. Risk of financial hardship after CT use is an expected reality and we sought to determine predisposing factors and elaborate on how users adapt and cope. Methods We carried out a sequential explanatory mixed methods study with a quantitative hospital-based survey of CT users followed by an in-depth interview of some purposively selected participants who reported risk of financial hardship after CT use. Data was summarized using frequencies, percentages and 95% confidence intervals. Logistic regression was used in multivariable analysis to determine predictors of risk of financial hardship. Themes emerging from the in-depth interviews were categorized. Quantitative and qualitative data were integrated. Results A total of 372 participants were surveyed with a male to female sex ratio of 1:1.2. The mean age (standard deviation) was 52(17) years. CT scans of the head and facial bones accounted for 63% (95%CI: 59%-68%) and the top three indications were suspected stroke (27% [95%CI: 22%-32%]), trauma (14% [95%CI: 10%-18%]) and persistent headaches with blurred vision (14% [95%CI: 10%-18%]). Seventy-two percent (95%CI: 67%-76%) of respondents declared being at risk of financial hardship after CT use and predictors in the multivariable analysis were low socioeconomic status (aOR: 0.19 [95%CI: 0.10-0.38]; p<0.001) and not having any form of financial risk protection (aOR: 3.59 [95%CI: 1.31-9.85]; p=0.013). Coping strategies included relying on family members and friends for financial assistance, lobbying hospital administration, social services and healthcare staff for a reduction of the direct cost, and borrowing of money. Conclusion The risk of financial hardship is a real threat to CT utilization and some users resort to different practices to minimize the burden of OOP payments. Opportunities to improve CT affordability should be enhanced to reduce this burden and the negative consequences of the coping strategies.

Multicultural teaching competence among undergraduate faculty: a convergent mixed methods study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandler Puhy ◽  
Nalini Prakash ◽  
Clarissa Lacson ◽  
Joke Bradt
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Student Diversity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Teaching Competence ◽  
Quantitative Results ◽  
K 12

Purpose Increased student diversity in universities across the USA has increased the need for post-secondary educators to develop multicultural teaching competence (MTC). Most studies of MTC focus on educators teaching grades K-12. The purpose of this study is to determine how faculty members rate themselves in terms of MTC, what multicultural knowledge and skills faculty report and how they integrate these skills into their teaching practice and what barriers exist to developing and implementing MTC. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that impact undergraduate faculty integration of multicultural awareness and attitudes into their teaching practices to enhance student learning. Design/methodology/approach A convergent mixed methods study used survey and interview data from undergraduate faculty. Select items from the MTC Inventory (MTCI) and social justice scales (SJS) were administered. Interviews (N = 7) were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Quantitative and qualitative data were compared to examine convergence and divergence. Findings Quantitative results revealed undergraduate faculty’s awareness, knowledge and skills as indicated by percent agreement with items from the MTCI and SJS instruments. Qualitative findings included the following four themes: knowledge building, addressing diversity in the classroom, barriers and challenges, and needs and recommendations. Qualitative data corroborated or explained many of the quantitative results and provided insight into these trends and barriers that impact MTC. Originality/value This is the first study of its kind, to our knowledge, that has used a mixed methods research design to examine factors that impact MTCs and associated barriers among a sample of undergraduate faculty across disciplines in one urban university.

scholarly journals Pilot Evaluations of Two Bluetooth Contact Tracing Approaches on a University Campus: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler Shelby ◽  
Tyler Caruthers ◽  
Oren Y Kanner ◽  
Rebecca Schneider ◽  
Dana Lipnickas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Contact Interactions ◽  
University Campus

BACKGROUND Many have proposed the use of Bluetooth technology to help scale up contact tracing for COVID-19. However, much remains unknown about the accuracy of this technology in real-world settings, the attitudes of potential users, and the differences between delivery formats (mobile app vs carriable or wearable devices). OBJECTIVE We pilot tested 2 separate Bluetooth contact tracing technologies on a university campus to evaluate their sensitivity and specificity, and to learn from the experiences of the participants. METHODS We used a convergent mixed methods study design, and participants included graduate students and researchers working on a university campus during June and July 2020. We conducted separate 2-week pilot studies for each Bluetooth technology. The first was for a mobile phone app (“app pilot”), and the second was for a small electronic “tag” (“tag pilot”). Participants validated a list of Bluetooth-identified contacts daily and reported additional close contacts not identified by Bluetooth. We used these data to estimate sensitivity and specificity. Participants completed a postparticipation survey regarding appropriateness, usability, acceptability, and adherence, and provided additional feedback via free text. We used tests of proportions to evaluate differences in survey responses between participants from each pilot, paired <i>t</i> tests to measure differences between compatible survey questions, and qualitative analysis to evaluate the survey’s free-text responses. RESULTS Among 25 participants in the app pilot, 53 contact interactions were identified by Bluetooth and an additional 61 by self-report. Among 17 participants in the tag pilot, 171 contact interactions were identified by Bluetooth and an additional 4 by self-report. The tag had significantly higher sensitivity compared with the app (46/49, 94% vs 35/61, 57%; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), as well as higher specificity (120/126, 95% vs 123/141, 87%; <i>P</i>=.02). Most participants felt that Bluetooth contact tracing was appropriate on campus (26/32, 81%), while significantly fewer participants felt that using other technologies, such as GPS or Wi-Fi, was appropriate (17/31, 55%; <i>P</i>=.02). Most participants preferred technology developed and managed by the university rather than a third party (27/32, 84%) and preferred not to have tracing apps on their personal phones (21/32, 66%), due to “concerns with privacy.” There were no significant differences in self-reported adherence rates across pilots. CONCLUSIONS Convenient and carriable Bluetooth technology may improve tracing efficiency while alleviating privacy concerns by shifting data collection away from personal devices. With accuracy comparable to, and in this case, superior to, mobile phone apps, such approaches may be suitable for workplace or school settings with the ability to purchase and maintain physical devices.

Perceptions of Stress, Mindfulness, and Occupational Engagement Among Graduate-Level OT Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 7512505140p1-7512505140p1
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Henton ◽  
Acacia Gambrel ◽  
Jerome Klah ◽  
Catherine Rink ◽  
Caroline Targonski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Coping Mechanism ◽  
Occupational Engagement ◽  
Graduate Level ◽  
Primary Author

Abstract Date Presented Accepted for AOTA INSPIRE 2021 but unable to be presented due to online event limitations. The exploratory mixed-methods study of 490 OT graduate students revealed that high levels of reported stress along with limited coping strategies impacted students’ perceived occupational engagement and quality of life. Students identified mindfulness as an effective coping mechanism; however, its reported use did not appear to alter quality of life. The study supported a link between mindfulness and occupational engagement and has broad implications for the field of OT. Primary Author and Speaker: Patricia A. Henton Additional Authors and Speakers: Acacia Gambrel, Jerome Klah, Catherine Rink, Caroline Targonski, and Sarah Wirtz

scholarly journals The Psychometric Properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 for Pregnant Women

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (20) ◽  
pp. 7583
Author(s):  
María de la Fe Rodríguez-Muñoz ◽  
Natalia Ruiz-Segovia ◽  
Cristina Soto-Balbuena ◽  
Huynh-Nhu Le ◽  
María Eugenia Olivares-Crespo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Antenatal Depression ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Patient Health Questionnaire ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Health Questionnaire ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Patient Health

Background: Perinatal anxiety and depression are common complications during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to examine the item characteristics, reliability, validity, and factorial structure of the four-item Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) and to determine the associations between scale scores and sociodemographic factors in a sample of pregnant women from Spain. Method: A total of 845 pregnant women were recruited from two public hospitals in Spain between 2014 and 2016. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire that included Patient Health Questionnaire-4, including the two-item Patient Health Questionnaire and the two-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener. Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and scale inter-correlations between the PHQ-4 and PHQ-9 revealed that the PHQ-4 has a bivariate structure and adequately assesses the dimensions of antenatal anxiety and depression. Conclusion: The PHQ-4 is a reliable and valid instrument to screen for depression and anxiety during pregnancy. The PHQ-4 is an ultra-brief measure that can be used to screen for antenatal depression and anxiety to prevent the negative consequences associated with these mental health conditions among mothers and infants.

The Opportunity Cost of Changing Clinical Practice in Anticipation of a Surge of Covid-19 patients – A Convergent Mixed Methods Study Protocol

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 301
Author(s):  
Veena Manja ◽  
James Wiedeman ◽  
Jeffrey S Hoch ◽  
Diana Lee Farmer
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Case Mix ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Case Volume ◽  
Quantitative Phase ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
The Impact

Background: The rapid rise of COVID-19 infections has strained the capacity of healthcare systems worldwide. Many organizations are changing practice to make room for a surge in patients with COVID-19 infections. Cancelling and rescheduling elective procedures is one strategy advocated and used by many. This process may result in negative consequences for the patients who need procedures and have negative teaching and economic implications.Rationale and Study Design: This convergent mixed-methods study includes analysis of surgical databases to evaluate differences in case-volume and case-mix before and after the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic (quantitative phase), prospective observational study of patients impacted by the delayed scheduling of surgical procedures (quantitative phase) and 1:1 semi-structured interviews with patients, physicians and administrators to understand the impact of operational changes as a result on COVID-19 infection on patient care, teaching and learning and fiscal outcomes.Methods: The quantitative phase will consist of a review of the surgical database to quantify the differences in case-volume and case-mix during 2019 and 2020. In addition a prospective cohort of patients impacted by the delay in these procedures will be followed for 6 months to assess changes in patient important outcomes due to changes in scheduling procedures. The qualitative phase will consist of 1:1 semi-structured interviews to gain a depth of understanding of the trade-offs due to a change in practice related to COVID-19. The interviews will be analyzed using qualitative description.Discussion: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused worldwide disruption in the practice of healthcare, current focus on increasing capacity in preparation for a COVID-19 surge may have unforeseen consequences for patients who need non-COVID-19 related care. Studying the impact prospectively will provide information on the trade-offs associated with change in healthcare priorities. These results may be helpful in informing optimal healthcare practices and resource allocation in the future. 

scholarly journals Facilitating Better Postnatal Care with Women-Held Documents in The Gambia: A Mixed-Methods Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany Gooden ◽  
Lotta Gustafsson ◽  
Fides Lu ◽  
Faith Rickard ◽  
Alice Sitch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
The Gambia ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Quality ◽  
Postnatal Women ◽  
Quantitative Results ◽  
Facilitators And Barriers ◽  
The Government ◽  
Effective Use

Abstract Background: Women-held documents are a basic component of continuity of maternity care. The use and completion of women-held documents following discharge could improve treatment and care for postnatal women. Using a mixed-methods study design, we aimed to assess content, quality and completeness of women-held discharge documents and identify factors contributing to the effective use and handover of these documents.Methods: Documents given to women at discharge from all three hospitals in the Greater Banjul Area, The Gambia, were reviewed for content and quality. Poisson regression was used to estimate factors predicting completion of the documents. Semi-structured interviews (n=21) and two focus groups were carried out with healthcare professionals (HCPs).Results: From the 212 women included in the study, nearly all (n=211; 99%) were given a document to take home. The maternal record was the most common (n=207; 98%) and the most complete (17/26 items completed on average; 65%). None of the women’s sociodemographic or clinical characteristics were associated with the completeness of the documents. Themes identified from the interviews include HCPs completing and handing over the documents to women and the ability of women to understand and use the documents. Facilitators and barriers identified from both themes were synthesised alongside the quantitative results. Conclusions: The government-issued maternal record is well established in The Gambia and has potential to be more effective. We recommend a national protocol be established to improve consistent completion and use of the maternal record and to reduce the number of documents HCPs must complete. Training and monitoring of HCPs would ensure the document is complete, given to all women and explained to the women clearly and thoroughly.

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