scholarly journals INTERSECTIONAL DIFFERENCES IN HEALTHY AGING WITH HIV

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S764-S765
Author(s):  
Tonya N Taylor

Abstract Intersecting stigmatized social identities (i.e., old, Black, gay, HIV+) and structural forms of privilege and oppression (ageism, racism, homophobia, and HIV stigma) can contribute to poor psychological wellbeing and clinical outcomes among older men with HIV (OMH). Using data from 6 focus groups and 15 interviews with 45 gay, bisexual and heterosexual OMH in Brooklyn, NY and inductive thematic analysis methods, we explored the impact of heteronormative gender roles and ideologies associated with masculinity on healthy aging with HIV. We found that changing physical and sexual function, appearance and growing financial expectations created threats to masculinity, fueling fears of perceived weakness, internalized feelings of shame, depression, anticipated loss of social status (partner loss), and loss of independence and autonomy. These findings suggest that normative gender beliefs, a key social determinant of men’s health, aging and intersectional stigma combined undermine psychosocial support and wellbeing and self-care needed to achieve healthy aging.

Author(s):  
M Y Gebregeorgis

The objective of this study was to explore the endogenous conflict resolution mechanisms and practices of the San people at Platfontein, South Africa. To this end, data were collected from 304 interviews and 26 focus group discussions. The collected data were analysed through Inductive Thematic Analysis. The findings show that the San people have endogenous conflict resolution mechanisms which basically aim at restoring peace and harmony within the community. The endogenous mechanisms were found to be fairly participatory and supplementary to the state machineries that work for justice, peace and harmony. However, the conflict resolution mechanisms of the San people are currently weakening due to the impact of modernisation and the leadership dispute among the sub-groups of the community.


2020 ◽  
pp. bmjspcare-2020-002632
Author(s):  
Philippa Tollow ◽  
Jane Ogden ◽  
Candida S McCabe ◽  
Diana Harcourt

ObjectivesExisting research has established the importance of appearance concerns for individuals with cancer and identified appearance as an important factor in dying with dignity. No research, however, has explored in depth the role of appearance in the experiences of individuals who have incurable cancer. This research aims to explore patients’ experiences and perspectives in relation to the role of appearance issues in adults with incurable cancer.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 adults with incurable cancer (20 women, 4 men; mean age 54.5, SD 11.32).ResultsThematic analysis generated three themes: ‘Identity: Embodying Cancer’, ‘Communication: Wearing your illness’ and ‘Support: Holistic Care’. Appearance was felt to be an important element of identity, which was often dominated by cancer, leading to feelings of separation from the participant’s previous self. Appearance changes also influenced the way in which individuals communicated with their external world, forcing discussion of their diagnosis, and increasing focus on their cancer, with participants having to manage the emotional impact of this on loved ones, as well as the impact on their legacy. Finally, participants highlighted the positive impact of appearance-related support in their well-being and identified peer connections and refocusing on the self as key elements of such support.ConclusionsAppearance changes play an important role in the experiences of individuals with incurable cancer with regards to both identity and communication and challenged participants’ ability to maintain normalcy. Further psychosocial support relating to appearance concerns was considered necessary to promote dignity and provide truly holistic patient care.


2019 ◽  
Vol 140 (3) ◽  
pp. 148-152
Author(s):  
RC Povey ◽  
LJ Cowap ◽  
K Scholtens ◽  
MJ Forshaw

Aims: To discover the reasons behind invited families’ lack of engagement with a family-based childhood obesity programme in a deprived area. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 10 families who were invited to join the programme, but declined to engage. There were two distinct subgroups of participants: those who had no interest in attending the programme and those who showed initial interest yet did not continue attending. The two subgroups were analyzed separately using inductive thematic analysis, and then compared. Results: Analysis identified eight themes overall. For both groups, when the service was perceived to be not needed (‘I didn’t see how that would help’), the families disengaged with it. For both groups, this perception was partly related to the perceived appearance of their children: either that they were not obese (‘I didn’t think my son was overweight’) or that they were growing into their size. There was also a similarity in both groups that they perceived that they were already following healthy lifestyles. In addition, several of the themes arising from the families who had no initial interest were related to the impact of the letter that parents received detailing the result of their child being weighed and measured at school. This angered parents (‘I was disgusted’), and there was a feeling that the approach was too generic. Conclusion: This study identified a number of potential reasons behind why families may decline to engage with a childhood obesity programme in a deprived area. Across all families, if the programme was perceived as not needed, they would disengage. For those who did not engage at all, the initial communication of the child’s body mass index (BMI) is crucial. Recommendations include taking a more personal and tailored approach for the initial communication and shifting the focus of the programmes onto healthier lifestyles.


2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 1181-1186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ella Guest ◽  
Bruna Costa ◽  
Gillian McCarthy ◽  
Claire Cunniffe ◽  
Nicola Marie Stock

Objective: The birth of a child with a cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) can have a significant emotional and social impact on parents. Yet, the impact on the wider family is rarely investigated. Grandparents are becoming increasingly involved in the care of their grandchildren and may therefore have support needs of their own. The aim of the current study was to explore the experiences and support needs of grandparents of children born with CL/P. Design: Individual semistructured telephone interviews were carried out with 12 grandparents of children born with CL/P and were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Five themes were identified (1) emotional impact of CL/P on grandparents, (2) grandparents’ social experiences, (3) grandparents’ involvement, (4) grandparents’ information needs, and (5) grandparents’ support needs. Participants experienced difficult emotions around the time of diagnosis and were concerned about the child’s treatment and future experiences. Participants played a significant role in supporting the whole family, but received little information or support themselves. Conclusions: Grandparents reported experiences comparable to published literature on parents. Clinicians and charitable organizations could consider how existing resources could be made more accessible to and/or adapted for wider family members, including grandparents.


BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. e017073 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Liddle ◽  
Roisin Bartlam ◽  
Christian D Mallen ◽  
Sarah L Mackie ◽  
James A Prior ◽  
...  

ObjectivesClinical management of giant cell arteritis (GCA) involves balancing the risks and burdens arising from the disease with those arising from treatment, but there is little research on the nature of those burdens. We aimed to explore the impact of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and its treatment on patients’ lives.MethodsUK patients with GCA participated in semi-structured telephone interviews. Inductive thematic analysis was employed.Results24 participants were recruited (age: 65–92 years, time since diagnosis: 2 months to >6 years). The overarching themes from analysis were: ongoing symptoms of the disease and its treatment; and ‘life-changing’ impacts. The overall impact of GCA on patients’ lives arose from a changing combination of symptoms, side effects, adaptations to everyday life and impacts on sense of normality. Important factors contributing to loss of normality were glucocorticoid-related treatment burdens and fear about possible future loss of vision.ConclusionsThe impact of GCA in patients’ everyday lives can be substantial, multifaceted and ongoing despite apparent control of disease activity. The findings of this study will help doctors better understand patient priorities, legitimise patients’ experiences of GCA and work with patients to set realistic treatment goals and plan adaptations to their everyday lives.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Poppy DesClouds ◽  
Natalie Durand-Bush

Varsity athletes are a group of high performers situated within a demographic notable for smartphone usage and media-multitasking. Surprisingly, little research has examined the impact of smartphones in the lives of varsity athletes. The purpose of this exploratory, qualitative study was to begin addressing this gap by investigating varsity athletes' experiences with smartphones. Varsity athletes (n = 21) from nine different sports participated in one of five focus groups, and data emerging from these discussions were subjected to an inductive thematic analysis. Results indicate that smartphones are a mainstay of varsity athletes' experiences, as the athletes regularly use their smartphones to manage roles and demands across multiple contexts (e.g., sport, school, home). Themes pertained to concurrent negative (e.g., stress, distraction, disengagement) and positive (e.g., self-regulation, social connectedness) implications of smartphone usage, making it clear that athletes' relationship with their smartphone is a complicated one. Findings contribute to the limited studies of smartphone usage among athletes, and support the notion that implications of usage exist along a continuum, rather than in distinct categories of “good” and “bad”. Results can inform practical guidelines for optimising athletes' use of smartphones in and around the sport context.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 245-253
Author(s):  
Natalie Pejoski ◽  
Gemma Skaczkowski ◽  
Juli Moran ◽  
Hilary Hodgson ◽  
Carlene Wilson

Background: Little research examines the extent and impact of aggressive or uncomfortable ‘confronting behaviour’ experienced by palliative care nurses, despite palliative wards being an emotionally labile environment. Methods: Qualitative data on nurses' experiences of confrontation were collected from 17 palliative care nurses at a major metropolitan hospital via a focus group and individual interviews. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Findings: Results indicated that family members were the main perpetrators and tolerance of confrontation varied dependent on the characteristics of the aggressor. Confrontation was described as arising in response to grief, and because of misunderstandings of palliative care goals. Nurses reported a perceived lack of appreciation for their work from some patients' families and feelings of discontent with the nature and amount of structured support available following a confrontation. Informal workplace support helped nurses to deal with these incidents and, despite bad experiences, nurses affirmed their commitment to working in this area. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate the demands placed on nurses working in palliative care, and the importance of compassion in moderating the impact of a challenging environment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas Richter ◽  
Theresa Heidinger

This study examines the impact of COVID-19 experience of infection in the individual’s social environment on psychological burden controlling for a broad range of factors using data on an older population (50+ years). Based on the empirical evidence of preexisting studies, it is hypothesized that psychological burden will increase concurrent to the severity of COVID-19 experience (tested positive, hospitalized, and death) independent of the other stressors resulting from the pandemic, such as a subjective sense of uncertainty or financial burden. Data of the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in EUROPE, and a European cross-national panel study were used to examine this hypothesis. Besides Chi2 test and Spearman’s rho, a logistic regression model was constructed to test the hypothesized model. The study confirms that there is significantly higher risk for psychological burden by heightened COVID-19 severity in the social environment independent of multiple also significantly influential variables depicting stressors to everyday life of older people during the pandemic. The results point to the importance of multiple factors (social, financial, health, and sociodemographic) which have significantly affected the psychological condition of the individual during the past year. Conclusively, the results illustrate the dilemma that infection and illness in the social circle, as well as countermeasures (social distancing), have negative consequences for our mental health.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S591-S591
Author(s):  
Nancy Chiles Shaffer

Abstract Race-related differences in overall health across the age-span are well established; how differences manifest within a cohort selected for good functional status is unclear. Using data from Black and White older adults aged 70-79, in the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) study, we created a healthy aging index (HAI) of mental health, fitness, lung capacity, bone mineral density, inflammation, and metabolic syndrome. We assessed if racial differences existed in HAI, the extent education, financial resources and stress attenuated any observed differences, and whether this varied by site (Memphis v. Pittsburgh). Blacks had lower HAI than whites, adjusted for age and site. Further adjustment for finances and education eliminated the effect of race in women and reduced the effect in men by 64%. A significant interaction between site and financial stress was observed. Future research should assess ways to reduce the harmful impact of low socioeconomic status on health.


Author(s):  
Victrine Tseung ◽  
Lee Verweel ◽  
Martha Harvey ◽  
Tim Pauley ◽  
Jan Walker

Objectives: This article aims to describe users’ perspectives about the impact of hospital outdoor spaces on the patient experience in a postacute setting. Background: Hospital outdoor space is an important element in healthcare facility design. There is growing evidence that access to green space within hospital outdoor spaces facilitates healing. However, limited studies have explored the users’ perspective regarding how hospital outdoor spaces impact the patient experience. Methods: As part of a hospital preoccupancy evaluation, users (patients, family, and staff) were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview to describe their experiences in the hospital’s outdoor spaces. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Seventy-four individuals participated in this study: 24 inpatients, 15 outpatients, 11 family, 23 staff, and one volunteer. Three themes were identified: (1) outdoor space benefits healing by helping patients focus on life beyond their illness, (2) design of healthcare spaces facilitates patients’ access to outdoor space to benefit healing, and (3) programming in the outdoor space promotes healing and recovery. Conclusions: This study describes the users’ perspective regarding the value of outdoor spaces and the design elements that influence the patient experience.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document