scholarly journals Exploring Mentorship as a Novel Approach to Improving Quality of Life in Sarcoma Survivors: A Qualitative Pilot Study

Sarcoma ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Lotta Våde ◽  
Ivar Hompland ◽  
Lena Fauske

Backgrounds. To investigate whether a formal mentoring program involving mentors from the business community could improve the quality of life (QoL) of sarcoma survivors struggling with the late effects of treatment. Methods. Seven former sarcoma patients participated in an eight-month formal mentoring program. The program was assessed through a qualitative study involving a phenomenological approach that utilized a hermeneutical design. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with the mentees after the intervention and six months later. The mentors were interviewed after the program was over. The gathered data were interpreted using a thematic analysis. Results. The program facilitated dialogue between the mentors and mentees as well as between the mentees. Afterwards, the mentees were more willing to accept the challenges they faced following cancer treatment. During the program, the mentees were pushed out of their comfort zone, which led to mastery and personal growth in them all. However, the program also revealed some additional challenges, including unfulfilled expectations in two mentor-mentee relationships. Conclusions. The mentoring program facilitated the mentees’ reorientation and enhanced their QoL. Its eight-month duration appeared important in terms of allowing the mentees to go through a long-lasting process with continued support. The program could serve as the basis for larger studies involving other cancer survivors.

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
VERONICA JOHANSSON ◽  
SURJO R. SOEKADAR ◽  
JENS CLAUSEN

Abstract:Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) can enable communication for persons in severe paralysis including locked-in syndrome (LIS); that is, being unable to move or speak while aware. In cases of complete loss of muscle control, termed “complete locked-in syndrome,” a BCI may be the only viable solution to restore communication. However, a widespread ignorance regarding quality of life in LIS, current BCIs, and their potential as an assistive technology for persons in LIS, needlessly causes a harmful situation for this cohort. In addition to their medical condition, these persons also face social barriers often perceived as more impairing than their physical condition. Through social exclusion, stigmatization, and frequently being underestimated in their abilities, these persons are being locked out in addition to being locked-in. In this article, we (1) show how persons in LIS are being locked out, including how key issues addressed in the existing literature on ethics, LIS, and BCIs for communication, such as autonomy, quality of life, and advance directives, may reinforce these confinements; (2) show how these practices violate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and suggest that we have a moral responsibility to prevent and stop this exclusion; and (3) discuss the role of BCIs for communication as one means to this end and suggest that a novel approach to BCI research is necessary to acknowledge the moral responsibility toward the end users and avoid violating the human rights of persons in LIS.


Author(s):  
Jessica A. Tang ◽  
Taemin Oh ◽  
Justin K. Scheer ◽  
Andrew T. Parsa

The patient-generated index (PGI) is a more novel approach to evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQOL) that allows patients to formulate their own responses in an open-ended format in order to measure HRQOL based on each patient’s own stated goals and expectations. To date the use of PGI in the setting of patients diagnosed with cancer remains relatively less common compared to other health conditions. This systematic review primarily aims to identify current literature in which PGI has been used as a tool to assess quality of life in cancer patients. A systematic review using the MEDLINE database from January 1990 to July 2013 was performed with the following search terms to identify the implementation of PGI in oncology settings: (PGI OR patient generated index OR patient-generated OR patient-reported OR patient generated OR patient reported) AND (cancer OR oncology OR tumor OR neoplasm OR malignancy). Of the 2167 papers initially identified, 10 papers evaluated quality of life in oncology patients by collecting free-form responses from the patient, 4 of which actually used PGI. An overarching theme observed in these studies highlighted the concerns mentioned by patients that were not targeted or detected by standardized quality of life measures. While implementing the PGI may require slightly more investment of resources in the beginning, the potential implications of allowing patients to characterize their quality of life on their own terms are tremendous.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-29
Author(s):  
Eka Kartika Sari ◽  
Biko Nabih Fikri Zufar

The perception of women as the number two role in society continues to this day. This knowledge has an impact on women's inferiority and subordination. In addition, the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic have increased the workload for women at home. The workload for women has increased threefold, including earning a living in it. The woman breadwinner in Kampung Kue Rungkut Lor II experienced this during the pandemic. This article uses qualitative research methods and a phenomenological approach, in order to obtain data on the quality of life in the Kampung Kue Rungkut Lor II community. The purpose of this study was to determine descriptively the condition of women breadwinners during the pandemic. As a result, the “Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar” (PSBB) affected the economic conditions in the Kampung Kue Rungkut Lor II community, and women also experienced three times more workload than men at home. The pandemic has actually added to the exploitation and oppression of women in the Kampung Kue Rungkut Lor II community. Therefore, it is necessary to have further research on the quality of life of women breadwinners in Kampung Kue Rungkut Lor II before the pandemic to find out the differences in the quality of life of women breadwinners in the same location.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-179
Author(s):  
G.M. Golovina ◽  
T.N. Savchenko

In this paper, the measurements of the subjective quality of life were correlated in different diagnostic approaches, for which the correspondence of the subjective quality of life was measured by means of the SQL scale methodology (Savchenko, Golovina, 2007) and the SCLL questionnaire (Eksakusto, Zaichenko, 2012). The study of the correlation of concepts and scales of two methods having a common theoretical basis, but a different kind of presentation of the points of the techniques, is carried out. It turned out that the similarly or identically named scales and concepts (values) in the two questionnaires significantly correlated. A comparison of the reconstructed factor structures showed the correspondence between the factors of the SQL and the SQL. Both methods allowed to speak about the factor of “emotional and physical health”, the cognitive factor or the factor of “personal growth” and the factor of “famely”, which indicates the compliance of measuring the subjective quality of life and satisfaction with it in both methods, and accordingly, the possibility of using a compact questionnaire as a valid instrument.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 504-506
Author(s):  
Edgar Nehme ◽  
Sami Jad

ABSTRACT Reimbursement of long-term permanent disability following a dental injury can lead to claims and legal involvement by the injured person. This will delay the treatment the patient's quality of life and the court system. A new formula has been hypothesized to address the problem. This might help the stakeholders including patients, insurance companies. The details of calculating the index and its significance are discussed. Implication studies are mandatory to refine the proposed hypothesis. How to cite this article Ayoub F, Nehme E, Jad S, Salameh Z. A Novel Approach for the Reimbursement of Permanent Partial Dental Disability Following Dental Injury. J Contemp Dent Pract 2015;16(6):504-506.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (T4) ◽  
pp. 347-353
Author(s):  
Bertha Tesma Wulandari ◽  
Arianti Arianti

BACKGROUND: The condition of middle adult patients with palliative disease is prone to experiencing physical weakness and psychological suffering, disrupting dignity. As a caregiver at home, the family plays an essential role in providing support to maintain patient dignity. AIM: This study aims to determine the image of the dignity of the middle adult patient with palliative care needs by family at home. METHODS: This research is a qualitative study with a phenomenological approach. Participants were seven people with the purposive sampling method. Data collection methods were conducted using in-depth interviews and semi-structured observation. Research instruments included interview guidelines, field notes, and an observation form. Data validity used reference material, rich and thick description, and peer debriefing. Data analysis included data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion. RESULTS: The results showed that the dignity of patients was considered by six themes; self-esteem went up and down, the meaning of illness and death, family response to the patient, sources of decision-making, an image of the quality of life, and future wishes. CONCLUSION: This study had six themes depicting the dignity of patients that consisted of subthemes. The themes included self-esteem went up and down, the meaning of illness and death, family response to the patient, sources of decision-making, an image of the quality of life, and future wishes.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen Mathews

Background: Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the US. Approximately one in four patients with stroke is disabled. Providing daily care to stroke survivors long term is very burdensome to the family. The wellbeing and respite of the care givers (CG) has not been studied well in the past. In this study, we focused on quality of life (QOL) of the CGs of stroke survivors. The Retreat and Refresh Stroke Camp (RRSC), initiated in 2004, offers respite, opportunities to develop new relationships, and provides education/access to resources to CG. Methods: QOL of a convenience sample of stroke CG attending the Retreat and Refresh Stroke Camp (RRSC) in 2016 -2018 was assessed using the Adult Carer Quality of Life Questionnaire (ACQOLQ). The ACQOLQ addresses 8 subcategories of QOL: support for caring, caring choice, caring stress, financial matters, personal growth, sense of value, ability to care, and care satisfaction. A high (11+) subcategory score indicates high quality of life in that category and a low score (0-5) indicates a low quality of life and potential difficulties. Emails were sent to all CG with a link to the survey on Survey Monkey. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Student t test was used to compare QOL between females and males. Results: A total of 149 CG were assessed including 123 (83%) females and 26 (17%) males. The majority (91%) were Caucasian Americans. The average age was 61.8 (SD=11.7) years old with a range of 27 to 86 years. More than half (56.1%) worked over 40 hours per week. The average of caring time was 7 (SD=6.6) years. The average total score of ASQOLQ was 62.4 (SD=8.9) and the average score in eight subcategories varied between 6.4 and 10.1, indicating a moderate quality of life. Females had a higher score of caring stress than males (6.7 vs 5.2, p=0.027), but no difference was found in other subcategories. Conclusion: Women are the primary caregivers for stroke survivors and bear a significantly higher burden of caring stress. Society should focus more attention to provision of resources to assist in relieving this burden. A camp opportunity for supporting caregivers and survivors may help in providing respite to these family members


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Fitzgerald ◽  
Noeleen McNamara

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the formation, maintenance and sustenance of a mentoring dyad in higher education. By investigating the reflections of a female mentor and mentee, who both engaged in a formal Mentoring Program, the intention is to inform the design of future programs and expectations of participants, enhance the quality of future practice and understand the benefits mentoring might offer to the academic community.Design/methodology/approachThe researchers utilised a self-study research design to explore their reflections of a mentoring dyad in higher education. The project was informed by a personal–constructivist–collaborative approach, with participants maintaining journals throughout the partnership. These reflections were then compared in order to understand the perceptions of the participants as their relationship developed.FindingsSix themes emerged from the analysis representing the mentoring dyad experience under three categories: (1) forming – making the match, (2) maintaining – flexibility, responsiveness, and persistence, and (3) sustaining – desire to not disappoint and reciprocal learning.Research limitations/implicationsWhile this paper focuses on the experiences of two participants, the in-depth nature of this exploration draws out significant practical considerations that can be applied to the development and/or reinvigoration of formal mentoring programs and/mentoring dyads in other contexts.Originality/valueThese unique insights into their mentoring dyad over a significant period of time add to this dynamic body of knowledge. This study gives voice to female academics and lays bare their vulnerability and openness in sharing their lived experiences of participating in a formal mentoring program.


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