Experiences of Occupational Performance in Survivors of Stroke Attending Peer Support Groups

2020 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-181
Author(s):  
Sachindri Wijekoon ◽  
Whitney Wilson ◽  
Nicolette Gowan ◽  
Ludmilla Ferreira ◽  
Chetan Phadke ◽  
...  

Background. Survivors of stroke often experience environmental isolation and decreased occupational performance after discharge from the hospital. Peer groups benefit psychological, social, and cognitive functioning, though few studies have examined their influence on occupational performance of survivors of stroke. Purpose. This study explores the experiences of occupational performance in survivors of stroke attending an outpatient peer support group. Method. An interpretive qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with seven survivors of stroke attending an outpatient peer support group. Data was thematically analyzed. Findings. Four themes related to the experience of peer support on occupational performance emerged: finding hope to return to meaningful occupation, a place for belonging, problem-solving occupational concerns, and finding purpose beyond oneself. Implications. This research adds to the existing literature that peer support groups help survivors of stroke reengage in meaningful occupations, manage their stroke experience, and move positively through recovery.

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-11
Author(s):  
Marie Vigouroux ◽  
Kristina Amja ◽  
Richard B. Hovey

Introduction : Scoliosis in a condition where a curve develops in the spine. Adolescent girls affected by scoliosis are significantly more likely to require treatment such as bracing or surgery than their male counterparts. Curvy Girls is a peer support group for adolescent girls with scoliosis that allows them to engage with each other in a safe environment. Objectives : This study endeavours to explore the experiences of adolescent girls living with scoliosis who are Curvy Girls members and understand how this peer support group has affected their experience. Approach : Sixteen participants were recruited through a senior board member of Curvy Girls. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using an applied philosophical hermeneutic approach, a practice of uncovering insights from transformational conversation. Findings : We found that the participants’ sense of belonging to Curvy Girls did not depend on their level of involvement with the group. Whether they were leaders in their in-person local group, or simply following the organization on social media, seeing themselves represented allowed the participants to feel like they belonged to the group. Future Directions : These findings may help clinicians, healthcare professionals, and peer support organisations deepen their understanding of the perspectives of this specific population. This transformed understanding could lead to the instauration of care and services that are better adapted to this population’s needs, resulting in lessening the burden of the condition on the individual and their support system.  


Author(s):  
Joni Salminen

This chapter reports the use of Facebook in a Digital Marketing course in a Finnish university as a peer-support group for a course consisting of 80 marketing students. It identifies seven types of student-/teacher-generated content: (1) course-related posts, (2) substance-related posts, (3) course feedback, (4) course recommendations, (5) event posts, (6) job posts, and (7) business-related posts. It also discusses educators’ problems of using social media as a course support. For example, there is a risk of artificial communication if participation is required but motivation for posting is purely extrinsic. Commercial social networks may be useful in education because they are user-friendly, easy to adopt, and involve less friction than systems isolated from students’ day-to-day usage of the Internet. Peer support frees teachers’ time, but it needs to be devised correctly for students to participate. In practice, the teacher needs to invest time and effort in providing interesting content and guidance. More than technology, barriers of peer support relate to social issues and expertise – the students must differ in their substantive knowledge so that peer support is possible, and students must feel comfortable to ask for and provide help. Interestingly, the drop out of students in the group can be kept low even after the course by posting interesting content. In this sense, the group may demonstrate stronger ties than peer support groups that dissolve after the course.


Author(s):  
Kusila Devia Rahayu ◽  
Yanti Herawati ◽  
Gina N Padilah

The increasing number of pregnancies of women living with HIV/ AIDS (WLHA) and the number of children living with HIV/AIDS as a result of being infected from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding made researchers feel the need to conduct this study. This study aims to determine the relationship between the knowledge of WLHA about Preventions Mother to Child Transmition (PMTCT)  with the motivation to plan pregnancy in peer support groups in Bandung. This quantitative study was designed using a cross sectional approach to 80 respondents. Data collection was carried out using a knowledge questionnaire about PMTCT and a child bearing questionnaire which was translated. Both instruments passed the validity and reliability tests before use. Data collection was carried out using purposive sampling method. The research data were analyzed using Chi-Square test. The results showed that 82.5% of respondents have good PMTCT knowledge and 61.3% of respondents have low motivation to plan pregnancy. The results of the bivariate analysis showed  p-value 0.03 (P<0.05). This indicated that the knowledge of WLHA about PMTCT was significantly related to the motivation to plan pregnancy in the Peer Support Group in Bandung City. Health workers need to improve their ability to collaborate with peer support groups as a means of providing education so that WLHA knowledge about PMTCT can be increased so that the number of WLHA pregnancies and the number of children with HIV/AIDS does not increase.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Anneleen Kiekens ◽  
Joram Dehens ◽  
Maud de Hemptinne ◽  
Michaël Galouchka ◽  
Cedric Vanhoorebeeck ◽  
...  

Abstract HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) in Tanzania is a complex problem with many interconnected causes. Some important factors contributing to the selection of drug resistant viruses in people infected with HIV are stigma, poverty, poor health, illiteracy, and insufficient adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Several studies have suggested the implementation of peer support groups as a way to shift the workload associated with adherence support, antiretroviral therapy (ART) distribution, and HIV education away from the doctors to the people living with HIV (PLHIV) themselves. We conducted interviews with local PLHIV to investigate the desirability and feasibility of a peer support group in the Pasada and Kisarawe hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A standardized questionnaire was completed by 27 PLHIV in July and August 2017 at the time of a follow-up visit. In this cohort, major causes for missing a dose of ART are lack of support from family and friends and forgetfulness. Reasons for wanting to join <target target-type="page-num" id="p-2"/>a peer support group include psychological support, fighting stigma, and increasing education about their disease. Interestingly, several respondents linked HIV peer support to business support groups such as village community banks (VICOBA). These are informal microfinance groups meant to offer economic stability to individuals. As this link was made by PLHIV themselves, we suggest that it may be worthwhile to explore mixed financial and HIV peer support groups in which HIV education is provided for both HIV positive and negative members. Such groups may reduce the risk of infection and stigma and provide combined psychological, financial, and logistic support to PLHIV.


Dementia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 985-1003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Bailey ◽  
Paul Kingston ◽  
Simon Alford ◽  
Louise Taylor ◽  
Edward Tolhurst

This research aimed to ascertain the impact of a pragmatic Cognitive Stimulation Therapy course of 10 sessions on the cognitive function of people living with dementia and whether attending a concomitant carers support group was beneficial to carers. A mixed method quasi-experimental approach was adopted; data were collected pre- and post-intervention. The quantitative arm utilised three validated questionnaires rated by the carers. Qualitative data were collected via semi-structured interviews with carers regarding their perceptions of the impact of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and the carers support group. Quantitative data analysis found no statistically significant differences within or between groups. The qualitative data demonstrated that carers perceived Cognitive Stimulation Therapy had some benefits for the people living with dementia, especially social benefits. Carers also perceived that attending the carers support group was beneficial for them in terms of gaining a better understanding of dementia, developing coping skills and having peer support. The study was limited in scale and further research with a larger sample, using direct measures of the impact of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy with people living with dementia and supplementary research exploring which characteristic of carers support groups are effective would be worthwhile.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Brandsma ◽  
Kirsten Visser

There is a growing interest in the co-occurrence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and gender dysphoria (GD). Research has shown that people with ASD show more gender variance than people without ASD. Due to the difficulties associated with ASD (limited social skills, problems in information processing and difficulty with change), regular GD treatment does not seem to be adequately equipped for this specific group. In this study we want to gain insight into the clinical needs of adolescents with ASD and GD and their parents. We are conducting a pilot study to the effects of a specific peer support group for adolescents with ASD and GD on quality of life. A pre-posttest design is used. Prior to the start of the support group, during each meeting and at the end of the support group, the adolescents fill out several short questionnaires. The ASD and Gender support group consists of nine monthly meetings for the adolescents, covering topics such as autism and gender-related needs, psychoeducation on medical interventions, environmental factors, gender expression and practicing gender presentation skills. Simultaneously, parents can follow the parent meetings. Currently, three rounds of the peer support group have started (each round with about 10-12 adolescents).


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