scholarly journals “The quietness of the place calmed my troubled mind”: The restorative potential of environments in an existential rehabilitation programme for patients with cancer

2020 ◽  
pp. 001452462092385
Author(s):  
K. K. Roessler ◽  
V. Graven ◽  
K. la Cour ◽  
N. C. Hvidt ◽  
N. Rottmann ◽  
...  

In the following article, the restorative potential of the environment in a cancer rehabilitation programme is analysed and discussed. The programme was developed as a transdisciplinary cooperation of psychologists, theologians, philosophers, and artists. To investigate the importance of environments, six qualitative focus group interviews were performed with 36 Danish cancer patients (30 females; six males) who attended the programme either at The Danish Knowledge Centre for Rehabilitation and Palliative Care (REHPA), a former hospital building adapted for rehabilitation, or at Løgumkloster Refugium, an old monastery, used as a place for retreat. The data were analysed using a content analysis that took a psychodynamic and hermeneutic approach as its point of departure. Outcomes associated with the environment that enhanced the well-being of the patients were feelings: a) of being close to nature, b) of being protected, c) of the spirit of place, and d) of experiencing narratives of peace. Our programme supports the idea, that environments in which cancer rehabilitation takes place can trigger different emotions and fulfil different existential needs. Aesthetic, historical, and spiritual aspects of an environment can help individuals to respond to existential challenges and can induce hope. Our study contributes knowledge about the interplay between existential well-being and aspects of the environment.

2022 ◽  
pp. 003022282110583
Author(s):  
Mette Raunkiær

The study’s aim is to explore the experiences of people with advanced cancer and professionals participating in a program with focus on rehabilitation and palliative care. The study is based on two adjusted rehabilitation programs for 33 people with advanced cancer and 12 professionals. An observational study was conducted among the participants and two focus group interviews with 10 professionals. The analytic themes were “Lightness and happiness to gain control in everyday life,” “Community and closeness,” and “Training as a happiness and changing agent.” The activities had to support physical functions and everyday activities promoting body identity and well-being as well as emotions like closeness, lightness, and happiness in groups with like-minded people and at home with a partner and other family members. These activities and theory of emotions and body can expand the understanding of palliative care and rehabilitation as separated or integrated perspectives theoretical and in practice.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e023261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katey Warran ◽  
Daisy Fancourt ◽  
Theresa Wiseman

ObjectiveThis study aimed to build an understanding of how the process of singing impacts on those who are affected by cancer, including patients, staff, carers and those who have been bereaved.DesignA qualitative study, informed by a grounded theory approach.Setting and participantsPatients with cancer, staff, carers and bereaved who had participated for a minimum of 6 weeks in one of two choirs for people affected by cancer.Methods31 participants took part in Focus Group Interviews lasting between 45 min and an hour, and 1 participant had a face-to-face interview.FindingsFour overarching themes emerged from the iterative analysis procedure. The overarching themes were: building resilience, social support, psychological dimensions and process issues. Following further analyses, a theoretical model was created to depict how building resilience underpins the findings.ConclusionGroup singing may be a suitable intervention for building resilience in those affected by cancer via an interaction between the experience and impact of the choir.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anke Snoek ◽  
Boukje A. G. Dijkstra ◽  
Wiebren Markus ◽  
Margreet Van der Meer ◽  
Guido De Wert ◽  
...  

Parental alcohol dependency is associated with risks for the well-being of their children. However, guiding these families to support is often complicated. We interviewed 10 alcohol dependent parents, and held 3 focus group interviews with child welfare social workers, and alcohol and other drug workers. We identified a reluctance to act among professional and non-professional bystanders. Family members, neighbours, teachers, and general practitioners are often aware of parental drinking problems, but are reluctant to discuss them with the parents or to alert services designed to support families. The aim of this paper is to share the experiences of parents and show that parents appreciate interventions if done in a certain manner. Although parents were reluctant to discuss their drinking problem, they considered these problems as symptoms of underlying severe distress. They were highly motivated to get help for these underlying problems and wondered why they were not questioned about their distress by those around them. The silence of others reinforced pre-existing feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. In this paper we analyse other's hesitation to intervene as a form of the bystander effect, and make suggestions on how this bystander effect can be overcome.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-129
Author(s):  
Nor Ezdianie Omar

The low level of resilience had disrupted the psychological well-being and sustainable education of students who studied in the field of helping profession, at two distinct public universities in Terengganu. Therefore, the present study explored the students’ resilience via the qualitative method. The data was collected vis-à-vis focus group interviews based on a semi-structured interview protocol. In general, 16 students participated in the study. They pursued a Diploma in Nursing, Radiography, a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and a Bachelor of Counselling at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin. These informants were selected via stratified purposive sampling, and the obtained data were analysed thematically. Results revealed that the informants learned ways to build resilience and how the power of resilience helped their adaptability skills in university. In conclusion, the present study contributed to the knowledge of resilience, which reinforced these students’ resilience. Finally, the present study recommended web-based intervention to promote and enhance students’ resilience in tertiary education.


Author(s):  
Greger Andersson ◽  
Roland Spjuth ◽  
Fredrik Wenell

The subject that is examined in this article is how young Christians in Swedish Charismatic and Evangelical churches talk about their faith. The study takes its point of departure in Charles Taylors suggestion that both believers and non-believers in the Western world live in a “secular age” and that this affects the conditions for religious beliefs. Taylors reasoning as well as some American and Swedish studies about young believers are presented in the first part of the article. The main part consist of a presentation of two focus group interviews with young adults. In a final section the interviews are discussed in relation to earlier research. The authors argue that the interviewees emphasize the personal and the authentic, and that it is vital to have “a relation with Jesus”. They refer to, and long for, charismatic experiences but are also searching for a mature faith and an acceptance of “ups and downs” in their spiritual life. Although they shy traditional expressions and admit that they find certain dogmas difficult to understand, their belief offers them a certain “wholeness” in life. They are unhappy about the stereotypes about Christians they encounter in society but want to share their beliefs through testimony and a loving life style. Ethics, in the form of love and tolerance rather than rules, is very important. However, this is a problem not least in relation to issues about homosexuality. Finally, the au- thors note, that the church, or groups within the church, are salient for these Christians.


2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lily Kpobi ◽  
Elizabeth Anokyewaa Sarfo ◽  
Joana Salifu Yendork

Many people like to identify as belonging to one church or another. Previous studies have explored the process of switching from one religious group to another, and this process has identified various factors that determine the likelihood and reasons for switching. Although this has been explored, little is known about the factors that influence switching among charismatic Christians in Ghana, and the potential implications of such switching on mental well-being. Our study therefore explored the reasons given by members of selected neo-Pentecostal/charismatic churches in Ghana for their decision to switch to these churches. The study was conducted in six neo-Pentecostal churches in Accra and Kumasi through the use of individual and focus group interviews as well as observations of church activities. A total of 86 respondents cited reasons such as geographic mobility, marriage, answers to prayer, as well as miracles and prophecies as their determining factors. These are discussed with emphasis on the potential implications for mental health such as psychological distress, blind faith, and individual agency.


Scientifica ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Lydell ◽  
Cathrine Hildingh ◽  
Arne Söderbom ◽  
Kristina Ziegert

Background. Health is important in workplaces. A good organisational climate in a workplace plays a major role in the employees’ well-being at work and is also associated with increased productivity. Today, employees are expected to work into older age and it is a challenge for companies to promote health and well-being for this growing group. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to explore how to promote workplace health at present time and for the end of working life in the perspective of employees. Design/Methodology/Approach. The study had an explorative design, and a thematic analysis was chosen. The inclusion criteria were persons 50 years and older, working in the company and planning to continue working into old age. A total of 21 coworkers (14 men) participated in the study. Three focus group interviews were conducted. Findings. The results from the focus group interviews are presented in four themes: handle change in a changeable workplace, take responsibility for health concerns, get confirmation for feeling needed, and support and tolerance adapted for each employee. Practical Implications. Promoting health should be an urgent mission for employees themselves as well as for managers in order to support employees in working into old age. The health promotion must be suitable for each employee and should be designed in such a way as to avoid inequality in workplace health. Originality/Value. There is a need for more health-promoting behaviours, support, and activities for employees in order to work into old age.


Author(s):  
Varpu Wiens ◽  
Kari Soronen ◽  
Helvi Kyngäs ◽  
Tarja Pölkki

Background: According to previous studies, the natural environment positively influences well-being, including that of adolescent girls. However, knowledge is lacking on what motivates adolescent girls to spend time in nature. A secondary analysis of qualitative data was conducted employing three preexisting sets of interview data that had formed the basis of previously published research reports. A novel perspective on what motivates adolescent girls in the Arctic to spend time in nature was uncovered—a finding that previous articles have not reported. Aim: The aim was to describe what motivates adolescent girls in the Arctic to spend time in nature. Methods: The participants were adolescent girls aged 13 to 16 living in the province of Finnish Lapland. The girls wrote about well-being (n = 117) and were interviewed (n = 19) about the meaning of seasonal changes, nature and animals’ influence on well-being. Also, five focus group interviews (n = 17) were held. The materials were analyzed by inductive content analysis. Results: After the secondary analysis, three generic categories were found: (1) wanting to have pleasant emotions, (2) the possibility of participating in activities and (3) a desire to feel better. The main category of “need to experience positive sensations” was formed. Conclusion: Based on these results, through personalized guidance and advice, it is possible to strengthen adolescent girls’ willingness to spend time in nature.


2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Vanden Heede ◽  
Suzanne Pelican ◽  
Betty Holmes ◽  
Sylvia A. Moore ◽  
David Buchanan

This article explores how people's values shape their experiences and emotions with respect to physical activity, eating, and body image. It describes the results of a grounded theory analysis of individual and focus group interviews conducted as part of a community-based health improvement project, Wellness IN the Rockies (WIN the Rockies). The analysis links core theoretical constructs, including habitus, sedimentation, and natural attitude, to larger socio-cultural and historical trends embodied in the Protestant ethic and the rise of consumerism, illuminating how these values shape people's everyday understanding of their experiences. Key analytic frameworks focus on the socialization processes involved in inculcating values, identity formation, and moralization as they relate to health attitudes and behaviors. Major implications of the results are discussed, especially the need to enhance self-understanding about social values in health education.


2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Browall ◽  
Christina Melin-Johansson ◽  
Susann Strang ◽  
Ella Danielson ◽  
Ingela Henoch

AbstractObjective:The objective of this study was to explore health care staff's opinions about what existential issues are important to patients with cancer and staff's responsibility when existential issues are raised by patients.Method:Four focus group interviews were conducted with health care staff (N = 23) at an in-patient hospice, on an oncology ward, on a surgical ward, and with a palliative home health care team. The focus group interviews focused on two questions, first, about health care staff's opinions about patients' important existential questions and, second, about health care staff's responsibility when existential issues are raised by the patient. The interviews were taperecorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed by qualitative content analysis into subcategories and categories.Results:Four categories and 11 subcategories emerged from the first question. The first category, “life and death,” was based on joy of living and thoughts of dying. The second category “meaning,” consisted of acceptance, reevaluation, hope, and faith. The third category, “freedom of choice,” consisted of responsibility and integrity, and the fourth and last category, “relationships and solitude,” consisted of alleviation, dependency, and loss. One category emerged from the second question about the health care staff's responsibility, “to achieve an encounter,” which was based on the subcategories time and space, attitudes, and invitation and confirmation.Significance of results:One strength of this study was that the findings were fairly congruent in different settings and in different geographical areas. Health care staff were aware of the importance of existential issues to patients. The existential issues, mentioned by health care staff, are similar to findings from studies conducted among patients, which is another strength of the present study. Health care staff are also confident about how to act when these issues are raised by the patients. The challenge for the future is to implement the findings from this study among health care staff in different settings.


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