‘Even a smile helps’: Exploring the interactions between people experiencing homelessness and passersby in public spaces

Background: Many people experiencing homelessness dwell, panhandle, or congregate in public spaces where they frequently cross paths with others. In these spaces, they can be recipients of acts of kindness or emotional and physical insult, but there is little research on the quality, nature, or value of interactions between people living on the street and those who pass them by. Aim: This study explored the lived experiences of unhoused people who panhandle and their interactions with passersby in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Methods: Forty semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants who were approached while panhandling and asked to describe their experiences asking for help in public and accessing homelessness services, as well as what they wished to share with passersby. Interviews were coded and analyzed using a directed content analysis approach. Results: Participants described being ignored and subjected to violence, leading them to crave meaningful interaction with passersby. They also described experiences of receiving kindness and support while panhandling. Many shared personal histories of tragedy and called for greater empathy and compassion from passersby, as well as society as a whole, for people experiencing homelessness. Conclusion: Participants’ experiences were consistent with loneliness, as characterized in the literature as distress at lack of social connection, and were also notable for the verbal and physical violence endured in public spaces. Social isolation and trauma are detrimental to mental health in this vulnerable group, so interventions to support this population should provide opportunities for consistent, supportive social connections and focus on providing low-barrier, stable housing.

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The Lived Experiences of Stigmatization in the Process of HIV Status Disclosure among People Living with HIV in Taiwan

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18105089 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 5089

Author(s):

Chia-Hui Yu ◽

Chu-Yu Huang ◽

Nai-Ying Ko ◽

Heng-Hsin Tung ◽

Hui-Man Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lived Experiences ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Social Stigma ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Status ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Two Phases ◽

Hiv Status Disclosure ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Status Disclosure

People living with HIV (PLWH) face social stigma which makes disclosure of HIV status difficult. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to understand the lived experiences of stigmatization in the process of disease disclosure among PLWH in Taiwan. Analysis of the semi-structured interviews from 19 PLWH in Taiwan revealed two phases and six themes. Phase one “experiences before disclosure” involved three themes: “Struggles under the pressure of concealing the HIV Status,” “Torn between fear of unemployment/isolation and desire to protect closed ones,” and “Being forced to disclose the HIV status.” Phase two “experiences after disclosure” included three themes: “Receiving special considerations and requirements from school or work,” “Receiving differential treatments in life and when seeking medical care,” and “Stress relief and restart.” Healthcare professionals need to assess stigmatization in PLWH and develop individualized approaches to assist with the disease disclosure process.

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“My coupons are like gold”: experiences and perceived outcomes of low-income adults participating in the British Columbia Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980021001567 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-30

Author(s):

Stéphanie Caron-Roy ◽

Sayeeda Amber Sayed ◽

Katrina Milaney ◽

Bonnie Lashewicz ◽

Sharlette Dunn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Low Income ◽

Well Being ◽

Qualitative Description ◽

Farmers Markets ◽

Social Connections ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Program Outcomes ◽

Farmers Market

ABSTRACT Objective: The British Columbia Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program (FMNCP) provides low-income households with coupons valued at $21/week for 16 weeks to purchase healthy foods in farmers’ markets. Our objective was to explore FMNCP participants’ experiences of accessing nutritious foods, and perceived program outcomes. Design: This study used qualitative description methodology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with FMNCP participants during the 2019 farmers’ market season. Directed content analysis was used to analyse the data whereby the five domains of Freedman et al’s framework of nutritious food access provided the basis for an initial coding scheme. Data that did not fit within the framework’s domains were coded inductively. Setting: One urban and two rural communities in British Columbia, Canada. Participants: 28 adults who were participating in the FMNCP. Results: Three themes emerged: Autonomy and Dignity; Social Connections and Community Building; and Environmental and Programmatic Constraints. Firstly, the program promoted a sense of autonomy and dignity through financial support, increased access to high-quality produce, food-related education and skill development, and mitigating stigma and shame. Secondly, shopping in farmers’ markets increased social connections and fostered a sense of community. Finally, participants experienced limited food variety in rural farmers’ markets, lack of transportation, and challenges with redeeming coupons. Conclusions: Participation in the FMNCP facilitated access to nutritious foods and enhanced participants’ diet quality, well-being and health. Strategies such as increasing the amount and duration of subsidies, and expanding programs may help improve participants’ experiences and outcomes of farmers’ market food subsidy programs.

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HIV-related stigma in the UK then and now: to what extent are we on track to eliminate stigma? A qualitative investigation

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11000-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Barbara Hedge ◽

Karrish Devan ◽

Jose Catalan ◽

Anna Cheshire ◽

Damien Ridge

Keyword(s):

Antiretroviral Treatment ◽

Hiv Transmission ◽

Minority Groups ◽

Physical Violence ◽

Hiv Care ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

Related Stigma ◽

Engagement In Hiv Care

Abstract Background The introduction of effective antiretroviral treatment in the late 1990s led to the perception that HIV was a chronic but manageable condition. Nevertheless, stigma remains one of the major hurdles for people living with HIV (PLWH) to accessing healthcare and biomedical preventions. Thus, Fast Track Cities has set a target of zero HIV discrimination by 2030 as part of its strategy to end HIV transmission. Methods Fifty-three participants from the United Kingdom, including PLWH (n = 21, 40%), health and social care workers (n = 24, 45%), and charity workers and activists (n = 13, 25%), were recruited. Semi-structured interviews investigated stigma and discrimination, focusing on both before and after the widespread use of effective antiretroviral treatment in the late 1990s. Data were analysed using a thematic approach. Results Before effective antiretroviral treatment narratives were shaped by two main themes: 1) the media’s role in influencing public opinion and contributing to misunderstandings of HIV transmission; and 2) personal experiences of HIV-related stigma, which for PLWH included incidents of physical violence and aggression, as well as fears of their HIV status being publicised. Contemporary narratives on stigma experiences were organised around four themes: 1) discrimination in healthcare settings; 2) stigma amongst men who have sex with men (MSM); 3) stigma towards African and Afro-Caribbean PLWH; and 4) the limits of change in public HIV-related knowledge and attitudes. Contemporary narratives indicated a reduction in enacted stigma, but continued anticipation of discrimination and self-reported shame, particularly in MSM and African and Afro-Caribbean PLWH. Conclusion The nature of stigma against those with HIV has evolved. The intersection of PLWH and minority groups (e.g. MSM and African and Afro-Caribbean persons) may enhance anticipatory and internalised stigma, with some suggestion that this may contribute to reduced engagement in HIV care and prevention services. Our findings indicate the need for further research in this area, as well as proactive interventions with community groups to enhance knowledge of HIV.

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Suicide attempts by exogenous intoxication among female adolescents treated at a reference hospital in the city of Recife-PE, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem ◽

10.1590/s0034-71672011000500005 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 64 (5) ◽

pp. 833-838 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Juliana Lourenço de Araújo Veras ◽

Cintia Regina Tornisiello Katz

Keyword(s):

Suicide Attempts ◽

Family Relations ◽

Care Center ◽

Female Adolescents ◽

Treatment Programs ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Vulnerable Group ◽

Toxic Agent ◽

Reference Hospital ◽

The City

This study aimed to assess cases of self-inflicted poisoning among adolescents reported by the Toxicological Care Center of a reference hospital in Recife-PE, Brazil. The data were collected between March and May 2010 from hospital charts and structured interviews with the participants and parents/guardians. Among the 25 cases of attempted suicide registered in the period, 21 were female adolescents, who made up the sample of the present study. The adolescents were between 13 and 19 years of age. Pesticides were the most frequent toxic agent used (61.9%). The results of the present study underscore the importance of studying suicide in this population, with a focus on family relations, in order to lay the foundation for the development of prevention and treatment programs for this vulnerable group.

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«Get in Your Theatres; the Street is Not Yours»: The Struggle for the Character of Public Space in Tunisia

Nordic Journal of Dance ◽

10.2478/njd-2017-0012 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 54-69

Author(s):

Heather Harrington

Keyword(s):

Public Space ◽

Hip Hop ◽

Freedom Of Expression ◽

Social Scientist ◽

Phenomenological Approach ◽

Public Spaces ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Site Specific ◽

Political Issues ◽

And Gender

Abstract How people move and appear in public spaces is a reflection of the cultural, religious and socio-political forces in a society. This article, built on an earlier work titled ’Site-Specific Dance: Women in the Middle East’ (2016), addresses the ways in which dance in a public space can support the principles of freedom of expression and gender equality in Tunisia. I explore the character of public space before, during, and after the Arab Spring uprisings. Adopting an ethnographic and phenomenological approach, I focus on the efforts of two Tunisian dancers – Bahri Ben Yahmed (a dancer, choreographer and filmmaker based in Tunis, who has trained in ballet, modern dance and hip hop) and Ahmed Guerfel (a dancer based in Gabès, who has trained in hip hop) – to examine movement in a public space to address political issues facing the society. An analysis of data obtained from Yahmed and Guerfel, including structured interviews, videos, photos, articles and e-mail correspondence, supports the argument that dance performed in public spaces is more effective in shaping the politics of the society than dance performed on the proscenium stage. Definitions and properties of everyday choreography, site and the proscenium stage are analysed, along with examples of site-specific political protest choreography in Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia. I engage with the theories of social scientist Erving Goffman, which propose that a public space can serve as a stage, where people both embody politics and can embody a protest against those politics.

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Understanding the complexity of domestic violence service delivery through the lived experiences of domestic violence advocates

International Social Work ◽

10.1177/00208728211041673 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 002087282110416

Author(s):

Ga-Young Choi ◽

Soonok An ◽

Hyungak Cho ◽

Eun Koh

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Research ◽

Domestic Violence ◽

Service Delivery ◽

Reflective Practice ◽

Lived Experiences ◽

The United States ◽

Victim Blaming ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Domestic Violence Survivors ◽

Domestic Violence Services

This qualitative research explored the lived experiences of domestic violence advocates to better understand the elements involved in domestic violence service delivery in the United States, focusing on positive and challenging aspects of their work. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 advocates who assisted domestic violence survivors. Advocates’ persistent engagement in reflective practice and advocacy for the survivors against a victim-blaming culture were identified as important elements in delivering multi-faceted domestic violence services. Implications for social work and domestic violence practice in improving domestic violence service delivery for the survivors are discussed.

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A post-intentional phenomenological investigation of inclusivity in a therapeutic theatre production

Drama Therapy Review ◽

10.1386/dtr_00072_1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 169-191

Author(s):

Angelle Cook

Keyword(s):

Focus Group ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Personal Growth ◽

Lived Experiences ◽

Inclusive Production ◽

Societal Change ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Theatre Production ◽

Therapeutic Theatre

This article presents a dissertation study that investigated the lived experiences of participants engaged in an inclusive therapeutic theatre production through a post-intentional phenomenological lens, informed by critical dis/ability theory. The study included ten participants aged 14–26 with a variety of dis/abilities. The data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and a focus group and analysed using thematic analysis. The qualitative findings included six themes and fifteen subthemes. These findings suggested that the participants experienced belonging and community, personal growth and insight, feelings of empowerment and the desire to make societal change by being a part of the inclusive production.

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Opportunities for improving how and when Canadians are informed about new prescription medications

Knowledge Management & E-Learning: An International Journal ◽

10.34105/j.kmel.2020.12.024 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 427-447

Keyword(s):

Lived Experiences ◽

Mobile Application ◽

Future Research ◽

Prescription Medications ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Risks And Benefits ◽

Medication Information ◽

First Time ◽

To Receive ◽

Larger Sample

The Canadian prescription process requires a person to go through several steps. Prescription medications have associated risks and benefits and it is important for people to be aware of these before and while they are taking medications. One of the approaches to informing people about new prescription medications is that they are provided Consumer Medication Information (CMI). CMI is given to Canadians at the pharmacy when they pick up prescriptions, they will be taking for the first time. This study used semi-structured interviews to examine the lived experiences of a sample of Canadians (N = 36) to identify opportunities for improvement in how and when they are informed about new prescription medications. The findings were synthesized into a journey map. Generally, participants wanted to receive CMI digitally and earlier in the prescription process. Adopting these changes could have several benefits which include loss prevention and increased accessibility to CMI as well as more participatory decision making and opportunities to ask questions. Future research is warranted to explore similar topics with a larger sample and determine what method (e.g., email, website, mobile application) would be most suitable.

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Preceptorship vs. clinical models of learning: The experiences of Bahraini nursing students

Clinical Nursing Studies ◽

10.5430/cns.v6n2p27 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 27

Author(s):

Toqa Jameel Busubaia ◽

Catherine S. O’Neill

Keyword(s):

Nursing Students ◽

Lived Experiences ◽

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽

Role Model ◽

Clinical Teaching ◽

Model Identification ◽

Student Nurses ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Senior Student ◽

Clinical Placements

Background: Different models of teaching and learning are used to produce competent skilled clinical nurses. Some are traditional clinical teaching methods while others are grounded in preceptorship principles of mentoring. Knowledge regarding student nurses’ experiences of preceptorship and its meaning for them can enhance the understanding of stakeholders in academia and practice to the needs of senior nursing students’ and can offer them guidance to construct a more efficient approach to clinical teaching.Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the lived experiences of senior student nurses of preceptorship, while on clinical placements , with the objectives of describing their experiences and their relations with preceptors and also to illustrate the factors that facilitated or hindered the clinical learning process.Methods: A phenomenological hermeneutical inquiry was utilized. Data collection was conducted using semi-structured interviews with ten purposively chosen senior nursing students. Smith’s Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used as a framework for data analysis.Results: Students’ lived experiences of preceptorship were mainly positive. Three main themes were identified: (1) Role Model Identification; (2) Team Integration; (3) Interpersonal Professional and Structural Challenges. The findings showed that preceptor relationships shaped the acquisition of skills and knowledge of student nurses’ during their clinical placements.Conclusions: The findings illustrate the importance of collaboration between the academy and practice in providing support for student nurses and their preceptors. In addition, careful selection, comprehensive training and rewards for preceptors can enhance and facilitate student nurses’ learning.

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Lived Experiences of Iranian Nurses Caring for Brain Death Organ Donor Patients: Caring as “Halo of Ambiguity and Doubt”

Global Journal of Health Science ◽

10.5539/gjhs.v8n7p281 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. 281 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Zahra Keshtkaran ◽

Farkhondeh Sharif ◽

Elham Navab ◽

Sakineh Gholamzadeh

Keyword(s):

Brain Death ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Lived Experiences ◽

Organ Donor ◽

Organ Donors ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Supportive Services ◽

Care Giving ◽

The Given ◽

The Brain

BACKGROUND: Brain death is a concept in which its criteria have been expressed as documentations in Harvard Committee of Brain Death. The various perceptions of caregiver nurses for brain death patients may have effect on the chance of converting potential donors into actual organ donors.Objective: The present study has been conducted in order to perceive the experiences of nurses in care-giving to the brain death of organ donor patients.METHODS: This qualitative study was carried out by means of Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenology. Eight nurses who have been working in ICU were interviewed. The semi-structured interviews were recorded bya tape-recorder and the given texts were transcribed and the analyses were done by Van-Mannen methodology and (thematic) analysis.RESULTS: One of the foremost themes extracted from this study included ‘Halo of ambiguity and doubt’ that comprised of two sub-themes of ‘having unreasonable hope’ and ‘Conservative acceptance of brain death’. The unreasonable hope included lack of trust (uncertainty) in diagnosis and verification of brain death, passing through denial wall, and avoidance from explicit and direct disclosure of brain death in patients’ family. In this investigation, the nurses were involved in a type of ambiguity and doubt in care-giving to the potentially brain death of organ donor patients, which were also evident in their interaction with patients’ family and for this reason, they did not definitely announce the brain death and so far they hoped for treatment of the given patient. Such confusion and hesitance both caused annoyance of nurses and strengthening the denial of patients’ family to be exposed to death.CONCLUSION: The results of this study reveal the fundamental perceived care-giving of brain death in organ donor patients and led to developing some strategies to improve care-giving and achievement in donation of the given organ and necessity for presentation of educational and supportive services for nurses might become more evident than ever.

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