scholarly journals Foster caring in an era of COVID-19: the impact on personal self-care

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-70
Author(s):  
Justin Jay Miller ◽  
Erlene Grise-Owens
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Self Care ◽  
The Self ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Financial Security ◽  
Electronic Survey ◽  
Important Group ◽  
Care Practices ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

COVID-19 has undoubtedly affected all caregivers, including foster carers. Despite the importance of self-care in assuaging the impact of the pandemic, there is a dearth of research on this topic, and virtually nothing specific to this important group. This study uses a retrospective pre/post design to measure the impact of the pandemic on foster carers’ self-care. An invitation to participate in an electronic survey was circulated among carers in a US state and a snowball sample of 1229 compiled. Analyses of their replies revealed significant decreases in self-care practices in the months following the start of the pandemic. Disaggregation of the post self-care scores showed that foster carers who were married, not employed outside their home, reported good mental and physical health and were financially stable exhibited higher levels of self-care compared to their peers. Furthermore, hierarchical regression analysis showed that three factors – age, financial security and mental health status – were the strongest determinants of post-care practices. The findings suggest the need for concerted efforts by foster care agencies to conceptualise, implement and evaluate initiatives aimed at the self-care and wellness of carers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The impact of economic crisis on mental and physical health in Italy

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (02) ◽  
pp. 103-110
Author(s):  
S. Tomassi ◽  
M. Ruggeri
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Great Recession ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Behavioural Disorders ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Summary Background: The global crisis that began in 2007 has been the most prolonged economic recession since 1929. It has caused worldwide tangible costs in terms of cuts in employment and income, which have been widely recognised also as major social determinants of mental health (1, 2). The so-called “Great Recession” has disproportionately affected the most vulnerable part of society of the whole Eurozone (3). Across Europe, an increase in suicides and deaths rates due to mental and behavioural disorders was reported among those who lost their jobs, houses and economic activities as a consequence of the crisis.

scholarly journals Co-Designing and Evaluating a Self-Care Curriculum of an App for Chinese Immigrant Caregivers

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 507-508
Author(s):  
Ying Wang ◽  
Mandong Liu ◽  
Iris Chi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Self Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Self ◽  
Community Resources ◽  
Chinese Immigrant ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Support Resources

Abstract Chinese immigrant caregivers face unique self-care difficulties in the United States due to language barriers, cultural isolation, and occupational stress. This study aimed to conduct a formative evaluation on a caregiver self-care curriculum of an app designed for Chinese immigrants in the United States. Using a co-design approach in 2019, 22 Chinese immigrant caregivers in Los Angeles county were recruited through purposive sampling method. The directed content analysis was adopted to analyze the qualitative data using NVivo 12.1.0 software. We organized the findings under two main contents: self-care and caregiving. Three categories were identified under the self-care content: physical health, emotional and mental health, and support resources. Sixteen subcategories under physical health (e.g., dietary supplements), five subcategories under emotional and mental health (e.g., depression) and eight subcategories under support resources (e.g., support and networking group, senior center) are suggested. Two categories were identified under the caregiving content: caregiving knowledge and skills, and community resources. Fourteen subcategories under caregiving knowledge and skills (e.g., care assessment) and six subcategories under community resources (e.g., medical emergency call) were mentioned. With this useful information, we could further refine the self-care curriculum to be more linguistically, culturally and occupationally sensitive for Chinese immigrant caregivers. Empowerment approach for enhancing the ability to caregiving and self-care should be emphasized in content design for immigrant caregivers. The co-design approach is crucial for planning of the program and intervention curriculum to improve understanding of the users’ needs and better cater them.

Does an impaired capacity for self-care impact the prevalence of social and emotional loneliness among elderly people?

2018 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irena Canjuga ◽  
Danica Železnik ◽  
Marijana Neuberg ◽  
Marija Božicevic ◽  
Tina Cikac
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Self Care ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The Self ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Care Assessment ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of self-care on the prevalence of loneliness among elderly people living in retirement homes and older people living in their homes/communities. Design/methodology/approach The research was conducted through standardized SELSA-L assessment loneliness questionnaires and the Self Care Assessment Worksheet for self-care assessment. The results were processed using the Kruskal–Wallis test. Findings The obtained results have shown that impaired self-care ability affects the prevalence of loneliness among the elderly almost the same in both groups of participants. However, regarding the relationship between the state of health and self-care, only a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of loneliness is found in the case of the participants living in their homes, with the worst health condition affecting the poorer psychological care. Research limitations/implications It is necessary to point out the limitations of the research, primarily sample limitations and the selected design of the study. The sample consisted of two different and relatively small groups of participants which could adversely affect the representativeness of the sample and reduce the possibility of generalising the results. The next limiting factor is the age distribution the authors used in the research, where the age of the participants as a very important variable was collected by age range and not precisely which consequently resulted in inequality in subgroup sizes. Thus, the middle age (75–85) covers up to ten years, which is a huge range at an older age and can mean major differences in functional ability, and can impact the self-care assessment. Practical implications Nurses are indispensable in care for the elderly and they need to promote and encourage self-care of the elderly through health care. Elderly people living in retirement homes should be allowed to participate equally in health care in order to preserve their own autonomy and dignity. However, to benefit those who live in their homes, nurses should be connected to the local community and thus stimulate various forms of preventative (testing blood sugar levels, blood pressure and educating on the importance of preventive examinations) or recreational activities in the environment of elderly people with the goal of preserving their functional abilities. Originality/value The impact of self-care on loneliness was not sufficiently researched, and this paper contributed to understanding the complexity of loneliness phenomena among the elderly with the aim of developing a model of prevention.

scholarly journals Impact of Postmigration Living Difficulties on the Mental Health of Afghan Migrants Residing in Istanbul

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qais Alemi ◽  
Carl Stempel ◽  
Kelly Baek ◽  
Lisa Lares ◽  
Patricia Villa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Idioms Of Distress ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Foreign Countries ◽  
Legal Challenges ◽  
Culturally Sensitive Interventions ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Afghan Migrants

Background. The sociopolitical situation in Afghanistan continually pushes Afghans to seek safety and better socioeconomic prospects in neighboring and foreign countries. In this paper we examine the mental health of Afghan migrants residing in Istanbul, Turkey, an understudied population at high risk of psychopathology. Methods. We surveyed 158 Afghan migrants to assess psychological distress using a culturally grounded measure of mental health, the Afghan Symptom Checklist [ASCL], and used hierarchical regression analysis to examine the impact of postmigration living difficulties (PMLDs) on mental health. Results. We found that depressive, somatoform, anxiety-like symptoms occurred often, as did a number of culturally salient idioms of distress. Regression analyses showed that while socioeconomic variables and poor physical health status significantly predicted psychological distress, PMLDs exerted the strongest negative effect. The most pressing PMLDs for Afghans in Turkey are poverty, unemployment, lack of treatment for health problems, fears of being deported and related legal challenges, and family-related stressors. Conclusion. Our results point to the importance of the critical need to create culturally sensitive interventions to remediate high levels of psychological distress by addressing related PMLD stressors in a highly vulnerable Afghan migrant population residing in Turkey.

scholarly journals Medicated bodies: Mental distress, social media and affect

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 549-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Tucker ◽  
Lewis Goodings
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
The Body ◽  
Psychiatric Medication ◽  
Social Media Site ◽  
Health Social Media ◽  
Care Practices ◽  
The Impact

Social media are increasingly being recruited into care practices in mental health. This article analyses how a major new mental health social media site ( www.elefriends.org.uk ) is used when trying to manage the impact of psychiatric medication on the body. Drawing on Henri Bergson’s concept of affection, analysis shows that Elefriends is used at particular moments of reconfiguration (e.g. change in dosage and/or medication), periods of self-experimentation (when people tailor their regimen by altering prescriptions or ceasing medication) and when dealing with a present bodily concern (showing how members have a direct, immediate relationship with the site). In addition, the analysis illustrates how users have to structure their communication to try to avoid ‘triggering’ distress in others. The article concludes by pointing to the need to focus on the multiple emerging relationships between bodies and social media in mental health, due to the ways the latter are becoming increasingly prominent technologies through which to experience the body when distressed.

scholarly journals Assessment of Self-Care Practices among Type 2 Diabetic Patients in a Secondary Care Teaching Hospital

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-124
Author(s):  
Jeeba Chinnappan ◽  
Athira KP ◽  
Faheem Iqbal ◽  
Jasna V ◽  
Purnima Ashok ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Status ◽  
Self Care ◽  
The Self ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Foot Care ◽  
Type 2 Diabetic Patients ◽  
Socio Economic Status ◽  
Care Practices ◽  
Type 2 Diabetic

Background: Diabetes is one of the major health problems worldwide that can be effectively managed by good self-care activities like medication adherence, exercise, monitoring of blood glucose, foot care and diet. Objectives: The study assessed the self-care activities of diabetic patients using summary of diabetes self-care activities scale (SDSCA) and the variables (Age, gender, educational level, socioeconomic status (SES)) associated with it. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken in 400 Type 2 diabetic patients. Self-care practices of the patients were evaluated by using SDSCA and correlation with variables were determined statistically. Results: Among 400 diabetic patients about 215 (53.75%) had an average score of self-care. Self-care was poor in 184 (46%) subjects, and only 1 subject (0.25%) scored good. Blood sugar monitoring was the highest (100%) followed by medication adherence (92.75%) whereas inadequate levels of self-care were reported in foot care (1.5%), and physical activity (31.5%) domains. A significant positive correlation was found between self-care practices and socio-demographic variables such as age (r=0.298, p=0.000), income (r=0.490, p=0.000) occupation (r=0.433, p=0.000), education (r=0.582, p=0.000), and Socio-Economic status (r=0.599, p=0.000). Conclusion: The study revealed higher level of adherence to self-care activities in terms of blood sugar monitoring and medication taking behaviour in the current setting, but self-care in other domains such as foot care is critically low. Age, education and Socio-Economic status seems to affect the self-care practice by the patients. Keywords:  Diabetes, Diabetes self- care, Diabetic foot care, Summary of diabetes self-care activities (SDSCA) score.

scholarly journals Assessment of self-care practices among hypertensive patients: a clinic based study in rural area of Singur, West Bengal

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aparajita Dasgupta ◽  
Sembagamuthu Sembiah ◽  
Bobby Paul ◽  
Ayon Ghosh ◽  
Bijit Biswas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Lifestyle Modification ◽  
Self Care ◽  
The Self ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Hypertensive Patients ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Care Practices

Background: Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure is a global public health concern. It is an important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. It remains silent, being generally asymptomatic during its clinical course and it accounts for a large proportion of cardiovascular deaths; lifestyle modification is the first line of intervention for all patients with hypertension, yet it was never been empirical. The aim of the study was to assess the pattern of self-care practices, if any and also to find out the factors associated with it, among the hypertensive patients in the outpatient department. Methods: A clinic-based, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted at health center under RHU & TC, Singur, which is the rural field practice area of All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata among 124 hypertensive subjects. Binary logistic regression was done to find out the factors associated with the self-care practices using SPSS software. Results: In the present study, 62.9% of study participants suffering from hypertension had unfavourable self-care practices. Logistic regression showed age above 60 years (OR-3.1), primary level education (OR-5.6), poor socio economic status (OR-2.4), widow/separated (OR-3.3) and people with self-perceived poor health status (OR-2.8)had significant association with unfavourable self-care practices. After adjusting with other variables, age (AOR-2.3) and education (AOR-3.8) remained significant predictor of outcome. Conclusions: The findings revealed that the self-care practices among hypertensive patients were unfavourable in rural area. This calls for a deep need in increasing the awareness about healthy lifestyle among hypertensive patients. This study provides key elements to affect policy changes and social interventions. 

4 Return to golf post arthroplasty

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (16) ◽  
pp. 941.2-941
Author(s):  
S Frankland ◽  
L Hoggett ◽  
P Hughes ◽  
C Nevill
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Open Access ◽  
Joint Replacement ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Initial Increase ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Microsoft Excel ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

AimTo determine the impact of arthroplasty on player handicap, frequency of golf played, return to club competitions and overall mental and physical health using the SF-12.MethodA three page, 30 item, open access survey was sent to a community of over 500,000 golfers via the newsletter for the HowDidIDo® app between 18/04/2019–30/04/2019, inviting users who had undergone a joint replacement to complete. Responses were analysed using Microsoft excel and StatsDirect.ResultsA total of 3043 valid responses were received, the majority were male (n=2392). Mean age was 70 years (25–92). Most respondents had only a single joint replacement (n=1977). Within the cohort, there were mostly hips (n=2092) and knees (n=2069) replaced with far fewer shoulders (n=101), although this concurred with NJR population data. Across the whole cohort, most respondents were playing more (40%) or the same (44%) amount of golf following arthroplasty. Across the cohort only 4% were assumed unable to return to club competitions, while 76% of respondents returned to competitions within six months. Mean handicap prior to arthroplasty was increased (17.6 to 18.9) with no significant difference between hips, knees and shoulders. The SF-12 results were completed for 1094 respondents which when matched for age, demonstrated higher physical (48.59 vs. 43.65) and mental health (55.59 vs.52.10) scores.ConclusionsJoint replacement enables the vast majority of patients to continue or increase the amount of golf played with most returning to club competitions within six months. A slight increase in handicap is demonstrated following surgery in this cohort, with stabilisation after this initial increase. Patients playing golf following arthroplasty demonstrate better physical and mental health than their age matched counterparts.

The Impact of Mobile Health use on the Self-Care of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucija Gosak ◽  
Majda Pajnkihar ◽  
Gregor Štiglic
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Family Medicine ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Care ◽  
The Self ◽  
Control Group ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Chronic diseases are an important public health issue worldwide and affect an individual's quality of life. Due to the alarming rise in type 2 diabetes, healthcare, which was previously largely focused primarily on diagnosis and treatment of the disease, is increasingly focused on prevention and self-care. Patients who adhere to a constant and strict treatment regimen (physical activity, diet, medication) and regularly monitor their health, maintain self-care and health, prevent exacerbation of the disease and prevent complications of diabetes (retinopathy, diabetic feet). Many innovative devices that have become increasingly present in patient health care in recent years, such as mobile applications, are available to patients to maintain consistency in monitoring their health status. Mobile applications make it easier for individuals to monitor their self-care, monitor illness, and make it easier to follow instructions regarding disease control. OBJECTIVE The study aim is to determine the impact of mobile application use on self-care in patients with type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study is also to evaluate and test the usefulness of the forDiabetes application as a tool to improve the self-care of individuals with type 2 diabetes. METHODS We will perform a double-blind randomized controlled trial. The study will include individuals over the age of 18 who have been diagnosed and have regulated type 2 diabetes, who have already received oral treatment and are being treated in family medicine practice. Also, individuals included in the study should not have any acute complications due to the consequences of type 2 diabetes. During the study, they should be able to use an Android or iOS mobile phone and a blood glucose meter. With the help of simple randomization, individuals will be divided into an intervention and a control group. Individuals in the intervention group will use the forDiabetes mobile app to monitor their self-care for type 2 diabetes. Individuals in the control group will not receive a special intervention. Data will be collected using the “Self-care of Diabetes Inventory” questionnaire and a “Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire”. Blood sugar, blood pressure, HbA1c, and weight measurements will be monitored using the calibrated instruments during the study by the nurses employed in family medicine practice. Data will be collected at the beginning of the study and after the patient visit to the family medicine practice. RESULTS The expected results as a result of using the mobile application forDiabetes are the impact on the level of self-care, the impact on the perception of the disease, blood sugar levels, blood pressure, HbA1c, and the measured body weight of the patient. CONCLUSIONS The research contributes to greater visibility and usability of mobile applications for self-care of patients with type 2 diabetes and makes aware of the possible use of innovative methods. CLINICALTRIAL NCT04999189

Development and Initial Validation of the Self-Care Practices Scale

Social Work ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-28
Author(s):  
Jacquelyn J Lee ◽  
Shari E Miller ◽  
Brian E Bride
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Construct Validity ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
The Self ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Care Practices

Abstract Self-care is regarded as essential for effective social work practice, offsetting occupational stress and promoting well-being and resiliency among practitioners. However, the literature reveals a notable absence of psychometrically sound instruments to measure self-care. The purpose of the present study was to describe the development, refinement, and construct validity of the Self-Care Practices Scale (SCPS). The piloted version of the SCPS is a 38-item instrument designed to measure frequency of engagement in personal and professional self-care practices. Data were collected through mailed surveys from a random sample of master’s-level clinical social workers and members of the National Association of Social Workers (N = 492). Analysis supports the construct validity of an 18-item SCPS with two subscales that demonstrate strong internal validity. The SCPS is useful for social work educators, practitioners, and administrators to ascertain frequency of self-care practice and build a stronger culture of self-care. The role of SCPS in future research is discussed.

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