Looking after our future colleagues: an experience from a provincial hospital in New Zealand

2002 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-286
Author(s):  
Shailesh Kumar ◽  
Denise Aitken
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Factual Knowledge ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Junior Resident ◽  
Professional Lives ◽  
Medical Graduates ◽  
Multiple Tasks

Obective: To describe a support group developed in New Zealand for junior resident medical officers. Conclusions: Fresh medical graduates starting as junior doctors are faced with numerous stresses. Abusive relationships with supervisor, the need to balance personal and professional lives, limited ability to deal with all of the factual knowledge or with patients adequately, long, unsocial hours, financial pressures, the need to rapidly acquire the organisational skills to manage a job with multiple tasks and multiple interruptions, and being the lowest in the hierarchy are just some of the stresses junior doctors face. We, in our roles as intern supervisors, have found that running weekly support groups along with some structured sessions on how to maintain personal well being have been helpful in providing support to the junior doctors working in our hospital. Our experience is described and the implications are discussed.

scholarly journals Trainees4trainees: an innovative peer support project for junior doctors across specialties

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S126-S126
Author(s):  
Sophie Behrman ◽  
Aisling Higham ◽  
Haido Vlachos ◽  
Gerti Stegen
Keyword(s):  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Training Programmes ◽  
The Impact

AimsThe BMA's survey results (Caring for the Mental Health of the Medical Workforce, 2019) and HEE's NHS Staff and Learners’ Mental Wellbeing Commission report (2019) highlighted declining staff wellbeing. The COVID-19 pandemic has sharpened focus on this and the effects of moral injury on healthcare professionals. Shielding, social distancing and redeployment led to many medical trainees being increasingly isolated at a time of heightened anxiety and adversity. Psychiatry trainees tend to have good access to reflective groups, but this is not customary in other training programmes.MethodIntervention“Trainees4trainees” was set up by trainees across specialties as a HEE-TV well-being project, led by the Deanery Trainee Improvement Fellow. Peer support groups are run on Zoom, facilitated by 2 trainees with special training in peer support. Psychiatry trainees have been involved in designing and facilitating groups and training facilitators from other specialties; facilitators have regular supervision from a consultant psychiatrist in medical psychotherapy. Trainees are supported to discuss challenging experiences and think about their emotional responses in a supportive and validating group.ResultFeedbackWe are in the process of formal data collection to assess the impact of the intervention. Informal feedback suggests the groups are a powerful support to individuals who otherwise have no avenue to think about the psychological impact of their experiences. The groups have supported trainees to feel less isolated and bolstered their resilience.ConclusionFuture plansWe have faced challenges in the practicalities of establishing and maintaining groups. We are working with Training Programme Directors to move towards running the groups in protected time within working hours and advocate that reflective groups, such as our peer support groups, are a key part of future medical and surgical Training Programmes.

scholarly journals Participating in a support group: experience lived by women with breast cancer

2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 733-738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cleoneide Paulo Oliveira Pinheiro ◽  
Raimunda Magalhães da Silva ◽  
Marli Villela Mamede ◽  
Ana Fátima Carvalho Fernandes
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Breast Carcinoma ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The City ◽  
Group Experience ◽  
Differentiated Care

The goal of the study was to understand the meaning of support groups in the life of women with breast cancer. It is a qualitative study with 30 mastectomized women who belonged to six support groups in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará. Data were collected with semi-structured interviews, organized and analyzed based on the interactionism concept. The results characterized the support groups as a mechanism to cope with the situation and to overcome the suffering derived from the diagnosis and treatment of the breast carcinoma. The socialization of the experiences facilitated the search for assistance in the support groups, since sharing the problems with mastectomized women was a way to preserve a high self-esteem, have faith and overcome some difficulties. Participating in the group provided well-being and a differentiated care, since it was considered a way to know, accept and understand the disease and its cure, facilitating the socialization of ideas.

scholarly journals A formal support group for esophageal atresia and/or tracheoesophageal fistula in South Africa may improve the outcome of these children and their families

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Corné De Vos ◽  
Werner De Vos ◽  
Daniel Sidler
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Esophageal Atresia ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Tracheoesophageal Fistula ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Formal Support

The psychosocial aspect of various congenital anomalies like esophageal atresia (EA) with/or without a tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) being the cause of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety in parents of these children, is often overlooked by medical professionals. Support groups may be useful to address a part of this problem and form an important aspect of emotional support for any rare or congenital disease. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to assess the need for a formal support group for parents of patients born with EA and to emphasize the role of emotional support for these parents and children. A questionnaire was sent to members of an informal WhatsApp group which included participants with diverse demographics across private and public platforms, across South Africa. The questions focused on 3 main areas: demographic data, diagnosis and the surgery, and information about the participant’s emotional support. All the data were inserted in an excel datasheet and descriptive statistical analysis was used. Questions were sent to 14 members of an informal WhatsApp group.  Eight were included in the study.  All 8 participants were mothers of children born with an EA with a TEF. The questions about the need for emotional support focus on the time after the baby was born. The majority (87.5%) of the mothers felt that they could bond with their babies during pregnancy, but in contrast, 75% felt that they missed an opportunity to bond with their babies after birth, mainly because they were not allowed to hold their babies for up to 11 days after birth. Only 1 of the mothers were in contact with other families with children born with EA, and 6 of the remaining 7 agreed that this would have helped them during this emotionally challenging time. All 8 thought that sharing their stories with others could have helped them emotionally and all agreed that an EA/TEF support group was a good idea. The family, as another patient, ought to be treated and included in the overall treatment plan if we aim to improve the quality of life for both the patients and their families.  Disease-specific support groups can play a major role in the emotional well-being of both the children born with EA and their families.

scholarly journals The Effects of Situational Peers and Support Groups on the Well-Being of Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 408-409
Author(s):  
Alexandra Jeanblanc ◽  
Carol Musil ◽  
Christopher Burant ◽  
McKenzie Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Groups ◽  
Multigenerational Households ◽  
Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren ◽  
Need For Support ◽  
Group Engagement

Abstract Grandmothers raising their grandchildren face not only the demands of parenting, but the added burden of parenting a child they did not expect to raise. Similarly, grandmothers living in multigenerational households need to balance expectations and household/caregiving tasks across the generations. As part of a nationwide RCT designed to lessen the stress associated with the caregiving burden of raising grandchildren, we asked 342 grandmothers raising their grandchildren about their engagement with support groups and whether their social network included other grandfamilies. Here, we examine the effect of situational peers and support group engagement on grandmother’s stress, reward, social support, mental health, mindfulness, and resourcefulness. Of our sample, 53.8% (N=184) reported belonging to a support group. The majority of participants (138) belonged to online support groups on Facebook, 41 reported participating in in-person support groups, 3 belonged to both in-person and online support groups, and 8 did not respond. When asked whether and how well our participants knew other families like theirs, 31% (106) said they did not know any, 40.6% (139) knew of at least one, but not well, and 28.4% (97) said they had at least one friend with a family like her own. Knowing other families like their own affected self-appraised stress, but no other outcomes. Grandmothers participating in support groups had lower mindfulness scores, higher stress, and worse mental health scores than grandmothers not participating in support groups, possibly reflecting the higher need for support among those participants.

scholarly journals The Perceived Impact of Diabetes Support Groups

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Garofalo
Keyword(s):  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Practice Nurses ◽  
Group Problem Solving ◽  
Perceived Impact ◽  
The Impact

<p>A dearth o f research exists describing the perceived impact o f diabetes support groups from the perspective o f support group participants. This study examined the subjective experience of being a participant in a diabetes support group upon a person's physical and emotional well being. Participants were recruited from a diabetes support group and interviewed individually through a series of open ended interview questions. The participants reported various physical and emotional challenges related to their diabetes. The support group was a source of information, hope, shared experience and group problem solving as individuals strived to maintain lifestyle behaviors required to manage their diabetes. This support group was a positive source of support for these participants. More studies, with larger sample sizes, examining support group interventions or strategies would be beneficial in order to gain an understanding of which aspects of a support group promote positive client outcomes. Advanced practice nurses play a pivotal role in designing further studies that examine the impact of support groups. This will enhance our understanding of a support group's role in sustaining and promoting positive health behaviors and well being. In order to continue this form of support in the community, health policy needs to address the funding of this resource to sustain it as a tertiary intervention in the future.</p>

3. Learning Modules in a Support Group Context for Caregivers of Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wafa Nurdin ◽  
Aicha Wane
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Caregiver Support ◽  
Learning Modules ◽  
The Impact

The majority of community dwelling individuals with dementia have informal caregivers. With the risk of developing care related stress, it is important for community agencies, like the Alzheimer Society of Kingston (ASK), to provide support, resources, and information. The goal of this intervention was that caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) would improve physical, social, and mental well-being. A search of the literature, as well as surveys of support group facilitators, forty caregivers, and consultation with ASK helped determine information relevant to the caregivers. The purpose of this project was to develop learning modules on: a) using a problem-based strategy to assist with daily activities of the person they are caring for; b) self-care strategies; c) positive coping strategies; d) assertive communication skills, and e) home environment safety to be delivered during caregiver support groups. The module on a problem-based strategy to assist with daily activities was pilot tested, utilizing five caregivers. It was found that the learning module was approximately 30 minutes over the stated timeframe and the case study component of the module was ineffective. Recommendations include implementing the module as two parts. Furthermore, additional research is needed on the impact of the modules on caregiver stress and burden.

Women’s peer to peer support inside a jail support group

2021 ◽  
pp. 026540752110303
Author(s):  
A. E. Stearns ◽  
Yang Yang
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Supportive Communication ◽  
Communication Techniques ◽  
Integral Role ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
And Training

Social support plays an integral role in health and well-being. Behind bars, support from peers on the inside is also beneficial, facilitating prosocial behavior, sobriety, coping mechanisms, and re-entry success. Social support frequently is delivered through supportive communication. However, it is not clear how such communication is enacted, as the majority of studies relies upon participants’ recollections of supportive communication during a past crisis. The current study analyzed conversation among women participating in a jail support group to determine how supportive communication was enacted. Working with an abductive framework, the analysis found six forms of supportive communication: 1) legitimizing problems, behaviors, and perceptions; 2) advising on practical and logistical issues; 3) soothing and reassuring; 4) clarifying the problem; 5) esteem-building; and 6) emotion-expressing. Findings are novel in that they broaden our understanding of how communicative support is delivered while an individual is experiencing distress; while receivers and givers of supportive communication are both experiencing distress; and in the context of a jail. This study suggests efforts to enhance jailed women’s support of one another should be undertaken, largely by implementing peer support groups and training facilitators in effective communication techniques.

scholarly journals Transition to clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study of young doctors’ experiences in Brazil and Ireland

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e053423
Author(s):  
Erik Montagna ◽  
Jessica Donohoe ◽  
Victor Zaia ◽  
Eileen Duggan ◽  
Paula O'Leary ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Medical Graduates ◽  
Qualitative Thematic Analysis ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Professional Socialisation

ObjectivesTo explore and compare the perspectives of junior doctors in Brazil and Ireland regarding transition and professional socialisation during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the purpose of identifying better ways to support doctors as they assume their new professional role.Design27 semistructured interviews. Transcripts were analysed using qualitative thematic analysis. Cruess’ framework of professional socialisation in medicine supported the interpretation of these data.SettingPublic health hospitals across four Brazilian states (Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Ceará, Paraíba) and County Cork in the South of Ireland.ParticipantsTwenty-seven male and female medical junior doctors who had graduated between November 2019 and April 2020.ResultsFourteen Brazilian and 13 Irish junior doctors were interviewed for this study. Entry to clinical practice during the pandemic had a significant impact on factors influencing the professional socialisation of junior doctors. This impact was reflected across the following six thematic areas: lack of preparedness; disrupted trajectory of role adaptation; fewer opportunities for experiential learning; solidarity and isolation; altered interactions with patients; challenges to health and well-being.ConclusionsTransition to clinical practice is an important stage in junior doctors’ professional socialisation and identity formation. The COVID-19 pandemic created the opportunity for medical graduates to enter the workforce earlier than usual. Entering the workforce during this period created a lack of confidence among junior doctors concerning the boundaries of their new role and responsibilities, while simultaneously disrupting their social integration. Priorities to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and future pandemics on this transition are presented.

Adults Who Stutter and Their Motivation for Attending Stuttering Support Groups: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 142-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela M. Medina ◽  
Naiceli Almeida ◽  
Kayleen Amarante ◽  
Natalie Martinez ◽  
Michele Prezzemolo
Keyword(s):  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Motivating Factors ◽  
Ground Support ◽  
Group Format ◽  
Adults Who Stutter

Purpose While the benefits of participating in stuttering support groups are well known, the factors that motivate adults who stutter (AWS) to continue attending these meetings are not documented. The purpose of this exploratory study is to investigate the narratives of AWS and identify their individual motivations for regularly attending stuttering support groups. Method Seven AWS, ages 23–54 years, who attended more than one stuttering support group meeting participated in a semistructured interview about their stuttering and their experiences participating in a stuttering support group. Thematic analysis procedures were followed to investigate descriptions of motivating factors in each participant's narrative. Result Four major themes emerged from the data including “Mutual Understanding and Common Ground,” “Support Group Format,” “Positive Changes,” and “Give and Take of the Support Group.” The support group served as a place to gain new perspectives by watching others who stutter more severely communicate while also creating a sense of not being “alone.” Opportunities to speak and/or stutter freely as well as the role chapter leaders take in facilitating conversation were motivating factors in terms of the support group format. Positive changes in emotional well-being and socialization were reported. Participants also stated that they attend support groups because the group provides them with an opportunity to help others and learn from others. Conclusion This exploratory study uncovered particular aspects of support groups, including group members and the structure of meetings, that motivate AWS to attend. Findings support the literature in that participants reported benefiting from participating in support groups.

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