Strengthening Social Support: Health Professionals' Views of the Health Care Needs of Adolescent Mothers

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Breheny ◽  
Christine Stephens
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Adolescent Mothers ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Organisational Support ◽  
Professional Perspective

AbstractHealth care and health outcomes for adolescent mothers and their children may be a result of a complex interaction between socioeconomic, psychological, and familial factors. To examine a health professional perspective on the important issues in providing health care for adolescent mothers, transcripts of seventeen interviews with health professionals were analysed. Social support was considered an important aspect influencing the health of adolescent mothers and their children. This included family support, peer support and organisational support. Opportunities for health professionals to promote good social support for young mothers include role modelling supportive care and supporting adolescents' decision making, providing referrals to peer support groups, and understanding barriers to accessing organisational support. The best outcome for adolescent mothers is when their role as mother is supported by the family and wider support network.

Social media and peer-to-peer support for individuals with health care needs and their caregivers: a scoping review (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Kelly ◽  
Shelley Doucet ◽  
Alison Luke ◽  
Rima Azar ◽  
William Montelpare
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Peer To Peer ◽  
Health Care Needs ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
The Many

BACKGROUND Individuals with health care needs and their caregivers require substantial informational and emotional support. Providing this support is a major challenge for care providers, who are often not able to adequately address barriers and may not be aware of available services and programs. Online P2P support offers an accessible and inexpensive source of support; however, the breadth of these supports on social media has not been previously documented. OBJECTIVE This study was a scoping review of research examining the use of peer-to-peer support on social media by individuals with health care needs and their caregivers. METHODS This review used the PRISMA-SR method to search for articles from 1997 to 2019. RESULTS A total of 94 articles were included. Patients and caregivers use many social media websites for P2P interaction, including: Facebook (n = 19), Twitter (n = 7), and YouTube (n = 6). Providing and receiving informational and emotional support were important uses of social media for P2P support; however, the specific needs and experiences of patients and caregivers appeared to change as knowledge regarding the condition(s) improved. Despite the many benefits associated with participating in online P2P groups, concerns related to ethics, privacy, and the potential to spread misinformation are outlined as risks associated with its use. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed that patients and caregivers engage in P2P support on social media to receive informational and emotional support from peers, despite known risks and limitations. Social networking websites were revealed to be particularly suited for P2P support communication.

scholarly journals Combining online and offline peer support groups in mental health care: A qualitative study of service users� experiences (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Strand ◽  
Deede Gammon ◽  
Lillian Sofie Eng ◽  
Cornelia Ruland
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Individual Interviews

BACKGROUND Peer support groups for people with long-term mental health problems are at the heart of recovery-oriented approaches in mental health care. When conducted face-to-face (offline) or on the Internet (online), peer support groups have proven to have differing strengths and weaknesses. Little is known about the benefits and challenges of combining the two formats. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to gain insights into the benefits and challenges of combining online and offline peer support groups facilitated through an Internet intervention designed to support recovery processes. METHODS In this exploratory and descriptive study, an e-recovery portal called ReConnect was used by service users in two mental health communities in Norway for 6-12 months. The portal included an online peer support forum which also facilitated participation in local in-person ReConnect-cafés. Both formats of peer support were facilitated by an employed service user consultant with lived experience of mental health problems and with training in peer support. Qualitative data about service users’ experiences of using the portal were collected through focus groups and individual interviews and inductively analyzed thematically with focus on benefits and challenges of peer support online and offline. RESULTS A total of 14 service users 22-63 years of age with various diagnoses, receiving services at both primary and specialist levels of mental health care participated in three focus groups and 10 individual interviews. Two main themes were identified in the analysis: 1) balancing anonymity and openness, and 2) enabling connectedness. These themes are further illustrated with the subthemes: i) dilemmas of anonymity and confidentiality, ii) towards self-disclosure and openness, iii) new friendships, and iv) networks in the local community. Three of the subthemes mainly describe benefits. Challenges were more implicit and cut across the subthemes. Identified challenges were linked to transitions from anonymity to revealing one’s identity, how to protect confidentiality, or to participation at face-to-face meetings in the local community. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that online peer support groups and offline meetings complement each other, and the combination is mainly beneficial to users. The identified benefits appeared to arise from participants’ options of one format or the other, or that they could combine formats in ways that suited their individual values and comfort zones. We also identified challenges related to combination of formats, and both formats require appropriate facilitation of peer support. Combining online formats that enable anonymity, a non-judgmental atmosphere, and 24/7 accessibility regardless of location, with offline formats that foster local, in-person community ties, is a promising concept for facilitating recovery-oriented care, and warrants continued research.

scholarly journals No Longer an Island: A Social Network Intervention Engaging Black Men Through CBPR

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 155798832091338
Author(s):  
Amy E. Harley ◽  
David Frazer ◽  
Tyler Weber ◽  
Terron C. Edwards ◽  
Nicole Carnegie
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Community Partner ◽  
Social Network Intervention ◽  
Network Intervention

The aim of this study was to assess outcomes from a multilevel social network intervention to promote the health of Black men. Through a community–academic collaboration and using a participatory research approach, we implemented the intervention over 4 years in a 110-block area of an urban neighborhood. The project aimed to implement a neighborhood peer outreach and leadership network to strengthen social support of Black men and increase community and family engagement. Intervention activities included three 12-month intergenerational peer support groups ( N = 46), a door-to-door outreach campaign ( N = 186), media and communication efforts, and a community partner network. Primary outcomes for the peer support groups were measured using a pretest/posttest cohort design and included social support, perceived stress, social capital, and global self-esteem. Primary outcomes for the door-to-door outreach campaign were measured using a repeated cross-sectional design and included a sense of community, neighborhood social interaction, perceived neighborhood control, and self-rated health status. Significant findings from the peer support groups included an increase in social support overall ( p = .027), driven by improvements in guidance, reliable alliance, and reassurance of worth; and an improvement in perceived stress ( p = .047). Significant findings from the door-to-door outreach campaign included increases in neighborhood social interaction ( p < .0001) and perceived neighborhood control ( p = .036). This project provides evidence that a participatory approach to planning and delivering a health promotion intervention aimed at creating positive social spaces and enhancing social connections can result in significant outcomes and successful engagement of Black men.

Empirical exploration of brilliance in health care: perceptions of health professionals

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Karimi ◽  
Ann Dadich ◽  
Liz Fulop ◽  
Sandra G. Leggat ◽  
Jiri Rada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Delivery ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Lexical Analysis ◽  
Professional Perspective

Objective The aim of the present study was to develop a positive organisational scholarship in health care approach to health management, informed by health managers and health professionals’ experiences of brilliance in health care delivery. Methods A sample of postgraduate students with professional and/or management experience within a health service was invited to share their experiences of brilliant health services via online discussions and a survey running on the SurveyMonkey platform. A lexical analysis of student contributions was conducted using the individual as the unit of analysis. Results Using lexical analysis, the examination of themes in the concept map, the relationships between themes and the relationships between concepts identified ‘care’ as the most important concept in recognising brilliance in health care, followed by the concepts of ‘staff’ and ‘patient’. Conclusions The research presents empirical material to support the emergence of an evidence-based health professional perspective of brilliance in health management. The findings support other studies that have drawn on both quantitative and qualitative materials to explore brilliance in health care. Pockets of brilliance have been previously identified as catalysts for changing health care systems. Both quality, seen as driven from the outside, and excellence, driven from within individuals, are necessary to produce brilliance. What is known about the topic? The quest for brilliance in health care is not easy but essential to reinvigorating and energising health professionals to pursue the highest possible standards of health care delivery. What does this paper add? Using an innovative methodology, the present study identified the key drivers that health care professionals believe are vital to moving in the direction of identifying brilliant performance. What are the implications for practitioners? This work presents evidence on the perceptions of leadership and management practices associated with brilliant health management. Lessons learned from exceptionally well-delivered services contain different templates for change than those dealing with failures, errors, misconduct and the resulting negativity.

scholarly journals Coping with Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome: quality of life and psychosocial features of family carers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Berrocoso ◽  
Imanol Amayra ◽  
Esther Lázaro ◽  
Oscar Martínez ◽  
Juan Francisco López-Paz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Coping Styles ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Postnatal Growth ◽  
Support Network ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background : Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome (WHS) is a rare, congenital disease characterized by a distinctive facial phenotype, seizures, intellectual disability and developmental delay, and pre and postnatal growth requiring lifelong care. The psychosocial status of the family caregivers of children diagnosed with WHS is unknown. This study aims to characterize the sociodemographic and psychosocial profile of WHS caregivers and analyze how these variables impact their quality of life (QoL) and well-being. Results: The sociodemographic and clinical profile of 22 Spanish caregivers of children with WHS and the characteristics of those affected have been described. Significant relationships were found between sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics among caregivers. The impact on the parents' QoL and negative relationship with the symptomatology were assessed. The use of engagement strategies such as problem focused coping was associated with improved psychological QoL and social support. Conclusions: WHS caregivers share similarities in their profile and needs with caregivers of children with other rare diseases. Pychosocial support groups involving parents caring for children with the same disease could improve caregivers’ well-being and QoL by strengthening their social support network and using positive coping styles. Keywords: Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome; 4p deletion; caregivers; quality of life; coping; depression; social support; spirituality.

Experiences of Canadian Parents of Young Children With Cleft Lip and/or Palate

2020 ◽  
pp. 105566562097727
Author(s):  
Eleonore E. Breuning ◽  
Rebecca J. Courtemanche ◽  
Douglas J. Courtemanche
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Cleft Lip ◽  
Cleft Lip And Palate ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Tertiary Care Center ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Care Experience

Purpose: Prior literature has described the perspectives of parents of young children with clip lip and/or palate; however, few studies have described parents’ experiences within a Canadian health care system. This study aims to better understand the experiences of parents of young children with cleft lip and/or palate seen at a Canadian tertiary care center and identify their care needs. Design: In-depth semistructured interviews. Setting: Pediatric tertiary care center. Participants: Parents of children younger than 7 years of age with cleft lip and/or palate. Results: From 14 interviews, 4 themes were identified. The diagnosis theme was associated with reactions, timing, and search for information. Key concerns within the theme of physiology and function were around feeding and speech. The health care experience theme included burden of care, peripheral hospitals and services, the cleft lip and palate clinic, and clinicians. The psychosocial theme included parents’ reactions to their child’s pain, coping strategies, family interactions, and school/day care experiences. Parents felt care could be improved by having: access to good information and community speech therapists, shorter appointment wait times, a peer support network, and increased cleft knowledge within their child’s school and peer groups. Conclusions: The experience of parents of children with cleft lip and/or palate is complex but can be organized into 4 themes. Clinics may consider suggestions offered by parents to improve care. Future work should address parents’ needs and aim to create a parent-reported quality-of-life measure specific to parents of young children with cleft lip and/or palate.

scholarly journals Context, mechanisms and outcomes in end-of-life care for people with advanced dementia: family carers perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuriye Kupeli ◽  
Elizabeth L. Sampson ◽  
Gerard Leavey ◽  
Jane Harrington ◽  
Sarah Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Advanced Dementia ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Optimal Care ◽  
Basic Care ◽  
Professional Perspective ◽  
Eol Care

Abstract Background Keeping people living with advanced dementia in their usual place of residence is becoming a key governmental goal but to achieve this, family carers and health care professionals must negotiate how to provide optimal care. Previously, we reported a realist analysis of the health care professional perspective. Here, we report on family carer perspectives. We aimed to understand the similarities and differences between the two perspectives, gain insights into how the interdependent roles of family carers and HCPs can be optimised, and make recommendations for policy and practice. Method Qualitative study using a realist approach in which we used the criteria from guidance on optimal palliative care in advanced dementia to examine key contexts, mechanisms and outcomes highlighted by family carers. Results The themes and views of family caregivers resonate with those of health care professionals. Their overlapping anxieties related to business-driven care homes, uncertainty of families when making EOL decisions and the importance of symptom management referring to contexts, mechanisms and outcomes, respectively. Contexts specific to family carers were ad hoc information about services, dementia progression and access to funding. Not all family carers identified dementia as terminal, but many recognised the importance of continuity of care and knowing the wishes of the person with dementia. New mechanisms included specific resources for improving EOL care and barriers to discussing and planning for future care. Family carers identified the importance of comfort, being present, the meeting of basic care needs and feeling the right decisions have been made as good outcomes of care. Conclusions Family carers and health care professionals share similar concerns about the challenges to good EOL dementia care. Better understanding of the effects of dementia at the advanced stages would improve confidence in EOL care and reduce uncertainty in decision making for family carers and health care professionals.

Types of Social Support Offered Through a Virtual Peer Support Network in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (7) ◽  
pp. S3
Author(s):  
Nancy Wu ◽  
Susan Wang ◽  
Anne-Sophie Brazeau ◽  
Elham Rahme ◽  
Meranda Nakhla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Network

scholarly journals Body and Sexuality: Puerperas' Experiences

2010 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 732-739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natália Rejane Salim ◽  
Natalúcia Matos Araújo ◽  
Dulce Maria Rosa Gualda
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
Research Tool ◽  
Support Network ◽  
The West ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Leading Question

The aim of this study was to determine how women deal with sexuality and bodily changes during the puerperium. A qualitative methodology was used and a semi-structured interview with a leading question script was chosen as the research tool. Six puerperas from the west area of São Paulo (Brazil) took part in this study. The interviews were accomplished at their homes. In analysis, the responses were grouped into three main categories: "Changes", Sexuality" and "Social Support". The study results revealed that during this period there are important changes. Sexuality has been shown to evolve many difficulties, fears and worries. The relationships with the person's partner and support network have revealed themselves as being of great importance. It can be concluded that the puerperal period evolves in terms of many transformations in the emotional and psychosocial areas. Thus it is necessary for health professionals who deal with women's care to value this period.

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