Assessing emotional wellbeing in women with PCOS living in the UK and Indian community: the Blue Morpho Survey

The “strong Black woman” (SBW) is a Western cultural stereotype that depicts African-heritage women as strong, self-reliant, independent, yet nurturing and self-sacrificing. US research indicates that this stereotype negatively impacts the emotional wellbeing of African-heritage women, while also allowing them to survive in a racist society. UK research has documented the significance of this stereotype in relation to African Caribbean women’s experience of depression around the time of childbirth and “attachment separation and loss”. However, research is yet to explore how UK African Caribbean women make sense of and negotiate the SBW stereotype in relation to their emotional wellbeing more broadly. Using five focus groups, with a total of 18 women, this research explored how these women experienced and managed emotional distress in relation to the SBW stereotype. The importance of “being strong” consistently underpinned the participants’ narratives. However, this requirement for strength often negatively impacted their ability to cope effectively with their distress, leading them to manage it in ways that did little to alleviate it and sometimes increased it. This study offers important implications for understanding the experiences of emotional distress for UK African Caribbean women.

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Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Considering “Freebirth” During Covid-19

Frontiers in Global Women's Health ◽

10.3389/fgwh.2021.603744 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Author(s):

Mari Greenfield ◽

Sophie Payne-Gifford ◽

Gemma McKenzie

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Professional ◽

Online Survey ◽

Specific Effect ◽

Service Planning ◽

Emotional Wellbeing ◽

Time Data ◽

Queer Women ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

Global North ◽

The Uk

Background: The global coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic concerns all people, but has a specific effect on those who are expecting a baby during this time. The advice in the UK changed rapidly, with 14 different sets of national guidance issued within 1 month. Individual NHS Trusts released various guidance relating to the withdrawal of homebirth services, the closure of birth centers, restrictions on the number of birth partners (if any) allowed during labor, and whether any visitors were allowed to attend after birth. With the landscape of maternity care changing so rapidly, research was carried out to provide real-time data to capture the lived experiences of expectant families.Methods: A mixed methods online survey was carried out over 2 weeks between 10th and 24th April 2020. The survey was open to those in the third trimester of pregnancy, those who had given birth since the beginning of the “lockdown” period in the UK, and the partners of pregnant women and people who were in these circumstances. The survey asked questions about how respondents' holistic antenatal experiences had been affected, whether their plans for birth had changed, and the effect of these changes on respondents' emotional wellbeing. Of the 1,700 responses received, 72 mentioned that they had seriously considered “freebirthing” (giving birth without a healthcare professional present).Findings: An analysis of the respondents' reasons for considering freebirth was conducted, finding that reasons for considering freebirth were complex and multifaceted. Lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, and queer women were more likely to have considered freebirth than heterosexual people (p < 0.001).Conclusions: Considering giving birth without a healthcare professional present is unusual in the Global North and represents an emerging field of study. The literature examining the reasons that people consider freebirth shows a variety of underlying motivations. A global pandemic represents a new factor in such considerations. The findings from this research can help inform maternity service planning in future crises.

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‘Welcome to the World’: parents' experiences of an antenatal nurturing programme

British Journal of Midwifery ◽

10.12968/bjom.2019.27.6.353 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 353-361

Author(s):

Franziska Wadephul ◽

Catriona Jones ◽

Julie Jomeen

Keyword(s):

Transition To Parenthood ◽

Strong Support ◽

Postnatal Period ◽

Support Networks ◽

Safe Space ◽

Couple Relationships ◽

Emotional Wellbeing ◽

The Uk ◽

The Relationship ◽

Parents Experiences

Background The transition to parenthood lays the foundations for the parent-infant relationship, but can also be a time of increased vulnerability. It can therefore be a suitable time for interventions to increase parents' emotional wellbeing and support couple relationships as well as the relationship with the baby. Aims This study aimed to explore the experiences of attendees at an antenatal nurturing programme and its effect on their experiences of the early postnatal period. Methods A total of 36 attendees took part in six focus groups across the UK. Findings Participants' experiences of the programme were very positive; it provided knowledge and skills and gave participants a safe space in which to explore feelings and concerns. The programme encouraged participants to nurture themselves, as well as their babies and their relationships. Some groups formed strong support networks, while others did not. Conclusion Participants felt they had benefitted from the programme, particularly in terms of their emotional wellbeing and couple relationships.

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Development of the Emotional Wellbeing at Work Virtual Programme to support UK health visiting teams

Journal of Health Visiting ◽

10.12968/johv.2020.8.12.516 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 516-522

Author(s):

Sharin Baldwin ◽

Rachel Stephen ◽

Philippa Bishop ◽

Patricia Kelly

Keyword(s):

Service Delivery ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Rapid Change ◽

Evaluation Process ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Emotional Wellbeing ◽

Face To Face ◽

Health Visitors ◽

The Uk ◽

The Way

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way in which health visiting services are delivered in the UK. Health visitors are now having to work more remotely, with virtual methods for service delivery as well as using personal protective equipment where face-to-face contacts are necessary. This rapid change has resulted in many health visiting staff working under greater levels of pressure, feeling isolated, anxious and unsettled. This article discusses a virtual programme that has been funded by the RCN Foundation and developed by the Institute of Health Visiting to support the emotional wellbeing of health visiting teams in the UK. It outlines the background to the project, the theoretical underpinnings to inform the programme model and the evaluation process that will be used to further refine the programme before wider implementation.

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Audience Diversity and Wellbeing at UK Drag Events

Event Management ◽

10.3727/152599521x16192004803656 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Daniel Baxter ◽

Steve Jones ◽

Claire Leer

Keyword(s):

Everyday Life ◽

Current Literature ◽

Safe Space ◽

Political Protest ◽

Emotional Wellbeing ◽

Safe Place ◽

Qualitative Survey ◽

Diverse Backgrounds ◽

Mainstream Society ◽

The Uk

Over the last 15 years, there has been a significant increase in the promotion and integration of drag culture into mainstream society. Drag events have the ability to create a safe place for people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate and gather. What were once underground expressions of gender and political protest for the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer plus other identities) community, drag events have now transcended into a modern-day phenomenon, bringing people together to participate and feel a sense of enjoyment and wellbeing. The current literature on drag culture focuses on the performers’ perspective rather than the audience’s. This study aims to explore the diverse nature of attendees at UK drag events and to demonstrate how these events create a sense of inclusivity and impact the wellbeing of those attending. An online qualitative survey of respondents (n=248) who had attended at least one drag event in the UK was carried out. This was a UK study which encompassed experiences from across the country. This focus on the UK is justified due to the dearth of literature in this geographical area.The results indicate that drag events in the UK have become more mainstream, with the audience demographic becoming more diverse and inclusive. Drag events were considered by the attendees as a safe space, where they seek escapism from everyday life by immersing themselves in the drag experience. This enhanced their mental and emotional wellbeing. The study demonstrated that drag events provide an exciting, stimulating, and novel experience where individuals have a place for self-expression, can socialise, have fun, be accepted and feel a sense of freedom and happiness in a non-judgmental environment.

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Surgery school—who, what, when, and how: results of a national survey of multidisciplinary teams delivering group preoperative education

Perioperative Medicine ◽

10.1186/s13741-021-00188-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

I. Fecher-Jones ◽

C. Grimmett ◽

F. J. Carter ◽

D. H. Conway ◽

D. Z. H. Levett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Fitness ◽

Behavior Change ◽

Enhanced Recovery ◽

Clinical Effectiveness ◽

Outcome Data ◽

Multidisciplinary Teams ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Emotional Wellbeing ◽

High Quality Research ◽

The Uk

Abstract Background Group education is increasing in popularity as a means of preparing patients for surgery. In recent years, these ‘surgery schools’ have evolved from primarily informing patients of what to expect before and after surgery, to providing support and encouragement for patients to ‘prehabilitate’ prior to surgery, through improving physical fitness, nutrition and emotional wellbeing. Method A survey aimed at clinicians delivering surgery schools was employed to capture a national overview of activity to establish research and practice priorities in this area. The survey was circulated online via the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery UK Society and the Centre for Perioperative Care mailing lists as well as social media. Results There were 80 responses describing 28 active and 4 planned surgery schools across the UK and Ireland. Schools were designed and delivered by multidisciplinary teams, contained broadly similar content and were well attended. Most were funded by the National Health Service. The majority included aspects of prehabilitation most commonly the importance of physical fitness. Seventy five percent of teams collected patient outcome data, but less than half collected data to establish the clinical effectiveness of the school. Few describe explicit inclusion of evidence-based behavior change techniques, but collaboration and partnerships with community teams, gyms and local charities were considered important in supporting patients to make changes in health behaviors prior to surgery. Conclusion It is recommended that teams work with patients when designing surgery schools and use evidence-based behavior change frameworks and techniques to inform their content. There is a need for high-quality research studies to determine the clinical effectiveness of this type of education intervention.

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Paediatric illness and care: more than just feeling poorly

Res Medica ◽

10.2218/resmedica.v24i1.2509 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 79-86

Author(s):

Rebecca Black ◽

Jenni Harden ◽

Richard Chin

Keyword(s):

Medical Education ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Education Curriculum ◽

Emotional Wellbeing ◽

Everyday Activities ◽

Psychosocial Implications ◽

The Uk ◽

Medical Education Curriculum ◽

Paediatric Epilepsy

The medical education curriculum in the UK includes a component on understanding and appreciating the psychosocial aspects of illness and care. Yet, children’s own experiences of illness and care are often overlooked. This article explores these neglected experiences and insights through an examination of paediatric epilepsy. The psychosocial implications of being diagnosed and living with epilepsy for children and their families are wide-ranging, affecting physical and emotional wellbeing and involvement in everyday activities, as well as being burdensome to manage and treat. As such, children and their families have to utilize various coping strategies in order to incorporate epilepsy into their lives. Obtaining and appreciating children’s own experiences and perspectives can highlight key challenges for healthcare professionals working with these patients and their families, including recognizing children’s autonomy, effective communication with them, and acknowledging the wider context of children’s lives.

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Impact of detecting potentially serious incidental findings during multi-modal imaging

Wellcome Open Research ◽

10.12688/wellcomeopenres.13181.3 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 114 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Lorna M Gibson ◽

Thomas J Littlejohns ◽

Ligia Adamska ◽

Steve Garratt ◽

Nicola Doherty ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Incidental Findings ◽

Imaging Study ◽

Publicly Funded ◽

Uk Biobank ◽

Emotional Wellbeing ◽

Public Health Screening ◽

Large Numbers ◽

The Uk ◽

Almost All ◽

The Impact

Background: There are limited data on the impact of feedback of incidental findings (IFs) from research imaging. We evaluated the impact of UK Biobank’s protocol for handling potentially serious IFs in a multi-modal imaging study of 100,000 participants (radiographer ‘flagging’ with radiologist confirmation of potentially serious IFs) compared with systematic radiologist review of all images. Methods: Brain, cardiac and body magnetic resonance, and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans from the first 1000 imaged UK Biobank participants were independently assessed for potentially serious IFs using both protocols. We surveyed participants with potentially serious IFs and their GPs up to six months after imaging to determine subsequent clinical assessments, final diagnoses, emotional, financial and work or activity impacts. Results: Compared to systematic radiologist review, radiographer flagging resulted in substantially fewer participants with potentially serious IFs (179/1000 [17.9%] versus 18/1000 [1.8%]) and a higher proportion with serious final diagnoses (21/179 [11.7%] versus 5/18 [27.8%]). Radiographer flagging missed 16/21 serious final diagnoses (i.e., false negatives), while systematic radiologist review generated large numbers of non-serious final diagnoses (158/179) (i.e., false positives). Almost all (90%) participants had further clinical assessment (including invasive procedures in similar numbers with serious and non-serious final diagnoses [11 and 12 respectively]), with additional impact on emotional wellbeing (16.9%), finances (8.9%), and work or activities (5.6%). Conclusions: Compared with systematic radiologist review, radiographer flagging missed some serious diagnoses, but avoided adverse impacts for many participants with non-serious diagnoses. While systematic radiologist review may benefit some participants, UK Biobank’s responsibility to avoid both unnecessary harm to larger numbers of participants and burdening of publicly-funded health services suggests that radiographer flagging is a justifiable approach in the UK Biobank imaging study. The potential scale of non-serious final diagnoses raises questions relating to handling IFs in other settings, such as commercial and public health screening.

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Psychological Impacts of COVID–19 on Healthcare Trainees and Perceptions towards a Digital Wellbeing Support Package

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182010647 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (20) ◽

pp. 10647

Author(s):

Holly Blake ◽

Ikra Mahmood ◽

Gonxhe Dushi ◽

Mehmet Yildirim ◽

Elizabeth Gay

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Intervention Fidelity ◽

Emotional Wellbeing ◽

Framework Analysis ◽

Psychological Impacts ◽

Perceived Preparedness ◽

Pastoral Support ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact

We explore the impact of COVID–19 on the psychological wellbeing of healthcare trainees, and the perceived value of a digital support package to mitigate the psychological impacts of the pandemic (PoWerS Study). This mixed–methods study includes (i) exposure to a digital support package; (ii) participant survey to assess wellbeing, perceptions of work and intervention fidelity; (iii) semi–structured qualitative interviews. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed, data were handled and analysed using principles of thematic framework analysis. Participants are 42 health and medical trainees (9M, 33F) from 13 higher education institutions in the UK, studying during the COVID–19 pandemic. Survey findings showed high satisfaction with healthcare training (92.8%), but low wellbeing (61.9%), moderate to high perceived stressfulness of training (83.3%), and high presenteeism (50%). Qualitative interviews generated 3 over–arching themes, and 11 sub–themes. The pandemic has impacted negatively on emotional wellbeing of trainees, yet mental health is not well promoted in some disciplines, and provision of pastoral support is variable. Disruption to academic studies and placements has reduced perceived preparedness for future clinical practice. Regular check–ins, and wellbeing interventions will be essential to support the next generation health and care workforce, both in higher education and clinical settings. The digital support package was perceived to be accessible, comprehensive, and relevant to healthcare trainees, with high intervention fidelity. It is a useful tool to augment longer–term provision of psychological support for healthcare trainees, during and after the COVID–19 pandemic.

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