Spousal Bereavement: The Lived Experience of Young Canadian Widows

2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilee E. Lowe ◽  
Susan E. McClement
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Support Systems ◽  
Spousal Bereavement ◽  
Client Population ◽  
Provide Health Care ◽  
Inductive Analysis

A phenomenological study was conducted to understand the lived experience of spousal bereavement from the perspective of young Canadian widows. Five themes emerged following inductive analysis of interview transcripts conducted with five women who were under the age of 45 at the time of their husband's death: a) “Losses”; b) “Who Am I?”; c) “Staying Connected through Memories”; d) “Living through the Firsts”; and e) “Support Systems.” Increased understanding from the perspective of the bereaved women, along with strategies and interventions for those working with this group of women, may provide health care professionals with skills to better assist this client population.

scholarly journals The lived experience among Somali women of giving birth in Sweden: an interpretive phenomenological study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Wallmo ◽  
Karin Allgurin ◽  
Carina Berterö
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Somali Women ◽  
Pregnancy And Birth

Abstract Background The health care-seeking behaviour among Somali women is different from Swedish women’s behaviour, and this may have consequences for birth giving. The aim of the study was to identify and describe Somali women’s lived experience of birth giving in Sweden. Methods Qualitative individual interviews were conducted in Swedish with seven Somali women. The sample was purposeful, and the snowball sampling method was used. The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results Four themes emerged during the analysis which revealed the Somali women’s lived experiences of giving birth in Sweden. a) Being recognised and confirmed as a woman. Somali women consider it important to be confirmed as a woman by the surrounding and professionals during pregnancy and birth giving. b) Communication is important for the women’s independence. There is a need to provide a structure for how this information is given and adaptation regarding content and format .c) Something naturally becomes unknown and complicated. Somali women come from a different culture, which affects their lived experiences of pregnancy and birth giving. There is a need for improved and clearer information for these Somali women regarding pregnancy and birth giving in another culture- the Swedish context d) Professional and competent taking care of. The women appreciate if they are treated with competency and professionalism; they do not want to be discriminated. The women feel confidence in health care when they meet competent and professional health care professionals. Conclusions The findings in the study indicate that reproductive health care for Somali women should be improved with regard to cultural differences and lived experiences, as this affects their experience of pregnancy and childbirth in Sweden. There is a need for both knowledge and understanding in order to provide good quality care for these Somali women, especially those who have been genitally mutilated.

Shame, Suffering, and Believing in the Family: The Experiences of Grandmothers of a Grandchild With a Developmental Delay or Disability in the Context of Chinese Culture

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-64
Author(s):  
Yu-Ping Huang ◽  
Shou-Yu Wang ◽  
Ursula Kellett ◽  
Chao-Huei Chen
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Developmental Delay ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Chinese Culture ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Cultural Background ◽  
Social Rejection ◽  
The Family

Grandparents are primary resources of caregiving support for parents worldwide, regardless of the cultural background. In Chinese societies, grandmothers often fill the role of supportive caregiver. However, a knowledge gap in the literature exists about how Chinese culture influences caregiving for grandmothers of grandchildren with a disability, particularly in Taiwan. This phenomenological study explored the lived experience of grandmothers caring for a grandchild with a developmental delay or disability in the context of Chinese culture. Twenty-five grandmothers were interviewed. When grandmothers learned of their grandchild’s disability, they experienced suffering, which was compounded by the stigma attached to persons with a disability in Chinese cultures, and they also experienced shame and fear of social rejection. Grandmothers’ belief in the importance of family gave meaning to their suffering and prompted them to find new ways to deal with everyday difficulties. These findings can guide nurses and health care professionals responsible for supporting grandmothers caring for a child with a disability in the context of Chinese culture.

“I’m Just Forgetting and I Don’t Know Why”: Exploring How People Living With HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder View, Manage, and Obtain Support for Their Cognitive Difficulties

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 859-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander R. Terpstra ◽  
Catherine Worthington ◽  
Francisco Ibáñez-Carrasco ◽  
Kelly K. O’Brien ◽  
Aiko Yamamoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Neurocognitive Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Difficulties ◽  
Hiv Associated Neurocognitive Disorder ◽  
Living With Hiv

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is common, but the lived experience of HAND is not well-understood. In this descriptive qualitative study, we explored how adults with HAND view, manage, and obtain support for cognitive difficulties. We interviewed 25 participants (20% female; median age = 51 years) who were diagnosed with HAND using neuropsychological assessment and a clinical interview. Semistructured interviews, co-developed with community members living with HIV, focused on how cognitive difficulties manifested and progressed, impacted well-being, and were discussed with others. We analyzed interview transcripts using a team-based, thematic approach. Participants described concentration, memory, and multitasking difficulties that fluctuated over time, as well as potential risk factors, management strategies, and psychosocial consequences. They reported they seldom discussed cognitive impairment with health care professionals, and that receiving a HAND diagnosis was validating, informative, yet somewhat disconcerting. Conversations between health care professionals and people living with HIV about HAND may provide opportunities for education, assessment, and support.

scholarly journals Where else would I look for it? A five-country qualitative study on purposes, strategies, and consequences of online health information seeking

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Diviani ◽  
Eva Haukeland Fredriksen ◽  
Corine S. Meppelink ◽  
Judy Mullan ◽  
Warren Rich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
The Body ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Ehealth Literacy ◽  
Digital Divides

Background. Online health information (OHI) is widely available and consulted by many people in Western countries to gain health advice. The main goal of the present study is to provide a detailed account of the experiences among people from various demographic backgrounds living in high-income countries, who have used OHI. Design and methods. Thematic analysis of 165 qualitative semi-structured interviews conducted among OHI users residing in Australia, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland was performed. Results. The lived experience of people using OHI seem not to differ across countries. The interviews show that searches for OHI are motivated from curiosity, sharing of experiences, or affirmation for actions already taken. Most people find it difficult to appraise the information, leading them to cross-check sources or discuss OHI with others. OHI seems to impact mostly some specific types of health behaviors, such as changes in diet or physical activity, while it only plays a complementary role for more serious health concerns. Participants often check OHI before seeing their GP, but are reluctant to discuss online content with health care personnel due to expected negative reception. Conclusions. This study adds to the body of knowledge on eHealth literacy by demonstrating how OHI affects overall health behavior, strengthens patients’ ability to understand, live with, and prepare themselves for diverse health challenges. The increasing digitalization of health communication and health care calls for further research on digital divides and patient-professional relations. Health care professionals should acknowledge OHI seeking and engage in discussions with patients to enable them to appreciate OHI, and to support shared decision making in health care. The professionals can utilize patient’s desire to learn as a resource for health prevention, promotion or treatment, and empowerment.

Having a Sibling With Schizophrenia: A Phenomenological Study

2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexia Barnable ◽  
Alice Gaudine ◽  
Lorna Bennett ◽  
Robert Meadus
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Hermeneutic Phenomenology ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
The Impact

Limited attention has been paid to experiences of individuals with siblings diagnosed with schizophrenia. The purpose of this article is to address this gap by exploring the impact of having a brother or sister with schizophrenia. The lived experience of 6 individuals with a sibling with schizophrenia was explored using van Manen’s (1997) Hermeneutic Phenomenology. Four themes were identified: struggling to understand, struggling with the system, caring for the sibling, and seeing beyond the illness. Health care providers need to re-evaluate current approaches for assisting individuals to cope with having a sibling with schizophrenia. Inclusion in the plan of care and recognition of their struggle is essential for individuals having a sibling with schizophrenia.

scholarly journals The Experience of Providing Physical Therapy in a Changing Health Care Environment

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (7) ◽  
pp. 648-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary Blau ◽  
Sarah Bolus ◽  
Terrence Carolan ◽  
Daniel Kramer ◽  
Elizabeth Mahoney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Physical Therapists ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Systemic Change ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Health Care Environment ◽  
Care Environment

Abstract Background and Purpose. The changes in the health care environment during the last decade have had an impact on the roles and responsibilities of all health care professionals. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experience of staff physical therapists during a time of systemic change within a large urban academic medical center. Subjects and Methods. Participants were 5 physical therapists working in various clinical settings within the medical center. The participants were interviewed and asked the question “Over the past 4 years, there have been major changes in your work environment. What has it been like for you working as a clinician during this time of change?” Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to find thematic patterns of responses. Results. Four common themes emerged in which participants described experiencing loss of control, stress, discontent, and disheartenment. A fifth theme showed that despite these negative feelings, participants were able to “find the silver lining” in their daily work lives (ie, they were able to find positive aspects of their professional lives despite the perceived unpleasant changes with which they had to cope). Discussion and Conclusion. This study provides insight into the experiences of a group of staff physical therapists during a time of systemic change in their work environment. Although the themes reflect largely unsettling and negative experiences, there seems to be an underlying ability to find affirmative aspects of work.

Narrative, trauma, and self-interpretation

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-129
Author(s):  
William Affleck ◽  
Gaëlle Fiasse ◽  
Mary Ellen Macdonald
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Paul Ricoeur ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Moral Experience ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Moral Framework

Although past research has explored the experience of bereaved fathers, few attempts have been made to situate this experience within a pre-existing theoretical framework. This article demonstrates how the narrative moral framework of the philosopher Paul Ricœur, known as his “Petite éthique” can help illuminate some of the features within this experience that contribute to the high rates of mortality and morbidity among these men. To demonstrate its utility, this framework is explored through a secondary analysis of data collected in an earlier phenomenological study that explored the moral experience of bereaved fathers. By clarifying some of the nuance and complexity of the experience of bereaved fathers, Ricœur’s “Petite éthique” framework has implications for health-care professionals, bereaved families, and bereaved fathers themselves.

scholarly journals Through Their Eyes: Parental Perceptions on Hospital Admissions for Febrile Neutropenia in Children With Cancer

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 342-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrina J. Anderson ◽  
Natalie K. Bradford ◽  
Julia E. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Febrile Neutropenia ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Recent Experience ◽  
Antibiotic Administration ◽  
Children With Cancer ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Parents Experiences

Febrile neutropenia requires prompt assessment and antibiotic administration and is the most common reason for unexpected hospital admission in pediatric oncology. Parents are expected to be vigilant and “drop everything” to take their child to their nearest hospital for assessment if fever occurs. Delays in antibiotic administration are associated with poorer outcomes; however, delays are common. Our aim was to understand and describe the lived experience of parents of children with cancer who received treatment for fever with confirmed/suspected neutropenia. We used descriptive phenomenological concepts to undertake and analyze interviews with parents, who were asked to describe their recent experience of hospitalization in Queensland, Australia. Nine participants were interviewed. Five children were treated in the tertiary treating center and four were treated in smaller regional towns. Three main categories were identified that shaped and characterized parents’ experiences: being heard, confidence in capabilities of health care professionals, and living with anticipated distress and uncertainty. Parents’ experiences were related to the level they needed to advocate for their child’s care across all themes. Familiarity with health care professionals increased confidence and improved parents’ experiences. Maintaining vigilance and managing the child and family’s response to an unexpected admission had a substantial negative effect on parents. Understanding parents’ experiences and perceptions of the management of febrile neutropenia adds to the current body of knowledge and offers potential new insights to improve clinical practice.

scholarly journals Peer Support in Mental Health: Literature Review (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reham A Hameed Shalaby ◽  
Vincent I O Agyapong
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Care System

BACKGROUND A growing gap has emerged between people with mental illness and health care professionals, which in recent years has been successfully closed through the adoption of peer support services (PSSs). Peer support in mental health has been variously defined in the literature and is simply known as the help and support that people with lived experience of mental illness or a learning disability can give to one another. Although PSSs date back to several centuries, it is only in the last few decades that these services have formally evolved, grown, and become an integral part of the health care system. Debates around peer support in mental health have been raised frequently in the literature. Although many authors have emphasized the utmost importance of incorporating peer support into the health care system to instill hope; to improve engagement, quality of life, self-confidence, and integrity; and to reduce the burden on the health care system, other studies suggest that there are neutral effects from integrating PSSs into health care systems, with a probable waste of resources. OBJECTIVE In this general review, we aimed to examine the literature, exploring the evolution, growth, types, function, generating tools, evaluation, challenges, and the effect of PSSs in the field of mental health and addiction. In addition, we aimed to describe PSSs in different, nonexhaustive contexts, as shown in the literature, that aims to draw attention to the proposed values of PSSs in such fields. METHODS The review was conducted through a general search of the literature on MEDLINE, Google Scholar, EMBASE, Scopus, Chemical Abstracts, and PsycINFO. Search terms included peer support, peer support in mental health, social support, peer, family support, and integrated care. RESULTS There is abundant literature defining and describing PSSs in different contexts as well as tracking their origins. Two main transformational concepts have been described, namely, intentional peer support and transformation from patients to peer support providers. The effects of PSSs are extensive and integrated into different fields, such as forensic PSSs, addiction, and mental health, and in different age groups and mental health condition severity. Satisfaction of and challenges to PSS integration have been clearly dependent on a number of factors and consequently impact the future prospect of this workforce. CONCLUSIONS There is an internationally growing trend to adopt PSSs within addiction and mental health services, and despite the ongoing challenges, large sections of the current literature support the inclusion of peer support workers in the mental health care workforce. The feasibility and maintenance of a robust PSS in health care would only be possible through collaborative efforts and ongoing support and engagement from all health care practitioners, managers, and other stakeholders.

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