scholarly journals A qualitative evaluation of the value of an online peer support community for people with depression: Depression Connect (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorien Smit ◽  
Janna Vrijsen ◽  
Bart Groeneweg ◽  
Amber Dings ◽  
Janneke Peelen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peer Support ◽  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Negative Aspect ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
User Experiences ◽  
User Perspective ◽  
Theoretical Sampling ◽  
Consumer Perspective ◽  
Relevant Outcome

BACKGROUND Despite their popularity, the efficacy of online peer support communities for individuals with depression remains unclear. Little is known about the working mechanisms of online communities in general and for depression specifically. The evidence for the efficacy of online peer support for depression is confounded by methodological issues and ambiguity of relevant outcome measures. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of an online peer support community for depression from a user perspective. By employing qualitative modes of inquiry, the aim was to generate hypotheses on the mechanisms of change and outcomes of online peer support usage in depression. METHODS Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with users of the online peer support community Depression Connect [DC], in which experiences and outcomes of forum use in coping with depression were examined. To explore diverse perspectives of community usage, theoretical sampling was performed, and negative cases were included. RESULTS A complex set of factors seemed to influence the subjective usefulness of the online peer support community DC from a consumer perspective. The data revealed 4 distinctive user experiences: A sense of belonging, emotional growth, self-efficacy, and empowerment. Furthermore, losing oneself was the central negative aspect of forum use. The deployment and development of 3 differentiated user roles (e.g., reading, posting, responding) seemed to individually and interactively affect user experiences. Finally, the online peer support community seemed to serve as a digital realm to practice and reflect on coping with depression and was mainly used as a supplement to offline support for depression. CONCLUSIONS The DC online peer support community allowed individuals familiar with depression to learn how to cope (better) with depression and practice these newly gained insights/skills. It may serve as a supplement to formal care for depression.

scholarly journals The Importance of Perceived Relevance: A Qualitative Evaluation of Patient’s Perceptions of Value and Impact Following a Low-Intensity Group-Based Pain Management Program

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Joshua W. Pate ◽  
Elizabeth Tran ◽  
Seema Radhakrishnan ◽  
Andrew M. Leaver
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Patient Beliefs ◽  
Pain Management Program ◽  
Westmead Hospital ◽  
Group A ◽  
Perceived Relevance ◽  
Beliefs And Attitudes

Background and objectives: Limited evidence exists exploring perceptions of which aspects of a pain management program are perceived as valuable and impactful. The aim of this study was to explore patient beliefs about which aspects of a pain management program were valued and/or had perceived impact. Materials and Methods: One-on-one structured interviews were conducted with 11 adults three months after their completion of the Spark Pain Program at Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Concepts in the transcripts were inductively identified and explored, utilizing thematic analysis to better understand their relevance to the study aim. Results: Four themes emerged: (1) “The program overall was positive, but…”; (2) “I valued my improved knowledge and understanding of pain, but…”; (3) “I valued the stretching/relaxation/pacing/activity monitoring”; and (4) “I valued being part of a supportive and understanding group”. Participants reported that they liked being treated as an individual within the group. A lack of perceived personal relevance of key messages was identified in some participants; it appears that patients in pain programs must determine that changes in knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes are personally relevant in order for the changes to have a significant impact on them. Conclusions: This study provides new insights into aspects of a pain management program that were perceived as valuable and impactful, areas that “missed the mark”, and hypotheses to guide the implementation of service delivery and program redesign.

scholarly journals Gay Male Football Fans’ Experiences: Authenticity, Belonging and Conditional Acceptance

Sociology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 003803852199401
Author(s):  
Rory Magrath
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Gay Male ◽  
Recent Emergence ◽  
Football Fans ◽  
Conditional Acceptance ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship between English football and homosexuality has changed significantly in recent years. However, research examining this area of study has predominantly focused on the attitudes of ostensibly heterosexual men. By drawing on semi-structured interviews with 35 ‘out’ gay male fans, this article is the first to focus explicitly on LGBT fans’ sense of place in English football. Contrary to previous research, these gay male fans represent ‘authentic’ notions of fandom through their passion for football and respective clubs. The recent emergence of LGBT Fan Groups has provided sexual minority fans increased visibility, and a sense of belonging and community. Finally, despite ongoing concerns about football stadia’s hypermasculine and heteronormative environment, these fans believe that they have become an increasingly inclusive space. Accordingly, this article demonstrates that sexual minority fans are central to English football and argues that future research must acknowledge their increased prevalence.

scholarly journals Improving the experience of facility-based delivery for vulnerable women through obstetric care navigation: a qualitative evaluation

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Austad ◽  
Michel Juarez ◽  
Hannah Shryer ◽  
Patricia L. Hibberd ◽  
Mari-Lynn Drainoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Workers ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Obstetric Care ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Global disparities in maternal mortality could be reduced by universal facility delivery. Yet, deficiencies in the quality of care prevent some mothers from seeking facility-based obstetric care. Obstetric care navigators (OCNs) are a new form of lay health workers that combine elements of continuous labor support and care navigation to promote obstetric referrals. Here we report qualitative results from the pilot OCN project implemented in Indigenous villages in the Guatemalan central highlands. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 mothers who received OCN accompaniment and 13 staff—namely physicians, nurses, and social workers—of the main public hospital in the pilot’s catchment area (Chimaltenango). Interviews queried OCN’s impact on patient and hospital staff experience and understanding of intended OCN roles. Audiorecorded interviews were transcribed, coded, and underwent content analysis. Results Maternal fear of surgical intervention, disrespectful and abusive treatment, and linguistic barriers were principal deterrents of care seeking. Physicians and nurses reported cultural barriers, opposition from family, and inadequate hospital resources as challenges to providing care to Indigenous mothers. Patient and hospital staff identified four valuable services offered by OCNs: emotional support, patient advocacy, facilitation of patient-provider communication, and care coordination. While patients and most physicians felt that OCNs had an overwhelmingly positive impact, nurses felt their effort would be better directed toward traditional nursing tasks. Conclusions Many barriers to maternity care exist for Indigenous mothers in Guatemala. OCNs can improve mothers’ experiences in public hospitals and reduce limitations faced by providers. However, broader buy-in from hospital staff—especially nurses—appears critical to program success. Future research should focus on measuring the impact of obstetric care navigation on key clinical outcomes (cesarean delivery) and mothers’ future care seeking behavior.

Hitting the right note for child and adolescent mental and emotional wellbeing: a formative qualitative evaluation of Sistema Scotland’s “Big Noise” orchestral programme

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Harkins ◽  
Lisa Garnham ◽  
Aileen Campbell ◽  
Carol Tannahill
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Emotional Wellbeing ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Causal Pathways

Purpose – Previous research emphasises the need for preventative interventions to reduce mental health problems among disadvantaged children and adolescents. There is however little consensus concerning the delivery and impacts of such interventions particularly non-clinical, arts-based models delivered within community settings. The purpose of this paper is to begin to address this deficit through a qualitative assessment of the short- to medium-term impacts to participants’ mental and emotional wellbeing within Sistema Scotland’s Big Noise orchestral programme. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews, observation, participant drawing exercise, participatory filmmaking, focus group and analysis of programme engagement were undertaken to examine the mental and emotional wellbeing impacts of the programme which are observable at this early stage of programme delivery and participants’ lives. Findings – The qualitative findings indicate that participation in the Big Noise programme enhances participant mental and emotional wellbeing in three ways; first, the happiness and enjoyment of taking part in the programme and orchestra, particularly from music making; second, the security, belonging and relationships fostered through participation; the quality of musician/participant relationship is important here as is programme design which enables support, routine and structure; and third, increased pride, confidence and self-esteem, as a result of acquiring difficult musical skills, receiving regular praise and having frequent opportunities to demonstrate these acquired skills through regular orchestral performances. Originality/value – There is little evidence or understanding of community-based, preventative, arts interventions like Big Noise: their delivery, their life-course impacts and their potential contribution to mental health and to addressing social and health inequalities. The causal pathways in the field are under-theorised. These early findings are important as they serve as an important basis from which to consider the programme’s wider and longer term impacts, which will be assessed through an on-going longitudinal, mixed method summative evaluation.

scholarly journals Peer support for adolescent girls living with scoliosis: finding a digital community

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-11
Author(s):  
Marie Vigouroux ◽  
Kristina Amja ◽  
Richard B. Hovey
Keyword(s):  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Level Of Involvement ◽  
Philosophical Hermeneutic ◽  
Peer Support Group ◽  
Digital Community ◽  
The Individual

Introduction : Scoliosis in a condition where a curve develops in the spine. Adolescent girls affected by scoliosis are significantly more likely to require treatment such as bracing or surgery than their male counterparts. Curvy Girls is a peer support group for adolescent girls with scoliosis that allows them to engage with each other in a safe environment. Objectives : This study endeavours to explore the experiences of adolescent girls living with scoliosis who are Curvy Girls members and understand how this peer support group has affected their experience. Approach : Sixteen participants were recruited through a senior board member of Curvy Girls. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using an applied philosophical hermeneutic approach, a practice of uncovering insights from transformational conversation. Findings : We found that the participants’ sense of belonging to Curvy Girls did not depend on their level of involvement with the group. Whether they were leaders in their in-person local group, or simply following the organization on social media, seeing themselves represented allowed the participants to feel like they belonged to the group. Future Directions : These findings may help clinicians, healthcare professionals, and peer support organisations deepen their understanding of the perspectives of this specific population. This transformed understanding could lead to the instauration of care and services that are better adapted to this population’s needs, resulting in lessening the burden of the condition on the individual and their support system.  

scholarly journals “They are Scared of Me”: Black Male Perceptions of Sense of Belonging in U.S. Public Schools

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 36-49
Author(s):  
Jennifer Grace
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Black Males ◽  
Black Male ◽  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Racially Diverse ◽  
Predominantly Black ◽  
Male Perceptions ◽  
Practical Recommendations

Using a Critical Race framework, this study examined black male perceptions of their sense of belonging in U.S. public schools. The author conducted semi-structured interviews with ten black males who had been expelled from schools. Findings reveal perceptions of a stark discrepancy in the quality of education provided at schools that are predominantly black vs. schools that are more racially diverse. Furthermore participants describe school as a hostile environment for black males citing microaggressions, isolation, and verbal abuse as indicators. Based on the findings, practical recommendations for supporting the educational experiences of black males are offered.

scholarly journals Evaluation of a health sciences internship for Latino and Native American library students

2017 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alla Keselman, PhD, MA ◽  
Sanjana Quasem, BS ◽  
Janice E. Kelly, MLS ◽  
Gale A. Dutcher, MS, MLS, AHIP
Keyword(s):  
Native American ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Library Science ◽  
Graduate Level ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Native American Students ◽  
American Library ◽  
Career Opportunities ◽  
American Students

Purpose: This paper presents a qualitative evaluation of a graduate-level internship for Latino and Native American library science students or students who are interested in serving those populations.Methods: The authors analyzed semi-structured interviews with thirteen internship program graduates or participants.Results: The analysis suggests that the program increased participants’ interest in health sciences librarianship and led to improved career opportunities, both in health sciences libraries and other libraries with health information programming. It also highlights specific factors that are likely to contribute to the strength of career pipeline programs aiming to bring Latino and Native American students and students who are interested in serving those communities into health librarianship.Conclusions: Exposing graduate-level interns to a broad range of health sciences librarianship tasks, including outreach to Latino and Native American communities and formal mentorship, is likely to maximize interns’ interests in both health sciences librarianship and service to these communities.

A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Academics Commercialization Decision at Malaysian Research Universities

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-92
Author(s):  
Hafizul Othman ◽  
Rosni Abdullah ◽  
Nasriah Zakaria
Keyword(s):  
Technology Transfer ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Research Universities ◽  
Academic Entrepreneurship ◽  
Personal Attributes ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Theoretical Sampling ◽  
Curriculum Vitae ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Multiple Case Studies

Objective- – This paper seeks to explore the heterogeneity of academic personal attributes that influence their entrepreneurial decisions and proposes a unique window of understanding the diversity of their personal attributes towards their commercialization approaches Methodology/Technique This research adopts Grounded Theory Methodology (GTM) of Straussian approach particularly the constructivist-interpretivist epistemology with extension to multiple case studies. Theoretical sampling is used to select a total of 42 academics of ICT faculties from five Malaysian research universities (RUs). Semi-structured interviews are used to elicit information in relation to their research and commercialization activities. Findings Based on interviewees' transcripts and their Curriculum Vitae (CV), we inductively develop a conceptual framework to explain the phenomenon of how academics choose their commercialization approaches. Novelty - This paper is expected to give a new inside into the existing academic entrepreneurship literature. To the practitioners, it helps them to better understand the heterogeneity of academics and therefore should facilitate them to nurture such commercialization efforts. Type of Paper Empirical Keywords: Academic entrepreneurship; Technology transfer; Commercialization; Malaysian university; Personal attributes.

Do I Belong in the Profession? The Cost of Fitting In as a Preservice Teacher With a Passion for Social Justice

2018 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 360-371
Author(s):  
Loraine McKay ◽  
Heather Manning
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Emerging Themes ◽  
Fitting In ◽  
The Cost

Preservice teachers enter university with a range of personally held beliefs related to inclusive education and themselves as educators. This article reports on one case study from a larger qualitative research project. The study examined a preservice teacher’s perceptions of herself as an inclusive educator as she approached the final year of her undergraduate degree. Data included a metaphorical representation of being an inclusive educator, and two semi-structured interviews held 6 months apart. The use of collage and a structured written response completed the data set. Evelein and Korthagen’s model of core reflection and Voice-Centred Relational Method were used to analyze the data. Analysis exposed the dissonance between the layers that separate the preservice teacher’s core qualities and the environment. Data are presented using I-poems and discussed using the emerging themes. The consequences for her emerging identity as an inclusive educator and sense of belonging in the profession are discussed.

scholarly journals Psychoeducation: perspectives from individuals on sick leave who are at risk of having a mental disorder

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Line Hille Højfeldt ◽  
Pernille Pedersen ◽  
Kirsten Schultz Petersen ◽  
Lars Peter Sønderbo Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Disability Benefits ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Rehabilitative Services

The large number of people on sickness and disability benefits due to mental disorders in Denmark has increased the need for improved rehabilitative services to facilitate their return to work. The aim of the present study was to explore the use of psychoeducation in relation to the standard services of a Danish job centre for individuals on sick leave with regard to relevance, elements contributing to recovery, and improvements of psychoeducation as an intervention. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 individuals on sick leave who were at risk of having a mental disorder. The interviews were analysed using systematic text condensation inspired by Giorgi’s phenomenological analysis. The resulting core themes describing psychoeducation with respect to the standard services of the job centre included access and relevance of psychoeducation in relation to the job centre’s standard services, social support, self-care, and psychoeducation intervention. This study concludes that the informants consider psychoeducation a relevant offer to individuals on sick leave who are at risk of having a mental disorder. The relevance of the standard services of the job-centre services was considered to be low. Furthermore, psychoeducation reinforces peer support and inclusion of relatives as elements to aid recovery to a much larger extent than do the standard services of the job centre. In general, the results support the use of psychoeducation in a municipal job-centre setting as a targeted and beneficial offer to individuals on sick leave who are at risk of having a mental disorder.

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