scholarly journals Exploring the Effects of Segmentation on Semi-Structured Interview Data with Epistemic Network Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Szilvia Zörgő ◽  
Zachari Swiecki ◽  
Andrew Ruis
Keyword(s):  
Network Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Level Model ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Model Features ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Methodological Studies

Quantitative ethnographic models are typically constructed using qualitative data that has been segmented and coded. While there exist methodological studies that have investigated the effects of changes in coding on model features, the effects of segmentation have received less attention. Our aim was to examine, using a dataset comprised of narratives from semi-structured interviews, the effects of different segmentation decisions on population- and individual-level model features via epistemic network analysis. We found that while segmentation choices may not affect model features overall, the effects on some individual networks can be substantial. This study demonstrates a novel method for exploring and quantifying the impact of segmentation choices on model features.

scholarly journals COVD-07. THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS AFFECTED BY BRAIN TUMORS: THE PATIENT NAVIGATOR PERSPECTIVE

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii22-ii22
Author(s):  
Kyle Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Patient Navigator ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Tumor Patient ◽  
Patient Navigators ◽  
The Impact

Abstract BACKGROUND Preliminary evidence indicates that glioma patients are at higher risk for COVID-19 complications due to systemic immunosuppression. Interruptions in cancer care may exacerbate patient and caregiver anxiety, but surveying patients/caregivers about their COVID-19 experiences is often limited by attainable sample sizes and over-reliance upon single-institution experiences. METHODS To explore how COVID-19 is impacting brain tumor patients/caregivers across the U.S., we performed semi-structured interviews with brain tumor patient navigators employed by two different 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations. A semi-structured interview guide was used, utilizing prompts and open-ended questions to facilitate dialogue. A core set of COVID-19 topics were covered, including: financial issues, coping strategies, geographic variability, variability by tumor grade/histology, disruptions in care continuity, accessing clinical trials, psychosocial issues, and end-of-life care. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and organized by discussion topic to identify emerging themes. Inductive sub-coding was completed using the constant comparison method, within and between transcripts. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS Ten patient navigators were interviewed between April 15th and May 8th, with interviews lasting approximately one hour (range 38-77minutes). Navigators reported having contact with 183 unique brain tumor families during the pandemic (range 7–38 families per navigator). High concordance emerged across narratives, revealing important considerations for the neuro-oncology workforce. The most prominent theme was increased caregiver burden, attributed to maintaining social distancing by reducing visits from home-health aides and friends/family. A related theme that applied to both patients and caregivers was increased social isolation due to social distancing, suspension of in-person support groups, and church/temple closures. Accessing clinical trials was a recurrent issue, exacerbated by patients’ increasing unwillingness to travel. Glioblastoma patients, especially those with recurrent tumors, expressed greater reluctance to travel. Access to standard-of-care treatment was rarely interrupted, but reduced access to supportive services – especially physical and occupational therapy – was identified as an emerging COVID-related deficiency in clinical care.

scholarly journals An evaluation of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy sessions for people with dementia and a concomitant support group for their carers

Dementia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 985-1003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Bailey ◽  
Paul Kingston ◽  
Simon Alford ◽  
Louise Taylor ◽  
Edward Tolhurst
Keyword(s):  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
The Impact

This research aimed to ascertain the impact of a pragmatic Cognitive Stimulation Therapy course of 10 sessions on the cognitive function of people living with dementia and whether attending a concomitant carers support group was beneficial to carers. A mixed method quasi-experimental approach was adopted; data were collected pre- and post-intervention. The quantitative arm utilised three validated questionnaires rated by the carers. Qualitative data were collected via semi-structured interviews with carers regarding their perceptions of the impact of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and the carers support group. Quantitative data analysis found no statistically significant differences within or between groups. The qualitative data demonstrated that carers perceived Cognitive Stimulation Therapy had some benefits for the people living with dementia, especially social benefits. Carers also perceived that attending the carers support group was beneficial for them in terms of gaining a better understanding of dementia, developing coping skills and having peer support. The study was limited in scale and further research with a larger sample, using direct measures of the impact of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy with people living with dementia and supplementary research exploring which characteristic of carers support groups are effective would be worthwhile.

scholarly journals Interactions, information and emergence: Exploring task allocation in ant colonies using network analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anshuman Swain ◽  
Sara D Williams ◽  
Louisa J Di Felice ◽  
Elizabeth A Hobson
Keyword(s):  
Network Analysis ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Task Allocation ◽  
Interaction Networks ◽  
Group Level ◽  
Ant Colonies ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Network Measures ◽  
Interaction History ◽  
The Impact

In animal societies, individuals may take on different roles to fulfil their own needs and the needs of their groups. Ant colonies display high levels of organisational complexity, with ants fulfilling different roles at different timescales (what is known as task allocation). Factors affecting task allocation can be at the individual level (e.g., physiology), or at the group level (e.g., interaction histories). In this work, we focus on group level processes by exploring the impact of the history of interaction networks on task allocation and task switching using a previously published dataset (Mersch et al., 2013) tracking the behaviour of six Camponotus fellah colonies over 41 days. First, we investigated the architecture of interaction networks using node (individual) level network measures and their relation to the individual's task - foraging, cleaning or nursing - and whether or not the ant switched tasks. We then explored how noisy information propagation is among ants, as a function of the colony composition (how many ants are carrying out which tasks), through the information-theoretic metric of effective information. Our results show that interaction history affected task allocation, with ants more likely to switch to a task if they had interacted with other ants carrying out that task. The degree to which interaction history affected task allocation, as well as the noise in their interactions, depended on which groups of ants are interacting. Overall, we showed that colony cohesion is stable even as ant-level network measures vary more for ants when they switched functional groups; thus ant colonies maintain a high level of information flow as determined by network analysis and ant functional groups play different roles in maintaining colony cohesion.

scholarly journals Health and mass unemployment events—developing a framework for preparedness and response

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 665-673
Author(s):  
A R Davies ◽  
L Homolova ◽  
C N B Grey ◽  
M A Bellis
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Population Health ◽  
Early Warning System ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Adverse Impact ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Health Studies ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Detrimental Impact

Abstract Background Mass unemployment events are not uncommon yet the impact on health is not well recognised. There is a need for a preparedness and response framework, as exists for other events that threaten population health. Methods Framework informed by a narrative review of the impact of mass unemployment on health (studies published in English from 1990 to 2016), and qualitative data from 23 semi-structured interviews with individuals connected to historical national and international events, addressing gaps in published literature on lessons learnt from past responses. Results Economic and employment shock triggered by mass unemployment events have a detrimental impact on workers, families and communities. We present a public health informed response framework which includes (i) identify areas at risk, (ii) develop an early warning system, (iii) mobilise multi-sector action including health and community, (iv) provision of support across employment, finance and health (v) proportionate to need, (vi) extend support to family members and (vii) communities and (viii) evaluate and learn. Conclusion Mass unemployment events have an adverse impact on the health, financial and social circumstances of workers, families, and communities. This is the first framework for action to mitigate and address the detrimental impact of mass unemployment events on population health.

scholarly journals Work after Death: An Examination of the Relationship between Grief, Emotional Labour, and the Lived Experience of Returning to Work after a Bereavement

2020 ◽  
pp. 136078042094634
Author(s):  
Natalie Pitimson
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Disenfranchised Grief ◽  
Emotional Labour ◽  
Company Policy ◽  
Returning To Work ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

The lived experience of returning to work after a bereavement remains relatively under researched. Within sociology, the notion of emotional labour has been explored at length, but the place and experience of grief in the workplace is less well understood. This research, framed by Hochschild’s work on feeling rules, focuses on professional individuals working in UK companies who agreed to discuss their experiences of returning to work after a bereavement, in terms of dealing with their own emotions and those of their colleagues, as well as navigating company policy in the area of compassionate leave. Qualitative data from seven semi-structured interviews were analysed, exposing key common emotional and experiential themes, particularly regarding disenfranchised grief, comfort in the familiarity of the work environment, and the impact of silent or awkward responses from colleagues. The emergent themes from the data were used to address the research objective of examining the relationship between grief, emotional labour, and the lived experience of returning to work after a bereavement.

scholarly journals Mental Health in Equestrian Sport

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-420
Author(s):  
Hannah Butler-Coyne ◽  
Vaithehy Shanmuganathan-Felton ◽  
Jamie Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Emotional Wellbeing ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Dual Approach ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Equestrian Sport ◽  
The Impact ◽  
General Wellbeing

Equestrian media is showing an increasing interest in the impact of mental health on performance and general wellbeing of equestrian athletes. This study explores the awareness of mental health difficulties and psychological wellbeing within equestrian sport from the perspectives of equestrian athletes, instructors/coaches and parents. The exploratory nature of the research offered opportunity to use a dual approach including e-surveys and semi-structured interviews. Analysis of the qualitative data identified five key themes (Emotional WellbeinginBalance; Emotional WellbeingImbalance; WellbeingImbalance—Impact on Equestrian Sportspeople; Impact of Equestrian Sport on Wellbeing; Regaining Balance) and 22 sub-themes. The findings determine a compelling need for education, promotion of sharing experiences, facilitation of specialist (clinical and sport) professional training and intervention as well as a review of regulations from equestrian Governing Bodies.

scholarly journals An Impact Evaluation protocol for the rapid design and delivery of an experience-based co-designed mobile app to support the mental health needs of healthcare workers impacted by COVID-19. (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Lewis ◽  
Victoria J Palmer ◽  
Aneta Kotevski ◽  
Konstancja Densley ◽  
Meaghan L O'Donnell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Impact Evaluation ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Outcome Data ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Design Development ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Rapid Design ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the central importance of health care workers’ (HCWs) mental health and wellbeing for the successful function of the health care system. Few targeted digital tools exist to support HCWs’ mental health and none appear to have been co-designed with end users. OBJECTIVE RMHive is being developed as a mobile app to support the mental health challenges being posed by COVID-19 to HCWs using experience-based co-design (EBCD) processes. We present the Impact Evaluation protocol for the rapid design and delivery of the RMHive mobile app. METHODS The Impact Evaluation will adopt a mixed-methods approach. Qualitative data from photo interviews undertaken with HCWs exploring needs and experiences, and semi-structured interviews conducted with governance stakeholders during design development and implementation will be integrated with quantitative user analytics data and user generated demographic and mental health data entered into the app. Analyses will address three evaluation questions related to: (1) engagement with and use of the mobile app; (2) implementation and integration; and (3) the quantifiable and qualitative impacts on individual mental health. The mobile app design and development will be described using the mobile health (mHealth) evidence reporting and assessment (mERA) guidelines. Implementation of the app will be evaluated using Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) as a framework to analyse qualitative data combined with text and video analysis from semi-structured interviews. Mental health impacts will be assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ4) total score and subscale scores for the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ2) for depression and Generalised Anxiety Scale (GAD2) for anxiety. The PHQ4 will be completed at download (baseline), then at 14 and 28 days. RESULTS The anticipated use period of the app is an average of 30 days. The rapid design will occur over four months using EBCD approaches to collect qualitative data and develop app content. The Impact Evaluation will monitor outcome data for up to 12 weeks following the Minimal Viable Product release. The study received funding and institutional ethics approvals in June, 2020. Outcome data is expected to be available in March, 2021 and the Impact Evaluation published mid 2021. CONCLUSIONS The Impact Evaluation will examine the rapid design, development and implementation of the RMHive app and the mental health and wellbeing outcomes for HCWs. Evaluation outcomes will provide guidance for the integration of EBCD in rapid design and implementation processes. Outcomes will inform future development and roll out of the app programmatically to support the mental health needs of HCWs more widely.

scholarly journals The Normative Underpinnings of Population-Level Alcohol Use: An Individual-Level Simulation Model

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 224-234
Author(s):  
Charlotte Probst ◽  
Tuong Manh Vu ◽  
Joshua M. Epstein ◽  
Alexandra E. Nielsen ◽  
Charlotte Buckley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Social Norms ◽  
Drinking Behavior ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Drinking Patterns ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Behavioral Rules ◽  
Level Model ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

Background. By defining what is “normal,” appropriate, expected, and unacceptable, social norms shape human behavior. However, the individual-level mechanisms through which social norms impact population-level trends in health-relevant behaviors are not well understood. Aims. To test the ability of social norms mechanisms to predict changes in population-level drinking patterns. Method. An individual-level model was developed to simulate dynamic normative mechanisms and behavioral rules underlying drinking behavior over time. The model encompassed descriptive and injunctive drinking norms and their impact on frequency and quantity of alcohol use. A microsynthesis initialized in 1979 was used as a demographically representative synthetic U.S. population. Three experiments were performed in order to test the modelled normative mechanisms. Results. Overall, the experiments showed limited influence of normative interventions on population-level alcohol use. An increase in the desire to drink led to the most meaningful changes in the population’s drinking behavior. The findings of the experiments underline the importance of autonomy, that is, the degree to which an individual is susceptible to normative influence. Conclusion. The model was able to predict theoretically plausible changes in drinking patterns at the population level through the impact of social mechanisms. Future applications of the model could be used to plan norms interventions pertaining to alcohol use as well as other health behaviors.

The Impact of an Inpatient Treatment on the Psychodynamic and Symptomatology in Couples Concordant for Substance Use: An Exploratory Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aksel Hansen ◽  
Stefan Brokatzky ◽  
Benjamin Kraus ◽  
Kai Thomas ◽  
Christina Sternbauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Brief Symptom Inventory ◽  
The Body ◽  
Inpatient Setting ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Much literature deals with patients who use drugs and have partners who are drug-free. However, concordant couples, in which both partners are consuming drugs, are sparsely examined in the literature. This might be due to the fact, that couples are rarely treated together in healthcare services. Despite that fact we propose that it is feasible and clinically meaningful to treat concordant couples in the same ward. Consequently, this study pursues the goal to expand the body of knowledge in the treatment of concordant couples investigating the research question: is it feasible, clinically and prognostically meaningful to treat these patients in the same ward? Method: This exploratory study included five concordant couples (ten patients), which were simultaneously treated between August 2013 and November 2014 in a specialised substance use ward at the Psychiatric Hospital Münsterlingen, Switzerland. All patients passed through a psychodynamic characterisation based on the OPD-II interview and the Structured Interview for Personality Organization. Symptom load was measured with the Brief Symptom Inventory at admission and termination of treatment. We calculated comparisons at the individual level using t-tests for paired samples. Results: We showed that it is feasible and clinically meaningful to treat couples concordant for substance use in the same ward. The psychodynamic characterization of the five concordant couples revealed recurring patterns of collusion, involving divided roles between dependence and independence, caregiving and neediness, activity and passivity, control and submission, strength and deficiency as well as superiority and inferiority. The patients didn´t change significantly on the BSI between pre- to post-treatment, although men (d = 1.64) benefited to a greater extent than women (d = 0.10). Conclusion: Treating concordant couples together in the same inpatient setting is unusual, but feasible and clinically useful, because it makes it possible to take into account the couples dynamics in the treatment.

scholarly journals Cyber Bully: Emotional Impact among UKM students

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 83-94
Author(s):  
Suriana binti Che Awang ◽  
Khadijah Alavi
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Cyber Bullying ◽  
Civic Culture ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
School Students ◽  
The Impact

The use of social media without civic culture among students has plagued many IPTA students in cyberbullying. Cyberbullying can be done in the uploading of cruel words, photographs and videos of the victim to hoax, incite, defame, revenge until the predators feel great and powerful. The fastest duration of all information can be disseminated in fast pace with worldwide reach. Among the factors of cyberbullying occurred in early adulthood are jealousy, discovering social media friends' attention, 'jaguar' capacity or gangster in social media. Previous studies focus more on bullying phenomena among adolescents, school students and mass media users. While, there are very few studies on the issue of cyberbullying among university students. The main objective of this study is to explore the impact of cyber bullying on UKM students. This study was conducted using a qualitative approach based on case study. Techniques of collecting research data through structured interviews in writing. 6 respondents were selected for this study using purposive sampling technique. The location of the study chosen was Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Structured interview data were analyzed in a thematic manner and the findings found that there were five major implications of emotional, depression, suicidal desire, overwhelming sadness, uncertainty and uncontrolled feelings found in transcripts of study informants. Implications of this study are expected to suggest appropriate intervention and advocacy programs to social workers in handling cyber bullying cases at the Student Counseling Division, UKM.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document