scholarly journals The Living Environment and Thermal Behaviours of Older South Australians: A Multi-Focus Group Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joost van Hoof ◽  
Helen Bennetts ◽  
Alana Hansen ◽  
Jan Kazak ◽  
Veronica Soebarto
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Older People ◽  
Thermal Sensitivity ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Cold Weather ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
House Design

Ageing brings about physiological changes that affect people’s thermal sensitivity and thermoregulation. The majority of older Australians prefer to age in place and modifications to the home environment are often required to accommodate the occupants as they age and possibly become frail. However, modifications to aid thermal comfort are not always considered. Using a qualitative approach this study aims to understand the thermal qualities of the existing living environment of older South Australians, their strategies for keeping cool in hot weather and warm in cold weather and to identify existing problems related to planning and house design, and the use of heating and cooling. Data were gathered via seven focus group sessions with 49 older people living in three climate zones in South Australia. The sessions yielded four main themes, namely ‘personal factors’, ‘feeling’, ‘knowing’ and ‘doing’. These themes can be used as a basis to develop information and guidelines for older people in dealing with hot and cold weather.

scholarly journals Developing a recovery-focused therapy for older people with bipolar disorder: a qualitative focus group study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e049829
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Tyler ◽  
Fiona Lobban ◽  
Rita Long ◽  
Steven H Jones
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Older People ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Age Related Changes

ObjectivesAs awareness of bipolar disorder (BD) increases and the world experiences a rapid ageing of the population, the number of people living with BD in later life is expected to rise substantially. There is no current evidence base for the effectiveness of psychological interventions for older adults with BD. This focus group study explored a number of topics to inform the development and delivery of a recovery-focused therapy (RfT) for older adults with BD.DesignA qualitative focus group study.SettingThree focus groups were conducted at a university in the North West of England.ParticipantsEight people took part in the focus groups; six older adults with BD, one carer and one friend.ResultsParticipant’s responses clustered into six themes: (1) health-related and age-related changes in later life, (2) the experience of BD in later life, (3) managing and coping with BD in later life, (4) recovery in later life, (5) seeking helping in the future and (6) adapting RfT for older people.ConclusionsParticipants reported a range of health-related and age-related changes and strategies to manage their BD. Participants held mixed views about using the term ‘recovery’ in later life. Participants were in agreement that certain adaptations were needed for delivering RfT for older adults, based on their experience of living with BD in later life. The data collected as part of the focus groups have led to a number of recommendations for delivering RfT for older adults with BD in a randomised controlled trial (Clinical Trial Registration: ISRCTN13875321).

scholarly journals Aesthetically Designing Video-Call Technology With Care Home Residents: A Focus Group Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonam Zamir ◽  
Felicity Allman ◽  
Catherine Hagan Hennessy ◽  
Adrian Haffner Taylor ◽  
Ray Brian Jones
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Older People ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Technological Intervention

BackgroundVideo-calls have proven to be useful for older care home residents in improving socialization and reducing loneliness. Nonetheless, to facilitate the acceptability and usability of a new technological intervention, especially among people with dementia, there is a need for user-led design improvements. The current study conducted focus groups with an embedded activity with older people to allow for a person-centered design of a video-call intervention.MethodsTwenty-eight residents across four care homes in the South West of England participated in focus groups to aesthetically personalize and ‘dress-up’ the equipment used in a video-call intervention. Each care home was provided with a ‘Skype on Wheels’ (SoW) device, a wheelable ‘chassis’ comprising an iPad or tablet for access to Skype, and a telephone handset. During the focus group, residents were encouraged to participate in an activity using colorful materials to ‘dress-up’ SoW. Comments before, during and after the ‘dress up’ activity were audio recorded. Framework analysis was used to analyze the focus group data.ResultsOlder people, including seven with dementia were able to interact with and implement design changes to SoW through aesthetic personalization. Themes arising from the data included estrangement, anthropomorphism, reminiscence, personalization, need for socialization versus fear of socialization and attitudes toward technology. After this brief exposure to SoW, residents expressed the likelihood of using video-calls for socialization in the future.ConclusionCare home residents enjoy engaging with new technologies when given the opportunity to interact with it, to personalize it and to understand its purpose. Low cost aesthetic personalization of technologies can improve their acceptability, usability, and implementation within complex care environments.

Living with Frailty - What Healthcare Issues Matter to an Older Person? A Focus Group Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Tipping(Former Corresponding Author) ◽  
Asangaedem Akpan New
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Older People ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Discharge Planning ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Older Person ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Clinical Frailty Scale ◽  
Small Project

Abstract Background The study set out to interview older people with frailty and find out what healthcare issues matter to them. Older people with frailty are an important population subgroup. In the United Kingdom, over 65s already outnumber under 16s, and this is expected to increase. Research into health issues has been undertaken by the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) and this study builds on that. Recent research has been undertaken in America into health issues. However, these studies were not specifically focused on older people. Methods A scoping review of the literature was undertaken to highlight any gaps in this area of research. Thereafter a focus group interview was carried out with six older people with frailty. Qualitative research often uses smaller samples than quantitative research 7 . Braun and Clarke recommend that for a small project, such as this one, 6-10 interviews should be held. Braun and Clarke state that smaller groups (three to eight participants) work best in terms of generating a rich discussion and have the added benefit of being easier to manage 7 . The six participants were aged 65 years and over and had mild to moderate frailty using the Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale. 8 The interview was recorded and transcribed, analysed and themes identified. Results The eight themes identified were trust in medical professionals, vulnerability of being an older person in hospital, polypharmacy and wastage of medication, discharge planning and co-ordination of care at home, taking responsibility for your own health, nomenclature, autonomy and falls. Conclusion This study has identified themes to raise awareness among health care professionals about what health issues matter to older people with frailty. The study findings will provide an opportunity for meaningful discussions around what is needed to meet these preferred health issues.

scholarly journals GPs’ perspectives on preventive care for older people: a focus group study

2012 ◽  
Vol 62 (604) ◽  
pp. e765-e772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne M Drewes ◽  
Julia M Koenen ◽  
Wouter de Ruijter ◽  
DJ Annemarie van Dijk-van Dijk ◽  
Gerda M van der Weele ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Older People ◽  
Preventive Care ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Care For Older People

scholarly journals Dilemmas in decision-making about resuscitation—a focus group study of older people

2006 ◽  
Vol 62 (7) ◽  
pp. 1579-1593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tushna Vandrevala ◽  
Sarah E. Hampson ◽  
Tom Daly ◽  
Sara Arber ◽  
Hilary Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Older People ◽  
Focus Group Study

scholarly journals Patients’ views on involving general practice in bowel cancer screening: a South Australian focus group study

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. e035244
Author(s):  
Lynsey Brown ◽  
Cecilia Moretti ◽  
Leigh Roeger ◽  
Richard Reed
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Bowel Cancer ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Screening Process ◽  
Cancer Screening Program ◽  
Bowel Cancer Screening

ObjectivesTo explore patients’ experiences of bowel cancer screening and its promotion, and perspectives on possible input from general practice for improving screening rates.DesignQualitative focus group study underpinned by a phenomenological approach.SettingThree general practice clinics in metropolitan South Australia.ParticipantsThirty active general practice patients, aged 50–74 years (60% female) who were eligible for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.FindingsFactors affecting screening were described, with particular concerns regarding the nature of the test, screening process and culture. There were mixed views on the role for general practice in bowel cancer screening; some participants appreciated the current process and viewed screening as out of scope of primary care services, while others were in support of general practice involvement. Roles for general practice were proposed that comprised actions across the continuum from providing information through to reminders and the provision and collection of screening kits. With a view that multifaceted strategies are required to encourage participation, community-based solutions were suggested that centred on improving screening culture and education.ConclusionsThere was a view among participants that general practice could play a useful role in supporting the uptake of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, however participants saw a need for multiple strategies at different levels and under different jurisdictions.

scholarly journals The Thermal Environment of Housing and Its Implications for the Health of Older People in South Australia: A Mixed-Methods Study

Atmosphere ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Alana Hansen ◽  
Terence Williamson ◽  
Dino Pisaniello ◽  
Helen Bennetts ◽  
Joost van Hoof ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Perceived Health ◽  
Cold Weather ◽  
Shortness Of Breath ◽  
Building Characteristics ◽  
Hot Weather ◽  
Adaptive Behaviours

Older people are often over-represented in morbidity and mortality statistics associated with hot and cold weather, despite remaining mostly indoors. The study “Improving thermal environment of housing for older Australians” focused on assessing the relationships between the indoor environment, building characteristics, thermal comfort and perceived health/wellbeing of older South Australians over a study period that included the warmest summer on record. Our findings showed that indoor temperatures in some of the houses reached above 35 °C. With concerns about energy costs, occupants often use adaptive behaviours to achieve thermal comfort instead of using cooling (or heating), although feeling less satisfied with the thermal environment and perceiving health/wellbeing to worsen at above 28 °C (and below 15 °C). Symptoms experienced during hot weather included tiredness, shortness of breath, sleeplessness and dizziness, with coughs and colds, painful joints, shortness of breath and influenza experienced during cold weather. To express the influence of temperature and humidity on perceived health/wellbeing, a Temperature Humidity Health Index (THHI) was developed for this cohort. A health/wellbeing perception of “very good” is achieved between an 18.4 °C and 24.3 °C indoor operative temperature and a 55% relative humidity. The evidence from this research is used to inform guidelines about maintaining home environments to be conducive to the health/wellbeing of older people.

scholarly journals Challenges of foot self-care in older people: a qualitative focus-group study

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maija Miikkola ◽  
Tella Lantta ◽  
Riitta Suhonen ◽  
Minna Stolt
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Older People ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Focus Group Study
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