scholarly journals Assessing the Content Validity of the EQ-5D Questionnaire Among Asians in Singapore: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 294-305
Author(s):  
Geok Ling Lee ◽  
Rachel Lee-Yin Tan ◽  
Michael Herdman ◽  
Nan Luo

Introduction: Although the EQ-5D questionnaire is widely used to measure health status internationally, there is little evidence of its content validity in Asian populations. This qualitative study aimed to explore the content validity of the EQ-5D in Singapore. Materials and Methods: Sixty Singaporeans (Chinese: 20; Malay: 20; Indian: 20) completed semi-structured interviews in which they were asked about health concepts which were important to them and the relevance and comprehensiveness of the EQ-5D descriptive system (DS). Thematic analysis employing open, focused and axial coding was used to identify the themes and subthemes from the interviews. Results: A total of 70 health concepts were identified which fall into the broad categories of ‘physical health’, ‘mental well-being’, ‘social relationships’, ‘medical conditions and treatment’, and ‘health promotion knowledge and behaviours’. The 5 dimensions in the EQ-5D DS were among the health concepts nominated by participants. Some participants suggested that content validity could be improved by adding social relationships, medical conditions and treatment, and health promotion knowledge and behaviours to the EQ-5D DS. Conclusions: This study confirmed that EQ-5D dimensions are important and relevant aspects of health to Asians in Singapore, although some dimensions that could be important to Singaporeans are absent. Keywords: Content validity, EQ-5D, Qualitative research, Singapore

Author(s):  
Amalia De Leo ◽  
Eloisa Cianci ◽  
Paolo Mastore ◽  
Caterina Gozzoli

The COVID-19 pandemic put the Italian health system under great stress. The sudden reorganization of work practices and the emotional impact of the large number of the victims had many consequences on the well-being of the healthcare professionals (HCPs) involved in managing the crisis. In the available literature, most studies have focused on the risk aspects while only few studies also take into account protective factors. For this reason, it was decided to conduct, within psycho-sociological perspective, a qualitative study with the aim to explore in depth the protective and risk factors as experienced by HCPs who worked in the Italian healthcare system during the COVID-19 outbreak. A total of 19 semi-structured interviews were conducted with HCPs–9 nurses and 10 physicians (7M and 12F) with an average age of 43 (SD = 13.4)–selected using snowball sampling. Considering three different levels of analysis the results highlight the protective and risk factors: personal history level (intrinsic/ethical motivation and flexible role versus extrinsic motivation and static role), interpersonal level (perception of supportive relationships with colleagues, patients, and family versus bad relationships), and organizational level (good leadership and sustainable work purpose versus absence of support from management and undefined or confused tasks).


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 509-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fayron Epps ◽  
Ishan C. Williams

This study was a post hoc analysis of a larger qualitative descriptive study exploring family involvement in health promotion activities for African Americans living with dementia where participants identified religious practices as meaningful health promotion activities. The purpose of this study was to explore ways in which religiosity may influence the well-being of older adults living with dementia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among a sample of 22 family caregivers and 15 older adults living with dementia ( N = 37). Three themes emerged: Engagement, Promotion of Faith and Spiritual Connectedness, and Maintenance of Religious Practices. It is imperative for family caregivers to understand the important contributions of religious activities and beliefs to the well-being of their family member. This information might be of use for faith communities, policy makers, and health care providers in the provision of optimal person-centered care and the promotion of quality of life for persons living with dementia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 295-309
Author(s):  
Joyce Cheah Lynn-Sze ◽  
◽  
Azlina Kamaruddin ◽  

Health opinion leaders have widely embraced social media for health promotion and public health communication which can make a strong influence on the public decision making. However, despite the growing relevance of public health threats such as infectious diseases, pandemic influenza and natural disasters, research has paid little attention to the qualities of opinion leaders. Moreover, there is limited evidence that public health organisations use social media appropriately to engage in meaningful conversations with audiences. Thus, the aims of the study are to describe principles of communication practised by online opinion leaders to promote health issues, to discuss the strategies of social media used, to explain the opinion leaders’ influence attributes in health decision making and finally to develop a model of online opinion leader in the contemporary health promotion era. Content analysis was conducted on Facebook postings of five selected health opinion leaders. In addition, semi-structured interviews with 10 followers were conducted. The findings of the study revealed that there are three principles of communication practised by online opinion leaders, which are language, interaction and themes. There are three strategies opinion leaders use to influence the public: social connectivity, social support and social consultation. Furthermore, there are five opinion leaders’ attributes that influence the public’s decision making, namely personality, authenticity, trust/credibility, professional knowledge and social position. The model would be beneficial in educating and guiding the current public health opinion leaders in order to establish health and social well-being. Keywords: Online opinion leader, online health communication, public health, two-step flow theory, decision making.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 839-847
Author(s):  
Lucy Webster ◽  
Kingsley Powell ◽  
Sergi G. Costafreda ◽  
Gill Livingston

ABSTRACTObjectives:Nearly 40% of care home residents who are living with dementia also have symptoms of disturbed sleep. However, the impact of these disturbances is relatively unknown and is needed to indicate whether interventions are warranted; therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact.Design:One-to-one semi-structured interviews.Settings:Four UK care homes.Participants:We interviewed 18 nurses and care assistants about residents with sleep disturbances.Measurements:We used a topic guide to explore staff experience of sleep disturbance in residents with dementia. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed and then analyzed thematically by two researchers independently.Results:Staff described that sleep disturbances in most, but not all, residents impacted negatively on the resident, other residents, staff, and relatives. Residents became more irritable or agitated if they had slept badly. They slept in the daytime after a bad night, which then increased their chances of being awake the following night. For some, being sleepy in the day led to falls, missing medication, drinks, and meals. Staff perceived hypnotics as having low efficacy, but increasing the risk of falls and drowsiness. Other residents were disturbed by noise, and staff described stress when several residents had sleep disturbance. Some of the strategies reported by staff to deal with sleep disturbances such as feeding or providing caffeinated tea at night might be counterproductive.Conclusions:Sleep disturbances in care home residents living with dementia negatively affect their physical and psychological well-being. These disturbances also disturb other residents and increase stress in staff.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Bandyopadhyay ◽  
J Moudgil-Joshi ◽  
E Norton ◽  
M Haq ◽  
K Saunders

Abstract Objective To explore how social media could be utilised to influence an individual’s motivation to pursue a neurosurgical career, an emerging topic area. The focus of this study was on women interested in neurosurgery. Background Women are significantly under-represented in neurosurgery. 18% of all neurosurgeons – including 8% of consultants – are women. Most previous studies have used quantitative methods that are not best suited to gaining an in-depth understanding of the barriers that women face in pursuing a career in neurosurgery, or what would enable more women to go into the speciality. Method In this qualitative study, individual semi-structured interviews were conducted until data saturation was achieved. Participants were women pre-neurosurgical trainees. The interview data was examined through a thematic analysis involving open and axial coding. Results Thirty women participated in the study. Four overarching themes were identified: (1) mentorship, (2) testimony from other women doing neurosurgery, (3) social media as a means of increasing interest in neurosurgery as a career choice, and (4) real-life exposure to the speciality. Conclusions There is scope to further improve uptake of women into neurosurgical training in the UK. Motivations and barriers to women pursuing neurosurgery should be addressed openly through early experience, role models and mentorship. Social media can help facilitate these opportunities, disseminate information and inspiration, and has the potential to undo societal biases.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Rosa Linde Arias ◽  
Maria Roura ◽  
Eduardo Siqueira

Abstract Background and Objectives The public health response to Zika outbreak has mostly focused on epidemiological surveillance, vector control, and individual level preventative measures. This qualitative study employs a social-ecological framework to examine how macro (historical, legislative, political, socio-economic factors), meso (sources of information, social support, social mobilization) and micro level factors (individual actions, behavioral changes) interacted to influence the response and behavior of women with respect to Zika in different contexts. Methods A qualitative study was carried out. Women were recruited through the snowball sampling technique from various locations in Brazil, Puerto Rico, and the United States. They were of different nationalities and ethnicities. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The data transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Women in this study deemed the information provided as insufficient, which led them to actively reach out and access a variety of media sources. Social networks played a vital role in sharing information but also resulted in the spread of hoaxes or rumors. Participants in our research perceived socio-economic inequities but focused on how to remedy their microenvironments. They did not engage in major social activities. Lack of trust in governments placed women in vulnerable situations by preventing them to follow the guidance of health authorities. These impacts were also a result of the response tactics of health and government administrations in their failed attempts to ensure the well-being of their countries’ populations. Conclusions Our findings call for a broad spectrum of public health interventions that go beyond individual level behavioral change campaigns, to more comprehensively address the broader meso and macro level factors that influence womens’ willingness and possibility to protect themselves.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A8-A8
Author(s):  
M Miguel ◽  
E Cooke ◽  
J Chawla

Abstract Introduction This qualitative study that investigates parents’ experiences of having a child with Down Syndrome (DS) and sleep difficulties is a part of a broader mixed-method study entitled Sleep Difficulties in Children with Down Syndrome: An Evaluation of Parent/Carer and Family Quality of Life. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with 26 parents (fathers n = 4 and mothers n = 22), and reflexive Thematic Analysis (TA) was operationalised for data analysis. The interviews covered the following key topics: DS diagnosis; timeline of their child’s sleep patterns and difficulties; implications for parental sleep, day-time function, and well-being; family dynamics; and access to supports. Results Most participants described negative experiences at time of diagnosis, including not feeling listened to, and receiving inconsistent, insensitive and inadequate information and/or treatment. Most strikingly, no parents recall receiving sleep specific information. Most participants described their child’s sleep difficulties affecting their own sleep, day-time function and family dynamics, yet they commonly normalised these experiences. Such normalisation was a recurring theme across their experiences of having a child with DS and is contextualised by their accounts of resisting prejudiced attitudes towards their child since diagnosis. Discussion This is the first qualitative study to investigate parents’ experiences of having a child with DS and sleep difficulties. Implications include professional development for health care workers focusing on sleep as a significant comorbidity for these children, and awareness of families’ tendencies to normalise their experiences when delivering care.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Gonzalez ◽  
Bryan Aristega Almeida ◽  
George S. Corpuz ◽  
Hector A. Mora ◽  
Oluwatobi Aladesuru ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hispanics in the United States are disproportionately affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). While social distancing and quarantining are effective methods to reduce its spread, Hispanics, who are more likely to be essential workers and live in multigenerational homes than non-Hispanics, may face challenges that limit their ability to carry out these preventative efforts. We elicited the experiences of Hispanic adults with social distancing and self-quarantining during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York. Methods In this qualitative study, Hispanic adults receiving care at a federally qualified community health center in East Harlem, New York, were recruited for remote one-on-one semi-structured interviews from 5/15/2020 to 11/17/2020. Interviews were conducted by a bilingual interviewer in Spanish or English, using a semi-structured topic guide informed by the Health Belief Model. Audio-recordings were professionally transcribed. We used thematic analysis to iteratively code the data. Each transcript was independently coded by two research team members, then reconciled by a third. Major themes and subthemes were identified. Results Among 20 participants, four major themes emerged; Hispanics were: (1) fearful of contracting and transmitting COVID-19, (2) engaging in practices to reduce transmission of COVID-19, (3) experiencing barriers to social distancing and quarantining, and (4) facing an enduring psychological and physical toll from COVID-19. Conclusions Despite understanding the risks for contracting COVID-19 and taking appropriate precautions, Hispanics faced numerous challenges to social distancing and quarantining, such as living in crowded, multi-generational households, working as essential workers, and providing unpaid care to family members. Such challenges took a toll on their physical, emotional, and financial well-being. Our findings suggest that a tailored approach to public health messaging and interventions for pandemic planning are warranted among members of this community. Further research is needed to understand and mitigate the long term physical and psychological consequences of the pandemic among Hispanics.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bettina Trettin ◽  
Jette Amstrup Lassen ◽  
Flemming Andersen ◽  
Hanne Agerskov

Background and objective: Scabies is considered to be a common skin infection in the field of dermatology, but it is also, by the World Health Organization referred to as a neglected disease. It can cause complications such as secondary infections linked to the development of glomerulonephritis and chronic kidney disease. Furthermore, scabies is associated with stigma, shame and social isolation. To date no qualitative study, has explored this area in depth. The aim of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of patients diagnosed with scabies.Methods: A phenomenological-hermeneutic approach was applied and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants with scabies. Data were analyzed according to Ricoeurs’ theory of interpretation: naïve reading, structural analysis and critical interpretation and discussion.Results: The study revealed that patients were affected by uncontrollable and unbearable itching, which caused insomnia and distress, and lead to coping strategies to bring relief. Scabies was experienced as a never-ending journey, characterized by misdiagnosis, a long period of repeated treatment, and lack of information. Not knowing whether the disease had been cured resulted in feelings of insecurity and powerlessness. Scabies had an impact on everyday life caused by social withdrawal and due to feelings of shame, guilt and fear of rejection.Conclusions: Having scabies is a journey that consists of uncertainty and is characterized by misdiagnosis, long period of treatment and lack of knowledge. Having scabies can be stigmatized, causing loneliness and social withdrawal. Patients with scabies are in need of care, support and information regarding physical, emotional and social well-being.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. e037136
Author(s):  
Chloe Grimmett ◽  
Claire Foster ◽  
Katherine Bradbury ◽  
Phillippa Lally ◽  
Carl R May ◽  
...  

ObjectivesIn the last decade, there has been a rapid expansion of physical activity (PA) promotion programmes and interventions targeting people living with and beyond cancer (LWBC). The impact that these initiatives have on long-term maintenance of PA remains under-researched. This study sought to explore the experiences of participants in order to characterise those who have and have not successfully sustained increases in PA following participation in a PA intervention after a diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, and identify barriers and facilitators of this behaviour.DesignCross-sectional qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews with participants who had previously taken part in a PA programme in the UK, explored current and past PA behaviour and factors that promoted or inhibited regular PA participation. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Themes and subthemes were identified. Differences between individuals were recognised and a typology of PA engagement was developed.ParticipantsTwenty-seven individuals (n=15 male, mean age=66.3 years) with a diagnosis of GI cancer who had participated in one of four interventions designed to encourage PA participation.SettingUK.ResultsSeven themes were identified: disease processes, the role of ageing, emotion and psychological well-being, incorporating PA into everyday life, social interaction, support and self-monitoring and competing demands. A typology with three types describing long-term PA engagement was generated: (1) maintained PA, (2) intermittent PA, (3) low activity. Findings indicate that identifying an enjoyable activity that is appropriate to an individual’s level of physical functioning and is highly valued is key to supporting long-term PA engagement.ConclusionThe typology described here can be used to guide stratified and personalised intervention development and support sustained PA engagement by people LWBC.


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