scholarly journals A formal support group for esophageal atresia and/or tracheoesophageal fistula in South Africa may improve the outcome of these children and their families

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Corné De Vos ◽  
Werner De Vos ◽  
Daniel Sidler
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Esophageal Atresia ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Tracheoesophageal Fistula ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Formal Support

The psychosocial aspect of various congenital anomalies like esophageal atresia (EA) with/or without a tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) being the cause of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety in parents of these children, is often overlooked by medical professionals. Support groups may be useful to address a part of this problem and form an important aspect of emotional support for any rare or congenital disease. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to assess the need for a formal support group for parents of patients born with EA and to emphasize the role of emotional support for these parents and children. A questionnaire was sent to members of an informal WhatsApp group which included participants with diverse demographics across private and public platforms, across South Africa. The questions focused on 3 main areas: demographic data, diagnosis and the surgery, and information about the participant’s emotional support. All the data were inserted in an excel datasheet and descriptive statistical analysis was used. Questions were sent to 14 members of an informal WhatsApp group.  Eight were included in the study.  All 8 participants were mothers of children born with an EA with a TEF. The questions about the need for emotional support focus on the time after the baby was born. The majority (87.5%) of the mothers felt that they could bond with their babies during pregnancy, but in contrast, 75% felt that they missed an opportunity to bond with their babies after birth, mainly because they were not allowed to hold their babies for up to 11 days after birth. Only 1 of the mothers were in contact with other families with children born with EA, and 6 of the remaining 7 agreed that this would have helped them during this emotionally challenging time. All 8 thought that sharing their stories with others could have helped them emotionally and all agreed that an EA/TEF support group was a good idea. The family, as another patient, ought to be treated and included in the overall treatment plan if we aim to improve the quality of life for both the patients and their families.  Disease-specific support groups can play a major role in the emotional well-being of both the children born with EA and their families.

scholarly journals Participating in a support group: experience lived by women with breast cancer

2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 733-738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cleoneide Paulo Oliveira Pinheiro ◽  
Raimunda Magalhães da Silva ◽  
Marli Villela Mamede ◽  
Ana Fátima Carvalho Fernandes
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Breast Carcinoma ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The City ◽  
Group Experience ◽  
Differentiated Care

The goal of the study was to understand the meaning of support groups in the life of women with breast cancer. It is a qualitative study with 30 mastectomized women who belonged to six support groups in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará. Data were collected with semi-structured interviews, organized and analyzed based on the interactionism concept. The results characterized the support groups as a mechanism to cope with the situation and to overcome the suffering derived from the diagnosis and treatment of the breast carcinoma. The socialization of the experiences facilitated the search for assistance in the support groups, since sharing the problems with mastectomized women was a way to preserve a high self-esteem, have faith and overcome some difficulties. Participating in the group provided well-being and a differentiated care, since it was considered a way to know, accept and understand the disease and its cure, facilitating the socialization of ideas.

DOZ047.05: The flip side of the coin

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C de Vos ◽  
W de Vos ◽  
D Sidler
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Esophageal Atresia ◽  
Support System ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Family Practitioner ◽  
Rare Type ◽  
The Family

Abstract Background Being two medical doctors (family practitioner and pediatric surgeon) with a son born with a rare type of esophageal atresia we felt the need to explore the nonmedical side of this disease. Aim The aim of this study was to emphasize the role of emotional support for parents with children born with all types of esophageal atresia and to realize the importance of the nonsurgical side—the flip side of the coin, to explore the need for support not only for the patient but also the family. Literature Review and Personal Experience The epidemiology, surgical management, and biological outcome of esophageal atresia with/without trachea-esophageal fistula are well known. The softer, more humane side of this condition, the flipside of the coin, being the cause of PTSD children with OA (mothers > fathers).2 Severe anxiety also seems to be present in some of these parents. A meta-analysis done in 2013 concluded that psychological morbidity associated with esophageal atresia has important implications for clinical practise3; namely, if psychological support is being offered to parents during the neonatal period and continues as part of the long-term follow-up for both parents and the patients, the overall outcome is improved and the biopsychosocial morbidity of the parents decreases. Personal experience has taught us that a good support system is a critical part of a child's clinical treatment plan. Parents need good emotional support in order to be there for their child when he or she needs them. Conclusion Surgeons look at diseases from a technical point of view. They ask how they can surgically fix the problem and improve the patient's quality of life. They often forget the other side that parents need emotional support, someone to be there for them and to listen to their experience in hospital and at home. The family as another patient needs to be treated and included in the overall treatment plan if the intention is to improve the quality of life for both the patients and their families. There is a need to develop a multidisciplinary support system in South Africa to aid patients born with OA and their caring families. This includes the entire family and is not limited to the mothers but also includes fathers and other siblings often overlooked.

scholarly journals The Effects of Situational Peers and Support Groups on the Well-Being of Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 408-409
Author(s):  
Alexandra Jeanblanc ◽  
Carol Musil ◽  
Christopher Burant ◽  
McKenzie Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Groups ◽  
Multigenerational Households ◽  
Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren ◽  
Need For Support ◽  
Group Engagement

Abstract Grandmothers raising their grandchildren face not only the demands of parenting, but the added burden of parenting a child they did not expect to raise. Similarly, grandmothers living in multigenerational households need to balance expectations and household/caregiving tasks across the generations. As part of a nationwide RCT designed to lessen the stress associated with the caregiving burden of raising grandchildren, we asked 342 grandmothers raising their grandchildren about their engagement with support groups and whether their social network included other grandfamilies. Here, we examine the effect of situational peers and support group engagement on grandmother’s stress, reward, social support, mental health, mindfulness, and resourcefulness. Of our sample, 53.8% (N=184) reported belonging to a support group. The majority of participants (138) belonged to online support groups on Facebook, 41 reported participating in in-person support groups, 3 belonged to both in-person and online support groups, and 8 did not respond. When asked whether and how well our participants knew other families like theirs, 31% (106) said they did not know any, 40.6% (139) knew of at least one, but not well, and 28.4% (97) said they had at least one friend with a family like her own. Knowing other families like their own affected self-appraised stress, but no other outcomes. Grandmothers participating in support groups had lower mindfulness scores, higher stress, and worse mental health scores than grandmothers not participating in support groups, possibly reflecting the higher need for support among those participants.

scholarly journals Impact of the eye clinic liaison officer at an NHS foundation trust: a retrospective study

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e000587
Author(s):  
Vaishnavi Menon ◽  
Talia Treen ◽  
Michael A Burdon ◽  
Ruchika Batra
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
University Hospitals ◽  
Case Vignettes ◽  
Eye Clinic

ObjectiveVision loss has a significant impact on physical, mental and social well-being. Eye clinic liaison officers (ECLOs) have a crucial role in providing holistic care for patients with visual impairment. The aim of this study was to review the work of an ECLO over a period of 1 year at an NHS Trust to determine the volume of work and the areas of support provided by the ECLO.Methods and AnalysisA secondary data analysis of the ECLO case notes for all patients reviewed by the ECLO at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Trust during the year 2019, was performed. Demographic data and certification of visual impairment (CVI) status were noted. The main outcome variable recorded was the categories of support provided by the ECLO. Case vignettes were chosen to illustrate the variety of support offered to individual patients.ResultsA total of 1127 consecutive participants were reviewed by the ECLO at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Trust during the year 2019. Areas of support most commonly provided by the ECLO included aiding the process of registration for CVI, and assistance in accessing benefits,social support and low vision support. Severely sight impaired patients required significantly more areas of support than sight impaired patients (Χ2=52.7, p=2.16×10−6). Three case vignettes, chosen by the ECLO, highlighted the positive impact of the ECLO with respect to emotional support, practical advice and as a point of contact ensuring continuity of care, also during the COVID-19 pandemic.ConclusionsThe ECLO at UHB NHS Trust provides a core patient service within the ophthalmology department by being a key source of practical and emotional support and the crucial link between healthcare, social care and voluntary services.

A Support Group Intervention for At-Risk Female High School Students

2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 212-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail M. Houck ◽  
Susan Darnell ◽  
Sarah Lussman
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
School Students ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
School Based

School nurses have an opportunity to engage in early intervention with high-risk adolescents. School-based support groups for depressed adolescents have been effective when aimed at providing skills training as well as emotional support. In this practice improvement project, 14 high-risk female adolescents from two high schools were identified on the basis of signs associated with depression. The students completed a questionnaire about risk and protective factors during the assessment and at the end of the intervention. Twelve students participated in a weekly support group designed to enhance coping skills and to provide emotional support. Assessment revealed that the students were at suicide risk. At the conclusion of the group intervention, there was a 55% decrease in suicidal ideation, a 27% decrease in perceived stress, and a 26% decrease in family distress. In addition, most of the students became engaged in formal treatment for the first time.

scholarly journals The Perceived Impact of Diabetes Support Groups

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Garofalo
Keyword(s):  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Practice Nurses ◽  
Group Problem Solving ◽  
Perceived Impact ◽  
The Impact

<p>A dearth o f research exists describing the perceived impact o f diabetes support groups from the perspective o f support group participants. This study examined the subjective experience of being a participant in a diabetes support group upon a person's physical and emotional well being. Participants were recruited from a diabetes support group and interviewed individually through a series of open ended interview questions. The participants reported various physical and emotional challenges related to their diabetes. The support group was a source of information, hope, shared experience and group problem solving as individuals strived to maintain lifestyle behaviors required to manage their diabetes. This support group was a positive source of support for these participants. More studies, with larger sample sizes, examining support group interventions or strategies would be beneficial in order to gain an understanding of which aspects of a support group promote positive client outcomes. Advanced practice nurses play a pivotal role in designing further studies that examine the impact of support groups. This will enhance our understanding of a support group's role in sustaining and promoting positive health behaviors and well being. In order to continue this form of support in the community, health policy needs to address the funding of this resource to sustain it as a tertiary intervention in the future.</p>

3. Learning Modules in a Support Group Context for Caregivers of Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wafa Nurdin ◽  
Aicha Wane
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Caregiver Support ◽  
Learning Modules ◽  
The Impact

The majority of community dwelling individuals with dementia have informal caregivers. With the risk of developing care related stress, it is important for community agencies, like the Alzheimer Society of Kingston (ASK), to provide support, resources, and information. The goal of this intervention was that caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) would improve physical, social, and mental well-being. A search of the literature, as well as surveys of support group facilitators, forty caregivers, and consultation with ASK helped determine information relevant to the caregivers. The purpose of this project was to develop learning modules on: a) using a problem-based strategy to assist with daily activities of the person they are caring for; b) self-care strategies; c) positive coping strategies; d) assertive communication skills, and e) home environment safety to be delivered during caregiver support groups. The module on a problem-based strategy to assist with daily activities was pilot tested, utilizing five caregivers. It was found that the learning module was approximately 30 minutes over the stated timeframe and the case study component of the module was ineffective. Recommendations include implementing the module as two parts. Furthermore, additional research is needed on the impact of the modules on caregiver stress and burden.

Looking after our future colleagues: an experience from a provincial hospital in New Zealand

2002 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-286
Author(s):  
Shailesh Kumar ◽  
Denise Aitken
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Factual Knowledge ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Junior Resident ◽  
Professional Lives ◽  
Medical Graduates ◽  
Multiple Tasks

Obective: To describe a support group developed in New Zealand for junior resident medical officers. Conclusions: Fresh medical graduates starting as junior doctors are faced with numerous stresses. Abusive relationships with supervisor, the need to balance personal and professional lives, limited ability to deal with all of the factual knowledge or with patients adequately, long, unsocial hours, financial pressures, the need to rapidly acquire the organisational skills to manage a job with multiple tasks and multiple interruptions, and being the lowest in the hierarchy are just some of the stresses junior doctors face. We, in our roles as intern supervisors, have found that running weekly support groups along with some structured sessions on how to maintain personal well being have been helpful in providing support to the junior doctors working in our hospital. Our experience is described and the implications are discussed.

Women’s peer to peer support inside a jail support group

2021 ◽  
pp. 026540752110303
Author(s):  
A. E. Stearns ◽  
Yang Yang
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Supportive Communication ◽  
Communication Techniques ◽  
Integral Role ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
And Training

Social support plays an integral role in health and well-being. Behind bars, support from peers on the inside is also beneficial, facilitating prosocial behavior, sobriety, coping mechanisms, and re-entry success. Social support frequently is delivered through supportive communication. However, it is not clear how such communication is enacted, as the majority of studies relies upon participants’ recollections of supportive communication during a past crisis. The current study analyzed conversation among women participating in a jail support group to determine how supportive communication was enacted. Working with an abductive framework, the analysis found six forms of supportive communication: 1) legitimizing problems, behaviors, and perceptions; 2) advising on practical and logistical issues; 3) soothing and reassuring; 4) clarifying the problem; 5) esteem-building; and 6) emotion-expressing. Findings are novel in that they broaden our understanding of how communicative support is delivered while an individual is experiencing distress; while receivers and givers of supportive communication are both experiencing distress; and in the context of a jail. This study suggests efforts to enhance jailed women’s support of one another should be undertaken, largely by implementing peer support groups and training facilitators in effective communication techniques.

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