The Meaning of Home in Male Migration: Listening to Men’s Experiences

We assessed the sense of psychological home among adult men (n = 17; M age = 29.7 years old) who had experienced migration to Italy, focusing on the relationship between psychological home and the process of integration into the new country. Psychological home is a dynamic process in which people sense a safe and secure environment that ranges beyond the confines of a structured dwelling, a process which is reflective and which communicates one’s self-identity. Participants engaged in a semistructured interview with the aim of establishing a generic concept of psychological home and identifying the issues that arise at the intersection of psychological home and migration. The results highlighted certain themes about the meaning that psychological home assumes in the lives of migrants and about the way in which the migration experience acts to support or hinder the process of building this sense of home. Of special interest is the idea that individuals might develop multiple psychological homes related to the different places and relationships that they experience. In this sense, establishment of a psychological home might be considered the ideal affective state for psychological adaptation to a new country.

Credit and Recognition for Contributions to Data-Sharing Platforms Among Cohort Holders and Platform Developers in Europe: Interview Study

Background The European Commission is funding projects that aim to establish data-sharing platforms. These platforms are envisioned to enhance and facilitate the international sharing of cohort data. Nevertheless, broad data sharing may be restricted by the lack of adequate recognition for those who share data. Objective The aim of this study is to describe in depth the concerns about acquiring credit for data sharing within epidemiological research. Methods A total of 17 participants linked to European Union–funded data-sharing platforms were recruited for a semistructured interview. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results Interviewees argued that data sharing within international projects could challenge authorship guidelines in multiple ways. Some respondents considered that the acquisition of credit for articles with extensive author lists could be problematic in some instances, such as for junior researchers. In addition, universities may be critical of researchers who share data more often than leading research. Some considered that the evaluation system undervalues data generators and specialists. Respondents generally looked favorably upon alternatives to the current evaluation system to potentially ameliorate these issues. Conclusions The evaluation system might impede data sharing because it mainly focuses on first and last authorship and undervalues the contributor’s work. Further movement of crediting models toward contributorship could potentially address this issue. Appropriate crediting mechanisms that are better aligned with the way science ought to be conducted in the future need to be developed.

Bereavement Experiences of Families in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

Background Losing a loved one in the intensive care unit is associated with complicated grief and increased psychologic distress for families. Providing bereavement support may help families during this time. However, little is known about the bereavement experiences of families of patients in the cardiac intensive care unit. Objective To describe the bereavement experiences of families of patients in the cardiac intensive care unit. Methods In this secondary analysis, an exploratory, descriptive design was used to understand the families’ bereavement experiences. Families from 1 cardiac intensive care unit in a tertiary medical center in the western United States participated. Audiotaped telephone interviews were conducted by using a semistructured interview guide 13 to 15 months after the patient’s death. A qualitative, descriptive technique was used for data analysis. Two independent researchers coded the interview transcripts and identified themes. Results Twelve family members were interviewed. The majority were female (n = 8, 67%), spouses (n = 10, 83%), and White (n = 10, 83%); the mean age (SD) was 58.4 (16.7) years. Five main themes emerged: (1) families’ bereavement work included both practical tasks and emotional processing; (2) families’ bereavement experiences were individual; (3) these families were resilient and found their own resources and coping mechanisms; (4) the suddenness of a patient’s death influenced families’ bereavement experiences; and (5) families’ experiences in the intensive care unit affected their bereavement. Conclusions This study provided insight into the bereavement experiences of families of patients in the cardiac intensive care unit. These findings may be useful for professionals working with bereaved families and for cardiac intensive care units considering adding bereavement support.

THE CONCEPTS OF IMAGINATION, FANTASIES, DREAMS, AND HALLUCINATIONS IN MENTALLY HEALTHY PEOPLE

Imagination, fantasies, dreams, and hallucinations are contiguous mental processes that reflect various forms of image processing at the internal level. The ability to maintain boundaries between them, reflecting as they do either external or profoundly internal, subjective reality (reality testing), is considered to be one of the most widely accepted criteria of mental health. Nevertheless, traditionally these processes have been investigated independently by different authors adopting different approaches, and there is a discernible lack of studies dedicated to the comparative analysis of these phenomena, both in their theoretical and empirical aspects. At the same time, such data could be used to develop diagnostic methods of investigating mental processes in normal conditions as well as in cases of mental disorders. The aim of this study is to investigate people's common ideas about imagination, fantasies, dreams and hallucinations, as well as the subjective experience of them in comparison with each other. The study's group of participants consisted of 45 nominally mentally healthy people (32 women and 13 men) aged between 17 and 29 years old. The following methods were used during the study: a semistructured interview aimed at studying the respondents' ideas about imagination, fantasy, dreams and hallucinations, and visual drawings of the forms, which these processes took. According to the results of the study, in the case of 15% of the respondents, their ideas about imagination, fantasies, dreams and hallucinations differed from their scientific definitions. The drawings of the images of imagination, fantasies, dreams and hallucinations varied in terms of emotional experience. The more the mental process is voluntary and subjectively controlled, the more these images are associated with positive emotions. In particular, images of imagination are mainly associated with a positive emotional charge, images of fantasy more often evoke positive emotions, but also ambivalent experiences, and drawings of the images of dreams and hallucinations are most often associated with negative emotions.

Psychological Adjustment in Apert Syndrome: Parent and Young Person Perspectives

To date, limited research has been carried out into the psychological impact of having a diagnosis of Apert syndrome (AS) and the life experiences of families living with this condition. The aim of the current study was to explore psychological adjustment to AS from the perspectives of young people, and their parents, with the broader goal of informing care, and support for this population. Four young people (2 male) aged 11 to 15 years and their mothers were interviewed in their homes using a semistructured interview guide and photo-elicitation methods. Transcripts were analyzed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Three superordinate themes were identified from the data: (1) Acceptance and Adjustment: A Cyclical Journey; (2) A Barrier to Adjustment: Navigating Treatment; and (3) Facilitating Adjustment: Social Support. Families described adjustment as a cyclical process, which was sensitive to change, particularly in the context of ongoing medical treatment. Families also utilized many resources, particularly in the form of social support, to adjust to the challenges of AS and build resilience. The findings of this study have important implications for the implementation of patient-centered care within designated craniofacial treatment centers, which should at a minimum include the provision of reliable information throughout the treatment pathway, additional support from health professionals at key times of transition, and the coordination of support across medical teams, and other key organizations in the child's life.

Diretrizes para o uso de entrevistas semiestruturadas em investigações científicas

Objetivo. Sistematizar diretrizes a respeito da utilização da técnica de entrevista semiestruturada em estudos científicos. Desenvolvimento. A técnica de entrevista foi dividida em seis etapas (elaboração e testagem do roteiro de entrevista; contato inicial com os participantes; realização das entrevistas; transcrição das entrevistas; análise dos dados e relato metodológico) e foram apresentadas recomendações em relação a cada uma delas. Demos especial destaque para as etapas de transcrição e de relato metodológico das entrevistas, visto que, em geral, são etapas negligenciadas tanto em estudos que empregam essa técnica quanto em trabalhos que especificam diretrizes para a sua utilização. Implicações. As diretrizes arroladas podem ser especialmente úteis para alunos de pós-graduação e para investigadores que não têm familiaridade com a técnica de entrevista semiestruturada. Nossas recomendações, no entanto, não contemplam particularidades de entrevistas de outras naturezas.Palavras-chave. Técnica de coleta de dados; Entrevista semiestruturada; Transcrição; Produção científica.Guidelines for the use of semistructured interviews in researchAbstractObjective. Systematize guidelines regarding the use of the semistructured interview technique in scientific studies.Development. The interview technique was divided into six stages (preparation and testing of the interview guide; initial contact with the participants; conducting the interviews; transcription of the interviews; data analysis and methodological reporting) and recommendations were presented in relation to each one of them. The steps of transcription and methodological reporting of the interviews were highlighted, because, in general, they are neglected steps both in studies that use this technique and in works that specify guidelines for its use.Implications. The guidelines listed can be especially useful for graduate students and researchers who are unfamiliar with the semistructured interview technique. Our recommendations, however, do not contemplate particularities of other types of interviews.Keywords. data collection technique; semistructured interviews; transcription; scientific production.

Life-course perspectives of milk consumption among young Norwegian women and their knowledge of milk as a source of iodine: a qualitative study

Mild to moderate iodine deficiency has been found among young Norwegian women of reproductive age. In Norway, cow’s milk is the main source of iodine; however, milk consumption is decreasing, particularly among young women. This study aimed to investigate milk consumption practices in young Norwegian women and their attitudes toward milk consumption from childhood to young adulthood in a life-course perspective and their knowledge of milk as a source of iodine. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 30 bachelor students (women, 18–25 years old) from five different study programs. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to interpret milk consumption practices from a life-course perspective. Five focus group interviews were conducted using a semistructured interview guide. The transcribed interviews were coded according to emerging themes related to milk consumption practices and turning points. Milk consumption practices were dynamic and changed over time and were influenced by several factors: family traditions, school milk subscription, friends and social media, social acceptance, availability, price, and attitudes toward health and the environment. Young women tend to be in a phase of life in which milk is not part of their food practices. Most of the women were not aware of the consequences of omitting milk from their diet and had limited knowledge of iodine and how to secure adequate dietary iodine intake. Awareness of possible consequences of omitting milk from the diet should be promoted along with information on how to secure adequate iodine intake

Reflecting on experiences of care: an exploratory qualitative descriptive study of the perspectives of stroke survivors, families and staff

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify barriers and enablers from the perspectives of stroke survivors, carers and staff to understand the experiences of care.DesignThe study used a qualitative descriptive methodology and employed semistructured interview technique.SettingA metropolitan stroke rehabilitation unit in Western Australia providing rehabilitation services for inpatients and outpatients.ParticipantsOverall, 10 participants (four staff, four stroke survivors and two primary carers) were interviewed. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsExperiences of care focused on lack of time, urgency to regain mobility, postshock recovery, uncertainty about the future and the importance of accepting help once home. There was a degree of mismatch between staff experiences of the reality of what can be provided and the experiences and expectations of stroke survivors and families. However, the benefits of a specialised rehabilitation unit were found to contribute to a positive patient experience overall. The specialised unit demonstrated that services must optimise staff time with patients and carers in the poststroke rehabilitation journey to ensure benefits for the long-term well-being for both.ConclusionSeeking patient, family and staff experiences of care can provide valuable insights into facilitating better patient, family and staff engagement for preparation for home-based rehabilitation for stroke survivors and their caregivers. Further research with a larger sample across diverse hospital settings would provide even greater insight into strategies to best address the reality of rehabilitation care and readiness of patients when returning home to the community.

Does MBA Studies Increase the Value of Human Capital in the Labour Market?

Presented paper focuses on a research of added value of MBA studies organized at Academy of crisis management and management, Ltd. Uherské Hradiště on its graduates. The added value in this research is monitored in correlation to graduates’ career, recorded changes and also in correlation to the development of their knowledge and skills. Attention is also devoted to the returns of funds invested in these studies. The data are obtained thanks to a semistructured interview and a questionnaire survey among MBA graduates. They are processed by using mathematical-statistical methods, methods of comparison and analysis of information.