Aligned and Divergent Perceptions of Support Persons’ Role in Triadic Gynecologic Cancer Communication

Health care providers routinely advise cancer patients to involve support persons in oncology care to fulfill critical support roles. This qualitative descriptive study explored alignment of triadic perceptions of support person involvement in oncology treatment visits and cancer-related care from the perspectives of patients with gynecologic cancer ( n = 18), regular visit-attending support people ( n = 16), and health care providers ( n = 10), including oncologists, nurses, and medical assistants. Semi-structured interviews ( N = 44) captured perceptions of facilitation and interference of support persons' roles within and outside appointments with oncology providers. Thematic analyses revealed alignment and divergence regarding support persons' instrumental, informational, and emotional support behaviors. Perspectives aligned regarding what support functions companions provide. However, patients and support persons emphasized the significance of instrumental followed by informational and emotional support, whereas oncology providers highlighted informational, followed by emotional and instrumental support. Discussion provides insight into each role’s perspective in the triad.

Exploring Black Women’s Pathways to Motherhood Within a Reproductive Justice Framework

Amidst the increasing push to address racial disparities in maternal health equity, fewer studies have considered Black women’s perspectives on their needs, concerns, and priorities regarding family planning care. Such evidence might help address the lack of support and information that many Black women report in patient–provider encounters, and broaden empirical knowledge on the contextual factors that influence Black women’s reproductive decisions. In the present qualitative study, we explored Black women’s pathways to motherhood within a reproductive justice framework. We drew on individual, semi-structured interview data from 31 Black mothers (25–50 years, Mage = 35 years) across the United States. Using consensual qualitative research methods, we elaborated on three themes: (1) intentional family planning, (2) unintended pregnancy, and (3) othermothering. The findings challenge deficit-based stereotypes of Black mothers’ reproductive choices and illuminate how health practitioners can facilitate humanizing conversations that prioritize Black women’s family planning goals and decision-making.

“They Didn’t Ask.” Rural Women With Disabilities and Experiences of Violence Describe Interactions With the Healthcare System

Women with disabilities are at risk of experiencing multiple forms of severe and prolonged violence, yet guidelines for screening this population are unclear, screening rates are historically low, and screening tools may be inadequate to capture disability-related aspects of abuse. We conducted qualitative in-depth interviews with 33 rural women in the United States with diverse disabilities and experiences of violence. They described overarching healthcare provider and system factors that influenced their trust and confidence in healthcare delivery as an avenue to support their safety. Women described interactions with the healthcare system during their experience of violence as a missed opportunity for identifying and responding to their abuse and connecting them with resources. We conclude with policy and practice recommendations based on women with disabilities’ perspectives and insights.

Seeking Choice to Fulfill Health Literacy Needs: Health Literacy Opportunities for Consumers in Hospital Waiting Areas

In this research, we explore and theorize on the potential of hospital outpatient rehabilitation waiting areas to respond and contribute to the health literacy needs of consumers. Constructivist grounded theory informed the sampling and analytical procedures. Thirty-three consumers attending outpatient rehabilitation for a range of health conditions were recruited to this multi-site study. Semi-structured interview and participant observation data were collected and analyzed concurrently using the constant comparison method. The substantive theory of “seeking choice to fulfill health literacy needs” and five interdependent categories were developed. Results indicated that consumers sought choice reflective of their needs; however, the waiting area offered limited choice. Consumers shared ideas to address the lack of choice. Results provide insight into the health literacy needs of consumers in hospital outpatient waiting areas and how health services can appropriately respond to these needs. Future research should investigate the effect of health service environments on health outcomes.

Supporting Vulnerable Populations During the Pandemic: Stakeholders’ Experiences and Perceptions of Social Prescribing in Scotland During Covid-19

Social prescribing schemes refer people toward personalized health/wellbeing interventions in local communities. Since schemes hold different representations of social prescribing, responses to the pandemic crisis will vary. Intersectionality states that social divisions build on one another, sustaining unequal health outcomes. We conducted and inductively analysed interviews with twenty-three professional and volunteer stakeholders across three social prescribing schemes in urban and rural Scotland at the start and end of year one of the pandemic. Concerns included identifying and digitally supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals and reduced capacity statutory and third-sector services, obliging link workers to assume new practical and psychological responsibilities. Social prescribing services in Scotland, we argue, represent a collage of practices superimposed on a struggling healthcare system. Those in need of such services are unlikely to break through disadvantage whilst situated within a social texture wherein inequalities of education, health and environmental arrangements broadly intersect with one another.

How Perceptions of Responsibility and Affective Consequences Influence Parents’ Digital Media Engagement in Relation to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination

Individuals are expected to be responsible for their own health and that of their families—and act accordingly. Yet, being in a position of responsibility might be undesirable for individuals either unable or reluctant to comply with the expectations this responsibility entails. In this article, I explore how parents experience the process of engaging responsibly with digital media in relation to the question of human papillomavirus vaccination. The study is based on interviews with eighteen Danish parents, and my findings show that these parents not only understand themselves but also other actors in terms of responsibility, and that being positioned in terms of responsibility can have negative affective consequences. I argue that meeting the expectations of biological citizenship should not necessarily be a goal in relation to complex health topics.

‘You Are Kind of Like One of Us’: Exploring Researcher Positioning in Studying Community-Based Health Promotion Interventions Among Social Housing Residents of Danish, Turkish and Pakistani Origin

The practice of qualitative research demands reflexivity throughout the entire research process, with special attention directed towards researcher positioning. In this article, I explore how aspects and characteristics of my social situation positioned me contrary to my expectations regarding researcher positioning. I draw on individual interviews, focus group discussions and field notes about community-based health promotion interventions among residents of Danish, Turkish and Pakistani origin in a deprived social housing area in Denmark. Rather than insider-outsider positioning, the concept represented by the term ‘halfie’ unfolds the complexity of my researcher positioning: less minority ethnic than the residents of Turkish and Pakistani origin and less Danish than the residents of Danish origin, but similar to both, being a descendant of Sri Lankan Tamil origin brought up in a Danish social housing area. Finally, I present methodological and ethical implications of being a halfie in the context of qualitative health research.

“I Tried Forcing Myself to do It, but Then It Becomes a Boring Chore”: Understanding (dis)engagement in Physical Activity Among Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Using a Practice Theory Approach

Lack of physical activity (PA) is common among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). We apply a practice theory approach to investigate PA engagement in the context of T2D. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews ( n = 23) and focus groups ( n = 3x6) and analyzed by deductive-inductive reflexive thematic analysis using a practice theory framework. Forty-one purposefully selected individuals with T2D (29 men) between the ages of 54 and 77 years were included. The analysis resulted in three main themes informed by five subthemes, reflecting the key elements of practice theory (i.e., meanings, materialities, and competencies). One overarching theme identified PA engagement as an unsustainable and insurmountable project in constant and unequal competition with the practice of physical inactivity. To increase PA among individuals with T2D, future PA interventions and strategies should aim to establish a stronger link between PA and everyday life practices.

Understanding the Course of Critical Illness Through a Lifeworld Approach

An increasing number of individuals receive and survive intensive care treatment; however, several individuals experience problems afterward, which may threaten recovery. Grounded in a lifeworld approach, the aim of this study was to explore and describe what intensive care patients experience as limiting and strengthening throughout their illness trajectories. Ten former intensive care patients were interviewed three to eight months after hospital discharge. Using Giorgi’s phenomenological analysis, a general structure of gaining strength through a caring interaction with others was revealed. The structure consisted of three constituents: feeling safe through a caring presence, being seen and met as a unique person, and being supported to restore capacity. Being met with a humanistic approach and individualized care appeared to be important, and the findings are discussed within the framework of lifeworld-led care. To facilitate improved aftercare of the critically ill, more tailored support throughout the illness trajectory is needed.

PTSD Symptoms and Dementia in Older Veterans Who are Living in Long-Term Care

Co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and dementia can result in increased symptoms, such as suspicion, aggression, and nightmares in Veterans that can be difficult to manage in long-term care environments. The objective of the study was to explore how the co-occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and dementia are understood in Canadian Veterans who are living in long-term care. A descriptive multiple case study was conducted in two Veteran long-term care facilities in Canada. Data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews with Veterans, their family caregivers, and health care providers, non-participant observation, and a chart audit. Three major themes emerged relating to symptom expression and care approach: a) symptoms are the same but different; b) differences in the complexity of care; and c) added dimensions involved in care. The results of this study contribute foundational information about co-occurring posttraumatic and dementia symptoms that can inform policy, care approaches, and potential interventions.