In-depth Interviews Research Articles

Sometimes “us”, other times “others”: identity politics within Chinese voluntary associations in Australia

ABSTRACT Research has noticed the heterogeneity within overseas Chinese communities. Yet, not much research has examined the internal dynamics and identity conflicts within Chinese voluntary associations (CVAs) from a transnational perspective. This article focuses on CVAs formed by two Chinese groups – Taiwanese and Hong Kongers in Australia, and argues that homeland identity politics influences association participation and the day-to-day lives of migrants residing overseas. Based on participant observations and in-depth interviews, I illuminate the intersection of pragmatic needs and national identity – a situation where Taiwanese and Hong Konger voluntary associations infuse with mainland Chinese ones sometimes, while other times they maintain identity boundaries and reject a broader Chinese identity shared with migrants from mainland China. This article highlights the space–time-culture nexus of participation in overseas CVAs and identity change or continuity, which manifests in different roles these CVAs played in sustaining ethnic connection, solidarity, and distinction among Chinese migrants in Australia.

Community needs assessment for social service delivery in Chengdu, China

ABSTRACT This study explores the community needs assessment of social service delivery in Chengdu, China. Using a qualitative approach to explore needs assessments, the authors conducted in-depth interviews and focus-group discussions with community members and social workers. The authors identified various needs for residences, and these include issues related to welfare for senior citizens, service delivery, the social service speciality, health and medical services, children, environmental degradation, and concerns relating to the problems faced by ethnic minorities. The findings provide insights to the Chinese government to strengthen community social work practice development and enhance community service delivery in Chengdu, China.

The experiences of cardiovascular surgeons and nurses with mutual support through interprofessional collaboration in the intensive care unit.

The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the need for radical approaches in its Global Patient Safety Action Plan, particularly in terms of interprofessional and multidisciplinary approaches. The plan highlights the importance of providing training on patient safety for all professionals, focusing on team and task-based strategies that include bedside and simulation education. TeamSTEPPS® (Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety) is an educational programme developed to teach health care professionals on specific tools and strategies to enhance basic teamwork skills. Mutual support, one of the teamwork skills described in TeamSTEPPS®, involves team members assisting one another, providing and receiving feedback on performance, and advocating assertively when patient safety is threatened. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of cardiovascular surgeons and nurses with mutual support through interprofessional collaboration in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Hacettepe University. The study employed a basic qualitative research design. The data were gathered through in-depth interviews and analysed with inductive content analysis in accordance with Elo and Kyngäs. We used the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist to describe and report the components of study design. We interviewed 13 participants: 6 surgeons and 7 nurses. Six themes were identified: mutual support, positiveness of working in a supportive environment, feedback, effective communication, patient safety and conflict resolution. The results of our study revealed that intra/inter-professional collaboration and mutual trust based on the variety of individual and workplace-related factors improved patient safety through individual motivation while monitoring and supporting each other in a positive environment, providing feedback and encouraging effective communication, patient advocacy and conflict resolution. Exploring the experiences, challenges and successes of health care workers in interprofessional collaboration is crucial. Understanding team dynamics, communication barriers and collaboration strategies can help promote more effective teamwork and contribute to the development of plans to improve the quality of patient care.

The politics of national liberation in Ethiopia: origins of and responses to state weakness, insecurity, and insurgency, 1991–2018

ABSTRACT This article argues that the politics of national liberation has been a major source of Ethiopia’s vulnerability and a threat to its survival for two reasons. Firstly, ethnically organized ‘liberation movements/fronts’ have been fighting for ‘the right to self-determination’ defining Ethiopia as a ‘prison of nationalities’ or ‘black colonial empire’. Secondly, state/regimes’ responses to these movements have further entrenched militant ethno-nationalisms. This article contributes to our understanding of the nature of national security challenges facing multi-ethnic developing states based on in-depth interviews, and document reviews, and situated in the body of knowledge that focuses on weak/fragile states’ national (in)security.

Parting ways in the marketplace: trajectories of divorce in consumer-brand relationships

ABSTRACT We analyse the divorce paths of consumers’ relationships with loved brands from consumers’ perspectives. We conducted 20 in-depth interviews with photo-elicitation and graphical sketches. Combining content analysis with song lyrics of Música Popular Brasileira (Popular Brazilian Music), we uncover five divorce trajectories based on sketch patterns: ‘Ultimatum’, ‘Erratic Healing’, ‘Summer Love’, ‘Leap of Faith’, and ‘Downhill’. We offer a framework connecting the brand love maintenance cycle – based on product performance, social experience, and shared values entangled in consumption rituals – with the trajectories identified. Developments of divorce trajectories depend on 1) which maintenance pillar is ruptured and 2) the actor (consumer or brand) responsible. Our findings unveil different processes experienced by consumers and offer contributions for managing consumer-brand relationships, and divorce, more specifically.

Supervisor responsiveness from the inside out

ABSTRACT Despite the recognized importance of close attunement to the shifting needs of supervisees and their clients, empirical study of responsiveness – what-to-do-when – is lacking. To begin filling this gap, we conducted an analogue study of an IPR simulation by asking 12 experienced supervisors to view videoclips of two differentially skilled trainees who responded to the same dissatisfied client and then reflected on this alliance rupture as if speaking directly to a supervisor. In-depth interviews revealed that, despite having different cognitive-emotional reactions to and evaluations of the two therapist/trainees, participants envisioned a similar approach to supervising each of them.

Investigating the effect of customer-robot interaction experience on customer engagement behavior and co-creation value: a mixed methods study

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effect of robots on customer engagement behavior, employing a mixed methods approach. The qualitative study involved in-depth interviews with a total of 25 customers to explore the effects and constructed a theoretical model. A quantitative investigation then evaluated the proposed model based on a sample of 558 valid respondents. The findings demonstrated that customer interaction with service robots affected customer engagement behavior, through customer perceived hedonic, functional, and symbolic benefits. These effects influenced customer happiness and organizational transaction value, facilitating value co-creation between robots, customers, and firms. The impact of robots on customer engagement behavior was contingent upon travel companions and purpose, but not employee support. This study contributes to the literature by enhancing an understanding of service robot performance and customer engagement behavior, offering practical insights for the effective management of robots in the hotel industry.

Understanding risk factors for perinatal distress in Syrian refugee mothers: insights from Lebanon.

The perinatal period is a critical phase in a woman's life, marked by unique mental health challenges. This study focuses on Syrian mothers in Lebanon, a vulnerable population often exposed to displacement and conflict-related stressors. The aim is to identify risk factors for perinatal distress, including symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among Syrian mothers within one year of giving birth. Data collection included quantitative assessments using the Refugee Health Screener-13 (RHS-13), and qualitative insights from in-depth interviews. The assessment period was extended to cover the year following childbirth to provide a broader perspective on perinatal distress. The study revealed significant risk factors, specifically a history of mental illness and chronic disease. While maternal age and number of children were considered potential risk factors, they were not statistically significant in the quantitativeanalysis but were highlighted in the qualitative interviews. This research offers valuable insights for healthcare providers, policymakers, and organizations working with Syrian refugee women in Lebanon. Addressing these risk factors can improve mental health outcomes for perinatal women affected by war and displacement, underscoring the need for proactive mental health screening during pregnancy and postpartum.

Digital agriculture and decent working conditions of smallholder farmers and farmworkers in Ghana

Digitalisation of the agriculture sector has been argued as the solution to the threat of food insecurity in the Global South. However, its adoption brings serious ramifications to the working conditions of farmers in terms of job creation, worker rights, social protection, and social dialogue. Given the role of the state in ensuring that all forms of employment are organised decently it is however uncertain how digitalisation of the agriculture affects the working conditions of farm workers and farmers. The study therefore examined the effects of digital agriculture on the working conditions of smallholder farmers and farmworkers in the Bono East region of Ghana. The study adopted a qualitative approach to enable us to have a deeper understanding of farmers’ experiences of using digital agriculture solutions. The participants who were purposively selected were adopters of digital agricultural technology. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were some of the methods adopted to collect data for the study. The results from the study show that the adoption of digital agriculture has not improved the working conditions in terms of job creation, workers’ rights social protection, and social protection. Digital agriculture was however found to promote the organisation of farmers into groups to undertake activities for their benefit. The study therefore recommends the development of a digital agricultural policy that incorporates decent working conditions for farmers.

Analysis of Promotion Strategies through the Addition of Play Areas with Cats at Mostcat Cafe Batam

Mostcat Cafe is the first cafe in Batam that integrates the concept of direct interaction with cats. Adopting the "cat cafe" model popular in Taiwan since 1998, this cafe offers a relaxing experience while enjoying food and drinks, as well as the opportunity to interact with various breeds of cats. This study aims to analyze the marketing strategy implemented by Mostcat Cafe, including the Marketing Mix elements: product, price, promotion, and location. The method used is a qualitative approach with in-depth interviews and field observations. The results showed that the addition of a play area with cats increased customer loyalty and frequency of visits, and the price set was in line with the experience provided. Mostcat Cafe succeeded in creating a solution for cat owners and providing a space for cat lovers to gather, thus strengthening the cafe's position in the thematic culinary industry in Batam. This research is expected to provide valuable insights for similar business owners in developing effective marketing strategies.

Chronic Concealment and Awareness in the Affective Worlds of Young People Living With Chronic Illness.

From the onset of chronic illness, a variety of challenges emerge-challenges that both persist and evolve as life progresses. For young adults living with chronic illness, the age-specific difficulties of becoming ill while young form a foundation that shapes their experience of illness in enduring ways. This paper draws on a series of in-depth qualitative interviews with 33 young adults (aged 19-29 years old) living with a range of chronic illnesses, including fatigue syndromes, auto-immune diseases, and neurological conditions. Participants demonstrated an emergent chronic consciousness of how others perceived their health, which created a series of fraught affective tussles centered on relational recognition and feared judgment. This article explores the difficulties and concerns participants had when communicating the nature and realities of illness; the emotional toll of attempting to avoid attention and judgment from others regarding their conditions; and the ways in which others could productively and sensitively acknowledge participants' illness experiences. We demonstrate that the process of learning how to navigate these issues was one important way that participants began to integrate their illness (and its implications) into their emerging sense of self and adult life.

The experiences of trans (binary and non-binary) people accessing emergency department care in Australia: A grounded theory study

BackgroundThis study aimed to explore the experiences of trans (binary and non-binary) people accessing emergency department care in Australia. MethodThis qualitative descriptive study utilised a grounded theory approach. Seven people who identified as trans were recruited through social media and trans support groups. Individuals participated in an in-depth narrative interview. Interview transcriptions were analysed using a constant comparative approach. ResultsFollowing thematic analysis, four key themes were identified: 1. identity; 2. clinical care; 3. communication; and 4. perceptions of health professional education, beliefs and experience in caring for trans people. ConclusionThis study is the first in Australia to explore the experiences of trans people utilising emergency department services. The findings of this study are similar to international data whereby the delivery of gender affirming care in emergency departments is inconsistent, health professionals are perceived as poorly educated and gender identity is inadequately recognised.

Jarring Encounters: Discomfort, Disruption, and Dominant Narratives of Suicide.

In researching experiences and understandings of suicide bereavement across diverse communities in Scotland, we expected to hear difficult, distressing, and painful narratives. However, one of the 31 in-depth qualitative interviews that we conducted was particularly and unexpectedly jarring. In this narrative, Freya explained how her ex-partner took his life after she escaped from his domestic abuse. This narrative produces a deep sense of discomfort in the interviewer, as her expectations about suicide bereavement are disrupted. Taking this discomfort as a starting point, we explore what this jarring encounter tells us about dominant and absent narratives of suicide. We interrogate how this narrative of suicide within the context of domestic violence perpetration bumps up against dominant narratives of a "male suicide crisis" and "relationship breakdown," through which men are positioned solely as "victims." Drawing on perspectives from feminist, affective, and reflexive qualitative research, critical suicide studies, and an abductive approach to analysis, we explore how attending to uncomfortable feelings that are generated within the research encounter can enable us to develop more complex, nuanced, and messy understandings of suicide.

Factors Impacting the Adoption and Potential Reimbursement of a Virtual Reality Tool for Pain Management in Switzerland: Qualitative Case Study.

Pain and its adequate treatment are an issue in hospitals and emergency departments (EDs). A virtual reality (VR) tool to manage pain could act as a valuable complement to common pharmaceutical analgesics. While efficacy could be shown in previous studies, this does not assure clinical adoption in EDs. The main aim of this study was to investigate which factors affect the adoption and potential reimbursement of a VR tool for pain management in the ED of a Swiss university hospital. Key informant interviews were conducted using in-depth semistructured interviews with 11 participants reflecting the perspectives of all the relevant stakeholder groups, including physicians, nurses, patients, health technology providers, and health insurance and reimbursement experts. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, and the extracted data were systematically analyzed using a thematic analysis and narrative synthesis of emergent themes. A consolidated framework for eHealth adoption was used to enable a systematic investigation of the topic and help determine which adoption factors are considered as facilitators or barriers or as not particularly relevant for the tool subject of this study. According to the participants, the three key facilitators are (1) organizational environment; (2) tension for change, ease of use, and demonstrability; and (3) employee engagement. Further, the three key barriers to adoption are (1) workload, (2) changes in clinical workflow and habit, and (3) reimbursement. This study concludes that the adoption of a VR tool for pain management in the ED of the hospital subject of this study, although benefiting from a high tension for change in pain and workload management, is highly dependent on the respective organizational environment, engagement of the clinical staff, and reimbursement considerations. While tailored incentive structures and ambassador roles could benefit initial adoption, a change in the reimbursement landscape and further investigation of the positive effects on workflow effectiveness are required to drive long-term adoption.

Iranian mothers’ perceptions of contextual factors helping them manage pain in labor

BackgroundThe rate of caesarean section in Iran has significantly increased. The main reason cited by Iranian mothers for it is labor pain and fear of it. However, the experience of pain during childbirth has different meanings for mothers in various conditions. Therefore, this study aims to examine the components from the mothers’ perspective that helped them manage pain in labor. The findings of this article may help prevent unnecessary medical interventions.MethodsThe current article is one component of a mixed-method study conducted in Iran. Its primary objective was to develop protocols for maternity unit design to enhance maternal satisfaction, promote husbands’ involvement, and improve pain management. The current study focuses on examining contextual components that are effective in managing pain among 25 mothers selected through stratified purposive sampling. Data collection from mothers who gave birth in four large hospitals in Iran was carried out through unstructured in-depth interviews. The data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.FindingsThe data show that two major environmental factors affect mothers’ perception of pain and their ability to control it: (1) Internal and (2) External environments. The main components of the internal factor are identified as “Personal beliefs”, “Self-confidence and lack of fear”, and the external environment includes three subfactors: “Spatial environment”, “Social environment”, and “Interactive environment”. The overall meaning attributed to pain caused by these factors determines how mothers can cope with it.ConclusionIn this study, self-confidence and a positive mindset were significant factors in managing pain during labor among this group of mothers. Furthermore, each mother’s perception of pain was shaped by a combination of physical, social, and interactive influences. The research identified the importance of support during labor according to mothers’ individual, subjective needs, while improving the physical environment, with a view to reducing interventions and promoting positive experiences for mothers and husbands. Consequently, enhancing internal resources and the birthing environment during labor which involve identifying the optimal blend of physical, mental, and emotional strategies tailored to the specific needs of mothers, can be considered to a potential reduction in the perceived intensity of pain in future.

Development and Validation of a Novel Tool to Measure Medication Adherence for Noncommunicable Diseases in India: Protocol for an Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Multicentric Study.

In high-income countries, only 50% of patients treated for chronic diseases adhere to the prescribed treatment. This issue is even more pronounced in resource-limited countries. Medication adherence scales are simple, low-cost approaches to identify nonadherence in clinical practice. In India, nonadherence to medication varies from 18.7% to 74%, assessed using scales validated in the Western population, as there is no validated medication adherence tool contextualized to the Indian setting. The phrasing of questions in scales validated elsewhere and its interpretations may vary when applied in Indian patients unless accounting for the unique cultural, social, and economic factors influencing medication adherence in India. This could result in inaccurate reports of adherence behavior. This study aims to develop and validate a novel medication adherence tool for select noncommunicable diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, and coronary artery disease) in the Indian population. An exploratory sequential mixed methods design will be used, beginning with a qualitative phase where the construct of the scale is defined and preliminary items are generated through a scoping review, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews. This will be followed by the tool's development phase, including an expert panel review and item revision. Finally, a quantitative phase in 4 zones in India (North, South, East, and West) will be conducted to confirm and validate the newly developed scale. In the first phase, we will frame the construct definition and develop an inventory of potential items for the proposed medication adherence tool. In the second phase, item-level and scale-level content validity indices, along with content validity ratio, will be estimated. In the third phase, we will conduct an item reduction analysis and determine the scoring matrix and item weightage after expert review. We will assess the tool's psychometric properties, plot the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to set an adherence cut-off score, and compute the construct validity and test-retest reliability from the quantitative survey. A medication adherence tool for noncommunicable diseases, developed after ensuring it is ethnically, culturally, and linguistically appropriate incorporating stakeholder perspectives and validated in community settings, would offer a real-world perspective of adherence. The tool will have 2 versions for clinical practice and research, aiding policy makers in adopting tailored adherence policies. PRR1-10.2196/60805.

Consistent and Correct Use of Condoms With Lubricants and Associated Factors Among Men Who Have Sex With Men from the Ghana Men's Study II: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) experience a disproportionate burden of HIV infection globally, including in Ghana. The use of condoms with lubricants correctly and consistently plays a vital role in reducing the number of new HIV infections among MSM. However, there are concerns about the consistent and correct use of condoms and lubricants among MSM in Ghana. In this regard, there is a need to understand context-specific factors associated with consistent and correct condom use with lubricants. This study aims to determine the current scope of consistent and correct use of condoms with lubricants, associated factors, interventions, and user- and service-related challenges on correct condom and lubricant use among the MSM population in Ghana. The study will use a mixed methods study approach. First, a retrospective analysis of the Ghana Men's Study II data set involving 4095 MSM will be conducted to determine the scope of consistency and correct use of condoms with lubricants as well as associated factors. The data will be imported into STATA (version 17; StataCorp LLC) to treat missing data and outliers before the analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses will be conducted to determine the associated factors of consistent condom use with lubricants. All statistical analyses will be done at a 95% CI, with significant differences at P<.05. Second, in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of about 15-20 stakeholders will also be conducted to understand contextual issues regarding the factors identified, identify existing interventions for correct condom and lubricant use, user and service-related challenges, and how best to address those challenges from the stakeholders' perspectives. For qualitative data, thematic analysis will be conducted using Atlas.ti version 23.1.1. Qualitative and quantitative results will be triangulated together with systematic review results, and key findings will be highlighted and used to guide the development of a predictive model for improving correct and consistent condom use with lubrication among MSM. This protocol paper, part of a doctoral study by the first author (RA), received approval from the Research and Ethics Committee of the University of Johannesburg on May 10, 2024. Data collection commenced on August 20, 2024, and the expected results will be published by October 2025. Results from qualitative interviews and secondary data analysis will be triangulated to develop a predictive model to strengthen the correct and consistent use of condoms with condom-compatible lubricants among MSM and other key population groups in Ghana and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa for future pandemic preparedness, policy making, and targeted budget allocation. DERR1-10.2196/63276.

The event attachment formation process of mega-event volunteers

ABSTRACT Although volunteers are important participants at mega-events, the changing relationship between volunteers and mega-events from the perspective of attachment remains under-explored. Taking the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics as a case study, this study conducted a coding analysis of data collected through in-depth interviews and online materials. The results showed that the volunteers developed a sense of closeness to the Winter Olympics through the atmosphere, Olympic heritage, and place attachment in the pre-event stage. In the mid-event stage, on the basis of the new norms and order in space and time, the volunteers developed a strong sense of connection to the Winter Olympics through their experiences and perceptions of the event. In the post-event stage, they developed a sense of identification with the Winter Olympics through their internalisation of event memories, identity labels, and new habits. The volunteers’ attitudes showed a dramatic evolutionary conditional–unconditional–unreserved pattern together with self-transformation due to the Olympics. This study sheds light on future volunteer management and event development.

Learning and Giving Compassionate Care to Patients: Perspectives of the ICU Nurses.

Compassion forms the basis for nursing practice and is an essential component of patient-centered care. It is vital, essential and of great significance to relieve patient's suffering and have a positive impact on the quality of care provided by a nurse. In the context of Tanzania, knowledge on learning and giving compassionate nursing care to patients remained unresearched. To explore nurse's perspectives on how they learn and give compassionate nursing care to patients in ICUs in Tanzania. A qualitative descriptive study design using in-depth interviews was conducted amongst eleven (11) ICU nurses of two hospitals in Dodoma region. Audio-recording and notetaking were used to collect data. Data from the audio records were transcribed verbatim and subjected to inductive thematic analysis using manifest codding approach with a semantic focus. We report this paper according to COREQ checklist. Three themes emerged from data that summarised the nurses' perspectives on learning and giving compassionate care to patients in ICUs. These themes included (i) Sources and learning of compassionate nursing care (ii) Practicing compassionate nursing care and (iii) impact of compassionate nursing care. Overall, nurses in this setting expressed compassion to as a combination of empathy, ethical view, duty to care and readiness to go extra mile to address patients needs defined their unique view of compassion. Emphasis of compassionate nursing care in formal training curricula, role modelling on compassion in clinical settings and motivation of nurses in critical care settings may facilitate provision of compassionate nursing care amongst patients in ICUs. The findings of the present study underscore the nurse's perspectives on compassionate nursing care and what motivates and prevents them to provide compassionate care to patients. No Patient or Public Contribution.

Unveiling Masculinity in Motion: Exploring the Dynamics of Masculine Identity through Reog Dance in Javanese Culture

This research explores perceptions and expressions of masculinity within the Reog dance tradition in Javanese culture. Through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and thematic analysis, the study uncovers diverse perspectives on masculinity, revealing its rich symbolic meanings and cultural significance. Findings illuminate the intricate interplay between tradition and modernity and how gender dynamics manifest in Reog dance performances. The research also highlights the role of the Reog dance in shaping and negotiating gender identities within Javanese society while acknowledging the evolution of masculine ideals over time and across different social contexts. Ultimately, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of masculinity as a culturally constructed phenomenon, shedding light on its manifestations, variations, and transformations within traditional performing arts in Java.