Descriptive Phenomenology Research Articles

Experiences of family caregivers of people with spinal cord injury at the neurosurgical units of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leaves affected persons with a lifelong demand for care. As a result, the effect of the condition goes beyond the injured person to affect family members and significant others who have to adjust their lives to provide care and support. However, little is known about the experiences of these family caregivers regarding the care of people with SCI in Ghana. Exploring their experiences would enhance the understanding of family caregiving of people with SCI and contribute to policy intervention. This qualitative descriptive phenomenology study used the purposive sampling method to select 10 family caregivers. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview guide through individual in-depth interviews. Written informed consent was obtained and interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were manually analysed following Colaizzi's method of data analysis. In all, 4 main themes emerged from the analysis of data (1) becoming a caregiver, (2) roles of the caregiver, (3) the burden of caregiving, and (4) coping strategies. The family caregivers provided vital assistance to their relatives with SCI and experienced physical and financial burdens as a result of the care. Due to the strains involved in the caregiving process, family caregivers adopted various strategies to cope with the situation. This study has provided evidence of the lived experiences of family caregivers of people with SCI in the Ghanaian context and further supports the findings of previous studies. Measures including training, counselling, and instituting social support services for family caregivers should be considered by the management of healthcare institutions to enhance the experiences of family caregivers.

Perspectives of healthcare workers on the challenges with obstetric referrals in rural communities in Ghana: a descriptive phenomenology study

ObjectiveWe explored and document healthcare workers’ (HCWs’) perspectives on the challenges encountered during obstetric referrals.DesignThe study adopted a qualitative research approach and a descriptive phenomenology design. HCWs permanently working in...

Portrait of psychological well-being in individuals who have coming out as gender dysphoria

Choosing to be a gender dysphoria is quite difficult to voice yourself in behavior, expression, even in dress, good and bad responses always come. In Indonesia, it is still fairly sensitive to talk about gender deviation. Individuals who have been diagnosed as gender dysphoria by psychologists / psychiatrists could propably feel unconfortable in society. Some of them who have come out in the environment but have not been fulfilled in terms of psychological well-being due to several factors. Based on the phenomenon that occurs, researchers want to examine the portrait of psychological well-being, both through dimensions and factors in individuals who have come out as gender dysphoria. The method used in this study is qualitative descriptive phenomenology. The data collection process is carried out by using observations, interviews, and documents. Data analysis is performed using interactive data analysis methods. The results of this study show that in general gender dysphoria individuals who have come out have been fulfilled in the picture of psychological well-being for themselves and the surrounding environment, where it appears that participants have fulfilled the dimensions and factors of psychological well-being theory of Ryff and Keyes (1995). Researchers also found a new factor that affects psychological well-being, namely the self-love factor.

The Difficulties of Teaching Traditional Filipino Games Online

This study examines the experience of elementary physical education (PE) teachers who teach traditional Filipino games online. The study, which is anchored on the Giorgi's descriptive phenomenology and the Community of Inquiry theory, examines how teachers conduct online classes, how interpersonal relationships and interactions occur, and how, in the process, student learning happens. The analysis of interview transcripts using Giorgi's phenomenological reduction helped shed light on the experiences of the 30 elementary PE teachers. Specifically, the study found that the trial-and-error method of teaching traditional Filipino games online still exists despite teachers' participation in several training activities. Additionally, teachers face several technological challenges due to the need for more technical support and services, despite several requests that they made to their administrators. Furthermore, the limited social interaction and space in online education, alongside their pedagogical and technical problems, hamper the quality of teaching, resulting in diluted enthusiasm, learning, and appreciation for traditional games among students. Thus, teaching traditional Filipino games online has pedagogical and technological issues that should be addressed. However, PE teachers' determination and initiative ensured that students continue with their online learning despite the various problems faced. PE teachers self-studied, self-financed, and harnessed their networks, especially in learning the foundations of technology for online teaching and resolving technical issues. Therefore, more initiatives to help them acquire up-to-date and relevant knowledge, skills, and tools for teaching skill-based topics are necessary to succeed in online education.

Effects of vertical violence on the work of nurses in hospital settings: An exploratory study

Introduction : more than 39.7% of nurses report being victims of psychological harassment in the workplace. In 60% of cases, the abuse is vertical, involving a person in a position of authority.Context : few studies have examined this phenomenon without conflating it with other forms of workplace violence.Objective : the purpose of this study was to shed light on cases of vertical violence experienced by nurses working in hospitals.Method : data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews with six nurses working in hospitals in the province of Quebec (Canada). Descriptive phenomenology was used to analyze the collected data.Results : the overall effects of the vertical violence experienced by nurses in hospital settings resulted in less diligent and individualized nursing care.Discussion : it is recommended that organizational policies against vertical violence put in place in hospital be enforced in a rigorous and transparent manner. Further investigation is needed to identify the organizational factors that contribute to vertical violence in hospital settings.

'A team around the child' professionals' experiences of unmet needs, access and expectations in children's palliative care services, a phenomenological study in the UK.

This study aims to understand the experiences of professionals involved in caring for families of children with life-limiting illnesses to ascertain unmet needs, access issues and expectations of services.A phenomenological approach comprising semi-structured interviews with professionals from various services was used. Interviews that happened between July and November 2018 were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed based on descriptive phenomenology.In total, 29 interviews were conducted. Findings showed how essential collaborative working was for becoming a team around the child. Barriers to this include complex working relationships, overprotectiveness of families, roles and responsibilities and use of independent care records. The pressures of waiting times and the impact of staffing shortages affected the experiences of providing care. The reality of meeting families' expectations was shaped by family networking, online research and previous services resistance, which was influential in more challenging interactions. Expectations of care were also impacted by misunderstandings and anxieties surrounding access to services. Overall, professionals were concerned about families being used as a bottomless caring resource and stressed the need for short breaks to alleviate parents.Interventions that educate families and professionals on these services and how they can benefit the child and family would be well received.

PERSEPSI TENTANG RELAKTASI DARI IBU YANG TELAH MELAKUKAN RELAKTASI di SAMPANG – INDONESIA: Studi Fenomenologi Deskriptif

Background: Most of the breastfeeding problems such as relactation experience stem from the psychological condition of the women who experience it. Those stress conditions affect the brain loci that control the perception of health. Perception’s problem is a very broad and complex. Therefore, interesting to understanding about perceptions of relactation experiences in women who failed to provide exclusive breastfeeding through qualitative methods.
 Method: The research was conducted using descriptive phenomenology on 10 informants through semi-structural interviews.
 Result: Seven themes obtained namely (a) Knowledge about Breastfeeding (b) Support obtained during breastfeeding (c) Role of health workers in the breastfeeding process (d) Postnatal psychological condition (e) Mother's Breastfeeding History (g) The role of social media and relations in the breastfeeding process (h) Implementation of Early Initiation of Breastfeeding (IMD) in the delivery place.
 Discussion: Various components have mutual implications for the relactation have done such as due to a lack of knowledge about breastfeeding and the existence of self-perceptions about postpartum psychological conditions which tend to be moody. The view that the mother had previously breastfed and was considered to have more knowledge was a trigger for women to feel safer when following their mother. In addition, self-perception also has implications for self-confidence to breastfeed. The closest environment and the most frequent contact, namely health workers, how the nuclear family supports women physically and mentally after childbirth, the implementation of IMD in the delivery center, and access to breastfeeding information through social media have implications for the success of relactation.

The experiences of menstrual symptom changes among international students studying in China during the acculturation period: A phenomenology study

ObjectivesMenstruation is a normal physiological phenomenon among female which could be influenced by the process of acculturation. Few studies have explored the experience of menstrual symptom changes among international female students studying in China. Therefore, this paper aims to summarize international female students’ experiences of menstrual symptom changes when they were studying in China and interpret these changes through considering the influence of acculturation on their social and academic lives. MethodsWe used a descriptive phenomenology approach. Structured in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted between May and November 2019 among ten international female students studying in one Province located in south central China. Participants were those who reported having experienced menstrual symptom changes during the acculturation period, which was defined as the first six months of living in China. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo 11.0 with the guidance of Colaizzi's seven-step method. ResultsThe international female students’ experiences of menstrual symptom changes were summarized and grouped into five main categories and 13 subcategories. The main categories include: 1) demonstration of menstrual symptom changes, 2) challenges of maintaining menstrual function in the new setting, 3) coping styles to take care of menstrual health, 4) consequences of the menstrual symptom changes, and 5) culture-based attitude toward menstruation. ConclusionsInternational female students reported experiences of menstrual symptom changes, including somatic and psychological symptoms during the acculturation period. Culture barriers, academic stress, and sleep patterns are common factors influencing their menstrual symptom changes. More culturally-tailored interventions should be explored to improve the menstrual health of international female students in China.

Lived Experience of Employees of Services Division from their Job and Employment status: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the lived experience of employees of services division from their job and employment status.
 Methods: The research method utilized was qualitative and descriptive phenomenology. The study population was all employees of Services Division working at the University of Guilan. Participants in the study were also selected in a purposeful and criterion-focused manner. Their number was also selected according to the theoretical saturation of 9 people. The data collection tool was also a semi-structured interview.
 Results: Findings were analyzed using the Colaizzi method. As a result of the analysis, 5 main themes and 21 subcategories were obtained. The first main theme was injustice, which included the sub-categories of unfair judgment, feeling of discrimination, feeling of injustice, high work pressure, high work expectations, and lack of support. The second main theme of low self-esteem with sub-categories was lack of credibility, not being seen, being humiliated, not being valued, not being respected and not being understood. The third main theme was the lack of motivation for progress, which includes the categories of helplessness and despair from changing the existing situation, lack of promotion and job promotion. The fourth main theme was not benefiting from job privileges, which included the subcategories of insufficient salary, delay in receiving salary, lack of loans, lack of supplementary insurance, lack of leave, and the fifth main theme was lack of job satisfaction, which included the subcategories of lack of motivation, Job insecurity and instability.
 Conclusion: The findings of the present research showed that service sector employees do not have a positive psychological experience of their job situation. These findings can be used for managers of recruitment companies and employers.

The lived experience of stress for parents in the context of COVID‐19–related disruption

AbstractObjectiveThis mixed methods study sought to explore the lived experience of stress for parents of young dependent children during COVID‐19 lockdowns in Australia.BackgroundPublic health restrictions implemented during the COVID‐19 pandemic disproportionately burdened parents as they balanced novel and competing role demands. Despite growing research on impacts to parent mental health, much less is known about parenting at the experiential level during this period.MethodData were derived from free‐text survey responses collected during 2020 in an Australian population cohort study and analyzed in a mixed methods approach focusing on descriptive phenomenology. Twenty‐eight parent accounts of either ‘extreme’ or ‘minimal’ stress experiences were subject to phenomenological analysis of the individual, interpersonal, and contextual factors associated with each stress category.ResultsThree themes defined ‘extreme’ stress experiences: inadequacy of resources to cope, perceived lack of control, and compounding stressors. Two themes characterized ‘minimal’ stress experiences: feeling well resourced to cope and the absence of significant disruption to everyday life.ConclusionFindings highlight three targets in particular: compounding stressors, family relationships, and gendered differences in parental stress.ImplicationsIntervention efforts should focus on better resourcing parents experiencing accumulating stressors through provision of individual and relational support and by addressing the higher burden experienced by mothers compared with fathers across pandemic related lockdowns.

Community-based approaches to infant safe sleep and breastfeeding promotion: a qualitative study

BackgroundIn the U.S., sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) due to accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (ASSB) are increasing, with disparities by race/ethnicity. While breastfeeding is a protective factor against infant mortality, racial/ethnic disparities are present in its uptake, and motivations to breastfeed are also often coupled with non-recommended infant sleep practices that are associated with infant sleep deaths. Combining infant safe sleep (ISS) and breastfeeding promotion on the community level presents opportunities to address racial/ethnic disparities and associated socioeconomic, cultural, and psychosocial influences.MethodsWe completed a descriptive qualitative hermeneutical phenomenology using thematic analysis of focus group data. We examined the phenomenon of community-level providers promoting ISS and breastfeeding in communities vulnerable to ISS and breastfeeding disparities. We asked eighteen informants participating in a national quality improvement collaborative about i.) areas requiring additional support to meet community needs around ISS and breastfeeding, and ii.) recommendations on tools to improve their work promoting ISS and breastfeeding.ResultsWe identified four themes: i.) education and dissemination, ii.) relationship building and social support, iii.) working with clients’ personal circumstances and considerations, and iv.) tools and systems.ConclusionsOur findings support embedding risk-mitigation approaches in ISS education; relationship building between providers, clients, and peers; and the provision of ISS and breastfeeding supportive material resources with educational opportunities. These findings may be used to inform community-level provider approaches to ISS and breastfeeding promotion.

The Destiny of Phenomenology: Gadamer on Value, Globalism, and the Growth of Being

The Destiny of Phenomenology: Gadamer on Value, Globalism, and the Growth of Being

Evaluating parental experiences in using technology for remote learning to teach students with special needs during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundThe 2020–2021 school year shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic brought an unprecedented burden on parents, especially those with special needs children. Parents with children with special needs were left to assist their children with remote learning at home using technology for the first time. These students with special needs were used to face-to-face and one-to-one classroom learning by skilled educators but are now left to be educated by their parents.ObjectiveThis study explored parents’ experiences assisting their special needs children with remote learning for the first time, using technology at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodA transcendental (descriptive) phenomenology was undertaken to explore the experiences of nine participants, recruited from two school divisions in Manitoba, Canada, on their child’s education and the challenges they experienced during remote learning from home. A purposive sampling technique was used, and data were collected through telephone interviews.ResultsEight out of nine parents reported a negative experience with remote learning. Four major themes emerged after the data analysis: participants’ fear and anxiety during remote learning, difficulty maintaining routines during remote learning, students’ behavioral issues and mental health changes during remote learning, and lack of home support during remote learning. Furthermore, results indicated that integrating technology in remote learning for students with special needs was ineffective.ConclusionThis study suggests poor communication between parents and teachers, and parents’ desire to be involved in planning remote learning for students with special needs during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown was not met. This study also suggests that schools failed to meet students’ IEPs during remote learning. Furthermore, this study highlights that remote learning for special-needs students is inappropriate without educational assistance.

Experiences of loss of control eating in women after bariatric surgery: A qualitative study.

Loss of control (LOC) eating following bariatric surgery remains insufficiently understood, reflected in a lack of clear conceptualization, valid measurements, and effective treatments. This study explored patients' perspectives on LOC eating post-bariatric surgery, focusing on the relevance of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5) indicators of impaired control, and patients' experiences before (precipitating factors), during (eating patterns, perpetuating factors), and after the episodes (strategies used to stop eating). This was a qualitative study using descriptive phenomenology. Participants were adults who have undergone gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy and self-reported recent LOC eating. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a combined inductive and deductive approach. Participants were all women (N=15; age: 34.5 ± 9.2 years). Results suggested that (1) except for feeling disgusted, guilty, or depressed after eating, other DSM-5 indicators did not seem to be highly relevant to this bariatric cohort; (2) LOC eating could occur across contexts, with food access, boredom, and food craving being consistent triggers; (3) the food amount consumed during a LOC episode was not necessarily considered excessive; (4) "mindlessness" and "satisfying hedonic, physiological, and mental needs" were the main perpetuating factors of LOC eating; and (5) self-talk and distracting attention were the most adopted strategies to stop eating. Study findings have implications concerning the conceptualization, measurement, and intervention of LOC eating among bariatric patients. For example, results suggested the need for more data to determine the appropriate indicators of LOC eating and the inclusion of boredom as an intervention target in bariatric patients. Loss of control (LOC) eating is characterized by a sense of being unable to stop while eating. LOC eating is prevalent in patients who have undergone weight loss surgery and is associated with worse surgical outcomes. This qualitative study that explored post-bariatric surgery patients' experiences of LOC eating will inform efforts to better assess and intervene in this disordered eating behavior, thus ultimately optimizing patients' health following weight loss surgery.

Досвід материнства під час війни: дескриптивно-феноменологічний аналіз

The article analyzes the individual experience of the first ten months of moth­erhood before and during the full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine using the method of descriptive phenomenology of the body. Corporeality is considered as a basis for a possible description of the motherhood experience. In the analysis, I apply the ideas of Luce Irigaray (deconstruction of the complex image of mother­hood in art, science and philosophy) and Yulia Kristeva (analysis of the Western Christian tradition of depicting a mother with a baby and the narratives embed­ded in it) in the context of returning the discourse about motherhood to women. Based on the ideas of Maurice Merleau-Ponty and Iris Young, I turn to a phenom­enological analysis of the body, namely, the female body, as the “first locus of in­tentionality.” In particular, it is about experiencing drastic bodily changes during childbirth and the first weeks of motherhood, the blurring of bodily boundaries between the nursing mother and the baby, the establishment of a common every­day life through the establishment of new repetitive rituals, its cancellation due to the need to flee and the attempt to restore it in a new place. In this regard, I provide the phenomenological interpretation of the home as a space of experiencing security, individuation, privacy and storage (Young) and its loss. I have singled out the processes of sleep and eating as the two main bodily manifestations of anxiety in everyday experience. A key element of the physical maternal experience is breast-feeding, which provides a suitable range of feelings: from pain and sacrifice to comfort and euphoria from union with the child. It was revealed that the specificity of the female body and its adaptation to new requirements within motherhood (in particular, additional weight, softness, endurance, inertness, etc.) made it possible to adapt to new critical circumstances associated with the beginning of a full-scale war, deprivation of a home, experiencing a threat and oppression.

The use of Husserl's phenomenology in nursing research: A discussion paper.

To discuss how Husserl's descriptive phenomenology, as a philosophy and approach, has been used and reported in researching the experiences of others, using the topic of foreign-trained nurses. Discussion paper. A systematic search of MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL, SCOPUS, British Nursing Database and PsycInfo was carried out in December 2021. The inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed phenomenological research articles, grounded by Husserl's philosophy, conducted among foreign-trained nurses and published in English from 2000 to 2021. Two main themes were the outcome of critically reviewing relevant selected literature, 'referring to the original philosophy is not enough' and 'phenomenological findings need to be phenomenological'. These findings confirm some arguments about nurse researchers' discrepant use of phenomenology in their studies, including the proper application of phenomenological notions on the ground. Nurse researchers need to clearly distinguish between phenomenology and other qualitative research approaches and consider the uniqueness of philosophical underpinnings that are essential in Husserl's phenomenology, which also need to be clearly applied and reflected in their studies. There are continually existing discrepancies and variations in using phenomenology by nurse researchers. These variations were uniquely evident when nurse researchers could not provide enough philosophical grounds and assumptions to their studies and underestimated the need to keep up with the various applications of Husserl's phenomenological notions, including the proper practice of phenomenological attitude. Therefore, it is recommended that nurse researchers should opt for different, less complex qualitative approaches if they do not adequately prepare and understand what constitutes phenomenology and the particulars of Husserl's philosophy. What problem did the study address? Phenomenology remains popular in nursing. However, it can confuse nurse researchers and may result in an improper understanding of its core concepts. The use of phenomenology in nursing has been criticized over the years with nurse researchers being accused of conducting phenomenological research inconsistent with the original philosophy. What were the main findings? Using phenomenology by nurse researchers is various and includes some discrepancies. This variation is caused by not complying with essential philosophical grounds and underestimating proper applications of Husserl's phenomenological notions. Where and on whom will the research have impact? Outcomes of this paper illustrate examples of proper and improper uses of Husserl's phenomenology in nursing research, including critical considerations, which can guide nurse researchers aiming to conduct descriptive phenomenological research. Additionally, nurse lecturers can utilize this paper to show and emphasize the importance of philosophical grounds in phenomenology. Due to the nature of this discussion paper addressing philosophical and methodological aspects using examples from the literature, no direct patient or public contribution was required.

Empowering Community Leadership: Perspectives of Peer Mentors Facilitating a Food Pantry-Based Nutrition Education Program.

Peer Mentors (PMs) are valuable health educators within food-insecure communities; however, little is known about PMs' perspectives and experiences after serving in their peer mentor role. Therefore, this qualitative study explored PMs' (n = 10) perceptions and analyzed data using thematic analysis based on descriptive phenomenology. Four themes emerged: (1) Successes and Struggles in Sharing Nutrition Knowledge; (2) Establishing a Conducive Learning Environment; (3) The Peer Mentor and Mentee Connection: Impact of Shared Experiences; (4) Empowerment of the Peer Mentor Experience. PMs have many advantages; however, more research is needed to evaluate the sustainability and efficacy of PMs within food-insecure communities.

Problematic internet use in adolescents: A phenomenological study.

INTRODUCTION: Studies on problematic internet use (PIU) are mostly on the non-clinical population. Understanding the experiences of adolescents with PIU is critical in shaping nursing interventions and improving the quality of care. A comprehensive description of the experiences of adolescents with PIU. In the study, descriptive phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research methods, was used. Data were collected using a personal information form and a semi-structured interview form and analysed using Giorgi's phenomenological method (n=11). As a result of the content analysis, five main themes were identified: reasons of PIU, internet-related perceptions, experiences in accessing the internet, experiences in not being able to access the internet and consequences of internet use. Different from previous studies, adolescents stated that they use the internet because of their lack of activity and their need to spend time with their friends. They stated that when they could not access the internet, they thought they could never live without the internet and started quarrel.

Social issues, crisis, and care coordination: First responders experience responding to people affected by methamphetamines.

Methamphetamines remain a public health problem due to the extensive burden of illicit drug use on society. Callout events in the pre-hospital environment related to methamphetamine use is increasing. In addition, there has been an increase in reported mental health side effects and breakdown in relationships and social networks. Descriptive phenomenology research design was undertakenand data analysed using thematic analysis. Semi-structured interviews were utilized to collect data exploring the experience of first responders attending callouts to people affected by methamphetamines in the pre-hospital environment. Interviews included paramedics (8) and police officers (10) from across Australia. Overall, participants reported responding to people affected by methamphetamines was complex in nature. Complexity was affected by extensive social circumstances, people presenting in states of crisis, lack of coordinated approach, and unsuitable care environments. The social impact of methamphetamine addiction is extensive. Staff working as first responders have an opportunity to help reduce the social impact and crises, referring people to follow-up care and drug and alcohol support services. Further research is needed to determine if a standardized approach, between first responders and EDs, should be developed to help streamlines services and improve how the individual services respond as a group to people affected by substances.

Adoption of Human Resource Information Systems by Faculty Members: Qualitative Evidence from Universities in Pakistan

In the digital age of today, a large number of higher education institutions have adopted Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) to improve the overall efficiency of operations. With the exponential growth in education sector of Pakistan and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of HRIS has considerably expanded for all stakeholders, particularly faculty members of universities. This study aims to explore the factors that motivate universities to implement HRIS, the role of HRIS in enhancing the productivity of faculty members, and the constraints associated with the use of HRIS. This qualitative study follows the descriptive phenomenology approach to explore the significance of HRIS for faculty members. Non-probability purposeful sampling was used to select 14 faculty members who were interviewed at seven Pakistani universities. The study establishes that HRIS is considered a valuable technology for streamlining HR functions of universities in general and faculty members in particular.