Exploratory Qualitative Study Research Articles

Perception of Gratitude During an Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention (eMBI) in Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease in Brazil: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

Perception of Gratitude During an Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention (eMBI) in Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease in Brazil: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

Experience with Mandatory Reporting of Intimate Partner Violence: An Explorative Qualitative Study of Service Providers and Help-Seeking IPV Victims and IPV Perpetrators

Abstract Purpose This study explored service providers’ and help-seeking intimate partner violence (IPV) victims’ and IPV perpetrators’ experiences with mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence (MR-IPV) in Norway. We examined the following research questions: How do service providers experience work within the context of MR-IPV? How do help-seeking IPV victims and IPV perpetrators experience MR-IPV? Methods This qualitative study used reflexive thematic analysis to identify, analyze and report themes and patterns uncovered in semi-structured interviews with 42 service providers and 6 help-seeking IPV victims and IPV perpetrators, following Braun and Clark’s Qualitative Research in Psychology six phases of reflexive thematic analysis. Results The service providers in this study aimed to establish collaboration with help-seeking IPV victims and IPV perpetrators to avert IPV rather than immediately reporting IPV to the police, thus working within the discretionary space allowed in the Norwegian legislation. Stories concerning breaches of trust related to MR-IPV were prominent in the interviews with both groups of help-seekers. The IPV perpetrators expressed having experienced a breach of trust when the IPV was reported to the police, while most of the IPV victims expressed a breach of trust due to a lack of MR-IPV. Conclusions IPV victims expressed ambivalence linked to a desire for interventions and a fear of not receiving adequate help. These findings highlight the challenges of certain requirements placed on service providers when working within the MR-IPV context; distinguishing between situations in which collaboration is appropriate and situations in which immediate reporting to the police is required.

Factors affecting emergency medical dispatchers decision making in stroke calls - a qualitative study.

Emergency Medical Communication Centers (EMCC) have a key role in the prehospital chain-of-stroke-survival by recognizing stroke patients and reducing prehospital delay. However, studies on EMCC stroke recognition report both substantial undertriage and overtriage. Since mis-triage at the EMCC challenges the whole chain-of-stroke-survival, by occupying limited resources for non-stroke patients or failing to recognize the true stroke patients, there is a need to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the dispatchers' routines and experiences. The aim of this study was to explore factors affecting EMCC dispatcher's decision-making in stroke calls. A qualitative exploratory study, based on individual semi-structured interviews of 15 medical dispatchers from EMCC Oslo, Norway. Interviews were conducted during August and October 2022 and analyzed using the principles of thematic analysis. We identified four themes: [1] Pronounced stroke symptoms are easy to identify [2]. Non-specific neurological symptoms raise suspicion of acute stroke but are difficult to differentiate from other medical conditions [3]. Consistent use of the Criteria Based Dispatch (CBD) protocol may increase EMCC overtriage [4]. Contextual conditions at EMCC can affect dispatchers' decision-making process and the ability for experiential learning. Medical dispatchers at the EMCC perceive vague and non-specific stroke symptoms, such as dizziness, confusion or altered behaviour, challenging to differentiate from symptoms of other less time-critical medical conditions. They also perceive the current CBD protocol in use as less supportive in assessing such symptoms. High workload and strict EMCC response time interval requirements hinder the gathering of essential patient information and the ability to seek guidance in cases of doubt, potentially exacerbating both EMCC undertriage and overtriage. The absence of feedback loops and other strategies for experiential learning in the EMCC hampers the medical dispatcher's ability to evaluate their own assessments and improve dispatch accuracy.

Acknowledging the role of loss in facilitating employee transition in a partial business acquisition

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the experience of a cohort of staff who transferred from a medium-sized Irish pharmaceutical company to a US multinational, while remaining in the same building as their original employers and colleagues. It highlights the role of acknowledging loss when facilitating employee transition and the co-development of a communication and integration strategy in transitioning to a new organisation.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory qualitative case study captures the experiences of the senior manager responsible for the business unit transition and a cohort of 32 employees who moved to the US multinational. Conversations between the senior manager (author three) and his academic peers (authors one and two) trace the experience of this team as they transitioned to the new organisation.FindingsInsights are offered through the transition journey – from the unofficial partial-acquisition offer through to the due diligence period and onto the subsequent implementation of the communication and integration strategy. Findings exhibit a co-developed a communication and integration strategy, revealing a largely successful initial integration of the team into the new organisation.Originality/valueThe paper offers a first-hand account of the steps taken in a successful employee transition to a new organisation following a partial acquisition. It describes how acknowledging loss is a valuable first step in the transition process, enabled by the design and adoption of a co-created communication and integration strategy.

An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Perinatal Experiences in an Acute Setting during Early Phases of the COVID-19 Pandemic

An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Perinatal Experiences in an Acute Setting during Early Phases of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Unlocking the drivers behind logistics service providers' participation in Morocco's logistics clusters

PurposeIn recent years, the concept of logistics clusters has attracted the attention of several researchers and practitioners. It is an agglomeration of different types of companies and operations, notably those providing logistics services, such as supply chain organization, storage and distribution. The paper focuses on this concept by examining the factors influencing LSPs to enter the logistics clusters.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews was conducted. Regarding the sample size, the author interviewed 31 professionals belonging to logistics clusters located in the Moroccan economic metropolis of Casablanca.FindingsThe results show that the cost reduction, the reputation of the cluster, the learning from other LSPs, the communal services, the geographical proximity and the role of public authorities are the main factors impacting the entry of logistics service providers into these clusters.Originality/valueThis theme has never been investigated. Therefore, this research expands the literature review and tries to examine this gap of literature by studying the factors that can affect the adhesion of logistics service providers to these clusters.

Dog Acquisition in Lower-Income Communities as Consumer Behavior: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

Introduction: This qualitative research article examines the nature of the decision-making processes used by people to acquire dogs in low-income communities compared to how people in middle and upper socioeconomic communities make this decision. Methods: We explored the preferences, thoughts, and concerns that influenced decisions of a convenience sample of 40 respondents who acquired dogs or puppies within the last 2 years. Sixty-five percent of respondents (N = 26) described living in or near poverty, while 35% held middle or upper socioeconomic status. To elicit detailed accounts of their decision-making process, a semi-structured interview was administered. Results were subjected to qualitative data analysis to identify different features of the acquisition process and to compare these features by respondents’ socioeconomic status. Results: Most respondents described similar ‘stages’ in dog acquisition as consumers making other high-involvement purchases: recognizing need (mulling), information-gathering and evaluating (creating criteria sets, sourcing pragmatically, and encountering decision triggers), and adjusting to new dogs post-acquisition. Aspects of acquisition were extended or attenuated, and more complex than predicted by models built for inanimate products. Social class influenced some but not all stages of dog acquisition. Conclusion: Findings from this analysis support advertising and wide dissemination of adoptable dog information. A community engaged model of sheltering including non-judgmental adoptions, community veterinary and behavioral pet support, and building trust could increase local dog adoption.

Perioperative practitioners' experiences of critical incident debriefing: A qualitative explorative study.

A critical incident is described as any unplanned event which causes, or has the potential to cause, injury to a patient. Critical incident debriefing is a team discussion to gather facts and analyse the experience, evaluate lessons learned and provide staff with support. However, this phase is often neglected. This UK-based explorative qualitative study aims to explore perioperative practitioners' experiences of critical incident debriefing. Data were collected from six participants through audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis framework. Five themes emerged detailing the advantages of critical incident debriefing, including addressing staff's personal needs and learning lessons from incidents, and the disadvantages such as time constraints and unsupportive/uninformative debriefs leading to poor-quality debriefs. Implementation of a short debrief immediately post-incident to address immediate concerns, a later in-depth debrief and additional training for facilitators were recommended to improve debrief quality.

Experiences and needs of persons who have undergone limb amputation in Saki West, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Amputation is a life-changing experience involving the surgical removal of a body part. However, little is known about the experiences of persons who have undergone limb amputation in the Saki West Local Government Area (LGA), which prompted this study. An exploratory qualitative study design was used. Thirty participants were interviewed using face-to-face focus group discussions. Five sessions were conducted, with six participants in each session. Data were analysed using the thematic analysis framework of Braun and Clarke. A total of 76.3% of the participants were males and 73.3% were married. Their ages ranged from 22 and 69y, with a mean age of 48.0y and a monthly income of 20000 naira (US$12). Three major themes emerged from the study: the needs and challenges of those who have undergone amputation, coping strategies of those who have undergone amputation and recommendations by persons who have undergone amputation. The study revealed that people who have undergone amputation experienced psychological pain, such as a loss of self-worth and stigmatization from friends and loved ones. Coping strategies identified were accepting the situation and emotional support from family. Participants recommended providing financial support, empowerment programs, employment opportunities and fostering a community of amputees in the Saki West LGA. Amputees undergo psychological and psychosocial problems that can affect their health and recovery. They need emotional and financial support, rehabilitation services and provision of prostheses from family, society and the government. These services should be adequately provided in the Saki West LGA, the largest among the 10 suburban local governments in Oyo State, with numerous commercial activities and a high risk for road traffic accidents.

Healthcare and Pharmacy Staffs' Experiences on Medication Management for Migrants-A Qualitative Exploratory Case Study in Primary Health Care.

To explore what healthcare staff and staff in pharmacies experiences, as challenges, and possibilities in handling and use medications by foreign-born persons or their relatives, and how necessary information is exchanged between different units in the healthcare chain to prevent medication errors. A qualitative explorative single-unit case study in a primary healthcare centre, with connected home care and pharmacies in an immigrant-dense area. Individual semi-structured interviews with 17 respondents, including pharmacists, physicians and registered nurses, were conducted between May and December 2022, in Sweden. Inductive qualitative content analysis was applied. Six categories were identified: limited knowledge about medications, lack of knowledge about the Swedish system for medication prescriptions and pharmacy regulations, insufficient time to develop trusting relations, communication to support medication management, tools for facilitating safe use of medications and problems in exchange of information in the healthcare chain. Good communication is both a challenge and a prerequisite for safe medication management by well-informed patients. To ensure patient safety, it is crucial to establish ways to communicate with patients about their medications, regardless of their language skills. Improving communication within the healthcare chain is essential to prevent medication errors. Understanding the complexity of medication management and preventing medication errors requires staff to communicate effectively with patients at all steps in the healthcare chain to identify their informational and educational needs. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the importance of communication within the healthcare chain, including prescribing physicians, nurses, pharmacists and patients, to prevent medication errors. COREQ checklist. This study focused on staff at a healthcare centre and two pharmacies.

The implementation process of decentralization of health services: a qualitative perspective from Sudan

BackgroundHealth system reform initiatives have increasingly embraced decentralization as a key trend. The implementation process and its outcomes are influenced by a myriad of factors, including economic forces, political dynamics, and ideological factors. Comprehending and carefully examining the implementation phase of decentralization and its consequences to achieve desired outcomes is crucial. Notably, this phase is often considered the weakest aspect of policy reforms, especially in developing countries. Therefore, this study aimed to explore and analyze the implementation phase of decentralization and its implications as essentials for achieving intended goals. The study objectives evolved around examining the entire decentralization as a multifaceted social and political process in Khartoum State, Sudan, from its early stages of decision-making, policy formulation, and implementation process and the influencing contextual factors.MethodsThis study was an exploratory qualitative study that employed in-depth interviews to gather perspectives of healthcare providers and policymakers, semi-structured observations, and thematic analysis. The study utilized Grindle’s framework for analysis.FindingsThis study revealed a political nature of decision-making, with a top–down approach to the implementation, which also lacked stakeholder involvement. It showed a lack of transparency, official documentation, and proper handover procedures from the Ministry of Health to the devolved hospitals during the implementation process. A conflict of interest between the federal and the state level was also reported. It is important to note that this process occurred within the context of structural adjustment program (SAP) schemes, which had already empowered the private sector in Sudan.ConclusionThis study documented the implementation process of decentralization of health services and its influencing factors. The study recommended reforming the decentralization policy through consultative stakeholder involvement and by implementing a concurrent responsibility paradigm that divides authority between the federal and state levels.

Experience of Health System Personnel in the Implementation of Mass Distribution Campaigns for the Control of Lymphatic Filariasis in Rural Guinea in 2022

This study documents the experiences of health system personnel in the implementation of mass distribution campaigns for the control of lymphatic filariasis in rural Guinea. This was an exploratory qualitative study using data collected from implementing actors of mass distribution campaigns in the Boké health district. The results showed four main facilitators of mass distribution campaign rollout in the Boké health district: (i) support to the district teams in the organization of the campaigns; (ii) involvement of community-based associations in social mobilization; (iii) strong adherence of the communities to the different mass distribution campaigns, facilitated through the involvement of community relays, who are members of these communities, in the distribution of drugs; and (iv) transparency in the allocation of incentives to drug dispensers and supervisors. However, the frequent shortages of medicines, the difficulty of access to rural areas, and the lack of logistical means for the supervision of activities were the main obstacles to the success of the various mass distribution campaigns in Boké. The provision of buffer stocks for special areas such as Boké by national programme actors and partners, joint planning of campaign activities with local managers of health systems and services, and improvement of existing mechanisms for motivating health workers, including community health workers, during future campaigns should help to achieve national objectives in the fight against NTDs in Guinea.

"While Everyone Else was Doing Sports, I Used to Sit on the Sidelines." How Do Adolescents Manage Their Asthma?: A Qualitative Study.

Effective asthma management is a necessity for the control and optimal outcomes of the condition. A number of factors may either facilitate or act as barriers to the management of asthma in adolescents. The objective of this study was to assess the feelings, thoughts, and behaviors of adolescents diagnosed with asthma regarding the management of their condition. This exploratory qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 12 adolescents aged 12-18 years who were followed up with a diagnosis of asthma at a university hospital pediatric allergy clinic between October 15 October 2023, and December 15 December 2023. The study was written using the COREQ checklist. Three main themes were identified in this study: (1) facilitators, (2) barriers, and (3) information. Adolescents reported that they needed more information about medication use and asthma disease to manage asthma. Asthma control ability, positive beliefs, and supportive relationships were facilitators of asthma management. However, poor asthma control, negative beliefs, lack of support, poor communication, and asthma-related stigma were identified as barriers to asthma self-management. Adolescents had information needs in asthma management. This study highlights that barriers to asthma self-management in adolescents are much greater than the facilitators. For adolescents to manage their asthma well, their information needs must be met. Therefore, pediatric nurses should prepare individualized training to meet the specific needs of adolescents.

Digital Contact Tracing Implementation Among Leaders and Health Care Workers in a Pediatric Hospital During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Interview Study.

Health systems had to rapidly implement infection control strategies to sustain their workforces during the COVID-19 pandemic. Various outbreak response tools, such as digital contact tracing (DCT), have been developed to monitor exposures and symptoms of health care workers (HCWs). Limited research evidence exists on the experiences with these technologies and the impacts of DCT innovations from the perspective of stakeholders in health care environments. This study aims to identify the factors influencing the adoption of DCT, highlight variations in perspectives across 3 key stakeholder groups concerning the impact of DCT, and provide benchmarking evidence for future pandemic preparedness. Guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, we conducted an exploratory qualitative study to investigate the implementation and impact of DCT at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario between December 2022 and April 2023. We conducted 21 semistructured interviews with key stakeholders, including health care administrators (6/21, 29%), occupational health and safety specialists (8/21, 38%), and HCWs (7/21, 33%). Stakeholders were asked about the factors influencing engagement with the DCT tool, organizational-level uptake, the implementation process, long-term use and sustainability of DCT, and unintended consequences. Verbatim transcripts were subject to thematic analysis using NVivo (QSR International). The implementation of DCT was viable and well received. End users indicated that their engagement with the DCT tool was facilitated by its perceived ease of use and the ability to gain awareness of probable COVID-19 exposures; however, risk assessment consequences and access concerns were reported as barriers (reach). Participants commonly agreed that the DCT technology had a positive influence on the hospital's capacity to meet the demands of COVID-19 (effectiveness). Implementors and occupational specialists referred to negative staffing impacts and the loss of nuanced information as unintended consequences (effectiveness). Safety-focused communication strategies and having a DCT tool that was human-centered were crucial factors driving staff adoption of the technology. Conversely, adoption was challenged by the misaligned delivery of the DCT tool with HCWs' standard practices, alongside the evolving perceived threat of COVID-19. Stakeholders collectively agreed on the viability of DCT and its applicability to infectious disease practices (maintenance). Hospital stakeholders were highly satisfied with DCT technology and it was perceived as feasible, efficient, and having a positive impact on organizational safety. Challenges related to the alignment and delivery of DCT, alongside the evolving perspectives on COVID-19, posed obstacles to continued adoption by HCWs. Our findings contribute to evidence-based practices and present benchmarks that can inform preparedness for future pandemics and infectious disease outbreaks and help other organizations implement similar technologies.

Perception of sleep during hospitalisation from the nurses’ and patients’ perspective: an exploratory qualitative study

Abstract Aim. To investigate how nurses and patients perceive sleep and point out the factors that negatively impact patients’ sleep during hospitalisation in selected departments in two hospitals in the Czech Republic. Material and methods. An exploratory qualitative study – thematic analysis. We obtained data from three group interviews involving 16 nurses and eight inpatients from selected departments in two hospitals. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study and thematic analysis. Results. The thematic analysis identified four main themes. Theme (1): Importance of sleep. Theme (2): Quality and organisation of nursing care. Theme (3): Experiencing intense emotions and feelings. Theme (4): Health. Conclusions. Hospitalisation often negatively affects patients’ sleep. Patients’ emotions, experiences, and the hospital environment are essential to achieve good sleep. Nurses and the entire health care system have great potential to improve hospitalisation conditions concerning sleep and the emotional mood of patients and thus indirectly influence the general health of patients and their recovery.

Understanding Behavioral Drivers of Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation and Vitamin A- and Iron-Rich Food Consumption among Women and Adolescent Girls in Niger.

This study examined drivers and barriers to iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation and consumption of iron- and vitamin A-rich foods among women of reproductive age (WRA) and adolescent girls in Niger. This was an exploratory qualitative study using focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews. This study was conducted in the rural areas of three districts in Maradi and Zinder regions of southern Niger. The study included a purposive sample of 56 WRA (15-49 years), 34 non-pregnant adolescent girls (10-14 years), 105 family members and community leaders, 32 health workers, and 12 national and regional level stakeholders. Respondents demonstrated widespread knowledge of recommendations for IFA during pregnancy and had positive attitudes toward supplements. However, supply barriers were significant, and adherence was limited by side effects, among other constraints. Despite knowledge about and positive attitudes towards micronutrient source foods, respondents reported that limited food access was an overriding constraint to increasing consumption. WRA were seen as nutritionally vulnerable, however husbands were often not able to provide sufficient nutritious food and there was a cultural expectation that wives serve themselves food last. Adolescent girls were not seen as nutritionally vulnerable and there was little family support for their consumption of nutritious foods. Projects should work with local actors to develop multi-pronged solutions that address supply and access barriers for IFA and micronutrient-rich foods and to improve social support for nutrition.

Business Sustainability Among Women Entrepreneurs in Ghana

There is a problem among women entrepreneurs in Ghana caused by the lack of training among women’s entrepreneurs that includes social, cultural, economic, political, demographic, institutional, and technological support. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory multiple case study was to explore business strategies that women entrepreneurs in Ghana need to learn to make their business sustainable beyond 5 years. Ten successful women entrepreneurs from 5 industries in Ghana, who had the training, experience, and information to understand the causes of business failure and had applied that information to gain business sustainability beyond 5 years were recruited. Data analysis involved triangulation, member checking, and Yin’s 5 steps. Key findings were change management and adaptation, agility and flexibility in operations, analysis of stakeholders, creation of business policies and objectives, designing and executing digital implementation plan, developing and supporting corporate culture, developing and measuring performance standards, and enhancing internal control and processes. Findings could reduce poverty and increase women’s employment, sustainability in women-owned businesses, community development, and the standard of living.

Parent-spectators’ misbehaviour in grassroots football: an explorative qualitative study

The overall purpose of the present study was to explore the behaviour, comments and unsporting reactions of parent-spectators at football matches. For this, a non-participant naturalistic observation was carried out on 52 groups of parent-spectators of Spanish grassroots football. The observations were supplemented by informal interviews with three referees, a field delegate and three sports facility workers. The results of the study show, on one hand, how parent-spectators often make negative comments about referees, coaches and players. They ridicule and complain about referees’ actions to pressure in favour of their team and may also make gratuitous remarks about their physical appearance. Parent-spectators criticise and occasionally even insult coaches, belittling some of their decisions and even supplanting them in their comments to the players in their team. Players of the opposing team receive negative comments for unsporting actions and those in their own team may receive negative comments on their play. Parent-spectators remain passive in the face of their own and other children’s negative behaviour and may even unconsciously encourage unsporting behaviour in players and coaches. This study examines different implications for the improvement of the social-moral climate at grassroots football matches.

Barriers and facilitators to antenatal care services utilisation in Somaliland: a qualitative study.

To explore the barriers and facilitators of antenatal care (ANC) utilisation in Somaliland. An exploratory qualitative study design. Various settings were considered for study including maternal and child health clinics, hospitals and community. 74 study participants including 33 pregnant women, 22 healthcare providers, 10 community elders and ten religious leaders were purposively selected. Data was collected via focus group discussion and in-depth interviews in the local Somali language. The data was audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated into English and imported into NVivo V.12 software. Thematic framework analysis was used to assess barriers and facilitators of ANC utilisation. Six main themes were identified as barriers of ANC utilisation. These include lack of awareness, long distance and lack of transportation access, economic barriers, lack of social support, beliefs and thoughts and health facility-related factors such as caregivers approach, waiting time and inadequate skill of providers. Proper dissemination of ANC information, adequate spousal support and cheap pricing of services were found to be facilitators of ANC uptake. A strategy that focuses on raising awareness about ANC, making it accessible by reducing the cost-of-service charge, encouraging partner involvement, improving the quality of services and making it customer-friendly will help to overcome the barriers of antenatal utilisation.

Exploring perceptions of maternity services for pregnant adolescents in Indonesia: a qualitative study

Background/Aims Adolescent pregnancies are prevalent in Indonesia. This study aimed to explore perceptions from healthcare workers and pregnant adolescents of maternity services for pregnant adolescents. Methods This qualitative exploratory study involved two policymakers, 10 midwives, five doctors, and 10 pregnant adolescents. Data were collected through structured interviews in public health centre consultation rooms. The data were analysed thematically to explore factors that promoted or hindered use of maternity services for pregnant adolescents. Results The identified barriers included a lack of tailored directives, challenges in engaging adolescents, insufficient numbers of skilled healthcare professionals, adolescents' fears and compromised confidentiality. Opportunities for improvement included enhancing service quality through strategic planning and specialised training for midwives and psychologists. Conclusions The study underscores the need to improve maternity services offered for pregnant adolescents by creating a conducive working environment and sensitising healthcare workers and the community to adolescent mothers' needs. Implications for practice There is a need for guidelines in Indonesia specifically on providing care for pregnant adolescents. Healthcare professionals require specialised training and facilities should be made adolescent friendly.