Exploratory Study Research Articles

Evaluating the Correlation between the Teaching Performance of Primary School English Language Teachers and the Training they Received

Teaching is a profession that requires its practitioners to be trained and certified. The training may take the form of pre-service or in-service. The teachers who pass through either of these modes of training are also required to possess ample and reasonable knowledge and skills of the subject matter they teach. In addition, the training that they take should focus on shaping their attitudes towards the teaching profession so that they can adapt, improve or change the reality they find in schools. In addition, they are expected to possess ample experiences of teaching. Purpose. This explanatory study explored the relationship between the training that teacher trainees received at Kemissie College of Teachers Education in Ethiopia and their teaching practice at primary schools. Methodology. The researchers collected the data for the study from pre-service teachers of the college using a questionnaire, interview, document analysis and classroom observations. A mixed approach was employed to collect and analyze the data. The results show that some of the courses contribute less to helping the trainees develop the required competence to teach the subject. There are also neglected but relevant courses. In addition, the practicum program is not being run as it is intended to be run. The relationship between the training that the teachers received and the teaching practice at primary schools is not strong. Therefore, it is recommended that more relevant courses and contents should be given emphasis. The practicum program should also acquaint trainees with the reality at primary schools in order to attain the intended purpose of the program. Supervisors and mentors should also guide the trainees and help them progress in their profession. Conclusion. This study found that the teacher training curriculum focuses on subject area knowledge, professional skills and teaching practices. These components are essential and helpful to train competent primary school teachers. The participants in the study revealed that some of the courses that they attended have contributed positively to their effective teaching of English at primary schools.

Understanding depression, anxiety and stress in young people living with HIV in Ghana

Ghanaians with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection now live into adulthood. It is known that adolescents and young adults living with HIV have a high risk of mental health comorbidity. Despite increasing global attention on HIV–mental health interactions, the field remains understudied in Ghana, with an attendant lack of national integrated care solutions. This study aimed to measure the burden and explore the context of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms among young people living with HIV receiving care at a tertiary care hospital in Ghana. This was an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study. Depression, anxiety and stress symptoms were measured using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, and their associations with quality of life (QoL), socioeconomic status, internalised stigma, disease stage and HIV-related risk-taking behaviours were explored. After preliminary quantitative data analysis, semi-structured interviews were conducted for those who screened positive for depression and/or anxiety to explore their experience with this comorbidity. This study found a low prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms, which were associated with higher stigma scores and lower QoL. We believe this low prevalence to be attributable to the effect of several psychosocial interventional programmes, which were previously piloted with the study cohort that have gradually normalised mental health discussions. Participants also showed marked resilience and knowledge about their condition. The results of this study present an opportunity to advocate and scale up effective locally adapted and strength-based solutions to address the mental illness–HIV syndemic in Ghanaian young people living with HIV.

Young Black Women's Breast Cancer Knowledge and Beliefs: A Sequential Explanatory Mixed MethodsStudy.

Black women under the age of 50 have a 111% higher breast cancer mortality rate than their White counterparts. The breast cancer mortality disparities among young Black women may be due in part to the fact that they are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage, invasive breast cancer tumors. Psychosocial factors, such as lack of perceived risk for breast cancer, lack of awareness of breast cancer risk factors, and ambiguity about breast cancer screening guidelines are areas that are under investigated among young Black women. The purpose of this study was to identify young Black women's cancer beliefs and level of breast cancer risk knowledge. A sequential explanatory mixed methods study was conducted using quantitative data from the Health Information Trends Survey 6 (HINTS 6) (n = 25) and qualitative data from interviews with young Black female college students (n = 13). The results of the quantitative data analysis were used to guide the development of the qualitative interview guide. Data regarding participants' cancer beliefs, cancer risk factor knowledge, perceived cancer risk, and ambiguity about cancer screening behaviors were analyzed. The findings indicated young Black women have low perceived risk of developing cancer. Most participants were not aware of cancer recommendations that were targeted towards women under the age of 40. In addition, knowledge about lifestyle behavior risk factors for breast cancer was relatively low. Our findings underscore the importance of developing, disseminating, and implementing breast cancer education interventions that are targeted towards young Black women.

Multisystemic Resilience and Anxious-Depressed Symptoms in Black Youth Exposed to Maternal Syndemics: A Mixed-Method Study.

We explored associations between multisystemic resilience and anxious-depressed symptoms in Black families experiencing maternal syndemics (i.e., co-occurring epidemics of substance abuse, violence, HIV/AIDS), using a sequential explanatory study design. Hierarchical regression was used to analyze data from 171 Black youth (57% girls; Mage=12.13, SD = 2.90). Girls (β=-0.17, p = .02) with higher inter/intrapersonal skills (β = - 0.28, p = .004) and more open familial communication (β = - 0.40, p < .001) reported fewer anxious-depressed symptoms, F(12, 147) = 5.68; p < .001, Adj R2 = 26.1%. Qualitative results from a subsample of 10 Black youth-mother dyads explored inter/intrapersonal factors (i.e., emotion regulation strategies, goal setting, persistence and perseverance, problem-solving skills) and open communication factors (i.e., comfortable environment to talk, solving problems, processing feelings, showing affection, benefiting from open communication) that support Black youth resilience. Findings highlight key resilience factors that could be bolstered in future interventions to reduce anxious-depressed symptoms among Black youth exposed to maternal syndemics.

Gender Perspective on Neutral Acceptance of Death: A Study of Nepalese Youth

Background &amp; Objective: This study explores gender differences in the neutral acceptance of death among Nepalese youth. Neutral acceptance is defined as the recognition of death as a natural and inevitable part of life without judgment or strong emotions. Methods: A cross-sectional, explanatory quantitative study was conducted among 196 college students using simple random sampling. Data were collected through the Death Attitude Profile—Revised (DAP-R), specifically focusing on neutral acceptance. The study employed statistical tests such as the Chi-Square test and independent samples t-test to assess gender differences in attitudes toward neutral acceptance. Results: The findings revealed significant gender differences in neutral acceptance of death. Female participants exhibited a higher mean score (M = 4.23) compared to males (M = 3.93). Statistical analysis (p = 0.003) confirmed that females are more likely to adopt a neutral acceptance of death than males. Conclusion &amp; Recommendation: The study concludes that Nepalese females tend to exhibit a higher neutral acceptance of death than males, likely due to cultural and social factors that encourage emotional openness and caregiving roles. These findings suggest the need for further exploration of how gender influences death attitudes and coping mechanisms in Nepalese society. Novelty: This research fills a gap in understanding gender-specific differences in neutral death acceptance, shaped by societal norms and cultural factors. The study provides insights into how male and female perspectives on death vary, offering valuable information for mental health, policy, and cultural discussions around death and gender roles in Nepalese society.

The enhancement of teacher immunity in a professional development course: Contributions from supervisory observation and the observer

Classroom observation has been reported to be stressful for language teachers since it can disrupt the equilibrium and push the teachers towards maladaptive language teacher immunity. The present study is an attempt to shed light on the way classroom observation and a professional development (PD) course on classroom observation contribute to language teacher immunity development through self-organization lens. To this end, the researchers in the current study designed an explanatory sequential mixed method study and 13 novice language teachers were invited to fill language teacher immunity scale before and after a professional development course. The qualitative data were collected through narrative frames and semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that the immunity level of the students differed significantly before and after the intervention. The findings accentuate the importance of in-service programs in reforming the teachers’ narratives of classroom observations and enabling them to transform classroom observations from threats to opportunities.

The effect of interprofessional education on the surgical team members' self-efficacy perception of interprofessional communication in the healthcare system.

The current study aimed to assess the effect of interprofessional education on participants' self-efficacy perception of interprofessional communication at different levels of a healthcare system (relationships in the interpersonal, interprofessional, and administration levels). This is a sequential explanatory mixed-method study. Learners include surgical residents, surgical technology nurses, and anesthesia nurses (n = 130) who participated in the intervention and control groups. The quasi-experimental study was conducted in the first step. The educational strategy was interprofessional education and the main teaching method was case-based learning. The self-efficacy perception of the participants was assessed by a 26-item questionnaire before and 1 month after the intervention. The descriptive tests (mean, SD, percentage), student t-tests, and ANOVA were analyzed. The participants' experiences were explored through semi-structured interviews. Qualitative content was analyzed by Lundman and Graneheim's approach. The results showed that the scores of the learners in the intervention group (4.05 ± 0.31) improved significantly compared to the control group (3.35 ± 0.37) (p = 0.0001). In the present study, the experiences of the participants were categorized into a theme "explicit and implicit confrontations with perceived distrust in the system" which includes two categories "failure to internalize professionalism among team members" and "dominance of a paternalistic culture within the health care system". The results showed the positive impact of interprofessional education interventions on participants' self-efficacy perception of interprofessional communication. The results showed that interprofessional education, with the participation of different professionals and managers at different levels of a healthcare system, improved the participants' perception of self-efficacy regarding interprofessional communication. The results showed the improvement in the participants' communication with team members and managers required to solve the perceived explicit and implicit confrontations in the surgical departments. The implementation of an interprofessional education strategy focused on interprofessional professionalism and collaboration principles in clinical activities, formal and informal education in the surgical department is recommended.

Nurses' perceptions of caring behaviors at referral hospitals in Ethiopia: A mixed-methods approach.

Caring plays a vital role in nursing and serves as an indicator of quality. Nurse caring behaviors are directed towards patients' safety and wellbeing. Nurses' perceptions of caring behaviors are affected by different factors. Understanding the factors linked to how nurses perceive caring behaviors is crucial for enhancing the quality of care. The aim of this study was to examine the factors associated with nurses' perceptions of caring behaviors and gain a more comprehensive understanding. A multicenter sequential explanatory mixed-methods study was conducted among medical-surgical nurses at three referral hospitals in the Amhara region, Ethiopia. Quantitative data were collected using a pretested self-administered survey package including the Amharic version of the Caring Behaviors Inventory-16. Qualitative interviews using semi-structured, open-ended questions were conducted after the survey to complement and clarify the quantitative results, facilitating integrate through a connecting approach. A multiple linear regression model was used to examine the relationship between nurses' perceptions of caring behaviors and associated factors. The qualitative data was examined to find meaningful patterns using codebook thematic analysis. This method was deductive and followed the guidelines by Braun and Clarke, building on the findings from the quantitative results. The overall mean of nurses' perceptions of caring behaviors was 4.75. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that female sex (b = 0.300, P = 0.004), age (b = 0.028, P = 0.001), nurse staffing (b=-0.115, P = 0.001), work-related stress (b = 0.298, P = 0.003), and job satisfaction (b=-0.254, P = 0.016) were associated with nurses' perceptions of caring behaviors. The codebook thematic analysis generated three themes, caring is universal and fundamental in nursing, impediments to provision of comprehensive care, and perception of the work conditions. The findings of the qualitative data complemented the results of the quantitative data. Discrepancies between nurses' expectations and the actual working environment may create uncertainty in care provision and impact quality-of-care. Strategies to harmonize the nurses' working environment should consider work-related factors.

Causes and Effects of Academic Staff Turnover Intentions on Organizational Performance: Comparative Studies on Ambo and Haramaya Universities

The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the causes of academic staff turnover intentions and their impact on the performance of Ambo and Haramaya Universities. The study primarily focused on factors such as socio-demographic characteristics, job satisfaction, compensation, work environment, and leadership style as determinants of academic staff turnover. A stratified sampling method was used to determine the sample population, while a convenience sampling technique was employed to collect data from the sample. Out of a total population of 1,672 academic staff members, a sample size of 143 was determined using Yamane&amp;apos;s sampling formula. Of the 143 distributed questionnaires, 133 were returned, with 10 remaining uncollected. Both primary and secondary data sources were utilized, with primary data gathered through questionnaires. The research was designed as a descriptive and explanatory study to both describe relevant statistical data and explain the causes and effects observed in the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, and numerical values, as well as inferential statistics, such as correlation analyses and multiple regression models. University performance was measured through various indicators, including stakeholder engagement and satisfaction, revenue generation from business entities, quality of education, research and community services, the expansion of universities with modern facilities, and the number of academic programs offered. The findings revealed that the causes of academic staff turnover have a positive relationship with university performance, while turnover itself has a negative relationship with university performance. This implies that if universities effectively manage the causes of academic staff turnover, their overall performance is likely to improve.

Communication Skills of Medical Interpreters: A Qualitative Explanatory Study of Healthcare Professionals' and Medical Interpreters' Perceptions.

Background/Objectives: Medical interpreters support communication between medical professionals and foreign patients. However, the communication skills required of medical interpreters in the field are currently unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate what medical professionals and medical interpreters consider to be most important communication skills of medical interpreters, and whether there are differences in perceptions between medical professionals and medical interpreters. Methods: From December 2023 to February 2024, we interviewed 10 medical professionals and medical interpreters (five medical professionals and five medical interpreters) working throughout Japan and in the United States. The narratives collected in the interviews were analyzed and evaluated in a conceptual framework. Results: Healthcare professionals and medical interpreters exhibited differences in perceptions regarding the most important communication skills for medical interpreters. The narratives of medical professionals and medical interpreters regarding medical interpreters' communication skills were divided into a 2 × 2 grid consisting of four quadrants with two axes (intervention and perspective). Regarding the communication skills of medical interpreters, medical professionals were primarily concerned with the transmission of medical information and felt that it was necessary for interpreters to understand medical professionals' perspectives and what they wanted to say in order to convey it accurately. In contrast, medical interpreters emphasized the importance of empathy and communication skills for respecting the other person and understanding the other person's opinion and perspective. Additionally, to understand the patient's perspective, medical interpreters reported that it was important to understand the cultural background of the patient and to maintain good relationships with all of the people around the patient. Conclusions: We explored the communication skills of medical interpreters and the characteristics of the perceptions and narratives of medical professionals and medical interpreters. Concepts regarding the communication skills of medical interpreters were divided into two axes (intervention and perspective) and presented as a 2 × 2 grid with four quadrants. The results of our study suggested that medical interpreters should actively intervene in interpretation situations involving foreign patients.

Understanding science teachers’ TPACK for virtual lab adoption in rural schools in South Africa: a mixed-methods approach

IntroductionThis paper reports on a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study that assessed technological, pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) competency among life sciences teachers in the context of virtual lab adoption in rural schools in South Africa.MethodsDrawing from TPACK framework as the study’s theoretical foundation, data gathered through questionnaires (N = 186) and in-depth semi-structured interviews (N = 4) were analysed using descriptive and thematic analysis.ResultsThe study uncovered a ubiquitous deficiency in TPACK competency among the participating life sciences teachers. The teachers demonstrated significant expertise in conventional areas such as content knowledge (CK), pedagogical knowledge (PK), and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), mainly influenced by teaching experience. However, they exhibited a noticeable gap in technology-related TPACK domains, including technological knowledge (TK), technological pedagogical knowledge (TPK), and overall TPACK proficiency.DiscussionThis paper aspires to address a significant gap in educational research by spotlighting the often-overlooked rural teaching contexts. In addition, the paper advocates for tailored professional development initiatives to enhance teachers’ overall TPACK proficiency. Such initiatives are crucial for empowering teachers to integrate technology into their teaching and improve learning outcomes effectively.

Perceptions towards practicability of humanitarian principles for emergency cases in Ethiopia: case of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital

IntroductionThe health of people is negatively impacted by emergencies and catastrophes, and many lives are lost as a result. The guidelines for humanitarian action during times of crisis, whether brought on by armed war or natural disasters, are provided by the humanitarian principles. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how the staff and clients at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital felt about the applicability of the four humanitarian principles when responding to emergency conditions.MethodologyFacility-based descriptive and explanatory cross-sectional study designs were employed. The study intended to collect data with structured questionnaires from a total of 209 individuals in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. The participants were selected randomly based on, their willingness. Of the 209 participants, 105 included staff and the rest 104 included clients (patients and caregivers in the emergency room) of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. The collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 23.ResultsThe descriptive analysis shows that principles of humanity are practiced better with (mean = 3.5) and principles of impartiality are practiced less with (mean = 3.2) as to the perception of the participants. Correlational analysis was used to examine the relationship between the ages, profession, gender, status, work experience, and familiarity with humanitarian principles, and the results indicated a non-significant correlation between variables, r (209) = 0.01 (2 tailored), “p = ns”. This suggests that familiarity with humanitarian principles or other independent variables does not affect the applicability of humanitarian principles in healthcare settings.ConclusionFrom the results of this study, it can be concluded that the state of being a staff (health care practitioners and those providing ancillary services) and client of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Teaching Hospital has nothing to do with developing a certain perception towards the practicability of the four humanitarian principles (humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence).

Critical Race Mixed Methodology (CRMM) as a transformative method: The benefits and challenges

Critical Race Mixed Methodology (CRMM) is a transformative mixed methods approach that combines CRT within a mixed methods design. In this article, we reflect upon our experience using and publishing a CRMM explanatory mixed methods study in a higher education journal's special issue focused on mixed methods research. We discuss the benefits of using CRMM as a transformative method. Then, we share the challenges of using CRMM. We also provide recommendations for engaging in CRMM research within psychology.

Effect of Court Suits on Value Added Tax Compliance Among Small and Medium Enterprises in Machakos Town, Kenya

Purpose: Value Added Tax non-compliance is an area of concern for all government and tax authorities and it continues to be an important issue that must be addressed. The general objective of the study was court suits on Value Added Tax compliance among the Small and Medium Enterprises in Machakos Town, Kenya. The study was guided by Agency theory and ability to pay theory. Methodology: The target population was 5412 Value Added Tax Registered Small and Medium Enterprises operators located in Machakos Town. The sample size was 372 Value Added Tax Registered Small and Medium Enterprises operators. Out of the 372 issued questionnaires only 275 were correctly filled and submitted in a timely fashion signifying a 73.9% response rate. The study employed explanatory study design. Primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. The pilot study was done in Kitui town and the data analysis was both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics covered frequencies, mean, standard deviations and variances. Inferential statistics included Pearson’s correlation and regression analysis. Results: The study found that court suits significantly affected VAT compliance in a positive way β=0.261 p&lt;0.05. Recommendation: The study recommends that taxpayers should be aware of the legal consequences of non-compliance, as court suits can drive adherence to VAT regulations

Just another tool in their repertoire: uncovering insights into public and patient perspectives on clinicians' use of machine learning in perioperative care.

Successful implementation of machine learning-augmented clinical decision support systems (ML-CDSS) in perioperative care requires the prioritization of patient-centric approaches to ensure alignment with societal expectations. We assessed general public and surgical patient attitudes and perspectives on ML-CDSS use in perioperative care. A sequential explanatory study was conducted. Stage 1 collected public opinions through a survey. Stage 2 ascertained surgical patients' experiences and attitudes via focus groups and interviews. For Stage 1, a total of 281 respondents' (140 males [49.8%]) data were considered. Among participants without ML awareness, males were almost three times more likely than females to report more acceptance (OR = 2.97; 95% CI, 1.36-6.49) and embrace (OR = 2.74; 95% CI, 1.23-6.09) of ML-CDSS use by perioperative teams. Males were almost twice as likely as females to report more acceptance across all perioperative phases with ORs ranging from 1.71 to 2.07. In Stage 2, insights from 10 surgical patients revealed unanimous agreement that ML-CDSS should primarily serve a supportive function. The pre- and post-operative phases were identified explicitly as forums where ML-CDSS can enhance care delivery. Patients requested for education on ML-CDSS's role in their care to be disseminated by surgeons across multiple platforms. The general public and surgical patients are receptive to ML-CDSS use throughout their perioperative care provided its role is auxiliary to perioperative teams. However, the integration of ML-CDSS into perioperative workflows presents unique challenges for healthcare settings. Insights from this study can inform strategies to support large-scale implementation and adoption of ML-CDSS by patients in all perioperative phases. Key strategies to promote the feasibility and acceptability of ML-CDSS include clinician-led discussions about ML-CDSS's role in perioperative care, established metrics to evaluate the clinical utility of ML-CDSS, and patient education.

Determinants of Low Coverage of the Free Surgical Care Programme for Trachomatous Trichiasis in Rural Guinea in 2022.

This study aimed to describe the experiences of healthcare personnel and patients in the organization of free surgical campaigns and care for trachomatous trichiasis in the health district of Siguiri in Guinea, including challenges experienced in providing surgical care. This was an explanatory qualitative study conducted in 2022 in the health district of Siguiri. A total of 20 participants were interviewed including patients (n = 7; 35%), community health workers (n = 4; 20%), health services managers, and healthcare providers (n = 8; 40%). Two main data collection technics were used: documentary review and in-depth individual interviews. All interviews were transcribed and manually coded using an Excel extraction spreadsheet. Data were analysed using inductive and deductive approaches. The results showed several organizational, structural, and community challenges that underlined the low surgical coverage of trachomatous trichiasis in the health district of Siguiri. Organizational challenges included the low involvement of local actors in planning activities, the limited timeframe of the campaigns, and the lack of logistics for activities supervision and patients' transportation to surgery sites. Structural challenges included the inadequacy of health centres to provide surgical services, poor health infrastructures, and sanitation conditions in some areas. Individual challenges included remoteness of surgical sites and costs associated with services provision including medicines. Community challenges included fear of surgery and the coincidence of the campaigns with agricultural and mining activities. The results of the study call on the national neglected tropical disease program and its partners to adopt and promote micro-planning of trachomatous trichiasis surgical activities, with the effective participation of local stakeholders in endemic health districts. They should also envision integrating the management of surgical treatment including costs associated with care (transportation, food, rehabilitation support for patients who have undergone surgery) and complications of surgical procedures for an expansion of the trachomatous trichiasis free surgical care coverage in endemic health districts in Guinea.

The Effect Of E-Service Quality And E-Trust On Buying Interest In Shopee Pay Users In The Millennial Generation

The use of e-wallet is increasing as online transactions increase in Indonesia. This research is an explanatory study that aims to find out the influence of E-service quality and E-trust on the interest of using ShopeePay when shopping online among Millennials in DKI Jakarta. The population of this study is the entire Generation of Millennials in DKI Jakarta who have used ShopeePay at least three times when making online transactions and the number is unknown. Sampling technique used is purposive sampling techniques on condition samples are Millennial Generation, live in the territory of DKI Jakarta and have used ShoppePay at least 3 times. Data collected through the spread of the google form questionnaire to the Millennial Generation. Data analysis using SmartPLS 3.0 Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Research results show that E-Service Quality and E-Trust have a positive and significant influence on purchasing interest using ShopeePay on the millennial generation in DKI Jakarta. According to research results, 92.9% of Millennial Generation interest in using ShoppePay is influenced by E-Service Quality and E-Trust. The findings confirm that it is important for e-wallet service providers to focus on improving the quality of electronic services and building user confidence to boost purchasing interest.

Analysis on the implementation of inclusive classroom: perception on compliances and obstructions of selected public-school teachers

This descriptive explanatory study determined the compliances and obstructions based on the perception of selected public schools. The analysis of the implementation of inclusive classrooms involves a comprehensive examination of the extent to which educational institutions adhere to inclusive practices and the challenges they face in achieving inclusivity. Inclusive classrooms aim to provide a learning environment that accommodates diverse students, including those with disabilities, different learning styles, and varied backgrounds. With 20 samples taken through non-probability sampling method via purposive sampling, the result showed that there are teachers who have limited knowledge about the implementation of inclusive education in their classroom, and the respondents have varied perceptions about classroom inclusivity such as customize approach, warm space, and equal opportunities. It also showed that there are obstructions in the implementation of inclusive education in their classroom setup to include denying a chance, lack of resources, and lack of awareness.

Hospital Experiences of Carers in Relation to the Comprehensive Care Standard: A Mixed Method Study.

To explore the care experiences of informal carers of people with chronic conditions in hospitals and identify areas for improvement in the context of comprehensive care delivery. A explanatory sequential mixed-method study. This study was conducted, involving a survey with 182 carers and interviews with 31 carers of individuals who attended an Australian hospital. Descriptive analysis of quantitative data was performed using RStudio, while thematic analysis of qualitative data was conducted using NVivo. The findings revealed seven overarching components of care that influenced carers' hospitalexperiences and their perceptions of care quality. Areas requiring improvement were identified within these categories. This review identifies common perspectives of informal carers of people with chronic conditions in hospital settings and highlights important areas that require attention to improve carers' hospital care experiences. Carers should be welcomed, involved, informed and supported during hospital attendance to foster the most positive care experiences. Healthcare professionals should involve carers in assessment, shared decision-making and the care process and recognise and address carers' needs. The findings revealed the carer's hospital experiences in the context of comprehensive care delivery and identified areas requiring improvement. The CROSS and the COREQ guidelines were followed. The study protocol was presented to stakeholders from two hospitals in Australia, a Patient and Carer Advisory Board (attached to the parent project: evaluating Quality of Care (eQC))and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, and discussions were held to assess the relevance and significance of this study to clinical practice and health policy.

The impact of collaborative reflection and dialogic journals on EFL teachers’ ecological agency

ABSTRACT This explanatory sequential mixed method study aimed to investigate the impact of collaborative reflection and dialogic journals on EFL teachers’ ecological agency. For this purpose, 60 EFL teachers selected through purposive sampling were randomly assigned to three groups, one control group, and two experimental groups. The participants of the control group took part in a 10-session teacher training course. The participants of experimental group 1 participated in collaborative reflection sessions for 10 weeks and the participants of experimental group 2 were required to keep dialogic journals for 10 weeks. To investigate the effect of the treatment, the teacher ecological agency questionnaire was administered twice in the pretest and posttest. Finally, a set of semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants of both experimental groups. The results indicated that collaborative reflection and dialogic journals had a significant effect on the development of the participants’ ecological agency. However, the participants of experimental group 2 outperformed the participants of experimental group 1 in the posttest examining ecological agency. The thematic analyses of the semi-structured interview revealed that both collaborative reflection and dialogic journals have contributed to the development of EFL teachers’ ecological agency. The findings of the current study have significant pedagogical implications for teachers, teacher educators, policymakers, and researchers.