Family-centered Approach Research Articles

Family-centered empowerment approach to optimize phosphate management among hemodialysis patients: an experimental study

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the effect of a family-centered empowerment program on hyperphosphatemia management.MethodThis experimental study was performed on 80 randomly selected eligible patients with hyperphosphatemia undergoing hemodialysis. Patients were assigned randomly to two groups of family-centered empowerment program (FCEPG) and control group (CG) by coin toss (40 people per group). Data collection tools were the researcher-made Phosphate Control Knowledge Scale, the researcher-made Adherence to Dietary Restriction of Phosphorus Intake Scale, the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, and serum phosphorus measurements. Data were collected before the intervention, one month, and three months after the intervention. Patients in FCEPG participated in a family-centered empowerment program. The statistical significance level was considered to be 0.05.ResultsInter-group comparisons showed no significant difference between FCEPG and CG in terms of the mean score of knowledge of phosphate control, adherence to dietary restriction of phosphorus intake, adherence to medication, and the mean serum phosphorus level before the empowerment program, but showed significant differences between them in these respects at one month after the program and three months after the program (p < 0.05). Intra-group comparisons showed a significant difference in FCEPG between the mean and standard deviation of all four variables before the empowerment program and the corresponding values one month and three months after the program (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe findings of this study can be used in various fields of healthcare in the hospital and community.

OBESITY IN CHILDREN

Childhood obesity is a growing health concern that has reached epidemic proportions in many parts of the world. This research paper delves into the intricate issue of obesity in children, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of its causes, consequences, and potential solutions. The paper draws from a wide range of studies and data sources to offer insights into the complex landscape of childhood obesity.The prevalence of childhood obesity has risen dramatically in recent decades, with profound implications for public health. This research paper examines the global prevalence of childhood obesity, emphasizing the alarming rates in various regions. It highlights the urgency of addressing this issue and calls for effective strategies to curb its escalation. Childhood obesity is a multifaceted problem influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. This paper explores the contributing factors, including dietary patterns, physical inactivity, genetics, socio-economic disparities, and cultural influences. Understanding these factors is pivotal in designing targeted interventions.Childhood obesity has both immediate and long-term consequences for affected individuals and society as a whole. This research paper elucidates the health risks associated with childhood obesity, such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and psychological distress. It also examines the long-term implications, including a higher likelihood of obesity persisting into adulthood and its associated comorbidities.The prevalence of childhood obesity is not evenly distributed, with certain demographic groups facing higher risks. This paper addresses health disparities related to childhood obesity, emphasizing the need for equity-focused interventions. Socio-economic, racial, and geographical disparities are analyzed to inform targeted approaches.To address childhood obesity effectively, a multi-pronged approach is essential. This research paper presents an array of intervention strategies, encompassing dietary modifications, physical activity promotion, school-based programs, policy initiatives, and family-centered approaches. It discusses evidence-based interventions and their potential impact on reducing childhood obesity rates. Effective policy measures are critical in the fight against childhood obesity. This paper evaluates the role of government policies, including regulations on food marketing, school nutrition programs, and urban planning, in shaping environments that support healthy lifestyles for children.Childhood obesity is a pressing public health issue with far-reaching consequences. This research paper underscores the urgency of addressing the root causes of childhood obesity and the importance of early prevention efforts. It calls for a concerted effort from healthcare professionals, educators, policymakers, and families to create a healthier environment for children.In conclusion, this research paper provides a comprehensive examination of childhood obesity, encompassing its prevalence, causes, consequences, health disparities, and potential interventions. By shedding light on the complexities of this issue, it aims to inform policy decisions and public health initiatives aimed at combating the rising rates of obesity in children.

Including families in schizophrenia treatment: a systematic review

The family as one of system support for schizophrenia treatment in the primary care setting has been a challenge in integrating family services into mental health. This study aimed to review the urgent of family involvement during the treatment of schizophrenia in health mental services using the Family-Centered Care approach. A systematic review was performed using the population, intervention, comparison, outcome, study design (PICOS) framework within Scopus (27 articles), ProQuest (151 articles), Science Direct (93 articles), EBSCO (124 articles), and Springer (149 articles) published databases in the last five years using the keywords of “Family- Centered Care, nursing, AND Schizophreni*”. The articles were empirical quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods studies published within 2017- 2021 where study participants were clinically diagnosed with schizophrenia and intervention approaches were within the scope of family involvement. Twenty-four articles met the inclusion criteria for review. Evidence supports a professionally engaged relationship between patients, families, and providers with open knowledge exchange, communication, and collaboration. Family-centered care requires empathy, understanding, respect, and empowerment to choose, control decisions, and empower in the treatment of schizophrenia. This study concludes the importance of family involvement in the treatment of schizophrenia from the start. Health care providers help families through the admissions process.

Understanding Family-centered Care and Related Factors From the Perspective of Mothers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents numerous challenges for families with affected children due to communication and social interaction difficulties. Adopting a family-centered care approach can enhance the quality of care and increase the satisfaction of families seeking medical services for children with ASD. Objective: This study aims to assess the status of family-centered care and its related factors among mothers of children with ASD in Rasht City, Iran. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 183 mothers of children with ASD in Rasht, utilizing a census approach at Guilan Welfare Centres in September 2020. Data collection tools involved questionnaires on individual-family characteristics and the measure of processes of care, a 20-item questionnaire, which was validated and reliable. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including the Pearson test, independent t-test, analyses of variance, and multiple linear regression, were used for data analysis. Results: Out of 183 participants (69.31%), met the study criteria most mothers held a diploma (41%) and were housewives (74.3%). The scores for “empowerment and partnership” and “general information” aspects were below mean score, while “specific information”, “comprehensiveness and coordination” of services, and “respect and support” aspects received scores above mean score. The aspect of “specific information” received the highest score (55.4±16.2), while the “general information” aspect received the lowest (45.3±88.1). The regression model revealed that the child’s gender (B=-0.58, 95% CI, -1.07% to 0.001%, P=0.001), sufficiency of health insurance (B=-1.19, 95% CI, -2.17% to -0.21%, P=0.017), and severity of ASD (B=-1.25, 95% CI, -2.46% to -0.04%, P=0.042) significantly influenced empowerment and participation, general information, and specific information aspects. The family residence also impacted the aspect of respect and support (B=-1.24, 95% CI, 0.57% to 1.17%, P=0.001). Conclusion: The study findings revealed that mothers’ understanding of family-centered care in empowerment/participation and general information was below mean score. This finding highlights the importance of focusing on family-oriented approaches while providing services and care to families with children with ASD.

Parent Perspectives on Electronic Health Record-Based Social Needs Screening and Documentation: A Qualitative Study.

Social needs interventions in clinical settings can improve child health outcomes; however, they are not routinely delivered in routine pediatric care. The electronic health record (EHR) can support these interventions, but parent engagement in the development of EHR-based social needs interventions is lacking. The aim of this study was to assess parent perspectives on EHR-based social needs screening and documentation and identify family-centered approaches for screening design and implementation. We enrolled 20 parents from four pediatric primary care clinics. Parents completed a social risk questionnaire from an existing EHR module and participated in qualitative interviews. Parents were asked about the acceptability of EHR-based social needs screening and documentation and preferences for screening administration. A hybrid deductive-inductive approach was used to analyze qualitative data. Parents identified the benefits of social needs screening and documentation but expressed concerns related to privacy, fear of negative outcomes, and use of outdated documentation. Some felt self-administered electronic questionnaires would mitigate parent discomfort and encourage disclosure of social needs, while others felt face-to-face screening would be more effective. Parents stressed the importance of transparency on the purpose of social needs screening and the use of data. This work can inform the design and implementation of EHR-based social needs interventions that are acceptable and feasible for parents. Findings suggest strategies such as clear communication and multi-modal delivery methods may enhance intervention uptake. Future work should integrate feedback from multiple stakeholders to design and evaluate interventions that are family-centered and feasible to implement in clinical settings.

아동학대 사례관리 강화방안에 대한 탐색적 연구

The aim of this study is to explore integrated support services for abused children and their families, emphasizing the distinctiveness of child abuse case management. It seeks to enhance practice at a time when child protection agencies are in the process of transitioning into case management entities. To achieve this objective, individual and focus group interviews were conducted, drawing on recommendations from academic and field experts, and informed by extensive reviews of domestic and international literature as well as insights from child protection agencies. The study's analysis revealed the imperative and significance of adopting a family-centered approach that prioritizes family recovery and empowerment services within the context of child abuse case management. This approach takes into consideration the safety and needs of abused children. Furthermore, to ensure effective management of child abuse cases in the future, there is a vital need to enhance teamwork among child protection teams and specialized child protection agencies. Additionally, systematic efforts should be made by child protection agencies to support the child's adaptation and potential return to the original family, even in cases of separation. Based on these findings, the study delves into practical and policy measures to strengthen child abuse case management effectively.

The Hamburg Youth Prevention Project (HYPP) for adolescents with sexual interest in children.

Paedophilic sexual interest is often linked to an emergence during adolescence, but concrete empirical knowledge on its development and early viable treatments remains scarce. The aim of this article is to provide an overview about the current state of research on juveniles with sexual interest in children as well as to introduce the Hamburg Youth Prevention Project (HYPP). The HYPP aims to better comprehend the development of sexual interests in adolescents and seeks to find a basis for improved treatment strategies during this critical developmental period. In this perspective, we outline the framework, goals, and treatment approach for this project. It addresses adolescents who are sexually attracted to younger children or engage in sexual acts with children and who have not yet been in contact with the justice system. The project offers a diagnostic process, anonymous counselling, and treatment. It is grounded in a biopsychosocial perspective on psychosexual development and an integrative family-centred approach. The project is based on the core assumption that in adolescent participants, there is still great flexibility for development, including their sexual interests.

Infrastructuring exit migration: Social hope and migration decision-making in EU families who left the UK after the 2016 EU referendum

Since the 2016 EU referendum, estimates on net-migration by the UK’s Office for National Statistics have shown two parallel trends: declining new arrivals from the EU (EU immigration) and increasing departure of EU nationals formerly living in the UK (EU emigration). To date, little is known of the latter and of the circumstances and factors that inform and shape EU citizens’ decisions to leave the UK. Drawing on in-depth qualitative interviews with 37 EU families who left the UK after the EU referendum, this article offers insights into their social hopes, migratory trajectories, motivations and decision-making. Using a family-centred approach, the analysis of these ‘exit trajectories’ through the lens of migration infrastructures reveals a range of challenges EU migrants must negotiate and overcome – often within their households. The analysis complicates assumptions of the meaning and experience of ‘going home’ as seen from a family perspective and reveals the intergenerational tensions, challenges and accommodations that ‘return’ produces and how these differently affect each family member. Faced with diverging interests, needs and expectations, families pursued two main strategies for accommodating these differences: a spatial strategy, namely negotiating and choosing a destination that would suit the present and future of the family members, or a temporal one, planning the exit strategy not as a one-off event but taking place over a longer period. However, accommodation and reconciliation are not always possible, leading in some cases to the fragmentation or dissolution of the family unit.

Parent and Therapist Perceptions of the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Benefits of a Weekly Therapist-Led Massage Program for Extremely Preterm Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care.

Mothers of extremely preterm infants experience high rates of mental health disorders that impair maternal-infant interaction and lead to worse infant developmental outcomes. Therapist Education and Massage for Parent-Infant Outcomes (TEMPO) is a therapist-led program that standardizes the nature and frequency of parent education through weekly scheduled therapy sessions. Using a family-centered approach, the therapist facilitates positive maternal-infant interactions and massage interventions from birth throughout hospitalization with the goal of improving maternal mental health. This qualitative study presents the results of 19 parent interviews and of a focus group of four TEMPO interventionists to elicit feedback about the program. Overall, parents and therapists viewed the program positively. Parents and therapists valued the focus on parent education and engagement to increase parent competence and bonding opportunities. Both groups acknowledged that infant massage had both infant-centered and parent-centered benefits. One area where parent and therapist views did not align was regarding feasibility of TEMPO. Parents noted multiple logistical challenges to regular NICU visitation, but ultimately agreed that attending weekly therapy sessions was feasible. Therapists noted increased time and effort required of TEMPO and felt that institutional and system-level changes would be necessary to implement weekly parent education as standard of care.

Determination of Stress and Anxiety Levels of Parents of Infants Staying in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Introduction: Anxiety and stress in parents’ lives during their babies' NICU stays can have a negative impact on all family members. This study aimed to measure the stress and anxiety levels of parents of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit receiving oxygen support.&#x0D; Methods: This study was conducted based on cross-sectional design with 123 parents of infants between 1 August 2020 and 01 May 2021. Data was gathered using the "State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)", "Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS: NICU)", and "Parent Information Form and Infant Information Form".&#x0D; Results: The STAI scores of the parents were considered "moderately anxious" and the parents were "moderately stressed" based on the overall mean scores on the PSS: NICU and the mean scores on the subscales of the scale. It was found that parents’ number of children, employment, infant gender, type of delivery, intensive care environment characteristics, parents' communication with health personnel, and health condition all influenced their scores on the STAI and PSS: NICU subscales.&#x0D; Conclusion: Providing a holistic and family-centred approach to parents, the closest relatives of their infants who will create future generations as well as educational and counselling roles played by nurses and reducing stress and anxiety experienced by parents, will have a positive impact on neonatal health.

Increasing early infant male circumcision uptake in Zambia: Like father like son.

Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) is an effective strategy for HIV prevention in areas with high prevalence of, and risk for, HIV. More than 361,000 male neonates are born each year in Zambia, many of whom could be eligible for Early-Infant Medical Circumcision (EIMC). Building on successful implementation strategies utilized in our Spear & Shield program, this pilot study, "Like Father, Like Son" (LFLS), evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of offering combined EIMC and VMMC services and couple-level behavioral interventions. A total of N = 702 pregnant women and their male partners (n = 351 couples) were recruited and enrolled. Couples were assessed twice pre-birth, 2 weeks post birth, and 6 months post birth. Expectant mothers were an average of 15.05 weeks pregnant (SD = 8.83). Thirty-nine pregnancies did not result in a live birth (11%), 14 couples withdrew from the study or were lost to follow-up prior to delivery (4%), and 148 babies were born female (42%), leaving 150 couples with a male infant in the analytic sample (43%). The LFLS study achieved significantly higher EIMC rates (35%) in comparison with previously observed EIMC study rates in Zambia (11%), and significantly higher than hypothetical comparison rates up to 30%. Relative to baseline rates, odds of VMMC among couples' older sons increased by 31% at post-intervention and by 90% at two-weeks following birth. Overall, this pilot study found the LFLS intervention to be feasible, acceptable, and effective in doubling the rate of EIMC in comparison with a previous longitudinal study in Zambia. Future research should consider a family-centric approach to promotion of male circumcision for infants and adolescents. LFLS may be effective in promoting father-son "bonding" by MC status; a bond that may be a bridge to increase both EIMC and VMMC uptake in newborns and couples' older sons and is a novel leverage point for promotion of this HIV prevention strategy.

Telepractice in Early Childhood Intervention: A Parent-Reported Social Validity Scale.

In recent years, telepractice has become widespread as an intervention strategy in Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) services. However, studies supporting its use in this field remain scarce. Because reliable instruments are needed to evaluate the perceived quality, satisfaction and the acceptability of telepractice from the families' perspective, the present study aims to report the psychometric properties of an ECI-specific instrument that includes a variety of social validity indicators that are also important and consistent with a family-centered approach. This study, with a sample of 738 families, introduces an instrument aimed at evaluating the social validity of telepractice. The scale includes the main indicators of social validity: Usability, Effectiveness; Feasibility, Utility, intervention with natural caregivers, and Future Intentions. The study aims to report its psychometric properties through a split-sample method, conducting both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis with randomly assigned sub-samples. We found that all seven items fit into one factor measuring social validity of telepractice, with acceptable internal consistency and sensitive enough to capture differences between the type of service delivery families received. In addition, the proposed instrument provides relevant information for professionals to improve the quality of service-delivery in ECI.

Women Agro-Entrepreneurship Promoting Vegetables at a Family Level: A Healthcare Approach towards Non-Communicable Disease Risk Reduction.

The role of women in promoting the production and consumption of vegetables at a family level towards mitigating the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is crucial. Women not only select and prepare food items consumed by their families but care about the health issues of family members. As research examining this critical role of women is scant, we attempted to understand how women as agro-entrepreneurs can promote vegetables to enhance healthcare situations. A field study was conducted in a northeastern district of Bangladesh from January to June 2019, adopting qualitative-participatory approaches that involved interviews, focus groups, and workshops. The study revealed that women play a vital role in taking care of the health of the family members, while their role in planning the family diet is exclusive. However, they have limited decision-making authority in the production and consumption of vegetables, and their knowledge and perception of NCDs are limited. The results imply that with enhanced capacity of vegetable production and better knowledge of nutrition and NCDs, women can improve family dietary habits by increasing the consumption of vegetables. Therefore, building the agro-entrepreneurial capacities of women in terms of knowledge, skills, access to finance, and decision-making authority at the family level would be a significant interventional approach for increased production and consumption of vegetables. We argue that public health strategies and policies addressing NCDs should incorporate this family-centric approach by promoting agro-entrepreneurship by women who would promote the production and consumption of vegetables.

Making needle procedures comfortable for autistic children: Caregiver perspectives

BackgroundAutistic children are at greater risk for having difficulty undergoing needle procedures and poor management of their needle pain and fear. While there are general clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) available for managing pediatric needle pain and fear, it is unclear whether these strategies are appropriate for autistic children and their caregivers. MethodThe objective of this study was to explore caregiver perspectives on what is needed for needle procedures to be comfortable and CPGs to be appropriate for them and their autistic child. Twenty Canadian caregivers of autistic children were interviewed, including open-ended questions and ratings of how helpful CPG strategies would be for autistic children. ResultsUsing reflexive thematic analysis, four themes were identified: 1) autistic children’s sense of autonomy is important; 2) external factors impact autistic children’s comfort (e.g., environment, familiarity, healthcare providers); 3) caregivers play a key role by preparing themselves and others before needle procedures and 4) it is essential to tailor CPG strategies to children’s needs. ConclusionsFindings indicate that a child and family-centered approach is imperative to making needle procedures comfortable for autistic children. Practical recommendations for healthcare providers and caregivers are provided.

Family-Centeredness in Secure Residential Treatment and Its Relationship With Parental Involvement and Adolescent Behavioural Outcomes

Various Dutch secure residential youth care (SRYC) institutions are implementing a family-centered approach aiming to increase parental involvement and improve treatment outcomes. However, it remains unclear if and how family-centeredness (FC) is related to increased parental involvement and to improved treatment outcomes of adolescents. In this study, we unravelled the relation between FC, parental involvement, and behaviour problems of adolescents in SRYC. Families of 404 adolescents admitted to one of seven participating Dutch SRYC institutions completed a survey (at the start, at the end, and at 6-months follow-up) on problem behaviour of adolescents. In addition, 411 group care workers filled out a questionnaire about their residential group’s level of FC every 6 months. Moreover, the mentor of each adolescent filled out a questionnaire about the level of parental involvement. We analysed the data using multiple mediator models. Associations were found between FC and parental involvement. However, no relation was found between FC and adolescent problem behaviour, and no mediation and no moderation effects of parental involvement were found. Overall, results showed that most parents were involved during the residential stay, and, independent of FC, adolescent problem behaviour decreased over time. Implementing FC in SRYC institutions seems to be helpful in involving parents during the residential stay, but was not found to be associated with adolescent behavioural outcomes. Our results indicate that institutions could improve their level of FC by offering more informal contact moments for parents and by addressing barriers to FC among residential staff.

Reducing Foster Care Entry Rates for Children in Sacramento County: A Spotlight on Practice

Beginning in 2006, Sacramento County implemented multiple child welfare practices and policies to reduce high rates of foster care entries (e.g., early intervention family drug courts, differential response, team decision-making, a family-centered approach to safety and risk assessment). Those strategies were identified through interviews with County child welfare leaders; and then the strategies were placed chronically in a table to inform a longitudinal data analysis. Between 2000 and 2020, entry rates in Sacramento County declined at a faster rate than entry rates in California (when all state counties but Sacramento were combined), and by 2020 were statistically significantly lower than entry rates in California. Between 2000 and 2020, recurrence of maltreatment rates for children in Sacramento County were higher than California; however, those declined more rapidly than recurrence rates in California and were similar by 2020. Both foster care entry and child maltreatment recurrence rates for children in Sacramento County declined between 2000 and 2020, indicating that foster care entry rates were safely reduced but additional data about child safety and well-being are needed. In addition, although Black children less than one year old continue to enter care at higher rates within Sacramento County, their entry rates declined more rapidly than other ethnic and age groups. This suggests that Sacramento’s focus on the youngest children, with multiple services specially designed for Black children and families, may be contributing to these positive trends. Future studies should examine the individual impact of the multiple interventions and programs implemented in Sacramento County on the rates of entry into foster care. Further investigations could also help unpack the racial/ethnic group and age differences seen in Sacramento County foster care entry rates and inform the timing of future practice improvements.

Father Groups in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Supportive Intervention.

Parents' participation in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) reduces length of stay and positively affects infants' psychological, cognitive, and behavioural outcomes. Healthcare professionals in the NICU focus on both parents, but tend to have the main focus on the mother and the infant. Therefore, fathers may experience a lack of support and feel that they are being disregarded in the NICU. To study fathers' experiences with father groups during NICU admission with their preterm infant. The father group is a 90-minute intervention based on dialogue between fathers and a male healthcare professional. A qualitative content analysis was conducted using 10 online semistructured interviews with fathers participating in a father group. The study was reported according to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research. The overall theme emerging from our analysis was "Emotional support, encouragement, and an enhanced capacity to deal with the situation and with life in the NICU." This theme emerged from the categories "Meeting with peers and sharing reflections" and "Fathers' territory" based on 5 subcategories. Participation in father groups gives fathers recognition for being important as parents in the NICU, improves fathers' mental well-being, and enhances their coping capacity. Father groups support fathers in the NICU and can be integrated into NICU practices and policies to enhance a family-centered approach. This study revealed a need for further research to determine whether participation in a father group has a measurable effect on clinical outcomes.

Family-centered care for a patient with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in the intensive care unit: A case report

Background: Patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) require complex intensive care, and family involvement plays an essential role in achieving patient recovery. Family-centered care in the intensive care unit (ICU) benefits patients, families, and healthcare workers. Objective: This case study aimed to evaluate the family-centered care approach for patients with MODS in the ICU. Case: A 46-year-old male patient with MODS presented various problems, including the risk of respiratory infections, impaired renal perfusion, and pressure sores. An interview with the patient’s family revealed that they felt guilty, worried, and lacked sufficient information about the patient’s condition. The interventions provided to the family included giving them information about the patient’s condition, care plans, and evaluation results after procedures, providing spiritual guidance, offering family support, and involving them in the patient’s required procedures. Conclusion: After the patient had been admitted for two days, there was an improvement in the patient’s outcomes. Simultaneously, the patient’s family experienced a sense of calmness and increased satisfaction with the provided health services. To facilitate the implementation of family-centered care in the ICU, it is crucial to further develop hospital policies. Moreover, achieving successful family-centered care necessitates the support and cooperation of the medical staff.

It's a family affair: Confucian familist philosophy's potential to improve mental health care for ethnic Chinese in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Many ethnic groups traditionally value familism, which emphasises interdependence and the extended family unit. However, Aotearoa New Zealand's health system remains largely individual-oriented, with the implementation of family-centred care remaining inconsistent. This is known to have negative effects on Māori healthcare experiences and outcomes. Our research, exploring the experiences of ethnic Chinese using mental health services in Aotearoa New Zealand, indicated that this could also be a barrier for ethnic Chinese, who have similarly strong cultural links to familism, accessing mental health care. To balance the cultural importance of family involvement with the protection of individual patient autonomy, we propose a moderate Confucian familist approach, encouraging family involvement and participation in individual patients' care, with patients' consent. The approach acknowledges individual patients as interconnected members of a wider family unit, emphasising their reciprocal, mutual responsibility in maintaining a well-functioning, harmonious family. We highlight Whānau Ora as a potential exemplar for a culturally grounded, family-centred approach to mental health care which could be feasibly implemented and deliver positive outcomes. Parallels between Māori and ethnic Chinese cultural views around whānau, community, and collectivism suggest a Kaupapa Māori approach could also be beneficial to Aotearoa New Zealand's ethnic Chinese populations. However, ethnic Chinese lack the specific legal obligations empowering the implementation of interventions such as Whānau Ora. This is an obstacle which remains to be addressed before mental health services which are sensitive to the needs of ethnic Chinese or of other ethnicities can be effectively implemented.

Special Educators’ Experience Teaching during the Pandemic: A Retrospective Study

With the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, a shift in teaching children with special needs has taken place. The purpose of this descriptive research study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on teacher relationships with special needs kids during the mandated school closures in March 2020. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out through google form questionnaire. A total of forty special educators participated in the study. The challenges faced by special educators were documented through five sections: Demographic details, Online Teaching, Access to Resources, Individualized Educational Plan and Parental Satisfaction. During the Covid pandemic, more than 90% of teachers switched to an online way of service delivery. Special educators agree that online resources should be used properly, and that parents should be able to organize material for online education. They agreed that acquiring and exchanging information on Individualized Educational Plan (IEP), establishing IEP direction, planning and drafting IEPs for online classrooms, and implementing and reviewing IEPs were all tough. Parents’ satisfaction with online education and interest in online programs were lower than in-person teaching, according to the study. Special educators were constantly seeking to adapt to the present instructional requirements. Culturally relevant resources, guidelines for implementing the Individualized Educational Plan, and a family-centered approach are all needed.