Participant Interviews Research Articles

Precarious love of eSports players in China: work-and-play amidst love and precarity

ABSTRACT The eSports industry has transformed rapidly in China in the last decade to become a flourishing business domain. ESports practitioners have been endorsed by the Chinese government (Wong and Meng-Lewis 2023), which recognized eSports as an official occupation in 2019. However, previous studies have interpreted eSports work as ‘playbour’, neglecting the professional and vocational dimensions of eSports. The field of affects related to eSports work is also understudied. This study employs certain ethnographic methods (participant observation and interview) to demonstrate the dialectical relationship between work and play through the construct of ‘work-and-play’, which emphasizes the new work ethic of ‘do what you love’. Esports players engage professionally in the work of playing games motivated by love, hope and ‘the champion dream’. However, their desire to flourish through eSports work could subject them to precarity and become cruel.

Assessing Student Satisfaction and Institutional Efficiency in Dormitory Management: A Qualitative Analysis Based on Student Perspectives

This research examines the information management processes implemented in student dormitories and evaluates the enhancement of institutional efficiency based on student satisfaction. The study involved 150 students residing in dormitories across two universities, and data were collected through participant interviews. The findings indicate that while dormitory management is perceived as effective in some areas, there are significant opportunities for improvement in information management, communication, and service quality. Based on the student feedback, this article proposes several strategies to enhance dormitory management, including the adoption of digital platforms for better communication, regular maintenance schedules, and improved transparency in financial management. The challenges of implementing these measures, such as resource constraints and institutional resistance to change, are also discussed. These recommendations aim to improve student satisfaction and, consequently, institutional efficiency.

The usefulness of a rehabilitation programme for people with stress-related disorders - A case from a rehabilitation center in Estonia.

Background Rehabilitation programs help to improve people’s lives and reduce turnover rates in organisations. The current analysis revealed that dissatisfaction occurred among practitioners, doctors’ overlapping services, and fragmented plans. No comprehensive assessment and rehabilitation program currently exists for stress-related disorders in Estonia indicating an urgent need to conduct research and development programs for clients to reduce stress (Bugarski, Z, et al., 2016). This study research aimed to determine the usefulness of rehabilitation programs for individuals people with stress-related disorders. Method A qualitative approach was used. Methodology The sample included 10 individuals recruited from various rehabilitation centers in Estonia. Convenience sampling was used to select participants for this research. Open- and closed-ended questions were formulated using the 12 questions enclosed in this research. All transcribed interviews were formatted using the code. Extract codes within participant interviews were compared to identify similarities, differences, and closeness, and therefore formulated categories. Results The findings revealed that rehabilitation programs contribute to quality services, self-motivation, daily activities plan, self-control, recovery, attention and concentration, and coping skills, whereas traditional treatment can reduce symptoms but not change people’s lives. Conclusion This study suggests that rehabilitation programs are useful for individuals with stress disorders in the context of the Estonian healthcare system. The rehabilitation program is a useful intervention method revealed in the context of Estonia’s healthcare system, as it improves quality services, increases coping skills, self-control, and cognitive skills, and enhances recovery.

Graffiti for seniors: Are the educational needs of older adults changing?

ABSTRACT The rock ‘n’ roll generation has retired, and this raises questions about whether their educational needs differ from the generations before them. This paper presents a study of a course called ‘Graffiti for Seniors.’ The course had nine participants, all women, which constituted two groups: (A) people who are artists or artisans and (B) people who are curious about graffiti as an expression and culture in general. The methods used was participant observation and interviews. When the data had been gathered, Howard McClusky’s theory of educational needs guided the analysis, as this theory offers a diversity of alternative needs compared to later theories. The material was reviewed to find expressions related to the theory’s five dimensions. We conclude that the most prominent needs are coping needs and expressive needs. Coping needs address dealing with society’s ideas about aging, but also about gender, and challenging these norms. Expressive needs demonstrate the importance of engaging in activities that are performed for their own sake and allowing individuals to express themselves. A limitation of this study is that it is performed in a single context, and therefore, future studies in other contexts using the same theory for analysis would contribute to a fuller understanding of how different courses meet various educational needs among older adult learners. A practical implication of the study is the insight that older adults can benefit from educational arenas where they enjoy the freedom of expression and where they can challenge and explore norms connected to gender and age.

Curriculum reform-necessity for emerging VUCA worlds to enhance pre-service teachers’ pedagogy

The economic meltdowns across countries are exacerbated by COVID-19 and its aftermath, which bear the brunt of perennial devastations characterised by abject poverty. Although somewhat peculiar, higher institutions of education (HIE) have modified learning and teaching strategies to accommodate the deleterious effects of COVID-19. Conversely, while adapting, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) necessitates that HIE reprioritises a plethora of factors, including pedagogies. This approach catalyses the comprehension of volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments in economic sectors. Hence, this paper aims to evaluate the use of pre-service teachers’ AI skills and digital pedagogy at universities to determine the need to reform the curriculum for the purposes of navigating the VUCA world. Likewise, critical theory is utilised to understand the necessity of digital skills for pre-service teachers to enable HIE’s adaptation to VUCA environments. This mixed-method study involves purposively sampling 12 participants for interviews and randomly sampling 78 participants for surveys. Using critical discourse analysis, the data is analysed to postulate nuances of perspectives. The findings depict that, despite universities adapting to innovative methods, particularly AI, there is a paucity of AI content and infrastructural development that enables pre-service teachers to acquire the digital competencies and skills needed to teach robotics, coding, and maritime studies. Overall, digital skills are below average; hence, the paper recommends that universities reform their curricula to stimulate digital skills that reflect the requisite capabilities of digitalisation and AI to withstand the VUCA world.

A mixed-methods exploration of the Real-Time Virtual Support pathway Child Health Advice in Real-Time Electronically in Northwestern BC.

To explore the implementation of a provincial virtual paediatric consulting service, Child Health Advice in Real-Time Electronically (CHARLiE), integrated into the paediatric on-call schedule in Northwestern British Columbia. Healthcare providers in Northwestern British Columbia responded to a survey (n = 72) and participated in focus groups (n = 35) and key informant interviews (n = 4) to share their experiences engaging in a healthcare model that incorporated virtual paediatric consultants in lieu of in-person local paediatrician coverage over a 28-month period. Survey data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Themes were generated from a qualitative descriptive approach to focus groups and key informant interview transcripts. 96.1% of survey respondents who had used CHARLiE rated it as 'good' or 'very good' in the provision of overall support, while 77.6% reported that CHARLiE improved access to paediatric care. Focus group and key informant interview participants valued CHARLiE's timely, dedicated virtual bedside assessments of patients; collegiality and professionalism; amelioration of local paediatrician burnout; prevention of unnecessary transfers; and offloading of indirect patient care tasks. Video support improved provider confidence and appeared to improve caregiver trust. Suggested improvements included addressing technological barriers, enhancing providers' knowledge of local resources, and enabling continuity of care. Participants identified that virtual care does not replace on-the-ground specialist care. Participants valued CHARLiE's 24/7, timely, and collegial video support. While maintaining a full complement of on-the-ground paediatricians remains the goal for some rural communities, dedicated virtual support provides access to paediatric care in smaller communities, thereby improving health equity for children in British Columbia.

Developing personas to inform the design of digital interventions for perinatal mental health.

Digital interventions are increasingly in demand to address mental health concerns, with significant potential to reach populations that disproportionately face barriers to accessing mental health care. Challenges with user engagement, however, persist. The goal of this study was to develop user personas to inform the development of a digital mental health intervention (DMHI) for a perinatal population. We used participatory User-Centered Design (UCD) methods to generate and validate personas (ie, representative profiles of potential users). We applied this methodology to a case example of an Anxiety Sensitivity Intervention. Phases included (1) Characteristic identification, (2) Persona generation, (3) Persona consolidation, (4) Persona validation, and (5) Persona refinement. Advisory Council members with lived expertise of perinatal mental health conditions generated 6 personas. We used cluster analysis and qualitative analysis to consolidate personas. We used participant interviews with perinatal individuals experiencing depression or anxiety and economic marginalization (n = 12) to qualitatively validate and refine these personas. We identified 4 user personas with potentially unique design needs that we characterized as being "Resilient," "Lonely," "Overwhelmed," and "Aware." Personas generated through this process had distinct characteristics and design implications including the need to prioritize (1) content personalization, (2) additional content describing support options and resources (eg, doulas, midwives), (3) careful consideration of the type of information provided by users, and (4) transparent options for information and data sharing. DMHIs will need to be adapted for relevance for a perinatal population. The personas we developed are suggestive of the need for design considerations specific to distinct potential user groups within this population.

Exercise-based telerehabilitation for the management of chronic pain in people with severe haemophilia: a mixed-methods feasibility study

BackgroundChronic pain is reported by between 30 and 71% of people with haemophilia (PWH). Exercise is shown to be effective for pain management in other arthritides, but it remains unclear if such an approach is effective or acceptable to PWH. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a telerehabilitation exercise intervention for PWH living with chronic pain.MethodsThis was a multisite, non-randomised, pre-post feasibility design, with a nested qualitative study. People with severe haemophilia > 18 years, living with chronic pain, were recruited. The intervention comprised 12 low-impact/moderate intensity, individualised exercise sessions and 3 knowledge-sharing and discussion sessions. Primary objectives assessed according to predefined progression criteria were as follows: (a) recruitment rate (5 participants enrolled per site over 8 weeks), (b) adherence (≥ 75% participants would adhere to ≥ 75% of sessions), (c) follow-up rate (≥ 75% completion of self-reported measures), (d) fidelity (intervention delivered as described in protocol) and (e) safety (≤ 30% participants would report adverse events). Acceptability was evaluated from thematic analysis of post-intervention participant interviews. Preliminary evaluation of self-reported pain, function and quality of life (QoL) was a secondary objective. Results were reported using descriptive statistics integrated with qualitative findings.ResultsTen PWH were recruited and completed the intervention. Nine agreed to be interviewed post intervention. Attendance at individual sessions was 84.5% compared to 52.1% for the group sessions. Outcome measures were successfully completed for 100% at baseline, 70% at intervention end and 60% at 3-month follow-up. No serious adverse events were recorded. Group median values in outcome measures (pain, function, QoL) showed minimal change post intervention. Participant interviews highlighted high levels of enjoyment, confidence in continuing exercises independently and positive views of virtual delivery and condition-specific exercise.ConclusionsRecruitment rate and safety met the predefined progression criteria. Fidelity partially met the progression criteria, but the follow-up rate for self-reported measures did not. The study was acceptable to both participants and physiotherapists. Further intervention development is needed to review approaches to outcome measure collection and refine the usefulness of the knowledge-sharing sessions.Trial registrationThe study was prospectively registered on 9 July 2021: International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number ISRCTN 17454597.

A mixed method evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practice on dengue fever among Lalitpur Metropolitan City residents: a cross-sectional investigation.

Dengue poses a significant global public health challenge, including in Nepal. Understanding community's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors concerning dengue fever is imperative to developing effective prevention and control strategies. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices related to dengue fever among residents of Lalitpur Metropolitan City. A descriptive cross-sectional household study was conducted using a mixed-method approach, which included quantitatively studying 636 individuals and conducting 20 qualitative interviews. The data was collected between April 2023 and June 2023. The multistage cluster sampling method was applied for household selection during the quantitative study and a purposive judgmental sampling method was used to identify participants for the qualitative interviews. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire for the quantitative study and an interview guide for the qualitative study. Quantitative data were analysed using logistic regression in STATA version 13, and thematic analysis was applied to the qualitative data. The findings were validated through triangulation of results from both the qualitative and quantitative study. Regarding knowledge, 64.94% (n = 413/636) reported being informed about dengue fever. In terms of attitude, a substantial majority, 91.51% (n = 582/636), expressed a positive attitudes toward dengue fever, indicating a favorable perception and knowledge of its significance. Concerning practice, 49.84% (n = 317/636) of respondents reported actively engaging in dengue fever prevention measures. The variables gender, previous history of dengue fever and residency were the determinants of dengue fever knowledge. Additionally, gender, residency, and attitude were predictors of preventive practices concerning dengue fever. Our study revealed that while the community demonstrated good knowledge of dengue fever and positive attitudes toward prevention, their preventive practices were inconsistent, indicating a gap between knowledge and action. A positive attitude was linked to better adherence to preventive measures. To address this gap, it is crucial to promote a positive attitude toward dengue prevention through initiatives like education efforts and social mobilization programs. Implementing Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) programs focused on dengue prevention and control measures can help bridge this knowledge-action gap.

How Other Specialists See Palliative Care Uncovering Their Deep Metaphors to Improve Our Initial Outreach Strategies.

Many patients who could benefit from palliative care (PC) do not access it because of the timing and tenor of the introduction provided by their specialist. A barrier to improving specialists' (from disciplines other than PC) engagement with PC services may be an inadequate understanding of how those specialists view PC. As part of a larger project to develop public messaging for advance care planning, PC, and hospice, we conducted a qualitative market research study aimed at identifying the "deep metaphors" held by specialists about PC to provide an empirical foundation for more effective outreach and messaging. To identify deep metaphors, we used the qualitative Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique to uncover thought patterns from participants' images and interview responses, revealing deeper emotional meanings and unconscious mental orientations. We enrolled 20 provider-level clinicians from a variety of professional disciplines and specialties to participate in a one-hour semi-structured interview that required prework. The interviews were videorecorded and transcribed and were analyzed along with images brought by participants using a variation of the constant comparative method. The themes included: Having to tell patients the "right" information and path; Not allowing myself to make mistakes; Depending on algorithms so I can give my patients the best care; Putting the patient in charge can challenge clinical algorithms; Observing that PC seems to lack an objectively "right" decision; Consulting PC invites subjectivity best contained at the end of the algorithm. These themes can inform strategies for outreach and messaging to other serious illness specialist clinicians to lower reluctance to consult PC, increasing patient access.

An exploratory qualitative study on factors influencing the level of agreement in symptom reports in child-caregiver dyads.

Clinicians often rely on caregiver proxy symptom reports to treat cancer-related symptoms in children. Research has described disagreement between children's and caregivers' symptom reports. Factors influencing the level of agreement is an understudied area. Thus, this study aimed to examine potential factors contributing to the level of agreement between symptom reports provided by children and their caregivers. Sixteen child-caregiver dyads participated separately in semi-structured interviews after completing a brief symptom measure independently using an electronic device. Child and caregiver quantitative symptom responses were reviewed in real-time and incorporated into the semi-structured interview. Sample characteristics and the level of agreement between symptom reports were calculated using descriptive statistics. Transcribed participant interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Nearly half of child-caregiver dyads exhibited a moderate (37.5%, n = 6) or low (18.75%, n = 3) level of agreement on the abbreviated symptom measure. Qualitative analysis identified 5 themes: recognizing symptoms, experiencing symptoms, communicating symptoms, re-assessing and treating symptoms, and influencing individual and relationship factors. Influencing individual, including a child's tendencies or personality traits, and relationship factors intersected the other themes, partially explained their symptom perceptions, and served to facilitate or hinder symptom communication. Symptom communication is an important part of the symptom cycle, comprised of symptom recognition, experience, and management. Individual and relational factors may influence discrepancies in symptom perceptions between the child and caregiver. Clinicians and researchers should consider developing interventions to enhance symptom communication and promote collaboration between children and their caregivers to address symptom suffering during cancer treatment.

Improved treatment satisfaction with once-weekly insulin icodec compared with once-daily basal insulin in individuals with type 2 diabetes: An analysis of patient-reported outcomes and participant interviews from ONWARDS 2 and 5 and a physician survey from ONWARDS 1

AimsThe ONWARDS phase 3a clinical trials evaluated once-weekly insulin icodec (icodec) versus once-daily basal insulin in type 2 diabetes. This analysis investigated the treatment-related experiences of participants from ONWARDS 5 and 2, and physicians from ONWARDS 1. MethodsPatient-reported outcomes were only collected during ONWARDS 5 (icodec with a dosing guide app vs. once-daily basal analogues) and 2 (icodec vs. once-daily insulin degludec). ONWARDS 1 (icodec vs. once-daily insulin glargine U100) physicians’ treatment preferences and satisfaction were obtained via an online survey. ResultsIn ONWARDS 5 and 2, there was a statistically significantly greater increase in total treatment satisfaction from baseline to end of treatment for icodec/icodec with app versus once-daily comparators, mostly driven by participants’ willingness to continue and recommend treatment. In ONWARDS 2, 93.7 % of icodec users preferred once-weekly over once-daily basal insulin, mainly owing to less frequent injections and ease of use. ONWARDS 1 physicians reported greater satisfaction with once-weekly than with once-daily basal insulin and were more likely to recommend once-weekly injections. ConclusionsThese results demonstrate improved treatment satisfaction with, and strong preferences for, once-weekly versus once-daily basal insulin. Treatment convenience and willingness to continue and recommend once-weekly basal insulin treatment were highlighted.Clinical trial registrations: ONWARDS 1: NCT04460885; ONWARDS 2: NCT04770532; ONWARDS 5: NCT04760626

Parent Education and Counseling (PairEd-C) Intervention to Improve Family-Centered Care: Protocol for a Prospective Acceptability Study Using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability.

Family-centered care (FCC) is an intervention approach based on a respectful relationship between family and health care providers (HCPs) to ensure the health and well-being of children and their families. Although HCPs have a better perception of FCC, the level of its implementation is low. Reasons for low implementation include limited understanding, lack of training, and lack of implementation guidelines and tools to support implementation. Thus, we developed the Parent Education and Counseling (PairEd-C) intervention to improve FCC in pediatric oncology settings and assess its acceptability. The objective of this study is to assess the prospective acceptability of the PairEd-C intervention using the theoretical framework of acceptability (TFA) in the pediatric oncology department in a tertiary hospital in Ethiopia. The study was conducted using an exploratory qualitative study design. We aimed to recruit 10 to 15 participants for the in-depth interview. The study participants were health service leaders working in child cancer, HCPs, social workers, and parents of children with cancer. The intervention was developed using the integration of the first phase of the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for developing and testing complex interventions and the behavior change wheel (BCW) framework. The main PairEd-C intervention components align with the intervention functions of education, persuasion, training, environmental restructuring, modeling, and enablement, which were intended to improve FCC in the pediatric oncology unit by providing structured and comprehensive education and counseling of parents of children with cancer. The intervention was implemented by providing training for the health care team, facilitating discussion among HCPs and setting a shared plan, improving the commitment of the health care team, providing education for parents, improving parents' capacity to attend the intervention sessions, arranging discussion among parents of children with cancer, and provision of education and counseling on distress. The HCPs working in the unit received training on the designed intervention. The trained educators and the health care provider delivered the intervention. Data will be analyzed using deductive thematic coding with a framework analysis technique based on the 7 TFA constructs. Atlas ti. version 9 will be used for data analysis. Funding was acquired in 2017, and ethical clearance for conducting the study was obtained. We conducted the interviews with the study participants from December 2023 to January 2024. As of the acceptance of this protocol (June 2024), 12 study participants were interviewed. The data analysis process was started subsequently, and the manuscript will be completed and submitted for publication in early 2025. This acceptability study is expected to show that the designed intervention is acceptable to study participants, and the findings will be used to improve the intervention before progressing to the next step of our project. DERR1-10.2196/54914.

‘Pain free if I ever will be’: lived experience of workers seeking care for pain attributed to musculoskeletal disorders

BackgroundPain attributed to musculoskeletal disorders are a significant hinderance to work ability and economic growth, especially in developing countries. Quality of life and lived experience of workers with musculoskeletal disorders have not been explored enough to determine whether person-centred care is provided. There is a wealth of evidence for using the biomedical approach in the management of workers with musculoskeletal disorders, which has proved ineffective in reducing absenteeism and symptoms experienced by workers. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of workers seeking care for musculoskeletal disorders and how their pain attitudes and beliefs influenced their experience.MethodsA qualitative approach with thematic analysis was used. Purposive sampling was used to recruit six participants for semi-structured interviews. All participants were either experiencing pain attributed to a musculoskeletal disorder or had received care for a musculoskeletal disorder.ResultsPain attitudes and beliefs of workers with a musculoskeletal disorder and healthcare professionals greatly influenced the care and recovery process of musculoskeletal disorders. There is a primary biomedical lens informing care of workers with musculoskeletal disorders received. Workers expect healthcare professionals to explore their concerns further, but the focus of care for most participants was their presenting complaint. There is also a need for the autonomy of workers to be preserved, and communication between healthcare professionals and workers with musculoskeletal disorders needs to improve.ConclusionsMany stakeholders are involved in the recovery process from musculoskeletal disorders. There is a need for a biopsychosocial informed practice to improve return-to-work (RTW) in workers with musculoskeletal disorders. Change is needed at all healthcare system levels to reduce the negative experiences of workers and maladaptive pain beliefs that is associated with persisting symptoms and extended absenteeism.

The role of Teff crop in Ethiopian life: consumption and contribution to rural livelihoods

Teff (Eragrostis tef) is believed to be the smallest grain in the world. It is the most important crop in Ethiopia in terms of production and consumption. Smallholder farmers produce Teff, and it is the main source of income for farmers in comparison to other cereal crops. Teff is the daily staple food for over 50 million Ethiopians. There is a need for information on agricultural consumption, disaggregated at district level, to support evidence-based decision-making at local level. The objective of this paper is to understand the consumption of Teff among rural smallholder producers at district level and assess the position of Teff among cereals in the lives of Ethiopian rural farmers. The study employed a multistage sampling technique to select the top Teff producing regions, districts, and kebeles (small administrative units) and collected primary data through focus group discussions (FGDs), key informants, and questionnaire respondents. The survey collected qualitative and quantitative data from 357 households. FGD, key informant interview (KII) participants and survey respondents were drawn from the same areas where the survey was conducted. The quantitative and qualitative data were subjected to statistical and content analysis respectively. The study findings revealed that on average households consume 26.92% of their Teff production per year. Moreover, there is a shift in the consumption of Teff which might be due to improved standards of living among the farmers, a health-conscious community, and improved income from Teff sales. Although Teff is a staple grain in Ethiopia, there is a statistically significant variation in Teff consumption among districts.

The role of strategic communication and sensemaking in implementing management innovation

PurposeThis study explores the dynamics of implementing management innovation, focusing on a case of innovation in human resource management within a large Japanese firm. It aims to understand how innovators perceive and react to employees’ evolving responses to management innovation and how these perceptions and reactions influence innovation implementation.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a single-case study design because it was suitable for exploring complex phenomena within their real-life context. It involved an in-depth analysis of a firm undergoing management innovation through participant observation, interviews and analysis of company documents.FindingsThe study identified a multi-phase process of management innovation at the research site, characterized by initial resistance followed by gradual acceptance of the innovation. Innovators’ strategies to manage and respond to employee feedback and adaptation of the innovation process were crucial in the eventual acceptance of management innovations. Despite achieving a degree of acceptance, cultural and structural challenges persisted, highlighting the complex interplay between innovation, organizational culture and employee responses.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the management innovation literature by illuminating the intricate dynamics of implementing management innovation. It extends existing theories of innovation implementation by demonstrating the significance of managing recipient perceptions through strategic communication and the importance of cultural and contextual sensitivities in management innovation.

Welcome To #Spoonietok: Understanding and Supporting Disability Expertise, Storytelling Abilities, and Collective Information Practices on Tiktok and Beyond

ABSTRACTThis poster reports developing dissertation research, exploring the individual and collective storytelling practices of people experiencing difficult to diagnose chronic pain and fatigue (CSSs) on TikTok to understand and ultimately support these embodied, creative, and collective storytelling abilities on and off‐app. Ongoing data collection and analysis using constant comparison, guided by critical disability studies sensitizing concepts, of 150 videos and their top‐20 comments, and interviews with 6 community members indicate that people with CSSs are using TikTok affordances to tell and scaffold complex micro‐stories sharing disabled expertise; creatively visualize invisible illness; use intimate, documentary cinematography; tell composite stories using skits and collapsed time; and make audio, visual, and community/collective mimetic alterations. This poster shares a pragmatic sampling approach using algorithm training, and results from visualization activities during interviews which indicate a messy overlapping landscape of what I call algorithmically mediated online health communit(ies) (AMOHCs), which have slippery boundaries, where health information is found serendipitously, and people connect across specific chronic illness categories. This dissertation‐in‐progress is developing a set of disability‐specific storytelling abilities, which interview participants indicate are transferable to off‐app settings; and upcoming codesign workshops creating storytelling support materials with community members will further distill disability storytelling support needs.

Experiences and barriers with home bladder manometry in the pediatric neurogenic bladder population: A qualitative study

Patients with neurogenic bladder are at risk of developing renal deterioration secondary to increased intravesical pressures. To date, urodynamics is the gold standard test to properly assess bladder dynamics. Home bladder manometry is a low-cost and simple method to evaluate bladder pressures and volumes during clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). Previous literature has shown that home manometry measurements correlate with urodynamic pressures and hydronephrosis on ultrasound. However, no studies have evaluated the challenges and barriers faced by caregivers with the process. Our objective was to investigate the experiences and perceptions of caregivers, healthcare providers, and nurses with home manometry. We conducted semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with 23 stakeholders. Stakeholders included caregivers of pediatric spina bifida neurogenic bladder patients, providers, and nursing staff. Grounded Theory Methods were used to analyze transcripts and identify preliminary concepts that described attitudes towards the current home bladder manometry process. Interview participants were composed of 10 (43%) caregivers, 9 (40%) healthcare providers, and 4 (17%) nursing staff. The mean age was 39 years (range 26-66). The four themes identified during discussions were perspectives on home manometry, patient-specific characteristics, challenges with home manometry, and learning experience. All caregivers expressed understanding and agreement with the purpose and importance of home manometry. Emergent concepts identified as targets for improvement were the need for standardization of teaching processes with focus on hands-on practice, understanding of patient characteristics and the home environment that make the process more challenging, and the need for appropriate materials including extension tubing and catheters. Home bladder manometry is a feasible and beneficial way for neurogenic bladder patients to monitor their bladder pressures and volumes at home. This qualitative study offers valuable insights into the experiences and viewpoints of caregivers, healthcare providers, and nurses regarding both home manometry and the general experience with CIC.

“So, That Would Have Been Useful”: Curriculum in LIS in Support of Liaison Librarian Preparation

LIS education has historically come under fire for what some perceive as a disconnect between what is taught in the classroom and what the job really entails. This study is part of a larger research study that used a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design to investigate liaison librarians’ perceptions of their academic preparation to take on the liaison role, specifically whether and how their LIS program curriculum prepared them for this role. This qualitative strand of the study relied on in-depth semi-structured interviews of survey participants to explore two research questions: What are the perceptions of academic liaison librarians regarding the degree to which their programs prepared them for their current role? And which factors influenced these perceptions? This research identified the main reasons hindering the effectiveness of LIS education for preparing librarians for the liaison role to be a range of complex issues that LIS programs and educators should consider, such as changing career plans among students who did not initially plan to become liaison librarians, students not taking certain courses due to scheduling or course timing issues, and the abstract nature of some course content which obscures connections to real-world practice. Participants also identified courses in collection development, reference, instruction, and research methods as those that should take center stage when preparing liaison librarians. These results have the potential to inform various aspects of LIS program curriculum planning and design and provide course-selection guidance for LIS students considering a career in academic libraries.

Situational Awareness and Safety: Using Weather Information to Inform Decision-Making in Antarctic Environments

Abstract To avoid hazards, manage risks, and successfully conduct their outdoor activities, people in Antarctica make weather-related decisions every day. Research on Antarctic weather information use and related decision-making, services, and user needs is limited. In a mixed-methods study, we explored how people use weather information to manage activities and weather in Antarctic regions. Survey (n = 62) and interview (n = 35) participants were deployed with the national Antarctic programs and tourism operators across a range of roles, activities, and locations. How and when weather information was used depended on people’s decision contexts, location, activities, previous experience, and knowledge. Experienced participants used weather information, their experience, and local knowledge to form and maintain their situation awareness. Situation awareness influenced participant’s decision-making, risk assessment, and planning processes and enabled people’s adaptation to changing circumstances, hazards, and weather conditions. As a part of these processes, forecasts were used primarily for preactivity planning and scheduling decisions. Tasks were prioritized and planned based on suitable weather conditions, experience, and safety. During activities, real-time weather data, personal observations, and experience were important for updating situation awareness, risk judgments, decision-making, and maintaining safety. Levels of weather service provision and training varied and were often not fit-for-purpose, which may adversely impact people’s safety in Antarctic regions. Results contribute to our understanding of polar weather user needs and how we may support people to develop the experience, knowledge, and nontechnical skills necessary for identifying and avoiding hazards and safe, efficient, and successful outdoor activities. Significance Statement This study examines weather information use and decision-making processes in Antarctica. Weather information informed people’s situation awareness and along with contingency planning, experience, and local knowledge helped people plan their activities, assess risk, and cope with unexpected situations. People—including colleagues, supervisors, and forecasters from local weather services—were important information sources and a part of people decision-making and advice networks. Training and tailored weather services are needed to help people better understand weather information and make safer decisions. Improved training may help people develop essential nontechnical skills like situation awareness and managing weather hazards and activity risks. Findings may inform service provision, training, and education and support wellbeing, preparedness, and more effective weather-hazard decision-making in Antarctica and globally.