Focus Group Method Research Articles

Identifying Company Selection Criteria applied by Maritime Transportation Engineering Students for Career Planning

Increasing global trade volumes require more and more seafarers to be employed on ships. The reports by international organizations and institutions frequently indicate a shortage of onboard officers, as well as that this deficit will keep increasing gradually. Given all these international reports, businesses need to adopt strategies that will make seafaring more attractive to avoid future issues with the employment of competent seafarers. Such strategies would give them competitive advantage by attracting qualified officers to their ranks. This study aims to determine which criteria officers consider when choosing their future employers and the weight they attribute to individual criteria in making such decisions. The criteria were identified by brainstorming of study subjects (n=8) using the focus group method. The weight ratio of the criteria obtained through focus group and Delphi study results was calculated using the fuzzy AHP (FAHP) method (n=32), and the relevance of individual criteria for the selection decision determined. As a result of the research, 18 sub-criteria have been identified under the main criteria of "Operational factors", "Living conditions onboard", "Personal benefits" and "Personnel management policies" and their weight on the selection decision determined. The study contributed to the literature on identifying company selection criteria for officers. These criteria give businesses and international organizations a scientific perspective that will assist them in identifying new policies that will ensure the sustainability of the maritime profession and the employment of seafarers.

“There is only one motive … fun.” Perspectives of participants and providers of physical exercise for people with Parkinson’s disease

Purpose To explore the perspectives of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and exercise providers regarding facilitating factors, barriers, needs, and demands relating to physical exercise for people with PD. Materials and Methods Focus group discussions or telephone interviews of 30 people with PD (with or without an active sports history) and 13 providers were conducted and analyzed using structuring content analysis. Results Factors facilitating participation in physical exercise included motivation-enhancing elements (enjoyment, group training environment) and providers with sufficient qualifications in PD-specific training demands. Identified barriers were lack of motivation, physical limitations, poor service accessibility, and inadequate matching of intervention groups based on capability or age. Providers found it difficult to design and conduct group trainings for people with PD with varying physical limitations. Having an active sports history before PD-onset was described as generally beneficial, though a competitive mindset could lead to frustration. People with PD reported needing their physicians to provide better education regarding physical exercise. Conclusion Enjoyment of physical exercise is a key aspect of maintaining physical activity engagement, which should be considered more in research and clinical practice. Developing qualifications for providers could help to broaden and enhance the dissemination of PD-specific exercise approaches. Physicians should be trained to encourage physical exercise. Implications for rehabilitation Physicians should highlight the benefits and be knowledgeable regarding the availability of physical exercise interventions for people with PD. Additional physical exercise providers should become qualified to work with people with PD. The joyfulness of physical exercise interventions is a key aspect of maintaining physical activity engagement for people with PD.

Extreme heat, pregnancy and women’s well-being in Burkina Faso: an ethnographical study

Climate change is an increasing threat to the health of populations in Africa, with a shift in seasonal temperatures towards more extreme heat exposures. In Burkina Faso, like other countries...

Capturing men's perspectives on prevalence, existing resources, and solutions to depression and anxiety using community-based participatory research and focus groups.

Men are predisposed to suffer from unaddressed depression and anxiety. The purpose of this study was to capture the perceptions of men in three urban, racially/ethnically diverse, under-resourced, and impoverished neighborhoods around this health issue. The results were used to design a resident-driven solution to this health disparity. Design This study utilized a focus group method within the ideological perspective of community-based participatory research (CBPR). Sample The researchers recruited 50 Black, Hispanic, and White men aged 23-83 years to participate in this study during the summer of 2021. Measurements Data were collected via six homogeneous, Zoom-based focus groups. Five of the focus groups were offered in English and the sixth in Spanish. The men identified themes and subthemes pertaining to the perception of widespread depression and anxiety in their neighborhoods, existing typical and atypical community resources, and suggested solutions to this health disparity. These results were translated into a solution involving the training of five male, lay mental health ambassadors. Policies and solutions to issues of mental health disparity must be informed by the communities that they intend to serve. CBPR is a robust vehicle for empowering communities to address the healthcare issues facing them.

Формирование гражданской идентичности молодого поколения: результаты анализа фокус-групп с педагогическим сообществом

The article delves into the study of the concept of civic identity, as well as the analysis of the process of its for-mation in the modern Russian education system using the focus group method. During the focus-group inter-view the opinion of five target groups – participants of the educational and upbringing process – was studied. The issues of the semantic content of “civic identity” are touched upon, various aspects of this concept are con-sidered. The factors that have a significant impact on the process of formation of civic identity among senior schoolchildren and students of educational institutions of higher education are highlighted. The forms and methods of civil identity formation used today in educational organizations of different levels are considered, their effectiveness in modern conditions is analyzed. Apart from this, the difficulties and problematic points that reduce the effectiveness of the system of measures aimed at the formation of civic identity in educational insti-tutions of secondary general and higher education are highlighted.

What Types of Data are Pharmacy Education Scholars Using in Their Abstracts for Poster Presentations?

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to describe the data being used to support poster presentations in pharmacy education scholarship. MethodsResearch and education posters presented at the 2020 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Annual Meeting were unitized to isolate text to be coded, and 2 coders categorized the quantitative and qualitative data by type and source. Questionnaires, instruments, and exams were categorized as new (ie, developed and used for this particular inquiry) versus existing. Qualitative data types were categorized as interviews, focus groups, self-reflections, analysis of student work products (eg, lab reports assessed for student understanding), comments (ie, written or verbal comments), and other (eg, course reports). ResultsA total of 216 abstracts were included in the analysis, with 80 (37%) abstracts relying on data derived from respondent’s perceptions. Further, 143 abstracts (66%) used at least 1 new questionnaire, instrument, or exam. In 57% of the cases where multiple data sources were used, the study involved interprofessional education (eg, multiple health professions learners) or pharmacy student-investigator combinations, and 28 abstracts (13%) did not use pharmacy students as a source. Less than 5% of all abstracts analyzed used traditional qualitative methods of interviews and focus groups. ConclusionThis study can open conversations around how to improve the quality of pharmacy education research and the identification of areas within the scholarship of teaching and learning that may benefit from improvement.

Meninio ugdymo galimybės įgyvendinant įtraukųjį ugdymą: mokytojų mokymosi patirtys tarptautiniame kontekste

The article analyzes the relevance of arts education and teachers’ professional development while implementing inclusive education. The background for this article is an evaluation of an international in-service teachers’ training program focusing on inclusive arts education. This study aims to investigate what inclusive education means to arts teachers and reveal their learning experiences in the international training program “Inclusive Arts Education”. The qualitative research was conducted using the focus group method with international training program participants from three different European countries (Finland, Austria and Lithuania). The study involved 25 participants: 7 from Finland, 7 from Austria and 11 from Lithuania. The research has shown that in each country arts teachers work in different national and educational contexts but face quite similar challenges of inclusive education. The success of inclusive art education mainly depends on the teacher’s professional abilities and attitude towards inclusion, as well as the creation of a favourable educational atmosphere and positive relationships with students in the educational process. The experience of the research participants highlighted their attitudes to the content and organization of international training, which will help to develop continuing education programs for arts teachers’ preparation for inclusive arts education.

Ethnical Identity and Ethno-Cultural Needs of the Russian Urban Population in the Republic of Tatarstan

This article considers the features of “ethnic culture” and its place in the everyday and spiritual life of the Russian urban population of the Republic of Tatarstan. Its symbolic and functional importance for various sociodemographic groups is explored. The population of Tatarstan is viewed as a single historical and ethnographic community descending from the Great Russians of the Volga region. The structure of the social identity types and the characteristics of ethno-cultural group practices are described. Special attention is paid to how social space and ethno-cultural needs are related. The comparative analysis of different social groups of the urban and rural Russian residents of Tatarstan is carried out. The study employs the hermeneutic approach to decipher social phenomena with symbolic meanings. The theoretical insights and generalizations are based on the materials of a comprehensive ethno-sociological study performed on the modern Russian population of Tatarstan in 2022 with the help of both quantitative (mass survey) and qualitative (in-depth interviews, focus group) methods. The results obtained show a direct relationship between the type of ethnic identity and the level of ethno-cultural needs among the Russian urban population of Tatarstan. It is also concluded that many ethno-cultural practices, from the ritualized tradition to personal interiorization, have transformed under the influence of the socio-cultural landscape of the city.

Framed as (Un)Victims of Sexual Violence: An Intersectional Model

This study presents an intersectional analysis of beliefs about and experiences of Black women regarding sexual violence, using focus group and survey methods with BIPOC college students ( N = 37). Based on the analysis, we propose a theoretical model of “(un)victimization” that integrates two inequality frames – misogynoir and legal cynicism – applied to sexual assault. Specifically, this model explains the experiences of Black women survivors of sexual violence who simultaneously experience sexual victimization, are denied legitimate victim status, and have reason to distrust legal forms of justice. We theorize the process of (un)victimization enables future sexual assault of Black women.

Navigating Crises: Examining the Impact on Students in Four European Countries

A crisis is any challenging situation that requires a judgment or a decision. During their lifespan people are exposed to crises at micro, meso and macro levels. Lately, many research deals with crises at macro level. Situations of crises at a macro level that we have been facing such as pandemics, war, earthquakes, and substantial challenges in everyday situations and life lead to the necessity to explore learning and teaching at higher education institutions in the times of crises. The goal of the research was to determine strategies for dealing with crises on macro level among students in higher education. For this purpose, qualitative research was conducted using the focus group method. Four focus groups were held in which a total of 40 students of different profiles from Belgium, Croatia, Poland, and Romania participated. The results show that the biggest challenge for most participants in crisis situations was the absence of social support. In their answers, participants discussed the challenges of distance education, stating "screen fatigue" as an obstacle. Despite this, participants pointed out that times of crisis enabled them to discover their own strengths, which they can use as coping strategies in potential future crises.

Navigating Human-Chatbot Interactions: An Investigation into Factors Influencing User Satisfaction and Engagement

With the increasing integration of chatbots in various customer service contexts, understanding factors that influence user interactions is of paramount importance. While chatbots bring several benefits, their efficacy largely depends on user satisfaction, loyalty, and perceived utility. This study explores the nuances of consumer interactions with chatbot services and identifies ways to enhance these interactions for successful goal achievement. Through a multiple qualitative method approach, involving reflections, interviews, and focus groups, conducted an exhaustive investigation of the consumer experiences with chatbot interactions. The study focused on elements such as anthropomorphism, communication styles, service scripts, consumer emotions, and privacy and trust concerns. Our findings highlight that the anthropomorphism and communication style of chatbots significantly affect user satisfaction. The perceived utility of chatbots was found to be a multifaceted construct that substantially influences consumer engagement. Furthermore, this study identified negative emotions and privacy concerns as key determinants of consumer-chatbot interactions. These findings necessitate meticulous attention in chatbot design and function. By using the affordance theory, this research offers insights into managing the complex dynamics of satisfaction and dissatisfaction factors within consumer-chatbot engagements, contributing crucially to the human-computer interaction literature.

Research collaboration with older people as a matter of scientific quality and ethics: a focus group study with researchers in ageing and health

BackgroundSociety is placing increasing demands on collaboration with actors outside the academia to be involved in the research process, and the responsibility for turning this into reality lies with the researchers. As research collaboration is a way to increase the societal relevance of research and since older people have the right to be actively involved in research that concerns them, this study is addressed to researchers who work with and for older people. The purpose of this article is to explore researchers’ experiences of research collaboration with the heterogeneous group of older people, from healthy to frail.MethodsThe focus group method was applied based on a qualitative approach that is based on a social constructivist research tradition. It differs from other qualitative methods, such as interviews, in that it encourages interaction between research participants and contributes to shedding light on a collective understanding of the world. A total of 14 researchers participated in four focus groups (three to five participants/group).ResultsThe results provided support for the overall theme: “Good scientific quality and ethics are balanced against the needs and abilities of older people”. This means a balance between the researcher and the older people collaborating with them to receive the best possible scientific quality. This is highlighted in the core category “Positioning for research collaboration” with the subcategories “Involvement or not”, “Traditional or innovative thinking” and “Selectivity or representativeness”, and the core category “Research collaboration – an ethical issue of power” with the subcategories “Research collaboration a risk for freedom of research”, “Research collaboration a risk of abuse of power” and “Discriminatory academic power structures create ethical issues”.ConclusionsAddressing the balancing act of collaborating with older people in research, the findings contribute with an understanding of the importance of researchers’ awareness of social and academic structures to minimise the risk of epistemic injustices in research on ageing and health. We want to highlight the researchers’ voice and clarify the role that researchers have in terms of the opportunities for older people to become part of the collective understanding of ageing and health and make their voices heard.

Women’s experience of childbirth care in health facilities: a qualitative assessment of respectful maternity care in Afghanistan

BackgroundRespectful maternity care (RMC) remains a key challenge in Afghanistan, despite progress on improving maternal and newborn health during 2001—2021. A qualitative study was conducted in 2018 to provide evidence on the situation of RMC in health facilities in Afghanistan. The results are useful to inform strategies to provide RMC in Afghanistan in spite of the humanitarian crisis due to Taliban’s takeover in 2021.MethodsFocus group discussions were conducted with women (4 groups, 43 women) who had used health facilities for giving birth and with providers (4 groups, 21 providers) who worked in these health facilities. Twenty key informant interviews were conducted with health managers and health policy makers. Motivators for, deterrents from using, awareness about and experiences of maternity care in health facilities were explored.ResultsWomen gave birth in facilities for availability of maternity care and skilled providers, while various verbal and physical forms of mistreatment were identified as deterrents from facility use by women, providers and key informants. Low awareness, lack of resources and excessive workload were identified among the reasons for violation of RMC.ConclusionViolation of RMC is unacceptable. Awareness of women and providers about the rights of women to respectful maternity care, training of providers on the subject, monitoring of care to prevent mistreatment, and conditioning any future technical and financial assistance to commitments to RMC is recommended.

The FlaQuM-Quickscan: A starting point to include primary care professionals’ perspectives in the evaluation of hospital quality priorities

IntroductionToday, primary care professionals’ (PCPs) perspectives on hospital quality are unknown when evaluating hospital quality priorities. The aims of the present study were to identify key healthcare quality attributes from PCPs’ perspective, to validate an instrument that measures PCPs’ experiences of healthcare quality multidimensionally and to define hospital quality priorities based on PCPs’ experiences. Material and methodsFocus groups with PCPs were conducted to identify quality attributes through a qualitative in-depth analysis. A multicentre study of 18 hospitals was used to quantitatively assess construct, discriminant and criterion validity of the FlaQuM-Quickscan, an instrument that measures ‘Healthcare quality for patients and kin’ (part 1) and ‘Healthcare quality for professionals’ (part 2). To set quality priorities, scores on quality domains were analyzed descriptively and between-hospital variation was examined by evaluating differences in hospitals’ mean scores on the quality domains using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). ResultsIdentified key attributes largely corresponded with Lachman's multidimensional quality model. Including ‘Communication’ as a new quality domain was recommended. The FlaQuM-Quickscan was completed by 550 PCPs. Confirmatory factor analyses showed reasonable to good fit, except for the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) in part 2. The ‘Equity’ domain scored the highest in parts 1 and 2. Domains ‘Kin-centred care’ and ‘Accessibility and timeliness’ scored the lowest in part 1 and ‘Resilience’ and ‘Partnership and co-production’ in part 2. Significant variation in hospitals’ mean scores was observed for eleven domains in part 1 and sixteen domains in part 2. ConclusionsThe results gained a better understanding of PCPs’ perspective on quality. The FlaQuM-Quickscan is a valid instrument to measure PCPs’ experiences of hospital quality. Identified priorities indicate that hospital management should focus on multifaceted quality strategies, including technical domains, person-and kin-centredness, core values and catalysts.

The Inquiry-Driven VCoP Model to Promote Digital Agriculturalists’ Learning Competencies in the Agriculture 4.0 Era

This research was conducted to develop the Inquiry-Driven Virtual Communities of Practice model (The ID VCoP model) in order to enhance the learning competencies of Thai digital agriculturists in preparation for the agriculture 4.0 era. The objectives of this study were to 1) develop the ID VCoP model to promote digital agriculturalists’ learning competencies, and 2) evaluate the suitability of the ID VCoP model. The research procedure consisted of two phases. The first phase involved the development of the model: 1) studying, analyzing, and synthesizing existing documents and previous research findings; 2) organzing the ID VCoP model; and 3) establishing the ID VCoP model. The second phase involved model validation and evaluation. This study’s expert panel was divided into two expert groups: 1) qualitative research by the focus group method, consisting of seven experts recruited through purposive sampling; and 2) quantitative research by the expert judgment method, consisting of five experts recruited through purposive sampling. Five components with 19 subcomponents comprise the model’s structure. The model contributes to VCoP members’ digital agriculturalists’ learning competencies. Experts agreed that the model as a whole was suitable at a very high level.

Psychological factors of adaptation of medical students to a simulation-based learning environment

The aim of the present study is to reveal psychological factors of medical students’ adaptation to simulation-based education. The importance of the study is based on the wide implementation of simulation technologies in medical education and practical healthcare. The aim of the study was to investigate the perceptions of medical students regarding simulation training scenarios using high-tech simulators through the focus group method. The sample comprised 132 medical students enrolled in the “General Medicine” program, differentiated by their simulation training experience: 60 students from the 4th and 5th years with experience using high-tech simulators, and 72 students from the 1st and 2nd years without such experience. The transcribed recordings of focus groups were subjected to coding and thematic analysis. The results have been used to identify 5 thematic blocks characterizing aspects of cognitive and mental representation of the simulation training environment: physical (technical), psychological and social components, and positive and negative attitudes. The primary factor affecting training perception is the practical experience gained, including practicing non-standard situations, mastering tools, acquiring practical skills, training motor skills, and learning algorithms. The second significant factor is the specific features of the Simulation Center (SC), such as limited equipment, lack of information, restricted access, and limitations in interacting with the simulator, including lack of accountability, communication, and non-technical skills training, subjective perception of the simulator’s cost, and communicative unrealisticness. In view of the obtained data, which allowed to identify specific stressors associated with simulation training, further multidimensional study of the adaptation process is planned.

Simulation model of the quantified swot/tows matrix on an example of situational analysis at subnational level

Based on the idea of converging the concepts and models used in real-sector strategic planning in order to be applied to the public sector, this paper is aimed at examining potential improvements of the standard process of strategic planning within regional economics, particularly in situational analysis as an initial stage. In accordance with the above, a simulation model of the application of quantified SWOT / TOWS matrix analysis was performed. Combinations of two methods of situational analysis were applied in the model, namely SWOT and TOWS matrix, and additionally introduced methods of Focus Group and Delphi method. Compared to the standard methods for developing strategic documents and analyses within the scope of regional economics planning, the proposed model emphasizes the connection between the real-sector tools and the strategic decision-making processes of the public sector, minimizes the subjectivization of the situational analysis by introducing the Delphi method, utilizing independent expert knowledge, which is also the main contribution of this model. The simulation model developed in this paper achieved satisfactory outcomes and could be applied in further research to solving of actual problems in strategic planning within the scope of regional economics. The model limitations are related to the quality of implementation of the focus group (sample, chief moderator’s expertise), the selection of experts for the Delphi analysis and the moderation of the Delphi method and the process of developing optional actions in the TOWS matrix. The paper’s main expected contributions are the findings obtained during modelling, model discussion and open questions related to potential future research, all based on the idea of convergence of the strategic planning tools used in the real and public sectors.

Rural hospital contributions to community health: community perspectives from a New Zealand rural hospital.

Introduction Rural hospitals provide secondary care for much of the rural New Zealand population. Little is known about community perspectives of the health and social contribution. Aim This descriptive qualitative study aimed to explore community views on the role of their rural hospital in a low socioeconomic rural district with a high Māori and Pacific population. Methods Semi-structured individual and focus group interviews were conducted with rural community members about the perceived role of their rural hospital. Iterative thematic analysis was undertaken. Results In total, 22 participants were interviewed. Thematic analysis yielded four themes: (i) rural hospitals as a safety net - providing access to emergency care and mitigating limited primary care access; (ii) providing personalised, culturally aware care; (iii) facilitating family/whanau support; and (iv) doing the best with limited resources. The latter included pragmatism about resource constraints, but a preference for the hospital to remain open. Discussion Rural hospitals contribute to community safety by enhancing access to emergency care and mitigating difficulties in access to primary care. The local contextual knowledge of rural hospital providers allows personalised, family-centred and culturally-responsive care. Despite service centralisation, rural hospitals are wanted by their communities. Rural health planners should consider how to maximise the breadth of locally-provided services to reduce the impacts of travel and transfer for care.

Поликодовые тексты в вузовском учебном чтении: методология исследования востребованности и эффективности использования. Статья вторая

Since complex polycode formations, simultaneously transmitting information through multiple channels, are increasingly substituting traditional educational texts, there arises a question whether such polycode texts are effective in university educational reading. The analysis and assessment of their demand and perception effectiveness requires new research methodologies. The research aims at testing the integrated use of quantitative and qualitative methods (surveys and focus groups) to study the demand and effectiveness of polycode texts for university students’ educational reading. The research is based on the concepts of polycode - primarily verbal-visual - text, their communications and ways of generating meanings by Marshall McLuhan, Roland Barthes, Hal Foster, Rudolf Arnheim, Will Eisner, Franjoise Barbe-Gall, Yury M. Lotman, Natalia V. Zlydneva, Maria K. Skaf, and others. The quantitative data were collected via an online questionnaire, while subjective perspectives were obtained via focus groups. The obtained data were considered as integrity and compared to identify their coincidences, contradictions, and correlations. The research has confirmed the hypothesis that an integrated approach to understanding and assessing the demand and effectiveness of polycode educational reading by university students provides the most reliable, valid data about the object and subject of research. The indicators obtained via the above methods, taken together and correlated with each other, are complementary and mutually adjusted; therefore, the integrated methodology gives a more well-grounded, more trustworthy, and broader picture of polycode text functioning in university education than those based on data collected via the above discussed methods separately. An integrated approach to the analysis and assessment of the demand and effectiveness of polycode educational text reading has never been applied in the Russian studies of polycode texts before. This attempt brought up the problem of students’ reading competencies for different types of educational content to comprehend the concept of the effectiveness of polycode educational reading by university students and identify its dependence both on the nature of the text and a number of other factors related to the skills of monocode text reading, visual literacy, and reader’s “cultural memory.” When compared, the survey and focus group results showed no direct correlation between the high demand for polycode texts and their effectiveness in university education. The identified reasons for the low effectiveness of polycode educational texts, which are so popular with students now, demonstrated the barriers faced by many students: (1) the lack of reading skills in at least one type of monocode educational text encumbers understanding and grasping the content of the polycode text embedded in it by its author; (2) the reader’s insufficient knowledge and cultural background prevents him/her from understanding any type of text, and first of all, structurally complex verbal-visual formations, requiring recoding of sign systems. The authors declare no conflicts of interests.

Issues of Safety Confirmation for Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Experience of a Flood Disaster in Kumamoto, Japan

Abstract Objective Prompt safety confirmations before and after a disaster are key to reducing risks in disasters among older adults. This study aims to reveal issues in contacting fragile older adults once flood disaster strikes to ensure a sustainable safety net. Methods Focus group interviews were conducted in three municipalities of Kumamoto, Japan, which experienced a flood disaster in July 2020, with nine care managers, nurses, and center directors of community-based integrated support centers in August 2023. Results Communication records of support and lists of older adults requiring support in regular operations were useful, and the safety of those on the lists was first confirmed immediately after the disaster struck. However, confirmation of safety of those who did not rely regularly on public services, those who lived alone, and older couples, was delayed and their safety was determined by their neighbors’ reports. Conclusions Prompt safety confirmation system in the event of a disaster is required for, in particular, fragile older adults who do not rely on public services, which lead to early support intervention.