Online Focus Group Discussions Research Articles

Phenomenological Study of Women Entrepreneurs and Their Impact on Socioeconomic Growth in Malaysia

This study analyzes women entrepreneurship and socioeconomic growth in Malaysia. In this research, four factors and obstacles facing entrepreneurial growth were identified. To answer these four objectives, the research was conducted using a focus group method. A selected group of 10 female entrepreneurs were interviewed online focus group discussions. A structured questionnaire was also distributed to the 10 participating entrepreneurs which was analyzed using the NVIVO software package. The research results were tabulated based on four themes and subthemes. In conclusion, this research has established a socioeconomic model of women’s entrepreneurship in Malaysia. The causal relationship model configures variables as the main guide for stakeholders and entrepreneurial practitioners. This research is a phenomenological study of women’s entrepreneurship and its influence on their socioeconomic growth in Malaysia. The study provides implications for stakeholders in overcoming women’s entrepreneurship problems and obstacles to women’s business growth. Further research on women’s entrepreneurship in industrial and business sectors is recommended. Keywords: women entrepreneurship, social economic growth

Coping strategies used by undergraduate first-year nursing students during transition from basic to higher education: a qualitative study

BackgroundThe undergraduate first year of a nursing program is regarded as a difficult and challenging part of the nursing course, due to the variation experienced in the transition from basic to higher education compared to other first-year courses. This causes stress, which could contribute to students’ lack of coping with the transition to the university. These challenges call for coping strategies to ensure resilience among this cohort of undergraduate nursing students.MethodsAn exploratory descriptive qualitative research design was adopted to assess the coping mechanisms used by first-year nursing students during transition from basic to higher education. Data was gathered through four online focus group discussions which were conducted using the Microsoft Teams app, with participants purposefully selected from the two campuses where the study was conducted. The focus group discussions were recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. Data was analysed by the researcher and the co-coder using qualitative content data analysis.FindingsThree categories emerged from the data: experiences of transition from basic to higher education, coping with transition from basic to higher education, and recommendations for coping with transition from basic to higher education. Participants expressed that they use the following six coping strategies during the transition from basic to higher education: adaptive coping, appraisal-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, problem-focused coping, social coping, and seeking help from mentors.ConclusionsTransition from basic to higher education is challenging for undergraduate first-year nursing students. The study suggests that there is a need to standardize and contextualize the support measures for undergraduate first-year nursing students during their transition from basic to higher education in order to enhance their ability to cope.

Defining evidence requirements for a Development Framework for Pharmacists (DFP) in community pharmacy practice

Background: The Development Framework for Pharmacists (DFP) was implemented in a pharmacy chain to guide pharmacist development. Both pharmacists and their supervisors faced challenges in defining evidence and performance levels for Domain 1 (Expert professional practice) standards. This study explored these challenges in a community pharmacy setting. Methods: Three online focus group discussions (FGDs) involving a DFP workgroup member and representatives from community pharmacies and polyclinics were conducted. The FGDs were facilitated by guiding questions and evidences gathered from pharmacists who had attempted the DFP. The FGDs were recorded, transcribed, and coded thematically. Results: Participants viewed the DFP as relevant to community practice but suggested aligning DFP evidence examples with community pharmacists’ responsibilities. Key themes from the FGDs included: (1) The need for clear definitions for descriptors, especially when identical evidence was used for different standards; (2) Professional education can be Domain 1 evidence when skills learned are demonstrated in the workplace; (3) Potential inclusion of education and training activities in Domain 1. (4) The need for a criteria model to assess pharmacists’ performance level in various roles and situations; (5) Clarification regarding the term "group of patients" (6) Considering back-end work as Domain 1 evidence. Conclusion: Addressing the above themes could enhance DFP integration for community pharmacists.

An online qualitative study exploring wants and needs for a cooking programme during pregnancy in the UK and Ireland.

Optimal maternal nutrition is associated with better pregnancy and infant outcomes. Culinary nutrition programmes have potential to improve diet quality during pregnancy. Therefore, this research aimed to understand the experiences of cooking and the wants and needs of pregnant women regarding a cooking and food skills programme in the United Kingdom (UK) and Republic of Ireland (ROI). Online focus group discussions with pregnant women and those who had experienced a pregnancy in the UK or ROI were conducted between February and April 2022. Two researchers conducted a thematic analysis. Seven focus groups with ROI participants (n = 24) and six with UK participants (n = 28) were completed. Five themes were generated. These were (1) cooking during pregnancy: barriers, motivators and solutions; (2) food safety, stress and guilt; (3) need for cooking and food skills programmes and desired content; (4) programme structure; (5) barriers and facilitators to programme participation. Overall, there was support for a programme focusing on broad food skills, including planning, food storage, using leftovers and to manage pregnancy-specific physiological symptoms such as food aversions. Participants emphasised the importance of inclusivity for a diverse range of people and lifestyles for programme design and content. Current findings support the use of digital technologies for culinary nutrition interventions, potentially combined with in-person sessions using a hybrid structure to enable the development of a support network.

Do medical specialists accept claims-based Audit and Feedback for quality improvement? A focus group study

ObjectivesAudit and Feedback (A&F) is a widely used quality improvement (QI) intervention in healthcare. However, not all feedback is accepted by professionals. While claims-based feedback has been previously used for...

Attitudes Toward Proactive Topical Corticosteroid Use Among Women With Vulval Lichen Sclerosus

Objectives Some practitioners are adopting proactive topical corticosteroid (TCS) therapy for vulval lichen sclerosus (VLS). We sought to understand patient attitudes toward proactive TCS therapy for VLS in a context in which proactive therapy is adopted. Methods Four online focus group discussions with 12 participants. Data analysis was informed by social constructionist grounded theory. Results All participants had accepted a proactive regimen. Three themes were developed from the analysis: “Coming to accept proactive therapy,” “Motivators to maintaining a proactive regimen,” and “The importance of a routine that fits me.” Within each theme are subthemes illustrating different dimensions of the theme. Conclusions Accepting proactive TCS therapy for VLS requires incorporating regular TCS use into a patient's identity, unlearning previous understandings regarding the safety of long-term TCS use, and adopting a regimen that fits within patients' lives and minimizes the loss of autonomy.

Factors influencing interprofessional collaboration in long-term care from a multidisciplinary perspective: a case study approach

ABSTRACT Systematic assessments of interprofessional collaboration barriers and enablers in long-term care settings are critical for delivering person-centered healthcare. However, research on factors influencing interprofessional collaboration in long-term care settings is limited. For this study, 65 healthcare professionals across multiple facilities experienced in long-term care in Japan participated in online focus group discussions and individual interviews to discuss cases. The qualitative data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Seven themes emerged: coordination, the need for care manager training, hierarchy among healthcare professionals, specialization but not the mind-set of overspecialization, casual conversations, electronic group communication tools, and excessive fear of personal information protection. These findings highlight the need to develop coordinator roles and for interprofessional education on the proper approach to personal information protection laws. Furthermore, daily casual conversations, the use of online platforms, and the prevention of patients being left behind due to overspecialization are required.

COVID-19 pandemic experiences of LGBTQIA + Asian youth in Canada

LGBTQIA + Asian youth face unique challenges due to their intersecting identities (i.e. racial discrimination from LGBTQIA + communities, and LGBTQIA+ -related stigmatization from their Asian culture). The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing intersectional challenges due to the closure of community spaces for LGBTQIA + Asian youth, spaces which served as a safe haven from home and anti-Asians sentiments. Thus far, there have been no studies examining how the COVID-19 pandemic was experienced by LGBTQIA + Asian Canadian youth. To address this, we completed eight online focus group discussions with 30 LGBTQIA + Asian youth from across Canada, alongside a brief quantitative questionnaire to explore specific components of participants’ mental health and well-being. Quantitative findings suggested many participants were experiencing negative mental health outcomes (i.e. stress, anxiety, and depression). Thematic qualitative analysis showed that, despite various negative impacts of COVID-19 restrictions and increased anti-Asian sentiments, restrictions allowed youth to further explore their own sexual orientations and gender identities. Participants also shared that the #stopAsianhate movement was empowering, however it largely excluded LGBTQIA+ Asian voices. With the unique intersectional challenges experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study highlights the importance of maintaining inclusive supports that consider the unique intracategorical complexities experienced by LGBTQIA +Asian youth.

Addressing disparities in European cancer outcomes: a qualitative study Protocol of the BEACON project.

Health disparities represent a crucial factor in cancer survival rates, awareness, quality of life, and mental health of people receiving a cancer diagnosis and their families. Income, education, geographic location, and ethnicity are some of the most important underlying reasons for health disparities in cancer across Europe. Costs of healthcare, access to information, psycho-oncological support options, integration of cancer research and innovative care, and multidisciplinary cancer teams are the main target areas when it comes to addressing disparities in the cancer context. As part of the Beacon Project (BEACON), we developed a protocol for a qualitative study to explore and identify any relevant reasons for cancer inequalities and disparities in Europe. Our four stakeholders namely, cancer patients, healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers will be recruited online, facilitated by collaborative efforts with cancer organizations from various European countries, including but not limited to Italy, Croatia, Estonia, and Slovenia. Qualitative online focus group discussions for each stakeholder will be conducted and transcribed. Subsequently, thematic analysis will be used to identify reasons and aspects that may contribute to the existing disparities in cancer outcomes at various levels of engagement and from different stakeholders' perspectives. Results from focus groups will inform a subsequent Delphi study and a SWOT analysis methodology. Although advances in medical research, cancer screening and treatment options are constantly progressing, disparities in access to and awareness of healthcare in cancer patients are even more noticeable. Thus, mapping the capacity and capability of cancer centres in the European Union, creating decision support tools that will assist the four stakeholders' information needs and improving the quality of European cancer centres will be the main objectives of the BEACON project. The current protocol will outline the methodological and practical procedures to conduct online focus group discussions with different stakeholders.

The Development and Evaluation of an Educational Video for Breast Cancer Patients Requiring Adjuvant Radiation Therapy

Patient education and informed consent are required prior to adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) for early breast cancer (EBC), and include the role, rationale, potential toxicities and practicalities of the treatment process. Current education of patients about RT is verbal, in the form of a consultation by a radiation oncologist, often supplemented with print or online materials. This approach is limited by its doctor-dependency and non-standardised nature. Video education is being recognised increasingly as an opportunity to remediate this and appeal to patients’ preference for visual learning. The purpose of this study was to design and produce a video as an educational adjunct for EBC patients’ viewing prior to adjuvant RT, and to evaluate its acceptability through content analysis of three online focus group discussions, among ten participants with EBC requiring RT. After qualitative content analysis of the focus group transcripts, data were summarised into three main categories: (1) understanding of RT, (2) ease of engagement with the video and (3) anxiety and preparedness for RT. The 18-min video was positively received by all participants, and discussion feedback was used to inform improvements to the video. This focus group study demonstrated that the video was well understood, informative and acceptable to EBC patients in preparing them for RT. The effectiveness of the video in improving knowledge and alleviating distress in preparation for therapy will be further evaluated in an ethics-approved biphasic quasi-experimental study.

Language shift in time of war: the abandonment of Russian in Ukraine

ABSTRACT The article demonstrates an impressive shift from Russian to Ukrainian in war-time Ukraine. I rely on nationwide survey data from before and after February 2022 to analyze the scale and structure of the recent change in patterns of language use. I demonstrate not only an impressive shift across the practices but also a larger scale of change in public communication than in private use. Next, I examine responses to a small online survey and focus group discussions in different parts of Ukraine for detailed accounts of different categories of people’s patterns of language use in various practices and explanations of the reasons for change – or continuity – in those patterns. I demonstrate a new phenomenon of the predominant reliance on Ukrainian at work and in other public communication by many people who used to speak predominantly Russian and still keep it as the main language of family use.

Discourses of COVID-19 vaccination in China: public response to government domination and the emergence of ‘vaccine citizenship’

ABSTRACT Using online discourse-centred ethnography and focus group discussions, this paper explores evolving discourses of COVID-19 vaccination in China and corresponding public responded. In addition to the state’s intensive control of COVID-19 outbreaks, China initiated independent research and the development of vaccines from the spring of 2020. In line with the state’s emphasis on success in controlling the outbreaks, government propaganda aimed to shape and disseminate successful images of the vaccines developed. Correspondingly, the public showed a supportive attitude when the first two domestically produced vaccines received Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) by China’s authorities. In contrast, vaccine hesitancy emerged when the government claimed its initial success in pandemic control and tried to communicate the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. Importantly, COVID-19 outbreaks have never disappeared in China. As new domestic outbreaks emerged and the administration started to promote vaccination more vigorously, more people were forced to accept vaccination. When the government endowed vaccine discourse with the responsibility of protecting the general population’s health, the implementation of the vaccination programme became even more constraining. This paper examines empirical data on the government’s and individuals’ discursive practices through a focus on subjectivity as part of China’s biopolitical governance of COVID-19 which presents vaccination as an individual ‘technology of the self’. In this complex context of top-down governance, I analyse how the exercise of biopower and a sense of governance emerged and changed during China’s efforts at COVID-19 control.

Running Toward Equity: Socioeconomic Diversity and Parental Perception of a Physical Activity-Based Positive Youth Development Program for Girls

The Girls on the Run (GOTR) is a national positive youth development program to promote self-confidence, resilience, and self-esteem for girls through physical activity. It also includes an opportunity for parent involvement in a 5K event at the end of the program. Given the evidence on the importance of family support and parent role modeling for children’s physical activity, the purpose of this study was to explore how parents from different socioeconomic backgrounds view their daughters’ participation in GOTR and their own attitudes toward physical activity. Parents were recruited from high and low resource sites for participation in online focus group discussions. Questions included perspective on their daughter’s participation in GOTR, their own physical activity, and participation in the GOTR 5K event. Discussions were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed from two focus groups with parents from low resource sites (N=10) and two with parents from high resource sites (N= 15). A common theme across resource groups was that GOTR enhances self-confidence, communication skills, and physical activity. More parents from the high resource sites reported being physically active and having supportive environments than low resource site parents. While some parents noted intention to participate in the 5K with their daughter, more parents in the low resource group reported barriers to physical activity and participating in the 5K event. There is an opportunity to encourage and facilitate parental 5K participation to create a ripple effect for benefits of the GOTR program.

A mix-methods concept testing study of short videos for the national anti-cigarette gift giving campaign in China

ObjectiveThe study aimed to evaluate the potential effect of creative concepts and scripts of different short videos for the “National Anti-Cigarette Gift Giving Campaign” during the Chinese Lunar New Year. MethodsThe concept testing study used a mix-method design combining quantitative survey and qualitative group discussion. Online focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted among general population in Beijing, the capital city, and Xining City, Qinghai Province in China in December 2021. A total of 192 participants were recruited and divided into 16 FGD groups by age, sex, smoking history, and socio-economic level. ResultsA total of five short videos were tested. Both quantitative and qualitative findings showed that the concepts and scripts of all the alternative short videos were easy to understand, but differences were observed in their potential to change participants’ behavioral intentions of cigarette gift-giving and culture appropriateness. “Gamified couple at home” was considered as the most suitable short video for wide dissemination during the Chinese Lunar New Year because of its innovative style and potential effectiveness in changing behavioral intentions. Although the short video themed “Gifting harm” showed a pronounced impact on personal motivation to not give cigarettes as gifts, it was not recommended due to the cultural inappropriateness. ConclusionFuture development of public service advertisements such as short videos targeting tobacco control is suggested to use evidence-based research to identify the most effective and appropriate concepts. Due consideration should be extended to the cultural appropriateness of communication content and its alignment with the relevant occasion.

Increasing Knowledge and Parenting Patterns of Stunting Toddlers in Stunting Toddler Mothers in Jatikuwung Jatipuro Village, Karanganyar

Background: Based on the 2022 SSGI survey, the prevalence of stunting under five in Indonesia is still quite large, namely 21.6%. The Regent of Karanganyar, through a 2023 Decree, stated that the highest locus of stunting in Jatipuro Karanganyar District is Jatikuwung Village. This activity aims to increase stunting knowledge to reduce stunting in Jatikuwung Jatipuro Village. Method: The activity began with secondary data analysis and continued with offline and online Focus Group Discussions (FGD) with 44 participants consisting of Regency, Subdistrict, and Village TPPS Teams. This activity will occur during June 2023 at the Jatikuwung Village Hall, Kec. Jatipuro. Results: From the results of the intervention implemented, it can be seen that there has been an increase in knowledge among mothers of stunting toddlers in the very good category from 41.6% to 75%. Conclusion: Knowledge of toddler mothers, pregnant women, and cadres increased after receiving counseling about stunting and parenting patterns.

Reflective Teaching Practice: Insight(s) from Indonesia’s Pesantren

Reflective teaching (RT) is a strategy used by teachers to improve their professionalism in the learning process. This indicator has long been debated and investigated in the field of education. However, few have examined the realm of Islamic education institutions, which have distinct qualities. As a result, the purpose of this study was conducted to investigate how teachers in Indonesian Islamic education institution implement RT. Quantitative questionnaires were administered via Google Forms, and semi-structured interviews were conducted via online focus group discussions (FGDs). This study included 19 pesantren teachers from Indonesia's Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi Islands. The findings revealed that pesantren teachers used three types of reflection positively well. All the six RT indicators for teacher were proved to be significant. RT in Islamic education institution has been shown to apply Kyai's guidance as one of several techniques for improving teaching quality. However, the RT technique of writing a journal has not been generally adopted by teachers in pesantren.

Impact of COVID-19 on Learning Behavior of Undergraduate Medical Students during Ophthalmology Module; Lessons Learnt

This qualitative study was carried out at Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah; KSA to explore the impact of COVID-19 and its related lockdown on the learning undergraduate medical students from December 2019 till July 2020. This qualitative exploratory study, utilizing online focus group discussions to explore the psychological impact of COVID-19 on student’s learning at Ophthalmology department of Batterjee medical college, Jeddah; KSA. Ethical approval was taken from the college and purposive convenient sampling technique was used to collect data. Data was transcribed and analyzed by using thematic analysis. The study identified multifold impact of COVID-19 on student’s learning faced by the 4th year undergraduate medical students during an Ophthalmology module. Social isolation and shift to online mode of teaching and learning were the main challenges that affected student’s learning in many ways. Four major effects of COVID-19 explored in the study were; psychological effects, impact of social disconnect with the peers and patients, impact on learning behavior changes and moment of myself. Results can be used by the medical educators to understand student’s mind and needs to enhance their academic participation, learning and performance especially in current circumstances of COVID-19 pandemic

Factors influencing the urge to buy impulsively of Vietnamese online buying customers towards Biti’s Hunter sport shoes

Our study investigates the factors that drive Vietnamese online shoppers in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) to make impulsive purchases of Biti's Hunter sports shoes (BHS), using the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Mixed methods are applied: in-depth interviews with ten regular online shoppers and focus group discussions with e-commerce managers for qualitative data collection, and survey techniques to gather quantitative data from 319 online shoppers. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 22.0. Our findings reveal five factors as a stimulus - visual appeal, website ease of use, product availability, portability, and social influence – and three factors as an organism - instant gratification, impulsiveness, and trust, that lead to the response of urge to buy impulsively. Significant positive effects are found among these constructs, except the relationship between portability and impulsiveness, visual appeal, social influence, trust, instant gratification, and urge to buy impulsively.

Exploring the general public's and experts' risk and benefit perceptions of cultured meat in Singapore: A mental models approach.

Despite the recent approval of cultured meat products in Singapore, the understanding of public perceptions towards this novel food technology remains limited. Utilizing attitude formation theory and the mental models approach, this study compares the mental models of the general public and experts regarding their risk and benefit perceptions of cultured meat. Through four online focus group discussions with 40 participants, we found convergences in the mental models of experts and the general public concerning perceived individual- and societal-level benefits of cultured meat (e.g., health benefits and food security) as well as their perceived individual-level risks of cultured meat (e.g., potential health issues and affordability). However, divergences in understanding societal-level risks were noted; the public expressed concerns about the challenges of cultured meat to religious and racial dietary customs, while experts highlighted potential investment uncertainties due to unclear consumer acceptance of cultured meat. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Beyond the Blackboard: Portraying the Image of the Tech-Savvy Teacher

The Tech-Savvy (TS) are teachers mastering Technology Enhance (TE) teaching. Empowered educators create personalized, interactive learning environments, enhancing student engagement, collaboration, and critical thinking. Assessing teachers as TS yields nuanced responses beyond a yes or no. This study aimed to define who is a TS teacher. Twenty-two science teachers in Israeli middle schools shared their perceptions in online focus group discussions aimed at defining who TS teacher is. Data-driven content analysis was performed to identify themes and map perceptions of TS teachers. There are three findings: The first finding is TS teachers are perceived as possessing a range of skills and qualities that set them apart. Their proficiency in TE teaching, adaptability, curiosity, innovation, and commitment to continuous learning enables them to create dynamic and engaging learning experiences. The second finding is that teachers assess their TE proficiency self-perceptions compared to their colleagues and their ability to use Digital Technology (DT) in the classroom effectively. The third finding is that innovation and DT are not always intertwined. There are other ways for teachers to be innovative. Some teachers may feel intimidated by TS colleagues' perceived superior and skill, therefore, shy away from integrating DT into their teaching strategies. However, some educators recognize they possess other essential skills and actively seek to incorporate TE methods alongside other effective teaching strategies. Due to the nature of qualitative research, extrapolating the conclusions to other cases should be done cautiously.