Personal Challenges Research Articles

A phenomenological exploration of experience of Syrian dentists with online Course “Traumatic dental injuries”

BackgroundSeveral learning modalities have been implemented to improve learning about Traumatic Dental Injuries (TDIs) worldwide. Free online courses about TDIs might be an effective and convenient approach for equipping Syrian dentists with essential competencies during the Syrian crisis. Therefore, this qualitative study with a descriptive phenomenological method was undertaken to explore the lived experience of Syrian dentists enrolled in an online course about TDIs and investigate areas requiring improvement. MethodsEthical approval was obtained from the Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, and the University of Dundee. Educational contents of the TDI course were developed. About 10 dentists who completed the TDI course, were interviewed. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to identify emerging themes. Inductive thematic analysis was performed to extract all data. ResultsAbout 10 clustered categories were first developed and this has led to the emergence of 3 themes that represent the lived experience including usefulness, challenges, and recommendations. Participants were so motivated and keen to take advantage of the course despite the personal, technical problems, and crisis-related challenges. TDIs course was effective for general and specialists despite the challenges they experienced. Factors that lead to effective TDIs courses as reported by participants were flexibility in time and location, interactivity with colleagues, other commitments, quantity and quality of content, easiness, and variety of virtual environment tools. Conversely, negative attitudes were linked to factors like lack of interest, unfamiliarity with the learning environment and tools, late participation, lack of confidence, anxiety about independent learning and insufficient interactivity and engagement tools. ConclusionSyrian dentists can benefit from online courses if constraints and various learning needs are addressed during the design and delivery of online courses. Future work is still required to identify other effective instructional modalities that equip Syrian dentists to overcome challenges and enhance their learning.

CHALLENGES FACED BY WOMEN TO MAINTAIN WORK LIFE BALANCE DURING COVID PANDEMIC WHILE WORKING FROM HOME

The growing concern over work-family issues has become particularly pronounced due to the challenging circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has forced people to balance work and personal lives as they adapt to stay-at-home measures and remote work arrangements. This study seeks to explore the factors that impact women's work-life balance during the lockdown imposed by the pandemic. The objective is to identify the professional and personal challenges and factors that facilitate work-life balance for working women in South India. The study involved surveying 100 women employed in the education sector. To enhance work-life balance and overall efficiency and productivity, organizations are encouraged to reconsider their policies, benefits programs, work distribution, and internal job arrangements, making remote working a more employee-friendly experience. In summary, this study sheds light on the critical factors influencing work-life balance for women during the COVID-19 lockdown, offering valuable insights for organizations aiming to adapt and improve their work arrangements to meet the changing needs of their female workforce.

When large language models meet personalization: perspectives of challenges and opportunities

The advent of large language models marks a revolutionary breakthrough in artificial intelligence. With the unprecedented scale of training and model parameters, the capability of large language models has been dramatically improved, leading to human-like performances in understanding, language synthesizing, common-sense reasoning, etc. Such a major leap forward in general AI capacity will fundamentally change the pattern of how personalization is conducted. For one thing, it will reform the way of interaction between humans and personalization systems. Instead of being a passive medium of information filtering, like conventional recommender systems and search engines, large language models present the foundation for active user engagement. On top of such a new foundation, users’ requests can be proactively explored, and users’ required information can be delivered in a natural, interactable, and explainable way. For another thing, it will also considerably expand the scope of personalization, making it grow from the sole function of collecting personalized information to the compound function of providing personalized services. By leveraging large language models as a general-purpose interface, the personalization systems may compile user’s requests into plans, calls the functions of external tools (e.g., search engines, calculators, service APIs, etc.) to execute the plans, and integrate the tools’ outputs to complete the end-to-end personalization tasks. Today, large language models are still being rapidly developed, whereas the application in personalization is largely unexplored. Therefore, we consider it to be right the time to review the challenges in personalization and the opportunities to address them with large language models. In particular, we dedicate this perspective paper to the discussion of the following aspects: the development and challenges for the existing personalization system, the newly emerged capabilities of large language models, and the potential ways of making use of large language models for personalization.

Dynamics of Perceived Stress, Stress Appraisal, and Coping Strategies in an Evolving Educational Landscape.

In the evolving landscape of education, college teachers often find themselves at the crossroads of myriad stressors, ranging from institutional demands to personal challenges. Understanding the factors that influence their stress perceptions and coping mechanisms is pivotal, not just for their well-being, but also for the overall quality of education imparted. This study sought to investigate the intricate relationships between gender, marital status, institutional affiliation, and their collective impacts on perceived stress, stress appraisal, and coping strategies among college teachers. A sample of 300 college teachers, evenly split with reference to gender, was engaged. Employing tools including Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Stress Appraisal Measure (SAM), and Brief COPE, the analysis of the study used independent samples t-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation to derive insights. Findings revealed pronounced gender disparities in stress perception and appraisal, with women teachers manifesting heightened levels. Marital status emerged as a significant modulator of stress and coping, with married teachers depicting nuanced stress and its appraisal with reported coping strategies compared to their unmarried peers. Furthermore, a significant variance in perceived stress and coping was observed between teachers of private and governmental institutions, with private institution teachers displaying elevated stress levels. The study underscores the multifaceted nature of stress experiences among college teachers in Pakistan, influenced by a blend of personal and institutional determinants. These insights are pivotal for institutions aiming to enhance the well-being and effectiveness of their teachers. However, given the specific cultural context of the study, there is an imperative for more global, comparative research, ensuring holistic support mechanisms for teachers worldwide.

Caregivers' experiences in helping individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges integrate into the community: A qualitative descriptive study in Singapore.

Individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges continued to consume mental health services for an average of 13 years as they needed multiple acute psychiatric admissions due to the challenges they experienced in their everyday activities. As caregivers of individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges, they often bear the brunt of caregiving through their assistance with activities of daily living (ADL), providing emotional support and ensuring medication compliance for their loved ones. When caring for their loved ones, caregivers often reported psychological stress, social isolation and emotional exhaustion due to stressors such as uncertainty of the future, the lack of support from professional services and the isolation from their own social network and support mechanism. Insights from this study revealed that caregivers for individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges went through a lonely and exhausting journey fraught with psychological, physical, social and financial challenges, echoing the caregiving needs and the prevalence of the caregiver burden. Insights shared by the caregivers demonstrated the need for a centralised point of contact to navigate Singapore's fragmented mental healthcare sector. Peer-support groups should be further promoted because they offer the benefits of information exchange, mutual support and a sense of empowerment and hopefulness, which may help ease the caregiver burden. Life skills training, such as teaching how to communicate empathetically with family members, resolve conflicts using open communication, maintain a structured daily routine and solve pragmatic problems in daily life, is more critical for individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges. This will help them learn how to manage their well-being, live independently, and stabilise their conditions. Lastly, public awareness campaigns should honour caregivers by highlighting their strength, resilience, and dedication. The state can provide financial assistance in the form of tax relief for their income per annum or caregiver allowance to alleviate the financial stress that caregivers are facing. Introduction The progressive deinstitutionalisation of mental healthcare has increasingly shifted care responsibilities from healthcare professionals to family caregivers for individuals with severe mental illness. Caregivers must balance many obligations, which often compromise their overall health and well-being, while helping their loved ones integrate into the community. Aim To identify and understand caregivers' needs and challenges as they help individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges integrate into the community. Methods This study used a descriptive qualitative approach to explore the experiences and challenges of caregivers for individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges when integrating back into the community. A semi-structured guide was used during the video-conferencing interviews conducted between December 2021 and November 2022. This study was reported according to the 32-item Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist. Findings Fourteen caregivers were individually interviewed by the primary author. Most caregivers were female, with an average of 15 years of experience caring for their loved ones. Using Braun and Clark's six-phase thematic framework, we inductively generate the themes and subthemes from the data. The two themes were (i) challenges (whose subthemes included personal challenges in caregiving, the lack of awareness, and stigma and employment) and (ii) support (whose subthemes included the importance of socialisation for individuals with mental health conditions, existing avenues of support and potential areas for support). Discussion Our findings informed the contemporary needs of caregivers caring for individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges integrating into the community. Like the global challenges for people with mental health issues, psychosocial support and other supplementary support are still common themes in mental health settings. The findings further specifically highlighted the importance of accessible points of contact as resources and employment-enabling and sustaining initiatives to help manage caregivers' emotional and system challenges, which addresses the gaps identified in the findings. Caregivers' peer-support groups, life skills training and public mental health awareness are also necessitated by the caregivers' voices. Implications for Practice Priority areas include having a centralised point of contact within the community for caregivers. Government or not-for-profit organisations can take the lead by initiating employment-enabling initiatives for individuals with severe and enduring mental health challenges and their caregivers.

Personal Gains and Challenges of Virtual Intergenerational Service-Learning in Health Promotion

ABSTRACT The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted the conventional face-to-face learning since 2020. Face-to-face intergenerational service-learning was switched to online learning. Fifty-six undergraduate students in the health studies program taking the compulsory subject of Practices in Health Promotion were involved in this study which aimed to evaluate the personal gains and challenges of virtual intergenerational service-learning by applying a deductive content analysis on reflective essays submitted by the students. Results indicated that students had gained leadership skills, developed sense of empathy, built a reciprocal relationship with the community, had positive impact on future development and changed in perception of older adults after the virtual intergenerational service-learning. Challenges of the experience consisted of technical issues and support, interruptions during online presentation and effectiveness of services. Recommendations are provided for academic and community settings to achieve successful virtual intergenerational service-learning.

The Ideal Path: Acquiring Education and Gaining Respect for Parents from the Perspective of Arab-Bedouin Students

Abstract The present study discusses the social and personal challenges facing Arab-Bedouin students in teaching colleges and examines how they maneuver between the academic world, which represents modern urban life, and the social traditions of their society. The study is based on semi-structured interviews with 30 Arab-Bedouin students from education colleges in southern Israel. The Arab-Bedouin female students interviewed in the study reported that their status, as well as their families’ status, improved as a result of their decision to acquire higher education. Education is seen as a source of pride for them and their family members, even within their society. In addition, the study found that parental support contributed greatly to the students’ academic progress. The parents formed a safety net, for example, by helping to pay tuition or buying school supplies and equipment such as laptops.

Identifying the Optimal Birth Control for Patients

Despite decreases in pregnancy and abortion rates over the past few decades, unintended pregnancy remains a personal and public health challenge.1 In the 1960s, the first birth control pills (progestin only and combined) revolutionized contraceptive effectiveness despite their high estrogen doses. In the 1980s, safety became front of mind, as older intra-uterine devices (IUDs) and implants were removed from the market, leading to the development of newer, safer options we enjoy today. In the 1990s, pill-related venous thromboembolism (VTE) scares led to surges in unintended pregnancy rates in the United Kingdom and Europe, only to be repeated in the 2000s. In the 2010s, long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) was hailed as the path forward for reducing pregnancy rates and, indeed, this has contributed to modest reductions in unintended pregnancy and abortion rates. This decade has seen two major shifts in contraceptive care: the transition to blended models of service delivery (especially virtual and subscription-based options) and a transition toward “needs-based” counselling.

Exploring the Unmet Needs of Cancer Caregivers in India: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Introduction Caregivers of individuals with head, neck, and face cancer play a pivotal role in providing support, yet they face distinct challenges. This study aims to explore caregiving experiences and consequences among this population. Methods A multicentric cross-sectional study involving 200 caregivers using a convenience sampling method was conducted in Pune. Caregivers involved in patient care were included in head, neck, and face cancer. The Cancer Caregiving Consequences Inventory (CaTCoN) questionnaire was utilized to assess various dimensions of caregiving. Ethical clearance was obtained from institutional review boards. Results The demographic profile revealed that 89% of caregivers were spouses/partners, primarily females (77%), aged 25-40 (81.5%), and urban dwellers (68.5%). Caregivers were predominantly married or cohabiting (100%) and had children (95%). Most had a graduate-level education (97.5%) and were employed full-time (82.5%). The mean scores from the CaTCoN questionnaire highlighted substantial caregiving responsibilities, with significant associations found in multivariate regression analysis. Spouses/partners showed stronger correlations with increased workload, personal growth challenges, financial difficulties, and the need to maintain an everyday life. Conclusion This study comprehensively explains caregiving consequences among head, neck, and face cancer cases. The predominance of spouses/partners as caregivers emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to address their unique challenges. The study highlights the demanding nature of caregiving, with potential positive outcomes.

Experiences and reflections on living with a personal assistance service: a qualitative study of people with neuromuscular disease or spinal cord injury

Purpose To investigate how people with neuromuscular disease or spinal cord injury experience living with a personal assistance service. Materials and methods Qualitative study using the Interpretive Description methodology with Aaron Antonovsky’s theory of sense of coherence as a theoretical framework. The method was semi-structured individual interviews (n = 3) and focus group interviews (n = 5). In all, 19 adults with neuromuscular disease (n = 13) or spinal cord injury (n = 6) participated. The study adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines. Results Three themes were identified to understand living with personal assistance and how this affected everyday life: 1) Making meaning of a personal assistance service, 2) Managing a personal assistance service, and 3) Living with a personal shadow. Our findings provide an understanding of living with assistance and how it, among other things, is influenced by the legislation and the local authorities’ administration of the service. Participants explained this by an experience of a sense of coherence. Conclusion For people with NMD and SCI, there are complex nuances associated with living with a personal assistance service. The findings illustrate that despite personal challenges of managing assistance services, it can meaningfully contribute to one’s life by enhancing one’s sense of coherence.

“A little love is enough for me to live my life…”: Precarity and resilience among older sex workers in India

Most research on sex workers globally has focused on cis women sex workers vulnerabilities including violence, risk for HIV/AIDS, and stigma. Despite the plethora of studies on the topic, older sex workers are significantly underrepresented in research. We used a phenomenological approach to highlight street and home-based sex workers’ experiences. Using a purposive sampling strategy, 39 cis women sex workers were recruited from Karnataka, India and data were collected using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Findings revealed a range of changes in sex workers’ lives as they aged, financial instability, lack of alternate livelihood options, and limited access to governmental benefits and social security. Participant narratives challenged the notion of anticipated traditional familial support especially from their grown children. Findings were replete with instances of sex workers’ personal agency to confront personal and professional challenges. Peer networks formed the biggest forms of support as were sex workers’ connections with local community-based groups. There is an urgent need for helping professionals to recognize the ongoing marginalization faced by older sex workers. It is critical to address concerns broadly along with inequities in terms of access and power as experienced by older sex workers. Finally, examining the differential impact of ageism, structural barriers including neglect by the State, violence, and stigma that follow sex workers is vital.

A Qualitative Study of Strategies to Improve Occupational Well-being in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians.

Physiatry is a specialty with high rates of burnout. Although organizational strategies to combat burnout are key, it is also important to understand strategies that individual physiatrists can use to address burnout. The aim of the study is to identify changes that resulted in improvement of occupational well-being of physiatrists over a 6- to 9-mo period. We employed two quantitative surveys spaced 6-9 mos apart to identify physiatrists who experienced meaningful improvement in occupational burnout and/or professional fulfillment between the two survey time points. These physiatrists were subsequently recruited to participate in a qualitative study using semistructured interviews to identify changes that respondents felt contributed to improvements in burnout and professional fulfillment. Online surveys and interviews. Physiatrists in the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) Membership Masterfile. Burnout and professional fulfillment were assessed using the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index. One hundred twelve physiatrists responded to the baseline and follow-up surveys. Of these, 35 were eligible for interviews based on improvements in the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index, and 23 (64%) agreed to participate. Themes from the qualitative interviews highlighted the importance of personal lifestyle choices, approaches to improve professional satisfaction, and strategies to foster work-life harmony. Personal lifestyle strategies included investing in wellness and mental health. Efforts to improve professional satisfaction included decreasing work intensity, prioritizing meaningful aspects of work, and building relationships with colleagues. Fostering work-life harmony also included making trade-offs in both domains, setting boundaries at work, setting expectations at home, and overcoming personal challenges. Our findings illustrate that in addition to organizational strategies demonstrated to be effective, there are actions that individual physiatrists can take to recover from burnout and foster professional fulfillment.

A qualitative study of strategies to improve occupational well-being in physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians.

Physiatry is a specialty with high rates of burnout. Although organizational strategies to combat burnout are key, it is also important to understand strategies that individual physiatrists can use to address burnout. To identify changes that resulted in improvement of occupational well-being of physiatrists over a 6- to 9-month period. We employed two quantitative surveys spaced 6 to 9 months apart to identify physiatrists who experienced meaningful improvement in occupational burnout and/or professional fulfillment between the two survey timepoints. These physiatrists were subsequently recruited to participate in a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews to identify changes that respondents felt contributed to improvements in burnout and professional fulfillment. Online surveys and interviews. Physiatrists in the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) Membership Masterfile. Burnout and professional fulfillment were assessed using the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index. One hundred twelve physiatrists responded to the baseline and follow-up surveys. Of these, 35 were eligible for interviews based on improvements in the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index, and 23 (64%) agreed to participate. Themes from the qualitative interviews highlighted the importance of personal lifestyle choices, approaches to improve professional satisfaction, and strategies to foster work-life harmony. Personal lifestyle strategies included investing in wellness and mental health. Efforts to improve professional satisfaction included decreasing work intensity, prioritizing meaningful aspects of work, and building relationships with colleagues. Fostering work-life harmony also included making trade-offs in both domains, setting boundaries at work, setting expectations at home, and overcoming personal challenges. Our findings illustrate that, in addition to organizational strategies demonstrated to be effective, there are actions that individual physiatrists can take to recover from burnout and foster professional fulfillment.

Rethinking student engagement for ‘hyflex’ teaching and learning in post-compulsory settings: acknowledging flexibility and agency needed for unplanned events

ABSTRACT Emergency remote delivery (ERD) employed by post-compulsory education providers during COVID-19 has left an enduring legacy. In particular, hyflex (simultaneous online and in-person delivery) teaching and learning (HTL) has the potential to offer a choice of mode and flexibility, and open new ways of thinking about adult student engagement. To explore whether existing ideas about student engagement are ‘fit for purpose’ for HTL, we conducted a mixed-methods study, using post-course online surveys (n = 110) and semi-structured interviews with students (n = 10) engaged in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in seven disciplinary areas in a large metropolitan university in Australia. Kahu and Nelson’s student engagement framework, and the educational interface in particular, guided our analysis. Our findings illustrate the ways that hyflex accommodates unplanned crises and personal challenges to provide flexible and equitable access to learning, as well as fostering aspects of the educational interface: self-efficacy, emotions, wellbeing, and belonging. Tertiary and adult education providers should build on such experiential learnings gained since the pandemic by continuing to invest in resources to support hyflex teaching as an essential feature of students and staff being able to balance the competing demands of life and study/work, especially in the context of unplanned events.

3D food printing: Technological advances, personalization and future challenges in the food industry

3D food printing is an emerging technology that offers a wide range of innovative applications in the food industry. This study provides an analysis of 3D food printing, focusing on its technological development, customization and design possibilities, and future challenges and opportunities, such as its sustainability in the today's world. Through a literature review, the applications of this technology in various fields, including space exploration, health, and catering, are examined. Complemented by a field study based on interviews with chefs, gastronomy experts, and nutritionists, the study aims to understand their evaluations and opinions on 3D food printing. This has enabled a SWOT analysis and a bivariate analysis of contingency tables, correlations, and means comparison test to determine if there are similarities or differences in how they assess the flavour, texture, nutritional value, and visual appearance of 3D printed food. The conclusions indicate that perceptions of the characteristics of 3D printed foods vary significantly among chefs, gastronomy experts, and nutritionists. Nutritionists and gastronomy experts tend to have more similar perceptions, while chefs differ more in their sensory and aesthetic evaluations. The study also discusses technical challenges, consumer acceptance, food safety, and logistical issues. Finally, it reflects on the future of 3D food printing, considering ongoing research and ethical and environmental implications. This article aims to provide a comprehensive view of 3D food printing and its potential impact on the food industry.

In the Discomfort Zone: Emotional Labour and Reflexivity in Field Research on Extremism

As the literature on understanding and addressing extremism and terrorism has expanded, there has also emerged a significant methodological literature. As well as providing valuable insight about research design, this literature increasingly addresses practical issues, such as how to gain access to difficult-to-reach populations, how to build trust, and strategies for effective interviewing. There remain however a number of relatively neglected aspects of the research process. In relation to long-term qualitative research – a form of research increasingly recognised as essential to advancing our understanding of radical or extremist milieus – one of these concerns the more personal challenges that researchers encounter during and after their time in the field. In this article, we contribute to the emerging discussion on these personal challenges by sharing our own experiences of interviewing and conducting long-term fieldwork in a range of different radical or extremist milieus. Specifically, we go beyond observations about the well-discussed pitfall of “going native” and the proffering of coping strategies, to a more frank and difficult but, we believe, helpful conversation about how such research can reconfigure our professional and personal relationships and understandings of our own subjectivity, the emotional challenges and discomfort that this can entail and the insights that this can render.

Occupational and Personal Challenges During the Opioid Crisis: Understanding First Responders' Experiences and Viewpoints of Clients with Opioid Use Disorder.

This study provides preliminary findings on the experiences of first responders during the opioid crisis and their viewpoints regarding whether clients with opioid use disorder deserve medical rehabilitation. Understanding associations between first responder experiences and viewpoints of client deservedness can help reduce stigma, improve compassionate care, and identify training gaps. Analyses were run with data from a nationwide survey of Emergency Medical Services-providers and law enforcement workers collected from August to November 2022 (N = 3836). The study used univariate statistics and ordered logistic regression to understand first responders' experiences and viewpoints on client deservedness, as well as the relationship between the two. Results show a negative correlation between responding to overdose calls and perceiving clients with opioid use disorder as deserving of medical rehabilitation. Law enforcement, males, and conservatives also had negative viewpoints. Conversely, having a friend experience addiction and believing addiction has had a direct impact on respondents' lives predicted increases in client deservedness. Policy should focus on creating spaces where first responders can have positive interactions with people who use drugs or are in recovery. Better training is needed to help first responders manage on-the-job stressors and understand the complexities of addiction.

Therapists to Therapy Assistants: Experiences of Internationally Educated Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists.

Background: In Canada, internationally educated physiotherapists (IEPTs) and occupational therapists (IEOTs) may work as occupational/physical therapy assistants (OTAs/PTAs) while pursuing Canadian licensure. This experience presents personal and professional opportunities and challenges. Purpose: We explored a) the barriers and facilitators experienced by IEPTs and IEOTs working as OTAs/PTAs while pursuing licensure in Canada and b) how might their professional identity changes during this period. Methods: In this cross-sectional qualitative study, we sampled IEPTs and IEOTs working as assistants using online focus groups. Reflexive thematic analysis of data was used to generate themes. Findings: Fourteen IEPTs or IEOTs participated reporting barriers including financial impacts while working as an OTA/PTA, discrimination, and challenges completing licensing exams. Facilitators while working as OTA/PTAs included social support, acculturation with Canadian systems, and career opportunities. Changes to professional identity encompassed accepting a new identity, reclaiming their old identity, or having a strong sense of identity within a healthcare profession. Participants advocated for bridging programs and modifications for examination processes for IEPTs and IEOTs to improve their experiences while pursuing licensure in Canada. Conclusion: Increased advocacy is needed to address the current experiences of IEPTs and IEOTs working as OTA/PTAs after migration.

Personal care workers' intention to stay in residential aged care: An integrative review.

To identify key factors that influence personal care workers' (PCW) intention to stay in residential aged care (RAC). PCWs are the 'backbone' of providing direct care in RAC settings. The well-being of older people hinges upon their dedication and commitment; thus, enhancing their intention to stay is a priority to reduce turnover and ensure continuity of care. Six databases were searched for articles focusing on factors influencing PCWs' intention to stay in RAC. Studies were independently assessed for quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute Methodology for systematic review tools. Reporting of the results followed the PRISMA guidelines. Eight articles published between 2010 and 2022 were included. The key issues were categorized as: (a) sociodemographic characteristics; (b) psychological factors; (c) workplace factors and (d) job satisfaction. Older age, being married and immigration status were positively associated with intention to stay. Work stress and burnout contributed towards demotivation, while a supportive and engaging organizational culture that recognized workers' contributions and provided appropriate remuneration and benefits, enhanced job satisfaction and retention. This review affirms the complexity of the decision-making process influencing workers' intention to stay. A comprehensive understanding of the interplay of these factors and the personal and sociocultural challenges faced by PCWs is essential to design strategies to provide support and enhance job satisfaction and retention. This review showed that support from the organization is critical in improving PCWs' intention to stay in aged care. Given the interconnectedness of a range of key factors, decision-makers need to address modifiable factors holistically. Including PCWs in planning retention strategies could be the missing link in tailoring interventions towards workforce retention. Personal, psychological and workplace factors alone and in combination influence personal care workers' intention to stay in residential aged care (RAC). The interrelationships among the factors impacting PCWs' intention to stay are complex, wherein a change in one often influences other factors. Addressing the causes of psychological stress, improving workplace culture and understanding their interrelationships provide a foundation for co-designing strategies to promote intention to stay among PCWs in RAC. The authors have adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines PRISMA. This integrative review is conducted with no involvement or contribution from patients or the public.

Factors Impacting ART Adherence among HIV-Positive Older Adolescents and Younger Adults in Namibia: A Qualitative Analysis

Background Namibia, like many sub-Saharan African countries, faces the challenges of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) affecting diverse age groups. However, the demographic group of older adolescents and younger adults, specifically those aged 15-24, faces distinct challenges in terms of psychological, sociocultural, and healthcare-related factors that impact their adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment (ART). It is important to conduct further research to investigate these specific challenges and address them effectively. Aim This paper aimed to investigate factors impacting adherence to ART medication among Older Adolescents (OA) and Younger Adults Living with HIV (YALHIV) in the seven high-burden regions in Namibia. Objective The objective of this study was to explore and describe the factors that influence adherence to ART medication among older adolescents and younger adults living with HIV to provide valuable insights to inform the development of evidence-based HIV programs that can effectively address the adherence challenges in this particular population. Methods A qualitative descriptive phenomenology research design was followed, utilising an in-depth interview to capture the experiences of older adolescents and younger adults living with HIV. Participants were recruited from healthcare facilities across Namibia, ensuring a diverse sample in terms of gender, socio-economic status, and urban-rural representation. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select 29 participants who were willing to take part in the study and data saturation was achieved with this sample size. The interviews were telephonically recorded with the permission of the participants. The researcher used Colaizzi's six steps for phenomenological study to analyze the data. Results The study reveals four main themes that contribute to adherence issues in OALHIV and YALHIV and include patients-related factors, family-related factors, facility and healthcare providers-related factors, and community and socio-cultural characteristics-related factors. Conclusion The study sheds light on factors affecting adherence to ART among OALHIV and YALHIV. It emphasizes the necessity of comprehensive interventions addressing personal, sociocultural, economic, and healthcare challenges for their well-being. Future research and policies should focus on tailored interventions based on these diverse findings.