Personal Health Experiences Research Articles

Exploring intimacy and family planning in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: a qualitative study

Background Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), comprising ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, have a profound impact on people’s lives. This study aims to investigate the perceived impact of IBD on sexual life and family planning to enhance understanding of the interplay between IBD, sexuality, intimacy and family planning to foster a better quality of life for those living with the condition. Materials and methods The study used the qualitative DIPEx method (Database of Personal Experiences of Health and Illness) developed by the Health Experiences Research Group at the University of Oxford, standardized for the Czech Republic. Semi-structured interviews with 36 participants (19 with Crohn’s disease, 17 with ulcerative colitis) were conducted, employing open coding and thematic analysis. The maximum variation sampling was utilized, considering various factors, such as disease stage, medications, treatments, age, age at diagnosis and sociodemographic characteristics. Results Five main topics emerged: sexual activity, body image and discomfort, partner relationships, family planning, and the role of gastroenterologists in family planning decisions. Participants’ perceptions of sexuality varied, with some experiencing reduced sexual activity during acute phases of the disease. IBD had contrasting effects on partner relationships, and family planning was an important concern, with women valuing support and collaboration with their gastroenterologists in making pregnancy decisions. Information dissemination and open communication from professionals are highly needed. Conclusions This is the first study concerning the sexuality and family planning of people with IBD in the Czech Republic. It highlights the need for information and open communication from professionals.

Empowering Voices: Fostering Reflective Dialogue and Redefining Research Dynamics in Participatory Approaches With the Autistic Community

Within this brief report, the authors, who are mostly neurodivergent and a majority autistic, outline some of the challenges and historical failings of participatory research with the autistic community. There is an urgent need to explore creative ways to ensure that research engages with autistic people in an active, meaningful, and valuable way (Den Houting et al., 2021; Fletcher-Watson et al., 2019; Garfield & Yudell, 2019). The authors detail the process of using reflective dialogue to explore the participatory research group’s personal experiences of mental health at a university. The participatory group later presented their experiences at a webinar attended by more than 200 strategic and supporting staff from UK universities. The group found reflective dialogue to be useful in addressing many of the failings of participatory research with the autistic community, such as redressing power imbalances and finding it to be personally beneficial and validating. The authors detail how this might be implemented and argue that this approach has valuable applications within autism research and beyond and should be explored further.

THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS OF RENAL DONORS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY FROM INDIA

The study explores the decision-making process of renal donors in India, aiming to understand the motivations, emotions, and contextual factors that influence their choices. Through in-depth interviews with a diverse group of kidney donors, the research delves into their personal experiences and the societal pressures that shape their decisions. The findings reveal that altruism, a sense of duty towards family or community, and personal health experiences significantly drive individuals to donate a kidney. Results: Researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 donors the day before their scheduled donation. Data collection involved open-ended questionnaires, which were voice recorded and analysed using a grounded theory and interpretative approach. The findings indicated that the primary motivation for donation stemmed from the suffering of the recipient. Notably, many mothers chose to donate despite the presence of other potential living donors. All participants confirmed that their decision was made voluntarily, without any external pressure. Throughout the interviews, donors consistently expressed that the recipient's recovery was more important than their own health, a sentiment driven by deep emotional connections. Conclusion: The study found no evidence of coercion among donors, who exhibited a strong awareness of their choices and made voluntary decisions driven by emotional motivations. The primary factors influencing their decision to donate were emotional attachments and concerns for the recipient’s well-being, highlighting the profound impact of personal connections in the organ donation process.

Patient-reported assessments of chronic cough in clinical trials: accessory or primary endpoints?

Chronic cough is a complex disorder that affects up to 5-10% of the general population. It can be challenging to manage as there are few effective treatments, although several novel antitussives are in clinical development. The endpoints used to assess their efficacy in clinical trials should be optimal; most large clinical trials currently use objective measures as the primary outcome, especially cough frequency. There are strengths in this approach, although taking the view that other measures of chronic cough are less important, including patient-rated cough severity, psychosocial impact and other associated symptoms. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) explore patients' personal experiences of health and disease, and the effects of particular conditions on their lives. Numerous validated PROMs exist for chronic cough, from simple visual analogue scales, to those that focus on cough hypersensitivity and cough-specific quality of life. Medicine regulators in the European Union (EU) and United States of America (USA) encourage the use of PROMs in clinical trials but have voiced concerns over their content validity, clinically meaningful thresholds for change, and discordance with objective measures. There are recent and ongoing studies to address these limitations. This review discusses currently available PROMs used to assess chronic cough and discusses their potential role as primary outcome measures in clinical trials.

Abstract A064: Patient-provider trust and immigration experiences and h. pylori knowledge among Asian Americans

Abstract Background: Asian Americans experience a disproportionately higher prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. However, there persists limited awareness about H. pylori infection and the associated factors among this population. Methods: To assess the level of H. pylori-related knowledge and its association with immigration and provider-related factors, we conducted a cross-sectional pilot study involving 131 Asian American individuals aged 30-75 in the greater Philadelphia and NYC areas. Participants administered a questionnaire covering topics including migration experiences, provider characteristics, medical encounters, and other relevant covariates. Poisson regression was used to evaluate the relationship between these factors and H. pylori knowledge scores. Results: Among all participants, 78% (102/131) were not racially concordant with their PCP, and 39% (51/131) had limited English proficiency. Vietnamese participants had the highest mean H. pylori knowledge score (10.8, SD: 1.4), followed by Chinese (7.2, SD: 4.7) and Korean (5.7, SD: 4.4). In the crude model, racial concordance with PCPs showed a positive relationship (IRR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.14–1.56) with knowledge scores, while length of immigration demonstrated a weak negative relationship (IRR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97–0.99). In the adjusted model, personal health experiences (aIRR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.10–1.54) and patient-provider communication (aIRR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.43–2.06) as key determinants of H. pylori knowledge. Conclusion: H. pylori knowledge in Asian Americans is influenced by immigration experiences and the trust between patients and providers, which affects information exchange, medical comprehension, and treatment adherence. Therefore, interventions aimed at improving H. pylori knowledge within the Asian American community should prioritize fostering trust between patients and their healthcare providers. This trust serves as a crucial foundation for facilitating informed decision-making and implementing preventive measures against gastric cancer. Citation Format: Zhiqing E. Liu, Jerry Kai-Chun Fu, Wenyue Lu, Phuong Do, Kathy Zhou, Ellen Kim, Yin Tan, Lin Zhu, Grace X. Ma. Patient-provider trust and immigration experiences and h. pylori knowledge among Asian Americans [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A064.

Narratives of Personal Health and Sexual Education Experiences of Emerging Adults with Disabilities

Disabled communities’ sexualities have been historically oppressed. Currently in the U.S., public school curricula do not include inclusive sexual education and students with disabilities are often left out of classrooms that discuss any amount of personal health and sexual education (PHSE). Research on the disabled population is filled with samples of non-disabled individuals imposing their opinions on a population that they do not belong to. The purpose of this study was to capture lived experiences of ways emerging adults with disabilities learned about PHSE. Individuals with varied disabilities were intentionally included to add breadth to the research field. The final sample consisted of eight individuals (75% female, 87% White, mean age of 21.5). After conducting narrative interviews and analyses, four story types were generated: (1) “The Self-Guided Journey”, (2) “Experience is the Best Teacher”, (3) “Personal Health Matters More”, and (4) “Two Ears, One Mouth”. Our findings highlighted the lack of formal support and access to adequate, relevant information about sexuality for disabled communities. Informal sources, like families and media, sometimes served as helpful resources for PHSE and disabilities. Individuals’ disability symptoms and personal characteristics need to be considered when crafting universally applicable personal health and sexuality education.

Influence of Social Media on Physicians' Behaviors

The influence of social media on health-related behaviors is a major research topic. Social media platforms play a crucial role in disseminating health information, thus influencing individuals' perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors towards health and healthcare. These platforms allow quick access to a large amount of information but can also convey inaccurate or misleading information. Social media also enables individuals to share their personal health experiences, which can influence the behavior of other users. Health awareness and promotion campaigns conducted on social media can have a significant impact by reaching a wide audience. Additionally, social media platforms have become popular spaces for healthcare professionals and healthcare organizations to interact with patients, answer their questions, and provide medical advice. However, excessive use of social media can also have negative effects on mental health, including contributing to anxiety, depression, and social isolation. It is therefore crucial to understand how social media shapes health-related behaviors in order to promote healthy behaviors and counter misinformation.

Law enforcement mental health: A systematic review of qualitative research.

The aim of this review was to explore qualitative accounts of law enforcement (LE) officers' personal experiences of mental health, in terms of linguistic descriptions, relationships between occupational experiences and mental health, and challenges to maintaining mental well-being. Using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines, 1,876 articles were screened, and 31 studies were included in the current review. A risk of bias assessment was used to assess the study's methodological rigor, and data were extracted to answer three exploratory research questions. Results revealed that LE officers frequently experience occupational stressors and identify different mental health difficulties as a result. Additionally, cultural norms and stigma prevalent in the LE profession were noted to contribute to experiences of mental health and impact LE officers' ability to reach out for help and utilize professional resources. This review suggests that efforts to offer mental health services to LE officers need to prioritize cultural competence, confidentiality, and education to overcome stigma and increase mental health literacy and service use. Stakeholders addressing the LE mental health crisis may find this review useful due to several practical recommendations offered. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The relationship between personal and interpersonal mental health experiences and stigma-related outcomes in Hong Kong

Previous research indicates that personal mental health experiences (e.g. one's current mental health status) and interpersonal mental health experiences (e.g. one's familiarity with someone with mental illness) are associated with stigma-related outcomes. These outcomes include knowledge, attitudes and desire for social distance from people with mental illness. To explore the extent to which current personal mental health status and familiarity with mental illness predict stigma-related outcomes in Hong Kong. Data were drawn from a larger research project examining mental well-being in Hong Kong citizens. Citizens (N = 1010) aged ≥18 years were surveyed between August and September 2021. Multiple regression analyses revealed that immediate family and friends showed better attitudinal outcomes and lower desire for social distance compared with people who did not know anyone with mental illness (all β > 1.00, all P < 0.05), whereas people with personal experience of mental illness showed higher prejudicial attitudes compared with people who did not know anyone with mental illness (β = -0.744, P = 0.016). Better current personal mental health predicted lower prejudicial attitudes (β = 0.488, P < 0.001) and mixed outcomes on different realms of mental health knowledge. Cultural concerns surrounding 'saving face' and emphasis on collectivistic values may explain the nonlinear relationship between personal and interpersonal mental health experiences and stigma-related outcomes. Future anti-stigma interventions should tailor their approaches to the needs of people with different levels of familiarity with mental illness and include efforts to support the mental health of the overall population.

Australasian Institute of Digital Health Summit 2022-Automated Social Media Surveillance for Detection of Vaccine Safety Signals: A Validation Study.

Social media platforms have emerged as a valuable data source for public health research and surveillance. Monitoring of social media and user-generated data on the Web enables timely and inexpensive collection of information, overcoming time lag and cost of traditional health reporting systems. This article identifies personally experienced coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine reactions expressed on Twitter and validate the findings against an established vaccine reactions reporting system. We collected around 3 million tweets from 1.4 million users between February 1, 2021, to January 31, 2022, using COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine reactions keyword lists. We performed topic modeling on a sample of the data and applied a modified F1 scoring technique to identify a topic that best differentiated vaccine-related personal health mentions. We then manually annotated 4,000 of the records from this topic, which were used to train a transformer-based classifier to identify likely personally experienced vaccine reactions. Applying the trained classifier to the entire data set allowed us to select records we could use to quantify potential vaccine side effects. Adverse events following immunization (AEFI) referred to in these records were compared with those reported to the state of Victoria's spontaneous vaccine safety surveillance system, SAEFVIC (Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination In the Community). The most frequently mentioned potential vaccine reactions generally aligned with SAEFVIC data. Notable exceptions were increased Twitter reporting of bleeding-related AEFI and allergic reactions, and more frequent SAEFVIC reporting of cardiac AEFI. Social media conversations are a potentially valuable supplementary data source for detecting vaccine adverse event mentions. Monitoring of online observations about new vaccine-related personal health experiences has the capacity to provide early warnings about emerging vaccine safety issues.

Identifying Tweets with Personal Medication Intake Mentions using Attentive Character and Localized Context Representations

Individuals with health anomalies often share their experiences on social media sites, such as Twitter, which yields an abundance of data on a global scale. Nowadays, social media data constitutes a leading source to build drug monitoring and surveillance systems. However, a proper assessment of such data requires discarding mentions which do not express drug-related personal health experiences. We automate this process by introducing a novel deep learning model. The model includes character-level and word-level embeddings, embedding-level attention, convolu- tional neural networks (CNN), bidirectional gated recurrent units (BiGRU), and context-aware attentions. An embedding for a word is produced by integrating both word-level and character-level embeddings using an embedding-level attention mechanism, which selects the salient features from both embeddings without expanding dimensionality. The resultant embedding is further analyzed by three CNN layers independently, where each extracts unique n-grams. BiGRUs followed by attention layers further process the outputs from each CNN layer. Besides, the resultant embedding is also encoded by a BiGRU with attention. Our model is developed to cope with the intricate attributes inherent to tweets such as vernacular texts, descriptive medical phrases, frequently misspelt words, abbreviations, short messages, and others. All these four outputs are summed and sent to a softmax classifier. We built a dataset by incorporating tweets from two benchmark datasets designed for the same objective to evaluate the performance. Our model performs substantially better than existing models, including several customized Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) models with an F1-score of 0.772.

To Hell and Back: A Performer's mental health journey during the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: The COVID-19 pandemic has induced a considerable amount of mental health difficulties, ranging from anxiety and depression to psychosis. As services struggle to cope with the demand for support, the effect of such psychological challenges on quality of life remains a major concern. WHAT DOES THE PAPER ADD TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a vast amount of research has focused on the physical consequences of the virus. Gradually, studies on the mental health effects related to the pandemic started to emerge, as it became clear that mental health difficulties were as present and as concerning as the physical ones. Whilst such studies commonly explore the prevalence and nature of the presenting mental health challenges, the publication of personal mental health experiences linked to the ongoing situation is lacking. Introducing the human element in literature is an important means of raising awareness on the mental health difficulties that can be triggered by the pandemic. Using public figures such as the individual in this paper is additionally powerful due to the role model effect. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: The paper highlights the need for enhanced awareness and monitoring of mental health especially by health professionals who therefore need to receive adequate mental health training. Furthermore, mental health awareness efforts need to be considered as being a part of the role of the psychiatric and mental health nurse who is at a prime position to educate, monitor and support those receiving care.

Why do many children who are hard of hearing not use remote microphones to compensate for their hearing loss?

ObjectivesThe aim of the study is to explore parents' reasons for not acquiring remote microphones that would compensate for their child's hearing loss and why some children do not use these devices even after they are purchased. BackgroundThe benefit of remote microphones for better understanding speech has been proven by multiple studies. Consistent with the research, there is an official recommendation that all children who are hard of hearing should be considered as potential candidates for remote microphone systems in classrooms in Western countries, but in the Czech Republic, only a relatively small number of children use them. Therefore, it is important to focus on the reasons why parents do not buy such devices for their child and why some children do not use an already acquired device. MethodsData from 41 semi-structured interviews were collected and analysed using the DIPEx methodology (personal experiences of health and illness), which involves rigorous analysis of narrative interviews of people with particular conditions chosen to represent the widest practicable range of experiences. ResultsParents report multiple barriers to buying remote microphones: insecurity about the right moment, financial reasons, a lack of information and the child's refusal to use them. The reasons why children do not use such devices despite their being purchased are the reluctance of children and teachers and the low perceived benefit of remote microphones. ConclusionsThese barriers have to be taken into consideration by audiologists, policymakers and other stakeholders when addressing medical, educational and social systems supporting children who are hard of hearing as well as their families. Socio-political measures, improved systems of support for children who are hard of hearing and direct work with families can reduce these barriers.

“The chip in a perfect piece of pottery”: An ethnographic study of parents’ online narratives when a child has cancer

In recent years, the Internet has increasingly been used to communicate about personal health, illness, and caregiving experiences. For instance, parents of children with cancer share personal accounts online describing their family experiences and emotions as they navigate childhood cancer. These online accounts offer insight into the nature of parents’ experiences and narrative structures adopted to communicate and find meaning. Using a narrative methodology and virtual ethnographic methods grounded in interpretivist and constructivist principles, we examined 23 online accounts of varying lengths shared publicly by Canadian parents of children with cancer. Analysis focused on the content and structure of accounts, identifying common experiences and forms of narration. Three dominant narrative types emerged related to the Idealized Child, Faith, and Failure. To meaningfully convey commonalities across the sample and uphold confidentiality, a Fabrication approach (Markham, 2012) was adopted to develop composites representing the three narrative types, which illuminate family experiences and meaning-making processes. The findings can enhance understanding of family experiences of childhood cancer and inform psychosocial interventions that assist healthcare teams with supporting families of children with cancer more effectively.

Becoming peer educators in workplace mental health: Qualitative exploration of challenges and opportunities.

Peer-led workplace mental health training programs informed by the principles of contact-based education have shown promising results, but research evidence largely focuses on measuring outcomes for service recipients with little attention to the experiences of peer educators in delivering these interventions. To gain in-depth knowledge about the opportunities and challenges experienced peer educators recruited to lead a mental health literacy training program for healthcare workers. An interpretive description approach was used to explore the experiences of peer educators in providing a structured two-day "Beyond Silence" workplace mental health training program. Peer educators were healthcare workers with personal mental health experience, who completed an additional leadership training. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with seven peer educators. Data collection and analysis was concurrent and iterative, employing inductive analysis. Four overarching themes captured the key opportunities and challenges faced by peer educators: 1) the art and science of providing mental health literacy training, 2) power of personal stories, 3) competence as a journey or a destination and 4) the dual role of educator and advocate. Recommendations are provided for recruitment, training, and support for peer educators. Future research could focus on longitudinal evaluation of engagement and sustainability of peer educators in this role.

Patient-Generated Health Photos and Videos Across Health and Well-being Contexts: Scoping Review.

BackgroundPatient-generated health data are increasingly used to record health and well-being concerns and engage patients in clinical care. Patient-generated photographs and videos are accessible and meaningful to patients, making them especially relevant during the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, a systematic review of photos and videos used by patients across different areas of health and well-being is lacking.ObjectiveThis review aims to synthesize the existing literature on the health and well-being contexts in which patient-generated photos and videos are used, the value gained by patients and health professionals, and the challenges experienced.MethodsGuided by a framework for scoping reviews, we searched eight health databases (CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science) and one computing database (ACM), returning a total of 28,567 studies. After removing duplicates and screening based on the predefined inclusion criteria, we identified 110 relevant articles. Data were charted and articles were analyzed following an iterative thematic approach with the assistance of NVivo software (version 12; QSR International).ResultsPatient-generated photos and videos are used across a wide range of health care services (39/110, 35.5% articles), for example, to diagnose skin lesions, assess dietary intake, and reflect on personal experiences during therapy. In addition, patients use them to self-manage health and well-being concerns (33/110, 30%) and to share personal health experiences via social media (36/110, 32.7%). Photos and videos create significant value for health care (59/110, 53.6%), where images support diagnosis, explanation, and treatment (functional value). They also provide value directly to patients through enhanced self-determination (39/110, 35.4%), social (33/110, 30%), and emotional support (21/110, 19.1%). However, several challenges emerge when patients create, share, and examine photos and videos, such as limited accessibility (16/110, 14.5%), incomplete image sets (23/110, 20.9%), and misinformation through photos and videos shared on social media (17/110, 15.5%).ConclusionsThis review shows that photos and videos engage patients in meaningful ways across different health care activities (eg, diagnosis, treatment, and self-care) for various health conditions. Although photos and videos require effort to capture and involve challenges when patients want to use them in health care, they also engage and empower patients, generating unique value. This review highlights areas for future research and strategies for addressing these challenges.

Mental health experiences of healthcare professionals during COVID-19

OrientationThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to fundamental changes in the workplace for many, particularly healthcare workers.Research purposeThis study explored healthcare workers’ (ophthalmologists, nurses and support staff) experiences of anxiety, depression, burnout, resilience and coping strategies during lockdown Levels 2 and 3 in an Ophthalmic consulting practice and hospital in South Africa.Motivation for the studyThe increased workplace stress and vulnerability associated with working during the COVID-19 pandemic introduced an unprecedented level of risk for healthcare workers. Factors contributing to psychological distress must be identified and appropriately mitigated, to prevent dire human and economic costs.Research approach/design and methodA survey was sent out at two separate times to a convenience sample of 31 and 15 healthcare workers respectively. The survey consisted of a demographics section, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Burnout Measure short-version, Brief Cope Inventory, Connor Davidson Resilience Inventory and six open-ended questions investigating personal health and support experiences during COVID-19. Descriptive analyses and thematic analysis were used for data analysis.Main findingsThe sample of healthcare workers experienced some degree of psychological distress, including anxiety, burnout and a lack of social support on both surveys. However, these symptoms were alleviated by personal factors, including positive coping mechanisms, high resilience and organisational support.Practical/managerial implicationsHealthcare facilities should consider in-house structures focusing on building resilience and positive coping mechanisms, whilst ensuring that workplace conditions are optimal for staff members.Contribution/value-addThis study provides some insight into both the risk and protective factors experienced by health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eating and Exercise-Related Correlates of Weight Stigma: A Multinational Investigation.

Weight stigma is prevalent across the world. However, little is known about whether and how the harmful health consequences of weight stigma may vary across countries. The current study examined the association between experiences of weight stigma and multiple eating and exercise-related indicators among a large, multinational sample of adults. Adults enrolled in an international weight management program residing in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States completed identical Web-based surveys in the dominant language for their country. Participants (N = 13,996) reported on their personal experiences of weight stigma and health, including eating behaviors, attitudes toward exercise, and perceived stress. More than half of all participants in each country reported experiencing weight stigma. Participants who had experienced weight stigma reported engaging in more eating to cope, gym avoidance, and self-monitoring behaviors, as well as higher levels of stress and reduced eating self-efficacy. These associations were documented over and above sociodemographic characteristics and BMI and did not vary across countries. Study findings document uniform health-related correlates of weight stigma within a multinational context and underscore the need for global initiatives to curtail weight stigma in order to support population health.

Faculty Disclosure of Personal Mental Health History and Resident Physician Perceptions of Stigma Surrounding Mental Illness.

Distress, depression, and burnout are common during medical training. Stigma surrounding seeking help for mental illness during medical training may involve fear of negative peer perceptions, academic jeopardy, and adverse future career consequences. Faculty disclosure of personal mental health illness may reduce stigma surrounding mental health disorders and reassure and encourage trainees to seek help when needed. The authors aimed to assess the impact of faculty disclosure of mental health issues on stigma toward help-seeking during training, self-reflection about mental health, and resident physician awareness of mental health resources. Three self-selected faculty members shared their personal experiences with depression and mental health during a confidential noon conference intended for internal medicine residents at Mayo Clinic Rochester as part of their core curriculum in December 2016. Institutional and community mental health resources were provided. After the conference, attendees completed an anonymous survey assessing self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding mental health during medical training. One hundred percent of residents (39/39) agreed that they enjoyed the conference. Thirty-five of 39 (89.7%) respondents agreed that their knowledge of available mental health resources increased and 33/39 (84.6%) agreed they were more likely to pursue mental health resources after attending the conference. Thirty-eight of 39 (97.4%) residents agreed that faculty sharing their personal struggles destigmatizes mental health issues during training, and the same percentage reported engaging in postconference self-reflection regarding their own mental health and well-being. Resident conference sessions during which faculty self-disclose personal mental health experiences may help decrease the stigma of mental health issues during medical training and increase the likelihood residents will seek assistance when needed. The authors encourage further study of longer-term outcomes and actual help-seeking behaviors across learner levels and training environments.

You Earn What You Get...Like Old Man Strength: Oral History Accounts Of Wellness

Health is multidimensional (WHO, 1946) and can include aspects of physical, social, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Social Ecological Models (e.g., Sallis 2012; Van Dyck, et al., 2010) suggest that individuals’ personal experiences of health and wellness and lifespan historical narratives are embedded within community resources and built and natural environments. PURPOSE: To investigate how adults articulate the intersections of multiple dimensions of health throughout the lifespan with regard to the historical development of built and natural environments supporting health. METHODS: An oral history approach was used to allow participants (N=11) to articulate moments in their lives that offered clarity and definition to their self-described meanings of health. Interviews included conversations about physical activity, use of community resources, and the integration of built environment features into personal-historical articulations of health. RESULTS: Semi-structured oral history interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis (Boyatzis, 1998). Transcripts were coded for content themes using the multiple dimensions of wellness as an organizing model. Inter-coder reliability was established through the use of multiple, independent coders and an iterative discussion process to connections among key themes. Results indicate 1) the importance of historical moments in structuring both natural and built environments to promote health for individuals’ narratives of health, and 2) intersections between dimensions of health within individuals’ oral histories of lived experiences. Preliminary results suggest generational differences in the articulation of the historical importance of public resources and definitions of wellness. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the small sample size and preliminary nature of this study, results support the importance of both built and natural environments for promoting health for how individuals think about and articulate wellness across multiple dimensions. Oral history accounts of personal interactions with built and natural environments offer a useful mechanism for exploring how health emerges in community spaces.