Qualitative Content Analysis Study Research Articles

Clinical nursing competency during epidemics: a qualitative content analysis

BackgroundNurses are on the frontline for managing epidemic diseases. Different aspects of clinical nursing competencies during epidemics are important issues that need investigation.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the required clinical competencies for nurses during epidemics. Understanding these competencies could provide valuable information for health care services and nursing education organizations to prepare nurses for future epidemics.MethodsThe qualitative conventional content analysis study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 12 nurses that were actively engaged in providing patient care during COVID-19 pandemic in Shahid Beheshti hospital in Kashan/Iran, from October 2022 to March 2023. The data analysis process was conducted according to 5 steps suggested by Graneheim and Lundman.ResultsAfter analysis, the 159 competencies were derived from interviews that were categorized to 11 subcategories, and three categories of clinical nursing skills in epidemics, knowledge of epidemics, and soft skills for nurses in epidemics.ConclusionNurses need wide range of competencies to address the professional expectations regarding providing acceptable care during epidemics. Knowing these competencies can help nursing managers to prepare nurses for crisis such as what world experienced during COVID-19 pandemic.

Lived experiences of mothers with newborns lodging at a public hospital in South Africa: A qualitative study

Background & Aim: The challenges of mothers residing at hospital while their ill babies are admitted to a neonatal care unit are understudied and poorly documented. Unfavorable living arrangements and tension between mothers and staff can disrupt their well-being and create feelings of helplessness. This study explored how mothers experienced having to stay at a lodging residence of a public hospital while their newborns were admitted to a neonatal care unit. Methods & Materials: This qualitative content analysis study was conducted through face-to-face, in-depth interviews between March 2021 – April 2021. Data were gathered from 13 mothers who lodged at a public hospital for at least two weeks, were able to speak Sesotho, English, and/or Afrikaans, and were above 18 years of age. Data were analyzed using Tesch's eight steps in the coding process. Results: Data analysis resulted in five categories, each with subcategories. The main categories are "Lodging environment", "Emotional experiences", "Nursing care of babies", "Interaction with staff", and "Participant perspectives". Participants' ages ranged between 23 and 37 years. Three participants had a spouse while the other ten were unmarried and were single parents. Conclusion: The mothers were not optimistic about their lodging experiences, the nursing care of their newborns, and their interaction with healthcare professionals. Hence, they require intervention to alleviate conditions that cause unnecessary stress and anxiety. Health professionals and hospital managers must accommodate the needs of mothers who have no choice but to reside at the hospital when their newborns are admitted for extended periods.

Exploring the consequences of nurses’ involvement in disaster response: findings from a qualitative content analysis study

BackgroundThe presence of nurses during disasters can lead to many consequences. Understanding the nurses’ experiences of these consequences can provide valuable insights. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the experiences of Iranian nurses regarding the consequences they faced when being present during disasters.MethodsThis qualitative descriptive study employed a content analysis approach to examine the topic at hand. 20 nurses working in the emergency units of Kerman hospitals were selected through purposive sampling. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect the data. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis proposed by Graneheim and Lundman. MAXQDA 10 was used to manage data.ResultsAfter analysis of the interviews, two main categories were identified: overlapping of job frustrations and acquiring experience in difficult conditions. The main category of acquiring experience in difficult conditions comprised the following subcategories: improved quality of care, experience and dedication in fulfilling the role, reduced stress, occupational motivation and enthusiasm, increased self-confidence, and improved social status. On the other hand, the category of overlapping of job frustrations also consisted of the subcategories of physical strength deterioration, psychological and emotional distress, discontinued from supports, feelings of hopelessness, increased exposure to violence and aggression, and occurrence of family problems.ConclusionBeing present during disasters and obtaining the necessary competencies can have positive consequences that serve as turning points in the personal and professional growth of nurses. Additionally, favorable outcomes can help nurses cope with adverse circumstances. Managers can utilize the findings of this study to develop strategies aimed at reducing negative outcomes and enhancing positive ones among nurses during disasters.

Perspectives from patients with chronic lung disease on a telehealth-facilitated integrated palliative care model: a qualitative content analysis study

BackgroundChronic lung disease affects nearly 37 million Americans and often results in significant quality of life impairment and healthcare burden. Despite guidelines calling for palliative care (PC) integration into pulmonary care as a vital part of chronic lung disease management, existing PC models have limited access and lack scalability. Use of telehealth to provide PC offers a potential solution to these barriers. This study explored perceptions of patients with chronic lung disease regarding a telehealth integrated palliative care (TIPC) model, with plans to use findings to inform development of an intervention protocol for future testing.MethodsFor this qualitative study, we conducted semi-structured interviews between June 2021- December 2021 with patients with advanced chronic lung disease. Interviews explored experiences with chronic lung disease, understanding of PC, and perceived acceptability of the proposed model along with anticipated facilitators and barriers of the TIPC model. We analyzed findings with a content analysis approach.ResultsWe completed 20 interviews, with two that included both a patient and caregiver together due to patient preference. Perceptions were primarily related to three categories: burden of chronic lung disease, pre-conceived understanding of PC, and perspective on the proposed TIPC model. Analysis revealed a high level of disease burden related to chronic lung disease and its impact on day-to-day functioning. Although PC was not well understood, the TIPC model using a shared care planning approach via telehealth was seen by most as an acceptable addition to their chronic lung disease care.ConclusionsThese findings emphasize the need for a patient-centered, shared care planning approach in chronic lung disease. The TIPC model may be one option that may be acceptable to individuals with chronic lung disease. Future work includes using findings to refine our TIPC model and conducting pilot testing to assess acceptability and utility of the model.

The Paradox of Choice in Palliative Care Decision-Making in Managed Long-Term Care: A Qualitative Study

Palliative care offers undeniable advantages to elderly patients with multiple chronic illnesses in managed long-term care. However, only approximately 14% of those who require palliative care actually receive it. To investigate factors influencing decision-making regarding palliative care acceptance, and healthcare providers’ communication strategies, which patients or family caregivers perceive during managed long-term care. Qualitative thematic content analysis study. Two data sources from home and community-based health care organization in a metropolitical city in the Northeastern United States were used: (a) retrospectively collected 79 phone call audio recordings between patients and/or family caregivers with healthcare providers when initiate palliative care option, and (b) prospectively collected 10 exploratory qualitative interviews with patients and/or family caregivers for this study purpose. From a total of 89 conversations, 7 themes emerged during palliative care decision-making: (a) capability for self-management; (b) symptom severity; (c) perceptions of chronic disease; (d) satisfaction with current health services; (e) code status; (f) caregiver burden and (g) other reasons, including financial considerations and service affiliations. In addition, from 10 qualitative interviews, 4 key themes in healthcare providers’ communication that optimize palliative care conversations were indicated: (i) trust and relationship dynamics; (ii) positive reinforcement and personal connection; (iii) conversation setting and initiator; and (iv) collaborative approach to care coordination. Enhancing decision-making around palliative care and improving acceptance of palliative care services may be improved through the integration of personalized care plans, empathetic communication, use of symptom-inclusive assessments for timely care, and proactively addressing caregiver burden.

User Experiences of Ball Blankets in Adults with Depression-Related Insomnia: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study

Insomnia is prevalent in patients suffering from depression and may itself exacerbate the disability associated with depression and impede the path to recovery. Although crucial in ensuring meaningful interactions and interventions for patients, research on patients’ experiences of depression-related insomnia and its treatment is limited. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate how adult patients with depression-related insomnia experience sleeping with a weighted Protac Ball Blanket®, focusing on how the blanket feels and works and contributes to their subjective sleep quality experience. An inductive content analysis approach was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 patients. Four categories were identified: 1) Deep and dynamic touch pressure from the plastic balls induced calmness; 2) Changing sensory impressions from the rolling balls distracted attention from distressing thoughts and emotions; 3) The ball blanket improved the quality and quantity of sleep, which increased daily well-being; 4) Sleeping with the ball blanket was associated with positive as well as negative experiences depending on personal preferences for sensory stimulation. This study explains how the Protac Ball Blanket® as a potential non-pharmacological sleep-intervention improved the sleep of adult patients with depression-related insomnia. The blanket was found meaningful for coping with sleeplessness and with mental and physical unrest.

Exploring Health Providers' Perspective Regarding the Needs of Adolescent Mothers During Breastfeeding: A Qualitative Study.

The prevalence of breastfeeding is less common among adolescent mothers than adult mothers. These mothers experience various issues during breastfeeding. The present study aimed to explore the normative needs of adolescent mothers during breastfeeding from health care providers' perspective. This qualitative content analysis study was conducted from October 2022 until June 2023. 14 health care providers who had worked in the field of breast milk were purposefully selected with maximum variation. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted and sampling continued until data saturation. Data analysis was performed using Graneheim and Lundman's method with MAXQDA software version 10. The main concepts obtained from the data were classified into one theme entitled, "comprehensive support", and seven categories including "need to correct wrong traditional beliefs", "educational and counseling needs", "providing quality services", "need for psychological support", "need for protective laws", "financial needs", and "the need for social network support". Adolescent mothers in Iran have various needs during breastfeeding, and they require the assistance of their families, healthcare providers, and the government to fulfill them. Therefore, it is also recommended that policymakers in the health system should design policies to accommodate the requirements of this group of mothers. In addition to policy development in the health system, the infrastructure required for policy and law to be executed should be considered.

Pregnant Women’s Experiences of Sexual Activity During Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study

Background: Pregnancy is a sensitive time in women’s lives, as they experience numerous physical, psychological, and behavioral changes that can affect their sexual and marital relations. Due to the significance of this topic, the present study aimed to examine pregnant women’s experiences of sexual activity during pregnancy. Methods: The participants in this qualitative content analysis study were 23 pregnant women who visited hospitals in Babolsar, Iran (2019-2020) and were selected using purposive sampling. Following in-depth interviews, a semi-structured questionnaire guide was used to collect qualitative data. Data were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method proposed by Graneheim and Lundman. The MAXQDA 10 software was utilized for qualitative data analysis. Results: In the present study, pregnant women ranged in age from 19 to 35 years. The analysis of pregnant women’s experiences of sexual activity during pregnancy led to the identification of four categories including sexual changes perceived during pregnancy, strategies for coping with sexual changes during pregnancy, sexual changes leading to the couple’s development, and factors influencing sexual activity during pregnancy. Conclusion: During pregnancy, women observe various sexual changes in themselves and their partners, influenced by gestational age, medical disorders, physical changes, psychological and emotional factors, and underlying factors. Accordingly, it is recommended that couples be educated on sexual health during pregnancy which emphasizes the need for further research in this area.

Parents' experiences of living with a child with cancer undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a qualitative content analysis study.

Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) profoundly impacts the physical, psychological, and social aspects of parents' lives. Thus, this study aimed to explore the experiences of parents living with a child with cancer who undergoes HSCT. This qualitative study involved 20 parents of children with cancer who were undergoing HSCT at a referral hospital in Iran. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants from February 2023 to November 2023. In-depth semi-structured interviews, featuring open-ended questions, were utilized for data collection. Data analysis was performed using conventional content analysis. Data analysis revealed two main themes. "Surrounded by hardships" and "Self-actualization." The first theme encompassed participants' experiences of facing difficulties in life after being aware of their child's need for HSCT. This theme consisted of four categories: "uncertainty about the child's future," "exhaustion from the child's treatment process," "worrying about the healthy child(ren)," and "helplessness." The second theme "self-actualization" included with two categories: "transformation in life's philosophy" and "acquisition of new capabilities." These categories highlighted the positive outcomes experienced by the participants following their child's HSCT. Our findings underscore the importance of healthcare providers being attuned to parents' experiences throughout their child's HSCT trajectory. It is crucial for healthcare providers to encourage parents to articulate their concerns and feelings and seek support from healthcare providers, family, and friends. The development of psychological support services in healthcare settings can facilitate tailored interventions to alleviate parents' difficulties.

Perceptions of professional challenges by emergency medical services providers: a qualitative content analysis study

IntroductionEmergency medical services (EMS) providers encounter a variety of challenges due to the unpredictable, uncontrollable, and dynamic conditions in the pre-hospital field. This study explored the perceived professional challenges among EMS providers.Materials and methodsThis study was conducted using a qualitative research approach and the method of content analysis. Eighteen EMS providers were purposively selected from EMS stations in Hamadan, Iran. The collected data were then analyzed based on the Granheim and Lundman's method.ResultsBased on data analysis, five categories and one theme were identified. The extracted theme was professional challenges. The five categories were as follows: Ineffective policies; multicultural and multidisciplinary factors; ambulance dispatch route problems; legal issues; and abuse against the emergency medical servicesConclusionIn general, it has been found that EMS providers encounter numerous and complex professional challenges during their work. EMS managers can utilize the findings of the present study to develop strategies for reducing the professional challenges faced by EMS providers. By doing so, they can improve the quality of care in the prehospital field.

Exploring the experiences of dentistry students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences of academic motivation: a content analysis study

BackgroundStudents’ academic motivation is crucial to their academic performance, success, and future career performance. Understanding the experiences of students regarding academic motivation can help address this issue. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of dentistry students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences regarding academic motivation.MethodsThis qualitative content analysis study collected data through semi-structured individual interviews with open-ended questions. The collected data were then organized into codes, subcategories, categories, and themes. Extensive interviews, meetings, and active engagement with the participants were conducted to ensure the strength of the data collected.ResultsThe results of this study yielded 20 subclasses and 11 classes. These codes, categories, and sub-categories were summarized into seven themes: self-efficacy, outcome expectations, outcome expectancies, emotional coping, self-regulation, situational perception, and environment.ConclusionThis study showed that various concepts, from personal processes to environmental and social processes, play a role in students’ academic motivation. This study’s findings can contribute to developing more effective interventions to improve the motivation level of dentistry students.

Challenges of living with veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder from the perspective of spouses: a qualitative content analysis study

Background and objectiveThe needs and characteristics of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) create significant challenges in family life, particularly for spouses. Identifying the nature of these challenges from the perspective of spouses leads to a more comprehensive and profound understanding of their existing problems and can be used for targeted interventions. Therefore, this research was conducted to explore the challenges of living with veterans suffering from PTSD from the perspective of their spouses.MethodsThis qualitative study used conventional content analysis to explore Challenges of spouses of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Fifteen spouses of veterans with PTSD from the Veterans Affairs Center in Iran between June 2022 and January 2023, were purposively selected to participate in the study. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted to collect data. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed using the method proposed by Graneheim and Lundman content analysis method with the support of MAXQDA 2020 software.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 56.74 ± 6.43 years. Through data analysis, seven main categories and sixteen subcategories were identified. These categories included burnout (sleep disturbances, feelings of exhaustion), apathy towards self-care and caring for the veteran (neglecting self-care, lack of interest in continuing care), depression (feelings of hopelessness and being at the end of the line, decreased self-confidence ( Crushed and ignored (being mistreated, having multiple roles), relationship disturbances (Dissatisfaction with marital relationship,isolation and limited social interactions, disconnection from God), financial burden (heavy costs of care, lack of insurance support), and declining social status (negative attitude of the society, suffering from discrimination and inequality).ConclusionThe consequences of PTSD-related injuries in veterans directly and indirectly affect the overall living conditions of their spouses. These spouses experience emotional detachment and constant rejection, leading to a decrease in their resilience against existing stressors and exposing them to disruptive and challenging issues in individual, family, and social dimensions of life that affect their physical and mental well-being. Therefore, these spouses require empowerment and access to social support in dimensions of educational, caregiving, therapeutic, and supportive. It is recommended that health policymakers pay special attention to designing up-to-date interventions to enhance the health of these spouses in physical, mental, spiritual, and social dimensions.

Charting the Advocacy Landscape: A Qualitative Content Analysis of Syllabi in Public Health Graduate Education.

Addressing public health challenges necessitates policy approaches, but concerns persist about public health graduates' preparedness to advocate. This qualitative study sought to assess advocacy content and skills taught to Master of Public Health students enrolled in US accredited schools and programs of public health (SPPHs) by analyzing 98 course syllabi submitted to the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) between 2019 and 2021. Syllabi were submitted by SPPHs during their (re)accreditation process to demonstrate compliance with CEPH's advocacy competency requirement. Qualitative content analysis study. Syllabi were analyzed using MAXQDA Qualitative Data Analysis Software using a 2-coder approach. SPPHs accredited by CEPH. Ninety-eight syllabi submitted to CEPH by 22 schools of public health and 54 programs of public health. Exemplary language from advocacy courses and assignments and aggregate frequency of syllabi advocacy content and skills. Most advocacy courses (61%) were survey, health policy, or health care delivery courses, covering policy (66%), policy communication (46%), coalition-building (45%), lobbying (36%), community organizing (33%), and media advocacy (24%) skills. Only 7% prioritized advocacy skill instruction, and 10% addressed how to advocate in an equitable way. Defining public health advocacy and essential skills is crucial. Issuing competency guidelines, supporting advocacy faculty, offering standardized training, and expanding experiential learning are important first steps. More research is needed on how academic institutions are incorporating equity skill training into courses, whether separate from or combined with advocacy skills.

Designing, validation and evaluation of the expert system of “Healthy Menopause” and assessing its effect on the management of menopause symptoms: an exploratory mixed method study protocol

BackgroundMenopause is a period of women’s life that has the especial physical, psychological and social challenges. So provision of an effective, practical and affordable way for meeting women’s related needs is important. In addition, women should be able to incorporate such programs into their daily work. Considering the dearth of suitable services in this regard, this study will be conducted with the aim of designing, validating and evaluating the “Healthy Menopause” expert system on the management of menopausal symptoms.Methods/designA mixed methods exploratory design will be used to conduct this study in 3 phases. The first phase is a qualitative conventional content analysis study with purposes of exploring the women’s experience of menopausal symptoms and extracting their needs, and collecting data about their expectations from a healthy menopause expert system.. The purposive sampling (In his phase data will be gathered through interviewing menopaused women aged 40 to 60 years old and other persons that have rich information in this regard and will be continued until data saturation. The second phase includes designing a healthy menopause expert system in this stage, the needs will be extracted from the qualitative findings along with a comprehensive literature review. The extracted needs will be again confirmed by the participants. Then, through a participatory approach (Participatory Design) using nominal group or Delphi technique the experts’ opinion about the priority needs of menopaused women and related solutions will be explored based on the categories of identified needs. Such findings will be used to design a healthy menopause expert system at this stage. The third phase of study is a quantitative research in which the evaluation of the healthy menopause expert system will be done through a randomized controlled clinical trial with the aim of determining the effect of the healthy menopause expert system on the management of menopause symptoms by menopausal women themselves.DiscussionThis is the first study that uses a mixed method approach for designing, validating and evaluating of the expert system “Healthy Menopause”. This study will fill the research gap in the field of improving menopausal symptoms and designing a healthy menopause expert system based on the needs of the large group of menopause women. We hope that by applying this expert system, the menopausal women be empowered to management and improving their health with an easy and affordable manner.

Fathers' Experiences during Delivery of Their Newborns: A Content Analysis.

Paternal involvement during pregnancy has been shown to have a positive impact on the mother-baby dyad during and after birth. The presence of the father during birth also positively influences father-child attachment, reduces, apprehension, and stress, increases maternal satisfaction, and increases love and respect for the partners. This study explored the experiences of fathers who were present in the delivery room during the delivery process. This qualitative content analysis study was conducted at a maternity hospital in Kingston, Jamaica from June to July 2022. A total of ten (10) fathers of babies delivered within six weeks were purposefully selected to be interviewed via telephone over four weeks. Data were analysed using a thematic approach. Four sub-themes and one theme were extracted from data analysis. Fathers perceived satisfaction and empowerment in the shadow of positive and negative feelings as the theme. Sub-themes emerged from the data including "clinician's acceptance and support", "close bonding and attachment with mother and baby", "preparedness of fathers to give support", and "inspiring and amazing feeling by fatherhood experiences". Fathers experienced the feeling of empowerment and wished to take up their role during the delivery of their newborns. Their experiences were influenced by the midwives and the resources available to support their accommodation. More policies are needed to strengthen the fathers' involvement during antenatal clinic visits, delivery, and postnatal care.

Rejection, Current Suffering in the Lives of People with HIV/AIDS: A Qualitative Study in Iran

Background: People with HIV/AIDS face numerous challenges, including the effect of the disease on their personal relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and healthcare professionals. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate social interactions among patients with HIV/AIDS. Materials & Methods: This qualitative content analysis study was conducted on 12 patients with HIV/AIDS referring to the Behavioral‌ Disease Counseling Centers of Tehran and Rasht (Iran) in 2018. Semi-structured, face-to-face, and audio-recorded interviews were used to collect data. Purposive sampling with maximum variation was used to select participants. The duration of the interview was between 40 to 75 min. MAXQDA10 software was used for data organization and management, and conventional content analysis was used for data analysis. Results: From the analysis of interviews with 12 individuals with HIV/AIDS (7 men and 5 women), 51 codes were extracted in three categories: disease disclosure (disclosure to important people in life, disclosure to public and health services, and dealing with the challenges of disclosure), social support (impairment in interpersonal relationships and relationships with peers), and acceptance (social acceptance and acceptance by health care providers). Conclusion: Despite significant progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and education, the stigma caused by this disease remains high and has a negative impact on the interpersonal relationships of PLWHA with their families, relatives, friends, colleagues, and healthcare providers.

Health Provider Experiences in Supporting Social Connectedness Between Families and Older Adults Living in Long-Term Care Homes.

Many people, often older adults, living in long-term care homes (OA-LTCH) became socially isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic due to variable restrictions on in-person visits and challenges associated with using technology for social connectivity. Health providers were key to supporting these OA by providing additional care and facilitating their connections with family using technology such as smartphones and iPads. It is important to learn from these experiences to move forwards from the COVID-19 pandemic with evidence-informed strategies that will better position health providers to foster social engagement for OA-LTCH across a range of contextual situations. This exploratory qualitative description study sought to explore health provider experiences in supporting social connectedness between family members and OA-LTCH within the COVID-19 context. Qualitative, in-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 health providers. Using inductive qualitative content analysis study findings were represented by the following themes: (a) changes in provider roles and responsibilities while challenging for health providers did not impact their commitment to supporting OA-LTCH social and emotional health, (b) a predominant focus on OA-LTCH physical well-being with resultant neglect for emotional well-being resulted in collective trauma, and (c) health providers faced multiple challenges in using technology to support social connectivity. Study findings suggest the need for increased funding for LTC to support activities and initiatives that promote the well-being of health providers and OA living in LTC, the need to prioritize social well-being during outbreak contexts, and more formalized approaches to guide the appropriate use of technology within LTC.

Perceptions and determinants of oral health care among Iranian pregnant women: a qualitative study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the determinants that influence oral healthcare behaviours among Iranian pregnant women.Study designQualitative study.SettingComprehensive health service centres.ParticipantsA sample consisting of all people...

Peer-review of teaching materials in Canadian and Australian universities: A content analysis.

Peer-review of teaching materials (PRTM) has been considered a rigorous method to evaluate teaching performance to overcome the student evaluation's psychometric limitations and capture the complexity and multidimensionality of teaching. The current study aims to analyze the PRTM practices in Canadian and Australian universities in their faculty evaluation system. This is a qualitative content analysis study in which all websites of Canadian and Australian universities (n = 46) were searched based on the experts› opinion. Data related to PRTM were extracted and analyzed employing an integrative content analysis, incorporating both inductive and deductive elements iteratively. Data were coded and then organized into subcategories and categories using a predetermined framework including the major design elements of a PRTM system. The number of universities for each subcategory was calculated. A total of 21 universities provided information on PRTM on their websites. The main features of PRTM programs were organized under the seven major design elements. Universities applied PRTM mostly (n = 11) as a summative evaluation. Between half to two-thirds of the universities did not provide information regarding the identification of the reviewers and candidates, preparation of reviewers, and logistics (how often and when) of the PRTM. Almost all universities (n = 20) defined the criteria for review in terms of teaching philosophy (n = 20), teaching activities (n = 20), teaching effectiveness (n = 19), educational leadership (n = 18), teaching scholarship (n = 17), and professional development (n = 14). The major design elements of PRTM, categories and subcategories offered in the current study provide a practical framework to design and implement a comprehensive and detailed PRTM system in the academic setting.

Through the eyes of nurses: a content analysis of nurses’ experiences in caring for COVID-19 patients

BackgroundIn the current global climate, the nursing staff has placed a significant emphasis on developing effective self-protection strategies and implementing measures to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases, with a particular focus on the highly communicable COVID-19 virus. Ensuring the safety and well-being of both healthcare providers and patients has made it imperative to incorporate this aspect into healthcare provision.ObjectiveThe study aimed to describe the experiences of nurses in providing care for patients infected with COVID-19.MethodologyThis qualitative content analysis study, following COREQ guidelines, involved 18 nurses who were taking care of COVID-19 patients at Shahid Mohamadi Hospital, a general hospital in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province. The hospital is affiliated with Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences and the research was conducted in 2022.The sampling method was purposive, and unstructured interviews were used. Data collection continued until data saturation was achieved. Data analysis was performed continuously and concurrently through the collection of data using conventional content analysis methods.FindingsThe qualitative analysis of the data revealed three main themes centered on challenges related to nurses’ self-care, patient care, and the healthcare delivery system.ConclusionOverall, to address the challenges faced by healthcare providers caring for COVID-19 patients, their needs must be prioritized. This includes establishing a prepared healthcare system, implementing strategies to protect their well-being, and learning from their experiences for future disease outbreaks and disasters.